I just wanted to take a breather from researching tiny acrylic cubes to display my favorite cards, sifting through linesheets and catalogs (so many skus!), and tweaking my business plan to give a shout out to stationery people. i’ve been seeking advice on small things and big things and the people that have helped me have never met me.  they are simply providing copious amounts of advice from being in the business for a long time and helping out a newbie like me.

it all makes sense though, right?  stationery is all about letting people know how you feel, it’s about communicating with one another, it’s about cordiality and etiquette.   it’s about expression and delighting others through sentiment, humor, or design (perhaps all three).  so the fact that the people in this industry are so expressive and willing to share does not surprise me – though it does delight me!

so many designers have been so friendly and warm.  the ladies who approve attendees at the NSS and the SFIGF (seriously – you wouldn’t need as many credentials to get into the white house) understanding that it’s impossible for a store that has not yet opened to have the proper credentials – and getting me a badge anyway.  and a couple of retailers who have been magnificent in advising on everything from store size to opening buys to what wedding albums are must haves.  i want to specifically thank Lisa from Serendipity in San Francisco and Julie from Sweet Paper in La Jolla. check out their shops if you live nearby  – i’m sure they are as personable and lovely as their owners.

hello lovelies…

some of you may have shopped at the boutique i created in the charming North Beach neighborhood of San Francisco.  it was my first “baby”.  it was my time to create something from scratch that was a manifestation of what i adore:  bright colors, chic clothing and amazing relationships with people.  it is ooma – objects of my affection.

but when my second baby came along  (Oscar) – and we decided to move to Portland – i sold ooma to a lovely couple.  and guess what?  now they have a new baby (Wilder)!!  between parenthood and a slew of other projects they have their hands on – they have decided to sell ooma.

anyone interested in owning a darling store in San Francisco that’s ready to go?  let me know and i’ll pass you on to Jessica & Matt.

(peeking around the corner)

uhm….hi!  it’s me again!  it’s been forever and a day since i wrote….

but i’ve been enjoying my newest mini and my almost 3 year old and coming up with all sorts of brilliant ideas -  just not computing as much.

(so there)

but they’re both napping….and 2011 is my year to start a new retail business!  yiipppppeee!

so i thought it would be kinda fun to chronicle my progress.

what am i doing?  i’m planning to open a charming and modern little stationery and gift boutique.  i’ve always loved stationery (can spend literally hours in a card shop) and i have a flair for gifts.  i think it will be a great combo – and though i still adore fashion – i’m in a phase where jeans and a sweater are all i really want to wear.  so onto something new.

my hope is to open around November…so there is a lot to do until then.

my first 2-do is determine the NAME of my new business.  i actually already thought of one – but not ready to share yet.  still need to get myself registered.  still need to decide if i want to be a sole proprietress or an LLC, yo.

please share your thoughts with me on my new journey!  though i adore retail and have done it before – the stationery/gift model is new to me.  i love suggestions!

xoxo

and yet another fun idea from a local favorite boutique, Shop Adorn!

got an email the other day from Shop Adorn informing me of their Singles Bar.   did they set up a place in the shop for people to meet their soul mate?  uh – no.

unless that soul mate is a sweater in just your size…

the Singles Bar in this case is a special rack which includes the last items left – only one size – and you better hope that it’s yours!  i’ve seen this type of sale before – and i love having the very last item on sale.  it helps with merchandising (sometimes those random hangers on look weird next to all the full merchandise), it provides a sense of urgency to BUY, and it gives people an incentive to visit the shop over and over….

but what i thought was especially clever of Nicole, the charming owner of Shop Adorn, is the name she gave it:  Singles Bar.  pretty catchy!

what are your ideas for special sales racks?

Did you buy something for your store that might be a tad too expensive for your clients (perhaps it was irresistible)?  is there an item in the shop that no one is trying on for whatever reason?  Or maybe it’s been on the rack for a tad too long.

A quick way to move an item is to create a Deal of the Day.  post it on your blog, your facebook page and twitter – and have it be a significant enough discount to drive people into the shop (at least 20% off).  there are tons of deal of the day websites (flash sales like Gilt, Totsy, and a gazillion others that arrive to tempt me each day) – that create a sense of urgency to purchase (especially when a countdown clock is ticking the seconds away!).  people love the excitement of a great deal - especially one that only lasts for a day.  it’s the competition of shopping – better get it before someone else does!!

try it out and see how it works for you.  i imagine the results will be quite nice.  Mink posts deals on their fb page – so you’d be wise to be a fan!!