|
Unique and OOAK hand crafted gift ideas. |
| A Visit To The Cottage. |
|
 |
The Cottage By The Creek is a little consignment shop that recently opened where I live and I have been giving the honor of working there. I really love this place.
This is the first Vendor news letter that I created in July.
Vendor Newsletter July 2007
Hello vendors! On behalf of Lexie and Lisa, a big welcome to The Cottage By The Creek. Our first month has been a great success and the future of the shop shows awesome promise. As most, if not all of you have seen, we have a wonderful variety of items in the shop and there is more coming in all the time.
This newsletter will be an extra form of communication between the shop and the vendors and I hope to get it out to you regularly, especially the busy months of the year. It is important that we have your current mailing address on file so that you get your copy when it comes out.
With this first issue, I am enclosing a couple of items just to make sure that everyone has the opportunity to see them. First of all, I am sending a copy of the contract. It is important that you read and agree to the terms at the top of the contract before signing. Item #2 states that each consignee is required to work volunteer hours at the Cottage. The purpose of this is to reduce overhead so that we can keep the commission at 20%. If you cannot work one shift each month it will be necessary to raise your percentage to 30% or pull your items. Those who work one shift each month will remain at 20%. We have at least two paid employees that have to work when there are no volunteers, so you see where the need for volunteer work comes in. We will be calling you from time to time to fill slots in our work calendar. Shifts are from 8:30 to 1:00 and 1:00 to 5:00 Wednesday through Monday. At this time we will be closed on Tuesdays. If you do not hear from us please call the shop we will tell you which slots are still open.
Also in the contract we ask for self addressed stamped envelopes. The purpose of these is so that we can mail your money to you. If you do not bring in envelopes we will hold your money to be picked up in the shop by you. Please do not send someone else in to pick up your money without first seeing us in person about it. We do not want you getting ripped off. If you have not worked and you have not received any payment for items you know you have sold, your money will remain in the shop until you pick it up or send an SASE.
The second item I am sending is a copy of the inventory sheet. This sheet should accompany the items you bring in as a way to keep track of what you are selling in the shop. Often times a tag will be misplaced and we need a way to find out who owns the item. These list are great in assisting us to keep things organized. If you need more copies, feel free to stop by the shop and ask. We have plenty on hand.
Espresso Info
I know that many of you are worried about having to make espresso at the shop. We are working on getting a commercial espresso machine and I assure you that they are easy to use. We will make sure that you receive training before leaving you alone with the machine. I will be compiling an espresso recipe book so that making them is easy. If you have a recipe to contribute let me know, I will add it to the book.
Upcoming Events!
August 25, 2007, during Rendezvous Days, The Cottage By The Creek, Lexies By The Lake, The Wamic Store, and The Java Shack will present “Karaoke with Maggie” and a BBQ in The Java Shack yard. Bring your singing voice and your appetite and join us for a great time. Food and fun will run from 3:00 to 7:00 PM.
Wanna Add A Want Ad?
If you are looking for items that are a part of your art or craft or have crafty items that you think would help someone else, we will be adding space in the newsletter for ads. If you would like to place an ad, please contact Jolene at 541-993-7776 and we will get it into next months issue.
A New and Wonderful Way To Advertise.
I will be creating “Vendor Pacs” soon! A Vendor Pac is a bag the is filled with items from the vendors that advertise their products or service. If you want to have your fillers included I will need at least 50 of them, (as soon as possible) as I will be doing 50 bags at a time. These Pacs are given out to people at sales at the shop, and at different events throughout the summer. This is a really effective way to advertise and the preparation and distribution of the Pacs will be a free service only to the vendors of The Cottage By The Creek. All you have to do is decide on a filler and bring or mail them to me. Here is a list of filler ideas if you really want to get creative. Remember your name, address and phone number should either be on each filler or attached to it.
Filler Ideas (Get Creative)
Bookmarks
Business cards
Brochures
Small samples
This is a mini business card and a piece of candy in a small zippy bag.

And one of my favorites is this dimensional lollypop.

Woodworkers and burners might use popsicle sticks to make a bookmark.
Quilters might do a stitch sampler bookmark.
Remember: The bags I use are 10 inches by 6 inches so fillers must fit into the bag.
So bring or send your fillers so that we can be ready for the upcoming events. Please make sure I get at least 50, preferably 100 to cover the season. You might even check with L& R Promo who do promotional items. Thank you, Jolene.
This newsletter was compiled and written by Jolene Stephen. If you have additions, questions or comments you may contact me at the Cottage or at 541-993-7776.
My email address is delicatreasures1@delicatreasures.com
This is the column that went into our local newspaper.
The Cottage By The Creek
By Jolene Stephen
I have lived in this area for a long time and have seen things come and go, but I was very excited when I heard that Lexie Hager and daughter, Lisa, were planning to open a new gift shop. For many years, Lexie, of "Lexies By The Lake" fame, as provided her restaurant guests with a variety of gift items to choose from and now has taken her talent for display and expanded to beautiful downtown Wamic.
Located across the creek from the Wamic Mall....AKA...The Wamic Store, The Cottage By The Creek is being transformed into a welcome and appreciated addition to the community.
Local artists, crafters, antique collectors and resellers have joined in the fun and excitement of making the Cottage a success. To date we have 34 vendors that share in the shop, with items ranging from exquisite art pieces to homemade quilts and rugs and even hand crafted jewelry. For the lover of antiques there are a variety of items of history and our resellers keep us stocked up with a huge selection of gifts and collectables to choose from. Our vendors volunteer work hours to the shop each month so you may have the opportunity to meet some of the folks that are filling our shelves and walls. You may even see an artist in action as some will bring their projects to work on while in the shop.
The Cottage building itself is slowly evolving from a unique and delightful old house into a cozy and quaint gift shop. Many ongoing projects keep Lexies husband Dean and his brother John busy when their already full schedules allow. The garage of the house will soon become our tea room to allow more display and sitting space. The front yard will be graveled for parking and there is parking on the store side of the creek with access to the cottage over a walking bridge.
Entering the Cottage, you are welcomed by the refreshing scents of candles and hot coffee, the sound of soothing music, and so many things to catch your attention that it has already said that you won't see it all in one visit. This is true because we have more coming in every week.
Outside, on the Creekside breezeway, we have our sitting area where you can enjoy a cup of coffee or tea and in the future we will offer pastries, cookies and other goodies for your sweet tooth. While relaxing in the shade, at least during this time of the year, you may also experience a show of wildlife as the hummingbirds visit hanging flower pots, lizards scamper by looking for a place in the sun, and an occasional deer wandering to the creek for a drink. There are even a few local kitties that venture under the trees along the creek.
During Rendezvous Days this year, The Cottage By The Creek, along with other area businesses, will be sponsoring "Karaoke with Maggie" at the Java Shack across the street . We hope you will join us for the fun.
Stop in at the Cottage and have a look around, I think you will like what you see and who knows, you may even get that Christmas shopping done early this year.
|
|
