Today marks the final day we have the store front open. We are now in the move phase, getting the books on line and out to the new location. It is a very exciting proposition and many of our regulars are understanding and encouraging. We are downsizing part of our business in order to expand another facet to better be able to serve our customers and still have a personal life, which has sadly been lacking for the past year. We will continue to update this blog as to our progress and future happenings.
Jerry and Jessica
"tycoonisias"
Sunday, November 30, 2008
Friday, November 28, 2008
New Directions for Colette's
One of the advantages of being a small business is the speed with which new directions and choices can be implemented. Jerry and I just celebrated the one-year anniversary of Colette's: Good Food + Hungry Minds, LLC. Anniversaries are alway a good time for assessment. in the past year we have succeeded in many of our goals for the business. We donated upwards of $35,000 in goods and services (books, coffee, goodies, food certificates etc), held 13 concerts, hosted 13 different artists, plus open mics, poetry readings, healing and psychic faires, drumming circles, and classes on everything from stree management to working with energy. We had so many ideas on how we could serve the community and we were able to implement most of them in one form or another. While we wanted to be diverse in our offerings, we never wanted to be really big.
"Big" is a relative term. When the tasks of the day take more time than exists, we've become big.
One goal that got lost in the process was a very personal one. jerry and I went into business to spend more time together. In June, we were married in the store, joking that since "we are married 'to' the store, we thought we should get married 'in' the store." Unfortunately, we were more accurate than we knew. Our private time became non-existent. Every conversation we had centered on some aspect of business -- staffing, inventory, cash flow, menu items etc. Gone were the long walks, leisurely book discussions over lunch, sitting quietly together watching the ocean from the Cape Arago lookout point -- all the activities that bind and fuel a relationship's growth were things we had no time for anymore. Individually we stopped making music, knitting, reading, writing poetry, playing bridge, making art, sewing, camping or taking time for yoga, tai chi, meditation and spiritual retreat. The very things that give our lives the deepest meaning and satisfaction had given way to the endless daily tasks of running a business.
It is time for a change and we are choosing to transition our business into a different form in order to reclaim our personal lives and better serve the community. Instead of a large storefront, we've built a new website that allows us to sell online. www.goodfoodhungryminds.com All of our books, new and used will soon be listed for sale. Currently we have roughly 200,000 volumes in our inventory. We'll continue to be search for books or individaul titles that folks are looking for.
We will continue to offer locally made and fair trade gift items, bumperstickers and posters, as well as our famous blend of fair trade, organic, locally roasted coffee -- Colette's Choice. We have lots of plans in various stages of execution -- all designed to allow us to grow our business and maintain our connection with the local community. Folks can stay in touch with us via our blog (linked on our website).
Our interest in good food has not wavered and we will continue to bake and sell our cookies, muffins, and cinnamon rolls with the help of a rented commercial kitchen. Jerry and I will both be available as personal chefs to come into your home, or anywhere with a commercial kitchen to cook for your family or group. And, of course, we will continue producing our tasty gluten free offerings to order.
Thanks to all of you who supported us. We will miss seeing all the new friends we've made over the past year. Come by and stock up for Christmas and the holidays as we hold our Transition/Moving sale from Friday, November 27 to Sunday, November 30. Remember, we're not going away, we're just changing our form.
Jerry and Jessica
"Big" is a relative term. When the tasks of the day take more time than exists, we've become big.
One goal that got lost in the process was a very personal one. jerry and I went into business to spend more time together. In June, we were married in the store, joking that since "we are married 'to' the store, we thought we should get married 'in' the store." Unfortunately, we were more accurate than we knew. Our private time became non-existent. Every conversation we had centered on some aspect of business -- staffing, inventory, cash flow, menu items etc. Gone were the long walks, leisurely book discussions over lunch, sitting quietly together watching the ocean from the Cape Arago lookout point -- all the activities that bind and fuel a relationship's growth were things we had no time for anymore. Individually we stopped making music, knitting, reading, writing poetry, playing bridge, making art, sewing, camping or taking time for yoga, tai chi, meditation and spiritual retreat. The very things that give our lives the deepest meaning and satisfaction had given way to the endless daily tasks of running a business.
It is time for a change and we are choosing to transition our business into a different form in order to reclaim our personal lives and better serve the community. Instead of a large storefront, we've built a new website that allows us to sell online. www.goodfoodhungryminds.com All of our books, new and used will soon be listed for sale. Currently we have roughly 200,000 volumes in our inventory. We'll continue to be search for books or individaul titles that folks are looking for.
We will continue to offer locally made and fair trade gift items, bumperstickers and posters, as well as our famous blend of fair trade, organic, locally roasted coffee -- Colette's Choice. We have lots of plans in various stages of execution -- all designed to allow us to grow our business and maintain our connection with the local community. Folks can stay in touch with us via our blog (linked on our website).
Our interest in good food has not wavered and we will continue to bake and sell our cookies, muffins, and cinnamon rolls with the help of a rented commercial kitchen. Jerry and I will both be available as personal chefs to come into your home, or anywhere with a commercial kitchen to cook for your family or group. And, of course, we will continue producing our tasty gluten free offerings to order.
Thanks to all of you who supported us. We will miss seeing all the new friends we've made over the past year. Come by and stock up for Christmas and the holidays as we hold our Transition/Moving sale from Friday, November 27 to Sunday, November 30. Remember, we're not going away, we're just changing our form.
Jerry and Jessica
Saturday, November 22, 2008
Karaoke a hit!!!
Darren brought a great selection of tunes and we had several participants and about as many appreciators. Having singers who perform without a few beers made it a very fun evening, which went past 9 pm, long past our usual closing time of 7pm.
Our 20% sale is still available for our readers. Come in and capitalize! 20% of everything except food and beverage.
So far there has been little interest in another Grey Wolf drum making class. If you are interested, please let us know soon.
Jerry and Jessica
"tycoonistas"
Our 20% sale is still available for our readers. Come in and capitalize! 20% of everything except food and beverage.
So far there has been little interest in another Grey Wolf drum making class. If you are interested, please let us know soon.
Jerry and Jessica
"tycoonistas"
Thursday, November 20, 2008
Karaoke tomorrow - Friday 11/21 - Karaoke
Karaoke --- Friday - Darren Dirk will be hosting our first karaoke night --- The festivities begin at 6:30 pm and end when the last singer is sung out!!! Our regular beverages and goodies ill be available throughout. Come be a star!!!
We have extended our 20% sale -- all items in the store except food and beverage will continue to be available at 20% off.
HELLO CLASS!!!!
Jerry and Jessica
"tycoonistas"
Sunday, November 16, 2008
Anniversary Sale Ends Today!
Today is the fourth and final day of our 20% off anniversary sale. However, any of you reading this can still take advantage of the 20% off anything in the store except food and beverage items. Through November 23rd come in, make your selections, and mention you read on our blog that the sale is extended to the privileged who read the blog. The sale covers all our books, including the new Holiday Catalog items. We also have a special sale on select paperback and hard-cover novels. Romance paperbacks are $1 each or 7 for $5.
Jessica has been working hard to get the newest arrivals onto our web book store. You now have the opportunity to order books from us in the comfort of your own home, just in time for winter. Browse our web site and make your selection. Want something we don't offer? We'll be happy to find it for you, new or used, whichever suits you and offers the best value. Gift e-cards are also available in the amount you select. Come in or order online and watch us grow.
As members of the American Booksellers Association we are proud to participate in the Indie Bound program, which not only supports local bookstores, but all other local businesses as well. The idea is to "buy local first".
Jerry and Jessica
"tycoonistas"
Jessica has been working hard to get the newest arrivals onto our web book store. You now have the opportunity to order books from us in the comfort of your own home, just in time for winter. Browse our web site and make your selection. Want something we don't offer? We'll be happy to find it for you, new or used, whichever suits you and offers the best value. Gift e-cards are also available in the amount you select. Come in or order online and watch us grow.
As members of the American Booksellers Association we are proud to participate in the Indie Bound program, which not only supports local bookstores, but all other local businesses as well. The idea is to "buy local first".
Jerry and Jessica
"tycoonistas"
Thursday, November 13, 2008
It's our anniversary!!!
ANNIVERSARY SALE !! Everything in store except food and beverage items -- 20% off. Sale is in effect through Sunday, November 16. Our new books are in (one of each in our Holiday Book Catalog) and on display. Check out the book order feature on our web site. Jessica is justifiably proud of it, continuing to add to the 2500+ books already on the site.
Coming tomorrow! - Bill Bartels live - on our stage at 7:00 pm. Bill is a local singer/ songwriter who has an amazing talent for finger picking on the acoustic guitar. He has three collaboration CDs on CD Baby and is a regular feature at Roger's Zoo. He's giving up an evening of "bar gig" for a real concert. Come support him. You will be amazed at his virtuosity. Five to ten dollars sliding scale at the door, which all goes to the artist.
Coming in December. Jessica cajoled Grey Wolf into offering one more drum making class before the holidays. If you have any interest, contact us soon to reserve a spot, as there will be a limited class size. It will still be $95, which covers a 15 inch tom tom kit, beater kit, decorative beads, leather, fur and feathers, and personal coaching from Grey Wolf. This is your chance to personalize your own hand built drum. Examples of his drums are on display at Colette's. We have not settled on a date, but it will likely be on a Friday or Saturday early in the month. Additional kits may be available for Christmas gifts (express your interest in this possibility when you contact us).
Jerry and Jessica
"tycoonistas"
Tuesday, November 11, 2008
We're back!
NANOWRIMO (National Novel Writing Month) is in full swing. We are the South Coast coordinator . The idea is to write a 50,000 word novel in one month (November), and with five weekends in the month, there is still time to get to it and complete your own "Great American Novel" along with some 200,000 other folk world wide. This is the tenth year of the program, and it has been very well received. We plan to have a write night or two, possibly even an all-nighter, and a final "cram it in at the last minute" party on the 30th. If you are interested, go to nanowrimo.org and sign up. We have WIFI and a store computer available to customers for a small fee.
Bill Bartels, a local singer/songwriter, wannabe comic and finger picker extraordinaire will be performing on our stage Friday, November 14th at 7 pm. "Covers, classical jazz, 60's era folk, blues, ragtime". A door fee of $5.00 to $10.00 is suggested, all of which goes to the artist. He is a regular on the stage at Roger's Zoo. Check out his Cd's on CD Baby.
Thursday is our 1st anniversary!!!! In honor we are having a store wide 20% off sale Nov 13 - 16 (everything except food and beverage). This will include the new books featured in our Holiday Books catalog. Come early, as we only ordered one of each in the catalog, although we can still get additional copies.
Jerry and Jessica
"tycoonistas"
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