Well, I didn’t really get a summer vacation this year so instead I’ll tell you what I learned at CHA two weeks ago.

The most valuable seminars I took were run by Kizer & Bender. Georgann and Rich are retailing gurus of the highest caliber. What I didn’t realize going into this was that they are also neighbors. Their office is also located here in St. Charles.

The two seminars I took with them were all about appealing to “Generation Z” those wonderful creatures the rest of us call ‘tweens and teens. This just happens to also be my favorite age group of people to work with so I knew I was sure to come away with some great ideas. The Friday seminar was a panel discussion with a dozen actual in the flesh Zeds. We had the opportunity to ask them what they liked and didn’t like in crafts, stores, etc. My only complaint was that the group wasn’t very diverse as far as demographics. Fortunately for me they did match my store’s particular target market but if I had been there from a more rural or urban area I may not have gotten quite as much out of it. The Saturday seminar was more about how to take what we now know about this generation and making it work in our stores. How do we reach them? How do we offer events they’d be interested in?

These seminars were where the idea for the “Twilight Party” came from in a way. We were discussing what was hot with different age groups. I had come home Friday very excited to share with my family what I had learned and I took the opportunity to poll my two in-house Gen-Zeds. Sarah brought up how popular the Twilight series had become in her school and with her peers. On Saturday I brought this information back to Georgann & Rich and it snow-balled from there.

They were so impressed with Sarah’s suggestion they even mentioned it on their blog. So I sent them information about our planned party and they posted that too!

What I’ve also learned this summer is that opening a store and planning cool events isn’t like “Field of Dreams.” You can’t just build it and they will come. I’ve been pounding the keyboard and the pavement trying to get the word out about this event and the business in general all in the hopes that someday the crowds of mythical creatures called customers will find me. I wonder how much rent Kevin Costner had to pay on that cornfield of his?

Whew! For a three day work week I’ve been really busy (good busy!) and it has flown by. My blog posting stats have been weak at best recently but this week will have to suffice with a long week in review post before I head out of here for the holiday.

First of all we had our official ribbon cutting here Tuesday afternoon. Many members of the Chamber of Commerce and other local business people came out to show their support. I was so thrilled to have the mayor, Don DeWitte, attend and do the official ribbon cutting with me. As it turns out, it was like old home week for him. He grew up in the house directly behind the store here and spent his youth running this neighborhood!  
Wednesday and today I’ve been doing a lot of what I opened this store to do; teach people to sew. Yesterday I had two return students that made pajama pants with me last week. This week they came in to make the Amy Butler Birdie Bag pattern. We didn’t quite get through the entire thing so they will be coming back next week to finish up.

Today I had a fun morning doing my part to contribute to “Burgess Camp.” My friend Judy has her 5 grandchildren come for a few days every summer and they do all kinds of fun things together. I was thrilled to be able to offer them a morning of crafting fun. We made fish in a bag soaps and some “dragon tear” magnets. (The youngest grandchild informed me that the flattened marbles are actually “REAL!” dragon’s tears! Who knew?)   

Then to wrap up my week Chris, a new sewer and new student, came in to make her first apron. She is a natural! She chose fabrics from the Moda Christmas selection (25% off for the month of July!) to make her sister a cute hostess gift.  So it is official, Chris is the winner of the first Christmas sewing/craft project completed at My Eclectic Mess 2008! Drop the balloons!!!!

So now I am off for the holiday weekend to spend some time with my husband and kids, probably a large amount to be spent lounging in a pool float. Mini-Me is planning to repaint her bedroom (I think this may count as the 8th or 9th time one of the upstairs/kids’ bedrooms have been painted since we moved into this house 11 years ago!) I would really like to have nothing to do with the entire project but I doubt I’ll get so lucky. Did I mention that the room is currently dark brick red?

Someone please pour me an icy cocktail, I’ll be there in a few minutes!