Vision

    I'm back!  I know I said I'd post during my vacation, but I didn't.  Bad Vanessa.  The trip to Chicago was certainly a whirlwind.  We stayed with two of our best friends and had a great time.  Lots of food, drinks, friends, and family.  I tend lose all structure when I'm away from home, and this time was no exception.  Not that I have all that much structure at the house, but it's just easier to get things done at home.  Now that things are settling down it's time to get back to working on the store.
    I have a class coming up this month that will teach me all I need to know about registering the business.  I hope to have Powder Boutique all registered and official by the end of this month!  Another goal for this month is to narrow my vision for the store. 
    At Christmas I found it kind of hard to articulate to family and friends exactly what I see for the store and the kinds of things I want to sell.  Basically, my idea is for the store to have a "Colorado" vibe.  I loved living in Colorado and I loved the people, so I want to bring those memories and atmosphere to Alexandria.  I'm not necessarily going to carry things that one would wear in Colorado, rather I would carry things that remind me of the lifestyle: laid back, comfortable, functional, and active.  Alexandria is lacking a store like this, so I feel like it's the way to go.  
    As for the interior of the store, I want it to be done in natural colors.  Exposed brick would be ideal, but we'll see if a space with brick opens up in my price range.  I want to incorporate a lot of large, wooden tables and hutches to display clothing.  The walls will be a cream color, and there will hopefully be a lot of natural light.  I'm going for "Colorado," but not Western or kitschy.  Like the clothes, I want the mood in the store to be comfortable and functional, not cluttered and loud. 
    Since customer service will be one of my biggest concerns, I'll be bringing the laid-back Colorado approach to that too.  I want to be accommodating and helpful, but not at all pushy and certainly not hovering.  I hate that!  I never buy anything from stores where it feels like I'm being watched like a hawk.
    So that's that.  I have some more ideas and I really need to get to work on narrowing them down,  but hopefully this will give you an idea of what I'm trying to accomplish.  Does anybody out there have any suggestions?  Anything you love or hate about a store?