Dollar stores are traditionally known for bargains on household and party-supply goods. They are not often thought of as a high-touch service business. Gary and Marlene Kubis have created the best of both worlds at the store in Suwanee. The owner operators provide bargain merchandise in their store as well as a special-order service for customers.
Popular special orders include party packs, school supplies for students and school supply kits for teachers. Customers call with their list of items, and Marlene Kubis will find, package, and hold for customer pick-up. When possible she will fill the order with supplies that are in store inventory, but in many cases she orders the items to match the customer request.
Everyone with school-age kids is familiar with the student supply list given to parents at the beginning of each year. The Dollar Discount service will fill all of the items in the list and call the customer when it’s ready for pick-up. The Kubis’ have partnered with some schools in the past to advertise their services and have pre-made supply kits. However much of their business is from repeat customers and word of mouth referrals.
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Marlene Kubis said they try to differentiate themselves from other dollar stores with “personalized customer service.” She said they have been called the “Lord and Taylor of Dollar Stores” for their high-touch service. In one instance this year, they received a school list from a student at a math and science academy that called for a Turkish dictionary. Marlene Kubis found it and packed it. In another instance the list called for sharpened pencils. The Dollar Discount staff fulfilled that request by sharpening the pencils on site.
Within their store, the Kubis’ choose their inventory. They use the Dollar Discount relationship to order some merchandise at established pricing levels based on volume. Party goods, crafts, and toys are top sellers. But you’ll find other bargains in the store as well. These include household items, greeting cards, and even sun tan lotion.
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The Kubis’ journey to owning a Dollar Discount store began when Gary Kubis was relocated from Philadelphia to Suwanee in 1996. Shortly after their move, his employer was bought, and under new ownership his job was eliminated. At the time, Marlene Kubis was a preschool teacher.
In 1998 the Kubis’ decided they wanted work for themselves and looked for franchise opportunities in the Suwanee area. Dollar Discount, based in Pennsylvania, fit their requirements and they opened the franchise in its current location in Suwanee. Marlene Kubis quit the preschool job to work full time in the new family business.
For the first 10 years of operation, nothing in the store was over $1 even if the cost of the item was a dollar. Eventually, market pressures such as supplier costs and delivery fees forced them to price some items above a dollar. They estimate that about 10-15 percent of their in-store inventory is over $1 now. Many of those items are the ones with higher customer demand, such as party supplies and aluminum products.
The Kubis’ are active supporters and volunteers to the Georgia SPCA in Suwanee. The front of their store contains a donation box for the animal agency. They will additionally assist with fundraising efforts and their collection box has also served as an advertisement to find other volunteers for the SPCA.
They have also supported Operation Christmas Child for children in need by allowing customers to fill shoeboxes with supplies to send overseas. If the customer would spend $10 to fill the shoe box then Dollar Discount would donate the shoe box for packaging.
“We want a family like atmosphere here,” Marlene said. “We like to get to know our customers. “
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