LONG DAYS AT STORE PUT IN FOR LOVE OF JOB; WOMAN'S WORK HELPS FIGHT CANCER.

Byline: Victoria Giraud People and Places

Joan Boyd, manager of The Discovery Shop in Newhall, an upscale resale boutique that benefits and is run by the American Cancer Society, is in love with her job.

She must be. ``In September I worked 23 days without a day off,'' Joan says lightly. ``I'm paid for 35 hours; I work about 70 hours, from early morning till late. I lost 10 pounds the first month I was here - it's so much work.''

Established in Southern California in 1965, The Discovery Shop has grown to 50 outlets and made $8 million last year for cancer research.

``We accept pretty much everything: clothes, jewelry, knickknacks, antiques, silver, books, electronics, cars, furniture,'' Joan said, but they must be ``gently used'' items. Large appliances, mattresses and broken items are not accepted.

Finding inspiration in the people she works with and serves, Joan's goal is to put The Discovery Shop into the black and to be able to contribute as much as possible to the American Cancer Society.

Located in Santa Clarita for five years and open at 26572 Bouquet Canyon Road for two years, the shop struggles to make a profit, Joan says. ``We're fighting to get a foothold.''

She's managed to bring the store from a no-profit level to being able to donate 30 percent to Cancer Society. ``We have to make $170,000 just to make a profit,'' she pointed out.

Being thrifty is one of the ways Joan is creating profits. ``We recycle everything (hangers, for instance), so we don't have to spend money, and we're very diligent.''

Without an advertising budget, Joan visits local organizations to get out the word and says word-of-mouth is one of the most successful means of drawing people to the store.

Store workers are all volunteers, many of them survivors of cancer. The store has extra meaning for Joan since she lost both her parents to cancer when they were in their early 60s, about 20 years ago.

``My people are so dedicated,'' Joan declared. ``Some have been here six years. We have 15 volunteers, but we need 45.''

Volunteers are in charge of sorting donations, pressing clothes, displaying and changing clothes around, and cleaning up.

The lack of donations is another critical area. ``People remember us at holiday and tax time, but we need 10 donations a day to stay alive.''

Joan makes it easier for donors. There is no pickup service, except on the rare occasion when she will use her private car, but she will arrange to be at the store extra early or extra late to accommodate donors.

The clothing for sale can be quite a find. Name-brand clothing is sold, and some of it is donated new with price tags still on the garments. Last fall, the store was given 300 gowns from a local bridal store, prompting quick sales. Clothing is never recycled from season to season. If it doesn't sell within 60 days, it's marked down to half price for a week and then donated out.

Joan's business background included many years working in the banking industry, and she also had her own video rental store in Burbank. Since she had already been shopping at Discovery for the past five years when she found the manager job was available, she jumped at the chance.

Mother of three sons and five grandchildren, she and her husband, Bill, have been married 46 years. They've lived in Santa Clarita for more than 22 years. One of the perks of Joan's job is the location: The shop is only a block from her home.

Making a success of The Discovery Shop is an important goal, and Joan says, ``I'd like to get (the donations to the Cancer Society) up to 60 percent.''

In the meantime, Joan says, ``I'm very proud of all of it. It's a lot of work, but it's worth it.''

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PHOTO (Color) Manager Joan Boyd sits amid the ``gently used'' items for sale at The Discovery Shop, which helps raise funds for the American Cancer Society.

Hans Gutknecht/Daily News