Family Time

I just got back from a visit to North Carolina, where my parents, brother, and sister live. I flew down late Sunday night after work, and I got home about an hour ago (just in time for work tomorrow!). It was a quick trip but a GREAT trip. I really needed some quality family time, and I am so happy (and impressed!) that we made it happen.

It was also a great opportunity for me to get away from NYC for a couple of days, and a chance to reexamine the stress I've been feeling lately around my business--especially my store. My wonderful dad spent many hours with me over the course of those three days helping me reevaluate my marketing plan and brainstorming some creative new options for my business. He helped me look at everything with fresh eyes--I got a major and much-needed perspective change, which I am very grateful for. I am so happy to have come back to the city tonight with lots of new ideas and excitement--the opposite, really, of how I was feeling last week. Things at my store haven't been working well lately for a variety of reasons, and because I spend so much time there, it can easily feel like the store is all that matters in the world and all that is important to my business.

But as my dad very rightly pointed out this week, that just isn't true. My business is online too, and there is plenty that I can do to make that part of my business better. I am going to be making lots of changes to my website this week, which I am excited to try (and excited for you to see!). I am also planning another look book shoot for sometime in the next two weeks, and I will actually be printing them this time (and even doing a mailing!). I am so glad to have these things on my mind now--things that have nothing to do with my store and how good or bad my sales numbers there are on any given day or week. I really do need to help myself take the pressure off all of these slow summer weeks, and I need to start getting myself ready (and excited!) for fall. I'm on my way!!

And finally: Thank you! Thank you so much to my wonderful family and my wonderful friends for everything you have done and everything you continue to do to help me on this journey. I've said it before & I'll say it again--a small business like mine just can't happen without the kind of ongoing, loving support that I am lucky enough to have in my life. So thank you. I really do know how lucky I am. And one day, I will find a way to pay it forward...