Climbing Out Of April

Lets be truthful here, April is the hardest retail month of the year for us at HiHo. I'm not sure if it is in actual numbers made, but my expectations are always high and disappointment looms. I get all geared up for the end of the winter blues and think the world will be ready to come shopping again. I order merchandise I'm eager to receive and often told it will be available in May. Customers who do visit are thrilled with the addition of even a few bright color pallets and refreshed displays, but just for looking. It's a tough month, I've never been good at waiting.

People/customers ask all the time "how's business?" Hey it's 2011 and I'm open, right? Sure I want to be busier, grow the business more rapidly, hire more help, give back to the community in bigger ways, but again it's 2011 and we are very happy to be on the mountain and cautiously climbing.

For a while there, the first two years, it felt like we were climbing with ease. We were secure in our footing and could anticipate each move. Well then we like millions of others hankered down hoping the storm would pass. I'm not sure if it has passed or if we are just braver. We are out climbing again, taking risks and feeling more secure about our journey toward the top of the mountain.

The path of a small retailer is both challenging and rewarding. I'm lucky enough to be in a small town that supports my dream. I had the pleasure of receiving a generous complement this week from a fellow entrepreneur, she said to me "it's what you do for the Main Street community, HiHo is part of the very energy that fuels the town." WOW, right? What a wonderful thing to hear while I'm in the middle of my April waiting.
I know other small businesses around the United States are working hard like we are and I feel it's important to recognise that holding on isn't enough, plan your next move, you have a community behind you. Yes, hold on tight, but climb!

My Blog Hat

Like so many woman I know, I wear a number of hats and seem to constantly be putting on new ones. I have hats I wear everyday, like my "mom hat", the "wife hat", "shop owner hat", you get my gist and they fit really well. Seasonal hats are always overwhelming but fun and volunteer hats come and go. I even have been wearing a hat I hate lately, the one of a very concerned friend. However my newest hat might surprise you. I call it my "Rock&Roll Mom hat", it's a big one I didn't pick out. I'm still figuring out what it goes with. {My middle child, my daughter, Aubrey has been spreading her wings and singing with a band.}

I'm aware I haven't been wearing my "blog hat" nearly enough. I have so much to share about the shop, our small town and the family, that it has made it even harder to put it on. So much to write so little time. I will say my "fun friend hat" has gotten a work out too, new friends, time to nurture old friendships and just developing stronger ties. I'm really loving this hat right now.
The holiday season was wonderful at HiHo and at home. January brought an adventure to the AmericasMart Atlanta and the birth of yet another new venture. February has slipped through my figures as I prepare for the Spring changes on our sales floor and the end of another school year. I have tons to share and I promise to put my "blog hat" on more often.

How Long Does Your Best Take?

Do any of really know when we are at our best? We all know those people who were everything in high school, even amazing, liked and admired by every student and praised by their teachers and coaches. I'm not really talking about them, (I like to believe they are well, but no longer amazing, if you know what I mean). I'm referring to moments in time when average people's talents and strengths shine through. When you are in the moment you don't see the best, you see the task. It is in the reflection that the best is recognized.

For weeks now customers have been asking how long it takes to decorate the shop for the holiday season. We reply within two weeks, but really? On reflection it takes a year. It's the time of year that the shop is the best reflection of its self, of me, the staff, the merchandise mix, our community, my family and that takes lots of time.

It is in reviewing past year's photos that I recognized the best of Christmas pasts at HiHo. However the tasks of the past two weeks (the physical labor) with my head down and focused I missed the best of so many. The labor of love, the passion behind my energy and excitement of sharing it with a supportive community, all exhausting, all encompassing and then in one moment it's done and it's the best.

With the Annual Open House done, Black Friday behind us and another calendar year about to begin, I believe, it's bigger, it's better, it's the best and because I am who I am, a "Mom & Pop" retailer to my core, I will believe that next year too.

For now, come out and shop, enjoy the displays, the music, the spirit of the season and reflect on the best of the season. This year's displays really took five and a half years ;)

Through the Customer's Eyes

The shop"HiHo" is nearly completely decked for the holidays. It was not without commitment, planning ,the will to work a stupid amount of hours and most importantly not without an amazing amount of supportive friends and family. Yup, each year we transform each room of HiHo into a fantasy of holiday splendor. These are just some of pictures of when it all began...Bev working overhead. Maggie and Carol decorating the upside down wall tree. Whitney and Cory completed the main room tree. Vicki, Cathy and Brianna tackled the snow trees..Here is a short video that gives you a feel for that evening.

All the merchandise is priced and sorted and ready to go before they all arrive, supposedly ;) The magic was all done in two days and three nights, the trees, the lights, props, even the furniture layouts. I still have not had a moment to take any photos and it has been two weeks since the decorating began and I continue to fine tune it, replenish it and take much pleasure in sharing the labor of love with our customer base. To my delight customers have been photographing the rooms. Their photos give me the opportunity to see HiHo though their eyes, they are very special photos. I thought I would share, this first one is of the Mad Men New Year's Party theme. The Rustic Cardinal/Bird theme holds it's own, with two snowy trees and lots of bird ornaments. We went for a traditional colors mixed with tartan plaid with our Hans Christian Anderson theme. Note the skates in the basket. Bright jewel tones and fruit ornaments are featured in our Canning and Pickling theme. Sweet Dear, a theme I love, lots of pink and flowers. Did you say Chocolate? All faux confections, but still a really yummy theme ;)Our year round Christmas room has been tidied up since these photos were taken, however still fun to see through the eyes of customers. These were all sent to me through the power of our HiHo face book page. I will do my best to take the time this week to take some photos with my camera too.
Yes on this week of thanks I'm grateful , very grateful, for family, friends and the support I continue to be blessed with , while I follow my passion. Happy Thanksgiving.

I'm Not Telling!

Hmm, I guess when I receive a comment on a post that asks where I am, it's time to get blogging....I've been sneaking around in Christmas HiHo ;)

I am in the shop, drawing, planning and plotting, locations for Christmas trees in each of the rooms. Themes are secured in my mind and furniture staging to make room for the trees have begun. Making space for the trees is a must or we would only be able to fit one of Charlie's trees in.

Every year my goal is to top the displays from the year before and of course top the sales from the year before. Balancing between wanting over the top displays and realistic displays customers can relate to. Another conflict is the choices made between what I like and what will sell.....and of course what products have the HiHo look. Although I am slipping some pink Christmas in this year, my favorite. No I'm not going to reveal the themes we have chosen for this years Christmas magic. However I will say this, they are somewhere between over the top and just plain sweet ;)

Friends New & Old

Ahhh, what a weekend. The three day Columbus Day Weekend was a Hudson Valley high. Early morning frost and temps in the low 70's by the mid afternoon. A range of visitors from first timers to locals living less than a block away. The colors were out (although I do think next weekends colors will be better) and we were able to have the door open everyday.

He means HiHo!!

It's an exciting time of year the pace picks up and we also have the anticipation of the holiday sales. The dates have been picked for our annual in house/shop decorating party and our open house. Orders placed in August at the NYIGF need confirmation and tweaking, the room themes for the holidays are being put on paper, and the challenge of topping last years displays are on my mind.

Where do I look for inspiration, energy, even feed back? I'm so lucky to have peers that also own small businesses, from farmers to lawyers. Seeing their passion and commitment to succeed feeds my passion for HiHo.

I don't know what the next two months will bring, but I do know it will be an exciting ride. I will get to visit with new & old friends. It will fuel my enthusiasm for the 2011 and keep my entrepreneur heart beating and believing in my growing business. I thank you in advance for your amazing support of my dream, during this fourth quarter. Go, go, go!!!

Missing in Action

A whirl wind of weeks have blown by. New projects and just plain upkeep of the shop and life.

I've been working on the addition of shopping pages to our web site http://www.hihohome.com/ and I just finished my first HiHo How To Video, http://www.youtube.com/user/HiHoHome?feature=mhum both challenging and rewarding. I hope you take a peek at both.

Mr. HiHo was a wonderful producer, director and camera man, I was a bumbling host. Every segment you see I did at least four times. What you see took two and a half hours in the shop and two hours at home editing. Now to figure out how to promote the HiHo YouTube Chanel? There is always work to be done ;))

We also did an installation of a Tuscany themed photo booth at a charity event....busy, busy.

I hope the elves are preparing the shop for Christmas, because I'm behind ;)!!!