One of the absolute best things about having a consignment, resale, or thrift shop is that we can change our minds, our focus, or our philosophy almost instantly. And the best shopkeepers keep their minds alert to learning new things.

I was cleaning out my computer files the other day and ran across this message from Glenda Polak, owner of CapriceWest in Edmonton, Alberta. I’d asked our Sharers over on the Too Good to be Threw web site what they’d learned, first-hand, early on in their business careers, things they’d read about in the Manual but not truly grasped until they saw it in action for themselves. Here’s what Glenda said:

In my first store I spent a lot of money on decorating and trying to create an ambience which was nice but I soon realized that

having decor items in the store that were not for sale was taking up valuable selling space

…a waste of potential selling dollars. Now everything in my store is for sale …..for a price! And I only buy new decor items for the store if they will help me sell stock…e.g. something to display jewelry on/in etc.  — Glenda

Glenda’s shop (see her listing at HowToConsign.com and click on her live link) is now famous for its diverse, well-loved special events. She was kind enough to share with us how these events help build her mailing list and her shop’s front-of-mind position with fashionable women in her city. Glenda’s essay is in our Free Articles Archive in the GROW section on TGtbT.com.