So yesterday, as you have already gathered if you didn't already know, was my birthday. I've done the math a few times and it turns out I'm actually YOUNGER than I thought. ::Assuming this IS an even-numbered year, which I've checked several times to ascertain!:: So "Yay, me! For being younger than I thought!"
I also took my first REAL steps towards publicizing and networking Halcyon Escapes. I really do think I should rethink that name... Sorry, I digress yet again. Anyway, I was a guest of my friend Liz of Lizzie Bizzie Cleaning at her Corona Chapter of LeTip yesterday.
I put a lot of time and effort into this first foray toward publically announcing my business and it helped that I was heading into a group of "friendlies"; businesspeople I've met and worked with before with a prior business. Even knowing that I was meeting with friendlies and that had I shown up wearing a housecoat with nothing in my pocket but two business cards, I would still have gotten a warm reception.
But that was just it. I didn't want just a warm reception. I feel I truly "failed" at my last business. And I don't mean as a personal failure, the mere fact that I had tried a business considering the state I was in, was in itself, at least to be commended but in all honesty should be applauded. But it failed on a monumental level financially. You see I tried to run and jump hurdles before I learned how to walk.
I went into that business feeling like since I had been doing the same type of sales since High School, I could easily do it again only this time without the storefront...or the authentic fine jewelry. I studied my ass off (just as I've done for this business, but in a much different way) and I did the best I could, but without people to host parties and only being able to call upon your friends so many times, I thought I'd up my game. So I took out a small business loan and I bought the entire new season's jewelry and a laptop. Yes, I did dream big, didn't I?
You know the problem with seasonal fashion retail? The seasons CONSTANTLY change. By the time the next catalog came out a good quarter of my inventory was relegated to the "out of inventory" bin--or in some of the happier cases, to my daughters or my jewelry collection. The portion of which, I'm sad to say is pitifully low. So in the very near future, there'll be a yard sale at my house and expect there to be a bunch of Stella & Dot Jewelry for sale.
So here I had taken out this loan and did all these stock improvements, I even went to an event near San Francisco for a weekend to build skills and enthusiasm. I joined LeTip, a networking group, and the Corona Chamber of Commerce as an Ambassador. I was convinced with all the networking and getting myself out there and my self-assuredness that I couldn't possibly fail selling jewelry. Then the next season came, I couldn't afford to by new stock. Not that it mattered, you see, because of the four or five parties I did, only one made any money and that was a charity gig with literally hundreds of people there. The rest, I'd throw the party and one person would show...at the very end of the afternoon. She may or may not buy anything because the hostess told her the booking didn't close for some time so she could take her time with the brochure. Thanks! I literally had parties that cost me money. A hostess gift and a raffle gift. Yes, how to sell retail and come out negative.
So to say I was hesitant to start a business again would be an understatement. When you try something and give it your whole heart like I did and it implodes so violently, you tend to get a little shy. It took a lot for me to get back out here. But here is where my heart says I was meant to be. Sure I still get thrown a curve-ball or two and wonder if it's something I can or can't do, and then I remember I belong to a Host Agency, and they'll help me find the right way. That's another thing, I feel like everyone supports everyone else's success. That's a nice feeling.
Anyway, I decided that if I was going to walk back in LeTip with my head held high, I was going to do it feeling prepared to the nth degree. I put together "almost" professional looking packets. I brought the pictures from the cruise and the professional pictures of the ship, I also had gifts should the meeting get fun. I dressed nicely, yet comfortably. And the meeting began. I think I did pretty well introducing myself, I mean, I've known who I am for a long time, that's easy to talk about. Then I was asked by the Chairwoman if I had been greeted and made to feel welcome. The wiseass in me just couldn't help deadpanning "no, not a single one of ya rat bastards even said hi!" which brought everyone a laugh. Then of course I responded as I truly felt. Next came what I'd been dreading: my 30 second commercial....
I started it off with a little whimsy by explaining how I came to be a cruise travel agent. Actually I explained that it chose me, I didn't choose it. I explained it's a passion and it's something I truly love and someone recognized it in me and how happy I am that he did. Then I probably said something completely ridiculous just to get the room light again. My knees stopped shaking about twenty minutes later. But I did it!
I think the folders went over well and I heard more than one person say how much they would like to take a cruise. I also like that I was able to carry quite a few of the folders in my rolling jewelry case, but if I'm ever to do a mixer, I'm going to need something much larger that rolls easily. There are some tweaks which need to be made for sure, and I'll be working on that when I can leisurely get out shopping again. But all told, my day was a success.
Now I've got some research to do for a couple of clients. Have a great day all!