The Best Part of Owning Your Own Store

Besides the ability to follow your own creativity where ever it leads is to shop in cool places like northern Ecuador known for its handicrafts. This is one of the places that handicraft nuts like us go it'll be a long, hard weekend but soooo worth it.

So Baltimore It Hurts

Note to Retail Owners in need of quick cash or a boost in morale (provided you have the energy & a little audacity), street fairs are the way to go.
Risks: it's like cold calling - ouch!, people are hot and bothered just like you, heat, exhaustion & incredibly long hours! Did I mention the heat!
Pros: meet new people, get inspired by what crafters are doing, get reminded why you love your products.

Touchy Feely

Another observance: young adult girls see with their hand. Unnerving at times like yesterday when 6 young cute things proceeded to go in all different directions picking up everything possible in the store. Can we say "stop pawing and pay"? I guess that'll be a NO!

Can You Have a Hecker in Store?

What does one do when a heckler comes in with his wife, puts back what she picks out? Tells her she doesn't need another purse, asks a dozen questions, tells you jokes & insists that he's just bustin' your chops? Talk back? No, have a quicky, informative response, No, Suck-up? No Grin & bear it? Yes!!

Blissed Out

Three Days away from this place & I feel like a new person person. Gained perspective, gained some loving kindness (went to Kripalu in the Berkshires) but most important gained some breathing space to renew my love for eco & fair-trade.

I love, I love, I love, I love, I love, I love,

Note to Future Store owners: if a person repeats in the course of, oh say, a minute 20 times how much they love your store, chances are what they are really saying is...I'm not buying anything so if I praise the store until I need to take a breath it'll make me feel better. I think? I still not sure about this one...

Connections Connect My Heart - Finally

met an inspiring person today in Earth Alley. they're visiting her son's host family in Japan & wanted hand selected gifts. Not only did it bring back memories of my exchange experience in Denmark but we had a great conversation about her ideas of trying a new career, really about forging a new path in stimulating brain activity. I LOVE meeting women who dare. It seems that the most devastating outcome of this economy has brought fear to us about pursuing our dreams.