Well, it is official I have now been in business for over 1 year. The first year has had many ups and downs and I have learned many new things but I now feel like a true business woman. Before this point, I was chasing a dream and I was not sure how it would end up. Even though I do not know how the future will be, I have many expansions and growth yet to complete for the store.
My business plan for the first year is done but this is where the long term goals come into play and I do not know what experiences will happen along the way. I have never been good at long term goals, too impatient I guess but I truly believe the best things in life are those things you wait for that can not be achieved overnight. My marriage is a great example. When I married my husband 11 years ago I wanted a relationship to compliment me. I was very independent and would not let down my guard enough to let my relationship grow to what it is today. We have always been close to each other and tried to work out any problems instead of ignoring them but in our relationship today he completes me and I have come to rely on him more than anyone else. I am now looking for those kind of growing pains with my business. I understand it more now and look forward to finding more ways to expand and make it more permanent. In doing this , my business has become a part of me not just another job.
I have several customers who say my store has a lot of my personality in it. I believe in a great product at a great value and presentation means a lot. Some people call Thrift Stores junk shops but I have found some awesome treasures in my years shopping and managing them. One key is to treat it much like a retail shop with different categories and changing sales and layout regularly. Discount stores are similar because they do not know what the next deal they are going to get and may have to change several departments to make it all fit. But that is part of the fun in a thrift store. I am always in search of new ways to recycle things I am not able to use in the store but as most of you that have shopped my store know, I try to sell everything! Some resale shops specialise in a few items but for me it is all about carrying everything because you never know what you may need next.
I have really enjoyed the experience of writing my blog and it gives me ways to look back on all my challenges and helps me face the next one but I do not feel it has helped as many other business people as I had hoped for. So I am considering writing an ebook to share my secrets in the thrift store and resale industry. That also will be a new adventure and I will post more if and when I finish. I have helped start over 5 thrift stores and helped other businesses when I can so I am hoping to share some of that detailed knowledge so I can help more than just people in my local area. The quote I want to leave you with today is:
"What I know is, that if you do work that you love, and the work fulfills you, the rest will come." Oprah
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