Good Bye Gift Shoppe

I have been renting a booth at The River City Gift Shoppe in Copley, Ohio for the past 6 months and have found it less than profitable. I have decided that I cannot afford to pay rent for something that is not proving to be beneficial to my business. I thought that maybe I would have more luck if people could seem my items in person but that was not the case.

I think it doesn't help that the economy is not the greatest. Even at Dillard's I am seeing the affects. We are the slowest we have ever been during an extra 30% off sale. Usually we have quite a bit of traffic in the store during this sale but that has not been the case this time.

I hope that taking everything out of the gift shop and putting it online I will be able to make up for the loss in profit. I at least want to break even this summer. I have quite a bit of small items in the shop and will probably be adding a couple of pages to my Etsy shop. It's going to be a lot of work getting all of these things online but I think it will be better then having them sit in a booth.

I should be adding the pictures to my blog as I post them on the site. I'm doing a lot more advertising now and marketing. I am really putting some effort into this. Even more than before. I think not only is my business maturing but I am as well.

Yeah... its been a while...

Soooo.....

Dillard's absorbed me after starting there in October. It drew me away from my crochet world and i was unable or mental in the mood to write in the blog. Dillard's is crazy. I don't hate working there I just wish I was using my degree more than I am right now.

I spent four years at school and I'm doing a job that someone without a degree can do. Although I will say most of the employees who do really well at selling have degrees of some sort either bachelors or associates.

I just wish i was doing something that was more a long the lines of design. I think I picked the wrong field of design. I think if I had chosen industrial or commercial, i would have had more opportunities to find a more suitable job. A job that is more design orientated.

I am still actively looking.

Now things have slowed down at Dillard's after Christmas and inventory and I have found more time for crocheting. I am selling at a craft shoppe in Copley called the River City Gift Shoppe. It is off of Cleveland-Massilon Road. http://rivercitygiftshoppe.net/default.aspx

I love selling there but the traffic isn't great. I think once more people discover it the traffic will increase. Spring will probably help as well. I am making a line of purses that I am extremely proud of so far. The colors are bright and fun! I hope to put pics up as soon as I am fully done with the first couple.

I miss writing here and hope to keep up with this now that I have more time.

I got a job!

Today I had an interview this morning with Ethan Allen. My first interview of my job search. It went pretty well but I was not offered a job. She was still conducting interviews and I will probably hear back from her in a week or so.

After that interview though I had a call from Dillards Home Store ro come in and interview with them. I did and after interviewing with two people, I was offered a job. A job that started TONIGHT!

They have training classes that are only offered once a month and the one for September is tonight at 5:30-8. I kinda expected half hoped they would offer me a position but I never expected I would start tonight.

I've decided to take the job even though Ethan Allen would be more desirable and more in my field. Also Ethan Allen is commission based and would be a financial struggle for the first 6 to 12 months. I am keeping myself open though to other design positions. And if Ethan Allen does call I may leave Dillards.

As for crafting, I have a meeting with the manager of the River City Gift Shoppe in COpley tom morning to show her some of my work and to discuss booth space. I love my crocheting and will never give it up. If the booth does well I will definately look fro a better design job even if it is commission based( which almost all are).

I'm extremely excited and hope this job works out!