funny

too many of my posts were labeled 'ugh' i just noticed. that would be the winter sales thing.

so far - february was the best month (!) january the worst, and march is turning out to be in the middle. it is now sunny and even if the sales aren't big, the weather helps a LOT, at least for me, in terms of outlook. being warm enough to get away from the space heater and actually walk around the store, redo displays etc probably helps too. keeps it lively.

i have a ton of bags and clothes, i hope it moves. i have strayed from the housewares thing somewhat but am trying to bring it back. it just seems there are a lot more of me-buyers (i need a purse today!) than say wedding gift shoppers. but i love my regulars who pop in to check out the new stuff, and it is doubly cool to see them sporting jewelry/bags into the store.

i am starting to get denied by vendors who sell to others in the area. that's a whole other post. i have had to do my first 'deny' (but politely i hope!) for a line, but the other store is 2.5 blocks away and we both sell housewares and are modern and it's too close. i am on good terms with them so i hope it's alright, they have other lines i love that they have had for years so i think we're even :)

taxes pretty much figured out, god bless startup expenses! also i now have a expenditures ledger (in excel) which is so stupid and simple and yet, i didn't have one last year. now i have to enter the first 3 months of 2006 into it, but then i'm up to date. another project.

- expenditures
- make a outdoor sign
- make new stickers
- plan a mother's day event
- plan for father's day/ 7th ave street fair
- pay bills
- more products online
- send out press kits
- buy products for father's day
- plan what i want for holiday (!)
- etc

note to self

remember this for next year: save up some money for March! quarterly sales tax payments are due, income tax is next month, and then there's paying for all of the spring clothing and new stuff at the shop. February was deceptively good but March is slow getting off the ground. sock some money away somewhere for the quarterly sales tax (since it includes holiday sales) as that is the final straw, really...