Q & A with Cheryl Schweizer, owner of 'A Girl at Heart...' Q. What inspired you to open an American Girl consignment store? A couple of things have inspired me to open an American Girl consignment shop...the first is my daughter Natalie’s love of all things American Girl! As she’s grown her collection over the past five years, I’ve come to realize what a quality product the books, dolls, clothes & accessories are. Secondly, since there is still such a demand for AG products, I thought why not offer a gently used, pre-loved collection from girls who have outgrown them? This way, a whole new generation of kids get to have the AG experience at a fraction of the cost! It’s a win-win situation! Q. What is your background and how has it shaped this exciting adventure?
Q. Why are the American Girl stories so important? What can we learn from them in 2020? Like I mentioned previously, the stories are incredibly engaging and compelling, but it doesn’t end there. The American Girl stories teach so much about character – bravery, humility, confidence, creativity, responsibility, gratefulness, forgiveness, kindness – I could go on and on! I think the world can be so complicated and stressful these days, but these books teach these timeless traits that children can use as they develop their own character. AG products are such a wholesome way to learn through play that isn’t electronic. That’s refreshing in today’s world!
'A Girl At Heart' is located in the Simsbury Town Shops (downstairs next to Ava Grace) on Hopmeadow Street in Simsbury, Connecticut. Phone: (860) 217-9367 https://www.agirlatheart.org
I’ve always had a love and appreciation for American history. I have a Masters’ Degree in history and I was a 6th grade teacher of Language Arts and History in Middlebury, CT for eight years. The American Girl series of books are so compelling and teach so many fantastic character traits, so it’s no surprise that I love them! Q. Can you tell us about your new birthday party options? I’m so excited to offer American Girl themed birthday parties now! We have a small but beautiful separate party space that includes doll chairs at the tables (very similar to the American Girl café in New York!). It’s steps away from our store, so it makes it very convenient to ensure that the party is very personalized. Our parties consist of an American Girl themed bingo game with prizes, a craft for both the girls and their dolls, a doll hair lesson (French braid or bun) and A Girl at Heart “bucks” for party participants, as well as the birthday girl, to spend in our store on our incredible selection of AG items, and comes complete with pizza, cupcakes & drinks.
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