What a Difference a Year Makes!
This is more of a personal message than usual, so I hope you can bear with. As the crew and I were painting and redecorating Georgie Girl recently, I stopped for a moment to amaze at where I was one short year ago and all that has happened since.
One year ago, I was crocheting hats and scarves, making tutu’s, felting Christmas ornaments and sewing! I was just trying so hard to place any stock in my store that might appeal at Christmas to local gift givers, and I was on a very, very tight budget. Some local jewelery artists and craftspeople were at side cheering me on and that gave me strength and hope. My baby section was full of cute little gifts, and that was a blessing.
Christmas shoppers gave me some retail love, and that carried me through to the new year. I knew there was a change a-coming, but I can save that story for a later blog!
The move to Ellis Street had taken it’s toll on me and my baby business. Ellis 3 years ago was not quite “on the retail map” in a big way and it was hit and miss – mostly miss. Although I did, out of sheer desperation, consider moving again, I did hunch that Ellis Street from the Madison to Clement would “get there”. So, I shook change out of the kitty when I needed to, tightened the belt as much as possible and met each day with some hope and innovation. Many of my loyal customers supported the shop enough to make my days a bit easier – Biggest Hugs to you, you know who you are!
Fast forward to today. As I look back and step mentally into those stilettos I was wearing that one short year ago, OMG! The sheer delight of owning, operating and growing a fabulous, amazing, business in women’s vintage fashion is like a seriously realistic DREAM! Don’t pinch me, if this is a dream I love it! The best part is…drum roll…ladies, you seem to like it!! THANK YOU!!
I am excited about the Georgie Girl Vintage concept, and will relate in another blog someday how the idea was my customers, and how I needed to be led there kicking and screaming! I think sometime of that old worn out adage “can’t see the forest for the trees” might apply here!