It is done!

[sewingrandma]

Can you post pics here Gina for those of us not into facebook? Congrats again on the store. I know it is a lot of work to get started and don't envy you at this stage. Too many decisions and not enough time.

[sewingmom]

Gina, I am praying for great success for you!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[Pudge99]

I think there is a way for me to share my Facebook photos here. I just have to remember how. I'll have to think on it.

[missfleecy]

I'd love to see the photos too! It sounds like you've done a great job transforming an empty space into a store, and I am excited to see it!

~ Miss Fleecy *

* Sorry for the sunglasses; I just had my eyes dilated.

[Pudge99]

Try this link to view pictures. I'm still working on uploading pictures to Sew Enchanting's Facebook page but here are some of them.

[missfleecy]

Thanks for sharing! That looks great, Gina! That corner location looks excellent. Once you get some inventory in there the store will really start to fill out. What are you doing for price tags and a cash register?

I like the logo and the vinyl window decal, too! The way the two words are connected is elegant and gives that little extra bit of professionalism. If you can afford a second decal, putting another on the side window would attract people coming along Central Ave, too (from the one direction) which is always good!

~ Miss Fleecy

[Pudge99]

I invested in a quilt shop specific POS and with it comes a bar code labler. On most items I will be able to use the existing bar codes which cuts down on a lot of work. I am still debating on what to do with that side window. It lets in an insane amount of late afternoon light. A couple days ago I put up a curtain but that is a temporary fix. I was thinking of making a quilt from some outdoor (sun resistant fabric). That would definitely draw eyes towards me.

[missfleecy]

Yeah, it is tricky to find a balance between blocking unwanted light and not making it look like your store is closed by covering up a window with blinds or a too-dark curtain. A quilt sounds like it could be a good compromise--I bet you could even position it strategically so that it blocks the sun during most of the day but still doesn't cover the whole window, and put some other sewing- and quilted-related things in there to fill up the space.

Great that you found a POS system! That will make things a lot easier for you, and definitely help over having price tags and a calculator like some small shops. You'll have a nice professional look rather than a garage-sale feel.

Will you accept credit cards? That really made a big difference with my sister's store. Now of course you can even accept credit cards with your smartphone and one of those free Square readers. (That's what my nephew uses at his bike shop; he was just telling me about it the other day. 2.75% per swipe and no other fees. Great for a new business like his, or yours.)

From the photos it looks like your biggest task in the weeks ahead will be filling your shelves with inventory. That's always hard. My sister once bought two thousand dollars of cards that she was only able to finally sell two years later at half the price she paid for them. She called them "the bane of her existence." After that, she never bought more than $500 or so of any one thing that she hadn't already been selling, and even found a couple of suppliers where she could return unsold inventory within 90 days, which really helped.

~ Miss Fleecy

[Pudge99]

Yes I will accept cards. I rarely shop twice in a shop that doesn't. So I know if I am that way there are others out there that are just the same.

[MartySews2]

Do you take personal checks? I never shop without a personal check for my purchases. If you do, be sure to have a bounced check fee posted. The going rate is $30. I dont use debit or credit cards and don't bounce checks either. I mainly shop with cash and get exactly what I need or write a check for it. I carry a single check not an entire checkbook. Be sure to have your business records on a computer with a good back-up system like carbonite. Also, be sure to create a website for your business so those in outlying communities without fabric stores can shop.
Marty