The Retail Gamble

I'm really not much of a gambler. The few times I've been to Vegas (convention-related) or Reno (stuck-in-a-snowstorm-related) I allowed myself 20 bucks or so to throw away in the slot machines. I just never understood the fun of flinging your hard-earned money down the maw of a machine rigged to keep most of what it takes in. And I get antsy sitting there at card games.

Yet having a retail business is a huge gamble.

You try to make informed decisions. You strategize, promote, learn, stumble, learn some more, do the numbers, on and on. You get a little smarter, maybe. But it's all still a gamble. Every line you bring in, every $200 or $2,000 spent on a collection is a big bet that customers will love it as much as we do. Usually they do; sometimes they don't.

It doesn't really matter that we've had a shop for 11 years – there's always a new customer, a new look, a new hot thing... and if you don't stay on top of it, you find yourself wallowing in merchandise that a big box store knocked off for half the price (and half the quality, but even so...). Or you're too early with something. It ends up sitting around and collecting dust – by the time people latch onto the idea, you're sick to death of looking at it (mostly because it reminds you of the cash tied up in it and what a doofus you were to order it). Then it all sells and ten people in a row walk in asking for that very thing that you are now finally rid of. Doh! Mostly, I have to say we're very pleased with the ebb and flow of the products we've found. It's just that the stinkers really stand out to remind you of a bad bet.

We take chances on locations for our businesses. In retail, that can be a make it or break it proposition. There are no real estate handbooks specific to your town, your corner. You do your due diligence, trust your instincts, and sign that lease. Sometimes you win; sometimes you lose. We know both sides of that coin.

Maybe I've been pondering all this more than usual because of Smith & Hawken's demise. They dreamed big, went big, fell big. Ditto Shabby Chic, Z Gallerie (not completely gone, but in reorg), Bombay Co., Crabtree & Evelyn and many others. It's not like me, but I think I'm happy just keeping life simple in our little out-of-the-way shop. Just ordering what we need (trying to anticipate what we need, anyway), fixing/doing everything ourselves (even our business cards – I laid them out on the computer and print at home on the old inkjet, then cut and crop on a vintage paper cutter), and trying to pull out every creative, inexpensive idea we can come up with.

But just in case, I think I'll go throw some good luck salt over my shoulder.

Visiting, staying, eating in Bend

My last post received a comment from Norine, who is planning a Bend visit in July. While her husband is off doing artisan things, she wants to know what a slightly design-obsessed wife would do on the perfect Bend Design Weekend.

Norine, this is just the kind of thing I love! But first, a disclaimer. I'm a bit out of touch with my own town. We pretty much just work, and I'm sorry to say we put the emergency brake on eating out, so I can't say we're up to date with various recommendations. But I'll give it a shot, and no doubt others will chime in.

Staying in Bend. Haven't been inside, but have heard good things about Lara House (B&B). It's located in the very charming older part of Bend, just a block or so from downtown. Walk to restaurants, river, shops, etc. Bend Riverside Motel is where my in-laws used to stay before we had a guest room. The interior is clean, but kind of bland 80s decor. No design awards here, but, they have functioning kitchens and are right on the river; you can leave your slider open and listen to the rushing river all night. Also close to downtown. McMenamins took over a Catholic school and did a great job refurbishing it in their funky, fun style (downtown). I've only been in the lobby of AmeriTel Inn (in the Old Mill District), but it looked like they did a very nice job of it. It sits up on a knoll and has some good views; easy walking to shopping/dining at the Old Mill. This is probably a good choice if you need more of a full-service hotel with fax machines and internet access, etc. And then there are numerous resorts where you could probably be happy just hanging out and taking leisurely walks between the pedi and the massage. I think there are some pretty good deals out there, too. Check www.visitbend.com for links to all these places.

Eating. You can hardly go wrong downtown. We lost a few key restaurants in past months, but miraculously, there's been a revival and it seems everything's humming along now. 900 Wall, Joolz, Zydeco, Cork, Marz -- all good choices. 28 for small plates & cocktails. Typhoon for Thai. Lots of good coffee houses, too. My choice for breakfast (or lunch) is McKay's Cottage. Also Nancy P's and Sparrow (you'll have to get out the map for this one) for delicious baked goods. Lots of locals swear by Victorian Cafe and Alpenglow. I'm not much of a pizza fan, but do like the pizza at Flatbread Community Oven in the Old Mill District. Get a glass of wine and sit outdoors by the river for a great view. For a cupcake stop, find Le Cakery on Galveston. Sooo dangerously delicious.

Shopping and exploring. Well, you have to come visit our little shop, right? Right. It's in one of Bend's oldest homesteads, and the setting alone is worth a visit. McKay's Cottage is nearby, for lunch on the lawn. I would also go to Casarama on Division St. (cool mid-century, vintage, industrial finds) and Royal T Antiques on 9th (or Wilson? better call for directions). Downtown is full of cute shops, galleries, restaurants. I think it's a really good example of historic preservation in a smaller town, and it's right on the river. Can't miss. I would also wander around the old part of town (right next to downtown) for some of our more delightful older houses and neighborhoods.

Old Mill District is an outdoor mall, but they've done a really good job with it (great setting, too). Tumalo Art Company just moved there (lots of local art) and you mustn't miss the Lubbesmeyer studios (upstairs - have to look for it) for amazing fiber art. Also DeWilde Art & Glass. Northwest Crossing is a growing area, too, with some nice shops, a good wine bar (Portello) and a new contemporary art gallery that I want to go see. Near the Old Mill District is the Old Mill Marketplace, which is going through a revival with some new shops. Has a bit of flavor of the Pearl District in Portland (but, you know, we're just a little village). I love the row houses there; reminds me of parts of Chicago or Boston, but new. Oh, right: on Delaware (near Bond St., west side) check out one of my favorite bookstores (housed in what used to be an old corner market), Between the Covers. Just a block away from Jackson's Corner (café, hangout, find it).

And maybe go to Petersen Rock Gardens. It's weird and whacky: a whole little miniature village made out of stacked-up rocks. It's about ten minutes from town.

That should keep you busy. Especially if you add in some bike riding, river rafting, hiking, fishing, golfing... Have fun, and stop by!

Open July 4

If you have a bit of last-minute shopping (sparklers, glassware, etc.), Pomegranate will be open July 4 until 3pm (later if everyone is still shopping, maaaybe a wee bit earlier if traffic just stops). Or send your out-of-town guests in if you need to get rid of them for awhile. I mean entertain them for awhile! Normally we close up for the Fourth of July, but it's Saturday! It's going to be a beautiful, fun day. Hope to see some of you!

Can't wait for those tuscan baby back ribs (recipe courtesy of Jody Denton - find it here: http://www.foodandwine.com/articles/father-grills-best-fathers-day-cookout-with-chef-jody-denton). If you think you might make these, better get on it now... very easy, but takes some ingredients and time for overnight (or longer) brining. Newport Market has juniper berries and some of the other unusual tidbits needed for this. [Juniper berries unusual in Bend? Well, you can't just strip them off the tree in your front yard.] What else? Heirloom tomato salad, corn on the cob with lime butter, homemade berry ice cream, etc. etc.... oh, and we all get cool confetti and sparklers from the shop (I think we buy them just to make sure we have some for ourselves). We might even get my mom to lead us in The Star Spangled Banner, so if you're nearby and hear a lovely soprano voice ringing out over a bunch of iffy singers, that's us.

Have a wonderful – and safe – 4th of July!

No passport needed for armchair travel

Half torture/half delight: I subscribe to an enewsletter that showcases European hotels and inns that are chosen for the "Charming Hotels" network (a group that goes around and anoints properties for their charm, whether a two-star hotel or four-star resort – no one pays to be in it, so it's really a great way to find some unique spots). You can find them at www.guidesdecharme.com; click on the little British flag for the (sometimes) English version... there's also a link to get their newsletter. The newsletter usually features specials going on at some of the properties (most are in France or Italy); you know, stay three nights and get the fourth free... I look at it for fun, for inspiration (or is it just torment?). This latest newsletter was all about "Hotels with jacuzzis." I almost erased it without looking, but a little thumbnail picture (above) piqued my interest, and I followed the link.

Oh my. What a gorgeous place (what an understatement). A medieval castle (with moat, no less!) that's updated with a modern, clean, and simple look. The French are SO good at that. I think I could spend weeks there, just relaxing and exploring (located in Languedoc-Roussillon: good wine country). The good news: their offered special is 75 euros/night. Even with the stinky exchange rate, that's about $100. Whoa, baby. Let's win the lottery and go! Check out this link, and drool away (careful; if you're daydreaming at work, there's music on the site): www.hotel-du-chateau.net/

Assume for a minute you're not worried about buying food or making mortgage payments or keeping your business going or restoring your portfolio: where would you travel to?

Treats for July 4

Just got a nice little shipment of fun things to help celebrate the 4th of July. Can't really see our sparklers (tall tube packages) in the photo, but these guys are the real thing: super bright sparkles, totally safe for holding in your hand, and long-lasting. Not those cheap things that sputter away. Poof balls are paper balls that come with 'shooters' -- again, very safe (although you don't want to stand 2" away from someone's eye) and the paper is biodegradeable. The kids will go crazy with these (big kids, too - we had quite a poof ball war at our house last New Year's eve). And the little "Pops" are so sweet for putting at each place setting for your July 4 bbq. Pull the string for a confetti blast.

Perhaps best of all, these are all made by a really nice company in Eugene; everything is hand made there by local artisans. Just the kind of thing we love.

By the way, we'll be open at Pomegranate on the 4th of July, since Mollie said she no longer wants to be in the Pet Parade (too limpy)... but we'll be closing up around 3pm so we can go home and get ready for friends and family to invade us for our traditional 4th of July bbq and extreme croquet game. So stop by for a little browsing, or for any last minute treats you might need. We will be open on Sunday, too, from 11-4.

A useless comparison and waste of time...

... but my mind landed on this meaningless thought and I had to figure it out. The feds went after Martha Stewart for securities fraud and got their conviction. She spent five months in prison and five months on house arrest, received probation (two years) and a $30,000 fine. By selling her stocks when she did, she avoided a loss of about $46,000. So you could say – if she in fact did intend to defraud – she "stole" that money from the other shareholders. Kind of a stretch, that. But let's say she did it. She spent nearly one year in some form of incarceration (okay, it probably wasn't too tough to be in that cupcake compound, nor would anyone mind being stuck in her house for five months, but just go along with this for a minute). Her total "theft:" $46,000.

Bernard Madoff just got 150 years for his undisputed swindle of something like $60 billion. People have lost their life savings to him; there have been suicides and utter despair over his thefts: theft as real as if he broke into victims' houses and helped himself to all their possessions. And then cleaned out their bank accounts. 150 years is better than the twelve years his attorneys suggested. Still. If you applied the same formula to him as Martha (one year in prison for every $46,000), he should have been sentenced to 13, 043 years in prison. I think I did the math right. My little calculator couldn't even handle all the zeros; had to go to the big adding machine.

Too bad Madoff wasn't investigated at the same time as Martha, with the same zeal. Apparently he was deep into his criminal activities then, and more than a few people seemed to know about it. Meanwhile, Ms. Stewart seems to have bounced back. Say what you will about her; she still has a brilliant mind for business.

11th anniversary party at Pomegranate

How did it slip by so fast? Tomorrow we're celebrating eleven years in business at our slightly off the beaten path location. It's been a great ride at our little Pomegranate shop: started on a shoestring (still on a shoestring) and learning as we went along (that never stops). Still having fun after all these years, and we still have our dear Mollie (VP of PR, aka Shop Dog Extraordinaire), even though she's limpy and lumpy (but so are we). Come see us tomorrow, Saturday, June 27 from 12-6! We'll be serving up treats, tidbits, and libations; giving out door prizes and offering specials for the day. And with a purchase of $15 or more, we'll give you one of our most popular french soaps: a round bar of verbena, fresh from Provence.

Our new pétanque/bocci court is ready for play! We plan to christen it tomorrow -- only problem is, we don't have enough sets of boules for general play... so if you have some, please bring them along. Bring your own pastis, too... You know where we are, right? Maybe not: part of the charm (and problem) of the place is our location. Even locals still tell us they never knew it existed, but it's an interesting bit of Bend history, tucked in under the pine trees and surrounded by big box stores. Just off 3rd Street, across from the back end of Macy's, on your way to Sun Mountain Family Fun Center. It's going to be a lovely day; stop by for a little pique-nique and browsing.