Don’t you just love learning about a person’s history? I think it can be so fascinating! We all have had different opportunities, pursued different paths and had unique experiences!
Back in the day, I wasn’t a boutique owner. I definitely admired them and wondered how they got to be there, but my business beginnings were much less beautiful – a bit more industrial. Now I don’t mean that ungratefully at all. My first company is what funded my boutique, so I am most grateful for it! I am also grateful that I had the sense to make a change when I realized what I would enjoy more!
I hope sharing this will help remind you that we all have opportunities to move forward and make small shifts. And those small shifts can have incredible momentum. But in the interim, you will have a real opportunity to practice patience and consistency!
CDVD Mart
CDVD Mart. Try saying that fast, five times in a row. (I heard that a lot…!) That was the name of my first business and was picked to represent the CDs and DVDs that I sold. I took Old Radio Shows from the public domain and copied them onto CDs and DVDs. I also put a nice laser label onto the discs and sold them on Ebay.
My first sale was thrilling! I still remember it! Wow! It was early in the year, and it turned into the first of quite a few! Every few weeks, another would sell. I was on cloud nine!
From what I hear that was still in the “early days” of selling online. I didn’t consider those early days. I just liked the way that I could list something and make it available, and someone would come along and purchase it!
As time went on, I realized that I could also sell my shipping supplies. I read about people buying theirs locally at Walmart or an office supply store, and I knew those prices were higher than what I could offer. So I contacted the people and told them I could sell them for less.
I set my profit margin quite low ($1 per sale), too low really, but somehow things took off! It was incredible! Before long, I was shipping out hundreds of bubble envelopes a week.
Changing Gears
Fast forward seven or so years. Sales with CDVD Mart had slowed a bit and that got me to thinking about what might be next. While shipping out packages, I had gotten to know the mail lady quite well and she would tell me about her cousin. Her cousin owned a clothing boutique and she had started off selling online and things had really taken off for her.
I remember wondering why she got to sell something pretty and girly like clothing, while I sold something industrial and uninspiring like shipping supplies. So one day, I decided perhaps clothing was next for me. Why not, right? Little by little, I began to find suppliers, get the proper licensing, and develop a look completely my own.
To be honest, the process has been entirely different, and I still don’t feel quite there yet. But I am not sure I ever really felt there with CDVD Mart either. Where exactly is there, I can’t help but wonder.
Perhaps there is where you are aiming. And as ambitious people we aim higher than where we are. This is a good thing, for sure, but we should definitely celebrate our victories along the way and not let them get drown out by the fact that we haven’t reached our next goal yet. Because rest assured, once we reach that goal, or even begin to approach it, we will be setting another higher goal and another after that.
Colbert Clothing
I love that I realized that CDVD Mart didn’t inspire me like the thought of selling clothing. With clothing, you can help ladies look and feel lovely, you can encourage them, point out little things to help them feel inspired about themselves, and let’s be real – you get to work with clothing! What woman doesn’t love clothing?!
Some of the things that I love about Colbert Clothing is the classic style and the effortless yet comfortable clothing. When ladies point these things out to me while they are shopping, I can’t help but feel successful. These are my goals, and without being told that, my customers are determining these things themselves!
Switching from selling shipping supplies to selling clothing has been an enormous switch – as in, everything I thought I knew about online selling has been tested. I’ve done far more research, training, and adjusting than I ever did with CDVD Mart, but I believe I am beginning to see the rewards of all that labor! Not as in “ooh, I’m selling out again!“. But as in, I’m finding something that works here and now, so I am employing it – as well as looking ahead and looking for another system that works well.
Here and Now
I share all this, yes, to celebrate that I work with lovely clothing now, but also to tell you it’s okay to make a switch. I’m not sure where you are in life or what you do, but I want to give you permission to be you and permission to shake things up a bit.
A few obvious things that I want to point out here. 1) You don’t need my permission. Sometimes as women it’s just nice to have our sister give us that little nudge we’ve been needing to make the decision. 2) Obviously I mean this in an edifying way. I’m not suggesting anything crazy or weird.
Live your life fully. Be who God intends you to be. Don’t hide your “light under a bushel” – in other words, don’t hide your dreams behind excuses. Investigate them and pursue them or move past them! It is okay to let some dreams go, but it’s not okay to ignore and hide them!
And, in case you’re wondering, I need to practice what I preach too! I have dreams that I need to pursue or move past. And some days I do better with that then others. But let me tell you, dreams are the best! If you don’t have any, ask God for some – believe me, He can fill your life and your dreams to overflowing!
Until Next Time!
Hope.
PS. Now that I’ve talked so much about my wonderful clothing boutique, let me share the website with you: www.colbertclothing.com. Use code “backintheday” to enjoy 15% off and free shipping on your order!