January is always a quiet month at Blue Windows. You go from having all your regular customers come in at once in December to hardly anyone at all. December is the best time of year! I get into a bit of a funk after the Holiday rush is over. I miss the constant flow of people and energy they bring. Then something happens after a couple of weeks of quiet. I get a surge of energy and my creative ideas begin to become overwhelming. I immediately want to change everything! You can ask any of my employees. I get like this every year. I organize, read magazines, plan window displays for the year, patch and paint, clean and start slowly buying for the store again. This year is a bit different. Among all of those things I’ve finally succumb to facebook, a website and blogging (which I prefer to call journaling). I’m excited for the year ahead. Although times are still tough I feel confident in the year 2010.
The best decision I made for 2010 was when it became very clear to me that I needed to give back. I truly needed to do this for my personal sanity. I was beginning to focus way too much on money (the lack of it) and how poorly the store was doing. I realized how lucky I was to have a store on 2nd St and how for five years I never really took advantage of the positive impact the store could make on the community. This month we chose The Long Beach Rescue Mission for our charity. They provide comfort for so many people in our community. Not only do they provide a place to sleep but they provide the help needed for rehabilitation. Second chances are important so through the month of January 10% of the store’s profits will be donated to the Rescue Mission. I’m excited to see the growth in the store and myself through this challenge.
Heather