Just came back from two tradeshows and placed orders for the fall/holiday season. Funds were tight but if we don't go on these trips our product lines get stagnant. Some of our product will rarely change, especially our licensed collection. But we need to fill the rest of the store with fresh new product in the fall and spring or our customers would run out of things they would want to buy from us. It was a productive trip. Every time we go we get better at being buyers and this trip we were more focused and productive then we've ever been before. Most of the new items will ship between now and the end of October. Also, did some great networking in the evenings while at the shows. Will have to talk about that in the next post though, it's too lengthy for here. It ties in with Erin's POST party blog.
In order for us to go to the shows we needed employees again, which is fine because the holiday season is approaching anyway. One of our best employees contacted us; she hated her new job and wanted to come back. It was perfect timing for us, so we hired her back. Another girl came in to apply; she was really great so we grabbed her too. They worked 50+ hours each the week we were gone, then we worked all the hours the following week after we came back to prevent overtime for that pay period. Then the next week we left again, they worked a lot, we came back and gave them another week off. It took some creativity but we got it done with only two employees and no overtime. Overtime would've killed us right now; our budget is way too tight for that with sales still being low. Again, I'd rather buy product that will make us more money.