The Building of A Brand

Welcome to my blog! I thought it was time that I start sharing my experiences and my testimony a little every week as my family and I go about turning Sophie Grace Maui into something that we can leave to the next generation. I will post new designs and future events of course. But what I hope this blog accomplishes is something a little more personal for those who read it. This is my story of being a Mom, a wife, a business owner and failing to do it all but learning and loving along the way.

Showing posts with label New Location. Show all posts
Showing posts with label New Location. Show all posts

Tuesday, November 2, 2010

Details


So just a little advice to anybody thinking of opening a store on Maui. Unless you have the previous tenant transfer the electrical into your name, or allow you to transfer the electrical to your name, then you will owe the electric company a $500.00 deposit to get the lights turned back on. EVEN if you were a previous customer in good standing. So yes, I am now $500.00 over budget and I haven't even started yet!

And yes the chandelier is coming out of storage. My husband was thrilled to learn that he would have to remodel the ceiling to make it happen.

And the hard work begins!


When it comes to commercial real estate it's always a game of hurry up and wait. I signed the lease over a week go but had to be patient while we waited for the previous tenant to vacate. It was weird signing the lease this time around. It's the first time that I have done that without Greg by my side. And it wasn't because he wasn't on board. It was just that we had already done this several times before and I didn't realize that I was breaking a tradition until it was actually happening. It made it kind of bitter sweet for me. From now on Greg will just have to be there no matter how busy we are.

So anyway, on Friday we were handed the keys and became official Paia tenants! We still have so much work to do but are trying not to rush ourselves. It's always been a push before to open by a certain date. But this year we don't have another rush until Christmas, so we have some time. So far on the list is paint the outside of the building, add a patio, plaster the inside, take out the drop ceiling, add some vintage wallpaper and make a whole lot of jewelry. Greg started on Saturday and is already exhausted! Thankfully though we are blessed to have friends willing to get dirty.

I won't post all the before photos until I have some after photos. But I couldn't resist this one of Sophie standing at the front door while we were doing the walk through. I hope that one day when she is all grown up that she can look at that photo and know that we were doing it all for her.


Saturday, October 23, 2010

Almost There...

I just got an email from the realtor with my new lease attached. 24 pages to read through. Hopefully I can get through them all and sign on Monday!

Wednesday, October 20, 2010

How On Earth?

I'm a little bit overwhelmed with the idea of a second location. I'm not worried so much as curious how on earth I'm going to make that much jewelry? I think that it's time to start hiring reinforcements. I love the concept that I hand make each piece, I think that my customers do too. But I have to accept that at some point that is no longer realistic. I guess that my biggest concern is quality control. Each and every piece is a love affair for me. How can I expect somebody else to be that passionate or detailed with my designs?