Wednesday, July 6, 2011

Ups and Downs of The Green Owl

So, although I love my shop, The Green Owl, I still miss my freedom to be creative when I want.  I started this business when my son was a baby and thought it would be easy to run a shop while toting him around...needless to say i was wrong. I didn't think about how it would be once he grew up and instead of toting him around I started chasing him. When he was a baby I had down time and was able to create. Now, there isn't any down time. I do a little merchandising and then I'm back to see what mess I have to clean up.  I love my son very much and have wanted to hang out with him outside my shop instead of inside.  Plus, its much better damage control! I hired a manager for the store two months ago but as you all know, if you have started a small business, all the money you make goes right back into the business. Everything I paid my manager for two months ended up being the money I wasn't able to take home or put back in my shop.  After two months of the store looking amazing because the manager had put her whole heart into my shop... I had to let her go. It was having her or having food on our table...hmmmm...not a question. The I contemplated on closing. Option? What would I do? Get a "real" job? God no! A friend of mine started talking about doing flea markets and shows.  Now that's an idea! We have been working non stop trying to get our first show off and running! Its been a blast finding treasures to fix up and sell. My favorite find was a box of keys that i turned into necklaces and magnets. Cute! I'll post pictures of them in my next post. As for my shop, The Green Owl, it remains open.  I still love it and I plan on doing some wonderful things with the store. My brain is forever going and i know that there will be another time in my life when i feel like closing but that day isn't today! Happy shopping!!!!