by David Flint
“This guy is a bargain shopper extraordinaire!” That’s Mary Ann Palmer’s take on an aspect of husband John’s talents and it’s undoubtedly one of the reasons that Palmer Apparel on North Main Street in Berlin has been able to keep prices low and attract customers.
“Clothing for living the country lifestyle” is what they advertise. John and Mary Ann Palmer, both retired, started the little business a year ago last April. When Mary Ann in her travels came upon a really good deal on quality baby clothes, she thought of a number of people at home who could use such a good deal and that it would save them a trip to Albany or Bennington. So she bought the whole lot and, as she put it, “Things just mushroomed from there.” People began asking Could you carry this, Could you carry that? And as they began to sell an extended line of clothing products, word got around. People started showing up from Petersburgh, Bennington, Cambridge and Stockbridge. John got interested and discovered he had a real talent for shopping. People wonder how they can sell the clothes so cheap. “I tell them I can guarantee they’re not stolen,” John said, “but I buy wherever I can, from wholesalers, retailers, wherever I can find a good deal. If a store is going under, we are right there.” Recently in Pennsylvania a merchant wanted to concentrate on a more dress-up line of clothes and suggested he might want to get rid of his women’s jeans. “Let’s talk,” John told him, and ended up with five boxes of the jeans. Although most things at Palmer Apparel are new, they do carry some used items, mostly jeans. And most of those came from the trove of pre-worn jeans that an entrepreneur in Wisconsin had been collecting thinking to sell them overseas. He found, however, that the shipping costs would negate his profit, and so the Palmers added 2,000 pairs of slightly worn jeans to their line that can be had for two dollars up to $7.50 a pair.
As the business grew, clothing of all kinds filled up two garages. When the Palmers’ house began filling up, “My wife was unhappy,” John said. So he built a 30’x48’ building on the lot down the bank behind the house where they could properly display most of the clothing.
The Palmers agree that downtown Berlin is kind of an odd location for a clothing shop. But what makes it work is the low overhead and the low prices. Beyond that Mary Ann, whose father, Paul Maxson, was Pastor of the Seventh Day Baptist Church, sees the endeavor as a ministry whereby she can help out her neighbors, and John sees it as his hobby. The new building he said is “my boat.” It’s also an investment that they believe won’t tank as the stock market sometimes does, but their expectations of profit are modest – to make just enough to pay the property taxes. In any case, it’s all very low key. The Palmers enjoy talking with people and appear to be really having fun with the business.
Some of the things a browser can find at Palmer Apparel include jeans for men, women and kids (new starting at $7.50), new t-shirts (starting at $2.50) in a variety of colors, sizes and styles, sweatshirts and hoodies, sweaters, dress shirts, underwear, socks and a variety of outdoor wear. Much of the clothing is in large sizes which are sometimes hard to find. They have some size 54 jeans, but the Palmers said they are hard to keep in stock. Baby clothes, which are a favorite of Mary Ann’s, still make up a good part of the collection. It’s a good place to shop for baby shower presents, and gift wrap is available. Mary Ann can also provide personalization of shirts with either hot pressing or embroidery. Some businesses in town have taken advantage of this to obtain uniform shirts for their staff.
Prices at Palmer Apparel already include the sales tax, so the price you see is what you pay. Regular hours are Sunday and Friday from 9 am to 6 pm. But shoppers and browsers are welcome most anytime. “If we’re home, we’re open,” said the Palmers. Just to be sure, you could call ahead at 518-658-9845.