Tue 11 July 2006
Shops owned by Women and Tourism in Middlebury Vermont
The title says it all!
I have decided to title this blog entry using interesting key words that people might be searching for. I don't totally understand how that works, but Shara the web mistress tried to explain it to me. So maybe some interesting person who is doing a search for shops owned by women, or tourists looking for info about Vermont, will stumble across this wee blog and stay a while! or contact me through the store! What I really need is to get off my Main St location only, and move my store to the stratosphere- virtual main st-where the bell on my door doesn't really ring when you enter, where the people working don't give your pooch a biscuit and a drink, where joy of the nooks and crannies and porches and flowers and benches and music and kind conversation with all of us doesn't really happen. The "magic" of my little store is the collection, the unusual focus, the coming together of things one does not see everywhere-this is what I have been told for years. There really is nothing virtual about it-its hard, focused, determined , organic shopping for new inventory, and reacting to the "marketplace" of my town.and the larger market as well.After 20 years of owning this store, I still walk in and marvel at it all, at what its given back to me. Not the money, but an authentic daily experience with real people from all over the country buying the things that I have set out there for their perusal-what fun!
Wed 26 April 2006
Know Your Business
A local Ad campaign made me think...
Our local paper has had for years big 1/4 page spreads with photos-its called "Meet Your Business" we took the picture last week-it wasn't a very GOOD photo of most of us-but it did commemorate the combined effort of several people in making one small store function. The incredible loyalty of Janice-who left the craft center where both of us worked in 1987, -to open my store and work for me-that was almost 20 years ago-and her dedication and friendship-her selflessness and love, has been almost unbelievable for all this time. Even though my store probably should have closed many many times based on the 6 months of decent sales and the other 6 months of slow sales, we forged ahead-me cancelling orders, moving them ahead she just listening to me complain and whine. Then the "sun comes up" and its June again- Oh boy-!people around-inventory rolling in- everthing is possible! Its not that things aren't better than a few years ago-they are-sales are up a bit- and we are planning for a good Summer-and I feel like Meg Ryan is "You've Got Mail" you know, who had the lovely little book store"The Shop Around the Corner"? I too have the "open" and "Closed" sign we flip every Middlebury Morning-we turn off the lamps each night and say goodnight to everything until we meet again the next day. Theres nothing I have loved doing more than having my own store-I have been truly blessed to be able to go there everyday, with people who are my good friends there with me-crazy, spirited, funky Deb, Carol the bookkeeper who tries to keep me on top of things as I stare at profit and loss statements somewhat blankly, , and Janice-always there first, always up for going for coffee...
Sat 22 April 2006
competition
Is competition always good?
I know for me, that as soon as another gift store is going to open in downtown Middlebury my blood pressure rises and I am immediatly defensive and ..afraid! Ours is such a small town that a new shop is often right across the street, and this is the case this week-2 women who I sense have very good taste are opening a garden and gift shop in a downstairs (less than perfect) location-I worry that they don't know for sure the lines that I carry-and there are alot of them, after 20 years. I heard today that one of the women wats to come talk to me about lines-thats a good sign. But-I am already reacting to the closing of the kitchen shop across the street last year-which people really liked-I have met with a Rep and spent 5 hours over 2 days picking out gadgets and goo-gaws-and who-has and french presses-it will be a good addition to my store-fit a need in town, and bring people in , I hope! I try to be proactive and react to the market..But it can be exhausting this defensive mode.-and worrying that their store will be better than mine.but its made me think more about the planters outside my store-repainting my door--staying on my toes-