build my business

It was an amazing feeling to be handed money for the precious items I have chosen for my store. Smiles, laughter, happy little doggy feet bouncing across the floor – it is a cheerful little place.

We pulled off the ribbon-cutting ceremony put together by the City and celebrated our Grand Opening with waves of people browsing the shelves.

Tourists walking their dogs stop in to purchase a special treat for their little friend, and I get all warm and fuzzy inside when people express their admiration for the displays I have slaved over for so many months.

I am so happy to see everything in motion, just as I had pictured it. Every item, every color, every detail right down to the ribbon and bows, reflects the big picture that I had in mind. And when I take a break, I can walk out onto the pier, gaze across the sea, and enjoy the sounds of the seagulls where I can honestly say that this is the best time in my life.

Well, I have 3 days left until the unveiling of our store. I am going crazy with learning QuickBooks (Anyone a pro out there? ANYONE??) Importing the items from QB to POS has been a real bear… I’ve finally given in to the fact that I need to call in a professional. Reading these giant manuals is not getting me anywhere.

On a positive note, my shop is finally finished – the signs are hung, A-Board ready to go, displays set up & my products are all inventoried & ready to be tagged. I am waiting until Friday to place the inventory in the shop so that our pre-party will be able to view it the day before.

So, other than this little QB data mishap, everything is running right on schedule & going spectacular!

I apologize in advance for no cheers returned… I suppose it will take me a while before I am back to posting regularly. Keep your fingers crossed that the equipment works correctly & we are able to ring in our first sale on Saturday!!

After a very long day of data entry, I closed up shop at the final hour and packed my things for home. As I drug through the door, I grimaced at the thought of cooking dinner, so I opted for a diet pepsi and a date with the couch instead. Flipping though the mail, I came across the latest NetFlix – not having a moment to prioritize my choices, I had no idea which one would arrive next. I popped in the DVD and settled in to relax. To my husband’s dismay, it was the “chick flick”, ‘The Perfect Man’, but yearning for something other than business we conformed.

The movie centered around a woman’s need for companionship, but also brought attention to orchids throughout the film. This, for whatever reason, stayed with me and through the night, I went on to dream about orchids… rain forrests… jungles…

When I awoke, I drug through the house scouring for coffee and stumbling to my car to take me back to this place where I will slave for hours on end in piles of invoices. As I pulled into my parking space & opened stepped outside, what was waiting just outside my door, but a single (fake) orchid!

As it sits atop my computer screen, I will save this momento to remind me that dreams really do come true & sometimes… you just have to stop and smell the orchids! :)

Ironically, here is my horiscope for today – looks like I’d better get to work – lol!

^{Your strong desires may get you into trouble today. Even if you don’t act on them, you can still get lost in your own fantasies. It’s not worth fighting against an attraction, for a little escape into the mists of your own dreamland can be reinvigorating. Although you are more comfortable when you have certainty, you also could enjoy a little vacation from your worldly pressures.}

Just to foster some creativity in my boring little web page, I added a blog to the mix. I am going to be spending so much time looking at it, I might as well incorporate my love of writing to it. There is a lot to be said for those who know the art of HTML and designing an interesting set of pages. Until I master the art of web design, I will continue on with what I know and I am sure I will be blogging it out along the way!

Now is time for me to get some focus… Only NINE days until opening & if I stop for a second, my heart jumps into my throat and I go into panic mode. Focus – Focus – Focus!

Somebody told me the other day that they couldn’t wait to have a photo-shoot with their dog. Wow – it is really happening. What amazes me more than the fact that we single-handedly put this company together, is the fact that people want it to happen. I have every confidence that it will be a great pursuit, but a part of me is intimidated by the possibility of success.

Weird?

As with anything coming to the wire – I find myself seeking comfort in farmiliarity… seemingly 43Things, the beach, a huge glass of wine… After a few days of visitors, I am in full pursuit of applying the finishing touches to our Grand Opening Celebration, and try to enjoy this memorable time.

I’ve been receiving inventory like every day was Christmas… my rooms are filled with squeeky toys, leads & collars, backpacks and pearl necklaces. I am so amazed at how my creativity has put into place this new world of dogs. It is as if everything I have done in my career up until this point, somehow falls into a need, an idea, a display, an ad… it is truly overwhelming.

I’ve enjoyed designing my new stationery, forms, signage for my displays – it is as if I am going to work to get out my creativeness. There is so much to be done, but each day brings thought-provoking energy to my space and it is a pleasure!

The products are pouring in, and I am in inventory heaven. Everything from “Sniffany & Co.” to “Chewy Vuitton”, they are just so adorable & fun. I am really happy with the items we’ve ordered & so impressed with how well-made everything is! Things are trickling into the store and it’s slowly coming together.

Now if I can just figure out this Zebra printer…

Well, our first press as a business has hit the news stands and the word is spreading! It was amazing to see us there in print, representing our shop and read all the nice things in the write-up. We have many others to be coming out in the near future, so I am anxious to get advertising!

Got the biz cards designed today. I tweaked the logo to make it work for printing – I have to say it was a lot of fun working in “Paint” getting it just right. I created my own info cards, stationery and postcards for publication, which look so professional. I am glad that I am saving a huge chunk of money by creating them myself!

The signs have finally arrived! It is so incredible to see the design my husband created and the beautiful french cursive print made from his own hand. We spent the last half of the day admiring our new branding and are so excited to see it in place. Got one sign placed temporarily in our window and I created a banner “Coming Soon!”... it’s happening!!