Hartland native wants shoppers to get the best 'dealz' at her new store

Jennifer Eberbach, Livingston Daily
·2 min read
Michelle Walker-Schaefer (right) gathers with three of her children, from left Renee, 23, Nicholas, 21, and Kolton, 8, near the front entrance of Dealz Dealz on Wednesday, Aug. 2, 2023.
Michelle Walker-Schaefer (right) gathers with three of her children, from left Renee, 23, Nicholas, 21, and Kolton, 8, near the front entrance of Dealz Dealz on Wednesday, Aug. 2, 2023.

HARTLAND TWP. — A 'mom-preneur' who lives in Deerfield Township says she's found a way to sell mostly new merchandise mostly half-off.

Dealz Dealz owner Michelle Walker-Schaefer will sell a little bit of everything at 9200 Highland Road in Hartland Township. She's renovated a former laundromat into a discount retail store, which is set to open Friday, Aug. 11.

Walker-Schaefer, who grew up in Hartland, purchases merchandise from national retailers by the pallet and resells most items for 50 percent of their retail value.

"I’m like 10 stores in one," she said. "I’ve got everything. You don’t have to go somewhere else."

The new brick-and-mortar store covers many categories, including:

  • Kitchen, bathroom and household items

  • Baby and children's products and clothing

  • Electronics and appliances

  • Furniture and bedding

  • Camping and patio supplies

  • Seasonal items

  • Automotive items

  • Musical instruments

  • Men's and women's clothing

Opening weekend hours are 10 a.m.-8 p.m. Friday-Sunday, Aug. 11-13. They'll be closed for several days afterward, then will put regular hours in place.

Homemade entrepreneur

Walker-Schaefer and her family regularly hosted garage sales for nearly a decade before starting Dealz Dealz as an online business, which gained traction on Facebook Marketplace.

The store is a family affair, with husband Jason Schaefer helping when he's not at his day job. Some of their children, Austin, Nicholas, and Reneé Walker — in their 20s — will help operate the store. Even youngest, Kolton, 8, is helping set up the store.

Melissa Walker-Schaefer shows some of the discounted merchandise at Dealz Dealz on Wednesday, Aug. 2, 2023.
Melissa Walker-Schaefer shows some of the discounted merchandise at Dealz Dealz on Wednesday, Aug. 2, 2023.

"It’s a fun job. Every time we open a pallet, it’s like Christmas," Walker-Schaefer said. "We can see what’s in there first. Sometimes, you can get loads. It's up and down."

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The store will also consign dancewear, as it's located in the same duplex commercial building as Hartland Dance Academy.

"I just like that I’m still in my hometown," Walker-Schaefer said. "And I can help people find good deals."

— Contact reporter Jennifer Eberbach at jeberbach@livingstondaily.com. 

This article originally appeared on Livingston Daily: Hartland native wants shoppers to get the best 'dealz' at her new store