The UTTERMOST problem I’ve encountered during the… 17 years (WOW!) of in-store living that I’ve had to contend with is the boundary between store and home.
When I say I live in a shop, I really mean I have a small apartment attached to the rear of the storefront. Because I have SO MUCH STUFF, however, I find it hard to keep up with organization. I can’t go 5 seconds without laying eyes on something that doesn’t belong.
Mary Poppins, Mrs. Doubtfire and Lunette the Clown would all suffer heart pains should they step into the inexorable chaos that is my store and home. Right now I have jewellery, 2 radios, stained-glass art and some vintage leather shoes all sitting in my kitchen.
Also, I’m a Gemini. We’re indecisive, scatterbrained creatures. How can I possibly get anything done if those are two of my dominant characteristics? Well, Lifehacker is helping, for sure:
http://lifehacker.com/5940096/wall-mount-baskets-to-store-bathroom-linens?tag=organization
You see, we all need help every so often in rethinking the items we have- we’re not all creative enough to think of mounting baskets sideways and using them as shelves. This helps me in TWO ways.
1: I use the idea in the home.
Perhaps not with towels as I already have a handy-dandy towel holder, but I’m always struggling to find ways of displaying my gadgets or trinkets in my bedroom. Once I mount some baskets on the wall next to the TV, I can display some of my favourite DVDs and other film-related collectibles.
2: Selling stock.
How? Well, perhaps you’ve heard about the “distressed look.” This is not for fashion; please don’t walk around Toronto (or anywhere for that matter) with distress on your face thinking it’s the latest trend. No, we’re talking furniture and decor, here.
And the coolest item you can find with the distressed look is the much-beloved Coca-Cola crate. While baskets might be sturdy enough to hold bathroom linens, Coke boxes can hold books, paperweights, even a baby (please don’t put your baby on the crate), so long as you mount it properly. Any handy DIYer can help.
Anyways, here’s my favourite picture of the Coke shelf:
This is by no means my picture, nor is it my idea. BUT I do sell these at my store; sites like Lifehacker introduce me to the ideas I can apply to stock. When I pass the idea along to my customers, they remember not only where they found the idea, but also where they can go to see it through!
Maybe I’ll start thinking outside the Coca-Cola box now. 🙂
-Kat
Matter of Time 