Visionary Investment Partner Program Details ...

Okay, so I had the idea. And after much wrestling with it, we finalized exactly what the benefits to VIPS would be ... I was more than a bit intimidated, however, by the prospect of systematizing it and describing it accurately enough that someone could actually participate. Now, after several days of research, writing, and revision, I have produced an official VIP Membership Program Agreement, and a brochure. Yay me! [And thanks to a certain national retailer whose website includes the full text of their paid membership "loyalty" program agreement.]

As difficult as it is when I do force myself to write about Greater Goods, I am usually pleased with the result. And, I end up re-inspired. I've found that writing about the business [whether for the blog, website, an ad, press release or brochure] forwards an important and on-going process of clarifying my mission and goals. And from everything I read about innovative and [eventually] successful businesses, they consistently review and evaluate how they definte themselves, their purpose, and their vision. I find this process useful to remind myself why I am doing this [I'm certainly not taking a salary], and to make sure that the reality of Greater Goods does not diverge from the vision.

From the [recently written] VIP Program brochure:

What is Greater Goods' mission, anyway?
Greater Goods is a “green” general store and “fair trade” art & craft gallery. We strive to be a globally-minded retail business that is deeply rooted in our local community. Our mission is to provide our customers with high quality merchandise that is ethically sourced and good for people and the planet. We hope that by doing so we contribute to a vibrant local community and a sustainable world for us all.

where to begin?

If I sit here staring at the computer screen long enough, I'm bound to come up with something witty and/or insightful and/or optimistic, right? That was the theory anyway, though it's not yet working...

I was trying to write the monthly store newsletter, but I couldn't seem to find my mojo. To be honest, things look a little bleak around here friends. The economy is kicking our rears -- quite thoroughly. Michal has had to leave the store to find a job with a company that can actually afford to pay her salary, so it's just Karen and I holding down the fort. We have such a wonderful cadre of loyal customers. They still come in to say hello -- and even bring their friends and visiting relations -- but paying $4/gallon of gasoline seems to be taking a huge chomp out of everyone's budgets. No one seems to be buying anything but the necessities. I am still hoping against hope that we'll be able to stick it out ... but I really don't know. If anyone has any brilliant ideas [or any capital they'd like to invest in a much-loved, values-driven retail shop with great vision and big plans], please drop me a line. Or just come by and say hello. We'll give you an organic, all natural lollipop on the house...

What I'm thinking ...

Quiet afternoon in the store. Just dropped my son off at Little League practice [I was so ridiculously full of goofy joy and pride seeing him in his uniform] and am now back for the evening shift. Spent a good chunk of the day getting organized professionally and personally. Our life is fairly hectic right now in general, and we are hosting our extended family for a Passover seder on Saturday evening. Which requires almost as much shopping and cleaning and cooking and baking as Christmas does in many folks' homes.

Trying to keep my spirits up. Business is so sssslllloooowwww. Folks are just not shopping. I hear it from most of the other local businesses as well. I know that stocking grocery and food is the way to go. Making that happen is a bit more complicated though. There are so many wonderful products I'd love to stock! I recently got wholesale buying information from 3 reusable water bottle companies. I am hoping to be able to choose between them and place an order in the next 2 weeks or so. I'm also a big believer in rain barrels, and am trying to find a cost-effective way to supply them to local folks. Last summer was so dry that Purcellville was on mandatory water restrictions for most of the season.

Well ... I'm off to make some more progress on the website.

Later, luvies...

Do I have to?

I’ve been on a certain parenting e-mail list for years. The list is organized around a particular parenting philosophy, and list members are fairly “hard-core” about adhering to it. Most list newbies undergo a fairly predictable process. There is often some defensiveness as she finds some of her parenting strategies and ideas challenged and critiqued. And then, after much back and forth with the articulate and fiercely opinionated women of the list, at some point the newbie dissolves into a pool of maternal guilt as she regrets past interactions with her children. And then a list veteran will console her – and encourage her to move on – by reminding her, “When we know better, we do better.” Meaning of course, “Don’t beat yourself up for the past. But, now that you see that something else is possible, put it into action.”

When it comes to the environmental impact of our modern life: Sometimes I wish I didn’t know better. New habits are hard to adopt, especially as we juggle too-full lives with too many responsibilities. I’m proud that my household recycles most of our waste – the volume of paper, plastic, glass, and aluminum that my husband hauls to the recycling center in town is triple the amount of garbage that the trash company picks up at our house. I’ve finally bought enough reusable grocery bags [and put them in both of our cars] that more often than not, I don’t use store given disposables. We’ve all gotten used to using towels and rags to clean instead of paper towels. What few paper products we do buy – we spend a little extra to buy recycled. And, while we can’t afford it yet, I know that our next car will be a hybrid.

But, oh my. Some of the changes I know I should make… well, they are more challenging. I must be a bit of a masochist. As I count down to Earth Day, I could be blogging about any of the changes we’ve already made. Instead I’m preoccupied with plastic. And now that I know better … well dang it all, I’m supposed to do better. Some of the changes I’ve already implemented. We’ve weaned ourselves off of plastic cling wrap for the most part, and we no longer put any plastic containers in the microwave. [That’s a health issue – as opposed to an environmental one.] But doing without the ubiquitous litre of bottled water? Especially as we move into warm weather? Committing to buying, and then regularly filling and cleaning reusable water bottles? Enough for a family of 6? While we rush pell-mell through boy scout meetings and baseball practice and shopping trips and playdates at the playground? Do I really have to? I really wish I didn’t know better. But the evidence against bottled water– as you’ll see in the next entry I post – is fairly damning. So, I think I’m going to have to give it a go…

Procrastination, Perfectionism and Plastics

It’s 10:30 on Friday night. My head is pounding after a long week. The kids are asleep and my husband is in the other room watching a comedy starring a young and handsome Paul Newman. I’m sure he would be delighted if I joined him given that he’s been traveling all week. [My husband, that is. I’m not privy to Paul’s schedule.] But, I decided that I would post once a day as a countdown to Earth Day and I am determined to do so.

Actually more of an obstacle than my being tired is my own familiar nemesis, the biggest reason I procrastinate or avoid doing anything--my perfectionism. I just spent the last hour reviewing some of the topics I’d like to post about here, and I realized that almost anything that needs to be said on almost any issue has already been said – several times. And it’s usually findable in just a matter of moments thanks to Google. So if I can’t do it first or best or most comprehensively – then why bother? At least that’s what the little devil on my left shoulder says – with quite a bit of a petty pout I might add. And then the little angel on my right shoulder takes a deep breath and reminds me, “The perfect is the enemy of the good.” And I remember that my deal with myself in all this is just to be authentically myself and that doing something is almost always better than doing nothing.

So. I want to tackle one of modern living’s most relied-upon conveniences and one of the environment’s most pernicious foes: plastic. I will not attempt to do so all in one post – especially as tired [and verbose] as I am feeling at the moment. Plastic bags have been much in the news in the last year: China recently banned free distribution of plastic bags at stores, San Francisco became the first city in the US to ban their use in grocery stores, and chic New Yorkers stood in long lines for the chance to buy $15 designer “I am not a plastic bag” totes. Then there was the spate of news about the possible danger posed by plastic baby bottles leaching the toxin bisphenol A. And, as oil continues to hover around $100/barrel, the fact that most plastic is made out of petroleum products should be of increasing concern to everyone.

But plastic is everywhere. And we use it for everything. It’s cheap and convenient. For time- and money-crunched families I imagine plastic products show up – in one form or another – many, many times during our daily routines. To change those routines and create new habits takes effort and we need to feel that such effort is justified. After all, not everyone self-identifies as a “treehugger.” However, after much reading and review, I believe that there are a handful of changes each and every one of us needs to make in terms of how we use plastics. Despite their convenience, there are some plastic products whose environmental cost is severe enough that no one can really justify their continued use.

So this Earth Day I challenge myself – and my community – to wean ourselves completely off plastic shopping bags and plastic water bottles. Additionally, I strongly recommend that people limit their use of plastic wrap and plastic containers to store foods. I also urge folks to consider paying a little more to buy trash bags that are made from recycled plastics. I will blog more in the coming days about why I recommend these changes, and how you might implement them. Finally, I will share what I’ve learned about the development of new, more earth-friendly, plastics. But now -- goodness it’s already midnight -- it’s time for bed.  

reflections on public candor

One of the cardinal rules of blogging is to be consistent. Going a week between posts probably doesn't qualify.

I will warn you that the following post will primarily be personal reflection on the nature of blogging -- so if it that doesn't strike you as interesting, feel free to move along. :)

I know exactly why I didn't post before now. I knew when I started this blog that any attempt to write publicly about Greater Goods was going to be a challenge for me -- I guess that I didn't expect to run into obstacles quite so immediately.

By nature I am a very open person, prone to candor about myself and my inner workings very easily. As I mentioned earlier, I've kept an on-line journal for years -- though I have limited its access to a reasonably small circle of [2 dozen or so] trusted confidantes. [I told you I was open by nature.] And, to some degree, the only reason I am not generally even more open about my journaling [many, many people blog more publicly about their personal life than I have, to be sure] was because I felt so much of what I write about is not mine to discuss publicly. Things about my children, for example.

This blog represents an interesting dilemma for me. On one hand, I am trying to build a successful business. And that requires a certain amount of "marketing" and "salesmanship" and "promotion." Especially as I am in need of customers, investment, resources, support, networking, positive "buzz," etc. If Greater Goods is to stay open and viable, I need to attract more of all of those things. And, obviously, people want to support something -- and someone -- that they think is going to be successful. Someone that inspires confidence.

So what do I do about the inevitable times when I feel dispirited? When I feel a bit pessimistic about or daunted by this venture? [As everyone does about anything at some point, I imagine.] What do I do when I disappoint myself? How candid and transparent and open am I willing to be with the world about my efforts to build this business? And if I am candid about what is difficult, will that negatively impact what I am trying to achieve. Will it become "bad" buzz?

Maybe. Maybe some people will use my self-reflection and candor as evidence that this business will not be successful. Maybe I am breaking all kinds of marketing rules and conventional wisdom about growing a successful business. But, maybe, I am willing to take that risk. Maybe I just want to be able to be honest about what we are trying to do and how we are doing. And even the mistakes I make. Because, when it comes down to it, I am very proud of what Michal and I have achieved so far. I am very proud of the products we've chosen to sell and I am proud of the way we have chosen to interact with the community and our customers. And I'm proud of the vision behind it. So maybe I should trust that those things will speak for themselves -- to the good. And if I choose to peel back the curtain to give people a glimpse behind it -- in all its messiness -- that won't undercut the rest.

Here's hoping, anyway ...

Sat afternoon ...

Ah... the worst of the thunderstorms seemed to have abated and signs of life return to South Loudoun Street. I'm staffing the store until 7:00ish and then I will head out to meet John [Greater Goods' major investor and my husband] for dinner in Frederick.

My goal this evening: Send an e-mail out to local friends letting them know about this blog, the sale, and the opportunity to pre-order seeds at a discount.

Other near term goals for this week:

• Put together a small flier and distribute at other local businesses. It's silly for me not to try to court the folks that do run errands in town. I am certain that many customers at Beauty on Broadway and the Talk of the Town still don't know about Greater Goods, right around the corner. [In the midst of writing this I had a lovely conversation with a woman who was staying at the B&B up the street. I really need to get fliers up there too!]
• Finish reviewing the bank and credit card statements from 2007 so when I meet with Dee [my wonderful new bookkeeper, referred to me by the great women-owners of The Book Crossing] I have more to give her.

As a side note, the last couple of sales I've made today and yesterday all included merchadise that we just ordered and received this week. It's so gratifying when people end up liking what we choose.

Also, I think I get even more pleasure out of selling a $5.00 wooden bangle bracelet, or a $12 beaded necklace than a $50 piece of art. When someone buys a lower-ticket item from me, it means they didn't spend that money at Target or Wal-Mart or TJ Maxx. I certainly don't mean to besmirch those retailers -- I shop at them myself. It's just that the bracelet or necklace in my shop was crafted by an artisan in an impoverished community who got paid a fair wage for their work. So you know that your little impulse purchase is really putting your dollars to the best use. It's not like Target -- or the manufacturers of mass produced goodies -- necessarily need another $10.

Okay -- off to send some e-mails...

later luvies...