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.

Sales Reps by Appointment Only

I know everyone has to make a living, especially in these economically shaky times; however, enough with the reps already. I already have the internet, a web page, cold water, clean windows, a media plan, and I don't need any bumper stickers. I will never be rude, but we did finally have to put a notice (which no one reads) on the door. While it is endlessly entertaining to watch a 70 year old person try to extol the virtues of the "interweb," I feel the need to serve my customers and stock inventory rather than be bombarded with pitch after pitch. Okay, enough griping. Enjoy the beautiful day that comes with daylight savings time. :)

Thank heavens for Family

Last week was a very busy time for our house, not to mention the store. Don and I were pulled in several different directions, but when all was said and done, we made it intact, and it ended up being a great week for sales.

I was out of town early in the week and presented workshops both Thursday and Friday, so once again, I counted on Don to open the store and keep us going. He did a good job and even started on our building sign...what a guy!

We had the grandkids during the middle of the week, so we added that fun as well. Gavin and Reegan spent Thursday with us; we stopped to get hamburgers and fries so they could eat at the store with us. The more time they spend here, the better behaved they are.

When a person opens a business like we have done, it is difficult to factor in the need to cover the store open to close. Don put his current job on hold so he could be here--as I have commented before, we make a great team, and I am grateful to have his help.

Leasing quandary

Here's one for those of you far more savvy than I am about leasing retail space: How can a property owner have two stores approximately the same size (give or take 100 sq.ft) and yet have two different lease prices in excess of over $8 per sq ft, with the smaller store being the more expensive? The store we are in temporarily has half the usable retail space (the rest is a huge back room for storage, merchandise, etc.) and yet was quoted at $5 more psf. In addition, promo fees are higher at our current location...actually, according to the way we have seen prices tiered, where we are now should be considered the "cheap seats" in this mall--so why the hike?

I put the two proposals side by side to compare--and I am more than confused--I am left wondering why anyone would want to go permanent when there seems to be such a discrepancy in how prices are quoted. Perhaps in my naivete, I thought when the property owner gives out the price per sq. foot, the math was simple--but not so apparently. I get that the "main street" stores have more marketability, but we are on what could be called "restaurant row," and most people on this far end of the mall come to eat or go to the AMC theatre. In fact, there are only two other retail type stores on our little block-memorabilia and games. Am I missing something in the equation, or am I an easy mark? While I do not feel the second option is the better one for our type of store, it seems the one we are being forced to take. Do we move and make it our own, or do we take a chance and move somewhere and start all over?

Networking

One of the courses I teach for an online University is Business Communications, so you would think I would have all the answers. I am a newbie at Facebook, and my daughter signed me up for a MySpace, but many other options face a business owner as far as networking is concerned. This blog offers one opportunity to let people know what I am about, and I belong to two other organizations that purport to help business owners connect with like-minded businesses. All that said, one of the simplest ways we can connect is through good old-fashioned meetings and sharing of sound practices and ideas.

This morning I talked for a bit to the restaurant owner from across the street. This afternoon I met another new tenant, the owner of Zoomies, a skateboard company (I'm sure there's more to it). Both individuals have unique forums for sale--the restaurant sells bubble tea and crepes, while the other has products designed to attract a particular segment of consumer. We all work for the same dollar, but we all also have interesting--and more important--different venues. What I like is that we want to help one another also. Don has made a board that we put in one of the windows that holds ads for different businesses. That's one step. Another is to link our businesses through discounts. Bring your Deb's Oils receipt to Icey or Zoomies and get a 10% discount on XXX purchase (shop owner determines minimum order, within reason). Also, we have offered to put coupons or ads in our customer bags. That will spread the word.

Blogs are fine, and websites help, but give me word of mouth and personal testimonials any day. To me that is the quickest route to spreading the word.

Planning ahead

I must admit, it's very difficult to plan spring product lines and ideas for remodeling and offering a new look when we do not know where exactly we will be in two months time. We have decided that we want to move to the suggested store within the mall ONLY as a last resort. I asked to stay where we are as our customer base is growing and people are comfortable coming to our current location. It is with this thought that I am waiting to learn where management wants us to be for the long term.

In the spirit of thinking spring, I have ordered new products to supplement our smudge sage and amber collection, and we're including new resin burners as well as a variety of resin. These things will bring in a different type of consumer, one which does not have many options for scenting the home. My older sister sent me a suggestion for a new type of candle, so I've looked into the materials for creating it and will make it a go in a couple of weeks. In addition, we look forward to moving the electric fireplace into the back room and replacing it with a rock waterfall to showcase summer soaps and scrubs.

What this means is that we are moving out of the winter doldrums and looking forward to a spring replete with hope and rejuvenation. The sun is out today, I have kept myself busy doing odd things here and there, and I have applied to five different online universities for instructor positions--all to keep the doors open and our name out there. No time for movies today!