Organizing receipts

I know, I know--organization should be on-going rather than intermittent, but I'm a slow learner. This morning was time well spent in organizing the first quarter's receipts and breaking down the categories. Just before tax time, I used the better part of a day just going through each category and adding the numbers.

This time, I figured I would take each quarter and tally how much I spent on oils, bottle, merchandise that go directly onto shelves, and--interesting to me--how much I spend on shipping and handling. Amazing how much that adds to the cost of doing business!

Meeting other small business people

Joining the Sachse Chamber of Commerce is just the first in many small steps to meeting other small business owners in the area. This organization really has the interests of entrepreneurs at heart and offer so many resources and opportunities for us to meet, greet, and learn what others have to offer.

We have a breakfast to go to tomorrow where we will introduce our business to others for the first time. I made a brochure specifically for this breakfast. The mall property manager also sent me information about another event for women in business, so I will be going there as well later in May.

There are so many people out there ready to help the small business owners--it's important to take advantage of their willingness to give their advice!

Networking

We joined the Sachse Chamber of Commerce this month and hope that it will open new doors in both customer building and networking with other small business owners. In this world of "big box stores," those of us who refuse to give up or give in must stick together. We meet new people every day; they do not always buy something, but they give us a chance to explain what we do and why we are a good alternative for fragrance needs.

This Friday Don and I will attend our first Chamber breakfast, where we will have a chance to explain our business. To that end, I made a brochure to hand out. Our friend Chris who owns the Sachse UPS store takes care of our printing needs, so I will get this emailed to him. I can always count on Chris to give our printing the professional look we want.

Right now, I have a stack of information from the Chamber to read. They offer some great advertising and networking resources! Next Thursday, May 6, we will have a ribbon-cutting ceremony at Deb's Oils at Firewheel Town Center. We will also be open late that night to help celebrate National Mom's Night Out. Here's hoping the summer is good to us!

Update about lease

After waiting almost six weeks, we finally came to terms with the mall folks and signed a two-year lease. We will thankfully stay in our current location. We do think about no vacation or off time for the next twenty-four months, but the last six months have just flown by, so I'm thinking that this is just the next logical step for Deb's Oils to take.

A "new" idea

My son's girlfriend returned from a ski trip to Utah with an idea she experienced in a Park Cities' bath and body shop: Create a do it yourself Spa Deli. Taking that suggestion to heart, I started researching exactly how to do that. It was not easy or cheap to make the changes and bring in products that would fit the concept.

I think I was making the idea too complex for what it really is. I had almost all the bulk products anyway; I simply had to decide how to market it. In comes Don, the master designer of all displays! He took the idea along with my thoughts about how I wanted to place merchandise, and made a display table that would hold bucket inserts. Then I went to the restaurant supply store for containers to hold the salts, lotions, crushed herbs, clays, and oils. Voila!

There are some things I still have to work out (like a paper towel holder for messes), but for the most part, the spa is working and offering customers the opportunity to make their own product. In the process, they also learn about the different bases and carrier oils and how they work on the skin. I love this business!

From temporary to permanent

It looks like our contract for staying in our current location for the next two years has passed the bottom and most difficult rung of the corporate acceptance level. We have been negotiating for about six weeks; not all management's fault that the wheel runs so slowly. We knew the proposed space was not for us--too slick and modern--but we were having difficulty expressing our needs with available storefronts. Finally we determined that staying where we are is best for us. There is so much expense in moving; plus the folks who have found us would have to rediscover a new store--many people are too fickle to do that. So we are glad to say that for the next two years (barring any unforeseen disaster in the next couple of weeks) we will be at 340 Coneflower Dr. Garland, TX 75040.

Decision made

We finally heard back from "corporate" about a lease space. The offer previously made is off the table--it seems that the market is up (oh really?) and they cannot let us have the store for the original price. That's okay because we did not want it anyway (feet stamping). So, we have agreed to the current location (at a higher amount than we want, but oh well...) and are now considering a three year rather than a two year term. If the market is indeed improving, then going for a longer lease makes sense as the main office is limited to raising rent. While the rent is high (ten times more than we paid at the flea market), we do agree that this move is the best way to move forward and create a niche for oils and natural bath and body products. Here's to good decisions on this glorious St. Patrick's Day. Irish blessings all.