Thursday, February 28, 2013

How did Charlotte become Bazaar?



I have been meaning to start a blog for a few weeks now, but what with working full time and starting a business I am just now starting it.  You can thank my dog Ruckus.  I was planning to work on my knitting when he decided to do his chihuahua impression.  This is when he tries to fit his 65 pound butt on my lap.  Obviously not conducive to knitting, but i can just manage to type.  So here I am telling you all about my new business.

It all began at a resin art workshop. I had so much fun that day learning, talking with the others about our creative processes, and discussing turning passion into a business. By the end of that day those wonderful women had convinced my that once again I should try to turn my passion into a business. We had even come up with a name, Bazaar Charlotte, a play on words describing my personality. I don't work with resin unless the mood strikes I love wire more, but I thought maybe this time I could make money being creative. Grow a customer base so I could work at something I love to do and am passionate about. 



First I would have to narrow my focus for the initial opening of my shop. I decided on crochet and wire since those are uppermost in my creative focus currently. Next I would need stock before I could open. Finally I would have to battle through my intense dislike of anything business.  I mean really are all those numbers and hoops necessary? Business license, FBN, TIN somebody is just having fun with letters right?  Nope turns out in California you have to have all that and charge tax to CA residents to.  It's enough to make me shudder.

I had a plan, was brimming with ideas, and was sure I would persevere this time. Life being what it is laughed and threw a major medical issue at my family. So I put my plans on hold and used all my energy to deal with the emergency. I was to tired and unfocused to be creative. Luckily everything turned out well and my family is now healthy.

I didn't forget that plan and here I am a year later and have finally opened Bazaar Charlotte. I hope you enjoy my creative journey as much as I do. I am sure I will take some wrong turns and have some laughable mistakes, but along the way I hope to create many fabulous things that you all will love.


7 comments:

  1. Great post! I can't figure out how to follow you!

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  2. Hi Kate,

    Thank you for letting me know. Still trying to figure out all o this technical stuff and sometimes lose site of the simple. I have added a subscribe to button at the top hopefully it works. :)

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  3. Hi Charlotte.........well look at you, starting a business despite your dislike of anything business and a blog to boot! You go girl! great to connect. thanks so much for posting a button to the muse!

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  4. Thank you for stopping by Pamela. Hope my little blog becomes as successful as yours.

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  5. So glad to see you going for dreams! You do beautiful work and I am excited for you as well:) HollyB

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  6. Thank you, you are one of my inspirations :)

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  7. Hello, Charlotte! I heard from a business tycoon that people who have something to do are good, while people who do something they love are geniuses. I might place you in the genius category. ;) I wonder if you have tried marketing your products via social media platforms. These can be effective channels that you can use to promote your products and services without spending much. Keep up the good work, and keep us posted on your growing success.
    ---Chin Portillo

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