Shop Tales

The expansion of the business has meant that in November 2009, I decided to open a shop. I knew this would be the perfect way to display our cards and fulfill orders.
I also knew that the business premise was a great one - sell well on line THEN move into a traditional retail environment.

Much has happened during this time and on 1 March 2010 I completed on the lease.
We hope to open it to the public in mid April albeit we will be working in it processing orders ahead of this time.

In the build up to the grand opening I thought I would formally capture this important chapter in RFC history.

Here then, is the story of the new Really Fab Cards HQ in Eton High Street...

Monday 1 March 2010.

I went to the bank and transferred the money required to complete on the lease (lawyers fee, deposit and a lot of rent in advance) - ouch.
Have instantly forgotten the figure as too large to contemplate without getting a little teary.

I got my Mum (who for some mad reason is the Company Secretary and therefore a required signatory) to sign the lease and associated document
and she thinks she is involved in some Ponzzi type / money laundering scheme!
I remind her I am completely trustworthy and more importantly,
she is not parting with any money and she signs. Phew.
Dropped off the actual leases to my lawyers office in Windsor.

Wednesday 2 March 2010
Richard and his colleagues descend on the shop to start work on the electrics (there are none in there as it is a new build).
After day 1. there are wires everywhere.
It will be lit like Wembley Stadium when it is finished.
I have to decide where plugs are going to go so I need to lie down after the meeting.

I meet with Steph to discuss the Emma Bridgewater order and plan it.
We start well but then give up and pretty much just order everything!
It is all so lovely, it is hard to resist.
There will be lots to buy in the shop...I gladly hand this part of the project over to Steph.

I then meet with Ritta and we go through signage requirements and choose between two signage companies.
I gladly hand this part of the project over to Ritta as I know she will have her work cut out
for her on getting all the logos (happily we have the permissions to reproduce).

Thursday 4 March 2010. Louise from Charles Coleman (my solicitor) and confirmed that the lease was fully completed! Hurrah!
This means I don't have to return everything I have bought for the shop!

I gave the go ahead to Steph to order the Emma Bridgewater 'first order'. Actually the first order will be split in two.
The small amount of items we need to fit out and design the shop around e.g. packaging, and then the actual stock itself albeit I suspect we will be ordering more shortly.

Friday 5 March 2010.
Ritta is working on the layout of the windows with Pete at Zoo Signs.
They are going to produce a mock up so we can see what they all look like.

Ritta will be looking into a bespoke Edward Monkton card display system. Anything bespoke is a pain but of course it should look great
and make picking cards for packing much easier for us.
I pay for the EB order - it will start to arrive next Tuesday- I am very excited!

Monday 8 March 2010. I go to the shop with James to identify where the floor sockets should go. I spec out the till.
It needs to be able to identify bar-codes with a portable scanner and all the usual stuff but also a customer loyalty program.
We call everyone and we think we have a solution.

Pete at Zoo has designed the layout for the shop front.

Wednesday 10 March 2010. Pete at at Zoo installs the signs (HUGE cards) to cover the windows and they look AMAZING!
We will add a Caroline Shotton logo and will move the Gruffalo and 'The Cat' but essentially I LOVE it.
These images will be on the windows of the shop whilst it is being fitted out and also, they mean we can work in the shop before it opens.
That way we can establish how we want to pack cards and work, this being more than simply a retail outlet.
Of course in addition, they will added a little but of intrigue (if ever anymore were needed)
to Eton High Street! They are based on actual cards so the tie in perfect.
I think we will miss them when they come down and everyone can see in.

Tuesday 16 March 2010. I start to finalize the till I need to buy (it has such a high degree of functionality it could be in Nasa).

I buy 3 large gallon EB tea pots for display.