Editor’s Note: With more than 20 advertisers and only six issues per year, it’s taken a long time to complete the cycle of advertiser profiles, but complete it we have, and now it’s back to top of the list: The Arrangement. Veteran newsletter reporter Mark Mohammadpour begins this revisit to The Arrangement on a personal note.
As a newly minted small business owner myself, it’s inspiring to see how businesses of all shapes, sizes, types, and ages are adapting to life in 2020. One of the most resilient businesses in the community for decades, Sue Mautz’s The Arrangement is the perfect example of a small business that is adapting and thriving.
While The Arrangement officially opened just across the street in 1980, it has been at its current residence at 4210 NE Fremont Street since 1983, selling gifts for virtually every occasion.
Its most popular items include greeting cards, jewelry, books, journals, puzzles, and self-care items. The Arrangement also offers a great selection of clothing for children and adults.
Like all business owners, however, the pandemic caused Mautz to rethink how she could address the needs of her customers: “In March, when we were mandated to close, we had to come up with new, creative ways of selling. Fortunately, we are here in the Beaumont-Wilshire neighborhood. Being here for 40 years, the neighborhood has been so supportive. We can’t thank our friends and neighbors enough for their support.” One new innovation is the hosting of private shopping times. Customers can call ahead to reserve a time for a group of friends or family during the holiday season and have the store to themselves. Masks on, of course.
Mautz said that there has been a surge in buying products created by local artists, in particular greeting cards. People are also getting ready for 2021, and yearly planners are flying off the shelves. Additionally, The Arrangement is a popular place to purchase masks and hand sanitizer products, and customers should expect to see the store full of seasonal items for the fall and winter holidays ahead. Lastly, while The Arrangement has had a website for several years (www.thearrangementpdx.com), online purchasing has not been available—until now, just in time for the holidays.
Questions? Seek out answers via the website or any of the following:
- Phone: 503-287-4440
- Email: info@thearrangementpdx.com
- Instagram: @thearrangementpdx
- Facebook: thearrangementpdx
The Arrangement is open from 11:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. daily.
Now if you’ll excuse me, I have some shopping to do.
Be safe. Be kind. Be well.
Happy Holidays!