Last week I was in New York City at a trade show…spending hours and hours hunting for great things for Hammertown. I had made a decision not to look at the news or pick up a paper for the time I was away. I didn’t want to get depressed by the media and the gloom and doom they bombard us with…I wanted to think positively and use my week in the city to get inspired and to find wonderful things for Hammertown.
All was going according to plan. I had a great week in the city…found new and fun things for the shop. I was inspired by new ideas and spent some good time with friends in the city…just a great escape! And then I boarded the train on Thursday at Grand Central. I decided to pick up my favorite day of the week of the New York Times for my 2 hour train ride….The Home Section. No Science section for me…I love the Home Section, and Wednesday Food! I boarded the train and opened up the paper to Thursday’s Home Section…”ADVENTURES IN HAGGLING”… “HOW LOW WILL THEY GO”… “THE MELTDOWN IN HOME FURNISHINGS”, screamed the headlines.
Needless to say, my pleasant escape to the city had come to an abrupt end with articles about “desperate retailers” and instructions for consumers on haggling over high ticket items in Soho.
As I read the articles I got discouraged and started to wonder about what my own customers must be thinking when they read or hear news stories like this. So I decided to blog about it here and let you know, personally, how we do things at Hammertown. I have always had a policy of pricing everything I bring into the shop fairly. Our furniture is always on sale. We can price it promotionally because we stock the furniture and have a warehouse full of furniture that’s ready to be delivered. We have January and February sales with discounts of 50% and more to help us clear out floor models and discontinued items. And, our Red Tag items are always a steal. With this comes our service, our gift wrapping, and our seal of approval that guarantees you’ll be happy with your purchase or we’ll make it right.
We’re all having to do some belt tightening right now. Everyone has personal expenses to meet…mortgage, college tuition, taxes, insurance and medical bills while businesses have inventory to stock and a staff to pay. None of us want to fail and none of us will if we continue to support each other by dealing with each other fairly and treating each other with respect.
I loved the feeling I had in the city before I picked up that New York Times at the train station. It didn’t mean the economy had suddenly improved — my attitude had. I had found great new things for the store and I had actually had a good time. So…I’ve decided that we’re going to Just Stop It. We will not let the “loop of doom” they run on cable news channels day in and day out dictate our mood or sense of hope and self. Turn the channel or turn it off. None of us can succeed if all we hear is that we’re going to fail.
We’re not going to play that game and we’re not going to fail. From now on, our Hammertown stores and Hammertown.com will be offering you a well-deserved respite…an oasis in the Bad News Desert. No more complaining about the economy– no more negativity. And, we don’t care if you spend a dime.
In fact, if you email us a “good news” story or tell us something that makes us laugh when you visit the store…I’ll give you 10% off your purchase that day.
Join us in our campaign right now and send us your inspiring stories — good things that have happened to you or people you know or love. People who have helped others who have even less…stories of kindness, hope, humor and determination.
Yes, we will survive!
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Pay it forward with kind words and positive thoughts! Good for you Joan! We all need to move forward and stop living in the fear of failure, because fear will only hold us back and keep us from evolving. I admire your strength and willingness to share your feelings and experience with everyone. Let’s celebrate our ability to rise above all the negativity and
help someone around you…check on an elderly neighbor that may live alone,give up your seat on the bus so another may sit down, be a good listener,remember to donate to your favorite charity, volunteer your time-
the list goes on and on…but most of all-get out there and smile and stay positive!
Joan – Your store/s IS a mood-elevator all on its own! Imagine how many people have entered Hammertown Barn, over the years, in a horrific mood and been soothed and engaged by the beauty and bounty within. Imagine how many people have come to the store, just for the purpose of being lifted up and reminded of the beauty and calm of our country environment. (and walked away with a special something, or a perfect gift, or the ideal furnishing to complete a room…..or maybe just a great idea or inspiration) You GO, girl. I completely allign myself with your positive/helpful attitude. The only way out of this economic turn-down is to take The High Road…..which is never a bad choice.
So many people have emailed Hammertown in support of JUST STOP IT. Continue to send us good stories, happy pictures, good news…whatever makes you feel good. We will continually post things on our website, and look for a JUST STOP IT website to come out soon. Tell friends, neighbors, everybody…we want to take this viral and get the word to the media for this TO STOP. I love you Anderson Cooper, but Anderson Cooper 360 is getting too dismal for me to watch anymore!
I like that…JUST STOP IT. We are all so frozen. Let’s bring back the idea of adventure and the “go for it” attitude that makes us all so much more interesting. I am with you on this. I will join you in the fight to stop the negative talk and let’s all just get back to work and stop worrying about our futures. Our future is what we are now, what we want now. The choice is not to wallow in negativity, but to find that which excites and moves us to new places. The choice is not to be frozen.
Joan, you’ve hit on familiar territory for me; attitude and a positive approach is critical. While it’s vitally important to be realistic about what’s happening in the economy and in the store’s bank account, it’s equally important to remember that the attitude a retailer embraces sets the tone for customers…as well as for employees (read my advice on dealing with latter at http://alwaysupward.com/blog/?p=268).
Just as with vendors, if retailers look scared, act scared, then buy scared, they’ll scare their customers right into walking out the door.
Now…off to link to your post from my own blog…..
Cinda Baxter
Always Upward
consultant | speaker | writer
Right on, Joan! Ditto what everyone else said…I’m also thinking that perhaps this “reorganization” of all that we’ve known for so long has a purpose. We may find ourselves, at the end of this, happier, less encumbered and on a new path that is more rewarding and less stressful. My heart goes out to those whose jobs were lost and who struggle…but I hope we all continue to believe that the more we focus on doom and gloom, the more we’ll stay there. Perhaps if we focus, instead, on “right action”, on re-forming our opinions of how we all should be living, we might find ourselves more aligned, happier and more successful than we ever imagined possible! In my opinion, fear kills possibilities…
THANK you. You are a breath of fresh air, a refreshment! I try to give at least one upbeat comment to the “downtrodden” every day.