Drat! I just typed out a long post only to have it disappear! IPads are more for reading than writing. I was trying to say congrats to Rinda for the goats and hubby starting a new business.
Then I said that we are doing the same thing, starting a business, not getting baby goats!
I got sick of dealing with other people so that I could pay them to let me sell my stuff in their shop plus work for free one day a week and one weekend a month in their shop. After three failed attempts to sign a contract the red flags were flying high.
So I sent her a nice thanks, but no thanks email. Then while driving through town we saw a sign in a window for a space for lease. We stopped, got a tour, signed a lease, and Auburn Vintage Market was born! It may die in the very same spot but not until I give it my very best. The space is just over 500 sq feet, tiny for sure but more than enough for us. We have carte blanche to do anything we want to the interior and paint the exterior purple if we want to. The following morning we were there with tools and demo commenced. Michael tore down an ugly drop ceiling and ripped out miles of unused wiring and cabling.
Here is Tucker, aka Shop Dog, checking out the back area where I will paint pieces of furniture. We cut a big opening between the two so I can see into the shop and customers can see me. Hopefully there will be customers!
This is the outside of the building which is just down the street from the town square, the hub.
Our space is to the left of the clothing boutique, Moulin Rouge. They have the yellow trim and door. I painted ours in this color. Bold but looks great next to the yellow.
The plan is to sell my pieces plus some retail home decor items, and a line of chalk paint, brand yet to be determined. I am working with a couple of companies on that. I got my seller's permit and wholesale license and I am readying an order for some cute home goods. I am buying furniture and painting madly. Michael and I went on a vintage "smalls" buying spree. We should finish painting the interior in the next couple of days, then we are going to try to install vinyl flooring ourselves. We are trying to do all this on a tight budget som DIY is the way to go.
I am going to hire granddaughter Emily to work with us on weekends. I hope she can gain some confidence and get some experience that will help her get a real job. She'll be 23 this fall and has nothing going on in her life. She needs to finds way to work around her learning disabilities and find her place in the world. I hope this will be a good first step. She doesn't drive, so I will have to pick her up, house and feed her, then take her back home on Sunday nights but if it helps, I am happy to do it.
Anyway, gotta run. I am heading to the shop to rip up the carpet tack strip before the others stores opens. It is a very noisy thing on cement floors.
Fasten your seatbelts, again dear friends.
