A Year in Review Part 1

As September approaches I realize that I have almost been in business for one year already.  I took over the rent and inventory on August 30th last year.  My business did not have a Grand Opening until October 1st but the business was mine for the whole month of September.  I have much to review and write about so my posts for the month of September will all be reflections, things I would change or not change, and just lessons learned.  I will also cover my one year anniversary planning.  I am hoping to get to all of these things because I think it is important to share with other who hope to start a business.  Some of you may have noticed my posts have slowed down the last few months but business has picked up and my time is spent with my customers which is how it should be and growing my business.  Plus it has been summer time and I have spent as much time with the family as possible.  In the next year, I may need to expand in personnel or volunteers to help cover all day to day activities.

One thing I have noticed is you need a great deal of start up money when starting a business but it does not require as much to maintain operations.  I am getting renewal notices for all my licenses and tax filing information. Renewal is cheaper than original filing.   I had to learn new accounting tips last year for tax season and this year, I have kept things sorted differently making it easier come tax season.  I do order items to complete everyday operations but they are not all required up front when you run out of paper you order or go get the paper you need.  Not the trip for envelopes, cards, paper, tape, and etc.  I no longer stress out about the little things since it has become routine.  Filing quarterly taxes has gotten easier.  When I first started it was overwhelming.  I used to pay bills as they came in but now once a month I write checks and pay bills.  These are all just small things you may not think about that change over the course of the first year in business. 

Hindsight being 20/20 I am not sure if I knew then what I know now that I would have continued this journey but I think that is the plan.  If we didn't go into business blinded by the joy and love of what we do when starting a business most businesses would never start.  It is like being pregnant and going through child birth(sorry men but women will totally understand).  If we knew the pain without the joy, would we have kids?  I am not saying I am disappointed or that I am not happy with my own business but it was a journey with experiences and work that I never expected.  I am glad I was blinded by the joy and love because that is what gets you through day to day.  Well that and a strong support system.  I recommend having as many people to help support you mentally during the first years of starting a business.  Many THANKS to my support system, I could not have done this without you and I hope you know who you are!!!!!

Gathering and Using Your Business Data

While I have not been open for a year yet, my business is no longer extremely NEW.  They say a business is still in beginning phases until you have at least 2 years complete.  This is when banks, wholesalers, government, and other services take you seriously.  You have sales records, tax documents, and proof that your business really is doing what you say.  But as I was saying I am no longer extremely new business.  I have been open long enough to start creating those records. 

Ever since my first job when I was taught inventory and placing orders, I have been a numbers and charts person.  It helps that I had some of the greatest business men and women to teach me some of their secrets.  Much of who I am today is thanks to all their lessons in business.  I have a Big Thanks going up to heaven to Bill for teaching me customer service skills, business inventory, merchandising, marketing, bargain shopping, and much much more. 

I have been starting to chart my sales by categories and the month of the year.  I am doing this along with a weekly and monthly inventory.  I also chart my online sales, cash sales, and other services sales according to the month of the year.  As this year has progressed, I have been adding additional categories to help better serve my research.  In fact one of my first improvements was a larger cash register with more categories to help me keep track. 

The next step of sorting my data was better taught to me by my next teacher who was also my boss and a Big Thanks to Gary for my extra knowledge of merchandising, seasonal flow, impulse targets, and many other retail tips.  He helped me realize items that are staples of seasons, holiday shopping goals, sales that are effected by weather conditions and seasons. 

Now I can chart weeks of the year that are the busiest and maybe understand what things going on around me are making that happen.  What weeks are the slowest and what can I do to increase sales during that time.  I also can control my inventory to have more sales by understanding what customers are buying more of and does it change from month to month or year to year.  You also have to keep tract of any loss, this could be do to damaged merchandise, out of date or code, recalls, and miscellaneous reasons. 

These resources will help you make sound business decisions through out the years.   Things may also change from year to year then you need to make averages as well as current data.  Sometimes things change do to an outside force like the economy and you have to adjust to survive the low times.  Make patterns and start doing yearly charts as well as your monthly. 

Public Relations is Constant

Well it has been sometime since I have been able to sit down and add to my blog about the store.  Summer is coming to a close and I am not sure where it went.  First months of owning a business we did not take any real vacation this year.  Lots of reasons, finances went to growing the business, time away meant store was closed, and my husband just started new job as well and has not earned vacation time yet.  Looking forward to making it up next year.  Even though we did not take vacation we enjoyed many summer activities like fairs, picnics, and celebrations.  When you own a business you never know when the opportunity will come to grow your business.  We have been invited to many events from the business and we have talked just having a good time and got several new customers in the process.

This changes the way you do things since you always have to be on your game.  I have tried to show my best all year and have cards handy to hand out to those who have questions.  We also handed out free glow bracelets at our local fireworks courtesy of Suzy's Treasure Chest.  As we talked to each person handing them out we made more new contacts and the kids had a great time with additional surprise.  Win, Win for all involved.  This was small advertisement but I think in building my business it was a tremendous step.  I even handed out 10% off cards.  Using all resources around you is a key to Marketing. 

"Don't Judge each day by the harvest you reap but the seeds that you plant"  Robert Louis Stevenson

Creating a website

In January, I made a marketing plan and started research for ways to expand on the internet to increase customers and sales.  This has been very effective for me and has branched me out to new opportunities.  I first established myself on Google which is surprisingly free for just basic information.  Then I started my Facebook page which has targeted a lot of my local customer base and it is free information.  I next set up a twitter account and I am getting more information and contacts that are business related.  Great training tips and more.  The last thing I have done is create a website.  The research alone was the thing that held me back the most on creating a website. 

I am a ratings person and I do not like to jump into something thinking it will cost this and end up with extra fees they do not disclose in the process.  After much research, I was able to contact my phone and internet provider and they offered everything I needed to set up a informational website.  This is not exactly what I had invisionsed but after finding out what I can add for addtional fees I think it will work out.  So now I am researching how to do web design to save money.  With all the templates offered and the consultation from my service provider I think I have the start of a great website.  It is something you tweak as you go upon need.  I have done that with my Facebook and Blog, that was completely overhauled last month.  I have always played it safe when working online and I say things in a vague fashion.  But with my business, I have learned I can not be vague.   I came upon a challenge a few weeks ago, this was something I was scared about but I won the battle that day and protected my store. Having done this reminded me that this is personal.  It is mine and it is personal so I need to portray that to you as you read this.  Just like the movie "You Got Mail" and the "Godfather" "fight to the mattresses".  It is personal and if your business is not, maybe it is not the business for you.

Please check out my new site and let me know your thoughts and what you would like to see from me in the future.
www.suzystreasurechest.com

I am hoping as you read this, you start following me on Facebook and Twitter to continuely get updates.  I post photos of current items in the shop and I offer shipping if you are interested in an item and can not make it to the store.  I also give a free weekly tip on things you can do to save money and be more thrifty.

My business for the month of June has been very busy and has not let me much time to update this blog, but that is what I want.  I was also closed for a few days to join my kids at camp.  Something to think about when you go into business for yourself,  you have ablitity to take off any time you want but you no longer get paid vacations and you lack the security.  I am sure when my business is a few years older, I will be able to take pay for vacations but for now the business does not support that.

This time of year is full of outdoor festivals and I have been using them to my advantage by advertising in booklets, helping at the events, and just being seen in public.  If you are starting a business, they say it takes a couple years before you actually see the difference of your actions so I am still doing and waiting.

My next big change is to put advertising on my truck so everyone who sees me in traffic can see my website and hopefully stop by. 

Wishing you all a happy and safe 4th of July.