My glass is half full
Just as I forcasted last month, our December was a slow one for Red Hats By You. And even though this doesn't come as a surprise, it's still a disappointment. Sometimes, I just close my eyes and pray for the answers to come. Sometimes they do! But many times they don't and I guess that comes from sheer exasperation. What are the answers to reinvention? I can sit down and write 10 things to do that might help. But because I've been so depressed about the lack of momentum in our site, I may only do half of them. I'm just 'in a funk' as my mom would say.
This Fall was promising. We were looking up, and I have to remember that and not get caught in the bummer of December. January and February tend to be stronger months. And obviously, running a business is always so much more fun when things are buzzing right along. I'm not asking for a WOW month.. I'm asking for a brighter month. I’m asking for promise.
So I'm not going to dwell in the slow days of December... I'm looking forward to January. I’ve always been optimistic. My glass is half full.. ALWAYS! But this has been a rough year. And that will make anyone nervous about the future of their business. Good God when is the economy going to bounce back? When are people going to feel comfortable having a little frivolous fun again? I hear the housing market is making a recovery, at least here in Salt Lake it is.
Whenever you have a website that deals only with a small, very specific market, you run the risk of that market going away. So our #1 goal is further diversification, as has been a focus of ours since last Spring. We did pretty well by introducing our customizable t-shirt line. I’ve noticed some of our competitors are selling cruises, another natural extension of the red hat society market. They love to travel. That’s cool for them, but logistically.. not for us.
A few years ago, we planned a few large parties called Bare Your Best Galas (with some of the proceeds to benefit breast cancer research). They were very successful, but the time involved was prohibitive. And since I’m here in Utah now and Lee Ann is back in Michigan, the bulk of the responsibility falls on her. We only did them in the Metro Detroit market, and they were a blast to put on, and also offered an opportunity to sell our merchandise. I miss those days, and maybe it’s time to revisit that source of income. We also enjoyed increased Gala related sales on the site. It gave us an opportunity to really hang out with our customers, and that was probably the best part!
As I’m writing this blog about the new year and upcoming goals, I’m getting ready to celebrate my son’s 8th birthday. We spent the day skiing in a few feet of fresh powder, and had a great, but tiring, day. He is as happy as he gets and nothing could bring him down. The optimism of a kid is amazing. I’ve gotta tap into that! I’ve got to get some good vibes going and new ideas rolling. I’m excited for the new year and all that it brings. I can’t let one bad year get me down. We’ve worked hard this year to make changes and there are more to come. So I’m keeping my chin up, and my glass is most definitely half full. It’s a new year, a new decade, and a fresh start for us. And I think a positive attitude goes a long way. Happy New Year everyone!
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