Be prepared to work really hard.
Business owners clock long hours for the first 12-15 years of their business.
Have fun.
Have fun.
If it fails, it is your fault
because you didn’t work hard enough.
If it succeeds, it will be because your staff did a great job and your
local community supported you.
Feel lucky to be doing what you love.
local community supported you.
Feel lucky to be doing what you love.
Hire great help and be nice to them.
Tell them daily how much they are doing for you.
Choose the right location.
I think a spot close to your house is ideal.
Remember, you’ll be at the shop a lot and back-and-forth a lot.
Know your merchandise but don’t
fall in love with your merchandise.
Know what to focus on and what just will have to fall off your plate.
Be friendly with your customers.
Make your store a comfortable place.
Embrace the Next Big Thing but
don’t forget your core business.
Love your community.
Run ads in high school year books, theater play bills and bead society newsletters.
Feel lucky to be doing what you love.
Run ads in high school year books, theater play bills and bead society newsletters.
Feel lucky to be doing what you love.
Think of your store shelves as real estate.
Valuable, valuable real estate.
Valuable, valuable real estate.
Put a map to your store in every ad you can. Keep your store as clean as possible.
Clean enough to be healthy and dirty enough to be crafty.
Clean enough to be healthy and dirty enough to be crafty.
Take time off when you can.
Read craft publications.
Make friends with other local store owners and your competitors.
Enjoy being overworked.
Enjoy being overworked.
Say hello to everyone who enters your shop.
Introduce yourself. Welcome them to your store.
Sweep your front walk every morning.
Remember you are doing this because
Introduce yourself. Welcome them to your store.
Sweep your front walk every morning.
Remember you are doing this because
you love creating.
I hope you enjoy this Mia.
To answer the question you didn’t ask but should have; yes, I consult for store start ups.
Updated and reworked on April 29, 2013
Cynthia,
ReplyDeleteThis is a great letter full of wonderful and sage advice! Thank you for sharing it. I sent it on to all my friends who own their own businesses...you can never have enough GOOD advice.
Regina
Just discovered your blog and amazing store through a link to your felt balls from http://www.pickles.no/.
ReplyDeleteIt is a truly great description of what running your own store is all about and how generous you are write it down and share. I hope Mia is able to go forward with such great advice. I know I will use it.
Ingrid
Great advice! Love the ad in the theatre program idea...perfect! It's a captive, creative audience and I always end up arriving early and reading the program cover to cover twice. Plus, I rarely throw theatre programs out. Also, I'm not sure how to verbalize it...but, it's important to create an open atmosphere, too. And, you do, your staff is always warm and welcoming. Ornamentea is my favorite bead shop in the country, and a big part of that is because I feel like I belong there. I've been in other shops where I felt like asking a question or checking out was taking the employee away from something more important...or interesting. I think if you make people think that you're lucky they walked through your door, then they'll feel lucky that they found you.
ReplyDelete