Opened my first store...

DEADTUNES666 · #1 10-22-2009, 04:40 PM

My wife and I have been running a candle company from the internet for the last 13 years and have done fine. We needed to expand from a home based operation, and so we opened up our first retail store in Dickson City, PA. Our Grand Opening was yesterday, and went well, but all the emotional feelings associated with a new venture are in full force. We make a great product, and our internet sales are bigger than ever, but I can't help being a little scared. We've dumped a lot of money into this, and of course I haven't had to "go to work" in over 8 years. This area has not been hit as hard economically due to an influx of New Yorkers and New Jerseyans. I hope we did the right thing, and this is a success, otherwise you guys will be buying all my guitars!!

Just kind of needed to get this off my chest, so thanks for listening/reading or whatever...

skins345669 · #2 10-22-2009, 05:08 PM

Good to hear. Hope it goes well for you

rhildinger · #3 10-22-2009, 05:12 PM

I admire anyone with the balls to open their own business! I'm an engineer / corporate drone myself, and sometimes I long to do what you've done. Best of luck to you, I'm sure you'll do fine!

Regards,
-Robert

smooth55 · #4 10-22-2009, 05:24 PM

Good luck! I'm sure you thought about it for a long time. It sounds like this is just the next step in the progression. I hope everything works out for you. What's the name of your business?

**jono** · #5 10-22-2009, 05:56 PM

Congrats

I wish you all the best with this venture. Now post a link to the store, it's coming up to Christmas and candles make great presents for the ladies who put up with houses full of guitars

IbanezDaemon · #6 10-22-2009, 06:00 PM

Well done!! Wishing you the very best of luck and success with it!!!!!

jem20thlover · #7 10-22-2009, 06:13 PM

Congrats man, I've only had one job where I wasn't the owner in my entire life (manager of a grocery store in my teens), but since then, I've been on my own. From my first Golf shop after high school, to my 10,000 sq foot High Definition production facility now, I'm an entrepreneur all the way.

Congrats to you, and good luck! The retail grind can be tough, trust me I've been there. My brother and I ran a golf shop for 5 years and there was no calling in sick or skipping out of work because it was just the two of us. It can be trying at times, but we made it work. Keep those costs down and keep that internet business going. Also, consider starting a Facebook fan page, as well as a Twitter account. I'm a fan of all the local businesses around me, it's an amazing free tool.

And on a side note, do I really have to be the first to ask if the name of the store is "Serenity by Jan", I mean you are from Scranton anyhow. I guess I'm the only one who watches the office

.

wilch · #8 10-22-2009, 06:41 PM

It's always awesome to hear of hard work paying off and a home business expanding. Congrats and much luck!

Yousef · #9 10-22-2009, 11:00 PM

Awesome stuff man! Make sure you advertise quite a bit and make sure you advertise to your core customers... TEENAGE GIRLS!!! They all love candles.. seriously. So throw up some flyers around the local high schools lol.

Post some pics of the store.

DEADTUNES666 · #10 10-22-2009, 11:38 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by jono

Congrats

I wish you all the best with this venture. Now post a link to the store, it's coming up to Christmas and candles make great presents for the ladies who put up with houses full of guitars

First of all thanks for the words of encouragement. I am constantly second guessing myself with every move! So believe it or not the words do mean a lot...

http://lolcandles.com/

We had a long time internet customer who made the trip up from Texas for our grand opening, and this was a picture she took of my wife and I outside the store.

http://i676.photobucket.com/albums/v...isonbysign.jpg

and our stock room in the back which we allowed her to raid...

http://i676.photobucket.com/albums/v...heback-LOL.jpg

We also have a fan page on Facebook, with some pictures, and other info.
http://www.facebook.com/pages/Scrant...1149307?v=wall

teokiatuan · #11 10-23-2009, 12:08 AM

LOLCANDLES?

lol, great store name d00d

awesome
all the best man!

UV-7-BK · #12 10-23-2009, 03:15 AM

id buy a candle from a dude with a goatee like that!!! LOL!!!
all the very best mate.....rock on!!!!

rob777vdy · #13 10-23-2009, 08:25 AM

good luck with your new venture bro.theres always people buying candles,i buy those scented ones.someone once told me to spray a candle with perfume or aftershave,but its not the same as scented ones.good luck

UV-7-BK · #14 10-23-2009, 08:39 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by rob777vdy

good luck with your new venture bro.theres always people buying candles,i buy those scented ones.someone once told me to spray a candle with perfume or aftershave,but its not the same as scented ones.good luck

i didnt know you were into aromatherapy dude!!

DEADTUNES666 · #15 10-23-2009, 08:54 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by rob777vdy

someone once told me to spray a candle with perfume or aftershave,but its not the same as scented ones.good luck

My advice would be to never spray a candle with perfume or cologne, as they are made up mostly of alcohol which is very flammable/combustible/explosive and not at all conducive to something you are setting on fire...We get all kinds of questions about such practices and it's a very bad idea! There have been people who have tried melting down candles and mixing them with perfume to make scented items and they always end in disaster. Please for the sake of not setting your guitars on fire be careful...