Small Business Giants!

Saturday, 11/30, is dedicated to small business owners around the country.  Nice.  But what does that really mean?  I've worked as a sole proprietress for over 35 years and it boggles me that this "small business" has survived at all!   Here's a few of the things I've come to know and I bet I'm not alone:

♥ you've gotta be nuts to start- or so full of passion you just can't resist
♥ you will work with a load you never thought you could possibly carry - and yet you do
♥ if you work from home, you have the best CEO PJ wardrobe on earth
♥ your hat rack includes at least 10 caps to survive, 20 to really thrive
♥ the office fairy rarely shows up to clean
♥ if you have family - you know they come first - even when they don't think they do
♥ a buying trip or show trip can be the best vacation ever
♥ the gal Friday rarely shows up for the bookkeeping
♥ the process of mental creativity knows no time clock
♥ you probably never thought you'd become a professional photographer
♥ you laugh when the business surveys ask how many employees the business has and start with 1--4
♥ you know more about social networking and marketing than most
♥ the best bottom line for my financial statement is a smile
♥ you will never go hungry because you've learned how to survive
♥ flexibility means more than bending
♥ the cleaning lady is underpaid
♥ friends around the world are as close as a keyboard ~ anytime
♥ small business people always care and support each other.

Yeah - Happy Small Business Day!!

Researching Francis: fhb

Doing research on a mystery item mark is perhaps one of the most educational processes to engage in in the antiques business!  I am always in awe of how much you can discover with just one little starting point.

For me, the lastest adventure revolves around a jewelry purchase last year that included a darling little sterling silver pin and drop earrings set.  The only mark is on the circles of the earrings: fhb Sterling. Sterling is also marked on the back of the screw knobs.   The set definitely has that Modernist late 50s vintage appeal.  I decided to see what I could find out.

Well, thanks to the 21st century and internet research capabilities I quickly discovered this mark belongs to Francis Holmes Boothby!  She is a well known and listed Modernist jewelry maker active in the 1950s / 1960s.  Her work pulls designs from nature and includes whimsical birds and owls as well as items using a unique convex elliptical form.    A quick search of "fhb elliptical" using Images on Google will give you more great peeks at her style. 

There is an excellent research article, The Wearable Art Movement Part II , by Marbeth Shon, at Modern Silver.com   There is a short piece about Francis Homes Boothby confirming her participation in the 3rd Annual Exhibition of Contemporary Jewelry at the Walker Art Center, Minneapolis in 1955.  If you love Modernist jewelry - this is a great article to review!

Although only the earrings are marked in this set, it sure seems that the pin is an unsigned fhb as well.  It is actually very small at only 29mm L x 22mm W.  The ends have her characteristic "flattened" twist changing the form from circle to ellipical.  This wonderful shape is seen in pendant and bracelet designs that she did.  But alas there is not one image on the web to make 100% confirmation --so the mystery still continues.   Is it a one of a kind?  That would be fun. 

Winter's Charm

Oh the delight of little girls clothing from the late Victorian era!  Years ago I made a wonderful purchase of antiques including some childrens clothing from a local estate here is western New York.  Our winters were snowy and cold in the late 1800s.  Wearing quilted or stuffed clothing and accessories was a must.

This little girls bonnet is a treasure and sold already in the Etsy shop.  I absolutely love the rich, thick chocolate brown velvet!  The little ribbons at the top just add the right touch of little Miss feminine charm.  From what I can tell, it is completely hand sewn.  Probably a pound of momma's love in each and every stitch!

Victorian Girl's Winter Bonnet

Bonnet side and back views

What's in a Number?

This was a major week at Etsy as my store sales hit that wonder number: 1000.  I feel like that storybook turtle who finally crossed the finish line!  Having started in 2008 it seems like a very long time in the making, and then it seems like a blink of an eye - all wrapped into one.  So for sure this benchmark of retail sales causes me to pause and think.

Lots of stores reach this number very quickly.  Being in the antiques and vintage goods retail business, it came much slower.  So here are a few ideas that seem clear to me now and I offer them so that others starting out on Etsy will feel encouraged to stick with it.

Straight and Steady
The only way to keep progressing is to keep on going.  Simple right?  Actually it is.  There have been so many times when I got discouraged.  Comparing the shop to other vintage shops seemed like a constant reminder that I wasn't "doing" something right.  About a year ago it finally hit me - antiques are unique - so why even think that I can even compare the store to other stores?

What matters is what works for my particular line of goods and the consistency it takes to show them off.   Follow the crowd here and there only holds me in the middle of a pack moving to and fro in a million directions.  Keeping a steady pace in one direction has been key.  Yes, be flexible and change when needed.  But do it with focus and a little at a time.

Fresh is Best
 No matter where I promote and advertise, on Etsy there is 1 Golden Rule to keep:  list something new every day or at least several times per week.  Period.  If I feel that one particular line of vintage isn't moving, the best way to bring it forward into potential customers' eyes is to list a new item in that category!  Google and other search engines love new material.  Etsy pages love new material.   Treasury builders like new materials.  Customers like to see new items.  But once they are in the store and see there is a whole department of "this new stuff" they are likely to look at others!  So I promote the whole category by spending $.20 and listing a new product.

Know Your Treasures
If you are a home builder, you must know about tools.  If you are a dentist, you must know teeth.  If you are an engineer you must know certain laws of science.  If you are an antiques seller, you must know details about your product!  How old? What materials? Particular historic style? Any social history? Famous designers?  I have to admit that research has been the greatest gift of my business!  Learning about life through object is a fascinating path - and a whole article in itself!  When I don't know (or easily remember) the important details of a product I'm selling, I research.  I love my personal library and use it often.  But I have to admit that the Online Library of Life has made researching so much easier and fun.  When Google became a verb, I was hooked.

Let me just emphasize that to create a successful vintage store you have to understand the item you are selling.   For anyone who thinks you will build a growing business on "I found this old thing and I think it's cool", you should probably consider another line of work.  It may work once in a while but not for solid growth.

Treat Customers with Respect
For many years I owned a B&M store and treasured the folks that walked in the front door whether they bought something or not!  I carry that same feeling in my online stores too.  I don't subscribe to "the customer is always right" principle.  I do subscribe to the principle that customers deserve all my attention and respect when they are in my store and writing to me.  Learning to read between the lines is crucial just like reading body language is when you are face to face with someone.

Making up excuses is a waste of time.  When I goof,  I apologize and make it right.  Going the extra step fosters favorable impressions and regularly creates repeat customers.   I just can't imagine any other way to operate and stay in business for the long haul.

So, Cheers to those who have been part of my online successes!  It's been a wonderful ride so far and I'm looking forward to 2000!  So much to list...so much to share!