This is part 4 of our series: 31 DAYS of Setting Up Shop! You can find the entire list of days, in order on our Setting Up Shop Index Page. I'll add each new entry to this list as it is published.
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{theme}
What do you want the feel of your shop to be? What is your style? What colors do you like to use? What materials are your favorite?
What is the mood you are going for? When people browse your shop, how do you want them to feel? Excited, inspired, creatively energized, comforted, relaxed, nostalgic, safe, warm...
What materials do you like to use? Are you going to make/sell items made of different types of materials that will work together? wood, metal, glass, cotton, leather, vinyl, paper, wool, yarn, rustic, vintage...
What era are you going for? victorian, early American, 50's, 60's, 80's, modern, futuristic...
What colors do you like?
What textures will you use?
Who is your customer???
These are all questions that you want to ask yourself before you even decide what you want to sell in your shop. The {theme} of a shop or business is one of the most important aspects, and you want to be very clear what your vision is.
Take a minute to make a list of your very favorite places to shop. Take note of the colors, ambiance, materials, fonts...everything that works together to make that a fun place to spend time (and money). While you're at it, you might want to take a minute and imagine the places you have to go that you really wish you didn't, and what makes those places different, also. It's important to know what you want your business to be, and also what you want it to not be. As you are developing your theme, or aesthetic, you will probably be editing out more than you realized, but this is a good thing. Your customers will want to see new things every time they come in or visit, but they will also be expecting a certain feeling, and you don't want to change that up on them.
In preparing for my new shop experience, I have asked an answered all of these questions, and probably many more. I have a very clear vision of my theme...so clear that I have given it a name. And I would encourage you to do the same.
My {theme} is vintage camp. What does that even mean, you ask. Well, in a nutshell:
vibrant, but aged colors mixed with LOTS of layered neutrals.
natural fibers, canvas, burlap, wool, and vintage linens.
chipped paint, old books, salvaged wood, and tarnished silver.
on a scale from primitive to modern, I'd place {vintage camp} right between shabby chic and retro 60's mod. It's like shabby chic's tomboy big sister.
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I have my theme. What is yours?
