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12:47 pm
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Retail Mood Swings
That time of year folks, you can take my emtional temperature based on daily sales totals.
Yesterday was so slow that I took the afternoon off. I would have gone nuts waiting around for customers who never materialized. I should have gone home and had wild sex with my boyfriend, but instead I dragged him out for car shopping.
( Read more... )
Current Mood:  disappointed
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02:05 pm
[Link] | Oh shit. They've started construction for the space next to my shop. Looks like my neighbors are going to be a tattoo parlor and a discount pharmacy.
Today I'm having to deal with all the drilling, hammering, general thumping around.
It would be really annoying if I had any customers, but about the only one today have been visiting from Kansas for the football game.
Current Mood:  bored
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03:09 pm
[Link] | Crisis of the day hsa been taken care of. Engraved Quaiche delivered to happy couple on their way to Scotland. Of course the prefect gift for a Scottish wedding - in Scotland - is a Scottish Quaiche purchased and engraved in Texas and returned to Scotland. It's that very Zen full circle sort of thing, which leaves me dizzy and confused.
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09:59 am
[Link] | Nice shiny new LED lights are bing installed in the jewelry cases here at the shop. It's a big investement, but the dinky little florescent fixtures are 7 years old and it's time to brighten things up.
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04:50 pm
[Link] | I'm having trouble getting my head around the idea that Thanksgiving is NEXT WEEK!
Current Mood:  hopeful
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03:41 pm
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Packed and ready to roll.
I have crates and boxes full of totes, throws and t-shirts for the Scottish Festival in Salado tomorrow. I'm really going to be pushing the Heritage Goods line. I had these old-school Scots in mind when I came up with the concept, now I'll see if it works in reality.
My desk has reached critical mass yet again. You might find my cold corpse under a pile of paperwork.
Of course today has been crazy busy while trying to get everything packed, but I'm not complaining. Really, I'm not.
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04:56 pm
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No booth at Sherwood
I regret having to make this choice, but when all factors were weighed I decided to wait another year before building a booth at Sherwood. I don't want to make a half hearted attempt. I'm proud of my store and I want to be proud of the booth when I have the time, energy and finances to do it right.
I will be vending at NTIF and the San Antonio Highland Games in March.
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05:04 pm
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Austin Celtic Festival
Saturday was awesome, as a vendor. Honestly I never hda much of a chance to get out of the booth, we were selling stuff hand over fist. Glorious weather, not too hot or too cold, gentle breeze, bright skies. In the evening someone asked me what I thought of the bands. Ther were bands? Like I said, I din't get out of the booth.
Sunday the temp was the same, but we had rain. Slow and steady, not enough to drive people away, but enough to keep them hidden under shelter. Sale were much slowers and the day was spent trying to keep the inventory dry.
It was a very gentle tap on my shoulder. "Do you really want to work a tent booth at a Renn Faire for six weekends in a row IN THE FREAKIN WINTER?" Short answer, no.
I could do that stuff when I first started working festivals, but I was in my 30's back then, I'm quite a better older now, and I was certainly feeling my age yesterday.
Current Mood:  grumpy
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02:57 pm
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A Tent it is!
I really want to vend at Sherwood.
I'd really be insane to spend a whole lot of money on a first year faire.
I'm going to get a large canvas tent, it is something I can reuse at other events during the year.
Save a little money the first couple years and then, if the faire makes good, splurge on the ultimate renn booth.
Bigger tent might also be an excuse to buy a larger/better trailer.
Current Mood: sensible
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09:03 am
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Poll Results aka Tough Love
I love you guys!
There was much thought and wisdom in the responses I got. The overwhelming trend was for caution, which I can totally understand. I'm so sick of hearing "in this economy", but the reality isn't pretty right now for launching a new venture, much less for launching a new venture based on a world of fantasy & myth.
Five votes for "wait a couple years"
Two votes for "do it, but use a tent"
One for "sounds like fun, see you there"
Much food for thought, and I'm still chewing.
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03:16 pm
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Sherwood, should I or shouldn't I?
So here's the deal. There is a new Renn Faire opening up next Spring and I'm seriously considering building a booth there. This is a big bucks/price of a new car sort of decission and my flakey rennie radar is buzzing very loudly. Let me give you a few pros and cons of the situation. I'd love to hear your feedback, but I'm screening the comments because several folks on my friends list are in one way or another associated with this venture and I assume they'd like privacy.
( Read more... )
Current Mood:  confused
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10:55 am
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Holding Patern
A bazillion piddlyassed little things I should be doing. Cleaning up the stock room. Figuring out the t-shirt inventory. Clearing a week's worth of crap off my desk. More festival packing.
Several big deliveries should come in the few days, and I just can't seem to get motivated.
Current Mood:  lazy
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12:19 pm
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SWEET!
Carzy renny newbies bought full budget kilt gear. Not bad for a Monday.
Utilikilts is shipping 55 kilts today, hopefully they'll be here by Friday.
Austin Celtic Festival Saturday & Sunday.
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05:43 pm
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Not bad
Thanks to the nice ladies from Virginia Beach, we finished out with the best October in the shop EVER.
Now as to the annoying white trash woman who was being deliberately difficult, why yes, if you and you child act like shoplifters, then I will have an employee tail you around the shop till you leave. I hope I offended or scared her enough that she never comes in again.
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09:36 am
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Gotta love South Austin
Loud party down the street broke up at 3:30 and everyone left at once. That was enough to wake me up and at 3:57 (yes I looked at the clock) I heard 7 gun shots. Too far away to even tell which direction, so I didn't bother to call the cops.
Yesterday afternoon the new minion got to solo for an hour because I got as call from the school nurse that the teenager was in the office and needed to get a ride. Oh shit. Turns out there wasn't a fight or anything, he was running and fell on the sidewalk and rip open both knees. Kilts do not provide any protection from concrete.
Strange dreams last night, I had long wavy hair. That ain't gonna happen any time soon.
Dressed in my comfy lavender renn dress with the big black belt and stripey socks. If I'm lucky and the shop stays busy today, comfort will be a priority.
No big plans for tonight. We get a lot of trick'r treaters in my neighborhood, so I'll be helping to man the candy bowl. I put up caution tape around the front yard this morning to keep the little urchins from impaling themselves on the little fence posts.
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09:15 am
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Do they shop at Things Celtic? Probably.
Current Mood:  geeky
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04:03 pm
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Travel in January
Flight to Dublin - check
Hotel in Dublin - check
Flight from Glasgow - check
Still have to decide when and how to get from Dublin to Glasgow to take best advantage of the trade shows. Still have to figure out hotel in Glasgow. But so far this has been a great deal, the flights cost next to nothing with my card miles and I got a four star hotel in Dublin at a very special rate.
I may even have anough miles left over to go back to Scotland in April for th Aviemore show.
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02:12 pm
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I was going to post a poem
but I forgot to bring it to work. Just let me say what two wonderful days of camping I had with my sweet ork and a few dozen friends.
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11:45 am
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Feel the Power!
The jeweler who makes one of my most popular (and profitable) products didn't include said product in his latest pretty catalog.
I contacted this jeweler and asked if he was deleting the item from his inventory. Why yes, indeed he was no longer going to carry the very popular line of wedding rings.
I sent a fax to the jeweler and enclosed a statement showing just how much I have purchased from him in the past 10 years. I explained that I was very disappointed to lose this awesome product.
This morning I got a call from the owner of the company who promised to continue making the rings for only my store. Hear me roar!
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05:43 pm
[Link] | I've been a busy girl today. I checked in about 10 boxes of stock. Why, yes, we do have a very cute ceramic Irish Santa on display (in the back of the shop till after Halloween).
Had a yummy lunch with my sweetie. And signed up for a payroll service which will provide direct deposit for the loyal minion paychecks! Woot. Note to all loyal minions, remember to bring a canceled check or deposit slip so I can get you enrolled.
Also put up new display for caps & sweaters. Lights for the jewelry should be here soon.
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aronal's journal