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.

Some new Stuff on Etsy

This past week I took a bunch of items out of my booth at the gift shop to make room for some new items. These items I think were either too big for the shop or I priced them too high to begin with. They now have new prices and great pictures, that I think will help them sell.

I have posted four so far in my shop, a red and green throw, a trivet, a set of coasters, and a green and white afghan. They are all pictured in this post.

I am planning on removing items from my booth at the end of each season. I will lower the prices and post them on Etsy. This will hopefully decrease my inventory as well as promote online sales.

I am also going to take some business classes. The University of Akron offers some continuing education classes. There are a bunch I would love to take but I think I am going to start with How to Start Your Own Business. I think It will help me with my crocheting and Photography as well as my Interior Design.

The River City Gift Shoppe!

This is the website of the gift shoppe that I sell my crochet items.

It is an adorable shop located in Copley Ohio a township of Akron. There are directions on the site so if you are ever in the area please stop by!

http://rivercitygiftshoppe.net/default.aspx

Also they are accepting crafters to sell at the shoppes.

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!

Ethan Allen

After graduating college I started the wonderful task of job hunting. One of the first places I applied to was Ethan Allen. They are a fantastic interior design showroom and not only an amazing furniture store.

After giving them a couple weeks to look over my resume I finally got the courage to call and see what my status was. After a phone interview with the manager, she asked if she could see my portfolio! Soo I now have an interview on tuesday!

I'm soo excited! My first interview!

It feels so good getting over that hump! Before I called I bought a new suit from Macy's and afterwards I visited target and grabed a pair of heals I had been eyeing for a couple of months!

Tomorrow I am calling the manager of the gift shoppe that just openned and has booths available for local crafters. I hope it all works out for the best.

I'm on a high right now! I love the good days!

Hopefully while you read this some goodliness rubs off on you as well!