My VIFF Window!!

As many of you know, we are in the midst of the Vancouver International Film Festival! But what many of you might not know, is that V.I.F.F. holds a window display competition called “Window On the World Window Display Competition”. The guidelines are pretty simple: create a window display that highlights and brings attention to V.I.F.F. When I heard about the competition and what the prize was (2 tickets to the closing gala) I immediately said “I NEED to do that!”

I am pretty obsessed with film and so any chance I get to exploit my ridiculously large movie collection and play with old film roles I am in! So I packed up my movies, grabbed my old movie tickets (yes I have a collection of every movie I have seen in the past 4 years…and yes it takes up a lot of space in my wallet), bagged up some popcorn and nibs and hawled it up to the store. Then the fun part came…lugging a like 100 pound leather couch from the basement into the window. In the rain. And then trying to fit it through the door that was to small for it. Lets just say if it wasn’t for the brawney buff angel from the liquor store across the street who came and helped us 3 wimpy girls, no one would be getting in the store for awhile. So for the next 4 hours, we placed some props, hooked up some tvs, played dvds and made a cd chandelier. Then at about 12 oclock, the masterpiece was finished.

The window has been up for a while and there have been some minor changes (for example Back to the Future and Cars are now playing on the TV instead of The Sound of Music and Finding Nemo) but the competition is still open until the 15^th! So if you love my window, and want to fufill my dreams of going to a big hollywood movie event then please go to http://www.viff.org/festival/a-window-on-the-world-voting/ and vote!

Thanks!

-B

I was stressed, researched out, and anticipating my little GumDrops world to cave in as I knew it. But as I started to create and execute my “to do” list I realised that it was as anticlimactic as Y2K…pshhh what was all the anxiety about?It took me less than 20 Minutes to have our POS system up to snuff…and the website was a little more intense, but nothing earth shattering.

I did however find some great retail reference material as well as a very funny “tongue in cheek” T-shirt about the HST. ” Support the HST or my daddy will have to sell the private jet”….my book keeper definitely laughed hard at this one…..they also have some other great T-shirts as well….visit fighting words store….and support a new local company with a conscience. Even though they are completing the final touches to their site it’s still worth the peek……while you are at it tell them what your fight is!!!

GST/HST Info Sheets

HST Rebates on Children’s Goods

New Mandatory GST/HST Electronic Filing

The shoplifter, thief , scammer is back.  He has already hit all the businesses on 4th ave and Alma and going East along 4th ave as far as I know.  So far he has stolen from the Shoe repair shop,  the coffee shops, doctors’ offices and he tried to scam me today.  He has been around for years and all the book stores have banned him.   He preys upon new owners and new staff.  Usually has a big , confusing story.  Steals as soon as he walks through the door, then tries to return stolen items for cash after confusing you with his story or big order.  Tries to get you all excited about a big sale, gets you busy or going to the back then shovels stock into a bag.  He steals children’s clothing, food orders, books, corkscrews, coffee beans, pet shampoo,  udo’s oil, women’s makeup/clothing. dog leashes, shoe polish, cash out of the till, your purse, your patients’ purses, wallets out of patients jacket pockets, you name it.

He might steal items one day and come back the next day to return when a different employee is working never has a receipt but gives you a good story about that too (fundraisers gone bad, bed and breakfast in Kelowna, his wife will come back with a receipt)

Spread the word, the police have been phoned numerous times but make sure you phone if he steals something otherwise they don’t know how bad it is.   He resurfaces every 6-12 months.

He changes his hair color, right now it is salt and pepper silvery grey, sometimes it is black, sometimes he wears a hat.  Please pass this photo around to local businesses.

KEEP YOUR PEEPERS OPEN!!!

I went last week to have a massage for the first time at Beautiful Feet Wellness Center on West Broadway and it was amazing…..and was completely worth the trip!!! I haven’t felt so relaxed and rejuvenated in a long time!!! So now I have a fantastic little secret and with Valentines Day just around the corner I wanted to share the love and sweet deal!!! For $30, yes $30 you get a 50 min relaxation or deep tissue massage. The only thing is you have to book for 2 people (you don’t have to be a couple)…so no matter what your stresses are…even if they are financial or the Olympic traffic!!!…you can’t refuse such an amazing deal!!!

Where: Beautiful Feet Wellness Center

When: February 12-14 2010, 10 am-9pm

Who: At least 2 per booking, BOOK EARLY!!!

ENJOY!!!

Katarina & I having a blast at Jericho Beach

Yesterday was an absolute blast with Katarina Witt and the ARD crew!!!…..Thank you…here are more pics….

I had been approached by ARD German TV to do a small interview and stint with Katarina Witt….my first reaction was ‘thats sounds brilliant!!!’ But my after thought was ‘I need to find out who Katarina Witt is’….and I do have to apologise for that as I grew up with a completely different sporting focus….yes the opposite hemisphere generally doesn’t get covered in the white powder and go below 5 degrees so our sporting focus was mostly on football, track & field, swimming etc (I think mostly out door sports hehe.) Completing my google effort on Katarina I was super excited and couldn’t wait for our shoot….hows that… an ice skating champion and icon….hanging with me….Sawweeetttaahhhh!!! An I have to say she is so humble and sweet…and the rest of the crew I tip my hat to you…you were all brilliant….I hope you enjoy your boots (they will come in handy while you are here hehe)…

Katarina has also had some other adventures while here in Vancouver from an avalanche rescue in Whistler, to reuniting with rival Elizabeth Manley (I must warn you, some of the info is in German, confusing yes!!! I couldn’t understand half the stuff they were discussing yesterday)….I hope you all enjoy the olympics…ONE DAY TO GO WOO HOO!!!!

In the Olympic spirit? Join us tonight while we celebrate the Olympic Torch making its way down west 4th…..

The Maple to Yew group will be staying open until 8pm and are providing hot chocolate & cider…..to keep all who come and celebrate, nice and toasty warm!!!!

GumDrops, Hip Baby, Lululemon, Watch it, Mavi, Ray Rickburn, Beauty Bar, Roots

We encourage you to bring lights, candles and/or noise makers…..any thing that will enhance the celebration of the street!!

Sunice Aqua Unisex (black only)

Sunice Mt Eniwa For Her (also avail in powder white)

If it happens to be raining….and yes that is on everyone’s mind….we will have you covered, literally. Our Licensed Olympic Umbrellas and Licensed Olympic Coats from Sunice are available in store and will be sure to keep you dry while cheering on the Olympic Torch Relay!!!

But they have, and this time people are asking for more of our GumDrops Urban Rain Coats……yes the production that we just launched was supposed to last us 5 months (end of our season) unfortunately it only lasted 1 1/2!!!! who would have thunk!!!!

After months of planning, estimating and calculating, we came up with a production number that made sense….past figures, lost sales, anticipated sell through…..gave us the quantity figure we took to our local manufacturer Kloth.

However in the words of Oliver, you want more!!!…….at this point we will not have enough lead time or resources to have any more completed by Christmas……and as a small business, financing and capital are like embedded wisdom teeth…stubborn, and hard to obtain!!! so we are planning on running a line pre-olympics (if all the stars align)…..we will keep you posted on our progress…….

In the meantime, if you have tried on or purchased one of the Urban Rain Coats…please feel free to provide feedback so that we can make them bigger and better next time!!!

Until then…..let the urban professional in you, out!!!! with our Liz Trench Line…..take you from mommy, to meetings, to a night out…..or to meet prince Charles!!!!

After 4 weeks of planning, designing, sourcing and producing the custom coats for both HRH The prince of Wales & The Duchess of Cornwall, I can finally sleep again.

I am actually having trouble articulating the words necessary to express the full experience and emotions I have experienced over the past month with such an important responsibility. So I am going to let the pictures and videos express what went on……

CTV Video

CTV Print

BC Local News

UK Press

The very boots I wore while presenting HRH Prince Charles with his custom coat

The Three Ring Circus at GumDrops

Today’s blog post has no informational or educational value what so ever. I just wanted to take the opportunity to thank, apologize, and congratulate our customers and staff for getting through what was the biggest day in GumDrops history (yes even Christmas!!!)

To all our customers; who waited patiently to even get acknowledged and taken care of, who then waited in yet another line to purchase their new goodies. I am sure it seemed like a line up at Disneyland….line up after line up….I thank you!!!! And I am sorry!!!

To my GumDrops team; two of whom were barely a week old to the world of GumDrops, who didnt get a lunch or bathroom break for the 10 hours they were running aound the store, who also worked with one man down (getting her wisdom teeth removed & I hope you are feeling better), !!! I thank you for your tireless efforts that day as well as congratulate you for getting through our biggest day EVER!!! I know it was insane and appreciate all your efforts!!!

I would also like to take this opportunity to give a word from the wise (ME)……

We do our best to staff, plan inventory and get ready for the season but when a tornado hits like it did on Saturday (25 % of our monthly sales goal was done in ONE DAY!!!!) we actually become a little hobbled and side swiped…..we do our best to get back up and do it all again….which means that yes there will be sizes missing, inventory severely depleted and new arrivals on their way…..to avoid the yucky feeling of walking away wet, cold and empty handed please think about being a good girlguide (or boy scout) and BE PREPARED!!!!! (even if that means shopping on days that the sun is shining) you know the very next day IT WILL RAIN!!! I guarantee you will leave GumDrops, with the goodies you want, dry feet the next day, and no bruises or scrapes from the boot tugging tournament that will ensue if you “wait until it’s raining”. If you choose to do so I suggest you bring ice, polysporin and some bandaids because it aint pretty!!!

We have over the past 2 year learnt from our challenges and have implemented strategies to avoid your disappointment:

• Online ordering; instore pick up.
• Pre-pay; pre-orders (guarantees you get what you want).
• Merchandise holds  for 24 hours.
• Custom order fulfilment (requires availability of stock & payment in full prior to ordering)

If you didn’t get the message form this blog we will see you all on our next torrential down pour day!!!! hehe

And the Winner is : Bonnie Headley

From: Coastal Trademark Services

CONGRATULATIONS!!!!