True Blue For You

Teal & Pearl

Teal, Meaning From The Color Turquoise.

Turquoise is often regarded as feminine, calming and sophisticated. Suggesting wisdom, serenity, wholeness, creativity and emotional balance. 
Influencing good luck, spiritual grounding, friendship, love, joy, tranquility, patience and intuition.

I just love the combination of Teal with the changing hues of Pearl.

Available on Amazon Marketplace HERE or eBay HERE

Unleashing My Inner Unicorn.

#Amaze-Bay you know you want to...

Wildflower Studio at Mackintosh And More

Great gift ideas only £19.95 each 

Lovely comments for this Art Deco style vase, I love my customers. ❤️

Thank You. x

Really - Thank You so much. x

Onward an upward.

Ruby Red Hearts

Heart shaped leaves in Ruby Red vases from £19.95 

Brrr. Getting Very Autumnal

OH DEAR ...

 A Very Art Deco Look In Red By Mackintosh And More

I'm In The Red Again!

 

Via Amazon And eBay

All Three Designs

Will Be Available Shortly

"IF IT IS TO BE"..

...“It’s Up To Me”

 

This should be every self employed person's mantra.

 

Wouldn’t it be great if those words were engraved on the door to your workplace as a reminder every day? 

 

 “If it is to be, it’s up to me” 

 

Isn't this the attitude that epitomises the most professional, driven person you have ever met.

It’s the attitude that shows when someone takes personal responsibility for everything that occurs in his or her day. 

The real business professional immediately acknowledges and deals with every challenge that comes his or her way.  

Look for solutions not excuses. 

So the solution to my challenge is for you to visit my Amazon or eBay store! 😁  

 

 

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Hurry Up And Take Your Time.

The thoughts of a small trader.

In my opinion, in the little Retail Bubble which  I inhabit, some of the last people to feel the tightening grip of recession are Commercial Landlords. They always seem to get the rent they want because there will always be someone out there with the next big idea. Just don't don't get too carried away when you find the perfect premises.

Do - Ask for the first month rent free.
Do - Try to get it decorated by the landlord for free.
Do - Make sure you have a "break" clause, 12 - 18 months is usual.
Don't sign a lengthy contract, I usually opted for five years.
Don't forget to establish who is responsible for repairs, make sure it is in the contract.
Don't have verbal agreements regarding responsibilities, write it down in the contract.

Don’t get me wrong, more people should consider starting their own business. I love to see small independent shops they make a town interesting and charming. It’s a pleasure to walk around a place with more than just the usual High Street names.
The idea of someone starting their own business rather than working for “The Man” is exactly what I did. Maybe I got lucky but I did a lot of research about what was realistically achievable in my little town.

What about your town?

Is it a dormitory town, do most of its inhabitants sleep there but work and play elsewhere.?
What catchment area surrounds your town, are there many smaller communities who may visit for shopping etc.?
Or my favourite, are you a tourist town, just a nice place to visit with lots to see and do and lots of people visiting?

These are just some of the things to consider before taking your nest-egg or bank loan and, often with little experience but loads of enthusiasm, marching into retail battle with a "Gung-Ho" attitude.
It sometimes seems that with little or no research people plough money, time and effort into their project without looking at footfall or any kind of demographics. There are successes of course, but most seem to disappear within a year which is the normal “break” clause in a commercial contract. Landlords here in the U.K. are not given to reduce rent for a period to help a business get a better foothold they would rather rinse and repeat.

 

It is the poor little proprietor who has to sink or swim. We have all heard so-called "Business Gurus" trotting out the legend;

 

 "No such thing as failure, it's all experience". 

That may be true, but I have experienced losing money in a venture and it felt like a burn to me. Yes you need to pick yourself up and try to learn from it, but I don’t remember nodding sagely and thinking of that 'feel good' motivational blurb!
As I have said, you must do your research and take your time.
It's a shame that in the rush to start a business "Due Diligence" goes out of the window. And another proprietor walks in through the shop door.

So how do you live long and prosper in a little retail world?

Identity Parade!

Stand Still And Face Forward!

 

Mackintosh And More Small Hurricane Lamps

 

Okay, pick out the one you like and buy it, which do you prefer Amazon or eBay?

 

Buy Gold - I Would.

They say that Gold is a a good investment, but you can find it for your self at the following Goldmines Amazon or eBay

 

 The two central images were an early experiment that did not work, sorry!😒

Feeling Blue

Not Really, just vase-ing!

Blue seems to be quite popular at the moment, so here are a few examples coupled with Pearl accents. This really is a striking combination, giving a lovely pop of colour in most room settings. All will be available for sale soon.

The Old One Two!

Not one sale...

But Two!

Here I am, front row 3rd from the right

You may remember, this Purple and Pearl Cylinder Vase was first introduced in the dresser group photo.

Well 24 hours after launching it into the inter-web marketplace it sold TWICE on eBay! 

This might not mean much to most, but I, for one, am extremely pleased.😀

You can see it on eBay Here 

 

A Dozen Red Roses

 

Happy Valentines Day

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