Education supply store to open, Aug. 21

Teachables to Hold Grand Opening, Saturday

Independently-owned Educational supply store opens in Bristow

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Just in time for back to school, Teachables, an independently owned educational supply store in Bristow, is holding its grand opening at Bristow Center, Saturday, Aug. 21 from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. 

Teachables is boutique style store dedicated to educational materials. It is the place to find pedological items to spark the imagination! For educators it has the largest selection of teaching materials and supplies in the region. Teachables also carries an array of back-to-school materials for K-8th grade students.

Primary teacher Jennifer Powell and recently retired U.S. Airforce veteran Steve Powell are excited to open the doors of their one-of-a-kind businesses as they transition to a new chapter in their lives. The husband-and-wife team both grew up in entrepreneurial families and shared the dream of owning a business together one day.

“It was already in me,” said Jennifer Powell, and she often told Steve about the ideas she had for businesses.

As a kindergarten and first grade teacher for almost 12 years, Powell could not find an educational supply store in Virginia to rival where she once shopped in North Carolina. To her dismay, she soon found the Gainesville area had no teacher supply stores whatsoever.

For a creative teacher of early learners, planning lessons became more challenging.

“I made my own things,” she said, but she missed that “one-stop shop,” designated for educators.

One day Jennifer told Steve about her frustration with not having a teacher supply store., “That’s it!” Steve said. “That’s the business we should start.”

The Powells decided to move ahead with their in 2020 right before the schools shutdown in spring. Parents wanted a store to provide them with supplement learning materials for their children, so they were very excited about the new store.

Jennifer is convinced educators will appreciate back-to-school items, this year especially. At Teachables, an educator can find that right decor to set a welcoming and joyful tone for their classroom. Homeschool parents can find décor and activities to bring the classroom into the home. Its classroom decor ranges from subtle and sophistication to whimsical and spectacular!

Its selection of teaching supplies invites teachers and parents to get creative! The store sells materials designed to engaged learners in fun and meaningful ways.

“From a teacher’s heart, we wanted to figure out what are the things that get kids to connect to the material. It’s easy to pick up a book and just read to someone,” said Jennifer, but everyone has a different learning style.

“Hands-on materials, illustrations, they help the mind be able to wrap itself around the concept,” Jennifer explained.

Parents and early education educators will find educational toys and learning materials for children age 0-4 such as puzzles, games, puppets, picture books and manipulative. Supplemental materials for ages 4-11 include workbooks, games, flash cards, and literature.

“Educational toys, European toys, puppets, classroom decor, backpacks, back to school gear, interactive globes,” said Jennifer, explaining it is a very comprehensive selection.

A visit to Teachables can transform back-to-school shopping from a chore into an enjoyable, and even memorable experience! Students can choose back-to-school gear such as backpacks while getting the basic school supplies that they need.

Jennifer wants the store to be an engaging place for children, so drawing upon her experience as a primary teacher, she is beginning with inviting a local author to the grand opening.

Local children’s author Carylee Carrington will be reading to student at 11 a.m., Saturday. Carrington, the based in Gainesville, writes books about celebrating and appreciating diversity, including “Pretty Hair.”

Bristow Beat readers can get 10% off their order throughout August and September when they mention Bristow Beat (exclusions apply.)

Teachables is located at 10302 Bristow Center Drive, in the the Harris Teeter shopping center. Visit Teachables online to keep up with latest deals.

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