Six year's ago today...

Today is the day Schmancy opened it's doors officially to the public.  I am kind of in awe.  It has gone so fast!  It has been great and hard and life changing.  If you had said to me 7 year's ago that I would own a store in downtown Seattle, that I would be working on my 4th book and life would be full of stuffed awesomeness I would have probably smacked you across the face and told you to snap out of it.  But here we are.  When I opened these doors I had NO CLUE what the heck I was doing.  I had always fantasized about owning a store but after working for a few small business owners I decided it was better to just have a reliable paycheck....and insurance!  BUT then I met Sally who just happened to catch me on one of those "i hate everything i'm doing day's" and convinced me to open up shop.  Three days later while sitting at a job, I was not into, I got an email from Sally who said the landlords said I could have a lease.  HOLY CRAP!  WHAT?  I quickly started applying for credit cards (yes Schmancy started on credit cards), ordering toys and looking online for artists.  I was so naive that I just asked all sorts of established artists to either have an art show at the shop or sell things.  Shockingly a lot of them said yes!  I think that was one of my first life lessons from Schmancy.  You can always ask because the worst thing that will happen is people say no. 

It takes awhile to build up a customer base and feel like things are working out.  Of course as soon as things started feeling good the whole economy thing happened.  That really put a cramp in my style to say the least.  It was sad to see so many shops closing and then to think that your ship is sinking is the saddest thing ever.  There have been some bleak moments but you just gotta keep fighting the good fight.  After a major freak out one day I realized the only thing I could do is to keep fighting and that I wasn't going out without kicking and screaming first.  I also imagined myself applying for jobs and having a boss and well...I went into serious action. 

It's funny to think back to what I thought having a store meant.  I thought I would have tons of time to read, make stuff at the shop, watch movies on gross days, etc.  It just ain't so.  But that's okay.  I have learned so much, have really appreciated all the things that have happened to me because of this little place.  Mostly I am so glad that this little place has brought me to people like you.  Customers, fans of Plush You!, etc. has been more than I would have ever imagined.  Thank you!  Here's to at least 6 more years!