I Am Still Here

It has been awhile since my last post. Personal chaos getting in the way that I do not want to discuss. Moving on...

So, I set up all the racks I have and realized I am several short if I want to divide my clothing properly by size and gender. I guess I'll make a trip to Target to get some basic inexpensive racks and bins so I can at least get started. I NEED to open. Nothing used on craigslist is showing up and I have waited as long as I can so I'll just buy the basic stuff and eventually when I am on my feet get matching racks and such and sell whatever extras I have.

Smile.

One of my best friends took over the cash register duty since the hundred page manual was overwhelming me on top of everything else. She taught me how to do pretty much all the basics except for discounts and void transactions so I just have to learn that and it is ready to go. My credit/debit card training is on Tuesday so hopefully after that I can ring people up. And alas, I always have a trusty calculator nearby in case of an emergency ;)

I have over 150 items tagged and hung on racks according to size- but still need to be priced. I hit 500 items on my inventory sheet. And I have about another hundred to still inventory here at home.

With the fictitious business name, I need to file an ad in an approved paper. I also need one more license which I have thirty days from opening to file- but I would like to do this week.

I am working whenever I can to do pricing of brands so I can finish my price list and fill out the tags. That is taking so much longer than expected but I have to make sure I do it right!

Some of the stay-at-home moms that are supposed to be making stuff for me are MIA. I emailed them all Friday and am still waiting for a response. I have an area all ready for their stuff so I hope they pull through. If not, well something else will come through right?

The kids play area is basically ready. A clean rug. A sink. Changing Table and Diaper Champ. Rocker. Chairs. Toys. Butterflies hanging from the ceiling. Totally adorable and comfortable and I hope Moms love it as much as I do. I have my microwave, coffee pot and toaster but they still need a table and set up and they can also be used by customers if they want.

I have a great section of new stuff. And all my resale stuff is high-end, great condition as hoped. I ended up throwing in a few things that are not high-end but had that boutique look and a few things with a small flaw that were boutique brands so I am figuring out how to separate them out and price them on their own. One- being open minded but keeping my desire to have a boutique not just a store and Two- sometimes when are kids grow we don't mind a Gymboree shirt with a pen dot stain on it for play! Why pay full price for something they are going to make spaghetti in right? So that's my justification.

One of my best friends took some pictures and if any came out good I'll post them on the site!

I hope to have my "soft" opening at the latest a week from Tuesday and then the Grand Opening Week will follow 2-4 weeks later when everything is complete. But until then, I am pretty much there all the time during opening hours so feel free to come by, call or email.

I got ITunes loaded into the laptop for some music- now I just need my WiFi to pick up a connection so I can look up brands and prices when business is slow. I intend to find out how to find inexpensive and free advertising. I am getting my printer (hopefully) fixed tomorrow so I can start again on fliers to whomever and wherever!

Thank you to everyone passing the word along. Looking forward to meeting everyone. I want to make some great sales and store credit buys so I can invest in some more new merchandise to sell a little below retail so everyone wins.

That is my Sunday Night Update. Hope all is well out there!

Keys to Sucess

I have a key!

Okay, well its only a key to the door. They still have to get me the hallway key to get into the bathroom but it is a KEY. A real key to the door of my store.

And I get to start moving stuff in this week. I could pack up stuff today and drop it off even if no one is there. Even if it isn't officially finished (which it should be but if you know anything about construction and remodeling, which I do, I don't count on anything until I see it.) I can go in and plug in my phone. Put a message on my answering machine and everything.

Wow.

I think I might need to start washing and tagging.

Oh, and my hangers came in all 1000+ of them. Do you know how much hangers cost? I won't tell you if you don't but lets just say I won't be giving them away with the clothes! I'm trying to keep my cost down which is the point of my store.

And one of my favorite "New" suppliers is having a sale of buy one get one 50% off but I'm out of start-up money. Darnit. (PG-ing that one for those of you who know me I don't normally do that but I own a children's store so my blog should at least be PG right?).

The girls are having a hard time with this whole thing. They are only going to school one more day. One more. But wow. I have always worked from home, gone in the office here and there. But I have worked. I knew it would be hard on me- but them? Can I just say my curtains wear more make-up than me? When am I supposed to find time to clean them on top of all these clothes? I know, they come clean already. But I like them to smell the same. I have a weird laundry (and clothing) obsession.

That's okay. It will help in the clothing business right?

No luck on a sign yet. I'm going to have a teenager with good writing draw me a poster board in the meantime. Just kidding. Actually though.... maybe I will. At least its something. Hey, I gotta make some money here anyway before I spend anymore. I have only enough to pay rent, utilities, and insurance through the end of the year. Nothing else. Unless of course I start making some money.

So, come on and and start shopping. I'll be around. Moving in. Tagging. Figuring out the cash register (my hardest obstacle yet! Used and needs to be programmed) 100 page manual. Ahhh. I love to read but remember in school even when you loved to read the second you opened a text book you would fall asleep? Its like that. It might be messy for awhile while I tag and hang and decorate. But the more people buy the more new stuff I can get in and I am so glad I actually have fall stuff being that its mid-July almost!

Wow. This is happening and I better get to it. Maybe I'll go use my key and plug in my phone today. See what the store is looking like.

See you there!

Baby Steps

Well, the walls are painted and the floors are being currently put in. The phone lines will be installed tomorrow and I'll finally have a phone number so I can update my flyers!

I should know the actual move in day by the end of the week. Then I can start planning on the Grand Opening Week. I want something exciting each day to bring in customers. Hopefully they'll help spread the word.

I have a meeting with the Contractor (who is great btw) again tomorrow to talk about some finishing touches. More good news: We have a water outlet and he built a sink and vanity in the children's play area. So cute!

Still working on inventory. My hangers arrived at the store so as soon as my racks get up I can start washing, tagging, sorting and hanging. Thank you to everyone who is offering to help :)

Getting so close. Anxious and excited. The girls are a little sad about spending an extra day at school but I know they will be okay and eventually so will I. This is something I have to do, for all of us, and everyone will be better for it.

Now, figuring out this cash register thing- that's another story!

TBC

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.

It's a Beautiful Morning

A beautiful Saturday morning in May- what beats that? The kids have already been outside blowing bubbles and making muffins and mischief.

I have been scouring ads to find other stay-at-home moms that perhaps want to sell some stuff on consignment. Still also working on budgeting and inventory. Probably will take a break for awhile before the kids get to restless.

My big regret is that one of my best friends and I were going to start our own line of children's stuff- mainly slings before the popularity of slings took off, but due to life circumstances were unable to do it at the time. I hope with the new start of the store we are able to get in some of our own merchandise and ideas, even if we have to find someone else to do the labor part because of the time crunches we have. However, the name Fresh Picked came from then and the idea never left which I believe has brought me here today.

All for a reason right?

Another Step in the Right Direction

Fantastic. Fabulous. But yet real work.

Things are coming together amazingly well. The Fictitious Business name has been officially filed and now I can post it in the paper as soon as the bank check clears because also... the bank account has been opened. The first part of the lease is signed. The second part is ready and can be sent out with the security deposit and first (almost second) months rent. Another great part of the story.

Next is insurance (which I'm in the process of getting quotes for), a Tax ID number or as referred to in the business world an EIN number, a Seller's Permit and actual business license. I hope to have all these completed within the next week. It has all been started but I was waiting for the approved DBA name and Bank Account. We are officially Fresh Picked!

Tags have been designed and ordered. The colored fasteners have already arrived and this excites me. Everyone has clear. Don't they know for the same price they can spruce things up and pick a color? There is nothing clear about me or my fasteners.

I have a small arrangement of merchandise I am beginning to inventory. I am researching every brand and the original new prices as well as average resale price. This is a much lengthier process than I thought it would be, but a necessary one for sure! I love it all no matter how hard I am working and planning. There are fliers made so I can try and get the word out to get more merchandise. I am setting up a meeting to look at tiers and racks and all that good stuff. I'm going to do this with as little start-up costs and overhead as possible so I can pass the amazing deals on my soon-to-be customers.

My retail space was moved and I panicked at first. And then I learned how much better and amazing this new space will be (in the same building, just better). Excitingly attached to the basement of a Wholesale Wine Shop (Vintage Winery) with a better entrance, cool paint, a back office and space for a register. Next is planning the layout so there is no thrift store crowding, the children's play area is far enough away from the front door and the new merchandise (such as Melissa and Doug) are located just right.

This is new and fantastic and frightening all at once. Just like my life. Like children and all new things, hard work is required and the rewards will be unimaginable. Those who have put down my dream will watch me succeed and understand the reality that is my life. And those that have been huge in supporting me will benefit from knowing they put their heart and soul into mine and I did not disappoint them.

I have a great after-hours idea also. I am looking for people to sign up to run classes or parties either on the days we are closed or after hours. We can do a commission split (like a consignment) and perhaps a discount on store merchandise after the seminar (or activity). What a great way to not only utilize the space during closing times but help out others that need an area to work in. Lactation Seminars, "Green Parenting", Nutrition, Facials, etc. I am open to it all and cannot wait to see what I can actually book. So far there has been a lot of talk but since we don't have an opening day yet, nothing is set in stone.

Sometime in June we can set up, move in and possibly open. The store will be in full motion by July 1st and I better have worked my butt off to get customers in! See you on Miramar Road

Logo

We have our logo! Isn't it adorable?

Finished the rough draft of the Business Plan and the Business Policies and Procedures. Secured a location with the right price in the right area. Hired a great friend and former co-worker and her son helped us design our logo so now I can get started on the tags, labels, flyers, business cards, signage, and all that good stuff. Now, hopefully the store will make enough money initially to cover a salary! A little scary but isn't the whole thing both scary and exhilirating? So bipolar, I love it.

The landlord is working on finalizing his version of the lease for us to look at and hopefully the first draft will be agreeable to both parties. I'm pretty open to whatever considering he is willing to give us a six-month lease. That way if I fail (which I WON'T) I can sell the rest of the merchandise out of the garage and hopefully at least pay my mom back her (small but very important) investment.

This economy is great for resale and with my fashion sense and love of shopping I just know this will go great. It will take a long time to decorate and get the store to look like I imagine because we just don't have the funding to actually "design" the store. But I have lots of great funky ideas to make it work without putting up a lot of cash. I figured that out in the projected income and expense report. After we start making a profit, money can go into actually getting the right racks, hangers, bags, or whatever the boutique needs to look as hip as it will be.

The craigslist local community has been great and I know I will have luck at mom's groups and through my preschool as well. I hope after all this I'm able to give back what good is coming to me through this store. I think this is the opportunity I needed to put a positive spin on all the things I went through the past three years- especially the really tough last year and a half.

I'm meeting with a (free) mentor on Friday through SCORE to look over everything which is also very excited. I really would like a 3rd party opinion from someone who has been there before. I hope to finish designing the tags and ordering thoses this week. I also want to re-do my income/expense report with a little more thought. I can put that with the final draft of my Business Plan and the Policies and Procedures and I will be ready for Friday. I need to include more of my start-up brainstorming on a low-budget in my Business Plan because I really should have expanded more on that end of it.

I also want my listing of brands and average prices completed by the end of the week and the Customer Cards so I can start buying by offering store credit as well.

Maybe I can get an hour or so of sleep each night? Or is that setting my expectations way too high?