Hi there, my name is Shelby and I have owned my shop for 9 1/2 years. I bought the exsisting business that had been in business for 13 years under the people that changed the name to their family name. My husband and I bought the shop in 1998 and I was only 24 years old. I was very young and had a hard time proving myself to alot of people. I have decided to move my business just across the street because my landlord is selling our building and property. I am very worried about moving and thats what I hope to get information on first. I can't wait to meet all of you. :bouncy:
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Wow! Another one from Oregon. Welcome to flowerchat. Is it/was it called Autry's Four Seasons? We used to send there when we were in TF.
Connie
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We're moving our shop to another location also, so maybe we can share the ups and downs of the experience.
Hi there, It is good to know that someone will doing this too. When do you plan to move? We are shooting for January. Our project manager has gone cart before the horse per say. We have no front door, our sign was installed today, our plumbing is done, the walls have been painted, no flooring yet, our cabinets are in storage and we have no phones or lights. We have been working with this project manager since July. Good thing is, that it is right across the street. It will most likely be snowing when we move too, fun. So how goes your progress? I hope it is better than ours. Talk to ya soon
I Did It
After almost 60 years of my life,
And after 80 years of my families business
And after 130 years with the florist operation
All at the same site
I moved our store 1 mile Oct 2006
7 semi moving van loads
New location has much better street exposure
On a Business/State highway that accesses the Interstate in 1 mile
Singed a lease late August 2006
Did electrical, refrigeration, plumbing, painting
Opened Monday, Oct 2, 2006,
All within 5 weeks
Did not miss a single day of business
Phones were down about 20 minutes
Occupancy cost is down about 1/3rd.
Now it feels like we are in heaven
But it took a trip through hell to get here
Probably can say now that my move is 99% complete
My regret: Should have done it 15 years ago when changes started to take place in this industry but I could not see the trees from standing in the forest.
We're not out of the woods yet, but we are heading in the right direction.
My lesson: Today a flower shop has to have visibility and easy access
Now my customers can drive up within 10 feet of our front door and we do not have to share parking with any other tenants. Our store walk in traffic is up.
My advice: Build foot traffic into your shop. You need to have street traffic to do that. Florists today must have a website, must have foot traffic, have to price diffently. Think outside the box. What worked in the 80s, forget it. That won't work today.
Unfortunately, I do not think as one owning a business, I own a job. It provides the needed revenue stream. Will somebody want to buy my shop/business someday? Probably, if the fix I am presently doing works. So far I think it is working.
My biggest challenges:
1. Today it is employee attitude
2. Learning marketing
3. Keeping healthy at age 75 while working 60-65 hours a week
4. Be willing to do anything/everything [today I cleaned one of the toilets] meaning be willing to do anything and everything you would ask an employee to do,
5. But don't expect employees to do everything you have to do as an owner.
What makes this all happen? Passion! Innovation! Execution! Believe in yourself! Seek Wisdom and have the faith/guts to use it because wisdom is the mind, not the engine.
That's what it takes.
After almost 60 years of my life,
And after 80 years of my families business
And after 130 years with the florist operation
All at the same site
I moved our store 1 mile Oct 2006
7 semi moving van loads
New location has much better street exposure
On a Business/State highway that accesses the Interstate in 1 mile
Singed a lease late August 2006
Did electrical, refrigeration, plumbing, painting
Opened Monday, Oct 2, 2006,
All within 5 weeks
Did not miss a single day of business
Phones were down about 20 minutes
Occupancy cost is down about 1/3rd.
Now it feels like we are in heaven
But it took a trip through hell to get here
Probably can say now that my move is 99% complete
My regret: Should have done it 15 years ago when changes started to take place in this industry but I could not see the trees from standing in the forest.
We're not out of the woods yet, but we are heading in the right direction.
My lesson: Today a flower shop has to have visibility and easy access
Now my customers can drive up within 10 feet of our front door and we do not have to share parking with any other tenants. Our store walk in traffic is up.
My advice: Build foot traffic into your shop. You need to have street traffic to do that. Florists today must have a website, must have foot traffic, have to price diffently. Think outside the box. What worked in the 80s, forget it. That won't work today.
Unfortunately, I do not think as one owning a business, I own a job. It provides the needed revenue stream. Will somebody want to buy my shop/business someday? Probably, if the fix I am presently doing works. So far I think it is working.
My biggest challenges:
1. Today it is employee attitude
2. Learning marketing
3. Keeping healthy at age 75 while working 60-65 hours a week
4. Be willing to do anything/everything [today I cleaned one of the toilets] meaning be willing to do anything and everything you would ask an employee to do,
5. But don't expect employees to do everything you have to do as an owner.
What makes this all happen? Passion! Innovation! Execution! Believe in yourself! Seek Wisdom and have the faith/guts to use it because wisdom is the mind, not the engine.
That's what it takes.
Mikey the Flower Guy
It's a GREAT DAY to live, and love!
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Audra
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