From time immemorial, spring has been the harbinger of change. Whether speaking of seasons, or the weather, or of something more personal, springtime is the most popular time to make a change. You'd think that New Years would have that designation, but no, it's spring that people change, or transition.
Changing up some accessories in your home is one way to make change for spring. Adding new pillows, window treatments, even picture frames, can liven up your environment and help make it feel fresh. Same thing in your garden! Adding new decorative elements in your garden can also make it look more festive, particularly in water-wise gardens. Hoopla Emporium has brought in some very fun outdoor décor that we think you'll love! Spring gnomes, solar powered fairy houses, wind chimes, plant stakes, and fairy garden components are fun and colorful, and will help accentuate focal points, or even become a focal point, in your garden spaces!
We also have some beautiful spring jewelry for you here at Hoopla - vibrantly colored sea glass bracelets from former Altadena native Shayla Diamond and her company, Lotus Moon Arts, are perfect for brightening up an outfit; as are her lovely turquoise and red coral bracelets and earrings! Long, vintage look watch necklaces are a huge trend now, and we've got some that would make fabulous Mother's Day gifts; and Lotus Moon's adorably chic key chains are always in fashion.
Spring is wonderful time for art, as well. There's new art on the walls here at Hoopla, coordinating with our gnomes and fairies. Here's a picture of Janell Mithani's beautiful painting of a fairy on tree bark:
Speaking of art, the Alta-Pasa Open Studios Tour is scheduled for June 6 and 7 this year, and Hoopla! Emporium will once again be a stop on the map. We will be hosting young artists involved in Room 13 studios in public schools in the area, and we're looking forward to it! Here's a poster that gives greater detail about the upcoming tour:
We know this will be the best Open Studios Tour yet - stay tuned for more information!
A recent survey done by the Institute Of Local Self Reliance says that sales at independently owned retail shops were up by 8.1% in 2014. Holiday sales were up by an average of 4.2% (5.7% for those communities with a vested Buy Local program), beating the performance of many national chains and coming in well ahead of the 0.9% decline in December retail sales reported by the U.S. Department of Commerce.
This bodes well for the future of independent retail, and, as one of our fellow retailers put it "people are getting sick of crappy service and cheap quality products in chain stores." While we won't go so far as pointing fingers, I think you'll find that locally owned, independent businesses are naturally more friendly than your average big box store.
This is much food for thought, especially as we steer our communities toward the future. Let us know - when/where was the last place you received quality service and product? Was it a big box store, a multi-national corporate store or restaurant? Or was it in a small, locally-owned business or eatery? Why was the service different, and would you prefer to see more of this kind of interaction? We'll revisit this subject when replies have been tallied, and we thank you for your participation!
Being the owner of a gift store is a lot of work, particularly around the holidays. We've read several industry articles lately in regard to the stress the holidays can bring, and how we storeowners can deal with it all. It's great information, but in all honesty, I don't find this time of year too stressful, I find it invigorating and joyful. What fun it is to pull out all the holiday decorations, trim the tree, and anticipate all the new merchandise coming into the store!
It's all very exciting, but the thing we like most of all is discovering fabulous products for you that are made locally or regionally. The talent that we have here astounds us! From artists and authors, to food producers and gift or card makers, this is our partial list of our absolute favorites (which can change without notice, and often does!) -
Jus D'Amour The Essence of Love Perfume Oil by Perfumes Mercedes - hands down, our favorite new scent, created by singer, songwriter and performer Mercedes Ganon. Included in this line are the original Jus D' Amour, its companion scent Sassy, and Legend Cologne for men. Jus D'Amore is a timeless, romantic blend of fresh coco palm and aqualeaf accord, gentle violet, night blooming jasmine, Tahitian vanilla and deep sandalwood. Formulated to coordinate with Sassy, a fresh and sexy blend of juicy sweet orange mandarin and vibrant grapefruit, exotic jasmine, bergamot and cassis, the two scents together are bliss! Legend for men is an evocation of nature's combination of fruits, woods, and florals to capture that very distinct masculine flavor. Notes include melon, black currant, citrus, green leaf, ozone, bergamot, jasmine, violet, wood musk, oakmoss, and sandalwood. We highly recommend this as a personal gift to yourself this year!
LA Farm Girl jams and jellies - this local specialty food product line is so delicious, we can't describe it well enough in words. Because no matter how hard you try, you just can't smell or taste words, can you? Rest assured that we've done the tasting for you, and can tell you how much we love them! Not just for breakfast, either, these jams, most infused with wine or spirits, are so versatile in the kitchen. From your holiday baking (Linzer cookies, anyone?) to a glaze for roast meats, we invite you to transport your taste buds this season! Currently in stock are Habanero Honey, Peppered Pineapple, Strawberry Sangria, Bourbon & Vanilla Berry, Fig & Sweet Marsala, and Sherry & Cinnamon Persimmon. Caramel Tangerine, Cognac & Vanilla Cherry, and Blood Orange & Rosemary Mimosa are on their way in about a week or so.
The Safety Godmothers by Ellen Snortland and Lisa Gaeta - this book is a must-have for all young people, particularly females, and gives sound advice about personal safety without the preachy-ness. We love Ellen and Lisa's humorous tone in this book, as they interview young people who have been attacked, and survived, by using the tactics the authors recommend. If you have a young daughter or son, or are a grandparent to either, this is our pick for you! It's not a sexy, beautiful, or delicious present, but don't let that deter you. This is something that will resonate for years with your young ones and, help save a life if, God forbid, they are ever stalked or attacked.
We'll be back again soon with some more suggestions for you. Until then, be well and enjoy the season!
Hello, friends, another Monday has come and so it's time for a blog post. Last week we discussed Sally Hogshead's new book, How The World Sees You. In it, we posted a link and a password to take the perception test at no charge. Did you try it? We'd love to know what you thought - leave us a message and let us know your two defining traits and your archetype! To have a little fun with this, here's what your archetype would be if they were named after super heroes:
Speaking of perception, we'd like to share someone else's blog post with you today, with a hat tip to our good friend Rose Eliff, who brought it to our attention. The blog is called Momastary and the post, here, is called "Give Me Gratitude Or Give Me Debt". It's a very uplifting post, and we hope you enjoy it!
Why would a retail store want you to read a post about someone who is consciously avoiding keeping up with the Joneses? Isn't that what retail's all about, trying to get everyone in your store to buy the latest geegaw and gadget? Most of them do, yes indeed they do. We're a little different here at Hoopla. We are An Emporium Of Good Things, and as such, carry products that are mostly sourced locally. We have the largest collection of books written by people that live in and around Altadena. We carry products like soap, tea, sauces, and caramels all made by local or regional folks. Real people with real names, that you may bump into while shopping. Greeting cards, art, music, wall decor, even pens made locally. We carry fair trade gift wrap, bags, shoppers, scarves, jewelry, and journals. Of the imports that we do carry, we carefully vet the companies to ensure that manufacturing laws and workers are not being abused. No children were harmed in the production of our merchandise. It's always a nice bonus when we find these type of companies locally, as well. You see, we're a feel-good store, and we figure you can never get enough of a good thing, right? You'll come in, there's no need for us to shout about how much better we are than your other choices, but cheering sections are always welcomed!
So what does this have to do with perception? It says we care - deeply and truly care about what you bring into your home. We know you could buy products anywhere, so we specialize in finding products that not everyone has. We know you could patronize any business, and we're very thankful you choose ours. This is why we're so choosy - because you are!
With that said, we've got some great new garden items coming in from Regal Art And Gifts, a California company located in Concord. There will be some great solar yard stakes and wind chimes that are just perfect for your late summer garden! We can't wait until the fall yard decorations come in because they're so cool! Here's a little peek of what's coming:
Dragonfly Bell
Solar Bubble Light Butterfly Stake
Solar Lantern
Hummingbird Bell
Coming soon - Halloween Yard Stakes
Remember, we also have beautiful Leoj Wishing Balls. These are extremely well made (in the U.S.!) glass objects that soak up the sun's rays during the day, and glow softly at night. Almost as wonderful as fireflies, these shapes will fascinate you!
Leoj Wishing Balls, Large & Small Spheres
That's it for this week, friends. Have a great week, and we'll talk next Monday!
Hi, there, friends, we're finally back to keeping this blog up, after moving and getting things set up in our new store! In case you haven't heard, we found a sweet little storefront on Fair Oaks Avenue that we just love. We've also taken advantage of the move to re-brand the store, so we're now called "Hoopla! An Emporium Of Good Things". Although our name has changed, our core mission has not, and this move has only intensified our endeavors to highlight the many local artists, makers, and entrepreneurs our area has to offer!
That said, as I was perusing Facebook a bit earlier, I ran across this post from our friend, Bob Phibbs, The Retail Doctor, and felt it was something important enough for me to copy whole and post here. This is a subject that I'm pretty sure you know is very intregal to our core mission, and I couldn't be happier that someone else thinks the same way! I love that Bob says to commit to step it up (instead of leaning in), I love that he stresses communication, and I just adore that he asks that we build a better world. We can do that, you know.
Today, Sunday, July 7, marks the last day in the week long celebration of local, independent businesses across our nation, coined "Independents Week" by the American Independent Business Alliance. WFS is, and always has been, an enthusiastic participant in this grass-roots movement to increase the awareness of our independent businesses, here in Altadena and all over the country!
Did you do it for love?
Did you do it for money?
Did you do it for spite?
Did you think you had to, honey?
Who is gonna make it?
We'll find out in the long run
I know we can take it
if our love is a strong one
Well, we're scared, but we ain't shakin'
Kinda bent, but we ain't breakin'
in the long run
Ooh, I want to tell you, it's a long run
---- Glenn Lewis Frey, Don Felder, Timothy B. Schmit, Don Henley
Oftentimes, we're asked for advice from various friends, acquaintances, even customers of ours, on starting or growing a business. Most of the questions we get center around operating a business in a down economy, like "how do you hang in there when it's so tough?". Others couch the question differently, like asking what motivates us to keep showing up on a daily basis. Multiple paragraphs could be written about this subject, but we ran across a recent blog post from uber-entrepreneur Seth Godin that pretty much sums up our advice to anyone starting out:
What does your brand stand for?
If you tell me about service and quality and customer focus, you
haven't answered my question, because a hundred other brands stand for
that. If you are what others are, then there's nothing here to own or
protect or build upon.
Compared to what? Compared to all those that you compete
with for attention, for commerce, for donations and for employees, what
do you stand for? Are you one of a kind or even one in a million?
Hyatt, Marriott, Hilton... they don't actually stand for anything, do
they? They can't, because they stand for precisely the same thing. Puma
vs. Adidas vs. Nike... They all want to stand for winning. How
substantial are the differences?
Make a list of the differences and the extremes and start with that. A
brand that stands for what all brands stand for stands for nothing
much.
---Seth Godin, May 30, 2013
It was never much of a stretch for us to differentiate our store, because we had to. Due to the circumstances of our purchase into this long-standing family business, we were actually a new store, born from the carcass of the old. From day one, we vowed to stand for our community's artists, writers, for hand-made, for local, and stand we have. It's allowed us to help bring our area's artists to the attention of potentially hundreds of people. It's also allowed us contribute to several of our town's non-profits, schools, and causes - maybe not with thousands of dollars, but as one retail friend told us, "even if it's only $100.00, it's $100.00 more than they had before". With that philosophy, we joyfully give whatever and whenever we can.
Another great piece to read is Jonathan Morrow's post about fear, entitled The Cowardly Entrepreneur. When, in the body of his post, he writes "The lesson is that courage isn’t about acting in the absence of fear; it’s about acting despite it", he had our attention. This, along with Seth's post, really nails it in terms of advice for those just starting out (or those who need a jump start) in their businesses. To quote Seth, "Go - make something happen"!
Along those lines, we're hosting a book signing event on Thursday, with author Carol Woodliff. Carol is a healer/shaman, and this event will be very exciting, with readings and demonstrations. You'll find the event notice on our Facebook page and we hope we'll see you there!
There's been a lot of talk lately about our town's identity. Many people agree that Altadena is a bit like Mayberry, that fictional town Sheriff Andy Taylor and Barney Fife watched over in the early 1960s. Aunt Bee cooked her homemade goodies, Floyd the barber cut hair and dispensed advice, and young Opie fished at the local pond.
Of course we're not actually Mayberry, this is California, after all. But there is still much of that small-town flavor in Altadena. Maybe it's because of our "remote" location and no direct freeway access - folks have to drive 3 miles north of Pasadena to get here. Or maybe it's because there was such a strong community base of local businesses and business owners back in the day. We think it's the combination of the two that keeps us unique in the eyes of not just our residents, but others outside as well.
Looking at the postcard (pictured above) designed by local graphic artist Hugo Arteaga, it's evident we have a vibrant town history. The Altadena Historical Society would be happy to show you the ephemera they've collected through the years that proves the point. We've always been an idyllic place to live in and also to do business in.
Then there are those who disagree. No Mayberry here, they say, Altadena "mom and pop" businesses don't actually serve the community well any more. Bring in chains, bring in Starbucks, bring in the big box stores! The latter has already happened, and the rest can't be far away. And while we argue amongst ourselves about it, Mayberry is indeed fading away.
We look at the situation this way: while we are opposed to Walmart in Altadena, that doesn't mean that we're opposed to the growth of our community. We welcome new business here, but we'd like to see those businesses be homegrown and independently owned. There's a good reason for that, and it's not to keep our town from reaping economic benefits or good jobs. As we said above, it's to keep our town unique and prosperous. How can we be prosperous if we don't have a chain business on every corner? Easy, if we rewrite the Altadena Community Standards to accommodate and nurture small, independent business.
From this article in Time Magazine, author Judith D. Schwartz quotes New Economics Foundation researcher David Boyle as saying, " many local economies are languishing not because too
little cash comes in, but as a result of what happens to that money. Money
is like blood. It needs to keep moving around to keep the economy going. When money is spent elsewhere - at big supermarkets,
non-locally owned utilities and other services such as on-line retailers - it
flows out, like a wound."
In this article, the organization Reclaim Democracy notes that "Each year brings more national chains displacing locally-owned
businesses throughout the country. We see clones replace unique
establishments...", and asks two questions, "People across the country are losing sense of community in their town,
and consider this trend a symptom, but could it be a cause as well?
Also, what are the impacts of this trend on our economic well-being?" They state, "The disappearance of local businesses leaves a social and economic void
that is palpable and real - even when it is unmeasured. The quality of
life of a community changes in ways that macroeconomics is slow to
measure, or ignores completely."
There is a lot to say about the importance of independent businesses in communities, much of which we've highlighted in past blog posts. The problem is not the lack of positive information about it, it's getting people in our communities and civic organizations to read and understand it. Right now there is a discussion on The 3/50 Project's Group Page on LinkedIn on whether local business organizations help small businesses grow. The venerable Cinda Baxter - former retailer, retail consultant, speaker, and founder of The 3/50 Project - has this to say: "an association's/organization's level of success has more to do with the its leadership than its charter or mission statement.
I've seen entire towns thrive under the guidance of groups led by open minded, determined, positive men and women.
On the other hand, I've seen well-funded, established associations fail
their small business community horribly, simply because the President or
CEO was so deeply pro-big box. Sadly, those are the cities and towns
with sagging (or worse) downtown business districts, but jungles of big
boxes on the outer edges, reducing the amount of revenue that returns to
the community.
The size of the community has almost zero impact".
She goes on to give her advice to local associations, which we believe as well: "Listen to your members, then deliver what they ask for. Too often,
association leadership thinks they know more than the 'rank and file,'
which only pushes the small business community backward; and, remember that what works for a national brand doesn't necessarily work
for independent brick and mortars. The latter have no corporate office
to refer back to for legal assistance, marketing tools, special vendor
pricing, and national advertising. The independents need extra
support---in response, they'll thrive, and return a greater percentage
of revenue to the local economy". More food for thought, and more to chew on here, on this latest report on local business and towns with buy local or local first programs.
We apologize for missing last Sunday's blog posting - our mainline at home got backed up and we were taking care of it. We hope you're enjoying this beautiful Saint Patrick's Day - have a great week ahead, friends, and make sure you check this blog next week when we highlight the authors participating in the Official Launch Of Authors Tour USA on March 30! Lori and Scott
"
Think of your fellow man
Lend him a helping hand
Put a little love in your heart
You see it's getting late
Oh, please don't hesitate
Put a little love in your heart
And the world will be a better place
And the world will be a better place
For you and me
You just wait and see
Another day goes by
Still the children cry
Put a little love in your heart
If you want the world to know
We won't let hatred grow
Put a little love in your heart
And the world (and the world) will be a better place
All the world (all the world) will be a better place
For you (for you)
And me (and me)
You just wait (just wait)
And see, wait and see
Take a good look around
And if you're looking down
Put a little love in your heart
I hope when you decide
Kindness will be your guide
Put a little love in your heart
And the world (and the world) will be a better place
And the world (and the world) will be a better place
For you (for you)
And me (and me)
You just wait (just wait) And see
----Jackie DeShannon, Jimmy Holiday, and Randy Myers
This past week saw an extreme change in our weather pattern. We went from the coldest I've ever felt it here in Southern California back to warm and sunny just a couple days ago - but I'll tell you that was one long, cold spell we had! It proved to me that we are so not acclimated to chilly temperatures, and Scott and I were overjoyed when the mercury topped 75 degrees in beautiful Altadena!
Just as our weather can change dramatically, so can our shopping habits. In a post on our Facebook page this week, I posted an article from Retail's Big Blog that recounted former UN Secretary-General Kofi Annan's recent speech at the Big Show in New York. The gist of his speech was that retail just may end up being a core driver of employment in the future, if the global community begins to plan ahead for sustainability and focus on what he terms "the three pillars" of stable governments - peace and stability, development, and rule of law and respect for human rights. In short, and in my opinion, this equates to everyone adopting fair trade practices.
If we truly care about being responsible global citizens, and having a world economy that thrives, we must learn to cooperate. Cooperation and fair trade practices start at the grass-roots level, in our own dealings in our communities. Four years ago, I wrote a blog post called "The Meaning Of Think Global, Buy Local", in which I explained what happens when you shift your shopping. We're still at it, doing what we can to be good global and community citizens. Over the years, we've concentrated more on buying from hyper-local companies and community artists. We love doing this, and we love being able to donate to community non-profits!
Our latest came yesterday, when Scott and I handed a check to the Christmas Tree Lane Association in the amount of $512.00! See the Altadenablog article about it here. We are so pleased that their merchandise sold so well this year, and want to thank our customers for buying so enthusiastically! Keep it up, friends, you're contributing to a great cause!
We'll talk again next week - until then, have a great week!
It's become clear that it's never been more important to shop local. With the threat of not just one, but two Walmart Neighborhood Markets making their way seemingly unobstructed into Altadena, it's time to step up education on why we need our local shops. This poster, provided by the lovely folks at The American Independent Business Alliance, give you the facts. Walmart gives you fantasy. As our friends at Main And Me portray in this poster, this could be your shopping experience in our lovely town someday soon:
However you view the situation, we always advise shopping with your local merchants. After all, is Walmart going to buy your kids' school fundraisers? Will they support the local Little League team? Sure, they'll throw some money at local non-profits, but what about our Library? Will they support them in a sustainable way? I think not. Let us end with this poster, also from Main and Me, and remember - we have Friends Of The Altadena Library canvas tote-bags and Altadena Library District tee-shirts for sale at the store and the Library gets 100% of sales!*
Thanks for listening, my friends, we'll talk again next week!
Lori and Scott
*We also have items from Christmas Tree Lane available and they get 75% of net sales!
I used to go out quite a lot,
chase to chase and shot to shot.
I'm all done with that somehow,
and it's your town now.
These days the mighty eagle sings,
of money and material things,
and the almighty Dow,
and it's your town now,
your town now,
it's--
From the mountains to the plains
all the towns are wrapped in chains,
and the little that the law allows,
and it's your town now,
it's your town now,
it's--
Where are the young bands gonna play?
Where're the old beatniks gonna stay,
and not before some corporation bow?
and it's your town now,
it's your town now,
it's--
So be careful everyone,
Cops can get careless with their guns.
And then they slip off somehow,
and it's your town now,
it's your town now,
it's--
You young ones it's up to you
to fight the fight and I hope you do,
Oh I see in your eyes that you know how
and it's your town now
your town now.
Don't let 'em take the whole damn deal,
Don't give up on what you really feel.
Ah, the small and local must survive somehow,
if it's gonna be your town now.
Is it gonna be your town now?
Is it gonna be your town now?
Is it gonna be? ----Greg Brown
My mother taught me long, long ago to not say anything at all if I had nothing nice to say. So, I put myself on a two week blogging exile. I've been so overwhelmed with the negative that I was afraid to put pen to paper....ummm....keyboard to screen....oh heck, you know what I mean. But I'm overjoyed to be back with a more positive outlook, and, hopefully, I can convey what I have to say without being overly dark and depressing.
In this week's post, I'd like to talk about this article in the Washington Monthly, written by Barry C. Lynn and Lina Khan, and its relevance to the song captioned above. In the article they describe the fact that American entrepreneurship has fallen off precipitously in recent years, and opine the reason for that drop. Here's a sample, actually the final paragraph of the article:
"Indeed, the decline of small business documented here appears to confirm
that the great social experiment undertaken a generation ago—when we
allowed our government to cease enforcement of our antimonopoly laws—has
had a devastating effect not only on our democracy but also on the
ability of ordinary Americans to build their assets and move up the
socioeconomic ladder through enterprise. The loss of job creation that
comes with the hollowing out of America’s entrepreneurial sector also
goes a long way toward explaining why American businesses were creating
fewer and fewer jobs even before the Great Recession hit. The founding
generation was right: as America’s entrepreneurs go, so goes America’s
prosperity and democracy. If we are ever to recapture the promise of
this land, we must first break down the great powers that crush the
individual citizen’s initiative and ability to create and build what is
new and better."
We need our entrepreneurial sector to be able to create more and better jobs. Without that, we are stuck between a rock and a hard place. Or some would say, between RiteAid and Walmart. I'd like you to re-read the words to the song that opens this post. Is this what we want for our town? Some would have you believe that yes, this is what we want. I, and a growing number of people whom I speak with daily are saying NO. No to the large corporations, no to the chains, no to dead-end jobs that go nowhere. It doesn't matter if you're reading this and don't live in Altadena. Something like this can, and probably has, happened where you live. There's a radical push to open more and more big-box "urban" model stores that are local-washed to fit in your community, but really are just a wolf in sheep's clothing. Now is the time to say no, not in our neighborhood, not in our town!
Our locally-owned, independent businesses and our local start-ups need your support now more than ever before. Be a part of the change in your community and start a movement to bring your local businesses to the attention of its residents. Webster's Fine Stationers is proud to have started such a movement here in Altadena by investing in other local businesses. We also love that we feature businesses other than ours in our social media campaigns. If you're asking what you can do in your neck of the woods, here are some suggestions. Start an independent business alliance if you're a small business owner or, if you don't have the funds to do that, ask your Chamber of Commerce. Do they have a Independent Merchants Committee? If they don't, suggest they form one and volunteer to be on it. If you're a concerned citizen, start a cash mob for your local businesses. We've done this in Altadena and it's working out very well. Petition your City or Town Councils to keep chain businesses out and to help foster independently owned small business ventures. The more active we are in our communities, the better we all get along and it's a good feeling to know that we're working toward sustainability, local self reliance and autonomy.
Without the support of the communities across the nation, our independent businesses will be eaten alive by the encroachment of huge corporations. With no local businesses, a community will wither - property values decrease, individuality lost and nothing left to differentiate it from any other. Is that what we want? Is that your town now?
For our local readers, see SaveAltadena.com on the net and SaveAltadena on Facebook for news, meeting times and other information.
Talk to you next week, friends, and until then, be well and happy.
Yesterday morning, as I was sitting in our office at home sipping coffee and going through my email, I ran across this blog post written by the indomitable Seth Godin. In it he asks several questions to a fictional entrepreneur and then expounds on those questions. He asks if they are aware of their cash flow; if they're building profit or equity; he asks if they would rather be a freelancer, an entrepreneur or a business owner (because there is a difference); if they're trying to build a team; he asks what type of risks are they willing to take; and finally, the most important question - why they're making the effort at all.
I put Scott and I in the role of the fictional entrepreneur, and asked these very hard questions. They may not seem like hard questions at first. But, as Seth points out, these questions often go unasked. They certainly weren't asked when we were given the opportunity to buy the stationery department at Webster's. After four years of operating this store, we've had plenty of time to refine what we're doing, and I'm very proud of that. In one of the most harrowing, tumultuous financial eras in history, we've been forced to confront the unthinkable and still power forward, because we know that what we have to offer is valuable.
In his post, Seth points out that an entrepreneur is "an artist of sorts, throwing herself into impossible situations and seeking out problems that require heart and guts to solve." Well, yeah....there's that. We've certainly had to be entrepreneurs in these strange times. We've had to plan, then re-plan, and then re-plan the re-plan, since things change so quickly here. We're not complaining, though. Rethinking your position is a good thing, no matter what type of economic climate you're experiencing. Like he says - it requires heart and guts to solve the equation that is your business.
He asks about team building. Are we worried about the bottom line so much that we forget that the most important aspect of local business is "trying to forge a culture, to train and connect and lead." Train. Connect. Lead. Those are the fundamentals, in our opinion, and ones we had long before this post of Seth Godin's came about. You can read our Mission Statement right here on our blog (or on our Facebook page - see the info page), where it's been for four years now. We believe that our entire business community can benefit from adopting a similar mission.
Seth goes on to ask the two most important questions....what type of risk are you willing to take and why. Why are we doing this at all? This is complicated to answer. It's an answer found deep down inside both of us, one that comes from deep convictions born of familial values. There is no "easy button", no fast way to rebuild trust in an institution that has been compromised, but we believe it's worth rebuilding. We wouldn't be here otherwise.
This week, I felt compelled to answer a query on NBC's Facebook page about how small businesses are faring in this economy and if we were hiring. I posted that we were struggling through the recession and simply trying to hold onto what's left of our crew. I received a direct message from a reporter at NBC, asking if I'd be willing to do a phone interview for possible inclusion in an article she was writing. Of course I was willing, and this is the article that came of it.
I answer Seth's last and most important question of why - why are you doing this at all - with this answer: because we love this community. We love what Webster's has stood for all these years (85 of them, actually), and we believe that we have an opportunity to do good things here in Altadena. We knew there would be sacrifices to make when we took over the ownership of this store. We've made them and we continue to make them because we know that in the end, this will be worth it. Are we trying to build a team? No, we're building a tribe - a tribe that has the interests of their community at heart. Join us, won't you?
This was originally written by Cinda Baxter, the founder of The 3/50 Project, but she took the words right out of my mouth. I wished I had written this, but nevertheless, it's a beautiful letter and one that I distributed this evening to our crew members during our quarterly meeting. I think it says so much - and since I'm a store owner that believes in transparency, I'm sharing it with you. Perhaps, if you're an employer, you can use it or parts of it to give to your own employees. Perhaps you don't have any employees. In that case, give it a read anyway - I think you'll find that the underlying notes of thankfulness and praise uplifting:
AN OPEN LETTER TO OUR CREW MEMBERS
Dear Crew Members,
Let’s face it – the past three years have been rough (more accurately, they’ve been like a blind-folded ride on an out-of-control roller coaster with questionable brakes and really screechy music). You’ve probably seen my moods careen up and down a bit too, between customers, vendors, reps and inventory concerns (not to mention the nasty in-laws). Sorry about that. Some days, as the owner of a retail store, it’s hard not to blur a few lines.
This stuff is personal to me....which is why I want to share a few thoughts with you here. When the store first opened, things were more predictable. Sales had a natural ebb and flow at precise times of year, certain lines were practically bulletproof for us and customers enjoyed shopping. I slept six hours each night, and paid invoices without holding my breath (most of the time, anyway).
But things changed when the market crashed. Sale figures now ricochet like ping pong balls, vendors compete against us online and customers split hairs over 15 cents price differences. Sleep is a far away dream; I practically turn blue when balancing the checkbook.
So yes, I've also changed with the times, examining every decision like it's the biggest one on earth, watching every penny like it's the last one on earth and relying on you like you're the last employees on earth.
Because to me, you are. You're the people I entrust my customers to, who are so near and dear to me. And you're the reason we continue to paddle forward in these strange, unpredictable waters. Which is why I appreciate you so much, even though sometimes, my focus on the bottom line masks that.
I appreciate that you don't ask for an extra week of vacation afte rhaving taken two weeks this summer, aware that our customers need you.
I appreciate that you're honest and trustworthy, not putting friends' purchases on your employee discount.
I appreciate that when I occasionally flip out, you step back and give me space, confident that with a little time, the steam will stop billowing from my ears.
And I appreciate the fact that through all the insanity known as "life in retail", you remain upbeat and positive, making our customers feel at home.
Sometimes, the necessary nuts and bolts feel a bit cold - signing off on the employee handbook, remembering to write down your hours - but that's what keeps the train on the tracks. Each time you fulfill one of those boring handbook guidelines, it prevents stress on the business and everyone associated with it.
I know that on occasion, I harp about keeping things tidy, displays dusted, and holes filled....which might not be reflected by the catastrophe on my desk at any given time.
Housekeeping isn't exciting or fun, but customers notice. If they pick up an item dulled by dust, they assume it's bad merchandise that nobody wants. If there's a gaping hole on the shelf, it looks like we don't care, don't notice, or worse - can't afford to fill it. If things get cluttered, we look like a bargain bin, which definitely isn't our goal.
And yes, sometimes, my methods might seem perplexing. Why, for instance, does the list of four bodies scheduled for the Friday of Thanksgiving weekend have to include yours? Why not someone else? Simple. Each of you lovely souls has a unique personality and skill set. When I piece together schedules, those gifts are taken into consideration so the store has the balance it needs. Given all the big box and Internet competition around the holidays, it's more important than ever that we provide the perfect combination of people so customers get the best experience possible.
In the end, my quirks and requests point in the same direction: Keeping us upright, pleasant and profitable. If one of those elements wobbles, everything does....and customers find somewhere else to shop. Heaven knows, we don't want that, since it hurts everyone whose paycheck has our store name at the top.
Thanks for being the wonderful people I recognized during your interviews. Thanks for remembering that I, too, am only human. And thanks for your heartfelt desire to see the store thrive. For that, I am eternally grateful.
Your Employer
Have a great week ahead, friends, we'll talk next week!
Living in Southern California, some think, deprives you of the change of seasons so obvious in other, colder, states. Not so, I think. There's always signs of the passing of the months, subtle as they may be. Autumn has always been crowned with colorful leaves falling from our liquid amber tree in the front yard and signals the start of the holiday season for me.
When I was a child, I used to check on the leaves of this tree as I would check a hour glass, waiting for that first yellow leaf to appear on the lawn. Maybe it would happen in late August or early September. Most always, though, it would seem to take forever for the leaves to change. All the other trees up and down the block had pretty red and gold leaves hanging or floating down to their respective lawns - why didn't ours have any yet?
My mom would always say that because it was the biggest tree, and maybe one of the oldest, it took longer to turn. I didn't understand, some of those other trees looked pretty darn close in size to ours, and I was impatient. The sooner the leaves turned, the sooner Halloween would arrive - and I loved Halloween.
Halloween kicks off the beginning of the party season for most, but we started a little early here at WFS. Somehow, our Fancy Food Truck Fridays, which is held every 2nd Friday of the month, just happened to fall the very day before the 3rd Saturday of the month and that's when we have our wine pairing events. Even better, this month we planned to include a poetry reading with the wine tastings. It turned out to be one fantastically busy, fantabulously fun weekend and we enjoyed every minute of it!
The food truck event Friday evening went off with nary a hitch, after having received the needed permit from L.A, County on Monday. They cut it pretty close, but we still had a good sized crowd enjoying the offerings of the different trucks. I ordered from Baby's Badass Burgers this time around and I must say that their food is mighty delicious! It was wonderful to have our new event sponsor, Danny's Farm, back in Altadena, if only for one night a month. The animals were a hit with the younger crowd, but of course the goats have a big following in our town! Next month's Fancy Food Truck Friday will be on November 11th.
On Saturday, Linda Dove and Judith Terzi, local poets both, joined OddBallGrape.com's Anne Bannon and Michael Holland for an evening devoted to wine and poetry.....oh, and food! Wonderfully tasty treats were provided to us by Lauren of Amy's Patio Cafe and I'm kicking myself in the pants for not getting pictures of them! Lovely prosciutto-wrapped asparagus spears, the asparagus perfectly al dente and prosciutto lean and flavorful. Mushroom caps filled with cream cheese and sun-dried tomatoes made savory bites and the fresh mozzarella, grape tomato and basil kebabs were unbelievably good, but it was the decadent brownies and the filo cups filled with a sweet blueberry compote that completely stole the show!
This evening Scott and I are taking it easy. Well, better make that he's taking it easy, I'm writing a blog post. Dinner's waiting, so enjoy your week ahead and we'll talk again next week....
If you look at Altadena, CA,on a street view map, you'd see that we're a very spread out community. There are actually four different "main drags" in Altadena - starting from the West, we've got Lincoln and Fair Oaks, Lake Avenue in the center and Allen to the East. This sprawl of neighborhoods and commerce centers make it a challenge for law enforcement, but we're very lucky to have our Los Angeles County Sheriffs, who do such an admirable job of keeping us safe.
Photo Credit: Tim Rutt
I was honored to attend the Grand Opening of the Altadena Sheriffs Station on Saturday, accompanied by Rose West of Curves on Mariposa representing Altadena's Chamber of Commerce. Struck by that fact that violent crime here has taken a notable downturn, I feel very grateful that our Sheriffs now have a new, upgraded station to conduct their business in. The building's design is a nostalgic nod to the era the original Station was built in, and it carries that theme faithfully throughout from the vintage lettering on the glass insets on the interior doors to the old jail, now used for storage. The completion of the Station's renovation gives me hope that this is the start to the much-needed renovation of the North Lake Business District.
Just like the Sheriffs make our community their business, all of us at Webster's FS make Altadena our business as well. We don't just sell products at our store, you see. We give our all to be of service to our fellow residents and guests at all times. Many customers feel comfortable calling in to ask questions about happenings in the community, and we think that's a great thing! I'd like to encourage people to tell their friends to feel free to contact us if they'd like - not everyone has a computer or internet access, and we don't mind helping people find what they're looking for.
Happy fall, everyone - have a great week ahead! Next week we'll talk about the next Fancy Food Truck Friday and our own Wines For A Passionate Evening of Poetry coming up on October 15th.....
Tucked in the back op-ed section of the August 29th edition of the Los Angeles Business Journal, economic development consultant Robert J. Rodino wrote an interesting piece entitled "Gains From Wal-Mart Style Stores Not So Super". In it, he discusses State Measure SB 469, a proposal that would require California cities to conduct economic impact studies before approving large, super-center type stores, and the criticism it's getting.
The argument that this measure would inhibit economic growth here in California's communities stems from a misunderstanding of the dynamics of the retail business. Rodino says, "The impact of Wal-Mart style superstores on the businesses in local communities is often just the opposite of what superstore advocates claim". This is something that the Americal Independent Business Alliance has been talking about for years now. During studies conducted in 2003, and updated in 2010 for the city of San Diego, Mr. Rodino documents the dynamic he coins "retail cannibalization" - the tendency large superstores have for sucking the life out of a community.
"Consumer retail expenditures are dependent on consumer income", Rodino states. "Developing a Wall-Mart style superstore in a mature urban market does not alter consumer incomes and does not alter their expenditures. Superstore gains in sales largely come from the surrounding retailers' losses. While a portion of sales can be made up from consumers coming into a trade area, i.e., into the city of Los Angeles from outside the city, this is rarely sufficient to satisfy superstore annual sales volume. Regionally, there would be little or no net new retail sales growth, since retailers outside the trade area would correspondingly lose sales volumes".
He goes on to cite other instances of the devastation a large superstore could cause. He advises that advocates for business need to be asked what businesses are they advocating for - giant corporations or local small businesses? He says, "Nationally we accept the idea that small businesses are job creators. Why does this change for local retailers in Southern California?"
Why do we see that disparity here in SoCal? I'm no politician, so it's a mystery to me. Local, independent businesses have been proven to be the drivers of job creation, innovation and the lion's share of economic development in cities and towns across the county. I can only imagine the economic stimulus these overreaching corporations get from our local, state and national government, without making good on their promises to stimulate the local economy. But there it is, happening around us every day. Read up on SB 469, and please vote to keep your communities unique and vibrant - choose small business over big box business!
This has been a public service message from Webster's Fine Stationers - thank you for reading!
Each one of our communities across our nation face a huge challenge today. That challenge is keeping our neighborhoods - the place we live - unique and vibrant. There are too many places in the United States that could be moved from one area to another and no one would be able to tell the difference. The same brands, the same styles, the same everything all across the county! Thank goodness that not everyone is content with that.
I'm glad that Altadena is one of those rare places that doesn't want to be a cookie-cutter community. I'm glad that we've kept our independent businesses alive (for the most part), and I'm certainly glad for Altadena's independent spirit! I know that there are towns just like Altadena who are proud of their uniqueness as well, so anyone reading from out of town, I'm sure, can identify with one, hopefully their own. That's great! We need to continue to support those businesses who have woven their threads into the fabric your communities.
The Shops At Webster's are such businesses. Webster's has been part of the Altadena landscape since the 1920s and has seen generation after generation of Altadenans come and go. We're honored, all of us, to be a part of that history. We're also thrilled that we can be part of history in the making. With the renovation planned by the pharmacy and the innovation promised by its new owners, you need look for no further signal that the family's old place will continue operation well into its 100 year anniversary! Scott and I are excited about it all and especially by our contribution to the mix.
As summer winds down into a new fall season, all of the Webster stores are planning some tremendous fun for you and yours! Make sure you keep your eyes out for email communications from us and follow our Facebook page or you might miss out on vital information about cool new food trucks at our Fancy Food Truck Friday events; our very popular wine pairing events; book signings and readings and other community-centered happenings.
We hope to see you soon, and wish everyone a great week ahead!
As I sit here and type, I'm reflecting on the two days Scott and I took off of work because of Carmegeddon. While it was fun to putter around the house we see so little of, we found ourselves antsy about not being there. It's a funny feeling to be away from the business you're running, especially these days, but I'm glad for a little bit of distance. Perspective is good as is planning, and we did some of both this weekend.
As we were discussing the very real need for increased business in our store, Scott mentioned some of the online reviews he's read about Webster's, and the many comments he's heard over the years from the store's customers. He says that the general consensus of opinion about the store was this statement: "If you can't find it anywhere else, you'll be able to find it at Webster's". No matter what "it" was, people thought that you could find it here. He's also heard people sat repeatedly "I went to ____ and ____ and couldn't find it, but you have it!" Scott asked me this question - "Where would Webster's be today if people would've come here first? Why, if in the majority's mind, we carried everything, didn't they come to us first?"
That's a question that isn't simple to answer and is a moot point anyway, as the pharmacy business is owned by a different family now. The aura of the Webster's of old still affects us all today, however. Change is never comfortable, especially with a store that's been in the community so long. One whose cachet was fading, maybe, and one who was a last resort shopping destination, but was one who was still there - safe and predictable.
Now the game's changed and the store is not the same as it was. Times have changed, as we all know, and shopping habits are in flux. The wholesalers who supply what our old store offered are getting more and more difficult for small, independent retailers like us to work with. The minimum purchase is getting higher and their short terms are not negotiable. Some small office supply and business product manufacturers have gone out of business altogether, which gives the impression that we've chosen not to carry that item anymore. All of this together doesn't exactly smack of confident retailing and our dwindling sales are proving it true - you can't sell it if you don't have it.
All of us here at Webster's need your support, because all of us want to be strong enough to support you, the community. With the anticipated revitalization of the pharmacy, we are placing our hope in your continued goodwill and trust. Trust us that we intend to bring you the very best shopping experience we can. Both Scott and I are working with Michael and Meredith to support their efforts to accomplish this because we believe. We believe in ourselves, our crew and our talents. Let us show you what we can do - be a supporter of positive change and tell a friend about us! Your good word of mouth is more powerful than a thousand dollars worth of advertising, so go tell someone about us or share this post - we deeply appreciate it!
As America prepares to celebrate Independence Day, communities nationwide are using the occasion to celebrate independent businesses that provide opportunities for personal freedom, local self-reliance and form the backbone of most local economies. Running from 7/1/11 to 7/7/11, WFS salutes all our brothers and sisters in independent businesses!
Public education is at the core of Independents Week. “Where we choose to spend our money plays a vital role in forming the character of our communities,” said Jennifer Rockne, director of the American Independent Business Alliance (AMIBA). By patronizing locally-owned businesses, we not only can get competitive values, but create more opportunity and wealth within our communities. "The events also help inform government officials", Rockne says. “Many elected officials aren’t aware their hometown businesses provide far greater local economic benefit from each sales dollar than chains. Our role is to help them make more informed decisions.” If you ever have questions in regard to this subject, please feel free to contact us, we'd be happy to provide you with information!
Scott and I hope you have a fun-filled Fourth of July! Remember, next Friday evening is our Fancy Food Truck Fridays event, with star truck Ragin Cajun Make sure to check for the event notification in our newsletter going out this week and on Facebook! Our next Wine Pairing event will be held on Saturday, July 16th. Our theme this month is in honor of Bastille Day, so we'll be pairing French wines with some tasty French-inspired cuisine. Stay tuned to our Facebook page for further information!
My country, 'tis of thee,
Sweet land of Liberty,
Of thee I sing;
Land where my fathers died,
Land of the pilgrim's pride!
From ev'ry mountain side,
Let freedom ring!
Our fathers' God, to Thee,
Author of Liberty,
To Thee we sing.
Long may our land be bright,
With freedom's holy light;
Protect us by Thy might,
Great God, our King!
