We got a very nice write up in a blog called, "Shop Local, Buy Handmade."  I think this is a good philosophy to have.  Certainly as a new business owner, I now think more about where I make my purchases and I try very hard to support small businesses whenever I can.  I think how you spend your money and where you spend it can make a statement.  Anyway, check out the blog: http://shop-local-buy-handmade.blogspot.com

We have a great selection of real deal Coach bags that we are extremely proud of.  How do we know they are real?  Great question.  There are a lot of knock offs out there--and a lot of high quality knock offs to boot.  Some general guidelines though can help you to discern the genuine article from the phoney baloney . . .
1.  If a Coach bag has the famous "C's" on the exterior, the "C's" should be lined up and symmetrical.  The pattern should be consistent and the "C's" should not be cut off. They should also actually be double "C's" and not a single row.

     

      

                             

2.  Most Coach bags come with a leather logo tag attached by a beaded chain.  The logo should be raised and not engraved.  The stiching should be neat and even and the tag should match the trim on the bag.(Some authentic Coach bags do have metal logo tags--again, the logo should be raised and not engraved.)

3. Authentication tags should be sewn on, never glued, and sewn with neat and even stiching. The writing should be in all CAPS, centered, and in English.  Look closely--there should be no typos and no spelling errors.  Apparently those in the knock off biz do not have spell check.  The whole serial number thing is a bit complicated and tricky--but there are websites out there that go into all the minutia (which numbers are most often fakes, how many numbers after the dash, what the numbers stand for blah blah blah . . .) UGH.  Too OCD for me.
  

4. Coach exclusively uses the YKK zipper on all its bags.  Look for the "YKK" engraved into the side of the zipper.

5.  Dust bags should be chocolate brown with red pulls.  It should say "COACH EST. 1941" all in WHITE CAPS in the right hand corner of the bag. 

 
So, those are the basics in bogus bag detection.  Arm yourself with this knowledge and don't get duped.

Punkystyle.com was named best BLOG by Worcester Magazine and we couldn't agree more with the voters.  Amy is fun and funky and sweet and stylish  . . . AND she named Alexis Grace as a "must see shop!"  So, she is obviously incredibly smart as well.  Check it out: http://punkystyle.com/ladies-in-the-place-with-style-and-grace/

Mary and I joke about writing a book someday on how to start up a business with nothing more than a dream and $200.00 bucks (or so).  I guess we actually had a little more than that. . .we had a friendship that has lasted since highschool.  That always helps.  If you are going to have a business partner, knowing their strengths is one thing, knowing they have a hint of OCD and germaphobia is another.  When Mary checks the back door to make sure it is locked 20 times, it does not surprise or shock or even bother me. Mary cannot have been my friend for (UGH!) twenty plus years without knowing that I have no sense of time and work in what might seem an unfocused manner.   
We also had some luck on our side. Its weird how things aligned and fell into place just when we needed them to. 
 And I know I have mentioned a bazillion times how blessed we were (and are) with friends and family who truly helped make the whole thing possible.
    So, with that said,here is an unedited version of Chapter One: What I Learned My First Month in Business:
1.  Always listen to the advice of others, but do not always follow it.  There are many naysayers, no brains, know it alls and nutjobs out there ready to tell you how things should be done.  Weeding them out from the pearls of wisdom can be a daunting task.  In the end, the business is yours, the decisions are yours . .  . for better or worse.
2. Stick to your vision, but not when it is blinding you to other possibilities and ideas.  Be willing to change, to learn, to alter your path. The advice of "go with your first thought" does not always apply here.
3.  There is a fine line between being nice and being a total pushover. Learn when to be tough and stick to your guns.  Having a consistent and clear game plan can help.  In some areas of business, gray has no place--black and white are the colors of the day.
4.  My husband told me after one particularly upsetting day that there are 10 jerks out there that you will meet on any given day--10 cheats, sneaks, liars,  swindlers, bullies and fun-suckers--but that meeting one great person makes it all worthwhile.  I agree with his general philosophy, but I think his ratios are skewed.  I think there are 10 great people out there--10 honest, helpful, happy, supportive, friendly, giving, people who make that one jerk bearable.
5.  Give thanks everyday--whether you had 2 customers or 200.  Remember--you wanted this, dreamed this, created this--its yours--jerks and all.

Chapter Two:  How to say "No" Even to Your "Helpful" Friends and Family

 

 

One month in business!  All of our consignors and vendors are paid and the rent check has been written.  We ended the month with a major bang thanks to the clothing swap and the shopping gods who gave us perfect shop til you drop weather.  Considering we started on a wing and a prayer, I'd say the month went pretty darn well.  When you end up making more money than you spent are you in the red or in the black? I always forget.  Whichever one it is, we did it.

Grace-for her support and hard work.
Mom-for her skills with an iron.
Sherry-for always willing to lend a hand.
Jean-for the voluptuous mannequins.
Robyn-for feeding us when we are working late--and a million other things!
Dino-for the opportunity to live our dreams and being the best landlord ever.
Sally-for always being on the lookout for display racks and bargains.
Uncle Charlie-for giving us the refrigerator. Cold drinks! Yeah.
Donna G.-for your generous donation of clothes.
Kim-for being willing to price clothes, even with a hangover.
Joy-for spending the day pricing jewelry. Aren't you glad you came to visit?
Tracy-for your talent, hard work, honesty and willingness to multi-task.
To our amazing vendors: Melanie, Tracy, Mary, Deb, and Bob. For your amazing talent and your willingness to take a chance on us.

If you don't sleep, or socialize, a lot can get done in a short amount of time.  It also helps to have family and friends who are always willing to pitch in. Since it has taken me so long to get these pictures up, they do not exactly represent what it looks like now. We are rearranging and reordering things every day, but I wanted you to get the general "feel" of the place.  Ten days to go!

Holy Crap.  Three weeks to go . .  . We have had many, many people tell us that they have tons of clothes for us . . . and not so many actually bring them in.  Hey, we are better than Dominoes who delivers--we pick up! Whenever, wherever--just let us know.  The big day will be here before you can say Bob's you're uncle (whatever that means) and I am entering manic mode. (Panic mode too.) OH-and tell all your friends, co-workers and relatives to get their butts in gear too.  To quote the great Elvis Presley: "A little less talk and a lot more action."  I love that song.