Why I needed to open the store!
Earlier this year I had an Oprah "aha" moment. It was a cold Chicago winter day. I was sitting at my kitchen desk, listing clothing on eBay, and watching All My Children (as I do every day I am home at noon). It was a moment in time like a reality check for me. It was almost like this... I looked up at my TV and said out loud to nobody but me.. Am I doing this every day for the rest of my life? Well the answer was NO! I love watching my shows, I love eBay. I love being alone in my kitchen... But obviously I needed more at that moment.
I started talking out loud about opening a VERY Upscale resale store in Highland Park. I'd bug all the other kindergarten mom's at Ravinia at noon pick up time. Do you think they (North Shore women) would shop there? Do you think it could sustain itself? I had immediate encouragement. I talked to my closest friend later that day (we'll keep her name private) and she flat out said I was an idiot for leaving the comfort of my home and adding rent and other expenses into a perfectly good side business. Why did I want to ruin it? Why did I want to give up the good life and go back to work? The answer? I dont know. Maybe it was this...I've always wanted a real store. I wanted something NEW and different. I wanted to get out of my kitchen!
So here we are.. Its July. I'm about 5 weeks away from getting out of my kitchen! By the way.. just so you all know... I do have a perfectly nice home office. Its got a gorgeous desk and big leather chair. I prefer to sit on my kitchen stool and watch tv though. Right now my home office is filled wall to wall with summer clothing consignments. My husband keeps the door shut to the office. He prefers to think the room doesnt exist. Its a good thing he hasn't seen the storage room in the basement lately.
We are hoping to open in early Sept. The permits from the city of HIghland Park have been approved. I've yet to see the space plan though. Once its all approved I can finally sign the lease and get going. I have my fixtures picked out, I have advertising ready to be printed, I have friends emailing friends... I have so much to tell you all about.
Please check out my blog and website for more info on the opening. I have lots of stuff coming soon!
I started talking out loud about opening a VERY Upscale resale store in Highland Park. I'd bug all the other kindergarten mom's at Ravinia at noon pick up time. Do you think they (North Shore women) would shop there? Do you think it could sustain itself? I had immediate encouragement. I talked to my closest friend later that day (we'll keep her name private) and she flat out said I was an idiot for leaving the comfort of my home and adding rent and other expenses into a perfectly good side business. Why did I want to ruin it? Why did I want to give up the good life and go back to work? The answer? I dont know. Maybe it was this...I've always wanted a real store. I wanted something NEW and different. I wanted to get out of my kitchen!
So here we are.. Its July. I'm about 5 weeks away from getting out of my kitchen! By the way.. just so you all know... I do have a perfectly nice home office. Its got a gorgeous desk and big leather chair. I prefer to sit on my kitchen stool and watch tv though. Right now my home office is filled wall to wall with summer clothing consignments. My husband keeps the door shut to the office. He prefers to think the room doesnt exist. Its a good thing he hasn't seen the storage room in the basement lately.
We are hoping to open in early Sept. The permits from the city of HIghland Park have been approved. I've yet to see the space plan though. Once its all approved I can finally sign the lease and get going. I have my fixtures picked out, I have advertising ready to be printed, I have friends emailing friends... I have so much to tell you all about.
Please check out my blog and website for more info on the opening. I have lots of stuff coming soon!
posted by Aimee @ 2:27 PM
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