V, is very very extraordinary

The Love Edition of "The Girls'" are here, straight from the land of Sugary Pink. They'll be at the shop in February. (And are always available online if you miss the Market's open dates.)

The Love Shack feels like the perfect place for these two to stay while they're visiting. They'll play music and sing at the top of their lungs. Should fit in pretty well around here.


L is for the way you look at me

O is for the only one I see

V is very, very extraordinary

E is even more than anyone that you adore can

Organization..What?

Two days in a row? Don't fall over. I'll make this quick.

I received these today. January at the Market focuses on you and your home. You know-after you take the Christmas tree down, your house just feels blah and so do you. My original intention was for these to be with the pretty office supplies to help you organize bills, photos, and whatever miscellaneous crap accumulates at your desk.

Then, an aha went off in my head after I found a necklace while I was looking for tape in my junk drawer.

The perfect jewelry organizer. I tacked this to the wall in my closet and now I can see what I have. It's made of wire so the little curly frame bends to accomodate for the chunky bracelets and the rings open really wide for the big baubles.

The reoccurring theme of pearls, charm necklaces, rhinestones, and beads. I really need to branch out one of these days.

One more unrelated picture---scraps of textured wallpaper? Yeah, it makes the prettiest wrapping paper.

Secrets of a Shop Owner

What do The Urban Market, Lillians, Moon Goon, The Shop Around the Corner, and Real Deals all have in common?

First, in my biased opinion, they are all shops owned by driven, creative, retail savvy women who have a desire to own their own businesses and share their visions with others.

The other commonality is that they are all Occassional Shops. A what? Yes, let's talk about it.

An occassional shop is literally, just that. A store that is open occassionally. It's not as simple as that since most occassional shops have dedicated hours and days that they are open for business. So maybe we should rename them, "open on the first weekend of the month and random special events throughout the year" shops. Since that is a mouthful, we'll stick with what we have.

I'm fortunate that those of us in this little town who own these curiosity shops, work together to promote, grow, and bounce ideas off of each other. Since I can't speak for them, the rest of the secrets are strictly from my point of view.....

If you shop at any of these stores or have them where you live, you've probably been either frustrated or curious at how and why we do things. I'll clue you in-I'll share.

1.) Why aren't you open all the time? I want to shop at your store but you're always closed when I'm in town.

I have a full-time job in addition to running the Urban Market. The "occassional shop" business model works with my life. It gives me the stability and benefits of a full-time job but allows me to pursue a dream without giving up the security of a guaranteed paycheck. The "occassional model" is traditionally a store that changes each month. The inventory changes, the aesthetic changes, it's all about being fresh and new. To completely change a shop (and find the time to sleep, eat, and have a life) into something new each month is impossible to do when open every day.

The newness is the best part. Each month, the store morphs itself into something it wasn't or didn't have the month prior. It's exciting for you as a shopper and really for me,as a business owner, to completely recreate myself each month. There are stores open every day that you know what they have, who they are, and what they offer. At our stores, you need to get there early, get there often because you just never know what we'll have. We serve a different purpose than an everyday shop. You know it's always new, its always there for a short period of time, and it's always something different. Diversity makes the world go round, right?

2.) How can you make money being open just a few days a month?
Well, retail in general is probably not a business you would select if you wanted to be rich. Especially with the economy the way it is today. So although not striking it rich, the shop is able to sustain itself. I may be only open to the public a few days a month but what you don't see behind the scenes is that I am peddling my wares elsewhere, hosting events, negotiating prices and margins, finding artists who will consign with the Urban Market and a whole lot of etc. to create revenue lost by only being open a few days a month. I'm still new so I'm learning everyday how to manage this but it can be done.

Think of it this way--How many times do you go to Target in a month? Let's say you go 3 times and each time you spend $50. It's $50 each time, but for the month you have spent $150. What if Target were only open once a month? You would probably stock up and spend $150 in one day to get everything you needed because you knew you couldn't go again until the next month.


It's not for everyone and for some, it just doesn't make sense. For others, it's entertainment, the thrill of the hunt, the unique nature of the items we carry. I love the change, my customers who pop in monthly, the idea that I can have my cake and eat it too.

Lookie Here...

Lookie who's little shop made the local paper?

My little elves (a.k.a Stacie and Debbie) and I also got our photos in the "Friday Fun Facts" newsletter for the Chamber of Commerce.

We had a great day--thanks to everyone who visited, shopped, supported, wore your boa, and helped make it a fantastic Saturday! (I'm still finding feathers around the shop.)

Help Wanted!

Holy Hannah, I need some help!

Looking for a personable, upbeat person to help at the Urban Market during the Holiday season.

Duties include customer service, merchandising, pricing, and overall management of the shop in my absence.

Hours may vary but I'm really in need of one (or two people 4 hours each) to man the shop on Thursdays from 9 to 5 twice a month with weekend hours available. $10/hr to start.

If you could use some extra Christmas cash, and would like to work in a fun and fabulous environment, please click here to fill out the application.

I would like to fill this position in the next few weeks so don't hesitate if you're interested. Use the contact me button on the right if you have more questions.

Sunday. Again?

I love great packaging. I have purchased something (many somethings) strictly because of it. It's sick really...

Today, for an example. I was "expecting more and paying less" and this caught my eye. The "aholic" part of this purchase is that I don't particularly like the scent of lavender. But boy, is the label fantastic. (And it looks so chic sitting on my bathroom counter.) See? It's a sickness.

I have a whole Google reader folder devoted to lovely packaging. I also have one filled with DIY projects for me to do in my spare time. I felt compelled to share one that uses both---diy and great packaging.

Amy, at Eat, Drink, Chic is one talented Aussie. She created this label (oh, there goes my pulse again) for a great DIY present. Instructions, the labels, and where to find the supplies are included in this post. I would love to receive this as much as I'd love to make it.

On the Urban Market front, I have been replenishing inventory (it really is a never ending search for the holy grail), I'll share some in my next newsletter. Oh, you don't get the newsletter? Shoot me an email and I'll add you to the list. It includes the Market's hours, a sneak peek at new products, a diy project, and whatever else strikes my mood--only for Market vip's, of course.

One of the challenges of being an occassional sale shop, as you would guess, is getting people to A.) know you even exist and B.) know when you're open.

I googled and googled to find cheap (I mean, affordable) yard signs and couldn't find anywhere that didn't make you order a mongo quantity of them. So, I settled on Vista Print to help me communicate when the Market was open. I was pleased with my artwork, I hope they look this good in real life. More importantly, I hope they catch your eye when you are driving. No accidents please, but a "Hmmm, I need to check this place out."

Oh, I also updated the "Shop Online" part of the website. I decided I would test it out and use Big Cartel for now-it's a shopping cart program. I'll list a representative of 5 items each month and see how it goes.

The Urban Market's next open dates are 8/6-8/8--if you are in the area, look for the new signs, tell me what you think. If you're not, you can visit the Market online.

Have a great week!

Sunday, the 5th. When did July appear??

I hope you all got to relax a bit this holiday weekend--and unlike me, I hope the pall of Monday is not ruining the last few hours of sunlight on an otherwise perfect day.

One day, I promise I will appreciate any new day given to me (even a Monday)--I think I need to reread "A New Earth" and put life into perspective again.


I did do handstands in the lake with little mister (whom I swear has grown 3" this summer), went on a road trip with little miss to scope out the occassional shops in Buffalo, went to "The Proposal" and laughed while big mister did not, did laundry a little, and got a little too much sun.

I also painted a little:



and sewed a little:

These are vintage feed sacks that I found at an antique shop in Eden Valley (where?). I love the colors, the stains, the holes, and the patina of these old things.

I also unpacked a new shipment of goods for the Market-I'm in love-again. I wish I could link you to some smell-o-meter. These babies are divine and the packaging well, the graphic whore in me is sated. This one happens to be my favorite. Tokyomilk Perfume---read about it here or buy it at the Urban Market-we're open this weekend.! See you there!

Hours:
Thursday 7/9..............5-8p.m.
Friday 7/10.................Noon-8p.m.
Saturday 7/11.............9-5p.m.

22 Days Since the Last Time

Ok, I know..it's been 22 days (what!?) since my last post and I apologize..bad, bad, blogger. I've been completely preoccupied with the shop, with the value exchanges going on in my life, with finding the perfect merchandise, with being the perfect mother, with trying to balance all of these priorities.

You've read it here before, but when I feel overwhelmed-I stop working. I shut down.I do nothing. This includes blogging with a shitty attitude.

I'm better today-I started small and just did the tasks. Amazing how one step at a time really works. Do they have AA for anxiety? I'd be a perfect candidate.

The market really has three purposes- two of which we are delivering on; offering trendy, affordable goods and supporting independant artists.

The 3rd and most important but sadly the most overlooked is; to find and feed what is inside us.

We are all creative on some level-the Market should be a place of inspiration. A place to feel some excitement to create. To create something, anything.

The supplies to create something concrete are there but somehow they just don't fit. They don't make sense. Making sense out of this area is #26 on the list of to-do's.

I'll start small (like here).

1. letter d, 2. Paper Pulp Letters with Sewing Pattern Decoupage-6 Letter Word, 3. CTMH Black & White Letters for My Craft Room, 4. Paper Mache Letters, 5. Altered DREAM Letters, 6. 7/365 - Love


The Urban Market sells papier mache letters. They beg to be made into something-to be altered, to be customized. They are literally $2/a piece. $2 art? Are you kidding?

I haven't had the time to make any examples so I found some help from some Flickr elves who get it. The above artistas can offer some "Letter" inspiration.

Image from Miss Minnie via Fat & Sassy

Ironic, as I was pondering this post, that I ran across a tutorial from another insanely talented blogger who has layed out a step by step how-to for these $2 fabulous finds.

Get going, make something.

I'll leave you with this thought... Step #1 for Anxiety Anonymous members-good advice for everyone else.

1. mouthwash

Progress and a Peek...

While my sign is being approved and made, I needed to hang something up so my artist friends who visit know where I am. (Too bad it was 9:30 at night when I tried to snap this shot.)


The Market is a place of "craftivity" and inspiration and well...a handmade sign just seemed to serve these two purposes. Something a little more "professional" will soon grace the front of the building. For now, it keeps me grounded in what I'm trying to achieve.



The ceiling is now finished (except for the real lights that need to get hung) but it feels much less like an office and more like my imagination. A bit cavelike but hopefully the real lights and the chandeliers will brighten the place up. Thankfully, the people who have entered thus far can see the potential.



I promised you a little peek, just a little one. I'm still drooling over these baubles. Seriously, I want every single one.

Handmade anything is special to me because of the stories behind them. We all had a reason, some spark of imagination, some creative urge that made it out of us. These items come from somewhere deep, somewhere a factory just can't replicate.

This artist, the jewelry designer from above, gets it. Not only some fabulous pieces, but a story too. See that little gold disc in the center of the photo, it's inscribed with a latin phrase...yes, well if you didn't want it before, you'll want it now.

Her description:
"Qu’hier Que Demain

In the early 20th century, the phrase “more than yesterday but less than tomorrow” from Rosemonde Étienette Gérard’s (1871–1953) poem "L'éternelle chanson" ("The Eternal Song") became a popular expression of growing love.
"I love you more and more each day, today more than yesterday but less than tomorrow. "

This bguides graced my inbox this morning:

“Nothing splendid has ever been achieved except by those who dared believe that something inside themselves was superior to circumstance.”

Bruce Barton (1886–1967) American advertising executive, U.S. congressman

Tell a story, let it out, and be brave.

Some things I should've said in the last week....

Mrs. Possibility, bless her little soul, gave me this advice the other day:

"When you have a good thing, everyone wants to be part of it, everyone has an opinion and everyone would do something different and better. It’s ridiculously maddening. Listen to all if it, leave 90% of where it falls and turn the constructive 10% to your favor. "

I've since printed this little bit of wisdom.....Here's the deal.

I'm horrible at vocally articulating anything. I'm an arm flayler, fast talking, bumbling mess when put on the spot. But give me 5 minutes with my thoughts, a piece of paper and a writing untensil and I can concoct a coherent sentence.

Sometimes my bubbling chatter makes me think that people don't actually understand what I'm saying. They are so distracted by my physical emoting that they couldn't possibly pay attention and actually hear what I'm saying.

So just for the record, doubters-just in case you didn't quite hear me:

A.) The Urban Market is not some 3 hour project I made up one day while sitting on the toilet. I have spent the last 2 years planning and replanning this little plan.

B.) I think I'm pretty smart but even an idiot knows that opening a store requires selling what people want.

C.) The world is in a financial mess. I have based my business model on being both stylish AND affordable. $60 pajamas, no matter how cute, just aren't a good fit.

D.) Please trust me enough to know I have done my research. Please allow me the ability to evolve this process as we go. In turn, I'll try to be more specific.

E.) Before approaching me with your wares, please understand the brand I wish to create. Please research the style of the store, the target demographic. If you're 60 and prefer traditional things, the Market is just not for you. I'm ok with this, you should be too.

For those of you non-doubters, I apologize for making you sit through this. Thank you for getting it and allowing my imagination room to breathe.