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OH SWEET DAY
Oh Sweet Day is a wonderful
co-op shop. Some of my dolls are available for customers to buy in store, located on 72 Main Street, Tuckahoe, NY. Visit
the store. It is a beautiful co-op. Enter, and it is as if you entered a sweet shop, without the sweets. WEDC
WEDC, Women's Enterprise And Development Center,
is where I received my business education. This organization helped me greatly in learnng the power of persevering,
believing in one's work, and having confidence in one's abilities as artist, a writer, or whatever occupation is choosen.
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Wednesday, October 21, 2009
OH SWEET DAY
"When I wake up in the morning love
And the sunlight hurts my eyes
And something without warnin love
Bears heavy on my mind
Then I look at you
And the world's alright with me
Just one look at you
And know it gonna be
A lovely day- lovely day, lovely
day, lovely day"
- Bill Withers
These lyrics of the song made famous by Bill Withers; a song that represents well with Oh Sweet Day. It is a vision Meg King, the owner of Oh Sweet Day, has created for herself and for her new co-op gallery and shop. A vision
that describes her quest in offering the opportunity for local artists, not only to have a place to display and sell
their work, but also to feel comfortable and confident in a shop that cares greatly about them receiving encouraging
exposure in the community in which they live. This is especially beneficial to artists who dare to choose consignment
work, or who are wary of the owner's intentions. These worries are put to rest as they meet Meg King. Meg is a
very hospitable and welcoming individual. But she is a business woman and she tells the artists what they need to know and
is open for dialogue for a clear direction in establishing a good working relationship between artists and shop owner.
Let's enter into Meg's shop, Oh Sweet Day.
When you walk into Oh Sweet Day, it is as if you have walked into
a sweet shop or a candy shop; only without the candy. Everything you see gives you the urge to touch, smell, (even if it's
paper) and taste (be careful, it could be soap). The shop has everything of handmade, and hand designed items. The products
in Oh Sweet Day range from gifts for babies, to tweens, from adults
to elders. It offers choices of jewelry, hand and shoulder bags, scarves and shawls. It also offers collections
of dolls, wood crafts, vintage and metro hats, antique dishes, fancy apparel, aprons, journals, soaps, and more. The
incentive to offer a variety of items was to appeal to different artists and clientele; a different mixture of individuals
that would find something for either themselves or gifts for others.
An assortment of artifacts
was a grand idea for Meg's store, but she received a bit of unconstructive criticism for it. Seeking professional suggestions
on business matters through an online business blog, a reply came from an individual, who had some very unpleasant things
to say in the matter of offering a choice of an eclectic amount of handmade and hand designed creations and artifacts. The
words of the person's response went like this.
"You're kidding, of course! Your mix of
products - from treasures to trash - as well as your price range. all in one store, are not likely to attract many customers.
Unless, of course you position your business as a flea market. I'd rethink the entire project if I were you"
It was upsetting for Meg to have read this, but on the same token it was a decision she had already made.
And although the question she asked did not warrant this response, nor did the opinion, the case of which this individual
had tried to make, became a mute point. The shop has and will continue to have an array of items to offer different
tastes and choices to customers. So in response to this comment, Meg pointed out to this person, that the opinion and
tone was not sound and that the comments were filled with a lack of knowledge in the city she was in and the community in
which she served. She also shared with this person what our parents have taught us. "those of us who were raised correctly know...when you have nothing nice to
say, say nothing at all!"
Although this unknown person verbally mocked her shop,
every time a customer came into Oh Sweet Day
and asked about a specialty item she had, or came to buy a gift for a friend or family member, or an artist who for the first
time looked to displaying his or her work in the shop; feeling comfortable with the business rules and set up that Meg
put forth. Meg embraced this as a confirmation that Oh Sweet Day
is a necessary keystone in bringing to the community a store that can offer a wealth of opportunities for artists
and engage people of all ages with products that bring smiles onto their lips and a song in their hearts. And when
they walk out of the store, thoughts and mind is at peace and the words Oh
Sweet Day - A lovely day, trails on as they go on their way! |
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2009.10.18 |
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