Can officially confirm it has been the worst week since we openned ... arghhh. I know logically that not all schools have already been closed for a week (like Dorset) and some people are flying off to sunnier climates this week, but with thinly vield, surpressed panic, LOGIC doesn't come into it, just the bottom line! Ho hum, lets hope next week is better - hope if anyone is reading this that they have a lovely weekend. Bye for now. x

Firstly, I can't believe it has been so long since my last blog, where does the time go!?!

Stress levels haven't let up unfortunately, still juggling hap-hassordously with all the balls in the air at once. Was hoping as this is the first week of the school holidays that it would be busy but unfortunately it doesn't appear to be the case yet ...

We've some new bath bombs, soaps, in etc from our new supplier and we must say we are very pleased with them, quality stock at a reasonable price. Claire had the idea of making up jute gift boxes with shredded kraft paper and ribbons. They look superb. We've all made some to accomodate the different tastes people have. We have a range from £4.50 through to £9.95.

Our shop sign is finally ready and hung, we are no longer 'the shop with no name', hasn't increased trade unfortunately, lol.

Anyway will sign off now to attend to the hordes of customers who have just fought there way through the front door, not!

Well work has been a little bit of a rollarcoaster.

Unfortunately I've been ill, bed ridden for 3 whole days I might add, and luckly my colleagues filled in at the shop for me but it does take all the energy that I so desperately need at the moment to keep the momentum going.

When we set up the shop, to enable to stock it, we bought items on credit which we now need to repay, however, we also need to buy new stock ... so at the moment money is tight and stress levels are high. There's so much stock I would like to buy that I know would sell but we also have to repay our suppliers so we are caught in a fine balancing act!

We are hoping we shall have a good summer season to enable us to repay suppliers and order new stocks to keep the shop dynamic, we shall see ...

Well today is Sunday and we had a fantastic day in our shop yesterday! Yippee. We are assuming that people have had their much awaited pay day and the tourist trade has begun to pick up which is great. One of the most difficult aspects of running your own shop is sitting behind the till, talking to the customers which come in and watching them leave again (having ususally made postivie comments about the shop but ...) having not bought somethings. We are beginning to understand that customers do come in and have a good look round and then return at a later date to buy what they have previously seen. This does tie in with a marketing rule that customers have to see an item / shop five times before actually making that precious purchase. Although, in quite times, it can be very difficult sitting on your lonesome wondering if you have gone drastically wrong in your choice of products! lol

Well today is Tuesday 23rd June and we have been officially open for business for six weeks! Trade is slow this week after are second best week last week. As a new shop we need to learn and understand the trends that the high street faces each month. We think this week is quiet as it is the week before the - always look forward to - 'Pay Day', and the tourists haven't yet invade the South Coast (please invade soon!).

Having managed to actually open for business we are now realising there are many more hurdles to climb on the retail journey and it is not like the fairy tale off riding into the sunset with wads of cash. Far from it in fact. It is so hard trying to predict what the customer would like to buy, even if they had the cash and we weren't in the middle of a bad recession, what is the right price to sell it at and how to display the said items.

Tomorrow is Wednesday and Market Day in Bridport so we are keeping our Fingers Crossed for a good day!