What it was like starting our small business

      Today marks 7 years since the day we opened our doors. 
I began this blog 2 years ago and struggled with myself of what to say and what not to say. So…here I go now. 

     On May 5, 2018 I opened the doors to only have to close them 5 days later. Due to on-going litigation's, we could not sell anything but flowers. All inventory in the shop was considered “hands off” to customers. 
Wow…it was hard. 
Now was the time to tape up the windows and revamp the shop. We quickly painted the entire shop, scraped up the work floor, which took days & days, pulled up carpet and laid new flooring. Painted all the cabinets in the workroom. Cleaned out all the cabinets and reorganized. It was so exciting but so scary also. No foot traffic kept us from making relationships with new customers.
     In early August all the inventory was removed and put into a trailer to be auctioned off at a sheriffs sale. Of course, I got it back.  Yes, I got it back in 6’ high piles thrown into the garage and back storage area. They were to have returned the inventory exactly where it was when they removed it. We lost, (either not returned or broken) many dollars in inventory to see no compensation. What else could we do but unpack and start over again?  
We were finally in full control of everything. What was another week of no business, right?  

On to our first big holiday. 
Fall has always been my favorite season so l really dove into the beauty of the season. Cooler days, beautiful colors, amazing smells and the blessed Thanksgiving time with family. 
July of 2018 was my first market trip. Off we went to Atlanta. That was the most overwhelming thing I have ever experienced. To all you people that have this idea of this being fun, let me enlighten you a bit. 😳 I had a budget, I had a previous owner with me to guide me. 
At her suggestions, I purchased and purchased. Neither of us knowing how hard this was going to be to get her customers back after the “in between owner” had damaged the business substantially. 
After 6 days at market and me saying…I want to put my own stamp on this business of ours, I said…I’m done!!! No more. No more calculator, no more figuring  price points, no more walking, no more, no more, no more!  I felt completely terrified and defeated at that point. I had one last night before I could get back home and try to assess all the crap going through my head and to try to calm the heart palpitations I was experiencing. What was I doing?  What was I thinking?  I needed someone to help work with me that had experience. I was blessed to bring back three employees that had worked there. Yah!  This was a God send. I understand how hard this was for them. I’m 100% positive they are the reason Lavender Market is still alive!  Thank you, Val, Diane & Claudette! 
I do know that I drove each of them crazy with my new ideas and changing up things on the fly. Sorry ladies and thank for sticking with me to get me through.