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Our hosts are doing some work this weekend that may or may not cause interruption to our service. So if you struggle with accessing the shop, well, that's why, and it will all be over soon. Cross fingers all goes smoothly!
In other news, sorry for long silence. As I get bigger and bigger With Child, I seem to get slower and slower, and more inclined to spend every spare moment sleeping (or trying to). Just five weeks to go now...
Sale time is remarkably difficult for me. Not because of the mad rush to process and dispatch orders, or the anxiety of making sure everything's running smoothly, the inventory's up to date, nobody's trying to buy things that aren't there, etc etc. (Well. Not just because of that.) No, the really stressful part comes just before I throw open the doors: it's when I take a cold, hard look at my stock and try to decide what to mark down.
On the one hand, I love marking things down. I get strangely excited to think that I'm making it easier for people to get their hands on some of these gorgeous things; not that I'm particularly altruistic, but I do think of my customers as my friends, and so when they get a great deal, I'm truly happy for them. Plus, bargains sell faster (well, that's the idea!), and for someone like me who loves fresh starts, it's bunches of fun to clear a few shelves and make room for new delights. So the idea of markdowns is great.
But there are two problems with deciding to mark down some specific, beautiful thing. One is the vanity factor. What! I think. I can't possibly mark this down. Is it not stunning? Does it not make you weep with covetousness? Did I not choose a thing of great wonder? Isn't it worth full price?
And the other? Well, the other problem - the really big problem - is that if I mark it down... it might sell. And then I wouldn't have it any more.
sigh
Oh well. Go on, people. Break my heart.