Today we’d like to introduce you to Susie Puskedra.
Susie, please share your story with us. How did you get to where you are today?
I started Susie’s Estates 20 years ago while living in Homewood, IL. I had previously been an antique dealer and was attending estate sales to fill in my inventory. I realized that estate liquidation was much more fast paced and interesting so I decided to give it a try, along with my antique business. After a few years, I gave up the antiques and went into liquidations full time. I absolutely love the business of helping families who don’t know where to turn. I have always loved having a job in sales and the fact that I learn something new every single day. Our tag line is “We LOVE what we do and it shows in our work”. This statement says it all!
Great, so let’s dig a little deeper into the story – has it been an easy path overall and if not, what were the challenges you’ve had to overcome?
It really has been a smooth road as we started out small and did not grow so fast that we started to cut corners at any time. We now have either made every mistake possible or have learned from the mistakes of our network of estate liquidators. It really comes down to treating our clients and customers with respect and doing the best job possible in each situation. Each sale has its little quirks and challenges so one secret is to learn to adjust to each individual challenge with a smile on our face.
Please tell us about Susie’s Estates.
Our company liquidates a household of all personal property that is left, due to a death, divorce, downsizing or a major move. We tell people that we will sell anything from the fine antiques to a half bag of kitty litter and everything in between. We are known for being a company that is not afraid of dealing with hoarders or “mobsters”. Other companies send us these unusual and sometimes difficult sales. We are very respectful of our clients’ privacy and never share their information with anyone.
We also are known as the friendly, fun estate sale company. Our staff is always ready with a smile for our customers and a welcoming attitude. When you enter the door, you will hear the music playing and see everyone genuinely having a good time shopping. It is as much a social event as it is a sale. Again, “We LOVE what we do and it shows in our work”. Our customers love the experience too. This is what sets us apart from the others and makes our customers want to come back week after week. I am constantly being told that my staff is the friendliest and most accommodating around. This keeps sales strong and makes for a happy client. It is a standard that is of top priority to me.
Do you look back particularly fondly on any memories from childhood?
Hmmm, I have so many wonderful childhood memories, growing up in Rock Falls, IL. Most of them involved spending time with my grandparents who were very patient with me and taught me about gardening, fishing, cooking and more. Like with my business, I was always learning something and that was why I loved spending time with them.
Contact Info:
- Website: SusiesEstates.com
- Phone: (708)557-9180
- Email: sue-puskedra@att.net
- Facebook: Susie’s Chicago, IL and Key West, FL Estate Sales
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