Moving on Up

6904 Miramar Road Suite #103 will officially be mine in just two days- July 1st.

Hopefully the construction will be done.

I have learned how to use the tag gun and tagged my first product. I purchased a nice used cash register and need to research how to use and program it. And buy the thermal paper for it. A great glider rocking chair will be put in the Kid's Room (it's actually a room), along with a Pottery Barn Changing Table (all used in excellent condition of course) to encourage Mothers to stay, feed their baby, etc. Books for the kids in store bookshelf have been found and need to be sorted. I also took one of my daughter's rugs from her room to put on the floor after I get it cleaned. So cute!

Still doing inventory of course. Have a great phone. Need a phone line and number (hopefully getting set up Monday). Getting quotes for signs and sandwich boards (boards for the entrances on Miramar and Commerce so I can be found). Insurance Done. Checks picked up. Need to finish credit card machine application, retail application, and Federal ID paperwork. If I ever had some time to myself I would probably have more done but that's okay.

I have some teenagers coming part-time to help out in the beginning because I cannot afford to pay an employee. I am really bummed because I had the greatest person in mind but until the store takes off, the money just isn't there.

Need some things from the Office Supply store like sticker lables, open/closed signs, etc.

I printed out my half-inch logo that my friend (who was going to work with me) had her son design and I drew it 8x10 ALL BY MYSELF which is really amazing. No printer could work with it except for tiny logos like tags or receipts which was great but nothing else.

See :)

Looks good huh?

Back to inventory. Keep checking for updates!

Coming Along!

This weekend we went to a birthday party where I personally met Princess Fiona. We exchanged numbers because she was interested in working with a business owner to do story time during weekdays or even a simple music and movement class for little kids. My girls are still begging to have her number, but I explained that would be like calling the tooth fairy or Santa Claus. It just doesn't happen for them. :)

Anyway, I think that would be exciting to do some Story Time at least once a month. Something to do a little different, bring in some customers and also get her some weekend work. I hear she knows all the cool Princesses and Fairies...

In other news, I have to get some links to USA Today, NBC & the Union Tribune up here because they have all had big recent articles about Resale getting to be big again. I'll get to that in my "spare time".

I placed my Diapees and Wipees order today and got that situated. Still been doing inventory and buying but I think I am going to take a break on buying anything until my inventory is finished because it looks like I am getting pretty close to having a decent amount to open of resale items. All great brands like I had hoped for. My Melissa and Doug order arrived yesterday and my tags and See Kai Run shoes should arrive today.

As for other new inventory, I contacted the owner of an awesome website www.shopjuicebox.com and I'll be ordering some new merchandise from her. With my budget I cannot afford to buy a whole order from companies like Splendid or Tea. So I thought I would contact a web site that I liked the style of and see if she had any overstock items or out of season and if so, I could purchase clothing here and there without spending thousands of dollars I don't have. So look forward to seeing more than the occasional "new with tags" items. There will also be whole orders of new boutique clothing items. I have one other web site and one local boutique I want to contact after the store opens if the new items sell.

One day at a time, things are coming along.

New Products

I'm excited. I got my order placed with See Kai Run shoes and am placing my Melissa and Doug order this week. I also inquired about Diapees and Wipees. On top of that I met the other day with a Wonderful Mom who makes fabulous boutique quality burp cloths and more. I can't wait to work with her and sell her products also.

I also got some store equipment from another boutique (located about 30 miles away, but the only other one that is similar to mine) called La Costa Kids. What an awesome thing the owner, Sarah, did for me. Huge Thanks goes out to her.

Also have several appointments set up all week to do store stuff and buying to get ready for the opening. Will be working all night, every night doing my inventory and researching pricing.

Anxiously, I'm awaiting to hear more about my estimated move-in date. My low start-up budget is going to be okay because I am going to make it work. As soon as I have an estimated move in day I'm going to get myself out everywhere and hand out Grand Opening Fliers (which I'm going to have the first week of July even though we should be open at some point in June. June I'll open the store while I set it up so people can come in and sell and start getting the word out. Then by July I'll be ready for a steady flow of customers, get coupons out to all the wonderful people who asked to be on my mailing list, etc.

Thank you those of you who have supported me so far!

mamapreneurs

Well I guess we have a "name", according to several online articles. Mamapreneurs. Mom's who stopped working to stay at home with their kids and then needed to work but did not want to leave their kids. They had an idea, a passion, a family ideal and started businesses usually having something to do with children.

Mamapreneur. I don't know if I love the way it rolls of my tongue but I like what it stands for.

I am working on inventory, inventory, inventory. My space isn't ready yet. I need the demolition finished so I can design my layout.

So exciting but scary at the same time.