Home Again, Home Again, Diggity Dig!

I’ve been flitting around California and other parts of the US like a little bumble bee since July 25th and I’m pleased to say that I am flitting no more. Well, not right this minute anyway. I was in Las Vegas for MAGIC and I can’t wait for the orders to start coming in (see American Airlines Black Atlas site for my travel story). I just got back from a houseboat mini-camp experience at Lake Shasta with 10 girls over Labor Day Weekend and had a blast! (See http://www.Facebook.com/OBGAdventureCamps for photos.) During the rest of September, the store will be open Monday through Friday from Noon to 6pm and I will only be closed for one day on Friday, September 24. In October, I’m in Miami for a long weekend. But right now, it feels good to be still.

I’m tying up loose ends for oo la la!’s Shopping Trip to Paris (which of course isn't just a shopping trip) this November and I’m happy to announce that I’ll be the doing the trip every November from now on. This year, two of my customers – Wanda and Tracy – are going to experience Paris the oo la la! way. =) In fact, I’m firming up the Marais apartment now and will be booking airfare this week. If you were interested in making the trip but were unable to, I’ll be doing my regular blog and Facebook reporting once I get there (just like last time) so we can still experience Paris together technologically (smiling). And if you're still interested, you are certainly welcome.  Just don’t forget that oo la la!’s very own Paris Fashion Week will start on Tuesday, November 30. I can’t wait!

Yesterday, I got a shipment in of these really cute sandals. You can swap out the middle part and have an entirely different shoe. Kuh-yute! Great for vacations, cruises, beaches, hanging out. I wear a 9.5 and I fit a 10 (they don't come in half sizes, but do go up to a Size 11).  Come and get 'em!  (I don't think they'll last.)

I look forward to seeing you!

Bye for now....

Tracey, Your Oakland Shop Girl

The State of Retail

It's been awhile since I've posted, but if you've been by the store and I haven't been there, you've seen my little heart-shaped post-its with the "Be Back Soon" messages and know that I've been busy as a bee handling business for the store, handling business for my travel adventure camp for girls, developing a new e-commerce site at http://shop.onebrowngirl.com, going to conferences and expos, and simply having a good time.  Whew.  As I type this blog post, I'm in my (lovely) hotel room in Las Vegas on the tippy-top floor of the Aria, a new hotel here on The Strip.  (My husband, who got comped for 3 days at MGM Grand, the Bellagio and here, selected this hotel because it's new.  And I'm not mad at that either.)  When you walk into your room, the drapes open automatically and the lights come on and every single thing is managed technologically from the control panel next to the bed.  It's a modern, luxuriuos room and the bathroom is absolutely to die for.  When I'm not at the conference I came here for, I'd rather be up here than in the smoky casino down below.  Anyway....enough about Vegas. 

I was quoted recently in an Oakbook article about the proposed sales tax hike by saying "It sucks for retail and retail sucks right now” and by the looks of things here at MAGIC - the preeminent trade event in the international fashion industry that takes place twice a year in Las Vegas - I was dead on.  What was once a massive fashion expo with tons of people is now a moderately sized event with much fewer attendees and vendors...and it's painfully obvious.  I don't even see any fashion groupies.  And you know something's up when the groupies don't show.  LOL.

About a year ago, when all you heard about in the media was the demise of retail, I was doing extraordinarily well at the store.  I thought I must've been doing something right.  And then it was my store's turn...and for the past 6 months, it's been...well, let's just say...retails sucks.  LOL.  I buy with far more care than I used to and although (as you know), my prices are more than fair, I'm a little slower to bring in higher end items.  Now, don't get me wrong.  I have my faithful loyal customers and I get new customers every day (that I'm open) because of the high foot traffic area.  But I've had lots of my regulars come in to tell me that they've been laid off and/or they're moving out of State and/or their hours have been cut.  And I feel really bad for them too.

I hope I don't sound depressing or anything, because that's not at all how I feel.  I love my part-time boutique, I love my customers (mostly ... LOL), I love being a buyer, and I love presenting (aka merchandising).  Retail is rewarding in many ways and being here at MAGIC is just one of the perks.  I managed to order a little bit of really cute stuff and I can't wait for you to see what'll be coming in.  (I'm really looking forward to bringing back stuff from Paris again this November though.  You all bought me out in less than 10 days the last time.  Stay tuned for more info about that.) 

Well, I guess I'll go downstairs and hang out with my husband before we head out.  Our flight leaves for Oakland tonight at around 9pm and I've got to catch a flight to Los Angeles (just for the day) tomorrow.  But Art & Soul is this weekend, so look for me there as I won't re-open the store until Tuesday or so.  I miss talking to all of you and hope to see you soon.  Until we meet again, remember to always wear cute stuff.  LOL.

Your Oakland Shop Girl,

Tracey =)

The Mehserle Verdict

Yesterday at 1pm, I finally bit the bullet and arranged for the front of my store to be boarded up.  And I was right on time evidently, as the Mehserle verdict was announced three hours later and the Mischief Makers started causing problems in Downtown Oakland just as it began to get dark.  I was watching the news when all three of my contact phones started ringing.  It was my alarm company calling.  I had to get up and go to my store at 10pm last night because "your glass break sensors have gone off and have been comprised." Here we go.  On my way, I saw small groups of people on the street hanging out.  I even saw one guy carrying a pipe. When I got there, there were a dozen police officers in riot gear standing by, the psychic guy was outside, some local business owners were on the corner, and another store owner was guarding her property.  They gave me the full story:  Apparently, a small group used M100s to try to blow open the coffee shop (aka marijuana dispensary) across the street from my store and the vibration triggered my alarm. Created broken glass for some and anxiety for me.  I so resent this.

Before The Verdict:  When other store owners on the street began to panic last week and started boarding up their stores, I stubbornly refused.  I ran my business "as usual" and shooed away the news reporters and news cameras that pounced on 17th Street en masse.  (18 months ago, I got a threatening phone call after 17th Street got hit and I appeared on the news.  I don't need that.) 

My "kumbayah" stance faded quickly however and I closed my store early on the Friday before the 4th of July weekend since 17th Street looked like a war zone with boarded up windows and business owners were in fear passing out posters of Oscar Grant in the hopes that his image would actually make a difference to the Mischief Makers (I think not).  I even had a flight attendant customer from another city comment on the tension in the air and she didn't even know what was going on.   

This Week:  Because I knew the verdict results would be coming in "any day now," I decided not to open this week.  I resented the idea that fear was being used as a weapon and I saw no point in hanging out in a charged environment.  And then yesterday, I fought with my stubborn streak and boarded up my property.  With floor to ceiling glass, the expense of replacing it outweighed my fear.  Like I need another expense. 

I am writing this blog post because this morning I saw some people on Facebook try to minimize the damage last night by saying that the media is sensationalizing the damage.  And while they are known to do so, it's the casual attitude of the people that haven't been affected that irritates me the most.  "Oh, they [the Mischief Makers] just started a few fires and looted a few stores.  The media sensationalizes everything."  You know what?  Bite me.  When you own a store and you start to operate from fear, then you can talk.  In the meantime, STHU.

P.S.  I am outraged by the killing of Oscar Grant and the unjust verdict.  However, damaging property and ruining people's livelihoods is not and never will be the answer.  I'm pissed.