For My Long Distance Friends

Update: I get new customers every day and will have 100 consignors by the end of the week! It is fun spending the day talking to all the interesting people who are my neighbors! Holly comes down to help me every week and Walter has given up many of his Saturdays to help bring in merchandise for the "house"! Here are some updated pictures of the shop for those of you who are too far away to come in and see for yourselves...

She's ALIVE!

No, I didn't get sucked into the blue brick building never to return again!

I have been SO busy the last couple of weeks. Collecting merchandise, setting up displays, figuring out my systems (yes, even a Drow can have a system). I have to make myself keep regular hours at the shop so I don't neglect things on the homefront. Here are some photos:

The sofa is a piece that was brought in by my first consignor. I have over a dozen consignors already!

The settee came from the auction that Holly and I went to. The Ethan Allen nesting tables are from a consignor and the jelly cupboard in the background was a treasure that Walter found at a yard sale!

I have books for summer reading and an antique beach chair. The hassock fan on the floor is a great conversation piece. It runs ALL day long.

The lamp is a Wildwood porcelain (gorgeous) that I got at auction, the little display case holds miniature items and trinkets. It has been a favorite "impulse" purchase location because I don't put anything in it that costs more than $2.

This is the "kitchen". Chris brought me the china cabinet...a roadside find! It is great for display space (which is at a premium when you have so few pieces of furniture).

Finally, the "Guy's Room". Boat parts, tools, fishing equipment, and outdoor items. I even have a hunter's camo umbrella. The dog muzzle sold yesterday to a boy who said he needed it to take his dog to the vet

I'm working really hard but am really enjoying meeting all the interesting people and exchanging stories! It's almost as good as being a greeter at Disneyland!

JUST PICTURES

One week from opening, and I still have tons to do!

Catching Up

I have been spending so much of my time at the shop since the end of June that I have been remiss in keeping my blog up to date. Here is the condensed version:

I signed the lease on the 30th of June. I was very pleased with the terms of the lease and the landlord has been good about taking care of some things I needed in the way of housekeeping issues. I got my phone connected on Monday and the modem for my internet should arrive any day. I'll really feel like I'm set when I can get online.

Red helped me choose some great colors at the paint store last week and Friday was the start of the painting blitz. W helped on Friday and then Red came to Deale again on Saturday with paintbrush in hand. It looks ever so much better now!

Getting inventory entered in the consignment software is pretty easy. It took a few hours, but with Red's help on Monday, all the items I had collected so far were described, accounted for and tagged with prices. I don't know what I would do without all the help I have been getting from my local support team! W even found a great truck so I can go to the auctions and buy things for the shop and not have to try to cram them into my little station wagon.

Red and I went to the BIG auction in Crumpton, MD today. It was a beautiful day with temperatures in the low 80's and low humidity. Thank goodness. It is a full day in Crumpton. The auction starts every Wednesday right around 9AM. By 3:30 I was finished. However, we had only gotten half way through the outdoor section of the auction. What a production! We loaded the truck and headed home. It is about 1 1/2 hours from Deale to Crumpton and a nice drive on a beautiful day with a friend...

Wearing my SPF 70 sunscreen and my favorite sun attire...

There are always lamps!

Acres and acres of treasure!

I will spend tomorrow cleaning our "finds" and entering them into the computer. I'm really even sure what I have; so many items that I bid on were part of "lots" that included items I may not have selected were they offered separately. W calls it "bycatch"! Sometimes it's good, other times...you never know!

MORE Progress...

Today, I went to Annapolis. Walking from the parking garage to the courthouse on Church Circle reminded me of why I like this area so much... Brick sidewalks and tour guides walking around in costume give you the feeling of less hectic times.

The licensing division clerks were very helpful; entering all the information for my business license took only minutes. When we were finished, I was given a sheet of paper with instructions to go to the Department of Taxation and Assessments. I checked in there at 11:01 and checked out at 11:04. I went back to the licensing department with all my I's dotted and T's crossed; the clerk finished my processing and was patient while her supervisor looked over her shoulder to check her work. She handed me my business license with a smile of satisfaction. "You look like you may be new at this", I said. "It's my first one", she replied. "Mine too", I responded. I wished them a good day and left the courthouse walking on a cloud with license in hand. I am in business! WISH ME LUCK!

PROGRESS!

I feel remiss in my duties to keep everyone up to date on my "adventure"! Boo is home from school and I have been working very hard to keep my ducklings in line and move them forward.

Since my last post, my Pennsylvania-based scouts have determined that another party has designs on the little house on Muddy Creek Road and claims to have negotiated a lease; apparently, to open a consignment shop! It is a small world after all...

I have located another space. This one is in a "strip" of other commercial businesses including a burger joint, a dentists' office and a coffee/gift shop. It is also closer to home (if that was, indeed, possible). It has possibilities of future expansion and has good karma (more on that later). I gave the agent a deposit on the property yesterday and am in the process of negotiating a lease. They tell me I can start painting any day now! Red is coming down tomorrow to help me with layout plans and colors. She's the BEST!

I have also FINALLY decided on a software package and have dropped my computer off at the "techie shop" (local) to have it reformatted and given a memory boost. The people at Verizon and Comcast are sparring over my account (I wish) and the electricity supplier wants my firs-born as a deposit. Never mind I have been paying my bill on time for decades! This is a business.

On a more uplifting note, I went to an auction on Saturday. Noon til 6:30 then 7 til 9:30. I had an amazing time. It was intriguing to see the interest in each item and the personalities of the people who shall become my peers in this adventure. I came home with some ordinary things and some that were not so. One of the items I purchased in a $1.00 box turned out to be quite collectible. Thanks to the gentleman who knew his stuff and told me after I got it! I had information that I was able to share with others as well, and felt it was time well spent!

In all, it has been a very productive week. I hope to have a signed lease in a few days and keys to my own store. I have a separate blog to promote the shop and give customers information regarding consignments and store policies. I hope that all my cheerleaders will take a look and let me know what they see and suggestions for changes! After all, it takes a village (or, in this case, a team).

My Hometown

One of the biggest advantages to being (hopefully, temporarily) unemployed is having the ability to fully experience my community. Deale, for those of you who have not been here, is really more a village than a town. Nearly all the businesses are locally owned and there are only few franchises such as 7-Eleven and Subway. We have our own public library, a post office, several banks and some nice cafe’s and restaurants; no fancy cuisine, but good basic food. Charter fishing and the boating industry in general, are the reason that a lot of people come to Deale. On the weekends, the parade of charter boats files down the creek navigating the narrow channel to the Chesapeake Bay. The water is not deep and more than once, we have passed a boater “grounded” in the shallows just a few feet from the channel markers. We have water all around us and it is bustling with activity at this time of year.

This aerial photo shows Deale bordered by creeks and the Chesapeake Bay. Farmland and fields cover the inland hillsides.

I have been riding my bike several times a week. Today I rode up the hill, away from Deale, and explored the winding roads that are lined with farms and simple frame houses. A good 10 mile ride by the time I got home, and I was ready to take a little break!

Our backyard is an “oasis” as a friend of mine commented recently. Bordered by very large trees, our neighbor has a great old barnwood shed with a rusty roof that creates a backdrop for the view out back. The shed, so it seems, is the home of another community of sorts. Woodchucks. Plural. We have had a woodchuck visit our yard every year around this time. I had been fearful that our garage floor would collapse from the tunnels underneath and I convinced my long-suffering partner to try to help me eradicate the creature. Well, we’ve been here 16 years and so has Chuckie. Well maybe Chuckie or Chuckie Jr.. How long is the lifespan of a woodchuck? Today, I was introduced to Chuckie’s family. I hope it was the WHOLE family but, probably not. I watched from inside as two smaller chuckies came out from the hole by the compost pile to enjoy a meal of the mulberries that fall from the tree behind the garage and a third smaller chuck was peering out of the tunnel under the garage! I’m sure they have probably been enjoying the vacant splendor of our backyard all these years while we’ve been at work! Later, as I was explaining all of this to hubby, we looked out to discover that a fifth family member had joined the party. Mulberry dessert at the house behind the shed! I tried to get a picture of the whole family, but the kids were a little shy...

Lest you think I have just been spending my time idly watching woodchucks and going on cross-country bike rides, I applied for my LLC yesterday and am working through the maze of software demo programs to find the right program to use at Second Wind Consignments. I’ve talked with bankers, insurance agents, bookkeepers and attorneys. No, I haven’t committed to a location. I’m sure it will happen when the time is right. Maybe I haven’t found the perfect one yet! Maybe tomorrow....

One Man's Trash

Saturday is treasure hunting day. Yard sales, moving sales and heavenly trash sales (at the church up the road) are all good placed to find inventory for the shop. We don’t really go with specific items in mind but to see what may present itself. ​

Among my favorites are the goblins ($1), the wasp trap ($.50), and the framed Klimt poster (free). 

I’m still working on my ebay training! I have actually sold every item that I listed! The dollar profits have not been great but the experience has been invaluable! 

Wanted: Seedlings

I’m not sure of the species, but if you happen to run across a tree that looks like this, please let me know right away! I could use a few!

A good friend is cheaper than therapy. ~Author Unknown

Yesterday was my day to run errands in town. I’d love to stay in sleepy little Deale, but as of yet, Trader Joe’s does not deliver! There’s something to be said about stocking up...4 pounds of walnuts, 3 pounds of almonds, 2 quarts of olive oil, a pound of feta cheese, the list goes on. It's 20 miles to get to the nearest TJ’s but definitely worth the drive.

On my way in to town, I stopped to see my BFF. She and I have been friends for almost 20 years. We have worked and spent many travel days together, and shared hotel rooms for days on end. One of my favorite stories of her childhood has to do with a pair of red cowboy boots that she loved so much, she wore them constantly until she could no longer fit into them. The picture is priceless! It’s one of the things I love so much about her; she shares her whole self. I feel like I’ve known her all my life. Another sister. How lucky can a girl get? Her "blog name" will be Red. ​

I had intended to stop for only a few minutes. It was a gorgeous day; warm, starting to get just a little humid, but so nice to be outside. Red was working in her garden when I arrived. She took a break and we sat on the deck to talk for a bit. As things go with a BFF, we talk about everything. She has been so supportive of my new business venture and, having owned her own business years ago, seems to know just what to say to help me work through some of the details that are weighing me down. I always feel just a little lighter after our visits!

A few minutes almost always turns into more when Red and I are together. An hour later, I left her house and completed my errands for the day. TJ’s was crowded (as usual) and the bank was not (as usual). I drove back to “South County” and assessed what was left of my day.

I have been putting a lot of time and energy into developing my business plan and it is almost complete. Parts that remain incomplete are those which require numbers. How does one estimate the success of a dream? It is an awful lot like raising children. You read all the books, follow all the rules, and then one day, they deviate from the plan. Good or not. Come to think of it, I guess raising kids is good practice for starting a a business! I hope to have the same luck this time around.

ebay Lessons

Yesterday, I listed my first ever items to sell on ebay. There is definitely a learning curve to be negotiated! It took nearly an hour for me to work through the finer points of entering an item that I hope to sell for just $35.00! Practice, practice, practice! The second one took only 30 minutes. I suppose my photography didn’t need to be quite so precise, but I do so dislike trying to figure out the details in a poorly taken photograph!

At first, it was difficult to decide WHAT to sell. Certainly we have no shortage of nicknacks in our home! I decided to start with a few of the Wade porcelain figurines that we have collected over the years. Boo and I always had fun trying to find a new character or animal that we did not already own. The majority of what we collected will be “off limits” for my current needs, but some are definitely worth offering as research “sacrifices”!
Less than 24 hours since I posted this little tray, and I already have two people “watching” it and an opening bid! It’s going to be hard for me to wait the whole 7 days! Hubby has even offered up some trinkets from his side of the garage for me to practice with! What a sport!

Only The Shadow Knows

There are shadows lurking in the "followers" block on my blog!  Some wise person once told me that putting my picture on my blog was good because it made it more personal.  I would love to see YOUR smiling faces!

My Green Soapbox

We do our fair share of donating useable clothing to charities like Purple Heart and Goodwill.  There are also large, sometimes overflowing, yellow "dumpsters" in the IGA parking lot to make it easy to drop off unwanted clothing items for Planet Aid. I'm always very careful to sort through the items that I donate to make sure they're not so far gone, that someone would be able to actually wear them.  I imagine the people at the Goodwill store holding up some raggy 'ol T-shirt or sunscreen-stained blouse thinking "They think just because we're poor, we don't have any pride?".  So, "undonateables" go to the rag bin.  Still recycling, still good, but not all old clothes make good rags. Ever try drying a car with an old pair of bluejeans?   Inspect no more! Goodwill recycles the unwearable textiles that are donated.  Apparently, it's a big deal.  Why hadn't I realized that before?  I have always been curious about what they did with all the stuff they couldn't sell...

Books today

What have I done today?...I picked up three rather large boxes of books from a fellow freecycler.  I think Hubby thought I was just a little touched when I told him of my plan.  You know, after we cleaned out his mom’s house and got rid of donated all those books to the  Bryn Mawr book shop, it does seem a little weird to go out of my way to pick up someone else’s castoff books!  However.  I have to develop a new mindset and think it is actually going to help me get rid of sell some of the kind of things that I have been accumulating the last few decades.  Back to the books, though.  Three not-so-large boxes contained a few paperback best sellers , at least 75 “Harlequin-type” romance novels (have YOU ever read one?) a book on  Easter craft projects, another on carving Jack-o-lanters, and a Richard Scarry children’s book on Christmas.  Sorting them became a mental exercise in merchandising.  I do not intend to have shelves of books (not that they won’t evolve) but I can envision using them to create interest in other items and support holiday-themed sales.  No, I did not keep them all.  I re-posted the ones I did not want and another freecycler picked up two very full boxes two hours later.  Easy come, easy go!

In The Shop

The landlord gave me the combination of the lockbox this morning so I could go in and look around on my own.  I did not expect anything more than what I had seen when I shopped at Garden Decor.  What I did not anticipate, was the excitement I felt at looking at empty rooms that have limitless possibilities.  Spaces that had been closed off that I had never seen.  I started looking at each small room thinking about what purpose it would serve.  

The large room at the entrance will be the most exposed and should be the display area for new, larger, higher-priced items. The back corner room can be a "boudoir" space with bedroom accessories.  The center back room is the study, and the right, back room will be the shop for lamp repairs and touchup work (I'll need to ask about a ventilation fan).

There's a small kitchenette with plenty of wall space to hang kitchen gadgets and cabinets that can be used to display dishes.  Hmmm...I wonder if I can take the fronts off the cabinets???  

Around the corner from the kitchen, I was amazed to see an anteroom with countertop

space and shelves on two walls.  Perfect for packing items for shipping when I get my ebay business moving!  And last, but not least, the large front room in the center of the building.  I had 

really underestimated its size.  Getting out my trusty tape measure, I found it to be 23 ft. long and almost 12 feet wide!   Where's the lease?  I know this is the right space.  

I have moments of doubt, moments of fear, moments when I wonder if I've simply lost my mind... at this moment, I couldn't be more sure that this is what I really want to do.

Startup

Where to start?
Ideas are swimming around in my head; planning, marketing, legal issues, merchandise, time management; the list goes on and on...
The following logistical items need to be addressed ASAP:

1. Establish a business identity
2. Apply for a county business license
3. Apply for an EIN with the IRS
4. Rent a location from which business can be transacted (or is this number 2?)
5. Begin to collect merchandise (fliers, emails to friends)
6. Buy a computer for business (Mac or PC???)
7. Tag printer
8. Set up Bank account (BB&T)
9. Credit card processing?
10. Trade Association Membership (NARTS)
11. MARKETING
    
12. Learn more about blogging
    
13. Learn more about ebay
    
14. Sign for Muddy Creek Rd. 

The list grows as if it has a life of its' own!  Have I left out something important? 

Someday...

I found this handwoven basket in an antique shop in West Virginia.  I was so taken with its simple design, I took a picture so I could make one like it.  I haven't made the basket yet, but I have saved the picture to remind me to do it "someday".  When is "someday"?  Someday is the day that anything will be possible.  Someday, I will travel to Venice.  Someday, I'm going to have a big sunny garden and grow so many flowers, I'll be able to cut a bouquet every day. Someday, I'm going to have my own business and wake up excited to go to work.   Someday may be just around the corner...