All I can say is TGIF!
Sometimes you just need a break. I'm putting the store on Vacation Mode and taking a moment to catch my breath, it has been a very busy year! Yeay 2009!
Friday, October 16, 2009
Thursday, October 15, 2009
Shopping bopping and reworking
Recorded Mary Queen of Shops on BBC last night, wanted to check it out. Super cute.
Anyone thinking of opening a retail space really ought to check out these types of shows. Queen of Shops, Peter Perfect, even that evil pixie Tabitha "hairstylist meanie".
Sometimes we can't see our own forest for the trees.
Today while speaking with an East coast customer on the phone we talked briefly about the ground swell of fresh interest in Industrial pieces. It's funny what the new thing to have is. Recently Jim and I visited a warehouse full of large pieces and some of the things we found ourselves attracted to were simply off the wall. One piece was a 12' rolling steel ladder with a footprint of 7'x 3'. Now, if we owned a house with a secondfloor and no staircase, it would have made perfect sense. However we have a single story with 14' ceilings only in the living room. Owning that ladder would be madness, but we both confessed to having a certain love for the look of it. Another thing we wanted were rolling steel cage racks, 7' x 24" x 7' the only reason for having them would be giant bookcases and Jim has already put built ins in our reading room. Still..
Years ago in Metropolitan Home someone had a pair of round doughnut style wire lobster traps that had been wired up for hanging lamps, LOVED these and have been searching for them ever since.
Today I am waiting on our plotter printer to be fixed so I can start running off my posters in large format, and I'm supposed to be quoting up copper sheeting for a table top but my metal shop is closed today...(?!?!?) ruh roh.
Anyone thinking of opening a retail space really ought to check out these types of shows. Queen of Shops, Peter Perfect, even that evil pixie Tabitha "hairstylist meanie".
Sometimes we can't see our own forest for the trees.
Today while speaking with an East coast customer on the phone we talked briefly about the ground swell of fresh interest in Industrial pieces. It's funny what the new thing to have is. Recently Jim and I visited a warehouse full of large pieces and some of the things we found ourselves attracted to were simply off the wall. One piece was a 12' rolling steel ladder with a footprint of 7'x 3'. Now, if we owned a house with a secondfloor and no staircase, it would have made perfect sense. However we have a single story with 14' ceilings only in the living room. Owning that ladder would be madness, but we both confessed to having a certain love for the look of it. Another thing we wanted were rolling steel cage racks, 7' x 24" x 7' the only reason for having them would be giant bookcases and Jim has already put built ins in our reading room. Still..
Years ago in Metropolitan Home someone had a pair of round doughnut style wire lobster traps that had been wired up for hanging lamps, LOVED these and have been searching for them ever since.
Today I am waiting on our plotter printer to be fixed so I can start running off my posters in large format, and I'm supposed to be quoting up copper sheeting for a table top but my metal shop is closed today...(?!?!?) ruh roh.
Monday, October 12, 2009
Another one bites the dust
A friend of mine who owns a fantastic store in Silver Lake just emailed to let me know he is closing his shop of 10 years. I asked if he wanted to try to ramp up online, it's kept us going and streamlined our overhead at the same time.
No, he's contacted a good auction house to liquidate his stock. He and his partner are leaving for Europe with an eye towards moving 'somewhere over there'. Unique idea.
I have thought about something similar but only to start over with all new merch. It's easier to move in another direction when you've freed yourself from excess responsibilities. If we had the option of an auction house in the state of Texas, I might seriously consider bouncing some stock out that way.
Unfortunately most Texas houses I can think of specialize more in Euro-Indo-Antiques and repro Decor auctions. And I'd rather use someone like LAMA, Wright or Rago. There's always a rental truck and the Brimfield show with the intent of returning empty come heck or high water.
Moving online really has been the best option for us, we have had an online presence for almost a decade so we've been well established. We were really fortunate to receive wonderful business advice early on when the economy was just beginning to show signs of distress. We feel lucky.
This past week we drove down to San Antonio to check out a potential dog at the Animal Defense League. What a gorgeous animal shelter! A huge contrast to TLAC which is a puppy death camp in comparison. Hate to say it, since both our kids came from TLAC, but the ADL in San Antonio kicks TLACs butt. Massive greens areas for playing and interacting, the pens are very large and clean and the dogs can see each other (in house socialization), the entire set up has dogs grouped according to size in different pens and sections of the property. There's grass everywhere not dirt pits. Best part was, every single person we spoke to was genuinely interested in answering out questions, knew a little something about each dog, and really seemed to WANT to be there.
I'm not really interested in the TLAC debate, but visiting ADL in San An made it glaringly obvious that there is something very wrong with our shelter.
Sadly the dog we went to see was not the dog for us, and it looks like we're going to give up the rescue route and are speaking with a breeder. Not the most popular choice, but it is what it is.
No, he's contacted a good auction house to liquidate his stock. He and his partner are leaving for Europe with an eye towards moving 'somewhere over there'. Unique idea.
I have thought about something similar but only to start over with all new merch. It's easier to move in another direction when you've freed yourself from excess responsibilities. If we had the option of an auction house in the state of Texas, I might seriously consider bouncing some stock out that way.
Unfortunately most Texas houses I can think of specialize more in Euro-Indo-Antiques and repro Decor auctions. And I'd rather use someone like LAMA, Wright or Rago. There's always a rental truck and the Brimfield show with the intent of returning empty come heck or high water.
Moving online really has been the best option for us, we have had an online presence for almost a decade so we've been well established. We were really fortunate to receive wonderful business advice early on when the economy was just beginning to show signs of distress. We feel lucky.
This past week we drove down to San Antonio to check out a potential dog at the Animal Defense League. What a gorgeous animal shelter! A huge contrast to TLAC which is a puppy death camp in comparison. Hate to say it, since both our kids came from TLAC, but the ADL in San Antonio kicks TLACs butt. Massive greens areas for playing and interacting, the pens are very large and clean and the dogs can see each other (in house socialization), the entire set up has dogs grouped according to size in different pens and sections of the property. There's grass everywhere not dirt pits. Best part was, every single person we spoke to was genuinely interested in answering out questions, knew a little something about each dog, and really seemed to WANT to be there.
I'm not really interested in the TLAC debate, but visiting ADL in San An made it glaringly obvious that there is something very wrong with our shelter.
Sadly the dog we went to see was not the dog for us, and it looks like we're going to give up the rescue route and are speaking with a breeder. Not the most popular choice, but it is what it is.
Wednesday, October 7, 2009
cool today - hot tamale
Weather has gone deeply erratic. Saw Whip It last night, it was super cute, I like Drew Barrymore.
I just wish they had filmed that here. I heard that the Austin scenes were shot over a few days just to get those landmarks "hi - How are you?" and of course SoCo.
Though the real bouts are actually held far from downtown and our vintage shops are way better curated than the shop they filmed in that was supposed to represent Atomic City. Still, despite the critics who panned it, I thought it was sweet. J and I were both kind of impressed that the film had no cussing, very very subtle drinking, no drugs and the tattoos didn't play a major part.
It could have been totally different if it had been directed by a guy, so I personally appreciated that it celebrated all the good parts of the sport.
Embarrassed myself by shouting out "OMG it's Chloe!" in the opening scenes. She was working for me when she first tried out for and joined the Holy Rollers, and while her full immersion in RD culture while she was my employee made me nuts... as a person I think her continued involvement in TXRD is terrific.
I had read that she was a body double but didn't realize she had any "face time" in the movie.
Yeay Chloe!
-----
NYT has a great article on buying a historic home in Venice Italy. Because, THAT'S so affordable.
We love watching international house hunters and the voice over says "Dick and Jane Hossenpheffer are leaving behind their small 6k sqft home in New Hampshire for a new life in the South of France.. with a budget of just 4 million dollars we hope they can find something!"
Because nothing gives people hope when the economy is hanging out in file 13, to know that with just 4 mil. we could all just scoot off to the south of France.
Personally I'd like it if these shows would point out that a lot of countries will not allow you to purchase property without citizenship, or a bank account with x amount opened in the country for x amount of time, that some countries require a separate purchase bonus that makes the NY Key Money scam look like daily allowance for a child. I like numbers and facts.
It's a lot easier to buy in your own country.
I just wish they had filmed that here. I heard that the Austin scenes were shot over a few days just to get those landmarks "hi - How are you?" and of course SoCo.
Though the real bouts are actually held far from downtown and our vintage shops are way better curated than the shop they filmed in that was supposed to represent Atomic City. Still, despite the critics who panned it, I thought it was sweet. J and I were both kind of impressed that the film had no cussing, very very subtle drinking, no drugs and the tattoos didn't play a major part.
It could have been totally different if it had been directed by a guy, so I personally appreciated that it celebrated all the good parts of the sport.
Embarrassed myself by shouting out "OMG it's Chloe!" in the opening scenes. She was working for me when she first tried out for and joined the Holy Rollers, and while her full immersion in RD culture while she was my employee made me nuts... as a person I think her continued involvement in TXRD is terrific.
I had read that she was a body double but didn't realize she had any "face time" in the movie.
Yeay Chloe!
-----
NYT has a great article on buying a historic home in Venice Italy. Because, THAT'S so affordable.
We love watching international house hunters and the voice over says "Dick and Jane Hossenpheffer are leaving behind their small 6k sqft home in New Hampshire for a new life in the South of France.. with a budget of just 4 million dollars we hope they can find something!"
Because nothing gives people hope when the economy is hanging out in file 13, to know that with just 4 mil. we could all just scoot off to the south of France.
Personally I'd like it if these shows would point out that a lot of countries will not allow you to purchase property without citizenship, or a bank account with x amount opened in the country for x amount of time, that some countries require a separate purchase bonus that makes the NY Key Money scam look like daily allowance for a child. I like numbers and facts.
It's a lot easier to buy in your own country.
Friday, October 2, 2009
All this could be yours for just 700k!
Because everyone needs 60,000+ sqft all to themselves... Allegheny Dist in Pittsburgh.. Yes, that's all three buildings.
It IS in Pittsburgh, but we can't buy this kind of gorgeousness in Austin. Not for under a mil and most have been mowed under to make way for ultra high-rises anyways. Buy this and create your own district. Though this is already in/at the edge of, a budding historic loft/warehouse dist.
You know there's something about this that speaks to you... admit it.
Deep down you know that if you see one more faux 50s mid century inspired cookie cutter-wanna be vintage building/sofa/vase/thingie, a little piece of you is going to die a small death. Mid Century was great and fresh and unique for about 15 years, but it's been done to death and co-opted by everyone and their mothers... for me, it's simply lost it's unique soul. It has officially sold out.
I want real and true and authentic.
A really stellar example of early mid mod will of course still stand out, but the shiny shiny over polished, sparkly, disco duckification of Mid Mod has really ruined it for me.
Currently I'm cleaving to the items that evoke meaningful work and production of useful things. Which is an American past, not present. towards the beginning of the end we were really drowning in objects of no substance or value. Pleather and high gloss candy colors just seems wrong and out-of-touch somehow.
----
On another slightly un-related note... I was reading an article in the Times about American Apparel having to fire a third of their workforce because that portion could not prove legal status in the US. And I was reading how American Apparel felt targeted etc etc... And I'm sorry that these people lost their jobs, but at the same time, American Apparel has this whole "rah rah Made in America" promotional machine. So how about hiring out of work Legal Immigrants to make your stupid t-shirts? It's not a race thing, I'm sure that any company in America can find enough people of a particular ethnic group who are here legally who also need jobs. So hire them already. Part of American Apparel's promotional spin is that they pay fair (not under the table or sweatshop) wages, so again I don't see why they can't hire legal immigrants.
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Heard that the last of Scarboroghs Dept store is closing. Good for them! I wonder what it must be like to be born into a family business with (possibly) no hope of getting to do something else. Ever. Perhaps something you'd rather be doing.. A economic slowdown might be a great excuse to walk alway from something that just doesn't speak to you anymore.
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The weather is wonderfully cool today.
Bit-o-telephone-hilarity:
Our shop answering machine includes a wealth of info and also requests "... for additional information, leave a message and we will contact you shortly"..
For the last two days, one lady has called and as soon as the answering machine picks up, she presses one to bypass the recorded greeting, says "Hello? Hello?" and then hangs up. WTH?
In a weird way it makes me laugh. I don't always answer the machine since we do get our fair share of recordings and "do you have health insurance?" knock knock calls.
Newsflash: If you do not leave a message at any business, no one will call you back. We get 5 to 10 legitimate calls daily, I do not have the time or interest to look over the call log to figure out who did and did not leave a message.
Wednesday, September 30, 2009
oooh shiny!
Found a czech glass yummy today... Opaque red and frosted black glass. Nice.
It's pretty, too large for a brooch (who wears brooches these days?!?) but perfect for a centerpiece for a necklace. Maybe 1930s-40s victorian revival, I love the black on red and the ultra fine details don't hurt either.
The particular factory we were looking at is a no-go.
But we have a few others we are about to follow up on. Apparently lots of investors are buying up defunct factories in Pittsburgh, but Pittsburgh is not for me. I do like Philly, but I'm sticking to my NE coastal guns.
My sister has found a set of 8 HM orange side shells. I wish to heck she had found them 2 years ago, but I think there is definitely still a buyer out there for a matched set.
Bumped into one of my old N. Loop customers today, she told me how much she missed my store and asked when I'd be reopening. Had to be honest, Austin is not the place for us right now.
I miss the shop as well, but I really think I made the right choice. I'm seeing too many people hemorrhaging money trying to keep their retail stores open. Any time I question the decision to close the retail space, Jim is very good about pointing out that I closed ahead of the curve and in the black.
Unfortunately this economy is just not conducive to running a business for non essentials. Our NY and LA customer base is really loving us since our overhead is much much lower than our peers in Manhattan and on Melrose and even with shipping it's still a steal, but Austin is not our strongest market right now.
Currently for my business to pay commercial rent and run a retail space in Austin in this economy would be solely for vanity's sake. Our price point is narrow and our design sense appeals to a specific group of designers and decorators. I was never very good at being all things to all people and I never liked carrying new gift items or funky low end pieces in order to appeal to all wallets. Austin Modern is very specific. Our local Austin customers now come directly to our warehouse and buy their goodies and we continue to love them for it. Not being open to the public for browsing has really made the buying and selling experience much more personal and focused anyways.
Since focusing further and farther afield we've: had our fine swag on the front covers and in the pages of several national shelter glossies, been interviewed for several articles on design, had the chance to work with some of the best and brightest interior decorators in America and have had the opportunity to see our hand picked lovelies being used in national ad campaigns and in motion pictures. That's a huge ego stroke, so I'm not as interested in opening another retail space right away.
It has to be the right location, the right layout, the right set up etc... that's a tough find in any city.
---------
in other news
Saw that Homegirls Vintage storefront has gone up for rent and their store space looks mostly empty, though their website is the same as it's always been so maybe they are just moving. Kirk Gallery is also moving for a destination (currently) unknown. Know of 3 other stores that are on the edge of moving or closing but as they have not announced it publicly I'll keep it to myself.
Many restaurants are opening and several car dealerships are expanding... maybe our near future involves a lot of eating out and driving our expanding butts around in new cars.. haha only serious.
Saw "9" - totally RAD.
Sunday, September 27, 2009
More warehouse love
My sister has offered to drive from her place to the warehouse to be the first to check it out in person.
It's potentially iffy.. our research into the background of the warehouse shows 2 owners from 1929 until 2006, then it was sold from a family trust to a investment group who has refied 4 times in 2 years. Possibly a distress sale. Might be good. Might be bad. Depends mainly on whether they have done any improvements or if they've been unable to take care of it.
We'll see.
We have 2 different couples as potential permanent on-site care takers if we buy something closer to the coast.
Had a great conversation yesterday with the in-store decorator for a largish dept store chain who has been tasked with revamping their store's look. Feeling good about some of the decisions we've made on the direction of our own shop. I keep seeing all these stores in Austin just suffering with same ol same ol.. this economy has not been great for a lot of people. Fortunately Austin is WAY better off than a lot of other areas.
Today we got a chance to check out Restoration Hardware's attempt at "industrial" style in person. I just haven't been driven enough to bother looking at it until today, the catalog images are enough to tell it's 'just this side of wrong'.
IMHO it's very Disney, the believability is just not there.
It's the best examples of "soulless reproduction". I liked the search lights from across the room, but up close the louvers were over polished, the castings were way too thick and the movements were slow and clunky. Epic Fail.
They might have European designers knocking the designs off but the production quality is third world at best.
It's potentially iffy.. our research into the background of the warehouse shows 2 owners from 1929 until 2006, then it was sold from a family trust to a investment group who has refied 4 times in 2 years. Possibly a distress sale. Might be good. Might be bad. Depends mainly on whether they have done any improvements or if they've been unable to take care of it.
We'll see.
We have 2 different couples as potential permanent on-site care takers if we buy something closer to the coast.
Had a great conversation yesterday with the in-store decorator for a largish dept store chain who has been tasked with revamping their store's look. Feeling good about some of the decisions we've made on the direction of our own shop. I keep seeing all these stores in Austin just suffering with same ol same ol.. this economy has not been great for a lot of people. Fortunately Austin is WAY better off than a lot of other areas.
Today we got a chance to check out Restoration Hardware's attempt at "industrial" style in person. I just haven't been driven enough to bother looking at it until today, the catalog images are enough to tell it's 'just this side of wrong'.
IMHO it's very Disney, the believability is just not there.
It's the best examples of "soulless reproduction". I liked the search lights from across the room, but up close the louvers were over polished, the castings were way too thick and the movements were slow and clunky. Epic Fail.
They might have European designers knocking the designs off but the production quality is third world at best.
Saturday, September 26, 2009
Love
Ooops. Yesterday I fell in love with a vacant warehouse in the North East. It's for sale, built in the 1920s, brick, on the waterfront. 58k sq feet. 5 floors, looks like a caved roof according to google satellite.
But still.... It's on the waterfront of a tiny little town. Population: Tiny. It's pretty. It costs less than our 60s ranchette... Must need a lot of work or is full of squatters.. or rats...
Last night over dinner I tried to talk 3 additional couples into buying it as a group summer house, each couple could have 10k square feet (a floor) to decorate, how much fun is that??
In our group we have: an architect, 2 engineers, a real estate agent, a restaurant owner, two accountants and an artist/restoration specialist. We're potentially a dream team.
Actually we were in love with the idea that over dinner in Texas, using an i-phone we could walk the streets of this tiny town in Vt and check out the possibilities of the building.
Mid Century Modernism is dying, the Industrial Revolution is about to take hold again. I think this go around it won't be so much about martinis in Palm Springs as lobster rolls in Montauk.
Restoring a 50s modern is cool, but rescuing and repurposing industrial warehouse space will be cooler... people will start lamenting all the factories that have been torn down to make way for condos and all the warehouses that were gutted to create soulless loft space.
One of our neatest buys our at Round Top was a bank of bronze door mailboxes. 30 mailboxes in a neat 2.5' x 2.5' cube. An excellent side table or unusual alternative to the very popular apothecary cabinet. I think it would make a wonderful jewelry box for someone who really likes their jewelry.
But still.... It's on the waterfront of a tiny little town. Population: Tiny. It's pretty. It costs less than our 60s ranchette... Must need a lot of work or is full of squatters.. or rats...
Last night over dinner I tried to talk 3 additional couples into buying it as a group summer house, each couple could have 10k square feet (a floor) to decorate, how much fun is that??
In our group we have: an architect, 2 engineers, a real estate agent, a restaurant owner, two accountants and an artist/restoration specialist. We're potentially a dream team.
Actually we were in love with the idea that over dinner in Texas, using an i-phone we could walk the streets of this tiny town in Vt and check out the possibilities of the building.
Mid Century Modernism is dying, the Industrial Revolution is about to take hold again. I think this go around it won't be so much about martinis in Palm Springs as lobster rolls in Montauk.
Restoring a 50s modern is cool, but rescuing and repurposing industrial warehouse space will be cooler... people will start lamenting all the factories that have been torn down to make way for condos and all the warehouses that were gutted to create soulless loft space.
One of our neatest buys our at Round Top was a bank of bronze door mailboxes. 30 mailboxes in a neat 2.5' x 2.5' cube. An excellent side table or unusual alternative to the very popular apothecary cabinet. I think it would make a wonderful jewelry box for someone who really likes their jewelry.
Monday, September 21, 2009
FAB
Fab weekend, Fab week coming up, things are going along tickety boo. Knock wood!
Thursday was hilarious, in 4 hours I avoided a business scam (rampant these days), got my ego crushed, and was contacted about the upcoming magazine article.
Friday was equally hilarious as I went to an estate only to see it being run by "Madame Scab" who has apparently come down hard on her heels. Which made me smile. Completely mean spirited I know, but she really is awful.
If you've seen that Housewives of Atlanta show and seen the Sheree character, you've seen Madame Scab. Super sly, ever financially motivated and the queen of backhanded compliments. If you ever meet Madame Scab, count your fingers after shaking her hand.
Saturday met with new customers, made a sale and looked at possible brother candidates for Fergus.
Sunday went to 6 Flags, NO lines, seriously. 6 Flags San Antonio was practically vacant. If you enjoy going to theme parks but can't deal with lines, I recommend the off season.
We could have rode everything twice and still had free time at the end of the day. Words of advice, the Rattler (biggest wooden coaster in Texas) is not for anyone who doesn't regularly attend yoga class. Serious whiplash. So so glad I had a massage scheduled for today anyways.
Never have I been on a coaster that could be described as "intentionally aggressive". The Rattler is out to hurt you. It will try to break your neck as quickly as possible. And the violent stop at the end seems set up to make the most out of your already damaged neck muscles.
Superman was a supreme coaster, smooth from start to finish. The Poltergeist (unsure WHY it's a poltergeist, but whatever) gets points for sheer speed, but it's curves are too sharp and really makes you feel like you are experiencing a high speed car accident first hand. What is that about? Every other coaster was all sharp angles and high speeds. I guess if you wait for 45 minutes to experience a minute and a half ride, it needs to be OTT. I'm a big fan of centrifuge rides, anything that spins and creates excessive gravitational pull is super cool in my book. I took Jim on the spinning swings. It's a really simple ride, just swings that spin in a circle. Usually they have small versions little kids and the Texas State Fair has one that is 3 stories tall, but it's still just a basic centrifuge ride. My hat flew off and Jim kept looking for it and of course made himself really sick by not always looking ahead. Poor thing. He was sick for the rest of the day.
So that was yesterday.
Today I was allowed to make a couple edits on an article about the shop coming out in a local shelter glossy. LOVE that I was offered the chance to make edits to the rough draft. The last newspaper article we were featured in had a bunch of disjointed quotes strung together with "And" and "but" so I sounded like a drunk decorator on meth. It was sad. I was sad when I read it.
Just came back from an excellent spa day, and now I need to pack a few things to drop in the mail tomorrow before working on a serious deep house cleaning.
Swung by WholeFoods bought some raw lemongrass and that combined with some crushed mint will make the whole house smell like a fresh lemon drop.
Going to Round Top later this week, can't wait! I love that Round Top falls on or near my birthday. It's a nice little bonus each year.
Thursday was hilarious, in 4 hours I avoided a business scam (rampant these days), got my ego crushed, and was contacted about the upcoming magazine article.
Friday was equally hilarious as I went to an estate only to see it being run by "Madame Scab" who has apparently come down hard on her heels. Which made me smile. Completely mean spirited I know, but she really is awful.
If you've seen that Housewives of Atlanta show and seen the Sheree character, you've seen Madame Scab. Super sly, ever financially motivated and the queen of backhanded compliments. If you ever meet Madame Scab, count your fingers after shaking her hand.
Saturday met with new customers, made a sale and looked at possible brother candidates for Fergus.
Sunday went to 6 Flags, NO lines, seriously. 6 Flags San Antonio was practically vacant. If you enjoy going to theme parks but can't deal with lines, I recommend the off season.
We could have rode everything twice and still had free time at the end of the day. Words of advice, the Rattler (biggest wooden coaster in Texas) is not for anyone who doesn't regularly attend yoga class. Serious whiplash. So so glad I had a massage scheduled for today anyways.
Never have I been on a coaster that could be described as "intentionally aggressive". The Rattler is out to hurt you. It will try to break your neck as quickly as possible. And the violent stop at the end seems set up to make the most out of your already damaged neck muscles.
Superman was a supreme coaster, smooth from start to finish. The Poltergeist (unsure WHY it's a poltergeist, but whatever) gets points for sheer speed, but it's curves are too sharp and really makes you feel like you are experiencing a high speed car accident first hand. What is that about? Every other coaster was all sharp angles and high speeds. I guess if you wait for 45 minutes to experience a minute and a half ride, it needs to be OTT. I'm a big fan of centrifuge rides, anything that spins and creates excessive gravitational pull is super cool in my book. I took Jim on the spinning swings. It's a really simple ride, just swings that spin in a circle. Usually they have small versions little kids and the Texas State Fair has one that is 3 stories tall, but it's still just a basic centrifuge ride. My hat flew off and Jim kept looking for it and of course made himself really sick by not always looking ahead. Poor thing. He was sick for the rest of the day.
So that was yesterday.
Today I was allowed to make a couple edits on an article about the shop coming out in a local shelter glossy. LOVE that I was offered the chance to make edits to the rough draft. The last newspaper article we were featured in had a bunch of disjointed quotes strung together with "And" and "but" so I sounded like a drunk decorator on meth. It was sad. I was sad when I read it.
Just came back from an excellent spa day, and now I need to pack a few things to drop in the mail tomorrow before working on a serious deep house cleaning.
Swung by WholeFoods bought some raw lemongrass and that combined with some crushed mint will make the whole house smell like a fresh lemon drop.
Going to Round Top later this week, can't wait! I love that Round Top falls on or near my birthday. It's a nice little bonus each year.
Wednesday, August 12, 2009
Lucky Pair!
Good Luck is finding something you love, true fortune is finding a PAIR!
Was out shopping this morning and bumped into another dealer who I always call with "heads ups" on the things he looks for, and he steered me towards these lovely babies. Nice pair of patio chairs to go with our other Van Kepple and Green loungers.
It sometimes pays to let other people know what you love.
I do try to steer clear of the parasitic types who want to sit on my shoulder and drain me for info. I'm not a library or a price guide. It's a pet peeve of most dealers to have someone expect a guide to identifying and pricing items. Especially when the parasite is another dealer.
Recently a dealer called about a pair of chairs I had on the site, she wanted to know who my restorer was, where I bought the fabric, who the maker was, how to tell who the maker is, who I used for shipping, and how much she ought to price hers for. Umm.. obnoxious much? Do your own research lady, geez!
It's common though.
When people see that what you have is selling, they want to know all about it. I used to be more than happy to share info, but after a while you realize it's not usually a two way street.
*sigh*
HAPPY DANCE for the chair pair!!
Was out shopping this morning and bumped into another dealer who I always call with "heads ups" on the things he looks for, and he steered me towards these lovely babies. Nice pair of patio chairs to go with our other Van Kepple and Green loungers.
It sometimes pays to let other people know what you love.
I do try to steer clear of the parasitic types who want to sit on my shoulder and drain me for info. I'm not a library or a price guide. It's a pet peeve of most dealers to have someone expect a guide to identifying and pricing items. Especially when the parasite is another dealer.
Recently a dealer called about a pair of chairs I had on the site, she wanted to know who my restorer was, where I bought the fabric, who the maker was, how to tell who the maker is, who I used for shipping, and how much she ought to price hers for. Umm.. obnoxious much? Do your own research lady, geez!
It's common though.
When people see that what you have is selling, they want to know all about it. I used to be more than happy to share info, but after a while you realize it's not usually a two way street.
*sigh*
HAPPY DANCE for the chair pair!!
Monday, August 10, 2009
This weekend we painted the front door and even though it is the brightest juciest jungle red/coral orange.. it was still missing something.
Like a giant brass Lion head door knocker.
And there happened to be one in the partially demolished guest bath masquerading as a towel ring.
Total time to sand, clean, repaint and rehang the door: 2 hours.
Total cost: under $20.00
We used Montana Gold in Blood Orange. Montana Gold cures in 2 minutes. It's amazing stuff.
Also took some of the succulents that were getting sunburned and brought them down to the lower level of the planter and replaced them with golden barrel cactus as well as adding a few more aloes.
Like a giant brass Lion head door knocker.
And there happened to be one in the partially demolished guest bath masquerading as a towel ring.
Total time to sand, clean, repaint and rehang the door: 2 hours.
Total cost: under $20.00
We used Montana Gold in Blood Orange. Montana Gold cures in 2 minutes. It's amazing stuff.
Also took some of the succulents that were getting sunburned and brought them down to the lower level of the planter and replaced them with golden barrel cactus as well as adding a few more aloes.
Sunday, August 9, 2009
Athena came for a sleepover weekend while her dad was out of town...
It's all fun and games until someone ends up dressed like Alice in Wonderland.
Fergus decides "playing MakeUp" is stupid. Athena is the tiniest little golden retriever.
She's just small, delicate and mildly dopey.
This weekend was "the Lamp Show". Some of my favorite lamps sold this weekend including the 4 ft chrome anglepoise lamp, the GIGANTIC yellow ceramic ginger jar with Faux Bamboo piping, and a fab 1980s Memphis Design group lamp. Nice.
There's a great store in CA called Rewire, wonder if something like that would work in Austin? I love lighting....
Tuesday, August 4, 2009
Multi tasking
Fergus takes great delight in barking at the mailman, it's his Joy. Nothing makes him happier than going full tilt barking mad in the front window as the mailman makes his rounds.
Fergus gets to do this twice a day, once for the neighbors across the street and once for our own delivery. He's fanatical about letting the mailman know he's under surveillance and every move is noted. Fergus is Gladys Kravitz!
Today we're opening another Etsy store for all of our fabrics and vintage patterns. 20thCenturyStitches... that name is sooooo original!
Sorting through 4 decades of dress patterns is a trip, I'm tempted to pull all the patterns I like and run them to a seamstress. We kept a lot of patterns on hand for the costume department of the local film studios. Though I think my taste for 60s A lines definitely made that section overly large.
So many people love vintage dresses but can't wear them because the sizing is TINY. There is always someone who is looking to replicate vintage clothing in today's sizes. I think it's a lovely idea and bought some fantastic ready made A lines over Christmas and Spring.
The Maxi Dress is killing me. At 5.4' I cannot find one that doesn't make me look... well.. odd.
I love them but they don't love me back. A-line minis are for me!
So since I work from home or the warehouse I often have the tv on in the background. Three things that I've noticed on the "design" channels:
1. When demo-ing a house they rarely make mention of Habitat for Humanity and most often throw out fixtures and items that should be going to a salvage store like Habitat. Surely the people on these home shows have got to know that there is an entire market of people looking high and low for a 50s jadite bathtub???!? I don't get how they could just toss something like that. About 8 years ago I passed on a custom HOT HOT ORANGE bathroom suite with sink, tub, and toilet which would have been totally nuts with Panton wall paper. Still regret that.
2. The DIY masses have started using Mint, Chocolate, and Robbins Egg to excess. Time to move on. By next spring Chocolate and Robins Egg will be soooooo dated. It'll be next years metallic glazed Crimson and Canary combo. Bleh.
I'll confess I love decor and design but keep our walls at home stark white because I'm not into painting everything a color and and then having to change it the next year.
3. This made me really sad.. I dig Color Splash. Who doesn't like a flamboyant man who thinks he can paint and really shouldn't.. but is actually quite a good designer?
So Mr. Cute (I don't watch it enough to know his name..) is in a home goods warehouse and he's talking about how it's his favorite store and how it has such great stuff.. Blah blah "I love this pillow, I love this chair, I Lah-ve this table.. but I love the look of THIS even more!" Camera pans back to reveal the oh so common these days "Going Out of Business" sign.
WTF?? Now I know what he was trying to say "love this, but love a bargain even more... " but really? I'm also turned off by (Steinmart, Marshalls, Bealls?) weird little commercials celebrating the demise of tiny bespoke dress shops and indie designers so that they can snap up everything at a 25 cents a pound rates and pass the savings on to you..
I am ALL FOR savings. I'm downright miserly sometimes, but I don't celebrate businesses going under. This might be a "there but by the grace of god goes I" sort of reaction, but it is short sighted and disappointing to celebrate a Going out of Business sale. If only because next time you need something unique or bespoke your options will be that much narrower.
I will admit that I thought the "funny little European 1s that look like 7s" commercial was funny though.
Fergus gets to do this twice a day, once for the neighbors across the street and once for our own delivery. He's fanatical about letting the mailman know he's under surveillance and every move is noted. Fergus is Gladys Kravitz!
Today we're opening another Etsy store for all of our fabrics and vintage patterns. 20thCenturyStitches... that name is sooooo original!
Sorting through 4 decades of dress patterns is a trip, I'm tempted to pull all the patterns I like and run them to a seamstress. We kept a lot of patterns on hand for the costume department of the local film studios. Though I think my taste for 60s A lines definitely made that section overly large.
So many people love vintage dresses but can't wear them because the sizing is TINY. There is always someone who is looking to replicate vintage clothing in today's sizes. I think it's a lovely idea and bought some fantastic ready made A lines over Christmas and Spring.
The Maxi Dress is killing me. At 5.4' I cannot find one that doesn't make me look... well.. odd.
I love them but they don't love me back. A-line minis are for me!
So since I work from home or the warehouse I often have the tv on in the background. Three things that I've noticed on the "design" channels:
1. When demo-ing a house they rarely make mention of Habitat for Humanity and most often throw out fixtures and items that should be going to a salvage store like Habitat. Surely the people on these home shows have got to know that there is an entire market of people looking high and low for a 50s jadite bathtub???!? I don't get how they could just toss something like that. About 8 years ago I passed on a custom HOT HOT ORANGE bathroom suite with sink, tub, and toilet which would have been totally nuts with Panton wall paper. Still regret that.
2. The DIY masses have started using Mint, Chocolate, and Robbins Egg to excess. Time to move on. By next spring Chocolate and Robins Egg will be soooooo dated. It'll be next years metallic glazed Crimson and Canary combo. Bleh.
I'll confess I love decor and design but keep our walls at home stark white because I'm not into painting everything a color and and then having to change it the next year.
3. This made me really sad.. I dig Color Splash. Who doesn't like a flamboyant man who thinks he can paint and really shouldn't.. but is actually quite a good designer?
So Mr. Cute (I don't watch it enough to know his name..) is in a home goods warehouse and he's talking about how it's his favorite store and how it has such great stuff.. Blah blah "I love this pillow, I love this chair, I Lah-ve this table.. but I love the look of THIS even more!" Camera pans back to reveal the oh so common these days "Going Out of Business" sign.
WTF?? Now I know what he was trying to say "love this, but love a bargain even more... " but really? I'm also turned off by (Steinmart, Marshalls, Bealls?) weird little commercials celebrating the demise of tiny bespoke dress shops and indie designers so that they can snap up everything at a 25 cents a pound rates and pass the savings on to you..
I am ALL FOR savings. I'm downright miserly sometimes, but I don't celebrate businesses going under. This might be a "there but by the grace of god goes I" sort of reaction, but it is short sighted and disappointing to celebrate a Going out of Business sale. If only because next time you need something unique or bespoke your options will be that much narrower.
I will admit that I thought the "funny little European 1s that look like 7s" commercial was funny though.
Sunday, July 26, 2009
Good bye 1972.. Hello 1978!
The original wallpaper is textured vinyl in yellow and green stripe. Most likely made by dow chemicals or 3m. Wipe it clean materials were really popular in the 70s.
The new paper is Cole and Sons (it's more of a charcoal plum and silver, but photoed chocolate and gold)
Apparently Target tried to offer wallpapers, it didn't go so well and I snagged a case of this vintage inspired paper for practically nothing.
Lee Jofa has some of the best papers in America imho, but I won't turn my nose up at Target.
Wallpaper, who'd have thought a few years ago it'd make a big mainstream comeback? I've been buying and selling vintage papers for years. Almost all of it going to NY. Foiled and Flocked papers were especially popular 4 or 5 years ago. Now you can buy them new.
Our super fabulous late 60s Rancho Deluxo was decorated in typical Brady Bunch style in the late 60s and was NEVER updated. Ever. Romper Room meets Better living though chemicals.
Our real Estate agent had her doubts but the bones were great and since our agent is a good friend she's been able to watch the improvements. She's a Craftsman kind of girl and I give her props for being able to appreciate a mid 60s internationalist design style.
It's been two years (almost), all the carpeting has been replaced with cork, the hideous deep walnut wall paneling has gone away, the kitchen cabinets have been refaced.
We've picked a color for the exterior that is not Chocolate or Beige. The banana trees have been replanted in back and we have more of a tropical oasis in the backyard.
Now we're working on the guest bath since it's too hot to keep messing with the exterior.
Sadly the Master bath in true 60s style, is a walk in shower. Which would be fine, except the walk in is very South American hotel. As in the toilet is practically IN the tiny barely-enough-room-to-turn-around-in shower stall. Maybe the architect thought 747 in flight bathrooms were SUPER Cool. It makes no sense. Two very large walk in His and Hers closets, an 8 foot long double vanity sink and a separate pocket doored room that might on a good day, measure 6' x 4' for both the shower and toilet. Seriously.
The husband being a tall man would have to squat to get under the shower head, but if he did that, his knee would literally knock the glass door open. It really is a poorly set up bathroom.
Picture the Desi Arnez shower scene in the Long Long Trailer and you'll get the picture.
We have not used that shower once since we moved in. The main problem? The pocket doored wet room, is smack in between the walk ins and the opening from the bedroom to the closet vanity area is on one side. So no matter how we reconfigure it, we'll either walk through the clothing closet to get to the bathroom OR walk through the bathroom to get to the closet. We're still contemplating various redesigns.
Bleh.
Saturday, July 25, 2009
Miss you my favorite son
Two stupid kids, tra la la la!Spence and Fergus as catalog models. We were trying to get Spence to push the laundry/mail cart.
Spence LOVED taking photos, Fergus not so much. Spence was better at direction and was very into costumes and props.
Fergus weighs 100 and Spence weighed 110, these are not small babies.
We are still looking for a new brother for Fergus. We all miss Spence more than anything.
Thursday, July 23, 2009
Strange flowers
This is the oddest flower!
Looks like a cross between an orchid and a wonderful candy Wonka might have made. Since cactus root so easily, many of us cactus junkies trade paddles and cuttings back and forth. Usually I remember where everything came from. Not sure WHO or even WHERE this guy came from, I don't even remember planting it, but it has popped up in the planter out front and in the back yard.
The flower is solid and shiny, like a hard plastic. Definitely not delicate like an orchid, I'm sure it is in one of my cactus books, will have to check later today.
Tuesday, July 21, 2009
It's not all freaks and geeks
I post a lot of our weird encounters onto blogger. I use it to vent.
But I wanted to note a recent call I had that was a great big morale boost!
We sell to several "well known designers" henceforth known as WKD.
This particular WKD has written several books and has superb taste. When this WKD calls, I get butterflies. She's classic, direct, knows what she wants and she just buys. She doesn't require discounts, she doesn't belittle or suggest that something is too expensive. She knows my prices are honest and she says so. Most designers have their assistants call, this WKD calls personally. It may be worth noting that this WKD found us 5 years ago and we've been selling to her ever since. These relationships don't usually develop overnight.
She's REFRESHING! There are a few other WKDs that we sell to who will request 20% discounts on $20. items because they can. *I can't give that sort of discount, but they ask anyways.
So WKD has class. Ok, I confess, I'm also a big fan of almost everything she does. So she calls to tell me she needs item X and it needs to ship overnight to NY. She tells me it's for a photo shoot for Elle Decor October and she says she'll make sure that my shop gets credit as the source. How awesome is that? We've been in several top shelter magazines over the years, almost ALWAYS uncredited. One of our items made the COVER of Veranda and the item was attributed to the ID we sold it to, this happens a lot.
I don't mind, it's pretty common. But when someone like WKD says she loves our stuff and wants to see us succeed, its incredibly special.
But I wanted to note a recent call I had that was a great big morale boost!
We sell to several "well known designers" henceforth known as WKD.
This particular WKD has written several books and has superb taste. When this WKD calls, I get butterflies. She's classic, direct, knows what she wants and she just buys. She doesn't require discounts, she doesn't belittle or suggest that something is too expensive. She knows my prices are honest and she says so. Most designers have their assistants call, this WKD calls personally. It may be worth noting that this WKD found us 5 years ago and we've been selling to her ever since. These relationships don't usually develop overnight.
She's REFRESHING! There are a few other WKDs that we sell to who will request 20% discounts on $20. items because they can. *I can't give that sort of discount, but they ask anyways.
So WKD has class. Ok, I confess, I'm also a big fan of almost everything she does. So she calls to tell me she needs item X and it needs to ship overnight to NY. She tells me it's for a photo shoot for Elle Decor October and she says she'll make sure that my shop gets credit as the source. How awesome is that? We've been in several top shelter magazines over the years, almost ALWAYS uncredited. One of our items made the COVER of Veranda and the item was attributed to the ID we sold it to, this happens a lot.
I don't mind, it's pretty common. But when someone like WKD says she loves our stuff and wants to see us succeed, its incredibly special.
weirdo show part two
must be something in the air.
Today I catch the shop phone before it goes to voicemail, it went something like this:
me: Hi thank you for calling Austin Modern, can I help you?
caller: Yeah I was calling about item x on your website?
me: uh huh, what can I help you with?
caller: I have something just like that but mine has this, this and this that is different...?
*Yes everything is in the form of a question*
me: ...mmhmm?
caller: do you buy, 'cause I have like, a whole house of this..?
me: it depends, where are you located?
caller: why does that matter?
me: well, I don't buy items I can't inspect in person.
caller: oh. well, I'm in California but this is just like the ones you have except for this, this and this, which is different. But other than that it's the same.
* maybe in your book, but not in mine*
me: try finding someone in your area that specializes in Mid Century or Hollywood Regency
caller: it that still popular? "cause it's been like, a trend for like a year now...?
me: yes, these trends do have a tendency to last for longer than a year....
caller: oh... do you know anyone in my area I ought to call?
*Seriously?? Did you just call a business long distance, across several state lines, to ask who you should sell your stuff to locally?*
and people wonder why I screen my shop calls.
Today I catch the shop phone before it goes to voicemail, it went something like this:
me: Hi thank you for calling Austin Modern, can I help you?
caller: Yeah I was calling about item x on your website?
me: uh huh, what can I help you with?
caller: I have something just like that but mine has this, this and this that is different...?
*Yes everything is in the form of a question*
me: ...mmhmm?
caller: do you buy, 'cause I have like, a whole house of this..?
me: it depends, where are you located?
caller: why does that matter?
me: well, I don't buy items I can't inspect in person.
caller: oh. well, I'm in California but this is just like the ones you have except for this, this and this, which is different. But other than that it's the same.
* maybe in your book, but not in mine*
me: try finding someone in your area that specializes in Mid Century or Hollywood Regency
caller: it that still popular? "cause it's been like, a trend for like a year now...?
me: yes, these trends do have a tendency to last for longer than a year....
caller: oh... do you know anyone in my area I ought to call?
*Seriously?? Did you just call a business long distance, across several state lines, to ask who you should sell your stuff to locally?*
and people wonder why I screen my shop calls.
That's HILARIOUS!
So we're contacted by a local interior design(ID) firm. This firm has a reputation around town for being sort of unfocused when it comes to what they are looking for from vendors. And then blaming those vendors when the outcome is not as expected. Call it mind reader syndrome. As in "I'm not a mind reader, please be specific".
We're on vacation and I get an email that basically says "Need items immediately, need to make an appt to come to the warehouse to see several items immediately, need measurements and addl images right away"
Sounds like a rush job.
So I email back, explain that we're not in town but please look at our website for addl images, measurements and pricing until we return.
I was not sure why prices were requested when we provide prices for everything online. But whatever. I get an email back that additional images are no good, "need to see items and take pictures in person". Ok, I understand and that's fine.
I ask which items specifically are under consideration.
There is a real reason for this. When the majority of our business started coming from New York and LA, we made the decision to go ahead and close our retail shop and moved to warehouses last summer. Our warehouses are not set up for browsing, they are set up to warehouse our stock. We get an order, I pull the item, pack it up and it's gone.
When someone makes an appointment to come to the warehouse to look at a specific item I need to make sure the item is down at ground level, unpacked and ready for inspection. We are not set up for browsing. Everything is stored vertically and well wrapped in boxes. We have 10 storage units in several climate controlled buildings within a secure facility. Knowing which items are "on the block" ahead of time is crucial. Again: several buildings, items stored, not set up for browsing.
So when I ask which items are under consideration, there is a real reason. I'm not just deciding whether the potential total purchase is high enough.
When the response is "everything" this presents a problem. It means either the person making an appointment doesn't know what they want and is looking to browse OR wants to buy everything in stock. Which would be wonderful, but unlikely.
So we are aware that when a request comes in for an appointment but a specific item is not of interest, this is most likely about to be a waste of everyone's time. We are not set up for browsing.
We get a lot of messages on the office phone that go something like this "Hi this is so and so, I'll be in town this afternoon and I wanted to make an appointment to come by and look at your store around 2pm?" often this call comes in around noon giving a scant 2 hour window to set it up. Usually when I return the call, thankfully most people confess they just wanted to browse around and kill time. Most are happy to look at the website when I explain that warehouse really means warehouse. Not a cool-industrial-secret-password-warehouse-that-looks-exactly-like-a-retail-store warehouse.
So anyways. after all the immediate rush-rush email business, the ID does not contact me until a WEEK after we've returned to town. Hmm. Then the ID needs to see one item. Just one. We've gone from needing EVERYTHING to just one coffee table.
It's the most inexpensive coffee table we have. It's priced at HALF of it's wholesale price because it has no glass. I have already priced the glass and know what it will cost, the table WITH new glass will still be half of it's lowest retail price.
While looking at the table the ID tells me they just bought a 'truck load" of items from someone in Dallas who I wholesale to regularly.
If I'm charging 400, this person in Dallas is charging 1,600. So, I feel confident that this table will be purchased. It's a documented/known designer piece, it's gorgeous and it's very affordable.
The table goes out on 3 day approval. 5 days later I get an email, they like the table but they can't afford to buy glass for it. Ok. Please bring the table back.
What else can I say?
It is not my responsibility to make items fit a clients budget. When returning the item the ID accusingly tells me that they called for a glass quote and it was going to cost almost as much as the table.
Hmm. Well, A. I obviously got a much better quote and B. the item is clearly listed as "priced without glass". Even including the cost of overpriced brand new glass this table is still HALF it's retail price. Had the ID not snapped at me the ID might have heard who gave me a much better quote. Also, if price really is a problem, I'm not understanding why they are purchasing "truck loads" from someone whom I wholesale to.
The whole experience was weird. This is the second time I've been told by this particular ID that my item is exactly what they want but that it is not in their client's budget. I am not expensive and my prices are not a secret. I didn't like the way this experience went.
I don't think I will work with this ID firm again. It's not worth the hassle. I almost feel better that other local sellers and service providers feel the same way about this ID.
We're on vacation and I get an email that basically says "Need items immediately, need to make an appt to come to the warehouse to see several items immediately, need measurements and addl images right away"
Sounds like a rush job.
So I email back, explain that we're not in town but please look at our website for addl images, measurements and pricing until we return.
I was not sure why prices were requested when we provide prices for everything online. But whatever. I get an email back that additional images are no good, "need to see items and take pictures in person". Ok, I understand and that's fine.
I ask which items specifically are under consideration.
There is a real reason for this. When the majority of our business started coming from New York and LA, we made the decision to go ahead and close our retail shop and moved to warehouses last summer. Our warehouses are not set up for browsing, they are set up to warehouse our stock. We get an order, I pull the item, pack it up and it's gone.
When someone makes an appointment to come to the warehouse to look at a specific item I need to make sure the item is down at ground level, unpacked and ready for inspection. We are not set up for browsing. Everything is stored vertically and well wrapped in boxes. We have 10 storage units in several climate controlled buildings within a secure facility. Knowing which items are "on the block" ahead of time is crucial. Again: several buildings, items stored, not set up for browsing.
So when I ask which items are under consideration, there is a real reason. I'm not just deciding whether the potential total purchase is high enough.
When the response is "everything" this presents a problem. It means either the person making an appointment doesn't know what they want and is looking to browse OR wants to buy everything in stock. Which would be wonderful, but unlikely.
So we are aware that when a request comes in for an appointment but a specific item is not of interest, this is most likely about to be a waste of everyone's time. We are not set up for browsing.
We get a lot of messages on the office phone that go something like this "Hi this is so and so, I'll be in town this afternoon and I wanted to make an appointment to come by and look at your store around 2pm?" often this call comes in around noon giving a scant 2 hour window to set it up. Usually when I return the call, thankfully most people confess they just wanted to browse around and kill time. Most are happy to look at the website when I explain that warehouse really means warehouse. Not a cool-industrial-secret-password-warehouse-that-looks-exactly-like-a-retail-store warehouse.
So anyways. after all the immediate rush-rush email business, the ID does not contact me until a WEEK after we've returned to town. Hmm. Then the ID needs to see one item. Just one. We've gone from needing EVERYTHING to just one coffee table.
It's the most inexpensive coffee table we have. It's priced at HALF of it's wholesale price because it has no glass. I have already priced the glass and know what it will cost, the table WITH new glass will still be half of it's lowest retail price.
While looking at the table the ID tells me they just bought a 'truck load" of items from someone in Dallas who I wholesale to regularly.
If I'm charging 400, this person in Dallas is charging 1,600. So, I feel confident that this table will be purchased. It's a documented/known designer piece, it's gorgeous and it's very affordable.
The table goes out on 3 day approval. 5 days later I get an email, they like the table but they can't afford to buy glass for it. Ok. Please bring the table back.
What else can I say?
It is not my responsibility to make items fit a clients budget. When returning the item the ID accusingly tells me that they called for a glass quote and it was going to cost almost as much as the table.
Hmm. Well, A. I obviously got a much better quote and B. the item is clearly listed as "priced without glass". Even including the cost of overpriced brand new glass this table is still HALF it's retail price. Had the ID not snapped at me the ID might have heard who gave me a much better quote. Also, if price really is a problem, I'm not understanding why they are purchasing "truck loads" from someone whom I wholesale to.
The whole experience was weird. This is the second time I've been told by this particular ID that my item is exactly what they want but that it is not in their client's budget. I am not expensive and my prices are not a secret. I didn't like the way this experience went.
I don't think I will work with this ID firm again. It's not worth the hassle. I almost feel better that other local sellers and service providers feel the same way about this ID.
Monday, May 25, 2009
Memorial Day, aging and those handsome young men
Reading a few memorial day articles in the NYTimes
Bridge helps retain mental acuity: http://www.nytimes.com/2009/05/22/health/research/22brain.html?em
And why Donna Reed really was America's Sweetheart:
http://www.nytimes.com/2009/05/25/arts/25donna.html?hp
Shopping at private estates can sometimes be a challenge for me. I'm a sucker for War Bride photos. No, not like that. The ones from WWII. Most of the boys are just milk faced kids and their brides look like teenage beauty queens. Pretty ones, not the creepy kind we see on reality shows today.
(Yes, like a lot of Mid Century dealers or collectors I like to operate under the delusion that America in the Mid 20th Century was a 'better place')
Usually there is no info, I might know that the wife has recently passed and the husband passed on a decade ago. But that's about it.
I wonder why no one in the family is saving the photos. Were they mean parents, didn't they have any kids, do the kids not KNOW that these photos are spread out on a buffet as 'paper ephemera' to be bought by crafters but usually to be thrown away at the end of a the sale?
Unwanted.
That's depressing to me, so I buy them and stick them in a file at home. Eventually I might take them all and place them under a plexi sheet, a 4'x6' American quilt of b/w photos. In the right environment it could be a great piece of art.
My favorite photo, the only one I actually have framed and keep on display is this one. It was from a stash of AP photos from WWII and was not actually found at the residence of the original owners.
The AP Text says St. Louis July 1- "you should see my sister: You'd want to Marry Her" And He Did-- Sgt and Mrs Roy Hughes and M-Sgt Harold Glass after the Hughes' wedding here last night. Sgts Hughes and Glass were Jap Prisoners together when Sgt Glass talked of his Sister. Sgt Hughes met her and Married her. (See Wire Story) -
I don't think the Wire Story was ever published, I could never find it but it sounds like the BEST of Wartime love stories. Could Hollywood have dreamed up fresher faced more wholesome looking kids? As POWs together these two had been witness to some very bad situations. I wonder how things turned out for them.
Often times at estates of WWII vets we see the same thing, that one photo of a handsome young airman, 3/4 profile - sepiatone, maybe a stash of sweetheart trinkets and costume Victory jewelry. Sometimes you might find two photos of young men and find out that the lady of the house was engaged to one young man who didn't return and eventually married another young soldier. Most of this stuff is dismissed as detritus and is left behind for the less informed weekend shoppers.
PreSale buyers are an interesting bunch, the focus is profit and so they dismiss the sentimental things entirely. The old school crusty dealers who usually smoke like chimneys and smell like an ashtray soaked in old coffee get their knickers in a twist to get at the "good" military items - helmets, some metals, souviners.. but they see no vaule in memories. Which is fine, there are lots of things at presales that I buy that no one else does. I specialize in art, furnishings and lighting, but there are small little things that catch my eye and flip my switch too.
These WWII estates are becoming less and less frequent. Most of these men and women would be in their 90s now. This was the last war where almost everyone called these returning men "heros". Korea didn't generate the fervor. My Dad was an airman in the Korean war, but he was stationed in Japan and doesn't really have any 'war' stories. I wonder about the men who fought in Vietnam, do they hold on to old photos or do they try and get rid of any and all reminders? How many of the guys in wheelchairs on street corner intersections holding signs really ARE Vietnam vets? What do actual vets think about these guys?
I wasn't born until Vietnam was almost over, but it seems like Vietnam was not a time of "Pride in the US Military". No flag waving and Jimmy Stewart style parades for Hometown Heros.
What about the kids fighting in Iraq now?
Jim's cousin has been sent back TWICE. Three tours of duty, how is that going to affect him mentally?
Who knows how any of this will turn out. In a weird way I feel like we've been in a recession/depression and at War since shortly after GW Bush was elected. That's ten years. My entire 30s have been spent in this global funk. An entire decade, gone. Yeah ok, that sounds kind of selfish in the big picture. But this is just a blog, written from one small perspective.
Tuesday, April 28, 2009
Alzheimers isn't funny... but this is!
Alzheimers is not funny. My ex-stepmother's mother (it's not that complicated) is 96 and suffering from Alzheimers, my stepmother is a real trooper and is Meema's sole caretaker. As a daughter it has to be tough to see a parent move in and out of reality. She deals with it by finding the lighter side of some of their less lucid conversations.
The other day Meema was saying that she was ready to go, tired of living, ready to move on. Very healthy and normal, lucid and sane. My stepmother being of the flower child/enlightened eastern religion generation feels this is a pretty healthy thing to say.
So she assumed Meema was was having a lucid moment.
So Meema says, I'm ready to go, I think it's time... But you know... it'd be a LOT more fun if you'd come with me.
I don't know why but that particular "alzheimers moment" cracks me up. This week has been an incredibly busy one. We're seeing more Deco and Industrial pieces sell and it gives me hope that the recession is slowing down.
W00t!
The other day Meema was saying that she was ready to go, tired of living, ready to move on. Very healthy and normal, lucid and sane. My stepmother being of the flower child/enlightened eastern religion generation feels this is a pretty healthy thing to say.
So she assumed Meema was was having a lucid moment.
So Meema says, I'm ready to go, I think it's time... But you know... it'd be a LOT more fun if you'd come with me.
I don't know why but that particular "alzheimers moment" cracks me up. This week has been an incredibly busy one. We're seeing more Deco and Industrial pieces sell and it gives me hope that the recession is slowing down.
W00t!
Thursday, April 2, 2009
Hot off the presses! Austin Modern Interview
Recently we conducted an email interview with Glossy Magazine which was putting together an article to highlight the Blanton Museum Birth Of the Cool Exhibit.
Austin Modern (me) was asked to give a lecture on decorating with mid century design at DWR downtown Austin.
Doing the Event at DWR was unusual since we are proponents of vintage originals and do not promote repros and reissues, but it worked out fairly well. The Studio manager for DWR was lovely, the event was lovely and it was a very nice evening.
The interesting thing was this interview. It seemed like we were to be the focus of the story, but once it came out there were a few choppy snippets from the interview that didn't make sense when taken out of context. Parts of this email were in response to a prior telephone conversation we had before the interview questions were emailed to me.
So for the sake of historical accuracy (and noting that I'm not a total prat) I'm posting the "original" interview here.
Hello (deleted),
...
Here are some points I'll be touching on in my lecture and some requested "stream of consciousness thoughts", I hope the grab bag of will be of use! Your interview questions are answered below as well.
Thank you so much for contacting me, I'm excited to be included in Glossy again!
Best, Elle
I make clarifications and give definitions because I have a tendency to assume that everyone knows exactly what I'm talking about, which is not always the case.
I hope you'll excuse me if you do already know all of this.
(fyi MCM is short for Mid Century Modern and makes typing for us hunt and peck typists a lot easier)
With good modernist furniture pieces starting at close to $500. and going up over $100K for the REALLY neat and nifty pieces, it's not actually an entry level market.
Vintage is a good entry market and as a collectors taste is refined, they move into collecting MCM.
A word on the difference between Vintage and MCM:
Vintage and MCM are two similar markets but vintage is a good catchall description for anything from the 50s - 70s and MCM really relates to Modernist design only.
So a 50s toaster is vintage but it's not MCM, However an early Herman Miller fiberglass chair is vintage AND it's MCM. Hope that isn't confusing.
A few years ago Austin Monthly called me when they were writing an article on the anniversary on the Eames lounger. They wanted to know the price for "used" Eames chairs.
At the time Eames lounge chairs manufactured prior to 1970 were selling for any where between 4,500 and 6k while the new Licensed Re-Issues from DWR sold for 3,500. so the
best I could do was tell them about the Plycrafts which were made in the 70s and look like the Eames lounge but could be had for around 400. at any vintage store in Austin.
Because MCM is such a new field, some people still think of it as used or simply vintage. In Austin we're really lucky in that $150 and 15 minutes in any direction will get you an interesting piece of vintage furniture, but finding true MCM takes a little more searching.
I'm really pleased that this exhibit is going to encourage more people to see that Modernism is more than plastic flamingos and kitschy lamps... Though we need those too! We need a sense of fun and that's what Kitsch is all about!
A little background on me:
I started selling and restoring antiques at 19 which is very early, but my father was an art dealer and both my aunts were antiques dealers so I grew up with it.
Before moving to Austin in 1996, I had a business in Palm Beach specializing in American Art Deco, and while Deco is exceptionally hot in South Florida,
there isn't a huge call for it here in Austin and so I spent my first few years in Austin buying Deco here and sending it back to the coast for resale.
Austin Modern and Austinmodern.com has been in business for 6 years and we specialize in 20th C. Art, Furnishings, and Lighting.
Along with the retail business, I also work as a buying consultant for private collectors.
In regards to your earlier question: I was thinking about why other Austin stores were not included in the Blanton event and I believe that since this is a museum exhibit, the Blanton wanted a specialist.
I was told that my name came up most often as the one to call. Of course I'm honored and excited to be included in the Blanton line up of guest speakers!
What Modernism Isn't:
One of the more important things to remember is that Mid Mod is not just an era. Modernism was and is a departure from traditional design processes and materials.
Unfortunately because of the rise in popularity and resurrection of mcm over the last few decades, anything and everything it seems manufactured prior to 1980 is being called
mcm or eames era. While ceramic owls from the 70s are in fact vintage and totally adorable, they are not modernist design.
As far as being green goes and how it ties in to buying vintage:
Recycling becomes reusing and by reusing and refreshing older pieces we're keeping those same pieces out of the landfills.
Perhaps one of the driving forces behind the resurgence of interest in 'vintage in general' is the desire for better quality.
One of our mottos is: Rescue the Past and Save the Future!
Some big-box stores have items that are really neat looking, have great design and are really inexpensive. Unfortunately they're inexpensive for a reason.
It implies that quality can be had for pennies. I think we confuse great visuals with substance.
Really it's done us a disservice. If you don't have quality consistently available, how do you know it when you see it?
Contemporary furniture is a great example, vinyl is called leather, silver enamel is referred to as "chrome", it's crazy.
So if we can't look to a lot of retail stores for quality, we have to look to the past. I do think in terms of vintage, we're nearing an interesting stop point.
Usually the markets reach back 50-60 years. In the 70s and 80s everyone wanted Art Deco(1920 - 1940) , when that market became too hot and quality items became too difficult (i.e. too expensive) to find, modernism started heating up. My buyers of Art Deco in Palm Beach started including Modernist pieces in with their Deco purchases in the early 90s. By 2000, the cool thing was Danish Modern. My customers on the East and West coasts are now looking towards 70s High Design and Eclecticism.
Austin is in it's own little bubble and for now Mid Century reigns supreme!
1. How would you define Austin's creative energy?
Young and experimental! What I mean by that is Austin is not constrained by rules that are taken for granted everywhere else, it's such a supportive community that rarely is anyone told their plan or project will not work here. And because of that I think Austinites whether they would classify themselves as Artists/"Creative Types" or not, have the freedom to be more expressive and to attempt things that others wouldn't try elsewhere.
2. Describe your store.
That is a little tough as we are in the middle of changing locations and are currently by Appointment and Online only! =o)
But I'll describe our old location, and what we hope to keep and incorporate at a future location.
We try to keep the vibe as casual as possible, having the store well lit is a big one for us, you'd be surprised how many stores are lacking good lighting!
I try to keep in mind how I like to shop. I like the ability to turn a piece over and really look at it and how it's made. Lack of light or clutter can make that difficult.
It's important to me to share information on pieces with my customers. Not everyone will care who an item is made by, but when talking about Mid Mod
the designers name can make quite a difference especially for collectors.
Because of that, we're big fans of very detailed tags that include a lot of information.
We also try to keep it as minimalist as possible, the focus is on the design of the furniture, art and lighting.
We're hyper focused on Modernist furnishings, so we don't sell vintage clothing, books, kitchenware or "retro style" new items.
It's what I do and I hope it's why my customers seek me out. We're purists! ;o)
3. Describe the sort of shoppers your store attracts.
It takes all kinds! We have customers that are still in school, doctors, writers, young families,
interior designers, set decorators, advertising photographers, actors, musicians...
The one connecting thread is that they are all creative in one way or another, collectors always have an artistic side to their personality.
4. Why do you suppose this sort of person is interested in Mid Century
Modern?
There are as many reasons for collecting as there are stars in the sky. There are more reasons
than I could possibly list. A desire for traditional quality or a desire for something out of the ordinary that can't be found just anywhere are just two examples.
We talk about "soul" a lot at Austin Modern. We like to think that pieces from the past have a little soul to them. They've lived a life, maybe aren't perfect, but they have a little something extra that isn't available in newer pieces. We think of it as a little bit of soul.
5. Mid Century Modern is a retro form of chic, and yet it is timeless and
perpetually cool. How would you connect the vibe in Austin to that of the
Mid Century Modern movement? to the philosophy and the designs, the music
and painting?
Whoa! That's a lot of connections! =o)
Mid Century Modern and the Modernist movement came out of the depression. There was a
yearning and a desire for something completely fresh and new. A War had just ended and we had a whole generation of young people who had perhaps spent their entire lives
mending and making do. Post WWII America was a brave new world so to speak.
Possibilities were endless, and people were looking to new ideas and ideals.
Bebop and Jazz were certainly new and even though it's old hat now, Coltrane and Davis
have an energy that I don't know has been replicated yet.
To live in Austin is to be very lucky. We have gorgeous weather, several universities, numerous art collectives and museums, and of course more live music venues than any other city
of this size! All of those elements combine to create the perfect environment for new ideas,
our most important job as Austinites is to support those ideas and the creativity behind them!
We need to celebrate out local artists and musicians more and try to keep our creative talent here in Austin.
6. Why is Mid Century Modern particularly fashionable now?
MCM has been popular with collectors for almost 2 decades. A lot of Art Deco collectors started turning to MCM to fill in the gaps once the Deco market became so overheated that finding quality Deco that wasn't priced in the stratosphere became almost impossible.
There are a lot of similarities between early quality Deco and quality Modernism which made the transition from one to another quite simple.
They blend very well together.
Also it's very useable. We all had a Gran who collected something that you couldn't touch or sit on or even look at and that's nice, but Modern pieces are made to be used. They're decorative sure, but these are things you are supposed to sit on, and look at, or play with. It's more approachable.
Some collectors think it's representative of an era that seems more harmonious than the world we live in today. Sort of like watching the Donna Reed show and thinking
"gee I wish things were that simple..."
7 What is your best selling Mid Century Modern (reproduction or influenced) piece?
We deal in Mid Century original pieces only, so no repros or knock-offs.
We're in transition now, but our best selling case piece was the Florence Knoll 4 door credenza. A minimalist environment is easily disrupted
by a tangle of electronics cords and the variety of boxes and gizmos we need for home entertainment today. The vintage Knoll credenzas do a crackerjack job of hiding that mess!
In Austin: Knoll, Early Herman Miller, Baker and Dunbar are especially popular.
Our customers on the East and West coasts are trending towards Milo Baughman and 60s Eastern influenced design, and our Japanese customers, who used to be our biggest MCM supporters, are now buying Early 20th C. American Industrial.
Right now trends are heading in several different directions, so it will be interesting to see where we go.
8. When you sell MCM, what are you selling?
Again, it's a lot of things to a lot of people. To one person, it might simply be a crazy looking chair. To someone else it might be a symbol of what they look back on fondly as a great time in their lives. Hopefully I'm selling great design that will be a much loved member of its new family!
9. How do you think this design makes people feel and why does it work in
Austin?
Modernism truly is timeless and classic. Austin is heavily focused on design right now, especially in the housing sector. This is the one type of furnishing that can fit in any home or business environment and work beautifully.
Kind of like Austinites themselves, take them anywhere and they'll find a way to fit right in and join the party!
Austin Modern (me) was asked to give a lecture on decorating with mid century design at DWR downtown Austin.
Doing the Event at DWR was unusual since we are proponents of vintage originals and do not promote repros and reissues, but it worked out fairly well. The Studio manager for DWR was lovely, the event was lovely and it was a very nice evening.
The interesting thing was this interview. It seemed like we were to be the focus of the story, but once it came out there were a few choppy snippets from the interview that didn't make sense when taken out of context. Parts of this email were in response to a prior telephone conversation we had before the interview questions were emailed to me.
So for the sake of historical accuracy (and noting that I'm not a total prat) I'm posting the "original" interview here.
Hello (deleted),
...
Here are some points I'll be touching on in my lecture and some requested "stream of consciousness thoughts", I hope the grab bag of will be of use! Your interview questions are answered below as well.
Thank you so much for contacting me, I'm excited to be included in Glossy again!
Best, Elle
I make clarifications and give definitions because I have a tendency to assume that everyone knows exactly what I'm talking about, which is not always the case.
I hope you'll excuse me if you do already know all of this.
(fyi MCM is short for Mid Century Modern and makes typing for us hunt and peck typists a lot easier)
With good modernist furniture pieces starting at close to $500. and going up over $100K for the REALLY neat and nifty pieces, it's not actually an entry level market.
Vintage is a good entry market and as a collectors taste is refined, they move into collecting MCM.
A word on the difference between Vintage and MCM:
Vintage and MCM are two similar markets but vintage is a good catchall description for anything from the 50s - 70s and MCM really relates to Modernist design only.
So a 50s toaster is vintage but it's not MCM, However an early Herman Miller fiberglass chair is vintage AND it's MCM. Hope that isn't confusing.
A few years ago Austin Monthly called me when they were writing an article on the anniversary on the Eames lounger. They wanted to know the price for "used" Eames chairs.
At the time Eames lounge chairs manufactured prior to 1970 were selling for any where between 4,500 and 6k while the new Licensed Re-Issues from DWR sold for 3,500. so the
best I could do was tell them about the Plycrafts which were made in the 70s and look like the Eames lounge but could be had for around 400. at any vintage store in Austin.
Because MCM is such a new field, some people still think of it as used or simply vintage. In Austin we're really lucky in that $150 and 15 minutes in any direction will get you an interesting piece of vintage furniture, but finding true MCM takes a little more searching.
I'm really pleased that this exhibit is going to encourage more people to see that Modernism is more than plastic flamingos and kitschy lamps... Though we need those too! We need a sense of fun and that's what Kitsch is all about!
A little background on me:
I started selling and restoring antiques at 19 which is very early, but my father was an art dealer and both my aunts were antiques dealers so I grew up with it.
Before moving to Austin in 1996, I had a business in Palm Beach specializing in American Art Deco, and while Deco is exceptionally hot in South Florida,
there isn't a huge call for it here in Austin and so I spent my first few years in Austin buying Deco here and sending it back to the coast for resale.
Austin Modern and Austinmodern.com has been in business for 6 years and we specialize in 20th C. Art, Furnishings, and Lighting.
Along with the retail business, I also work as a buying consultant for private collectors.
In regards to your earlier question: I was thinking about why other Austin stores were not included in the Blanton event and I believe that since this is a museum exhibit, the Blanton wanted a specialist.
I was told that my name came up most often as the one to call. Of course I'm honored and excited to be included in the Blanton line up of guest speakers!
What Modernism Isn't:
One of the more important things to remember is that Mid Mod is not just an era. Modernism was and is a departure from traditional design processes and materials.
Unfortunately because of the rise in popularity and resurrection of mcm over the last few decades, anything and everything it seems manufactured prior to 1980 is being called
mcm or eames era. While ceramic owls from the 70s are in fact vintage and totally adorable, they are not modernist design.
As far as being green goes and how it ties in to buying vintage:
Recycling becomes reusing and by reusing and refreshing older pieces we're keeping those same pieces out of the landfills.
Perhaps one of the driving forces behind the resurgence of interest in 'vintage in general' is the desire for better quality.
One of our mottos is: Rescue the Past and Save the Future!
Some big-box stores have items that are really neat looking, have great design and are really inexpensive. Unfortunately they're inexpensive for a reason.
It implies that quality can be had for pennies. I think we confuse great visuals with substance.
Really it's done us a disservice. If you don't have quality consistently available, how do you know it when you see it?
Contemporary furniture is a great example, vinyl is called leather, silver enamel is referred to as "chrome", it's crazy.
So if we can't look to a lot of retail stores for quality, we have to look to the past. I do think in terms of vintage, we're nearing an interesting stop point.
Usually the markets reach back 50-60 years. In the 70s and 80s everyone wanted Art Deco(1920 - 1940) , when that market became too hot and quality items became too difficult (i.e. too expensive) to find, modernism started heating up. My buyers of Art Deco in Palm Beach started including Modernist pieces in with their Deco purchases in the early 90s. By 2000, the cool thing was Danish Modern. My customers on the East and West coasts are now looking towards 70s High Design and Eclecticism.
Austin is in it's own little bubble and for now Mid Century reigns supreme!
1. How would you define Austin's creative energy?
Young and experimental! What I mean by that is Austin is not constrained by rules that are taken for granted everywhere else, it's such a supportive community that rarely is anyone told their plan or project will not work here. And because of that I think Austinites whether they would classify themselves as Artists/"Creative Types" or not, have the freedom to be more expressive and to attempt things that others wouldn't try elsewhere.
2. Describe your store.
That is a little tough as we are in the middle of changing locations and are currently by Appointment and Online only! =o)
But I'll describe our old location, and what we hope to keep and incorporate at a future location.
We try to keep the vibe as casual as possible, having the store well lit is a big one for us, you'd be surprised how many stores are lacking good lighting!
I try to keep in mind how I like to shop. I like the ability to turn a piece over and really look at it and how it's made. Lack of light or clutter can make that difficult.
It's important to me to share information on pieces with my customers. Not everyone will care who an item is made by, but when talking about Mid Mod
the designers name can make quite a difference especially for collectors.
Because of that, we're big fans of very detailed tags that include a lot of information.
We also try to keep it as minimalist as possible, the focus is on the design of the furniture, art and lighting.
We're hyper focused on Modernist furnishings, so we don't sell vintage clothing, books, kitchenware or "retro style" new items.
It's what I do and I hope it's why my customers seek me out. We're purists! ;o)
3. Describe the sort of shoppers your store attracts.
It takes all kinds! We have customers that are still in school, doctors, writers, young families,
interior designers, set decorators, advertising photographers, actors, musicians...
The one connecting thread is that they are all creative in one way or another, collectors always have an artistic side to their personality.
4. Why do you suppose this sort of person is interested in Mid Century
Modern?
There are as many reasons for collecting as there are stars in the sky. There are more reasons
than I could possibly list. A desire for traditional quality or a desire for something out of the ordinary that can't be found just anywhere are just two examples.
We talk about "soul" a lot at Austin Modern. We like to think that pieces from the past have a little soul to them. They've lived a life, maybe aren't perfect, but they have a little something extra that isn't available in newer pieces. We think of it as a little bit of soul.
5. Mid Century Modern is a retro form of chic, and yet it is timeless and
perpetually cool. How would you connect the vibe in Austin to that of the
Mid Century Modern movement? to the philosophy and the designs, the music
and painting?
Whoa! That's a lot of connections! =o)
Mid Century Modern and the Modernist movement came out of the depression. There was a
yearning and a desire for something completely fresh and new. A War had just ended and we had a whole generation of young people who had perhaps spent their entire lives
mending and making do. Post WWII America was a brave new world so to speak.
Possibilities were endless, and people were looking to new ideas and ideals.
Bebop and Jazz were certainly new and even though it's old hat now, Coltrane and Davis
have an energy that I don't know has been replicated yet.
To live in Austin is to be very lucky. We have gorgeous weather, several universities, numerous art collectives and museums, and of course more live music venues than any other city
of this size! All of those elements combine to create the perfect environment for new ideas,
our most important job as Austinites is to support those ideas and the creativity behind them!
We need to celebrate out local artists and musicians more and try to keep our creative talent here in Austin.
6. Why is Mid Century Modern particularly fashionable now?
MCM has been popular with collectors for almost 2 decades. A lot of Art Deco collectors started turning to MCM to fill in the gaps once the Deco market became so overheated that finding quality Deco that wasn't priced in the stratosphere became almost impossible.
There are a lot of similarities between early quality Deco and quality Modernism which made the transition from one to another quite simple.
They blend very well together.
Also it's very useable. We all had a Gran who collected something that you couldn't touch or sit on or even look at and that's nice, but Modern pieces are made to be used. They're decorative sure, but these are things you are supposed to sit on, and look at, or play with. It's more approachable.
Some collectors think it's representative of an era that seems more harmonious than the world we live in today. Sort of like watching the Donna Reed show and thinking
"gee I wish things were that simple..."
7 What is your best selling Mid Century Modern (reproduction or influenced) piece?
We deal in Mid Century original pieces only, so no repros or knock-offs.
We're in transition now, but our best selling case piece was the Florence Knoll 4 door credenza. A minimalist environment is easily disrupted
by a tangle of electronics cords and the variety of boxes and gizmos we need for home entertainment today. The vintage Knoll credenzas do a crackerjack job of hiding that mess!
In Austin: Knoll, Early Herman Miller, Baker and Dunbar are especially popular.
Our customers on the East and West coasts are trending towards Milo Baughman and 60s Eastern influenced design, and our Japanese customers, who used to be our biggest MCM supporters, are now buying Early 20th C. American Industrial.
Right now trends are heading in several different directions, so it will be interesting to see where we go.
8. When you sell MCM, what are you selling?
Again, it's a lot of things to a lot of people. To one person, it might simply be a crazy looking chair. To someone else it might be a symbol of what they look back on fondly as a great time in their lives. Hopefully I'm selling great design that will be a much loved member of its new family!
9. How do you think this design makes people feel and why does it work in
Austin?
Modernism truly is timeless and classic. Austin is heavily focused on design right now, especially in the housing sector. This is the one type of furnishing that can fit in any home or business environment and work beautifully.
Kind of like Austinites themselves, take them anywhere and they'll find a way to fit right in and join the party!
Wednesday, April 1, 2009
Frrrrawd. As in: You big FRAUD!
Sad but true, small single owner buinesses suffer their share of Fraud.
We have recently joined a 1stdibs type site and of course the higher the online visibility, the more likely you'll be subjected to a variety of scam emails and credit card requests using stolen credit card numbers.
Yesterday while I was out on a magazine photo-shoot I get an email. One sentence "I want to purchase thing X call 1234564567 "
Before I can answer I get another email from the same person "my boss wants it"
I emailed back explaining I was unable to return a call at the time but I would be happy to answer questions via emails asap. I get a third email. "he'll give you (60% of your asking price) right now"
Riiiiiight.
So I send an email stating that we don't take offers and our price was quite fair already.
"He says ok, how do we pay?"
Hmmm. Mega loser has his assistant call and offer 40% less and immediately agrees to full price all without actually picking up the phone himself. We send an invoice, and I send an email asking for confirmation of business name, an acknowledgement of noted ding to the item and that item ships without glass, and a business telephone.
I get back an address. Which I already know is a false address. No business name, no confirmation of noted exceptions, no business telephone.
Red flags all over the place. Fortunately we use a service online that auto flags accounts that seem unusual and block charges for questionable transactions. This way we can lessen our chances of fraudulent charge backs. If a customer has a number of chargebacks on their creditcards, they end up on a global blacklist and will be blocked from unusual(not local) purchases.
Fraudulent online charge backs are primarily a Paypal problem.
Someone buys an item using paypal, and then has 45 days to file a charge back for a variety of reasons. With the economy being the way it is, online fraud has gone through the roof!
The unfortunate thing is very small single owner businesses can't afford fraud. Larger companies figure fraud into their prices and everyone pays for it. Small companies can't do that.
We don't send items out on approval. Sometimes people will order an item with the idea that they will take it on approval and return it at no cost to them if they don't like it. That doesn't work. If I sell something for 300, plus 75 shipping, and the buyer decides to return the item and wants me to pay shipping forward and back, the transaction will cost me 150. So obviously I can't pay shipping.
This one seems to fail the reasoning meter with most people who like to take things on approval. I'll tell you now, there is no magic box at the post office that says "no charge". If the buyer doesn't pay shipping, the seller does. It's an EITHER/OR situation. There might be a write off at the end of the year, in the meantime I'm out of pocket. Small businesses can't function that way.
We have recently joined a 1stdibs type site and of course the higher the online visibility, the more likely you'll be subjected to a variety of scam emails and credit card requests using stolen credit card numbers.
Yesterday while I was out on a magazine photo-shoot I get an email. One sentence "I want to purchase thing X call 1234564567 "
Before I can answer I get another email from the same person "my boss wants it"
I emailed back explaining I was unable to return a call at the time but I would be happy to answer questions via emails asap. I get a third email. "he'll give you (60% of your asking price) right now"
Riiiiiight.
So I send an email stating that we don't take offers and our price was quite fair already.
"He says ok, how do we pay?"
Hmmm. Mega loser has his assistant call and offer 40% less and immediately agrees to full price all without actually picking up the phone himself. We send an invoice, and I send an email asking for confirmation of business name, an acknowledgement of noted ding to the item and that item ships without glass, and a business telephone.
I get back an address. Which I already know is a false address. No business name, no confirmation of noted exceptions, no business telephone.
Red flags all over the place. Fortunately we use a service online that auto flags accounts that seem unusual and block charges for questionable transactions. This way we can lessen our chances of fraudulent charge backs. If a customer has a number of chargebacks on their creditcards, they end up on a global blacklist and will be blocked from unusual(not local) purchases.
Fraudulent online charge backs are primarily a Paypal problem.
Someone buys an item using paypal, and then has 45 days to file a charge back for a variety of reasons. With the economy being the way it is, online fraud has gone through the roof!
The unfortunate thing is very small single owner businesses can't afford fraud. Larger companies figure fraud into their prices and everyone pays for it. Small companies can't do that.
We don't send items out on approval. Sometimes people will order an item with the idea that they will take it on approval and return it at no cost to them if they don't like it. That doesn't work. If I sell something for 300, plus 75 shipping, and the buyer decides to return the item and wants me to pay shipping forward and back, the transaction will cost me 150. So obviously I can't pay shipping.
This one seems to fail the reasoning meter with most people who like to take things on approval. I'll tell you now, there is no magic box at the post office that says "no charge". If the buyer doesn't pay shipping, the seller does. It's an EITHER/OR situation. There might be a write off at the end of the year, in the meantime I'm out of pocket. Small businesses can't function that way.
Monday, March 30, 2009
Cactus and coffee
Finished replacing the boxwood shrubbery and adding a cactus planter in their place. The cactus planter was a great idea. We went to City of Austin for free glass mulch, originally we wanted it because it's pretty and provides great drainage, but we discovered it actually has 3 benefits. It looks cool, drains well, but it also holds in heat which is great for the cactus and succulents!
Our backyard is coming along nicely as well, we like to just sort of let it get wild and green.
Obviously this Summer will put an end to the lush green, and typical Texas will bring on the dusty grey brown of drought. But hey, take the good with the bad, right? I always wanted to grow cactus and Texas is perfect for it. Some people like cactus because they like that they're thorny and make great deterrents. (?!?) I like them because they're gorgeous, drought tolerant, I can't accidentally kill them, they come in a huge variety, and they're very modern looking. Jim grew up in El P. Texas and has no use for cactus.
Conversely I grew up in the land of swimming pools and have no use for them having spent many summers battling algae, adding shock treatments and chlorine tablets.. While Jim is over the moon to have a pool.
To each his own. I can mess around with my cactus while Jim plays fish in the pool. The image of the little tiny cactus in sunlight, I grew that from a seed! two years later it's about the size of a pinkie finger. There is a weirdo gift shop on Rt 66 outside of Santa Fe, it's like the Stuckys of the Southwest, they sell things like cactus candy, scorpion suckers and packets of cactus seed. You too can have the chance to possibly-maybe-perhaps get a single Saguaro seed! Personally I prefer totem pole cactus. They're spiffy and spineless!
Anyways, this time of year is great because every home improvement center gets a massive shipment of succulents and cactus, Jim gets nervous and I get pie eyed. There are never enough planters for cacti, and even though we made this neat planter out front, Jim knows we're out of planter space again.
This coming weekend is the annual cactus and succulent show and sale at Zilker park!
We have a friend who exerts a great deal of control over his yard. It's very rigid and very "done", we actually started dropping pink flamingos and bowling balls in our backyard just to freak him out when he comes over for game night. And it really does freak him out, he doesn't seem to know what to make of it. Though simply not putting our lemon tree in an appropriate container seems to be a no no. He'd be a total drag if he weren't so unintentionally funny.
He lives in an HOA. As if that explains it.
We want to be able to put a few bottle trees in the backyard if we want, without it being anyone's business. Not that we have bottle trees, but it's nice to know it's an option.
Our next door neighbor thinks we're a riot. She loves the new green paint, she loves the cactus planter. I brought home some exterior lettering for sale on Etsy and Pat wanted to know when we were mounting them to the house. I think she wants us to completely South Austin-ize the house!
We painted our backyard fence black, it makes the grass look greener and the pool look bluer, also the passion and boganvilla vines looks even more lush. We have a pagoda thing in the backyard, I want to have it painted coral red when the rest of the house gets painted green.
Thursday, February 26, 2009
Indies Locals and why they come and go
I was reading this article in the NYT, basically it bemoans the loss of local neighborhood
boho chic and unique shops due to the downturn.
It's an interesting read.
http://www.nytimes.com/2009/02/26/fashion/26eaglerock.html?8dpc
Not for what it says but I found it interesting that the locals interviewed had a similar sort of
idea that I hear here in Austin. That there is some great "them" that decides what types of shops to put where. And if only "they" would just stop choosing Automarts and Karate Studios for the neighborhood, then all would be fine.
Like some shadow group in City Hall says, "yeah stick all those buy here-pay here car lots over on 8th and throw in a couple taco trucks for good measure.... annnndd.. lesseee.. CherryBell Lane looks ready for a revival, call all the coffeehouses and indie bookstores and tell em to move to CherryBell. Yeah that'll do it. Who's ready for lunch?"
In reality it takes a handful of indie shops looking for a reasonably safe neighborhood, with cheap rent and POTENTIAL to become hip, to move in and stick it out. Sometimes the neighborhood sees other indies move in, and as more people take care of their business, the visuals improve and more people see a cool area vs a run down area and it snowballs.
Unfortunately the visuals in these area vary WILDLY. You have the immaculately kept by appointment only hair salon, and on the same block you have a tumble down shed that looks somewhat like a cross between an abandoned barn and a junkyard.
So getting back to the article.. There seems to be a disconnect between people who live in neighborhoods and people who open businesses in neighborhoods. Ideally, the locals of the neighborhood would be the main patrons of that business. Of course during the boom, niche shops were tres cool and a whole neighborhood could be turned around from "on the skids" to "in the swing" with a cache of fine and funky shops and a handful of decent cafes thrown in for good measure.
Somewhere in the article there is a half passing mention that the locals need to support those businesses in order for the businesses to stay. And that's very true. It's also true that if each local customer went to walmart or the cheaper alternative, that switch could effectively tank several small indies in short order.
People ask why we closed our North Loop store and have moved to online and by appointment only. To make it simple I put it down to being ahead of the downturn and staying slim and fast to keep going. And that is definitely part of it. This downturn mess was obvious as far back as Fall 07.
But there were a couple reasons for our leaving North Loop, some less obvious than others.
When we first opened on North Loop it looked like an up and coming neighborhood. It looked like the neighborhood association had a vision of good looking retail space and a plan for restaurants or cafes that might actually be open during the day.
We hoped we were on the ground floor of a cool area. But again, there was that disconnect. You can't just wish a cafe into existence, someone needs to WANT to open a cafe on North Loop first. After that they need the money required to open a business. And then after that, the area needs to be ZONED for it.
North Loop is zoned in such a way that there are only 2 locations in a 10 block strip that can potentially house a cafe. And neither of those locations are for sale. Because of what the city has done with the new restaurant requirements, any building not currently set up as a functioning restaurant, is almost cost prohibitive to turn into a restaurant now. Unless you own the building.
OR have a stash of cash you can throw at the problem.
In early 2007 a large plot of land in the northern part of the Highlands/North Loop was up for sale and a buyer wanted to put in a condo with ground floor retail. It would have been the pincer to the north to help meet improvements happening in the south. I personally NEEDED that project to go through as did a few other businesses that were depending on the neighborhood becoming more boho friendly.
When that project was turned down, it seemed obvious that the notion of North Loop changing in any way was just that. A notion. One of the stores who were waiting to resign their lease depending on the outcome, closed almost immediately and relocated to a more established part of town. Another store moved into a new development to the far eastend of NL, and I started running the numbers on large warehouses that were accessable but secure. I knew that when the Condo development was turned down, the hope for more boho was dimming.
Currently that potential lot is abandoned and overgrown. A large swatch of broken glass, graffiti and weeds. A nice little Welcome to the Neighborhood sign for everyone driving 2222 to see.
Everyone says that condos are a mess but Austin is doing better than other parts of the country, there was enough time for that to have been built and sold/leased before things started to stagnate.
As more and more of our business came from out of state, it didn't seem worth it to hold the door open as a drop in center for the bored and browsing while waiting for our intentional customers to come by. Intentional meaning "I'm going to Austin Modern because I want that chair they just listed online"
And so, Austin Modern By Appointment was born. By Appointment works quite well, our local customers look online, find something and then make an appointment to see it in person and really inspect it. If they like it, great! If not, well, may next time. It's better for everyone. Our customers aren't restricted by 9-5 hours and we have more time to do what we do best. Which is find and locate excellent items. Our warehouse space allows for more storage and I can pick and choose products more selectively.
And most importantly "the crazy garage sale guy" is no longer the bane of my existence!
boho chic and unique shops due to the downturn.
It's an interesting read.
http://www.nytimes.com/2009/02/26/fashion/26eaglerock.html?8dpc
Not for what it says but I found it interesting that the locals interviewed had a similar sort of
idea that I hear here in Austin. That there is some great "them" that decides what types of shops to put where. And if only "they" would just stop choosing Automarts and Karate Studios for the neighborhood, then all would be fine.
Like some shadow group in City Hall says, "yeah stick all those buy here-pay here car lots over on 8th and throw in a couple taco trucks for good measure.... annnndd.. lesseee.. CherryBell Lane looks ready for a revival, call all the coffeehouses and indie bookstores and tell em to move to CherryBell. Yeah that'll do it. Who's ready for lunch?"
In reality it takes a handful of indie shops looking for a reasonably safe neighborhood, with cheap rent and POTENTIAL to become hip, to move in and stick it out. Sometimes the neighborhood sees other indies move in, and as more people take care of their business, the visuals improve and more people see a cool area vs a run down area and it snowballs.
Unfortunately the visuals in these area vary WILDLY. You have the immaculately kept by appointment only hair salon, and on the same block you have a tumble down shed that looks somewhat like a cross between an abandoned barn and a junkyard.
So getting back to the article.. There seems to be a disconnect between people who live in neighborhoods and people who open businesses in neighborhoods. Ideally, the locals of the neighborhood would be the main patrons of that business. Of course during the boom, niche shops were tres cool and a whole neighborhood could be turned around from "on the skids" to "in the swing" with a cache of fine and funky shops and a handful of decent cafes thrown in for good measure.
Somewhere in the article there is a half passing mention that the locals need to support those businesses in order for the businesses to stay. And that's very true. It's also true that if each local customer went to walmart or the cheaper alternative, that switch could effectively tank several small indies in short order.
People ask why we closed our North Loop store and have moved to online and by appointment only. To make it simple I put it down to being ahead of the downturn and staying slim and fast to keep going. And that is definitely part of it. This downturn mess was obvious as far back as Fall 07.
But there were a couple reasons for our leaving North Loop, some less obvious than others.
When we first opened on North Loop it looked like an up and coming neighborhood. It looked like the neighborhood association had a vision of good looking retail space and a plan for restaurants or cafes that might actually be open during the day.
We hoped we were on the ground floor of a cool area. But again, there was that disconnect. You can't just wish a cafe into existence, someone needs to WANT to open a cafe on North Loop first. After that they need the money required to open a business. And then after that, the area needs to be ZONED for it.
North Loop is zoned in such a way that there are only 2 locations in a 10 block strip that can potentially house a cafe. And neither of those locations are for sale. Because of what the city has done with the new restaurant requirements, any building not currently set up as a functioning restaurant, is almost cost prohibitive to turn into a restaurant now. Unless you own the building.
OR have a stash of cash you can throw at the problem.
In early 2007 a large plot of land in the northern part of the Highlands/North Loop was up for sale and a buyer wanted to put in a condo with ground floor retail. It would have been the pincer to the north to help meet improvements happening in the south. I personally NEEDED that project to go through as did a few other businesses that were depending on the neighborhood becoming more boho friendly.
When that project was turned down, it seemed obvious that the notion of North Loop changing in any way was just that. A notion. One of the stores who were waiting to resign their lease depending on the outcome, closed almost immediately and relocated to a more established part of town. Another store moved into a new development to the far eastend of NL, and I started running the numbers on large warehouses that were accessable but secure. I knew that when the Condo development was turned down, the hope for more boho was dimming.
Currently that potential lot is abandoned and overgrown. A large swatch of broken glass, graffiti and weeds. A nice little Welcome to the Neighborhood sign for everyone driving 2222 to see.
Everyone says that condos are a mess but Austin is doing better than other parts of the country, there was enough time for that to have been built and sold/leased before things started to stagnate.
As more and more of our business came from out of state, it didn't seem worth it to hold the door open as a drop in center for the bored and browsing while waiting for our intentional customers to come by. Intentional meaning "I'm going to Austin Modern because I want that chair they just listed online"
And so, Austin Modern By Appointment was born. By Appointment works quite well, our local customers look online, find something and then make an appointment to see it in person and really inspect it. If they like it, great! If not, well, may next time. It's better for everyone. Our customers aren't restricted by 9-5 hours and we have more time to do what we do best. Which is find and locate excellent items. Our warehouse space allows for more storage and I can pick and choose products more selectively.
And most importantly "the crazy garage sale guy" is no longer the bane of my existence!
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