Hi all!!
Without meaning too, I took a little {9 day} hiatus. Honestly, without even knowing I needed it, it was the best thing for me. Things have been so incredibly busy lately, I don't think I could have handled trying to come up with regular posts during that time. Not that I post all that regularly, but obviously, even one post was too much for me!
I wanted to write a little today about Gather and some exciting news. If you're new to my blog or missed my announcement a few months back, you can read more about the boutique I'm opening here.
Grand Opening
We have a Grand Opening scheduled! Our first day open to the public will be Saturday, June 9th from 10am until 5pm. Having an opening day makes the whole project seem that much more real, and it feels like we're opening tomorrow for all the panic I've had lately to get everything in order!
Hours
I've decided that the best way to do everything I want in the store is to have monthly "Gatherings." This isn't a new concept - several small boutiques have barn sales, junk weekends or monthly shows. Gatherings are exactly that. One day a month where the shop is open to the public to shop until they drop {fingers crossed!} The Gatherings will happen on the 2nd Saturday of the month, and we'll try the same hours {10am - 5pm} for a few months to see how they work. I'm completely open to extending them if it seems like that's what we need to do.
Products
Whenever people ask what I'll be selling in my boutique, I don't have a simple answer. There will be so much stuff - from party decor to vintage finds to stationery to organic products - really, there's no way to narrow it down. You've read about how I came up with the name Gather - gathering for a celebration, gathering a collection, etc. The products I have for sale are really a conglomeration of things I love. I wouldn't sell it in my store if I wouldn't buy it myself. And ultimately, you'll see the Gather theme throughout the products in my store - whether the products are used to decorate for a gathering, invite people to a gathering, thank them for gathering, gathered together to decorate, or gathered from a local artist. {All the Instagram photos throughout this post are things I've gathered over the last few months. A little preview of all my fun, vintage finds.}
Interact
Maybe the coolest thing about Gather for me {and eventually for you} is that we don't know what to expect. I don't have have to wait on whatever products manufacturers send me. I don't have a specific product to sell. Gathering is all about bringing together - so it would be silly not to embrace that concept even when the doors to the shop aren't open. If you follow me on Instragram or Facebook, you've been seeing previews of what's in the store. If you read my blog, you get updates about Gather as I have them {and fortunately, I'll have a lot more}. If you follow me on Pinterest, you can get all sorts of inspiration for home decor, party planning, and so on. My vision for Gather is not that you'll walk in and purchase an item and go on with your life {though, that's perfectly fine if you choose to!} The way I see it is as more of an experience. You can come in the store, chat with other shoppers, ask for advice, request custom work, make purchases, eat yummy treats, get inspired online, and so much more.
If you want to connect, here's how:
Instagram: @gatherboutique
Save the Date
With all that said, it's a really exciting time for me right now! Please mark your calendars for Saturday, June 9th for our first monthly Gathering. I'll continue to post updates on my blog and on the Gather Facebook page, and for those of you who want to be added to my mailing list, please send me an e-mail with your contact information.
Have a great day everyone!
