Most consignment, resale, and thrift shopkeepers plan to stay in business.
Or at least, they plan not to go out of business
Or at least not until they’re ready to move on for personal reasons.
And if, indeed, a shopkeeper can foresee the day of her/his exit, there are usually plans to maximize the day-to-day business as well as the possible selling value of their business.
It’s way too easy to get caught up in the minutiae of daily quirks, problems, and irritations of our business, when we have not only customers, but also suppliers to deal with. Resale shopkeepers have double… or more!… the personal interactions than do “real” shopkeepers, and sometimes these interactions can distract from business grooming and growth. If you have any doubts, visit an online Facebook discussion group, where resale shopkeepers vent their day-to-day annoyances with great passion. More passion, sometimes, than a minor incident would seem to provoke.
No one ever said resale is an easy business.
But it can be a lot easier if you operate your shop for the long term, rather than allowing the heat of the moment to influence the course you take. So when you’re tempted to spend time and brain space over that consignor who just doesn’t get it, perhaps your business would be better served if you
review, refine, and re-direct yourself and your energies to what will make your shop better on down the road.
And may it be a long and winding road for you.
Some simple points here about long-term business thinking.
The Business Valuation Kit will help keep you focused on building value as your business proceeds.
Well said. It’s easy to get caught up in a moment. We will always have things that pop up that frustrate us but they will pass. If we can move on with a clear head it will set us up to handle a similar situation in the future even better. It’s bound to happen again and we’ll be more prepared next time.
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That’s a terrific way, Lynne, to look at these wrinkles in our day… as a way to practice how to deal with it next time! I like the way you think!
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Thanks, Kate – for the reminder to look up and see the big picture. I sometimes find that I’m so concentrated on the task at hand that I don’t keep my goal in site.
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Hey, we all do that Jan, forget our goals in the heat of the moment. Otherwise, would cupcake stores thrive? 😉
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