Mrs. G TV & Appliances is proud to share a few magazine and newspaper articles written about the business and our partnership with local charities.

Outstanding Small Business of the Year

She’ll always be Mrs. G’s granddaughter. Debbie Schaeffer has been in charge of Mrs. G TV and appliance store in Lawrenceville for the last five years, but invariably people will approach her in the grocery store and elsewhere with a knowing smile and the words: “You’re Mrs. Gs’ granddaughter…”

“I feel very proud and happy when I hear those words,” Schaeffer said.

Since taking over the business Schaeffer has taken it to a new level, adding new luxury brands, redesigning the showroom, holding special events, and reaching out to the community. For those reasons and many others, Mrs. G’s has been named the 2009 Outstanding Small Business of the Year. The store will be honored during the annual Hall of Fame Awards Dinner on April 21 at the Hyatt Regency Princeton.

“I was ecstatic and honored,” Schaeffer said about hearing the news that her business had been selected. “It was really wonderful that people saw a lot of the improvements and the difference that I was making.”

As theMRCC advises, “Get Connected—Get Results,” and Schaeffer has done exactly that since taking over the business. She has reached out to the local business community by attending MRCC events, hosting events–including MRCC events–at the store, going to national and regional trade shows, and fine-tuning Mrs. Gs’ customer service. Doing these things, she says, helps separate the store from the fierce competition that it faces, both on-line and at actual bricks and mortar stores as close as one mile away.

“We had to decide how we were going to set ourselves apart,” she said.

Another way that Schaeffer has reached out to the community is through the store’s involvement in charity work. “We love doing charitable events,” she said. Among the charities that Mrs. G works with are the Susan G. Komen Breast Cancer Foundation and the United Way.

As part of Schaeffer’s efforts to make the store a destination for appliances and televisions, she redesigned the showroom. One unique aspect was including six cooking stations so the store could hold special cooking events. A recent battle of the chefs featured chefs from area restaurants, newspaper food critics, hungry patrons, and lots of great food. “Everybody had a wonderful time,” Schaffer said.

While the economy has been in the doldrums lately and big-ticket items like appliances have been struggling, Schaffer says that Mrs. G has out-performed the competition in terms of sales. Indeed, the nationwide buying group Prime Time in Las Vegas featured the store in February as an example of how innovative ideas can help independent stores survive tough times.

While Schaeffer admits that the poor economy had an impact on the store, she also responded to it in atypical fashion. While many businesses reflexively cut marketing she did not, choosing instead to concentrate on controlling expenses while seeking out advertising bargains. She also did not and will not cut back on employee health care insurance.

Schaeffer also invested money and effort into redesigning the store’s website because “social marketing is important.” The site is extremely comprehensive, featuring numerous buttons,herblog,on-line salesopportunities, andother aspects.

“Websites have to be informative and engaging to bring the customer into the store,” she said.

Schaeffer didn’t start out to enter the retail television and appliance business. She was a civil engineer, and initially built both commercial and residential buildings. However, she was always very close with her grandmother, and literally grew up with the business. So when it came time for the original Mrs. G–Beatrice L. Greenberg–to hand over the reins of the decades-old business, Schaeffer decided to take them.

“My grandmother always said that I had it in my blood,” she laughed. “It just had to come at the right time.”

Greenberg still comes into the store several times a week and is happy with the way Schaeffer is handling things.

“She loves coming here,” she said. “She’s my biggest fan.”

Mrs. G has survived withering competition that would have crushed many others, and the list of competitors that have come and gone is long. Yet it seems as if there is always someone else to take their place. However, Schaeffer is confident that her local roots and community-building efforts will always trump a chain’s greater resources, and offers that as a formula for any independent retailer facing big box competition.

“We have to ride the coattails of buying local,” she said. “It’s a business model that I think many consumers are following. They know that when you buy local most of the money goes back into the community.”

She also stresses the importance of establishing relationships, and credits the MRCC with helping her in that regard. “I love the relationships I’ve established with other business owners [through the MRCC],” she said. “It’s very important to establish relationships one-on-one. The chamber is great for that.”

Debbie Honored at the International CES with the 1st Annual Women in CE Award

January 7, 2010, Las Vegas, NV –

Debbie Schaeffer, President & CEO of Mrs. G TV & Appliances was recognized at the first annual Women in CE Awards at the Tabu Ultra Lounge in the MGM Grand Hotel, Las Vegas during the International CES. Hundreds industry leaders gathered to honor the remarkable achievements of seven women, who are the first to receive the Women in CE Legacy Award.

“It was such an honor to be chosen as one of the first to receive the Legacy Award from Women in CE. I just love their mission: To provide women in the consumer electronics industry an environment for promoting, networking, and professional growth through the development of relationships and new opportunities.” said Debbie Schaeffer.

Master of Ceremonies Denise Morales , VP of Sales at Monster Cable, presented this year’s honorees: Vizio’s Laynie Newsome, Debbie Schaeffer  of Mrs. G TV and Appliances, Pam Crane of Ken Crane’s, CEA’s Karen Chupka, J&R’s Rachelle Friedman,  Irene Baran  of Speck Products, and Sonance’s Krista Bergman . Consumer Technology Publishing Group and Vann’s hosted the event and introductions were made by Women in CE founder and CustomRetailer publisher Carol Campbell and Courtney Manlove  of Schvee.com and Vann's.

Carol Campbell commented, “Congratulations to all of the inductees! Women in CE appreciate your hard work and high visibility in the industry and are honored to acknowledge your accomplishments.”

Debbie Schaeffer is passionate about consumer electronics and strongly encourages women to enter this field. Today, women purchase 57% of consumer electronics and influence 90% of all CE purchases.

For more information about Women in CE log onto: www.womenince.org

Mrs. G TV & Appliances is a third generation family owned Retail Appliance and TV super store that has had an outstanding reputation in New Jersey and Pennsylvania for 75 years.  To learn more, visit www.mrsgs.com or call 609-882-1444.

Eben Copple Of The Yardley Inn Wins Mrs. G TV & Appliances Chef's Challenge

June 30, 2009, Lawrenceville, NJ –

Congratulations to Chef Eben Copple of the Yardley Inn, winner of the first annual Chef’s Challenge held at Mrs. G TV & Appliances, based on his outstanding preparation of an appetizer, main course and dessert.  In addition, over 130 attendees voted Copple for the People’s Choice Award, presented by Mrs. G TV & Appliances.

The runner up of the event was Peter Nowakowski of Rats; finishing  third was Jason Hensle of Salt Creek Grille and rounding out the group was amateur, Randy Forrester of Hopewell, NJ.

The event was judged by Pat Tanner, local food writer and critic;  Colin Marsh of Out & About, and Frank Benowitz of Mercer County Community College Hotel, Restaurant and Institution Management program. Eben Copple, the winning chef of the Chef’s Challenge will receive a two page spread in Bucks Life Magazine.

The Chef’s Challenge was sponsored by Mrs. G TV & Appliances, Bucks Life Magazine, McCaffrey’s, Viking, Miele, Thermador, SubZero, Wolf and Gaggenau.

Mrs. G TV & Appliances is a third generation family owned Retail Appliance and TV super store that has had an outstanding reputation in New Jersey and Pennsylvania for over 70 years. Mrs. G’ TV & Appliance is based on Route 1 in Lawrenceville, New Jersey. (read more)

Superior Woodcraft, Inc. Co-Sponsors “Cook for the Cure®” Fundraiser 
Maker of fine, handcrafted cabinetry joins forces with New Jersey couple to help fund breast cancer research.

June 1, 2009, Doylestown, PA –

Superior Woodcraft, Inc., Doylestown, PA, is pleased to announce its participation in a KitchenAid Cook for the Cure® fundraising event held May 8th at the Princeton, New Jersey home of Wendy and Joe Vasquez and their children.  The event was dedicated to the memory of Mary Beth Scriven, deceased wife of Joe Vasquez and mother of Laura, Joey and Katie Vasquez.  Other sponsors of the event included Lasley Brahaney Architecture and Construction, Mrs. G TV & Appliances and Regent Floor Covering.   Each sponsor contributed by assisting with organizing and hosting the event, underwriting expenses and donating silent auction items.

Guests enjoyed a light brunch while bidding on a silent auction of pink Cook for the Cure KitchenAid appliances including a coveted stand mixer. Executive Chef Matthew Babbage of Philadelphia’s World Café Live provided a live cooking demonstration, preparing a gourmet salad with seared salmon for everyone to taste.  Door prizes and goody bags with more Cook for the Cure items were given away, and Villeroy-Boch limited editions plates for the Cook for the Cure ‘Pass the Plate’ program were available for purchase; all of which helped raise $7,245 for Susan G. Komen for the Cure.

Michelle Kennedy, president of Superior Woodcraft, who represented her company at the fundraiser, offers, “It was an honor to join this remarkable family in support of such a worthy cause.  KitchenAid’s Cook for the Cure® program is a wonderful way to bring family and friends together to share great food and good company, and know that you’ve made a difference.” (read more)

Mrs. G TV & Appliances Partners With 94.5 WPST Radio Station for the Ultimate Showcase of Prizes Contest
Winner Won Mrs. G's "Green Your Kitchen" Prize Package of Electrolux Appliances

Mrs. G TV & Appliances recently sponsored a prize package for 94.5 WPST’s Loyal Listener’s Club Ultimate Showcase of Prizes Contest in which there were 68,000 entries.  Tina Perrone of Philadelphia recently won this contest and celebrated with Mrs. G TV & Appliances and the Wake Up Crew of PST!  Out of five prize packages, Tina chose the Mrs. G “Green Your Kitchen” prize package which included $5,000 worth of Electrolux stainless steel appliances compliments of Mrs. G TV & Appliances.

With the help of Chris Rollins, Deejay and lead personality from the PST Wake-Up Crew, Tina enjoyed picking out the latest energy efficient Electrolux appliances at Mrs. G’s during a recent trip to the newly renovated showroom in Lawrenceville, NJ.  “The folks at Mrs. G TV & Appliance were extremely knowledgeable and so nice to work with.  I was shocked when they told me I could get a refrigerator, range, dishwasher and microwave for under $5,000!  They managed to include tax and delivery as well in my prize package.  They were great to work with.  WPST & MRS. G's ROCK!” noted Tina Perrone, winner of the “Green Your Kitchen” prize package. 

 "Our Ultimate Showcase of Prizes was a huge hit with our listeners and members of our Loyal Listener Club!  We feel lucky to have partners like Mrs. G TV & Appliances that allow us to offer such amazing prize opportunities to our listeners", stated, Dave McKay, Associate Director of Programming at WPST.  Mrs. G TV & Appliances is also participating in the Holiday Showcase of Prizes Contest in which the lucky winner will have the opportunity to win a Mitsubishi 65" DLP 1080P TV and Stand with an Aspen Gaming Media Player.

For more information about 94.5 WPST, visit www.wpst.com.

Sub-Zero and Wolf’s The Living Kitchen™ Now At Mrs. G TV & Appliances
Mrs. G’s Recently Celebrated the Grand Opening of their New Designer Showroom

Close to 200 guests recently celebrated the grand opening of Mrs. G's new designer showroom, The Living Kitchen, featuring the latest appliances from Sub-Zero and Wolf.  Guests of Mrs. G's private reception enjoyed mediterrean cuisine catered by Trepiani Ristorante, regional wines from Joe Canal's Wine School and entertainment by Hunter Hayes.	Thomas J. Dolan, President of The Fretz Corporation, Debbie Schaeffer, President of Mrs. G TV & Appliances and Michael Broudy, Architect/President of the Broudy Group share a photo opportunity together.  Both companies worked closely with Mrs. G's throughout the extensive 10 month showroom expansion project.

Mrs. G TV & Appliances recently celebrated the grand opening of their new designer showroom featuring The Living Kitchen™which showcases the latest Sub-Zero and Wolf appliances.  Mrs. G TV & Appliances is one of the few nationally selected dealers to feature this in-store, living kitchen concept, with the largest Living Kitchen showroom in New Jersey.

The Living Kitchen is designed to present Sub-Zero and Wolf brands in the environment in which they are meant to be experienced, showcasing the breadth of products and offering the opportunity to interact with the appliances much like one would in a home kitchen. The Living Kitchen allows customers to see the full model line-up from Sub-Zero and Wolf with products incorporated side-by-side in a real setting, helping them to visualize how these two brands might complement one another in their own homes.

“We are very excited and honored to have been selected to feature The Living Kitchen concept in our store”, said Debbie Schaeffer, Owner & President of Mrs. G TV & Appliances.  “We have dedicated over 1,700 square feet of our showroom to The Living Kitchen which truly has changed the shopping experience for our customers.”

Some of the new products on display in The Living Kitchen include the recently unveiled Sub-Zero PRO 48 professional-style residential refrigerator, an induction cooktop from Wolf that brings the popular European cooking method to North America and a 15” wine storage unit.

Adding New Life To Refrigerator Row
May 01, 2008
BY AUDREY GRAY
DEALERSCOPE

Lining up accessories refrigerator row-style worked for a lot of years. But 2008 isn’t one of them, said Peter Foerst, a salesman with over a decade of experience. Foerst works the show floor each day at Mrs. G TV and Appliance, a robust independent retailer located on Rt. 1 in New Jersey, close to the affluent Princeton market. He’s adept at charming both deep and shallow-pocketed customers. But the higher the price point of a particular product, he said, the easier it is for his charms to fall flat.

“You can talk ‘til you’re blue in the face about a $15,000 refrigerator with no results,” Foerst said. “But if someone sees it in beautiful cabinetry, it just makes ‘em jump.”

Foerst closed an astonishingly good February, moving 31 pieces of high-end Sub-Zero product (his usual monthly numbers are 12-15), and credits that dramatic ticket boost to a new display area that’s much more than fancy cabinetry. Mrs. G recently underwent a massive showroom makeover, with a Sub-Zero/Wolf display area called “The Living Kitchen” as its most impressive new feature. (read more)

Mrs. G thrives for decades in world of retailing
Monday, April 21, 2008
BY BILL MOONEY
TRENTON TIMES

LAWRENCE -- In 1935, a gallon of gas cost an average of 10 cents, the Marx Brothers had moviegoers rolling in the aisles with "A Night at the Opera," and Amelia Earhart became the first person to fly solo from Hawaii to California.

That same year, Beatrice Greenberg and her husband Abe, who were married in 1932, opened New Jersey Plumbing Supplies on East State Street in Trenton.

Much has changed in 73 years, but the business the Greenbergs established endures to this day. The store, now known as Mrs. G. TV & Appliance, has been on Route 1 in Lawrence for more than three decades. Greenberg, 94, who established her business in an age when female entrepreneurs had their work cut out for them, is a survivor. (read more)

Passing the Baton
April 4, 2008
If you live in or near Mercer County there's a good chance somebody in your family bought a major appliance from Mrs. G (www.mrsgs.com). Your kids, if they stay in the neighborhood, will probably be shopping there too.

The locally owned superstore has supplied dishwashers, refrigerators, ovens, outdoor grills and the like for more than 70 years, stubbornly defying recessions, inflation, and the huge chain stores that tried to gobble up customers.

The very real Mrs. G is Beatrice Greenberg, who is 94 years old and still comes to work most days. But this month, she's officially passing the baton to her equally energetic granddaughter Debbie Schaeffer. She literally grew up in the store, trailing her grandmother from the time she could walk. (read more)

Mrs. G Supplies Appliances to McCarter's Theatre
McCarter Theatre’s opening play of the season, Stick Fly, by Lydia Diamond is a powerful and provocative play that exceeded target ticket sales and stirred numerous audience members. Aside from its alluring story about an upper crust African-American family struggling with many dark family secrets, the setting of the play could not be more inviting. The LeVay family’s beach cottage in Oak Bluff’s, Martha’s Vineyard, adds luster, class and charm to the many troubles that this seemingly normal family possesses. The state-of-the-art kitchen becomes a powerful arena for many deep conversations, heated arguments and, of course, sumptuous meals. Mrs. G TV & Appliances kindly donated all of the kitchen appliances to make this very important part of the scenery both accurate and compelling. “We were delighted to have the opportunity to contribute to this particular production because it was an ideal opportunity to help McCarter create the perfect atmosphere on stage. McCarter is a gem in our community and we feel very fortunate to give back in a meaningful and helpful way. Furthermore, we are very impressed by all that McCarter does to reach out to underprivileged youth through the theater’s Arts Education programs,” says Debbie Schaeffer, owner of Mrs. G TV & Appliances.

Don't Mess with the Mrs.
A feister retailer with over 70 years of experience beats up on big boxes in New Jersey.
Nearly every town in America has a stretch of beat up, commercialized highway that looks like Route 1 in New Jersey. And nearly every American has done time waiting at light after light on such a pike, wondering if the road work will ever be done, barely surveying the lands scape because, frankly, its not much to look at--just parking lots and shrubby-looking trees. These roads are abough signs, really, the familiar bold letters that guide drivers to groceries, fast food, used cars, Wal-Mart, and the mall exists, signs are pretty much the same everywhere. Everywhere except Lawrenceville, a Jersey town between Trenton and Princeton that, however generically suburban it appears at first glance, it happens to be a home of a one-of-a-kind American sign. (read more)

Corporate Donors Partner with Habitat For Humanity to Build Home

Sharon D'Alessio is shown at her new kitchen range that was among numerous appliances donated by Whirlpool through Mrs. G's Appliance Store. Also pictured from left, Gus Colyar, Territory Manager for Whirlpool, Linda Principe, Co-Chair of the Habitat for Humanity project and Debbie Schaffer (right), third-generation owner of Mrs. G's.	Debbie Schaffer, Owner of Mrs. G's Appliance Store, in front of Sharon D'Alessio's new home, presents a plate of appreciation to Gus Colyar, Territory Manager of Whirlpool for their major donation of kitchen appliances and a clothes washer and dryer for this East Windsor Habitat for Humanity project.

Visualizing a team of volunteers working together to build a home is the usual image that people have for Habitat for Humanity. What is often unknown is how much corporate sponsors and donors contribute toward Habitat for Humanity projects to help bring them to reality. One such example is a home building project recently completed in East Windsor. The owner of Mrs. G’s retail appliance and TV superstore on Route 1 in Lawrence, Debbie Schaffer, arranged with Whirlpool to donate new kitchen and laundry appliances. The recipient of this new home was Sharon D’Alessio. (read more)