Sunday, April 18, 2010
If I build it, will they come?
Well it has been slow customer-wise. I mean, alot of people are coming by to check us out but sales are a bit slow. Can't make the rent at this speed! lol! However, our sales this week are already above the sales of last week. A nice steady increase, thats always good!
We sent out flyers to our preferred customers with e-mails, and postcards to the others. If you are on our preferred list and didn't get either, check your junk mail or come by to pick up your membership card and make sure we have all your information correct. Sometimes its difficult to read handwriting and we may have put it in wrong.
We also have an ad coming out in all the Neighborhood Newspapers. They had an awesome deal for Mother's day and we took advantage or it! We are also discussing an ad in the Urban Tulsa. Tulsa World is a bit more than we can afford at the moment, but we have also checked into Billboards.
I am also making flyers for our grand opening. I will take some to the flea market, and hopefully hand some out at Rooster Days in Broken Arrow. I think the kids can go around to the neighborhoods too. Any more ideas for bringing more people in?
We sent out flyers to our preferred customers with e-mails, and postcards to the others. If you are on our preferred list and didn't get either, check your junk mail or come by to pick up your membership card and make sure we have all your information correct. Sometimes its difficult to read handwriting and we may have put it in wrong.
We also have an ad coming out in all the Neighborhood Newspapers. They had an awesome deal for Mother's day and we took advantage or it! We are also discussing an ad in the Urban Tulsa. Tulsa World is a bit more than we can afford at the moment, but we have also checked into Billboards.
I am also making flyers for our grand opening. I will take some to the flea market, and hopefully hand some out at Rooster Days in Broken Arrow. I think the kids can go around to the neighborhoods too. Any more ideas for bringing more people in?
Friday, April 9, 2010
Starting to shape up
Well I have been so busy in the last week plus that I've barely watched TV and haven't been on my computer. We had our first sale on Tuesday. We have had people come in every day to check us out. But we have been very topsy turvy! Today I can finally see hope in getting all our product up on shelves. It has taken so long to check it all in, set up shelves and tables, put all the product by the shelf they will go on, sorting through it all, unpacking the display items, whew!! And of course tagging everything. I still have alot to do, but I think I have passed the middle point. We did get our security installed and got our insurance quote. Our business cards are being printed. We installed pegboard on the wall. Janna super cleaned the bathroom. And we keep filling up the trash can with empty boxes. I still have not gone through my lucky bamboo. I need to finish getting fairies on the shelves, and we have the wall items and knives/swords. Once I get the sales floor done, I have to rearrange the back room. We did get a refrigerator back there for food, since we will almost be living there!
I go home late at night sore and tired. I haven't had much trouble sleeping! I guess I'm too tired to worry about much! Alan is having his usual panics, but thats normal for him! I need more tables. I'm getting to the point where I have space to put things but need a table to set it on!
We have some awesome new products! If you do get a chance, stop by and see us! Not only could we use the company, but we could use some sales to pay the bills! lol! Please do stop by and tell your friends! Have a great day!
I go home late at night sore and tired. I haven't had much trouble sleeping! I guess I'm too tired to worry about much! Alan is having his usual panics, but thats normal for him! I need more tables. I'm getting to the point where I have space to put things but need a table to set it on!
We have some awesome new products! If you do get a chance, stop by and see us! Not only could we use the company, but we could use some sales to pay the bills! lol! Please do stop by and tell your friends! Have a great day!
Saturday, March 27, 2010
Busy doesn't even begin to explain it
So sorry I haven't been able to update! Let me try to summarize. Last week we got the electric and the gas turned on. The water is there but we don't know what switch actually turns it on to our store. The person that was supposed to be fixing the floors and such at the store hasn't been able to do anything yet. We have been assured it will be finished by this weekend. The floor tiles are coming up in the back from water or condensation. This has dried since we have had the heat on, but we need the tiles replaced. There are some other things that still need to be finished.
We finalized the signs. They were supposed to be up by now but we had a couple wet days. Hopefully they will be up this weekend. We are supposed to get rain again today though. We also ordered business cards and a parking sign. I want it to say Parking for A Darn Good Gift Shoppe, Violators will be Fed to the Dragon. hehe!
Tuesday Alan and I went to Dallas. We only got to one store. We had a borrowed truck (Thanks Julie!) but we bought more than we could fit into it. We packed the truck full and had them set aside the other half of what we picked out. We still have more to pick out and a couple more stores to visit down there. I rented a cargo van for this Tuesday.
Friday we received three deliveries for product, incense, oils, and oriental. Greg is working on the new POS systems, trying to learn it and trying to check the product in. He has been there all day and will be this weekend. Meanwhile, Janna and I and Kyleigh are working the closing store trying to sell all our display items for 25% off. Today is Janna's birthday so she isn't too happy about having to work. But she is going to spend the night at her sisters.
So, all week long we have been packing up my Honda Civic and Alan's Ford Contour. We fill them up as much as we can, drive them to the new store, unload, and come back for more! This is very exhausting and I've found muscles that have been inactive a long time. I also am not eating much, or well, so I hope I am at least losing a few pounds through all this!
Some nights I can't sleep at all and some nights I drop into bed and forget about everything. The nights I don't sleep I'm planning how to organize the store, or how to paint the pegboard... the mind just won't quit! You should see all of us at the end of the day, we look like zombies!
So we think we have been busy this week, I have until Thursday to get things somewhat organized. Monday we have the phone/Internet hookup, and security, and maybe the insurance man coming out. Tuesday I go to Dallas. Wednesday we get the display cases and the rest of everything left out of the old store and move it to the new store. Thursday we open the new store. Grand Opening won't be until May 1, but we will be open for business before then.
Writing this while hopping up and down to wait on customers has been fun! At least we are selling! yeah!
We finalized the signs. They were supposed to be up by now but we had a couple wet days. Hopefully they will be up this weekend. We are supposed to get rain again today though. We also ordered business cards and a parking sign. I want it to say Parking for A Darn Good Gift Shoppe, Violators will be Fed to the Dragon. hehe!
Tuesday Alan and I went to Dallas. We only got to one store. We had a borrowed truck (Thanks Julie!) but we bought more than we could fit into it. We packed the truck full and had them set aside the other half of what we picked out. We still have more to pick out and a couple more stores to visit down there. I rented a cargo van for this Tuesday.
Friday we received three deliveries for product, incense, oils, and oriental. Greg is working on the new POS systems, trying to learn it and trying to check the product in. He has been there all day and will be this weekend. Meanwhile, Janna and I and Kyleigh are working the closing store trying to sell all our display items for 25% off. Today is Janna's birthday so she isn't too happy about having to work. But she is going to spend the night at her sisters.
So, all week long we have been packing up my Honda Civic and Alan's Ford Contour. We fill them up as much as we can, drive them to the new store, unload, and come back for more! This is very exhausting and I've found muscles that have been inactive a long time. I also am not eating much, or well, so I hope I am at least losing a few pounds through all this!
Some nights I can't sleep at all and some nights I drop into bed and forget about everything. The nights I don't sleep I'm planning how to organize the store, or how to paint the pegboard... the mind just won't quit! You should see all of us at the end of the day, we look like zombies!
So we think we have been busy this week, I have until Thursday to get things somewhat organized. Monday we have the phone/Internet hookup, and security, and maybe the insurance man coming out. Tuesday I go to Dallas. Wednesday we get the display cases and the rest of everything left out of the old store and move it to the new store. Thursday we open the new store. Grand Opening won't be until May 1, but we will be open for business before then.
Writing this while hopping up and down to wait on customers has been fun! At least we are selling! yeah!
Saturday, March 13, 2010
Things are coming together
As of yesterday and today we are seeing progress. Yesterday we signed the contract with COX communications and got a good deal for our move. That is so very nice, we get two months free and no installation fee for the move. They will have it installed just before our opening at the new store.
Today we looked at the workup for the signs. The gentleman that is doing them, Chambers Signs in Broken Arrow, really knows his business. The sign over the door and the sign on the pole at the street will cost almost $1000. Its a lot of money, but it is a marketing expense and necessary to draw customers in, so that makes it a bargain. No one said opening a business was cheap!
The building owner is checking things out that we notice and fixing them. We will have the electric and gas on early in the week. They can then check the heat and air and we should be able to start moving things in next week.
We are putting orders together now and can have them delivered starting next week. Just the incense order is over $500, but we are adding so many new scents that everyone should be able to find something they like. We are increasing so many items and will then increase our product lines. Finding new products is so exciting, but we always have to think in the back of our mind: How much can we charge and will customers buy it? It is so disappointing when I find something I just love and no one wants to buy it! We try to find good quality products at a good price so that we can be a great bargain for the customers.
But on to other challenges! Our car broke down yesterday. I was so hoping for no problems with the car, but it is the fuel pump and will cost about $500 to fix. That is that much less money to spend on the store! But we do need to get around. Everything can't be easy!
Today we looked at the workup for the signs. The gentleman that is doing them, Chambers Signs in Broken Arrow, really knows his business. The sign over the door and the sign on the pole at the street will cost almost $1000. Its a lot of money, but it is a marketing expense and necessary to draw customers in, so that makes it a bargain. No one said opening a business was cheap!
The building owner is checking things out that we notice and fixing them. We will have the electric and gas on early in the week. They can then check the heat and air and we should be able to start moving things in next week.
We are putting orders together now and can have them delivered starting next week. Just the incense order is over $500, but we are adding so many new scents that everyone should be able to find something they like. We are increasing so many items and will then increase our product lines. Finding new products is so exciting, but we always have to think in the back of our mind: How much can we charge and will customers buy it? It is so disappointing when I find something I just love and no one wants to buy it! We try to find good quality products at a good price so that we can be a great bargain for the customers.
But on to other challenges! Our car broke down yesterday. I was so hoping for no problems with the car, but it is the fuel pump and will cost about $500 to fix. That is that much less money to spend on the store! But we do need to get around. Everything can't be easy!
Thursday, March 11, 2010
Crossing things off the list
Well, today I:
Called the sign people and took a copy of our business card. Now I'm waiting on a quote.
Called the landlord and left message about the water coming in the back door and putting caps on the water lines. Haven't got a call back yet. Forgot to ask why my key doesn't work in the back door now. I stopped by and they have painted the back room cream colored and put in new ceiling tiles. Toilet is still brown but may need water on for that.
Greg emailed Cox for a quote on moving the phone and internet. He also emailed Windstream, the other service in the area, for a quote on using them instead of Cox.
Greg got the new quote on Quickbooks POS System.
Still have to call the power people. I also have to make out orders for new product and try to find how I might want to pain or decorate the store. I think each day I cross something off the list I add two more things!
Called the sign people and took a copy of our business card. Now I'm waiting on a quote.
Called the landlord and left message about the water coming in the back door and putting caps on the water lines. Haven't got a call back yet. Forgot to ask why my key doesn't work in the back door now. I stopped by and they have painted the back room cream colored and put in new ceiling tiles. Toilet is still brown but may need water on for that.
Greg emailed Cox for a quote on moving the phone and internet. He also emailed Windstream, the other service in the area, for a quote on using them instead of Cox.
Greg got the new quote on Quickbooks POS System.
Still have to call the power people. I also have to make out orders for new product and try to find how I might want to pain or decorate the store. I think each day I cross something off the list I add two more things!
Wednesday, March 10, 2010
Steady as she goes
They have started painting in the store. Seems like there is still so much do before we can even get in! We are making lists of things to do and buy. Next week we should start ordering product for delivery. As soon as we can we will move all non-essential things over. I've been drawing up a floor plan on graph paper. I hope I don't use up the whole tablet of paper! lol! Some electrical will have to come down through the ceiling for power to tables set up away from the walls. We also have to get pegboard to set up a area for the swords and other wall items.
Yesterday we checked out a local display store. I didn't find much I could use. They had some corner shelves we could use, but they wanted $155 each on them. I have them in a catalog here for $89. Maybe I can even find something local for less. I also need a shelf at least 24 inches deep to display our chess sets. I'm thinking I can get something at Lowe's or Sam's for that.
Our weekend sales were ok. There were a lot of people here, but since the weather was nice the parking lot was full of outdoor vendors and left little room for parking. Also, people were mostly looking and not spending. We surely could use the sales now to cover our regular expenses and the moving expenses. Sales may be slow the first month at a new store. We will initially be spending a lot of money on product, moving, display, advertising, etc. If sales don't cover the expenses, it comes out of our pockets, which are very empty themselves! That's the scary part. The optimistic view is that we will be very busy and sell so much product that we can pay the bills, buy more product, and maybe get a little money for ourselves! And we hope to expand to more stores and start hiring people! Perhaps when we are like 80 we can sit back and let the kids run the stores and live off our owner salary! We can all dream, right?
Yesterday we checked out a local display store. I didn't find much I could use. They had some corner shelves we could use, but they wanted $155 each on them. I have them in a catalog here for $89. Maybe I can even find something local for less. I also need a shelf at least 24 inches deep to display our chess sets. I'm thinking I can get something at Lowe's or Sam's for that.
Our weekend sales were ok. There were a lot of people here, but since the weather was nice the parking lot was full of outdoor vendors and left little room for parking. Also, people were mostly looking and not spending. We surely could use the sales now to cover our regular expenses and the moving expenses. Sales may be slow the first month at a new store. We will initially be spending a lot of money on product, moving, display, advertising, etc. If sales don't cover the expenses, it comes out of our pockets, which are very empty themselves! That's the scary part. The optimistic view is that we will be very busy and sell so much product that we can pay the bills, buy more product, and maybe get a little money for ourselves! And we hope to expand to more stores and start hiring people! Perhaps when we are like 80 we can sit back and let the kids run the stores and live off our owner salary! We can all dream, right?
Wednesday, March 3, 2010
Well, we have done it. We signed a lease today. We now have 1600 square feet of retail store. No turning back now. The new address is 310 W Kenosha in Broken Arrow. It is between Elm (161st) and Main on the north side of Kenosha. It was not our first choice but I think its the right choice. I will post some pictures of the space tomorrow or the next day.
Now the fun begins. I need to set up security, get banners and signs, order products, set up move of phone and mail, and I know there are lots of things I am forgetting. Oh, I also have to think of decorations and how I want to set things up. I can tell I won't get much sleep tonight. Maybe not for several nights until I just get so exhausted!
Well, on to other things tonight, like seeing how much I can get done tonight. I'm so excited. Have a great night!
Now the fun begins. I need to set up security, get banners and signs, order products, set up move of phone and mail, and I know there are lots of things I am forgetting. Oh, I also have to think of decorations and how I want to set things up. I can tell I won't get much sleep tonight. Maybe not for several nights until I just get so exhausted!
Well, on to other things tonight, like seeing how much I can get done tonight. I'm so excited. Have a great night!
Sunday, February 28, 2010
Wow, Saturday was busy! Not that the sales were high, but that lots of people were spending a little at a time! Sales were respectable. But I sure was tired by the time I got home. I didn't get a chance to work on the website at all. I was constantly poping up from the computer! Slower days are fine for working on the computer, but not busy days.
Today has been very busy too, but less sales. More lookers than buyers. That is good also as lookers eventually come back to buy. Sometimes there are so many people in here that its hard to move! I do so look forward to having more room. It will be exciting if that gets full of people! If we could just get our new address so we can let our customers know where we will be!! Some people have been customers since the beginning, and others have been referred to us. Many just stop in and love us. A few thought we left when we moved to this spot. I hope that whatever category you fall in, you will find us when we move. After all, without our customers, we wouldn't exist!
I did get some information in the mail yesterday about marketing. It was good to see that I am headed in the right direction. The article said to use email, facebook, twitter, and blogging. The response rates for email is much higher than for other mediums. Now we do still have to add newspaper ads, tv, and radio for a good mix. For now we are getting more bang for our buck as these mediums are free other than the time I personally put into it. And of course I have to get the website up, if at least to direct people to my facebook, twitter, blog, and capture emails! If you want to follow us we are ADG Gift Shoppe on facebook and http://twitter.com/adggifts .
Monday we look at another property in Broken Arrow. We also will look at more properties in midtown. Tuesday will be a drive to Oklahoma City for a doctor's appointment for Greg. In my spare time I'll be trying to put together the orders we will need for the new store. Every department will be increased and new products added. I have several more wholesalers to check out. I've also been looking into making our own products. Any suggestions on what you would like to see?
Today has been very busy too, but less sales. More lookers than buyers. That is good also as lookers eventually come back to buy. Sometimes there are so many people in here that its hard to move! I do so look forward to having more room. It will be exciting if that gets full of people! If we could just get our new address so we can let our customers know where we will be!! Some people have been customers since the beginning, and others have been referred to us. Many just stop in and love us. A few thought we left when we moved to this spot. I hope that whatever category you fall in, you will find us when we move. After all, without our customers, we wouldn't exist!
I did get some information in the mail yesterday about marketing. It was good to see that I am headed in the right direction. The article said to use email, facebook, twitter, and blogging. The response rates for email is much higher than for other mediums. Now we do still have to add newspaper ads, tv, and radio for a good mix. For now we are getting more bang for our buck as these mediums are free other than the time I personally put into it. And of course I have to get the website up, if at least to direct people to my facebook, twitter, blog, and capture emails! If you want to follow us we are ADG Gift Shoppe on facebook and http://twitter.com/adggifts .
Monday we look at another property in Broken Arrow. We also will look at more properties in midtown. Tuesday will be a drive to Oklahoma City for a doctor's appointment for Greg. In my spare time I'll be trying to put together the orders we will need for the new store. Every department will be increased and new products added. I have several more wholesalers to check out. I've also been looking into making our own products. Any suggestions on what you would like to see?
Friday, February 26, 2010
So exciting, So frightening!
Wow, I am so excited! Yesterday when i I got back to the store they had cleaned! Janna swept and mopped the floor! I do so appreciate it! Its just little touches like those that can make a difference.
Well I didn't get time to work on the website yesterday. After I drank my hot chocolate I did laundry, then picked up the product and brought it back to the store, and went and got my tire fixed, there wasn't much time left. I did email on the property but have not received a reply. I checked out some other possible properties. I have to get some cards printed up today. If my computer cooperates I will work on the website.
The new product is awesome. We got new large oriental fans that look superb. We also got in some new oriental products. Some we will wait to display until after we move, but if you come in and ask we will show them to you. We are so impressed with the color and quality of these products. When we move we will be carrying a lot more product from this particular wholesaler so look forward to a good expansion of our oriental line.
When we started looking for a new place it seemed like we had so much time. Now we are looking at just a month away and time is going way too fast. I know once we finally secure a place I will be busy non-stop. We all will. I also think I'm coming down with a cold. I really don't have time for that! We will need banners, and advertising, and new product, and displays. That is all before we open! I am sure I am missing some very important items too. Help?
Well I didn't get time to work on the website yesterday. After I drank my hot chocolate I did laundry, then picked up the product and brought it back to the store, and went and got my tire fixed, there wasn't much time left. I did email on the property but have not received a reply. I checked out some other possible properties. I have to get some cards printed up today. If my computer cooperates I will work on the website.
The new product is awesome. We got new large oriental fans that look superb. We also got in some new oriental products. Some we will wait to display until after we move, but if you come in and ask we will show them to you. We are so impressed with the color and quality of these products. When we move we will be carrying a lot more product from this particular wholesaler so look forward to a good expansion of our oriental line.
When we started looking for a new place it seemed like we had so much time. Now we are looking at just a month away and time is going way too fast. I know once we finally secure a place I will be busy non-stop. We all will. I also think I'm coming down with a cold. I really don't have time for that! We will need banners, and advertising, and new product, and displays. That is all before we open! I am sure I am missing some very important items too. Help?
Thursday, February 25, 2010
Wednesday was a good day
We had very good sales for a Wednesday! We had more than normal traffic. Now don't think that just because we made sales that we personally make money! No way! The money from our sales still all goes to purchasing more product and paying bills such as rent and phone. Once we move into our new location we will also have to pay utilities, insurance, and buy a lot more product! All I can hope is eventually we will be able to take some money out for ourselves! But for now, we are happy to make enough money to keep going. So Wednesday was a good start to making that happen this week.
Our author did not make it. Not sure why as he didn't call either. He may have forgotten he made the appointment or something else may have come up. Oh well, I'll try to get in contact with him again. Our order also did not come in yesterday but will be here today. I have to go do laundry, so after that I will pick up the order and hope it all fits in the Honda! Greg and Janna will take care of the store, and maybe do some cleaning! Hahahah! I had to have a laugh! I can't count on that unless Janna's OCD kicks in!
I'm so excited about moving though. I hate moving, packing everything up then unpacking, but I just know things will work out well. Good thing I'm optimistic! Still didn't get the website published, but I am on twitter and facebook, so I sure hope to get more traffic here! Hey, I think I can have Greg email our preferred customers! That might help! See you later and have a great day!
Our author did not make it. Not sure why as he didn't call either. He may have forgotten he made the appointment or something else may have come up. Oh well, I'll try to get in contact with him again. Our order also did not come in yesterday but will be here today. I have to go do laundry, so after that I will pick up the order and hope it all fits in the Honda! Greg and Janna will take care of the store, and maybe do some cleaning! Hahahah! I had to have a laugh! I can't count on that unless Janna's OCD kicks in!
I'm so excited about moving though. I hate moving, packing everything up then unpacking, but I just know things will work out well. Good thing I'm optimistic! Still didn't get the website published, but I am on twitter and facebook, so I sure hope to get more traffic here! Hey, I think I can have Greg email our preferred customers! That might help! See you later and have a great day!
Tuesday, February 23, 2010
Great Seminar
Wow the seminar was great. Got several ideas. It was entertaining and informative. Dennis Creps was our speaker and I had no trouble staying awake in spite of my having to be up early. If you get the chance, go to this seminar if you need to learn anything about marketing.
On another topic, financing. Alan and I went to our bank last week to apply for a loan. Basically we were told we needed a house or property or money in the bank to get a loan. You know, if you have money and don't need it, you can get a loan, but if you don't have money and need it, you can't get a loan! I have a small house we have been building on but its probably not enough to use as collateral. Alan has a great credit score and Greg and I don't. Well, the bank suggested getting credit cards to finance our expansion. This is not my first choice, but it may be our only choice. The other suggestion was to have friends and family invest. I just hate to ask anyone for that kind of money!
Well we haven't heard back from our preferred location yet. Tomorrow I will email him again and see if there is any word. Lets see, tomorrow i go to the store, and we meet with an author of an Oklahoma vampire story. He wants to put his book in the store on consignment! Perfect! I also have to call on the other location we saw, check a couple more locations, look up more product site, work on my website and pick up an order at our mailbox for product we ordered last week! I'm sure there are a couple other things I need to do also, but I'll sleep on it and see what I remember in the morning! More updates to come!
On another topic, financing. Alan and I went to our bank last week to apply for a loan. Basically we were told we needed a house or property or money in the bank to get a loan. You know, if you have money and don't need it, you can get a loan, but if you don't have money and need it, you can't get a loan! I have a small house we have been building on but its probably not enough to use as collateral. Alan has a great credit score and Greg and I don't. Well, the bank suggested getting credit cards to finance our expansion. This is not my first choice, but it may be our only choice. The other suggestion was to have friends and family invest. I just hate to ask anyone for that kind of money!
Well we haven't heard back from our preferred location yet. Tomorrow I will email him again and see if there is any word. Lets see, tomorrow i go to the store, and we meet with an author of an Oklahoma vampire story. He wants to put his book in the store on consignment! Perfect! I also have to call on the other location we saw, check a couple more locations, look up more product site, work on my website and pick up an order at our mailbox for product we ordered last week! I'm sure there are a couple other things I need to do also, but I'll sleep on it and see what I remember in the morning! More updates to come!
Another day off?
The space we looked at was too large and too expensive for our use right now. We did see another property close by that we will take a look at. I do wish we would hear from our first choice though!
Today is my second day off of the week. I don't know what i will do when I don't have any days off! LOL. Alan and I are going to a marketing seminar being held in town. That's why I'm up so early. Otherwise I would still be snoozing! It should be fun and interesting if I can stay awake!
In my spare time I'm supposed to be making our website and our business plan. I also heard on the radio that someplace is putting resources together for small business start ups. Now where was that? Sigh!
Today is my second day off of the week. I don't know what i will do when I don't have any days off! LOL. Alan and I are going to a marketing seminar being held in town. That's why I'm up so early. Otherwise I would still be snoozing! It should be fun and interesting if I can stay awake!
In my spare time I'm supposed to be making our website and our business plan. I also heard on the radio that someplace is putting resources together for small business start ups. Now where was that? Sigh!
Monday, February 22, 2010
Well, today is my day off, sort of! Greg and I are meeting with Alan and looking at a property in Broken Arrow for a possible storefront. We are in negotiations for our preferred site. This is in a very busy spot and formerly housed a gift shop. It would be nice, but we do have to have a backup or two. I'll let you know how it goes.
Sunday, February 21, 2010
Going into business is a breeze, right?
Well, this is my first attempt at a blog. The point of this blog is to share my experiences of starting a business. Let me first catch you up to now!
Seven years ago my husband, Greg, and my friend, Alan, started a small business to buy and sell first day covers and stamps. They called it AG-Global, using the first letters of their names, and hoping the business would go global! I think they bought more than they sold but it was a first step. Then I joined them and we decided to open a booth at the Great American Flea Market in Tulsa, OK. We started with products from a well known home decor catalog, and added products from wholesale stores in Dallas, Tx. The lifesaver product was 3-d laser crystals. These previously could be bought at places like Vegas for $60 or more. We could get them cheap enough to sell for 5-15 dollars. Our little booth did fairly well being open Fridays, Saturdays, and Sundays.
After a few months we moved to two booths where we were visible right from the door. Sales increased and our product line became more streamlined. We listened to our customers and started carrying gothic or medieval items, dragons being the most popular. The laser crystals were still a best-seller. People loved them and we soon had over 500 designs. In a few more months we moved to the booth across from us, a window booth right at the door with a store room. Sales again increased and our product line centered on dragons, fairies, skulls, grim reapers, oriental, misters, and lucky bamboo. The laser crystals became a secondary product, still popular but not always the big seller.
This booth was our home for a few years and customers became repeat customers and sought us out. We began looking to get a booth with our own door so we could be open more hours and more days, not bound by the flea market hours. Our opportunity came in April 2009 when we moved into a new room where we could be open five days a week. It was a big step for us. We incorported into an LLC and changed our name to A Darn Good Gift Shoppe LLC. For short we call it ADG Gifts, A for Alan, D for Dorinda, and G for Greg. Isn't that catchy? We are determined to be a darn good store.
Wednesday through Friday in our store were slower, customers did stop by to check us out. We had more room and increased our products, carrying the most dragon items in Tulsa! Sales began to double.
However, we did not get the control of our own fate that we expected. Our contract said we had access seven days a week and extended hours. But, we never got a key and the flea market decided to chain the doors from the inside. We ended up calling to have the door unlocked in the mornings, and making sure someone was there to lock up at the end of the day. We were limited to five days a week instead of seven. Wednesdays we had to close two hours earlier than the other days. Next they tried to tell us what products we could sell, in spite of our contract. Increasing the outdoor vendors took away parking for our customers, and they came less often. Sales dropped, and our hopes began to dim.
Of course, not given to surrender, we have decided to get our own store front. We look forward to our own hours and days, and having our own key! A clean bathroom with toilet paper is so enticing! More space, more products, more vendors, more excitement! Then there is more bills, more expense, more work, more hours, and maybe less sales! Oh my, are we doing the right thing? Can we handle this? What if our regular customers don't follow us? How will we handle all the marketing? Will I ever sleep at night again?
Seven years ago my husband, Greg, and my friend, Alan, started a small business to buy and sell first day covers and stamps. They called it AG-Global, using the first letters of their names, and hoping the business would go global! I think they bought more than they sold but it was a first step. Then I joined them and we decided to open a booth at the Great American Flea Market in Tulsa, OK. We started with products from a well known home decor catalog, and added products from wholesale stores in Dallas, Tx. The lifesaver product was 3-d laser crystals. These previously could be bought at places like Vegas for $60 or more. We could get them cheap enough to sell for 5-15 dollars. Our little booth did fairly well being open Fridays, Saturdays, and Sundays.
After a few months we moved to two booths where we were visible right from the door. Sales increased and our product line became more streamlined. We listened to our customers and started carrying gothic or medieval items, dragons being the most popular. The laser crystals were still a best-seller. People loved them and we soon had over 500 designs. In a few more months we moved to the booth across from us, a window booth right at the door with a store room. Sales again increased and our product line centered on dragons, fairies, skulls, grim reapers, oriental, misters, and lucky bamboo. The laser crystals became a secondary product, still popular but not always the big seller.
This booth was our home for a few years and customers became repeat customers and sought us out. We began looking to get a booth with our own door so we could be open more hours and more days, not bound by the flea market hours. Our opportunity came in April 2009 when we moved into a new room where we could be open five days a week. It was a big step for us. We incorported into an LLC and changed our name to A Darn Good Gift Shoppe LLC. For short we call it ADG Gifts, A for Alan, D for Dorinda, and G for Greg. Isn't that catchy? We are determined to be a darn good store.
Wednesday through Friday in our store were slower, customers did stop by to check us out. We had more room and increased our products, carrying the most dragon items in Tulsa! Sales began to double.
However, we did not get the control of our own fate that we expected. Our contract said we had access seven days a week and extended hours. But, we never got a key and the flea market decided to chain the doors from the inside. We ended up calling to have the door unlocked in the mornings, and making sure someone was there to lock up at the end of the day. We were limited to five days a week instead of seven. Wednesdays we had to close two hours earlier than the other days. Next they tried to tell us what products we could sell, in spite of our contract. Increasing the outdoor vendors took away parking for our customers, and they came less often. Sales dropped, and our hopes began to dim.
Of course, not given to surrender, we have decided to get our own store front. We look forward to our own hours and days, and having our own key! A clean bathroom with toilet paper is so enticing! More space, more products, more vendors, more excitement! Then there is more bills, more expense, more work, more hours, and maybe less sales! Oh my, are we doing the right thing? Can we handle this? What if our regular customers don't follow us? How will we handle all the marketing? Will I ever sleep at night again?
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