It is a better year. I can feel it. 2008 was much too crazy for me and my little cottage furniture business.
I retired from corporate life in 2003, left the big city for the Texas Hill Country. January 2008 I began a start-up artistic venture which allowed me to combine furniture design and painting. The whole thing started when I wanted a few tables for my new country house. I couldn't find anything in the retails stores or on-line. Then I thought of a fantastic idea to add an embossed design to them. My dear friend, carpenter Mike, was willing to build my furniture designs, then I would take over doing all the sanding, priming and painting and applied decoration.
I retired from corporate life in 2003, left the big city for the Texas Hill Country. January 2008 I began a start-up artistic venture which allowed me to combine furniture design and painting. The whole thing started when I wanted a few tables for my new country house. I couldn't find anything in the retails stores or on-line. Then I thought of a fantastic idea to add an embossed design to them. My dear friend, carpenter Mike, was willing to build my furniture designs, then I would take over doing all the sanding, priming and painting and applied decoration.
So, here I am one year later. This is what I have to show for my effort. My inventory consists of 18 cottage style kitchen tables, 2 coffee tables, 2 side tables, a daybed, 5 benches, 6 shelves and a large blanket chest.
We made a few proto-type tables, to refine the design. I thought that small benches would be fun and, later, I thought of a cool design for a small shelf.
I got to work in the workshop, but outgrew that building within months, then expanded to my garage. In August, I began to seriously think about how I should market my furniture. I thought the local 'Market Days' in Boerne, Texas, would be a great place to start. I planned for the September event, paid my fees. In spite of my efforts to be ready on all fronts, I forgot about Mother Nature. Two days before Market Days the event was cancelled due to Hurricane Ike's arrival on the Texas Gulf Coast. (Shutdown by a hurricane. IKE! That was not in my business plan. The crazy thing is we didn't have a drop of rain or wind from the hurricane.) The event manager said we vendors would be given partial credit toward another event through the end of the year. Okay, I planned for November. I'd be ready for the beginning of holiday shopping.
Ready, set, rent a truck, and set up at the event didn't take long because I had big pieces of furniture. The event was packed with vendors but not with customers. You see, this is all taking place one week or so after the beginning of our historic economic collapse. (Shutdown, again. What business plan? Whose in control here. ) The good news is, I did make one sale, yes, one. $55.00 for a small bench. $$$
We made a few proto-type tables, to refine the design. I thought that small benches would be fun and, later, I thought of a cool design for a small shelf.
I got to work in the workshop, but outgrew that building within months, then expanded to my garage. In August, I began to seriously think about how I should market my furniture. I thought the local 'Market Days' in Boerne, Texas, would be a great place to start. I planned for the September event, paid my fees. In spite of my efforts to be ready on all fronts, I forgot about Mother Nature. Two days before Market Days the event was cancelled due to Hurricane Ike's arrival on the Texas Gulf Coast. (Shutdown by a hurricane. IKE! That was not in my business plan. The crazy thing is we didn't have a drop of rain or wind from the hurricane.) The event manager said we vendors would be given partial credit toward another event through the end of the year. Okay, I planned for November. I'd be ready for the beginning of holiday shopping.
Ready, set, rent a truck, and set up at the event didn't take long because I had big pieces of furniture. The event was packed with vendors but not with customers. You see, this is all taking place one week or so after the beginning of our historic economic collapse. (Shutdown, again. What business plan? Whose in control here. ) The good news is, I did make one sale, yes, one. $55.00 for a small bench. $$$
I'm re-thinking my business and marketing plan. I'm gonna blog. Hear me now. I'm getting on the web. I'm making a website. Last month, I posted my artist profile on Ovation TV featuring my paintings and some photography. http://community.ovationtv.com/Jeanne. I got an iPhone for Christmas, so I can stay in touch with ease. Wanting to feel assured I was considering all my options, my horoscope said, ' Now's a good time to invent the next Hula Hoop.' That's a pretty tall order. 2009 here I come.
whitefeathers for all
