Consignment Sale

I am working backwards from my list I posted last week....so the first thing I wanted to post about is the consignment sale. Many have emailed and asked "how did it go?" It went great...pure and simple. Yes, our sales were down just a bit but honestly, I really don't think consignors felt it because it was mainly the new boutique and Gymboree clothing where we noticed the sales being down. I think the fact that it was FREAKING HOT was what affected that the most....everyone tries to blame it on Davidson County going to dress code, but I honestly don't think that affected our sales much at all (if any). Kids still need clothing other than uniforms for weekends and Christmas break.

So what are my goals for the Spring 2008 sale? Well, I have a bunch of them. First and foremost, to find a bigger space. 500 consignors stuff stuffed into 8,000 square feet just isn't working. We need at least 10,000 sq. ft. and even more if we can find it. We need good lighting and plenty of parking. Other than that, I'm not picky. Keep your eyes and ears open for a space that fits that description in the Rivergate/Hendersonville area and I promise you, we will take care of you if you can help us out.

Second priority, to give more back. We already offer the 40 hour worker program which allows people to get paid for their volunteer work, but we piloted a new program with the Long Hollow Baptist MOPS group and another group this sale. We gave back. Both groups had to have at least 10 people consign and in return, we gave each consignors $8 fee back to the group plus a percentage of their sales which was based on how many consigned. I think it worked pretty great except that it was a paperwork nightmare and I am just now getting checks out to these two groups. What will I do differently? Honestly, not much except to sponsor more groups. I will know what to do and what not to do for the Spring 2008 sale so that I can have the checks for these groups at the same time I mail the consignor checks. So if you have a group that needs funds email me....all I require is that they are local and they have something worthwhile to use the funds for. We gave over $1,000 to these two groups so it definitely can help a group out!

Third priority, to get more organized. I think the sale itself is pretty well organized but we are looking at ways to get even more organized behind the scenes. A couple of things will accomplish this including:
1. Computerized Check-In. All the consignor will do is sign the waiver and be given their passes...the rest will be computerized where the person signing the consignor in will update all their information on the computer while they stand there. This will also allow us to send an email to all the consignors reminding them about pick-up and re-stock drop-off.
2. A program that allows consignors to see what they are selling during the sale. Something like My Consignment Manager (for those of you that are familiar with that). It allows you to print your cards out at home (therefore, no transposing numbers), consignors can see what they did not sell so they will know if they have something missing during pick-up, AND you will get your checks at pick-up.
3. Hiring some help. Getting a couple of my 40 hour +++ workers on payroll so that I can have someone to answer the phone calls after the sale, respond to emails and help get checks out (without us being up til 2am to get this done)

Will all this happen for the 2008 sales? I hope so but no promises. It will happen though and hopefully it will make our sale that much better!

Not much of an update...

It's kind of a blah night....

Since I last typed anything, the consignment sale has ended (it went great!). The adult sale is this week. We never heard anything back from Illinois on the adoption and our social worker submitted our profile for a birthmom in VA that was expecting twins. We found out tonight she didn't pick us.

We still know that God is in total control of the adoption process....and everything else!

We are exhausted and Anna has a raging case of strep throat. Looking forward to Sunday when consignmentmania for 2007 is officially over.

Will update more later...if you have emailed and haven't gotten a response, we are working on getting a new computer and I am at the liberty of Jonathan bringing home a laptop so I will answer you ASAP. THANKS for your prayers!

Consignmentmania

Yes, we are in full swing.

Yes, I am tired.

Yes, we have sold A TON OF STUFF.

Yes, there is still a ton left.

Yes, you should come buy some of the stuff that is left BECAUSE.....

Yes, I will have to sort the leftovers on Saturday.

Consignment Sale, Adoption, Kindergarten, OH MY!

I wanted to post to update everyone on the status of the consignment sale. We have gotten in some GREAT stuff and still have two days of drop-off left! It is already full so we are praying that once again, God will stretch those walls. It is amazing how much I have found that prayers have been answered as soon as I lift them up....the other day, I said (out loud), "Lord we really need some more tables!" Within five minutes, people were coming in dropping off tables. PRAISE GOD!

I can't tell you how awesomely smooth this sale has gone. Our workers have been AMAZING!!!! Usually at this point, we have the 9:30 am crew come in to a huge wreck of things we just had to leave the night before. This time, they are coming in with minimal work to until people start dropping off.

Being so busy has kept my mind off the adoption, but it has also slowed me down in that process. Our social worker emailed us on Friday telling us she would let us know as soon as she heard anything from IL and that she needed profiles....I am JUST NOW getting those done.

The boys first day of school was today. They go from 7:30 am until 10 am. They were both very excited and gave each other BIG hugs before they went into seperate rooms. I then went to the cafeteria for a breakfast they were hosting for the K moms. They called it the boo-hoo breakfast. I call it the OH YEAH breakfast. The boys love school....what do I have to be sad about. They get to learn how to handle situations on their own, learn new things that they will take with them the rest of their lives, meet new friends. I think we should feel BLESSED, not sad. Am I misty that they are really old enough to start this new journey, SURE, but am I sad that they have matured into the fine young boys they are....HECK NO!

Last but not least, I had to tell you about the conversation Anna and I had in the car yesterday after her first full day of school. It hit me while we were driving to the sale, I met my friend Jeanine in 4th grade which means we have known each other 21 years. I met my friends Kim, Erin, Christy and Shauna in 6th grade so we have known each other 19 years. Anna is in fourth grade, so the friends she makes now could very likely be friends she could potentially keep the rest of her life. How amazing is that? She thought it was so cool...but she also thought I was REALLY OLD to have been friends with people for that long!

Hi Ho, Hi Ho....

it's off to work I go!

Yes, the consignment sale is officially starting! We were so blessed to have a smooth day yesterday and even got ALL the racks set up last night (trust me, that is amazing!)

We have about 80 people dropping off today! It's hard to believe that people will want to buy sweaters and coats in this weather, but they will!

More Updates

Everyone has been asking so here you go:

*Kristen Rogers is hopefully home by the time I am posting this. She was able to get her stint and although she is very sore and in pain, I know she is glad to be going home. They did determine that this was probably her SECOND heart attack and will be closely monitoring her.

*No adoption updates. I am going to try to get our profiles updated tonight before consignment mania gets into full swing

*We are in our house, but just barely. We still have a ton of boxes to unpack and although it is now clean, it is not even at the beginning stages of being organized. We stayed at Ali and Josh's house last night so I am looking forward to just collapsing in my own bed tonight. I have given up on it being organized until after the sale.

*Consignment mania starts tomorrow! Yes, you read that right, TOMORROW! We set up racks and drop-off begins Saturday at 11 am. WOW, I can't believe it is already time. A BIG THANKS to Julie Montgomery for all of her help during this sale...I truly don't know what I would have done without her.

*I think I have decided on a new girl's name...but I'm not going to tell for a while. Jonathan and I are just praying about it and we will see if we decide on that one or not.

More Updates

This is going to be short and sweet:

*no updates on the adoption, we will post as soon as we hear anything

*consignment sale drop-off starts this Saturday!!!!! I can't believe it is already here! THANKS to Julie Montgomery for ALL of your help with this!

*Anna is at church camp until Wednesday. I think she was glad to get away from the funny farm here and relax with Jesus and her buddies for a few days.

*my migraine headache is not going to win...it thinks it is, but it's not. I am going to bed now to try and kick this thing....pray this sucker is GONE by Friday!

*PRAY for Kristen Rogers (I don't know if I spelled her name right) Her husband Chad and I grew up together (her in-laws are Patti and Ronnie Rogers-my mom and dad's best friends). She had a heart attack Saturday night and had a stint put in this morning at Skyline hospital. Pray for this young family!

More Updates

Yes, the news here never ends....

My sister went for her OB appointment today and they are going to induce her next Tuesday, July 24th. Maggie weighed in at almost 8 lbs today so she is going to be a whopper. The best part was that we got to see her on ultrasound again today and she has 1 inch of hair!!! They moved in with us last Tuesday and things are going great here EXCEPT that her husband Josh had to be admitted to the hospital on Sunday for an infection in the fluid around his heart. He's doing ok though and hopes to be home in the next few days.

Still no adoption updates, although I did talk to Amanda and she confirmed that we are not yet approved. Other things have come up in the office that got us pushed back, but hey that is ok with us....I just feel blessed that our profile got shown even though we aren't yet approved.

Betsy is officially gone. Jonathan went and removed plates and personal effects today and we will be picking up a new Suburban tomorrow thanks to Mike Cady at Dixie Motors! I'll put some pics on here tomorrow of the new beast and although I had planned to open up votes on names for this one, I am already leaning towards a new name, so we'll just see what she feels like when I drive her tomorrow.

I just realized I have never talked about the kids consignment sale I run! It is called Encores and More North Children's Consignment Sale and it is coming up soon (August 18-25) You can visit our website at www.encoresandmorenorth.com to read more about what children's consignment is. I put this in here b/c I will probably be talking more and more about consignment over the next few weeks and I am even considering linking this blog to the website because we have so many friends through consignment that want to be kept up to date on the whole adoption adventure.

That's it for now folks....believe it or not, I actually have a migraine tonight that I have fighting off all day, but it is time to give in and go to bed. We have a busy week here so keep us in your prayers and I will post as soon as I know one way or the other from Amanda about what the birthmother decided.