Upscale Overstock gets a boost in move to downtown Albion

Photos by Ginny Kropf: Lynn Palmer, owner of Upscale Overstock, displays some of sports clothing and memorabilia she has in her store in Albion.

Upscale Overstock at 50 North Main St. offers a selection of clothing from newborn to extra large men’s. Here, owner Lynn Palmer holds a toddler’s party dress.

ALBION – When Lynn Palmer decided to open her own business, one of the first things she did was enroll in the Microenterprise Assistance Program run by the Orleans Economic Development Agency.

She graduated from the 10-week class for small business owners in 2019 and opened Upscale Overstock in Medina at the end of the year in 2019.

Palmer was just getting her feet on the ground when the pandemic last March and she was forced to close her doors to the public. She continued to promote the store’s merchandise through a Facebook page and people could pick up the items from the front window.

The store was able to reopen for in-store sales in late May when the state eased some of the Covid restrictions. One of her most popular items early pandemic were masks made by her daughter Samantha.

She shifted to the Albion location at 50 North Main St. on Jan. 18 and Palmer said the prominent spot on Main Street has been good for her business.

The store offers all new merchandise of every kind, including men’s, women’s and children’s clothing, kitchen items and small appliances, professional sports clothing and memorabilia, toys, games, gift items and bed and bath items, including linens.

Upscale Overstock sells general merchandise that was often in the big box stores. When those stores look to change merchandise and switch to a new season, overstock stores like Palmer’s often acquire the items. They are still new, but haven’t been used.

She tends to receive a shipment each week with one or two pallets of overstock items that are all new merchandise.

In addition, Palmer also displays a section of craft items made by her daughter, which include handmade tee shirts, custom-made signs, string art and adult’s and children’s masks.

Palmer plans to feature a fun promotion every month, with March’s being a pot of gold hidden somewhere in the merchandise. The first person to find the item gets 10 percent off their order.

The store is open from 9:30 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. Monday through Friday and from 9:30 a.m. to 2 p.m. Saturday.

Palmer also works at Walmart but she said it is her goal to some day be able to spend all her time in her own business.

Information is available on the Upscale Overstock Facebook page or by calling (585) 283-4132.