Translate

Monday 16 December 2013

It's beginning to look a lot like Christmas ...

Hello my lovelies, and Season's Greetings to you all!


Since my last post, lots has happened ... my little pop-up shop, Thriftwood Vintage was underway ... a wonderful experience, albeit a bit of a roller-coaster one! It all happened so quickly, I hardly had time to draw breath ... lots of lovely friends popped in, it was the sort of place you could just park yourself and chat over a cup of tea, and I really loved that aspect of it ... what I didn't love was the allergic reaction I had to the products used in the Salon, in particular, the hairspray! It was making me feel quite ill, so I made the decision to quit while I was ahead, and so I have now packed it all up and put it away, although I have come home with considerably less than I went with, which is always good ...


But, despite the fact that it only lasted three weeks, I will always have fond memories and no regrets, because I tried, and nothing ventured nothing gained. In hindsight, more advertising is needed before opening, as people really need to know where you are, especially if you aren't visible from the street.  I have always, always, always wanted my own shop, and now I really don't any more, whereas if I hadn't taken up the offer of this little taster, I would still be hankering after my own place, whereas I closed the door behind me not with sadness, but positivity and a little relief. I also found the quiet times very boring ... sitting there, thinking about what I could be doing at home, especially at this busy time of year.



I have worked in a shop before, but at least if you are employed, you are being paid for doing nothing, whereas when it's your own, there is always the worry that costs won't be met.  I have really had my eyes opened to the plight of new small businesses, and I take my hat off to them because of the overheads that they have ... mine were minimal compared to some and I made a nice little pot of money for Christmas, but in these days of rising prices it must be a constant struggle.


Now I'm at home once more, and life is settling back into its routine (I have my boy Harry back from Uni, and Jacob is due back on Christmas Eve, so life is good) and Christmas is slowly getting itself together, I am looking forward to catching up with you all (it seems so long, and I've really missed you).  Thank you for all your good wishes, they really buoyed me up, you are all so very kind and thoughtful ... and please, don't be sorry for me as  I am really happy with the way things have turned out, and just look on the 3 weeks as a longer than usual vintage fair! I have lots of plans for the time ahead and am really looking forward to the new challenges of 2014.

Take care, my lovelies ...

Love Claire


19 comments:

  1. I know what you mean, some of the shops we have in my town are beautiful but I do wonder how they survive sometimes esp one that does a lot of hand made products as I just don't think the general public realise the work that goes into it. I have doe some vintage fairs in the past and have done really well, I didn't do any last year but am hoping to get back into that for next year :) I bet your home is looking great too!! xx

    ReplyDelete
  2. Well, nothing ventured nothing gained, and you have gained a lot, you sold some things, and you realised that running a shop is not for you, so that is all good! Great idea just to think of it as a very long vintage fair! I hope that you are recovering from the busyness and enjoying getting ready to have your boys home for Christmas! Happy Christmas in case you don't get a chance to post again before then and here's to a great 2014. xx

    ReplyDelete
  3. What a lovely adventure to have had! Sounds like it all turned out as well as it possibly could have. Eleanor x

    ReplyDelete
  4. It's good you've tryed Claire!
    Now you probably learn to appriciate you free time in a different way :)
    Good for you ;)
    I'm wishing you a lovely christmas with peace and quiet in yourself, and I'm glad you're back...did mis you for a while...

    Lovely greetings, MJ

    ReplyDelete
  5. interesting to hear you thoughts and how it all worked out. I'm with you on the hairspray, I couldn't breathe that in all day either! enjoy your time at home now, Heather x

    ReplyDelete
  6. I have a unit to sell my vintage and handmade with other traders in a barn so I don't have to be there all the time which is the reality of having a shop. I love it but just selling enough to cover the rent is a struggle in the economic climate we're in. Enjoy your Christmas x

    ReplyDelete
  7. well it sounds as though you've sorted it all out in your head and that's half the battle (it is with me anyway!!!) it is all experience and what a lovely 3 weeks or whatever it was and you never know - with the right premises - you might try again - i do agree though that running your own business these days must be a real worry for most of the time - enjoy the run up to christmas and enjoy your family returning to spend time at home - take care and rest xx

    ReplyDelete
  8. Hi Claire,
    I think it's brilliant that you went for it in the first place. Nothing ventured etc. I have a friend who runs a shop which is not on a main street and I know how hard she has to work to attract footfall. It really is not easy. She lives next door to her shop so she can be busy at home when there are no customers. As you say, nothing worse than sitting around knowing that there is stuff to be done elsewhere. Good luck for all your projects in 2014. I'm sure there'll be lots of ideas to come!

    ReplyDelete
  9. I'm glad you had the chance to follow your dream and realise it wasn't what you wanted. Now you focus on other dreams instead and it also gives you more time to enjoy Harry being home.
    Sarah x

    ReplyDelete
  10. I think what you did was perfect, and maybe it would have been unsustainable & too much worry to do it full time. Would you consider a pop up shop for a few weeks at the same time of year next year? I think that could work, maybe without the hair spray!

    ReplyDelete
  11. I'm another who would have struggled with the hairspray and the like.

    So glad you were a success for as long as you wanted to be. Have fun with whatever is next Claire :)

    ReplyDelete
  12. I am also giving up my rented space next week. I don't put in the hours but it's still disheartening to hand over the profits to pay the rent each month. Maybe an Etsy shop one day... good luck for your next adventure. xx

    ReplyDelete
  13. ~ Hello Mrs! Glad you had the opportunity at the right time....Nothing ventured, nothing gained! And know you have the precious time (most important) to be home for the home comings....Like me I bet you can't wait....Dean home Saturday! whoop whoop!,Sending kindest hugs your way and blessings for the forth coming season....Stay well and enjoy....We missed most of last Christmas didn't we? Love Maria x

    ReplyDelete
  14. My husband and I had a new-used bookstore in upstate NY for five years. It was charming, but demanded a devotion of time away from home that sometimes seemed unproductive. Like you, Claire, though, I am glad that we did it and discovered profits that were not tied to the stores profitability. I'm cheering you on to your next adventure :) Blessings to you and yours. xx

    ReplyDelete
  15. I've been there too. It's better to have a go, or you would always have wondered if you could. Good luck for the New Year. Marry Christmas. Jacqui xx

    ReplyDelete
  16. Well done Claire for taking the plunge. As they say, nothing ventured nothing gained...and now you know it is not for you so it hasn't been a wasted time at all. I think as we go through life we imagine lots of "what if I try.....?" and sometimes they come off and sometimes they don't. The important thing is we be brave enough to step out. Onto the next adventure then! Have a great Christmas. Philippa xx

    ReplyDelete
  17. You were brave to try your dream Claire. I always used to tell my sons to regret the things they had done, not the things they hadnt. I'm not sure I would ever have been brave enough to have done it.Glad you managed to sell quite a bit of your stock.Enjoy your week!

    ReplyDelete
  18. Hello sweetie xx I'm sorry your little venture didn't pan out the way you wanted it to but at least you were brave enough to take the plunge. In another space in time it may have worked splendidly for you and at least you can take lessons from your initial foray into it. Life's a journey huh? xxx

    ReplyDelete
  19. Well done for giving it a go Claire. You certainly made it look very welcoming and I enjoyed popping in to see you. I love your positive mental attitude. Have a lovely Christmas with your family. Anne xxx

    ReplyDelete

I love to hear what you think of my ramblings and value all your comments ... I will try and get back to you, but am sorry if I don't always manage this ... sometimes real life just gets in the way! Claire xxx