This post is sponsored by Guess & Company; however, all opinions are my own.
When I think back on the glory of past Christmases, I’m always swept up in the details. The colored (or not) lights on the tree that year, the way the stockings hung the next, the way the tree and mantle always make the living room feel like the coziest place on earth. It’s these little details in our yearly decor, and the reminder of why we celebrate this season, that make bring such peace and joy to our daily life in the Christmas season.
While I’ve never claimed to be any kind of designer or home decor expert, I do like to think I know a few things about what looks good and about how quality really matters. In my opinion – expert or not – a quality item can stand the test of time, bringing you joy every year when you pull it out to decorate. It’s something that you smile at and wonder if your kids, or their kids, or their kids will have that same warming feeling when they pull it out to celebrate years down the road.
It’s these things that Guess & Company keep top of mind and heart when designing the incredible merchandise that fills their 60,000 square foot warehouse for their annual Christmas at the Warehouse sale. Not sure what that means? Here are the facts you need to know: gorgeous, timeless Christmas pieces (and a LOT of them), that you can purchase at wholesale pricing without needing a vendor ID or anything. We can all walk in and essentially decorate our entire season beautifully at a fraction of the price it would cost normally. And no, you don’t need a trip to Waco or Atlanta to get these goods either; but rather, a trip to Des Arc, Arkansas!
This year I really wanted to take a chance to include my boys in the festivities as we piece together our own family traditions. Nate and I both have our own traditions that we brought into our marriage, but crafting it with young children to really make something of our own is so fun! My boys are at the age now where they really love being involved, and they are starting to (for better or worse) have opinions on what they like and don’t like. While I was sure it would be a bit stressful at times, I knew that bringing them with me to Christmas at the Warehouse would be something we’d remember forever!
We came away with some gorgeous items to display in our home for years to come, but more than that we came away with a further appreciation for the entrepreneurial spirit, taking the road less traveled, and seeing just how following your dreams can change your life and the lives of others. To understand all of that, though, you have to understand the backstory to Guess & Company.
According to their website, the Christmas at the Warehouse sale began as a small, philanthropic pursuit to help their local community and organizations; however, it’s much more than that. Paul Guess and his brother Dondie and Dondie’s wife Cindy wanted to create not only a connection point, but a way to give back to their local community. The sale has grown significantly through word of mouth advertising, and this year’s expected attendance of 30,000 people is double that of 2018.
My boys loved hearing the story of Paul Guess, the man behind the gorgeous farmhouse chic designs and merchandising of the Guess & Company products. He grew up the youngest child with an affinity for seeing the true magic of Christmas. His mother had a knack for Christmas decorating, bringing both formal AND kid-specific trees into their home to really celebrate the beauty of the season from every angle.
While he only scored an 18 on his ACT, he then went on to earn an MBA from Harvard. After achieving this, he felt the call to start designing…and then he did. And this is where we move into the part that is so much more than a Christmas sale; it’s a life lesson for young and old and everyone in between.
While friends thought I was crazy to take my two sons to a warehouse sale (and truthfully I am a little crazy, but I like it), it taught them so much more than what pretty Christmas decorations look like. It gave them another chance to see – outside of their mom and dad and immediate family – what going after your dreams looks like. It gave them a chance to see that while grades are important, they aren’t everything. It showed them that pursuing the things you are both gifted at and passionate about is possible at any point in life. What a gift to see them learn this and take it all in while in the midst of the beauty and magic of Christmas!
Suffice to say that since our adventure to Des Ark and Christmas at the Warehouse, none of us have stopped talking about it. We’ve started our countdown to Christmas, we’ve had conversations about how to create beauty in our own unique ways, and have started brainstorming how to create a company that does well by doing good. Yes, we got that all by going to a home decor sale…and if that’s what we brought out of it? Well, I can’t wait to hear what other people get out of it as well!
Below is a list of the days and times that YOU can visit the Guess & Company Christmas at the Warehouse sale; enjoy!
To learn more please check out the Guess & Company website, Facebook page, and you can see my experience in the saved ‘Christmas’ stories on my Instagram feed.
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