Karen has always been the first to recommend who should be spotlighted, and now it’s time we spotlight her!

Meet Karen, our faithful store manager for the past 11 years! Karen has been the biggest blessing that we could have asked for. She has led the store through renovations and merchandising changes, transformed the image of our store, and shaped the New 2 You community that we know today. We are so, so thankful for Karen and all of her innovative ideas, dozens of talents, dedicated work ethic, and heart of service. 

Karen was born in Orlando, Florida, as one of seven sisters. Her love for Disney played a large role in her childhood and, at age 18, she landed her first job at Lake Buena Vista in merchandising, launching her retail career. She assisted in managing 12 different retail stores and ordering and replenishing products for them. When she turned 21, Karen moved to Grand Rapids and started working for Hudson’s (known today as Macy’s), where she was the merchandising manager for several departments and later switched to a human resources manager. She never ceases to impress! Her final career before New 2 You was launching the business Basket Works with her business partner and continued for 20 years. Together they created and sold gift baskets for corporate customers out of their retail store in Cascade. When Karen was ready to retire from Basket Works in 2013, a friend of hers saw an advertisement in The Banner for the store manager position at New 2 You. Although she wasn’t looking to work full time, Karen felt called to the position, especially after hearing from the New 2 You board that the store was looking to renovate and step into a new height of merchandising.

Karen’s first year at New 2 You was full of surprises! With constant renovations and departmental changes, the work was tiring but meaningful. The nature of her job has demanded Karen to be both flexible and innovative as each day has unique needs and new donations come in that need to have a home on the sales floor, even when there doesn’t seem to be room. Finding room on the selling floor is what Karen labels as her “secret power.” It’s no surprise that merchandising has been her favorite task.

Karen is most proud of how New 2 You has been able to adapt to higher standards of merchandising and become a beautiful store with a wide variety of products that are clean and presented at the same standards that Macy’s is but for customers of all income levels. New 2 You is a place where anyone can have an excellent shopping experience and purchase goods affordably. 

As each day has brought new demands and priorities, it has also brought new memories. Her biggest joy of being at New 2 You has been working with the volunteers. “They are very gifted, and they come from all different walks of life,” Karen shared. However, despite differences in life experiences, these volunteers all have the same heart for the work that New 2 You does in supporting the community and the Grand Rapids Christian Schools. “The people are what make this store incredible. They’re like family—we pray for each other, many socialize together and some shifts even eat dinner together. I love seeing this community build up,” Karen explained. “Being in community with so many people will change your life.” She has deep gratitude for this community and the many volunteers that have shared their lives with her. She’s also truly thankful for the New 2 You board members and volunteers that have trusted her and supported her many “wild and crazy” ideas.

Karen is bringing her life full-circle by moving back to Florida after retirement, where she and her dog, Charley, will join two of her sisters and their dogs in Cape Canaveral, Florida. In pursuing her continued love for Disney, Karen hopes to join the Disney “cast” again after decades of being away and work part-time planning cast member events. We know how Karen likes to stay busy, so she will also be a set of helping hands at her sister’s restaurant, where they are undergoing major renovations. In Cape Canaveral, there are frequent NASA rocket launches in sight, which Karen and her sisters will watch from their backyards together. 

Karen has touched the lives of hundreds in the New 2 You community, and she will never be forgotten. While we are so sad to say goodbye to her, we are excited to see what the Lord has in store and send our prayers her way in this time of transition.

In our final week with Karen, we’re celebrating her in-person and online. If you come into the store, we invite you to take a minute to say goodbye. Starting on Tuesday, June 25, we will also be digitally collecting notes that you can write to her.

Thank you for everything, Karen! You are the biggest blessing!