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The Saturday Sample Shed
Text and photos by Laura Jean Whitcomb
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 The little white signs on Route 114 are addictive. A hand with one finger is pointing the way to the “Sample Shed.” You see one handmade wooden sign, and then another, and before you know it you just have to find out what a Sample Shed is.
Turns out the Sample Shed is a small store with surprisingly stylish clothing — a little bit of New York City on the back roads of Springfield, N.H. Enter through the beaded doorway and you’ll find colorful cotton clothes such as tanks with matching shorts for the summer and long sleeved, button-front jackets for the fall. An entire hanging rack is filled with elastic waist skirts in a variety of hues. Highlighted on one wall is a cute embroidered rayon vest with a tie in the back and matching skirt; on another hanger is a little red dress for a night out on the town.
As you glance through the merchandise, you’re almost afraid to peek at a price tag. But when you do, you’re startled to find prices like $10 for the vest, $11.75 to $14.50 for a skirt and $10 for a pair of red sunglasses. “How do I describe the shop in one word? Bargains,” says Jane Mills, owner of the Saturday Sample Shed. “Prices are usually at wholesale cost or less.”
 Mills says that the Saturday Sample Shed was her husband’s idea. Eddie Mills was a manufacturer’s representative for 35 years, starting out in the business in New York and later moving to New London 21 years ago. “A clothing manufacturer sends you a seasonal line, and your job is to go from store to store to show them samples,” Jane describes. Eddie covered New England and upstate New York for six different clothing lines, and when he died two years ago Jane took over his business. “When the season is over, the samples are mine.”
The store currently has summer and some fall stock from companies such as American Style, Drawstring of CA, RAAgA, Wild Thing Wild Woman and El Huarache. By the end of October, however, the Sample Shed will have all new items, including some fall and winter lines.
“It’s catch as catch can,” Jane describes. “Some people can’t find anything, others walk out with their arms full.”
The Saturday Sample Shed isn’t just for women; there’s a winter outerwear line called RIDE from the snowboard division of K2 ski company. Different styles of snowboarding jackets and pants line one wall; you can find a warden jacket with removable hood, zip-out shell and matching pants for under $100.
 You’d better hurry. The Sample Shed is only open one day a week, and closes up once the snow flies. But Jane will accommodate shoppers if she is home. “I am usually open for business as long as there is no snow on the ground,” she says. “However, anyone wishing to challenge the elements is welcome to ring my bell. For instance, I had a young girl come over to find an outfit for a school trip to New York City.”
WHEN: May through November, Saturdays, 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.
WHERE: Route 114, Springfield, N.H.
WHY: Cool clothes at reasonable prices
WHO: Jane Mills, 763-3450, emills@tds.net
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