by Caroline Turney
Having spent much of her childhood at the historic home site of her Aunt Connie and Uncle Ed Bremer’s nearby generational ranch, Bulverde resident Lisa Cragg is familiar with the home and garden challenges that locals face year round.
In preparing for fall, Lisa Cragg says now is the time to wrap pipes, have faucet covers available, check door insulation and have warming supplies for small animals. “This is Texas,” she said, “It can freeze any time.”
Cragg also said that the time has come to implement fall fertilizers and thorn control products. “If people treat their grass three times in one year, they can be sticker free the next year,” she explained.
Currently, Cragg’s Do It Best Lumber and Home Center is stocking mums, pansies and other fall plants along with plenty of in-store advice. Master gardening advice is also available by clicking on the Texas Cooperative Extension link at the bottom of the home page for Cragg’s Do It Best Lumber and Home Center at www.craggs.doitbest.com.
In addition to offering information and supplies to prepare the home and garden for fall, Cragg’s offers decorating items for the holiday season. End caps and aisles are currently laden with hints of autumn from faux pumpkins and gourds to silk foliage and sunflowers.
For the early bird, artificial Christmas trees, ornaments, swags and other items are in stock. In fact, Cragg’s specializes in helping customers locate hard-to-find holiday items such as an entire tree decorated with one theme. “We helped one woman find several guitar ornaments to decorate her father’s tree with that one theme,” Lisa Cragg said. “Special orders are welcome,” she added.
To help area residents prepare their homes for the holidays, Cragg’s will host a Ladies Night from 7 p.m. to 9 p.m. Dec. 2. During the festivities, guests will have the opportunity to enjoy appetizers, wine, and several small appliance demonstrations including the George Foreman Grill and a quesadilla maker.
A local massage therapist will be on site to handle end-of-day stress. Several door prizes will be given away as well as huge savings throughout the store. Entire sections will be discounted for this event, open to the public.
The event will take place in the Cragg’s store located on Highway 46 about one mile west of Highway 281.
The owners are involved with the community in other ways as well. Their most active contribution is a partnership with Habitat for Humanity. The non-profit organization “...works in partnership with people in need to build and renovate decent, affordable housing,” according to www.comalhabitat.org. Tom Troll is the executive director for the Comal County chapter based in New Braunfels. He said, “We appreciate everything that Cragg’s has done. They have really stepped up to bring a resource on that end of the county.”
In fact, Cragg’s is an official drop off site for people who wish to donate items to Habitat for Humanity. Information about tax receipts is available by calling (830) 625-7005. Cragg’s supports several other local non-profit organizations and groups including The Bulverde Senior Center, St. Jude’s Ranch for Children, and various scholarship funds.
Lisa Cragg says that being part of the community is what sets their business apart. “I think we are a new version of the Mom and Pop idea. We are family owned and operated so we can be very flexible and conscious of what our customers want,” she said.
Even eight-year-old Dean Cragg helps out in the store. Lisa Cragg added that nobody dictates what Cragg’s has to stock so they are able to carry exactly what people say they need. She often asks questions like, “Do you use it frequently?” and “Would you like us to carry it?” when determining what to stock.
Regardless of what customers find on the shelves and in the lumber yard, thousands of items are available on line for store pick up or shipping. In fact, Cragg’s offers complete build-it-yourself home packages. “We sell everything you need to build an entire home from the dry wall to the bathtub,” Lisa Cragg said.
Doug Cragg offers personal treatment and construction experience for customers who purchase building supplies at Cragg’s. Lisa Cragg added that they know most area subcontractors by name and are glad to help people locate them.
In-store items include selections from lawn and garden, cleaning, hardware, electrical, plumbing, house wares, home décor, and gifts. According to customer requests, Cragg’s also carries seasonal items such as school supplies.
Lisa Cragg said she and Doug like to respond to requests whenever they can because they appreciate their customers. “Bulverde and Spring Branch are changing fast, and we are growing,” she said. “We appreciate the support of our customers who have been with us from the beginning, and we welcome opportunities to make new customers and friends.”
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