VISITORS, FRIENDS, NEW ACQUAINTANCES
I’ve always been a social person and in my shop environment it was natural for me to greet and welcome newcomers. The community of Delray was small enough that I quickly learned all the names of the families, children locals and town visitors to my store. Delray was also a huge dog community and so several dogs came to visit me regularly. One of them was Monk. A huge St Bernard. He would stand in the threshold of my shop front door and wait for me to come and give him hugs. I had a huge dog bowl and Monk and many other dogs came regularly. Monk was special though and he even became so attached to me he woukd come inside the store when I invited him.
Initially, my store was busy mostly on Thursday through Sunday. As people got to know me, their visits became more frequent. Some came to browse, some came to check me out, and check the shop out, and some came last minute with special requests for a special gift. It took a good six months before I saw a fairly steady number of visitors.
Close by the store was a Methodist Church and ladies from that church started frequenting the shop. They were friendly and we would get in some good conversations about my vintage merchandice. I had a mix of old and newly purchased items but this certain group of customers came every week and it seemed like they always were buying something vintage. I honestly think that they were trying to help boost me up, as they recognized in the beginning, biz was somewhat slow to establish.
Quinn’s Auction House became my weekly Wednesday destination. I opened the store at 10 am but at 6 pm I closed to go to “auction preview.” This gave me the opportunity to view and examine over 200 items that would be available for bidding on that evening. Once the auction was over, I would then cash out, and if my stash was mostly “vintage smalls,” I could wrap my wins up with wrapping paper and box everything up to place in my car, to take back to the store for pricing the next day. Then the fun part of placing everything for display was one of my great “joys.” I had a gift for display and my customers recognized it.
My vintage finds quickly became a draw and new and frequent customers returned to see what the newest items were each week. Friendships were made, and folks became regulars. And my new customers would bring out of town visitors. The energy of the shop took on a life of its own. We were finally rolling.
Since I had opened in March it would be spring before I could open my front door. But once I could, that really changed the whole dynamic of my business. An open door was a gesture of “welcome ” and all the stores in our little town opened up come spring. Every Thursday evening all the merchants stayed open until 8 pm, so the friendship factor really was in play. I finally got to know almost everyone in the town and they got to know me. These evening summer shopping events were special. I’d often stay open even longer in the evening enjoying the chance to get to know more people.
I soon continued my relationship with my church ladies and before I knew it they had begun inviting me to their infamous Pancake Breakfast and the Spaghetti Supper. As I had long days and little opportunity to socialize much, the outings at the church gave me time away from my craft and also a time for Christian fellowship. Blessings were finding me and I joined that church shortly thereafter. A community of believers offers one a home for their soul and a church service offers a ceremony where one can pour one’s heart out and know that you are in communion with and heard by your God. I had strong faith beliefs since childhood but my formal practice of my faith had taken several turns due to relocations and changes in employments, but I was now in a more settled place to expand my faith commitment. I felt at home and I began singing in the choir, preparing the alter linens for services and washing and tending the communion linens. I volunteered for church activities as my shop schedule would allow and participated in Bible studies, helped teach vacation Bible school to kids in the local community, and organized church reach-out events in our community of Delray. Our Pastor Mark Mirini, was a middle aged man with a wife and two children and he was a terrific speaker, teacher, mentor and friend. I was very blessed to be a member in his community of believers. God had called me there, and I grew in my faith journey.
Another one of the solid friendships I made was with Harvey Boltwood a retired banker from our local bank, three blocks away. Harvey was a pillar of strength at the church and he recruited my banking business over to his bank. This banking switch would prove to be very beneficial to my business. Cash flow in a small business can ebb and flow and that bank stood up for me and stood with me as I created my business, one customer at a time. They were graciously moving and stretching funds for me. Harvey B. is 98 now and still attends the church, still counts the money after Sunday service and he still helps out in the kitchen at dinners and events. A very good man to know. The lessons I learned here, were that there are folks everywhere to mentor and help you along with your business, so be open to this help and encouragement
Spring was fast approaching, it was April and the garden outdoors beside the shop had little in it. I brought a few of my own pieces from home to get me started. I needed to attend auctions in order to purchase items to hold plants, and I needed pottery, window boxes and large plants that could be planted in display Urns that a former store owner sold to me. My customers were more than ready for my garden to blossom. Friends of my store and some of my fellow merchants in Delray gave me tips on things I could purchase, and where. I began searching for merchandise by attending the New York Spring Gift show. A former colleague from the shop where I had worked part time for ten years, came with me to the NY show. We were there three days walking our tails off, and I ordered garden furniture, planters, outdoor rugs, copper, brass and wrought iron decorative pieces. And we ordered a bath and body line, scarves, jewelry and a Tea collection so that I could serve Tea on Sundays after church between Noon and 2 pm. This was a success and drew many new acquaintances to my store.
My Lord had heard my prayers and those who came for tea became friends first and loyal customers in the process. My dream to own a shop was being created one new friend at a time.