The caption on this FB photo simply said “Remodel is complete…our new backroom work station”
Remodeling? Expanding? Moving? Heck, even just rearranging?
Look how much attention a simple photo of a back room got. Over 10% of viewers “liked” this single, simple photo and almost as many thought it worthy of a compliment. It’s received active engagement for a week.
Just for a single photo of the back room of a shop that most of the viewers have never been in, and will never visit.
What does this tell the wise consignment, resale, or thrift shopkeeper?
People like to be involved.
They’re longing to become a fan, to get the “inside scoop,” to have something to talk about.
They love before-&-after and even during photos. They love hearing the reasons and the results.
They want to be involved. So let them!
Anytime you make a change to your shop, even one as simple as adding a bit of tulle to a corner for homecoming dresses or creating a room vignette with that stunning couch… use this process and your camera to involve your followers, fans and friends.
A move, expansion, or remodel is worthy of a blog that will follow everything from your decision (with photos of why you need to expand; all the great stuff you have!) to making choices (outriggers or wall standards? Mushroom or putty walls? ) to triumphs and setbacks (look at the great brick wall we uncovered? Oh, no, it’s got a FUSE BOX!). People will love it. They’ll follow your comments. They’ll tell their friends. They’ll stop by just to see how things are going.
Heck, they may even have a cousin who’s a designer or plumber or finish carpenter or pick-up owner who’d be delighted to help out.
Remember, if you’re afraid that you won’t have enough to “say” on a blog (huh. I’ve never met a successful shopkeeper yet who found herself/himself tongue-tied on the topic of the shop…) you don’t HAVE to continue a blog… it can be short-lived. Imagine ReDo at ReDecor or ReModeling/ ReUsing at ReStore….
Auntie Kate The Resale Expert 
When we opened Carousel Kids, we had the same problem with the studs. Some of our walls were masonry with no studs at all. We installed an exterior stud laying it over the wall, painted it to match the walls and then installed our outriggers. Have never had a problem with weight…but where I have the dimensional rods, they will sag a bit under the weight. With clothing on the racks it masks the “studs” just fine!
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That is one great idea!! Thank you!
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Speaking of which….do you like outriggers or slot standards better? Will the wall literally collapse under the weight of LOTS of clothes as my mother suggests? My walls have steel studs every 2 ft.
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Eileen, I’d suggest you discuss this with a carpenter… in my limited knowledge, aren’t studs usually 16″ apart? Gee, I wish RIck were around, but he seems to have gone off the grid. Standards are cheaper, and often more flexible re layout and changes… but others could answer this better than I!
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Our steel studs are 24″, but we have a regular wood stud 12″ in-between every steel stud. It looks like the last tenant tried anchoring stuff to one of the wood studs and lets just say that obviously didn’t go well; either they did it wrong or the wood stud is just not in place securely enough to support any kind of load. Just curious which you liked better as one or the other is going up. And we will be using a stud finder. Maurices is using standards, so I might take another look at their store next door.
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We also posted pics of our shop’s makeover and people were excited to come visit and see the “new” shop when we reopened.
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The point of this article is so true. This silly picture got some attention and advertised our auction at the same time.
https://www.facebook.com/niftyvintage?ref=hl#!/photo.php?fbid=10151135738770011&set=o.111323225566066&type=1&theater
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