TV's and a Royal Wedding

If you read this blog on a regular basis, you know that I am always talking about the importance of looking into the FUTURE! As a small business owner, you can't afford to be caught off guard by something that could affect your business in a negative way. I also believe very strongly that looking FORWARD is the only way to achieve your goals.

This blog post is about looking back. I thought that from a strictly marketing point of view...this article was genius. It went on to explain that when Elizabeth's Coronation was set to be broadcast in the 1950's, millions of Britons went out and bought TV's. This one event essentially ushered Britain into the TV age. When Prince Charles married Diana in 1985, it was one of the largest TV events in History. The wedding of Kate Middleton and Prince William is expected to be even bigger. What is the TV connection? Well it seems that sales of 3-D TV's have been 'sluggish'. It is believed that this Royal wedding may be broadcast in 3-D to encourage sales of 3-D TV's!

The connection may not be obvious: Royal events and TV's...but it's obvious to people who are anxious to make money on an event that happens only every 30 years or so. I have to admit...I did not see it coming...but I think it's brilliant. TV retailers have a little less than 6 months to create an aggressive 3-D TV marketing plan with a Royal-SPIN! Now if they can only make those glasses a little more ATTRACTIVE!!

www.economictimes.indiatimes.com
Kate Middleton,Prince William to have a 3-D Royal Wedding

Content and your Business

I have been thinking a lot about CONTENT, lately. I took a great webinar, put on by MarketingProfs called CONTENT RULES, and really learned a lot. It made me think about how most businesses leave the content of their business to the experience customers have when they walk through the door of their bricks and mortar business. I really believe, that in the next 10 years or so, this type of face to face content will become almost obsolete. In the here and now I believe that the majority of customers, most of whom will NEVER come through your physical door, do the majority of their research about where they would like to eat, or where they would like to shop, online.
The information, or CONTENT of your website or e-newsletter, or blog, is sometimes the only chance you have to WOW them. To convince them that it is worth their while to get into their car, pay for parking, and take a risk that YOU HAVE what they are looking for. I find the opportunity to WOW them with great content very exciting! Are you a good writer? Do you shoot a great video? Do you have a real knack of interviewing customers or staff? Whatever you do best...DOIT!

Post it on your blog. Make your website so entertaining, that your customers share it with their friends on facebook! Whatever you do...Make it real, make it YOU. Your content should reflect your personal business philosophy. It should tell a story, with every post, or tweet, about how much you LOVE what you do. It should engage your customer, and even perhaps solve a problem for them.( ie: Where should we hold our staff Christmas party? Where can I purchase the PERFECT gift basket for my boss: The FUSSY FOODIE?)

I think that perfect CONTENT is like having a PERFECT business. It shows your BEST side...all the time. Perfect CONTENT is like having a spotless store, wonderful, attentive staff, and perfect food, served hot and delicious, or incredible merchandise filling your space.

What is your CONTENT saying about you? If you don't know...give me a call...I can help!

WHOOPS

I must explain about my last blog post. If you didn't know...and really, why would you...I write 2 blogs. As you can guess, the other blog is a FOOD blog. I have had a bit of a day, both in the kitchen, AND at the computer.( the plunger is kind of self explanatory, and my garburator is 25 years old!) So please excuse the mix-up, and feel free to check out my OTHER blog at cathyeats.blogspot.com.

A different kind of chicken noodle soup

It has been cold lately. I suppose the fact that it is the beginning of December has something to do with that! I cooked and ate, along with the P-Man of course, a very expensive and tasty organic chicken. I froze the carcass for a rainy day, but a really COLD day made me un-thaw it, and make some chicken soup. I had seen Chef Michael Smyth make a chicken soup flavoured with fresh ginger, soy sauce, and green onions on the Food Network. I also remember reading about Nigel Slater being obsessed with a Southeast Asian restorative broth that he added a whole assortment of vegetables/noodles/and protein to. I decided that the idea of a nice cleansing soup, as opposed to the kind of soup I normally make, would be a nice change of pace. I was pleased that the expensive chicken made a lovely clear flavourful broth. I boiled it with low sodium soy sauce, a handful of 2 inch long pieces of green onion, and a 2 inch piece of ginger, sliced but not peeled. I threw in a few peppercorns, and let it simmer.

After about an hour I strained it, and added a whole head of fennel sliced thinly, and a handful of shitake mushroom, also sliced thinly. In a separate pot, I boiled up some soba noodles. After about 30 minutes, the fennel was tender, and the soup smelled great. I placed some of the noodles in the bottom and topped them off with some of the broth, and a sprinkling of fresh cilantro and sliced green onion. It was fragrant, and a bit spicy...a truly subtle flavour.

That first bowl was not what I expected. I am used to soups with lots of ingredients, with lots of different seasonings. This soup was soft and silky, and quietly flavoured. I have had several bowls since then, and I must say, I am really starting to appreciate the clear flavourful broth...and have taken to eating it with a large spoon AND a fork...to make sure I can slurp up the noodles!

Mama's got a brand-new BAG

This photo, unfortunately, is NOT of my laundry room. This is the beautiful, functional laundry room in the new Millionaire's Lottery Prize home on Marine Drive in White Rock. I very seldom long to live in a nicer place than I do now...but this place was pretty spectacular! Hopefully, I'll be moving in at the end of January...HA!

This photo, or more specifically, the whole house got me thinking about the resources, and the waste generated by a house of that size. I came across a really interesting article in USA Today(Monday Nov 29th) that spoke about how quickly things change in this globalized world. As Retailers, it's more important than ever to try to look as far forward as possible, in order to not be blindsided by issues that can affect your business.

The article was titled: Mama's Got a brand-new bag, and the tag line was: Her dad patented the plastic grocery bag; she designed a way to do without it.It was written by Wendy Koch. Basically the article explains how Kristen Brown's father patented this fabulous new thing...the plastic shopping bag in 1967...and how a mere 40 years later, that same bag has gone from revolutionary, to being completely banned in many counties and states all over America. To add insult to injury, Kristen Brown has invented a re-usible 4 bag system that allows grocery shoppers to never have to touch a plastic shopping bag again!

Think about that for a minute. What could something like this, such as your town banning plastic bags, do to your business? If you are a large grocery store or a Retailer who has 50,000 plastic shopping bags in stock in their back room, because they use 50 per day, every day...it could be devestating. I think that small Retailers are prone to living in their stores, not paying a lot of attention to world events. This story is a great example of seeing a future trend, or something coming that may or may not affect your business in a negative way...BEFORE it happens. Keeping up on events in your community, or in the large city next to your community, or even in the large COUNTRY near your Community is a good first step in identifying threats AND opportunities. Kristen Brown is taking the success of her father, and making it her own.

Do you know what threats OR opportunities are out there for your business?

The paperdoll, in Bellingham

My evening spent shopping in Bellingham last week, took me into the paperdoll. This little jewelery-box of a shop was a truly unique experience. The store motto is 'Doll It Up!'... and I immediately knew that I was in a feminine space. The paper items, the artwork, the aprons, the jewelery, the clothing...I was instantly put in touch with my feminine-feline side. The merchandise had been put together in a fun and witty way. I could see the owner smiling as she arranged each piece...created each vignette. I came away with a packet of extremely sly post it notes, with a message that any lady could not repeat in mixed company!

I thoroughly enjoyed my time at the paperdoll, and felt that this original, witty space would be at home anywhere, but thought that it fit downtown Bellingham like a beautiful, long, silky, glove.

Later Doll...

www.thepaperdoll.net312 West Champion Street
Bellingham WA 98225
360-738-DOLL

Crate and Barrel-University Village/Seattle

These are some outside lights in the trees at University Village in Seattle. The day was quite grey, but the deep red lights against the bare branches of the trees were simply magical. I think if you can decorate your store with only one product, inside or out, it should be with light. I think twinkling lights in a colour, or just clear white, puts everyone in a more relaxed frame of mind. Especially with our grey climate, lights work as a sort of pick me up...adding sparkle and shine to every space. When I had my store on Marine Drive in White Rock. I used to take 3 or 4 different strings of clear lights, different sizes and shapes, and hang them from a dowel behind my till. I instantly noticed how clear the colours of the clothing items appeared. When you have a store with fluorescent fixtures in the ceiling, that one type of light can be very 'flattening' to items and colours. Adding another type of light shows how under-lit most stores really are. It's always good to experiment with moving lights around...any time of the year!

When I was at University Village, I especially wanted to visit Crate and Barrel. I had been into their location in NYC in the Spring, and really liked it. This location was HUGE...but somehow was brought more into scale with a clever combination of lighting and merchandising. As the store was relatively new it was absolutely spotless. It reminded me of a new car that no one had ever sat in. It was decorated for Christmas in a variety of colours depending on the area. The colours were all jewel tones. Given the light oak floors and the sparkling white walls...these colours really 'POPPED'.

The store looked beautiful and festive,colourful and upbeat! Everything was touchable and appealing, and the colour blocks were strong and graphic. I would imagine that making this huge space look cozy and human-scaled must have been a real challenge but they did a great job. The Room-Sized Vignettes were outstanding...with special attention paid to colour and negative space(proportion). The store was full to the brim, with moms and dads,grandmas and grandpas. To round out the Holiday feel, there were lots of adorable children who looked as rosy-cheeked and well-fed as any little person of privilege should look on US Thanksgiving Sunday Afternoon. Had Norman Rockwell still been alive, he would have painted the scene I saw that day at Crate and Barrel.

www.crateandbarrel.com

Anthropologie...How I love Thee!

I picked up these little beauties at Anthropologie in Downtown Seattle, last week. I was at 2 Anthropologie locations on my last visit. The first one we visited was at University Village. This location is brand-spanking new! The whole Retail development was absolutely beautiful. It reminded me of the Village at Park Royal, but like everything in the States, it was about 3 times the size.

I LOVE Anthropologie. I simply can't understand how they do what they do. They make mass-produced look handmade. They merchandise in such a way that makes you want to LIVE in their store. They somehow take a totally soulless new commercial space with high ceilings and an ordinary concrete floor, and turn it into a space that looks worn in, funky, and totally cool!

They manage to transform the 'false-ness' of the standard 'LIFESTYLE' store, into a space that has you longing to live that life. That aspirational aspect is every retailers dream. How do you create a world out of merchandise that has people wanting to own everything you sell...including the 'idea' of the lifestyle that you present. This is where as an owner, you absolutely can't fake it. The image that your store presents has to reflect your personality. The image also has to give customers a peek into the life you lead...and to some degree, your values. It's a little scary to reveal that much to strangers...but from your website, to your facebook page, to your blog or monthly newsletter, to your physical bricks and mortar location...you have to be honest and real. I personally know nothing about the person/corporation that owns the Anthropologie brand...but I feel as if they invite me into their home, every time I am in the area. What does your space say to customers?
www.anthropologie.com

DIGS Showroom- Bellingham, Wa.

I took a little road trip with a good friend last week. We headed to Seattle to check out the 'hype' that is BLACK FRIDAY...and took a little detour through Bellingham. It has got to be 10 or more years since I had been to Bellingham, so it was nice to see their downtown area looking so funky and fun. There was such a comfortable vibe...not easy to achieve in this economy. We decided to check out a store that my friend said I'd like. It was called DIGS. I didn't just like this place...I LOVED this place. It was easily, one of the most thoughtfully edited, organized and unique stores that I have been in in a LONG time. The space was beautiful. It was an older building on a corner. It was well lit, inside and out, with an open concept, high ceilinged 2 story layout. The merchandise was primarily home decor, but with a good selection of books for cooks,children, and would be designers/decorators. I have to admit that the upstairs captured my imagination the most, with it's small art installation filled with vintage things for the home. In this 100 or so square feet I discovered more than a few things from my youth! The standout was a Betty Crocker recipe card file from the 70's. The one in the installation was harvest gold...but if you can believe it...I had one that was avocado green...and I swear, I cooked EVERY RECIPE in that crazy little box of recipe treasures.

This store was remarkable for it's sophistication, variety of merchandise, and overall flow. The sections were incredibly well integrated, creating vignettes that had you imagining yourself actually living in the spaces. Too often, retailers are pushed and pulled off their buying course by shifts in the economy, vendors demanding larger orders for free shipping, or customers asking for bizarre items, and the store owner believing that special ordering 2 or 3 or 10 of these treasures will translate into a loyal, satisfied customer. I admire stores like DIGS...who know who they are, and stay true to that vision by creating a store environment that is specific, but not rigid. DIGS speaks for itself. The store was laid out in such a way that even if there had been no one to serve me, I could have wandered around, on my own, picking up interesting things, and enjoying the specific spaces, not at all worried about something falling on my head, or knocking something over, or being afraid to touch something for fear of ruining a display. The store was full...but not in a crazy, messy, unorganized way. I can't emphasize enough, how HARD that is to achieve in any retail store. That balance between too much stock, and not enough stock is mostly ART...partly SCIENCE. (MATH SCIENCE!!)

DIGS is a downtown Bellingham treasure, and an early Christmas present for anyone who loves unique and beautiful retail stores...

www.digsshowroom.com

DIGS200 West Holly Street
Bellingham Wa. 98255

Vancouver Art Gallery...SHOP??

I used to Volunteer at the Vancouver Art Gallery. I was an Ambassador in the front lobby for a couple of summers. After I closed my stores, I wanted to do some things that I had always wanted to do. As I had volunteered in the Arts in Abbotsford for years...I was curious to see how a large professional Art Gallery was run. It was fascinating, and I met people from all over the world. I think the Gallery Store is one of the nicest ones I have seen. The selection of items is well edited, and the store walks that fine line between educational and FUN! I realize that there are many thousands of people who live and work in Vancouver who have NEVER seen an exhibition at the VAG. Does this mean they have never shopped in the store? It's an interesting question. If you are not familiar with the Arts, perhaps you think that you can only visit the shop if you pay to see an exhibit. Not True. Perhaps you think that the merchandise for sale in the shop is all related to the current exhibits. Not true.

Perception of an institution like the VAG, is similar to perception of your business. Do you know what customers are saying about you, or what they think of your business? Would it surprise you to hear that customers think your clothing is only for skinny teen aged girls. Or that your sandwiches are good, but too expensive? Or that your store is too 'fancy' and they feel uncomfortable going in to look around if they feel they are not dressed up enough? Even if all of the above statements are completely false, if even ONE of your potential customers thinks this way...you are missing out on a potential sale.

This is where Social Media comes in VERY handy. A blog, or a business Facebook Page, or a website tell your customers who you are, and what you are, and in the instance of facebook, tells them who LIKES you, and who your FRIENDS are! This sort of information is essential in today's busy world. As I have said many times: CUSTOMERS ARE BUSY PEOPLE! They do not have time to waste visiting businesses that are not what they are looking for! Doing 5 minutes of on-line research can give customers a FEELING for who you are as a business. Sometimes, 5 minutes is all the time you have to make an impression, AND win a new customer.

The Christmas' Open House'

If my store had looked as pretty, and as festive as this...I think I would have had customers OVER more often! HA! The idea of hosting 10 to 50 people inside my cramped little store, and serving them wine and cheese and snacks that they could have easily spilled all over the new clothing and accessories I had just unpacked, struck me as foolhardy. But it is the Holiday Season! Shouldn't we be Thanking our BEST customers by inviting them into our stores, and serving up some Christmas cheer, as well as a nice little discount? It's a question that I would like you to consider.

I attended an open house for a local retailer last Friday. I don't know where I picked up the invitation, as I hadn't been in the store in ages, and am certainly not one of her BEST customers. The invitation was soooo pretty. It looked expensive. The paper was sort of iridescent, the colour of freshly fallen snow. The time of the open house was generous, sort of an all day affair, 10 am to 7 pm. I got there around 6 pm, and am sorry to report that it was the most depressing affair I had ever been to. Lined up behind the till was the owner and 3 sales associates. A man dressed as Santa was standing near the front window. The conversation between Santa and the 4 women was all about how disappointed they were it was so slow, and they decided to send one of the associates home, as there was only an hour left, and probably no one else was going to come. If you haven't already guessed, I was THE ONLY CUSTOMER!! Honestly, if Santa hadn't been blocking the door...I probably would have made a run for it!

So...have I scared you into NEVER having an open house? I hope not. I believe that in this economy, you have to plan an event down to the smallest detail. If you are not committed to doing that, you could end up my next cautionary tale! Customers are BUSY this time of year. Make your event a MUST-ATTEND event! If you have any marketing budget left, hire a party planner. If not, do you have a staff member or a friend who just LIVES for an event? He or She is the one you want! Make sure your event has a clear purpose. Are you showcasing Holiday merchandise? Are you having a special discounted evening JUST for your BEST customers? Are you celebrating having great customers by asking them to stop by, so you can give them a drink and a snack, and a discount coupon to be used after Christmas...as well as a little goodie bag? Once you have a plan...DO IT!! I always believe that some of the most successful events happen because the INTENTION is good.

Remember Santa has a list...Do something NICE for your customers this season. They will remember you for it.

BLACK FRIDAY...Does it give you the BLUES??

I took this photo at Pacific Centre. It never ceases to amaze me how PACKED this Apple Store always is. If you counted customers in every single store in the mall, I bet that the customer count at Apple would be DOUBLE!! That consistent fullness reminds me of shopping in the US...even with the current recession.

Black Friday is coming up. I was at the movies yesterday, and came across an article in the Georgia Straight, in the travel? section.( www.straight.com Nov 4 to 11) The article talked about the opportunity for Canadians to head south on November 26th to partake in a multitude of bargains. Having been a small retailer myself, I don't necessarily agree with the rationale behind encouraging people to travel across the line to patronize stores that are so much bigger, and able to offer discounts that are largely unheard of here. But the article got me thinking about the actual Black Friday event. Canada does not have anything in our Retail world that even compares. The idea that one day of the year , outside of boxing day, all across the country would be devoted to shopping, AND bargain hunting, is an intriguing concept. From having a store in a small strip mall, to having a store on a streetfront, I know the difficulty involved in getting one's Retail neighbours to work together on ANYTHING!! Just imagine if someone floated the idea at a national level, of a day devoted to shopping! Black Friday has survived wars and recession, and serves as a day to look forward to by millions of consumers in the US who want to participate in an event that elevates shopping to a new level. The millions of dollars that are pumped into the economy, and the millions of customer service people who are employed specially for that day...or who can look forward to overtime...is staggering. Do the Retailers make money? It depends on your business, and it depends on the volume of items you are able to move. Does Black Friday create awareness of your brand, your location, your level of customer service...You bet it does!

I think that too often we Canadians judge the US for their level of consumerism. Maybe this year, it's time you headed down to judge for yourself. If you are in Retail, the bottom line is you want to make money. Black Friday has gone from a shopping day to an industry, involving hotels, tour companies, and restaurants. I think we could all benefit by inventing our own Black Friday...after all, there is no reason we have to reinvent the wheel...we just have to learn from our competitors.

Holiday Music list etc...Cathy's Picks

As an add-on to yesterday's blog about music in your store, especially HOLIDAY music in your store, I thought I would leave a list of my all time favorites! I also wanted to stress the fact that Holiday music doesn't have to be FULL-ON...8 hours a day! In fact, if you don't want a staff mutiny on your hands, I would suggest mixing holiday music in with other selections. Every one's taste is different, and you have to make the music appropriate to the feel of your store, but don't be afraid to mix it up a bit, and poll your staff, and or customers to see how you are doing.
Cathy's Holiday Music Must-Haves:( in no particular order...)

A Charlie Brown Christmas: Vince Guaraldi- My hands-down,Go-To, Christmas classic. It's as fresh today, as it was in the 1960's. 'Christmastime is Here' has GOT TO BE one of the most recognizable tunes in the universe! If you have even a COUPLE of Baby Boomers as customers...watch them sing along as they stand happily in line!

Hip Holidays-Volume 2-Potterybarn: Various Artists- I love all the potterybarn compilations...but this one has some of the smoothest jazz artists of all time singing about the Holidays. People like Lou Rawls,Peggy Lee, and Lena Horne. Perfect for early morning or late night when customers are wanting a bit of comfort in their shopping day.

Making Spirits Bright: Dean Martin- Speaking of SMOOTH...Dino always makes it onto my Holiday play list. 'Baby it's cold outside' has got to be one of the sexiest Christmas tunes ever written!

Merry Christmas: Mariah Carey- Don't laugh! This is very early Mariah...a bit before all the vocal theatrics began. 'Miss you most at Christmastime' is a beautiful Christmas love song, and the whole collection has a nice gospel vibe to it.

Let the Ho-Ho-Hoing BEGIN!!

Music, Music, Music...and Your Store

Do You ever notice music when you walk into a retail store? I am a person who loves music, and thought that one of the best things about having my own retail store was being able to program a days worth of music that meant something to me, every day I worked.

As a customer, I remember 3 times that I entered a store and was blown away by the music playing. The 1st time was in a new boutique in Yaletown called Vasanji. I walked in and was immediately transported back to the late 70's. Whomever was working that day had decided to play, in it's entirety, Stevie Wonder's Musiquarium. I walked in to 'Superstition', and stayed right through 'Isn't she lovely?' The store was a HUGE loft space, in what was then an up and coming area, and I will never forget how well that album matched the feeling of the sort of urban,clubby clothing they were selling.

The 2nd time, the P-Man and I were in Santa Monica shopping at a very upscale boutique called Fred Siegel's. That day, the music consisted of the New Macy Gray album...'On How Life Is'. As I wandered from department to department, each song followed me, and I swore that right after I finished shopping, I was going to buy that CD.

The 3rd time was in Portland Oregon. The P-Man and I were visiting Portland for the 1st time, and had stayed in an up and coming neighbourhood called the Pearl District. The area was full of interesting little shops, but you know how it is...after the third cute little store selling chic spa products mixed with 'must-have home decor', you need a break! We walked into another little place, and were treated to the then-new Justin Timberlake CD - 'Justified'. That catchy pop music made me want to stay a little longer. It instantly differentiated that store from all the others I had walked through that morning.

Just in case you haven't noticed...Christmas is coming! For those of us who have worked through a decade or so of Christmas retail...please have pity on your customers. Consider your Christmas music selections. Your staff, AND your customers will be subjected to all manner of 'Silent Night' in the next 8 weeks! Take this opportunity to listen to, and program some Holiday appropriate music that won't have everyone racing for the door! Whatever you, AND your staff decide on, it should reflect you, and what your store is all about. Take the time to consider VOLUME and SELECTION! An ipod is a great alternative to a couple of CD's that have to be constantly rotated. You can load the music you like, hit shuffle, and let it play all day...no fuss, no annoying stoppages, or skips. This time of year is busy...don't make your staff deal with one more thing that could drag them away from making a great impression, or a great SALE, to a customer! Make an impression...show who you are...Tis the Season !

Trade Shows...Why you should make the time!

When I had my clothing store, I used to LOVE going to a trade show. It was an excuse to get out of the store for the day, have a nice drive, and maybe a drink and a snack after the show to digest what I had seen. When I was in Fashion Design several decades ago I learned a valuable lesson that I have never forgotten. The lesson was simple: LOOK AT EVERYTHING!!! LET EVERYTHING BE YOUR INSPIRATION!! As I recall we were doing an assignment where we had to design an outfit based on an insect! Now, I am one of the most practical people you will ever meet. Assignments like this used to drive me up the wall! " How can an insect be an inspiration for an outfit" I cried!! " Who would want to wear something that made them look like a BUG?", I moaned! I was ignored by my instructor, who happened to be an artist...and I slinked upstairs to the library to look for pictures of insects. ( I just realized how OLD, that statement makes me look!)
That lesson, combined with many others, worked to expand my mind from the place it normally resided, in my head, to the world outside.

If you have a business, can you afford to stay inside your space day in and day out, and expect to come up with any fresh ideas? Many business owners feel that the time away from work combined with the expenses related to travel or hiring staff to cover your absence makes attending trade shows less attractive. I completely disagree. YOU are the investment. YOU are the visionary leader who started your business and FEEDS it every day with energy and ideas. To set aside a few hours or days a year to attend a show, meet with suppliers, or other people who have similar businesses is an investment in the health of yourself AND your business.

Part of Cavern Retail Consulting is doing merchandising for stores. The photo above is from a trade show that features mostly interior design. Should I have not attended because I have a background in Fashion, not interior design? Should I have not attended because I have never designed the interior of a store...and store design is not included in my business Menu of Services? Of course not! This show: The IDS West Design Show was to provide me with inspiration. I attended the show almost 2 weeks ago, and my mind is STILL percolating with ideas of every kind! I posted more photos on my facebook page, and have used those photos to chat with people I never would have met if I had not taken the time to attend the show.

Destiny's Child said it best: " Free your mind, and the rest will follow..."
IDS West Design Show: www.idswest.com
PHOTO: Eighteen Karat booth: www.eighteenkarat.com
Cavern Retail Consulting Facebook Page: www.facebook.com/pages/Cavern-Retail-Consulting/130690110314227

Small Business Week- Oct 2010

When I had a small business I always looked forward to Small Business Week. It was the one week of the year that the spotlight was shined onto the many of us,(383,300 of us in 2008) who decided to give self employment a try...and were in varying degrees: successful, happy, fed-up,or just trying hard to make a living...EVERY DAY!

I took this photo quite by chance. I was looking for a gas station on Fraser Highway in Langley, and I turned off on 216th...and came across this beautiful little house, that just happened to be a business as well. It made me think about what an asset that business was to that little corner, in the 'littler' hamlet of Murrayville. That business gave this house LIFE...and visa versa!

I also came across an article in the Vancouver Sun last week in the business section called: Entrepreneurship is a Vital Driver of Innovation. ( The Newspaper's View) Visit www.vancouversun.com, and you can read the whole article. It was a great snapshot of why people start businesses...and how important their drive is to our life here in Canada, and all over the world.

This week, take a minute and give some love to a local entrepreneur. This quote comes from the article in The Sun:

"Entrepreneurs not only find new ways to make money, they discover new ways to cure disease, distribute aid, improve public transit, educate children, travel in space, fight crime, feed the hungry,and erect energy-efficient buildings. They have spearheaded change in every human endeavour."

Good Luck to every, single one of them...

Celebrating a Milestone...with Gone Crackers...

I think that having a business is reason to celebrate! All of the effort involved in coming up with an idea, and a business plan, and securing financing, AND managing to open the doors...it's just a remarkable accomplishment! If all goes well, and you can make it past the magical 2 year mark...I think that you should throw a party!

I went to a celebration a couple of weeks ago, for my friend Heather. Heather owns a business called Gone Crackers, and was in the mood to celebrate not only 2 years in business, but 10 YEARS IN BUSINESS! She was also celebrating the launch of a new flavour of cracker: Moroccan Spice.

The evening was great! It was held at Brix Restaurant in Yaletown. From the minute I walked in, the Moroccan theme was evident. I was handed a glass of sparkling wine with rose petal and gold flake floating dreamily in the glass. I tasted the most flavourful lamb, and pita, with delicious spreads...and was later entertained by a bewitching belly dancer.

Heather made a short speech Thanking all of us for celebrating with her. I believe that successful businesses need to keep celebrating...and we all need to stay involved and watch them grow and thrive.

Small business is the backbone of the Canadian economy...and most other economies in the world. We should all be proud of our local success stories. In this case, showing my pride just means going to the cupboard for some more delicious crackers!

Congratulations Heather! Here's to another 10 years!

Customers...and their ' Patient Partners'

When I had my store, I was always aware if a customer had come in alone...or if there was someone else with them. Sometimes the person was minding the dog outside, sometimes a husband or partner decided to stay on the sidewalk, sometimes the dog stayed outside with a child or grandchild. In all of these instances...the customer in my store was on 'borrowed time'. If I had any hope of making a sale, or even a good impression, I had to consider, the 'shadow customer' lurking outside my front door. Shopping is NOT an activity to undertake when you are on any kind of time limit. It makes the whole activity a sprint...instead of a stroll. It doesn't matter what type of thing you are shopping for, clothes, food, furniture, even a place to eat a nice lunch...if you think that you have to hurry up because someone is WAITING FOR YOU...it takes all the fun out of it.

I spotted this chair outside a favorite gallery of mine on Granville Island. I thought it was brilliant! The decoration suggests gallery...and the soft seat suggests, 'Relax...she,or he,or they will be out in a bit.' Sometimes the reason a customer decides NOT to buy, has nothing to do with your merchandising, or price point, it has to do with the shadowy figure waiting outside. Make them comfortable...say, hi! Maybe even offer them a chair in the sun...

What's Your Name??

When you look at this photo, what catches your eye. Is it the attractive men? The spiffy looking kilts, or the name on the side of the truck? This company has GOT IT ALL!! The name matches the look...and hopefully the work! This company, and these gentlemen worked at BBQ on the Bypass to make sure everything was neat and clean all day! I for 1...will NEVER forget the name of the business. It made an instant impression on me...and if I had to recommend their business to someone else, I would have no problem calling it up in my mind. MEN IN KILTS...they clean...and you will never forget their uniforms!
Does your business have a WOW name like Men in Kilts? Your name is everything...Make it GREAT!!

Your Business...Your Community

I attended BBQ on the Bypass on Sunday September 19,2010. It is a huge community event sponsored by a local business: Well Seasoned, a Gourmet Food Store. The event takes place in Langley, in the parking lot of a group of businesses that include Well Seasoned. The owner, Angie Quaale, plans the event a full year in advance. For anyone who is running a business to take on a huge project like this, has to be like working at another full time job! There is no doubt that WellSeasoned benefits from the media coverage that a large community event like this brings...but if Angie had to count the extra hours worked over the year on the event, divided by the estimated increased revenues...I don't know how well the numbers would come out.
The question then would be: Why Do It? What does your business OWE your Community? Most people would say, nothing. I disagree. It is completely worth the time and the effort, and the headaches, to let people know that you are a good neighbour. Do all of Well Seasoned's customers live in Langley? I doubt it. Do all of the Well Seasoned customers know about the BBQ, and tell their friends and neighbours about it? I would think so. Even if you live in Abbotsford, or White Rock, or in Victoria...you know that when you shop at Well Seasoned, you are shopping at a store that doesn't just pay rent in a community, and sells gourmet food. Well Seasoned contributes to the Community of Langley, by hosting this event. Does that fact make you shop there? That's up to you.

I believe that everyone has a responsibility to participate in the life of the Community they live in. For some people, that might mean shopping at the local Farmers Market, or buying Girl Guide Cookies from a kid at the mall. For others, it means going to events sponsored by local businesses that showcase something different and unique in their Communities. BBQ on the Bypass is a one of a kind event, sponsored by a store that celebrates the tastes and smells of that style of food.

What is your business's passion? How do you let the Community you live and work in, know? What benefits could be gained from finding out? As we head into the busy Holiday Season do you know who you are and what you stand for? I guarantee that finding out, and being able to tell people in a sentence or two, will cause you to stand out in a crowd. Even if that crowd is full of happy people munching on sandwiches with a trickle of BBQ sauce running down their chin...

Aritzia in Pacific Centre- Flying Angel Pussycats

People speak about Window Design like it is an Art. I was fortunate enough to have won a Window Design Competition in 2002, Sponsored by the then Retail Merchants Assn. of BC. My partner Sharon Wallace and I designed a Window in a narrow space in my Cavern Clothing Store in Abbotsford. We had an idea, and somehow the planets aligned, and we won! Seeing the other windows that didn't win, made us feel quite humble. In every case, the time and effort to create these windows, was enormous.

This window, at Aritzia in Pacific Centre dragged me all the way over to it, from way across the mall! I noticed 2 things: There is no focus on clothing, and the flying pussycats have the most incredible expression on their little cat faces, and the way they are positioned gives them the most incredible energy! I kept expecting one to leap off it's strings and POUNCE!!! The window is unusual, considering that we are coming up to 2 major holidays: Thanksgiving and Christmas...I did not see an autumn leaf, a vampire fang, ( I forgot to mention Halloween!) or a Christmas ball.
I believe that the things in this world that are noticed the most, are unexpected. I certainly did not expect to see a leaping, flying, pack of pretty, fluffy, winged pussycats in a store window, that usually has a clothing focus.

It made me wonder what YOU could do with your store window, if you just let yourself go and created a vision that pleased you. Would people stop and stare? Would they blog about you? Who knows...you had better get started, and see...

Orling & Wu: A Gastown Beauty

I was in Vancouver yesterday. It was a nice afternoon, and I was early for my class. I rode the Canada Line all the way to Waterfront Station, and decided to take a walk down Water Street. I have lived in the Lower Mainland for more than 35 years now. I have been to Gastown dozens of times. Some things never seem to change. The store that sells Cowichan Sweaters is still there. So is the place that sells small bottles of real maple syrup, and Inuit soap stone carvings. The tourists are still there. Yesterday afternoon people were still posing in front of the famous steam clock, and others were seriously studying those cartoon maps that tell you where the Art Gallery and the Aquarium is. Lately, I have been reading about some new additions to Gastown's Retail Scene. I kept walking, and soon I came across a pretty little building, with a freshly painted facade, and a window display that caused me to jaywalk across the street to have a better look. I had arrived at Orling & Wu.

The store was simply stunning. The feeling was calm, the colours subtle, and the stock was arranged and edited with great care and attention to detail. I always know I am in an perfectly edited space, when I have to look at EVERYTHING. The way that the items were displayed allowed my eye to see not only the grouping, but each individual item. I think one of the most common mistakes people make when merchandising, is not allowing enough space between items. One of the other elements that made the space work so well, was the use of white. It allowed the other colours and prints to POP...all without causing visual fatigue. I also found the variety of merchandise to be refreshing. The items were unique, without being too precious. These were things you would want to have for yourself, or gift to someone else. The scale of the store was grand, but the mixture of large and small items, as well as large and smaller fixtures made the space feel perfectly proportioned. I also noticed the lighting. The front entrance wall was nearly all windows, but Water Street is like a loft apartment, bit of a tunnel. With tall buildings directly across the street,the quantity and quality of natural light would most certainly need to be addressed. It seemed that the light in the store was very soft. I was there around 5 pm, on a fairly clear Vancouver day. I can imagine on a cloudy or rainy day, that the light would softly radiate out of the front windows to attract patrons, as well as illuminating the merchandise within.

As I left the store, it was as if I had left the quiet contemplation of a meditative space, and was immediately deposited back to the car honking, gritty reality that is modern day Gastown. As I walked past another 4 or 5 spaces currently under development on the same block, I know that Orling & Wu has without a doubt raised the bar for new Retail in Vancouver.

Orling & Wu
28 Water Street
Vancouver, BC Canada
V6B 1A4
t- 604-568-6718 f- 604-568-6719
www.orlingandwu.com
info@orlingandwu.com

Sales,Sales,Sales, and MORE Sales!!

Many retailers I know say they just don't DO sales. In other words, they feel that their product sells just fine at regular price. To them, the idea of putting merchandise on sale gives their customers the impression that they are a 'discount' retailer. Perhaps they don't want it to appear that they may have made a mistake while doing their buying. What merchant hasn't experienced purchasing a single item, or a whole line, that for whatever reason, simply didn't sell. I believe that it is simply impossible to have every item in your store sell through at regular retail ALL THE TIME! What about the item that had an 80% checkout at regular price. A month goes by, you still have 2 pieces left, and unfortunately you are no longer able to fill that item. There the poor thing sits...only 2 of them, not matching anything else, taking up valuable space in your store. You could hang onto it, and hope that in another few weeks or a few months, someone will buy it. I sometimes need to remind the retailers that I work with that their store is NOT A MUSEUM!! The business is not in the business of housing orphaned items for long stretches of time. EVERYTHING has a best before date, whether it be fashion, or food items, or ANYTHING. If you don't think that your customers notice items on your shelves, or on your hangers that have been there way too long...especially if they are regular customers, I guarantee you, they do. In my opinion, you can fight the inevitable, and only reduce the price of your merchandise when you bank balance dips below an acceptable level...or you can EMBRACE the idea of SALE by planning your markdowns.

Each item in your store represents a dollar value. You know what you paid for it, and when you paid for it. You should know when you want it out of your store to make room for new merchandise. I don't think any merchant should be upset with selling 8 out of 10 items before the cheque clears the bank! If you decide when the items arrive, what price you would be willing to reduce that item to, to ensure that it exits your store in no longer than 60 days...I know that you will be rewarded with a cleaner store and a larger bank balance.

Take 15 minutes every week and have a look around your business. Find the old timers, and make a plan to move them out. Dedicate a space, or find a creative, fun way to tell your customers that you have something that is a real DEAL!

I know that you don't want your business to be stuck in the past. Getting rid of the orphans will allow you to have more cash for the future best sellers! The Season is changing...are you?

6th Anniversary open house at Well Seasoned

I was invited to an open house last night at Well Seasoned, a gourmet food store in Langley. The event went from 6:30 to 8:30, but when my husband texted me to let me know that there had been ANOTHER car accident in the Massey Tunnel...it was a miracle I made it at all! I managed to arrive around 7pm, and it looked like the event was in full swing. The parking lot was set up with 6 or 8 tents, and I could smell delicious food the minute I got out of my car. There were already at least 50 people milling around, clearly enjoying themselves. Some calling out to owner Angie Quaale, and others looking more like first timers. There were samples of everything from chicken wings rubbed with a secret recipe of spices, from The House of Q, to a new flavour of cracker from local success story Gone Crackers, owned by Heather Nicol, to turkey sausage bites courtesy of JD Farms. There was also a local winery supplying tastings, Township 7, as well as a local craft brewery showing off it's latest offering courtesy of Central City Brew Pub.

When I had my store, customer evenings were part of appreciating my customers, and mine always featured some sort of fashion showing, as well as drinks and snacks. The evening was always designed to showcase new product, as well as a Thank You, to my regular customers, for, well, being my customers. I believe that too many retailers think that the cost of putting on these events does not pay off. I really admire the innovative way that Well Seasoned pulled this evening together. The sampling was a way to showcase suppliers, but not at a huge cost to the business hosting the evening. How often do you, as a business owner ASK a supplier to help you out with a special event, through something like a door prize, or in this case, setting up a tent, providing tasting, and meeting some of the customers that continue to purchase your products from YOUR CUSTOMER...in this case, Well Seasoned? I believe that every business, wholesaler, or retailer, need to do this kind of customer research. In every case, I know that they come away with at least one comment that leads to a fine tuning, or outright change in the way they purchase, or even do business.

I saw a lot of happy people at this event...and better yet, I saw a line up at the cash register that went on for the hour and a half that I was there. I heard people joking about how they had just come out to support Angie, and to say hi...but for the most part, they were struggling to juggle multiple bags of just purchased product. I heard one customer say, that after having a look around with a friend,that they had both decided to sign up for ANOTHER cooking class. In this economy, the need to connect with the people who are key to your business's success such as suppliers, business neighbours, and especially customers, is more important than ever. Well Seasoned understands that, and it shows.

The next big event for Well Seasoned is Barbeque on the Bypass, on Sunday September 19th. If last night's attendance, and enthusiasm is any indication of things to come, my advice is to get there early! Check the website for more details. www.wellseasoned.ca

common sense retailing

This sandwich board caught my eye the other day. Besides the fact that the board itself was in such good shape, I found the item advertised to be so right for our area. White Rock is essentially a beach town. There are flip flops available at any number of retail locations, and in every shape and colour. Have you ever noticed someone walking in front of you, wearing a pair of flip flops that looked so bad, so flat, so squished, that you wondered how the person could even walk in them? I have. I always wear shoes with arch support, as I walk A LOT. I am in no hurry to have any sort of knee or hip problems...so this product really caught my eye. The other thing that we have quite an abundance of in White Rock, besides sand and sun...are seniors. This product is right on trend for them.

I think that sometimes, retailers are too concerned with re-inventing the wheel. I don't think it is necessary, or wise to spend a great deal of time and energy trying to find the next 'IT' item. This business deals with feet. These flip flops solve a problem, AND look good. For people walking by, the message is loud and clear. How are your feet feeling as you pass our sign? Would you like to see if they could feel better? Come on in, and give these a try.

The only thing better...would be a location on the beach...to catch all of the tourists, whose feet are aching, due to a too-long walk on our beautiful Promenade!

Innovative Advertising

I had to take a walk uptown yesterday, to pick up some more bottled water. White Rock has been under a 'boil water' advisory for about a week now and there doesn't seem to be an end in sight. As I walked the 20 or so blocks from my place to the White Rock/Surrey border ( 16th Avenue ) I kept seeing this message written in chalk on the cobblestones, at almost every street corner. The message was neatly and legibly written, in a bright coloured chalk, away from where people would normally walk. It got me thinking about the future of advertising, and the innovation of a small business owner. I had a clothing store for 17 years, and it was only in the last 5, that I started advertising through my website,something that I had never even considered in the past. I had always relied on local newspapers and specialty magazines to carry my message of " Casual, Comfortable, Canadian Designed Clothing and Accessories." or later on " Cavern Clothing has pants that FIT!" I had always had a mailing list, and at my peak, with 2 stores, I had about 1500 customers on that list. When I had a website made for the store I thought that I would photograph clothing for the upcoming season and use the website as a internet window into my business. But it was not long before I was completely eliminating the labour intensive, expensive, twice yearly mail-outs that had been a key part of my advertising plan. I would simply e-mail my customers when an event was upcoming, and direct them to the website for more information. It was so much less work. It was at that time, I started to almost eliminate my print advertising.
When I see the way businesses communicate with their customers these days, through a variety of social media, it really makes me wonder how newspapers and magazines survive. It used to be when you stared a business, you had to take out an ad in the local paper to let people know you were open and eager for business. It seems that Honest Work Gardening has a better, more innovative and cheaper idea. Even if the City makes them erase their 'ad' from the sidewalk...I guarantee that at least a couple of hundred people saw it last week. This economy calls for creative and cost effective methods to start and maintain a business. I wish Honest Work Gardening, the best of luck.

Do you know who you are?

I was walking down a street the other day, and came across this sandwich board. It was simple and clean looking, with an equally simple message. I walked inside the store, and in the first 15 seconds, knew that this business knew who it was. Even the color used on the sign reflected the feeling inside. It was simple and sleek, with a bit of a retro vibe, also reflected in the choice of the shade of blue used on the sandwich board. I remember reading that consumers walking through a mall look at a window display for an average of 15 seconds before deciding whether or not they will walk into a store. I am sure that today...15 seconds is a real stretch. Today's consumer is busier than ever, and with all of the research material available on the Internet, I believe that real store visits are becoming rarer, and shorter than ever before.

This particular store was skillfully 'edited'. By that, I mean that it had been stripped down to the essential items. These items were what the store believed in to be the best representation of their business. I understood...and decided to poke around, in order to see if our design sensibilities matched. They did. I took a little notebook out of my purse, and wrote down their web address. I do not think I was in the store for more than 5 or 6 minutes, but it was all the time I needed to establish a connection, and decide to visit them again.

Business Challenges=Innovative Solutions

I live in a small town and for the last couple of years, I have lived without a car. That means, if I need something, I have to either walk, or take the bus. I find it quite freeing, actually. I have had my drivers licence for more than 30 years now...so proportionately, I have done my fair share of driving. I find that walking not only helps me keep fit and trim...I see so much more, when I am on foot. I decided to make a new recipe for dinner last night, and I was short 3 ingredients. It was a lovely day...so I grabbed my cloth bag, and my sunglasses, and headed up the hill to The Bread Box. This little produce market has the best prices of anywhere around, and with the speedy turnover of stock, the freshest fruits and vegetables. The store has a great facade. It looks as if someone has filled their front porch with baskets and boxes of brightly coloured peppers, and apples, and whatever else is in season. The proprietor is Mary and she is a free spirit, with an amazing way of making everyone feel at home in her shop. She will give you advice on how to choose a ripe papaya or pineapple, and she always asks if you need some fresh eggs, amazing eggs with technicolour orange DOUBLE yolks. There is ALWAYS a line up at the cash...an achievement once in a while for most retailers...a daily occurrence for Mary. I only needed a couple of things, so I gathered my produce, and after a few minutes, had almost reached the front of the line. Then I saw the sign...

Right beside the cash register, on top of the large cooler containing fresh meats and cheeses, was a small jar with a sign that read: " We need a new cooler to keep our food fresh for you, our customers. Please donate one dollar to the cooler fund." The sign was handwritten and the jar was small, and it made me think about the number of customers who patronize that shop on a daily, or weekly basis. By my calculations, a dollar from each one, could go a long way to the purchase of a cooler. The sign also made me think about the relationship that people used to have with retailers. When you shopped every day at a butcher, or went to the same barber so long, that your son, and grandson went to him too, you got to know the owner of the shop. You had an investment in the success or the failure of that business. You cared about the owner...not the business...but the person responsible for the business being there. I simply can't imagine my town, without Mary, and The Bread Box. My order came to a little over 24 dollars, so I told her to put the change in the cooler fund jar. I appreciate the fact that she asked ME...one of her long time customers, to help her with a solution to her business challenge...in this case an aging cooler. I think sometimes, that in our bid to be completely professional, and put on the 'everything is just SUPER', face to our customers...we forget to let them know that business owners are just people, like the customers we serve.

Whole Foods at the Village at Park Royal

We have not had a great summer. For retailers whose merchandise is seasonal, I would guess this summer has been a disaster. My husband had to get his car serviced a few weeks ago, and even though we live in White Rock...we make the trip to West Van, to a car dealership that my husband considers one of the best in customer service, and quality...Park Shore Motors. One of the nice things about getting the car serviced in West Van, is the free shuttle service from the dealership. We asked to be taken to The Village at Park Royal, to have lunch, and arranged to be picked up in about an hour and a half.

After lunch, we had a wander around, and noticed a nice sized crowd, milling around the entrance to the Whole Foods. It was a great scene, with little kids wading in a fountain, and people lounging on benches eating lunch, or enjoying a coffee and a snack I noticed a BBQ set up, with a small line of people purchasing hot dogs and pop, and also noticed that the BBQ belonged to Whole Foods. There was a cute little chalk board with a charming image of a patio lantern that simply said " Take it Outside ". It looked like people were doing just that! How often do you see retailers making the effort to COME to their customers...instead of waiting for their customers to walk in their front doors and COME to them? This was an ordinary day. It wasn't a special occasion, or a civic holiday. Why would Whole Foods go to the trouble to fire up a BBQ, set up a sign, and pay a staff member to sell hot dogs and pop? I believe they were just being neighbourly...and showing an interest in their customers, AND their community. Small gestures like this, go a long way to building customer loyalty, and that elusive 'feel good' feeling. Judging by the prices, they couldn't have been turning a great profit. Besides that, the inside of the store had much more variety, and higher priced goods to entice their customers. I believe it was their way of saying, hey folks, we realize it hasn't been a great season, but today is a sunny day, and we would love to offer you a childhood favorite choice for lunch...a good old hot dog.
This kind of nostalgia, and neighbourliness was a home run! The smell of hot dogs on the BBQ brings back all sorts of memories, no matter what your age, or income level, or nationality. I believe that Whole Foods is a retailer that gets it. This small amount of effort is sure to pay big rewards. All because of a hot dog...

Stores with History

I took an old friend shopping the other day. We took the bus into Richmond, and then the Canada Line into Vancouver. We got off on Cambie Street, and walked a few blocks to The Dressing Room.

I used to have a ladies clothing store. In the early 1990's, a lot of people had clothing stores. That is certainly not true, anymore. This fact, makes the success of this independent retailer, all the more amazing. The friend I went to Vancouver with, used to be a customer of mine. The thing I hear most often, when I run into former customers is that since I closed my stores they don't know where to shop! Flattery aside, I believe them. Where can real sized women, of a certain age, purchase fashionable, good quality clothing? My poor friend confessed that she has been shopping at places where you can buy workboots and coveralls! YIKES!! She also told me that she has NEVER in her life, thrown away as much clothing as she has in the last few years, due to poor quality.

I remembered the Dressing Room, as a clothing store that carried both petites, and had sizes that went to a size 18, or an XXL. I find that with almost all of the clothing produced off shore, the sizes have gotten way out of whack. I weigh around 130 lbs, and was wearing a t-shirt yesterday that was an XL! I used to tell my customers that size was no indicator that something should or shouldn't fit you. That's what the sales assistant is for...to explain that this brand fits large...or that brand fits small. Nothing to do with you...at all. Even though it had been quite a few years since I had been to The Dressing Room...I was pleasantly surprised to see that the store looked and felt as I remembered. How many of us return again and again to a favorite store, simply for the ' FEELING' it gives us? If you could teach potential retailers how to produce this elusive feel good atmosphere...every single retialer in the world would be successful...and we wouldn't have the business failure rate that we have today.

My friend and I were on a mission to build a wardobe that flattered, would be versatile, and easy care/good quality. I am glad to report that we had a great time choosing, and had a wide variety to choose from. I don't know if I speak for most women...but one stop shopping is how I like to do it. The sales associates were very attentive, and eventhough I acted as the personal shopper, and bossy friend, they did everything they could to help whenever we needed a size, or another color, or had a question. My friend ended up with 10, great new pieces, and e-mailed me the following week to say that she was getting COMPLIMENTS on her outfits. Stores like The Dressing Room are rare, because they have stayed true to their customer, no matter what. If you shopped there 10 years ago, or the day before yesterday...you know what to expect, when you walk through the front door. How many retailers have started with a clear vision, and then in a few months or a few years, started to erode their core business with other concepts or ideas, at the expense of their loyal customers, in hopes of attracting some new ones?

You have to believe in who you are ,as a retailer. My friend and I are already planning another trip in, to have a look at the new seasons offerings...

The Popcorn Report

I have worked in Retail for most of my life. I have worked as a clerk in a fabric store, and as a kitchen helper in a deli. I have owned 1 and then 2 ladies Retail clothing stores...specializing in Canadian designed and manufactured clothing and accessories. I have designed ladies clothing and wholesaled the line across Canada. Now, I am a Retail Consultant. It is very similar to working in Retail. What I do, is help people.

Being a Retailer for nearly 20 years taught me many things. One of the most important was that Retailers are quite isolated. I think most people start businesses because they are independent, and bright, and have loads of ideas and energy. Once you start your business, the time to network with other businesses, and business owners becomes more and more difficult to find. Sometimes, your business is a unique concept, and there seems to be no one to compare notes with. Sometimes your business is a newer version of an established concept, and you still can't find anyone to compare notes with. Competition is supposed to be your friend...but often times, other business owners are fearful to speak to someone new about personal information such as sales goals, or staff issues. As a consultant, I have information and advice on a variety of issues that are unique to your business.

Trends are a huge part of business...and in most instances, seeing a trend, and being able to interpret it, can make a huge impact. I recently started to re-read a book that was a best seller in the early 1990's. The Popcorn Report, by Faith Popcorn, was remarkable in it's accuracy in trend forecasting. Reading it today...nearly 20 years after it was written, is amazing! I can't help but wonder, how much my business was influenced by these trends, and how they shaped the retail world that' Cavern Clothing' existed in. Popcorn's ability to examine trends in all aspects of life and explain the relevance of those trends is truly astounding.

Do you know where your business is headed? The future is certainly not going to wait...
This blog is my observation on Retail...and on the future of Retail. What do you need to know to succeed in business? What does success look like? The answers to these questions are as different as the businesses on any street in any city or town.

If you need help with the questions, or the answers...I'm just an e-mail away...

Cathy Burrell