New Sugarhouse Store--Grand Opening!!!

The date has finally arrived!!! It's seemed like an eternity since they first confirmed that the Sugarhouse store would be moving, and we've waited patiently for them to finish the new building, but the grand opening is tomorrow! I spoke with Violet, Sugarhouse D.I. manager, who told me that the opening ceremony will be at 10:00 a.m. The weather is supposed to be iffy, so make sure to bring an umbrella. If anyone else is planning to sleep out on the curb tonight to make sure to get a good spot, let me know and we can carpool. Maybe we can hit Dee's across the street for some late-night honey cinnamon chicken. 
Also, PLEASE BE AWARE that the old Sugarhouse store is currently closed. If you need a cellphone charger for a 2003 Motorola Razr or an incomplete set of 1981 blade-backed knockoff golf irons within the next 22 hours, you'll probably want to either go to the Murray store or the downtown store, hours and directions here.

Sugarhouse Jan. 7, 2011

If any of you know what size shirt my great uncle-in-law, Cal Gaddis, wears, please let me know ASAP! There's a great deal ($6.00) on this yellow hoodie at the Sugarhouse store. It is a thick, quality sweatshirt in very good condition with NO STAINS!
I think Cal wears a large, but if he could fit into a medium, it'd be epic. Cal currently lives in a senior apartment complex on Highland Drive and I only see him every two or three years. I'm afraid someone's going to buy the shirt before I see him next Christmas and have a chance to ask him his size. 

Emergency Update!!!

Sorry for the lack of posts in the last year. Between Mike's cancer and move to CA, and my bar exam, we've been a little busy.

I wanted to write and let everyone know that there is another company using the D.I. moniker that is NOT affiliated with Deseret Industries. While on vacation, I walked past Diamonds International, a high-end jewelry company that has stores in exotic tourist destinations and touts itself as "the connoisseur's choice for brilliant diamonds, fine jewelry and exquisite timepieces." Please be aware that, although it is often referred to as "D.I.," Diamonds International has NOTHING to do with the popular chain of thrift stores operated by Deseret Industries.

If you have trouble telling the difference between the two stores, here are a few key distinctions:

1. Higher prices than you'd normally expect at a thrift store
2. No yard area
3. Located in areas outside the U.S. that are frequented by wealthy tourists (Deseret Industries stores are usually found at "B-minus" locations in Utah and Idaho.)
4. Fresh, clean scent for both the store AND the employees

As you probably assumed, I've already contacted Deseret Industries to alert them to this clear case of trademark infringement. 

D.I. Estyle: "Es mi D.I." (see below for English translation)

Las Industrias Deseret siempre han sido una organización multicultural. Guillermina, Manolo, y Jorge (véase la foto, arriba) bien saben que las tiendas D.I. no discriminan por origen racial o étnico, religión o convicciones, discapacidad, edad, sexo, u orientación sexual. Ellos saben que los caucáseos, los latinos, y los afroamericanos pueden comprar una tabla de planchar manchada mientras llevan un traje de vestir como pueden comprar un bolso de piel cubierto de polvo para una bola de bolos mientras llevan un sucio mono marón que huele a la orina y que tiene una rasgadura en el trasero que enseña parte del glúteo desnudo. Así es la nivel de aceptación que todos esperamos. Con esta atmósfera, la D.I. ha llegado a ser un local atractivo para muchos latinos en Utah, algunos de los cuales han sufrido por la discriminación de origen racial y étnico, y de idioma de nuestro país. Con servicios especiales para hispanohablantes, la D.I. ofrece a Guillermina, Manolo, y Jorge una oportunidad de unirse con otros compradores de todo origen en buscar la aceptación y un buen precio para unos altavoces de un metro del año 1974. Colectivamente declaran:
Es mi decisión. Es mi tienda. Es mi D.I.

D.I. Style: “It’s my D.I.”
The D.I. has always been a multicultural organization. Guillermina,  Manolo, and Jorge (see photo, above) well know that D.I. stores don’t discriminate by economic status, racial or ethnic origen, religion or beliefs, handicap, age, gender, or sexual orientation. They know that Caucasians, Latinos, and African Americans alike can all just as easily buy a stained ironing board while wearing a business suit as they can purchase a dusty leather bowling ball bag while wearing a dirty brown jumpsuit that smells of urine and has a rip in the back that shows part of the naked buttock. Such is the level of acceptance we have all come to expect. With such an atmosphere, the D.I. has become a magnet for many Latinos in Utah, some of whom have suffered from our country’s continuing ethnic, language, and racial discrimination. With special accommodations for Spanish-speakers, the D.I. offers Guillermina,  Manolo, and Jorge a chance to join with D.I. shoppers of all backgrounds in their search for acceptance and a good deal on a set of three-foot speakers built in 1974. Collectively they declare: 
It’s my decision. It’s my store. It’s my D.I.

Bulk Sales

The D.I. has always been famous for great pricing on quality merchandise. But sometimes you want to get a good deal at wholesale (or whole-resale, if you will) prices. I can get a great deal on one, but what if I want to buy 30? There are a few things at the D.I. that you can consistently buy in bulk:

Crutches: Little Johnnie breaks his leg while jumping over a fence to escape the wrath of his neighbor, Don, whose cat he has just spray-painted pink. Johnnie uses the crutches for two weeks and then gives them away, not knowing that he will later have ACL surgery after his overly violent, blindfolded, ten-year-old son hits him with a bat during a piñata party, and years later need a total hip replacement after his decalcified pelvis shatters when he slips and falls during his Friday game of shuffleboard with Dick and LaVerle at the Willow Gardens assisted living facility. Should’ve kept the crutches. Foolish. Short-sighted. Yet an opportunity for the bulk D.I. shopper. Sold by the truckload for $60.

Denim Dresses: Just because Mary Lou escaped a hard life as wife number three in a polygamist compound doesn’t mean that she should completely change her appearance. Maybe lose the long braid and start wearing a little makeup, but please don’t throw out the denim dress! Again, an opportunity for a bulk deal. Whereas one denim dress will cost you $8, a bale of dresses will cost you $40. Not a bad deal, especially if you’re a an enterprising and psychologically controlling young man looking for a group of women to help you start a new lifestyle on the outskirts of a small town in southern Utah.

Naked Barbies®: I’m not sure why little Katie decided to keep the Barbie clothes but throw out the doll, but apparently she is not alone. I realize that Barbies continue to cause unrealistic body type expectations, but really, is lying naked with dozens of other shapely and plasticine women (wait for it) on a cold shelf at the D.I. really the fate they deserve? You can buy the naked dolls individually for 50¢, but I like to buy them in bulk for $5.00 per pound.

Murray 10-6-09

Murray finally put up its pumpkin banners and I must say that they look pretty sharp in the new store. I can hardly imagine what the Sugarhouse store will look like once it’s completed. (On that note, there was an article in the Trib (see link) about a potential conflict between Deseret Industries and Salt Lake City over the number of parking stalls and an allegedly historic mansion on the property. Of course you know on whose side I fall. I’ll be curious to see the response from D.I. I've learned from Greg Shields, agent for Pentad, that the deal has not yet closed.)
So I bought a two-dollar belt at Murray today. I’ve been searching for an off-white belt to match some casual shoes. I’ve always been self-conscious wearing a brown belt with the off-white shoes, so hopefully the colors will match. I know you’re not supposed to wear white after Labor Day, but I think a belt could be an exception.
Even if I hadn’t found the belt, the day would have been very productive.

I was standing in line at the register, ready to purchase this item, but then realized I had no idea what it was. I was initially attracted to the solid feel of this product; it’s made of quality stainless steel and has non-slip handles. It also has two double-pronged ends with tightening screws that would definitely be good for applying this product to its intended purpose. I don’t have a lot of experience with this particular model, but I think it’s safe to say that it is one of the nicest around—the “Rolls Royce” of whatever this item is supposed to be. I’m still thinking about buying it, but haven’t yet figured out how I might use it. I’m afraid it might end up in my basement next to the three-foot cube of foam and 10-inch diameter plastic pipe that I’m still storing for some future—and heretofore unknown—need. Just to be safe, I hid the item under the bike helmets in case I decide that I can’t pass it up.

West Jordan - 10/1/09

First off, I want to warn everyone that the West Jordan D.I.'s automatic doors are currently out of order. I made the mistake of approaching the doors too quickly, and made quite the scene when they didn't open. After gathering my phone and my wallet off the concrete, I alerted the store manager and started shopping.

I went to the West Jordan D.I. yesterday to look for a new ab-roller. I found one, but one side of the handle had been mauled by what appeared to be a large dog. I still tried it out on the "Yard Area" floor, but decided to pass on it due to its high price of $5.00.

I also came across some other great items.

For you hunters out there, the West Jordan D.I. has 14 racks of camouflage clothing. Don't waste your money at Cabela's when the WJ D.I. has a great selection of camo ranging from $3.00 - $15.00 per item.

I found an (incomplete) oversized chess set in the "Toys Area." These chess pieces are being sold individually for $0.50 each, or offered in a bulk sale discount at $7.00.

I also came across a complete set of five Salt Lake County Jr. Jazz jerseys. These reversible micro mesh jerseys all have an athletic-cut style with silver/navy blue colors. I almost bought the #10 jersey today, but just couldn't split up the complete set. (Please note the #3 jersey had some sort of maroon stain across the front right portion of the jersey)

I was surprised to find three commode chairs in the West Jordan "Yard Area." I sat down on all three of them, and found them all to be stable and comfortable. The inventor of the commode chair should be credited for the design of the chair, which uses the toilet seat cover flap as a back support during use. All three commodes were standard stand-alone toilets (without wheels) for use at the bedside, bathroom, or shower. This commode chair would be a great gift this holiday season to anyone who has problems with slippery surfaces in the bathroom, or has weakened muscles and balance problems which could affect their ability to travel to the bathroom and use the toilet.

Sept. 29 visit to Sugarhouse

Today I hit Sugarhouse during my lunch hour before getting fish tacos at Rubios. I found a good belt I wanted, but it was a little too long and I don’t have a leatherpunch, so I had to pass. It was nevertheless a very productive trip, as I found out that VHS movies are now “buy one, get one free.” Here are some other items to consider:

If you, like me, have ever found yourself with the decorating dilemma of whether to adorn your mantle with a nice candle or a statue of a small bird with a large head and a tutu, you will be happy to find that this is no longer an “either/or” predicament. The sculptor of this figure was no doubt inspired by the “Tweety” character from Warner Brothers, and decided to immortalize his inspiration in the form of solidified bacon grease. The figure is not in perfect condition, which explains the low price of $1.00.

Some people may be paranoid about lying down naked on something they found at the D.I., but those few people will miss out on a great deal on a 3-SPEED BUBBLE MAT!!! This luxury item is usually reserved for such high-end vendors as Brookstone and QVC, but is now found on the bottom shelf of the D.I. basement near the used curling irons and electric callus sanders. The sexy blonde model on the box entices you to lay back and relax in a warm bubble bath while you wonder how many people used this product before you did and what made them decide to throw it away. D.I. Price: $15.00

This sparring helmet once belonged to a champion, at least until he got his face caved in by a bigger alpha male. The padding has taken a lot of abuse, suggesting that this guy was no Chuck Liddell. Due to the amount of wear around the interior of the mouth pads, I’m pretty sure he lost several teeth while wearing this helmet. Other than the wear and the sweat, blood, and saliva stains, this helmet is ready for a new contender. Go Rocky. D.I. Price: $3.00

Animal Mounts

Let me respond to a question submitted by one of our followers. First of all, let me say that Dan and I appreciate your interest in D.I. Style, and hope we can direct you to the items you are looking for.

In response to your inquiry about animal mounts, we would suggest you make the trip out to the Vernal D.I. The Vernal D.I. is located at 1070 West Highway 40 and is a quick three hour drive from Salt Lake City. I have made the drive several times in search of an old Vernal City basketball league tank top. And, while I have come away empty-handed each time, it was well worth the drive. According to Jason Edwards, the manager of the Vernal D.I. "Receiving" area, they have had a number of animal mounts come in during the past couple of weeks as optimistic hunters are clearing their walls to make room for new game. Here are a few items which might interest you and your husband at the Vernal D.I.

(Disclaimer: Dan and Mike make no guarantee as to the availability of the items listed below. While all information is believed to be accurate and has been obtained from sources deemed to be reliable, no warranty is expressed or implied.)

Deer Mount/Coat Rack
This deer mount/coat rack came in last week, and has stirred up a lot of local interest. My wife actually might make the trip out this weekend to take a look at this. It is priced to sell at $15.00.

Black Crappie Mount
This black crappie would look great in any kitchen, home office, or bathroom. It has been on the shelf for over a month now, but is expected to go over the weekend. The price was recently reduced from $5.00 to $3.00, which should bring some interest in from some of the younger boys in town.

Red Razorback Hog Mount

This beautiful red razorback hog mount has a nice brisket, artificial jaws, natural tusks, and rare color for a piece this old. Offered at $10.00.

We appreciate you feedback and hope this helps.

Brigham City D.I.

I had the chance of driving by the Brigham City D.I. yesturday afternoon. The D.I. is located at 668 South Main Street, with average exposure along Main Street. According to several local sources, the Brigham City D.I. is known for having friendly english speaking employees and a good selection of warm winter clothing, hand tools, dutch ovens, portable walkman cassette players, J Porter's jerky making machines, and cow milking machines.

Visit to Murray D.I.

I visited the Murray D.I. the other day, and found a unique item:

N’ Sync fans (you know who you are!) will want to hurry to the yard section of the Murray D.I. to pick up this collector’s item before it gets sold or thrown in the pile of stuff that gets shipped to Kenya. While not nearly as valuable as a Lance Bass doll (especially after his shocking “I’m desperate for attention gay!” announcement (see link)), the Chris Kirkpatrick figure is ready to seduce the heart of a young teenage girl or adult male fetishist. D.I. price: $3.00.

For those of you who have been following the Sugarhouse updates, the Murray D.I. (located at 4500 South State Street) is a prime example of a newer, updated store.

D.I. Style Adds A Personal Touch

Dan and I created this site hoping to have the support and participation of the D.I. employees. We thought that the people on the front lines could add invaluable insight into the inner-workings of the D.I. We took a few hours the other day to interview a few employees, get their stories, and get a few tips for the upcoming holidays.

Dabir

Dabir has worked at the D.I. for three years, and has recently made the move from "Receiving" to "Retail Merchandising." With the colder weather just around the corner, Dabir is excited to move indoors and interact more with costomers. Dabir had some very interesting tips for people looking for Halloween costumes. Dabir has found that most of the good Halloween costumes are gone by the beginning of October. He advised us to get in before October, or start planning for next year. Many of the D.I. employees and patrons monitor the costume section of the clothing area very closely, and make it very difficult to find a good buy, regardless of the season. Dabir even said that most of the good Halloween costumes don't ever make it past the "Receiving" area. Dabir has seen many different costume concoctions at the D.I. over the past three years. His favorite was the combination of a wedding dress, a small mattress, a hockey stick, and a large stuffed animal.

Tip of the Day: Dabir said that November and December are historically huge in the "Receiving" area for Halloween items.

New Sugarhouse Location

I spent some money and hired a pilot to take some aerial photographs of the new Sugarhouse location. I must say that I’m quite impressed. You can clearly see the four points of access that will make this one of the premier D.I. locations in Utah. Obviously it would be nice to have a left turn off of eastbound 2100 South, but I guess people can always turn left on 800 East. It will be interesting to see what kind of signage Salt Lake City will allow on 700 East. Stay tuned!

Here’s part of the plat map from the Salt Lake County records.

Swine Flu and the D.I.

Many people have feared that they will automatically contract the H1N1 virus (commonly known as “swine flu”) simply by entering a D.I. location, so I wanted to address the issue quickly. This fear is not wholly unjustified, as the demographic melting pot and unsanitary donations combine to make an ideal human petri dish. Statistics show, however, that only 35% of D.I. patrons contract swine flu as a result of visiting a D.I. (The numbers go up slightly if you happen to touch anything or respire during your visit.) That means that you will more than likely walk out of the D.I. without having contracted swine flu. Despite these statistics, I like to be on the safe side, so I always use hand sanitizer upon leaving the store. Once I get home, I routinely burn my clothes, exfoliate my skin with a strong acid (I recommend a sub-three PH), and quarantine myself in a closet for three days, just to be safe.

Sept. 9 visit to Sugarhouse

Walked away empty-handed today, but saw some quality items:

Floral Loveseat: This well-made loveseat was once the showpiece of a dimly lit, poorly ventilated living room somewhere in the avenues. No living person would ever give up such a gem, leading me to believe that the prior owner has now passed away. Thoughts and prayers to the grieving family. The solid oak frame is in great shape, and the (slightly stained) floral cushions invite you to kick back and watch a re-run of Matlock. At only $45, the couch is priced to move (fireplace tools sold separately).






Cheese Grater: The stainless steel body and high-impact plastic handle have obviously given years of grating and zesting service to the original owner, but this kitchen gadget has much left to give. The four-sided pyramid design features two zesting sizes, a standard 1/4-inch-hole grating surface, and three cheese-slicers. The product could use some superglue up top and a little rust remover down low. A new grater will run you $14.95 at Walmart, but this product is selling at only 50¢.





Reflections Trophy: Anyone named Kyle Varga will have a hard time passing on this quality trophy from the 1995 Grandview Reflections program. Made of brittle, gold-colored plastic, the unnamed figure raises a symbolic ring of participation high into the sky, celebrating Kyle’s $20 entrance fee and fourth-runner-up watercolor drawing of a swan that hung in his parents’ basement until they got a good deal on a Greg Olsen print from Seagull Book and Tape. D.I. price: 50¢.

Sugarhouse D.I. update

Apparently the Sugarhouse D.I. will be officially moving further west.
http://www.sltrib.com/ci_13209694?IADID=Search-www.sltrib.com-www.sltrib.com
I'll admit I'm kind of nostalgic about seeing the old store go. The three-level design is both unique and functional. That said, parking has always been a problem and the loading dock gets quite congested. I'm hoping that the new store continues to deliver the quality items I've come to rely on.

Welcome

This blog is a forum for the avowed devotees of the D.I. Watch for updates on quality merchandise, spotlighted employees, special purchases, etc. Feel free to comment or contribute.