Raspberry Laces Blog

Back to school is over

2011-09-14T19:47:00.001+01:00

We have completed our 2nd major buying period and this years back to school was left a bit later by parents. It got really busy the last three weeks, I am pleased to say we did better than last year and have now started to switch the shop from summer to autumn.

No sooner is back to school over we are looking at buying for next spring and summer. It is always fun but seems like an age away.

We have some great stock now on display from Geox, Start-rite, Ricosta and cool macs from Hatley.

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June Sale - keeping up with the Jones'

2011-07-11T23:20:00.004+01:00

After watching the high street turn to aggressive sales to catch what trade there is during June, we have now entered the fray, with many sandals and summer shoes heavily discounted. I am afraid if you can't beat them join them, as a small independent business, our sale period is solely dictated by when our competition launches with gusto. Sadly we have to cut what little margin there is simply to compete and be seen to having a sale.

As soon as August commences we will be back to competing on service and quality, an area we are confident we can not only match our competition but beat them.

Training leads to knowledge leads to awards

2011-05-03T07:57:00.001+01:00

We are very belatedly pleased to announce we won not just one buy three awards at the Horsham unlimited best dressed window awards. We were voted best Independent for our Christmas window as well as most improvements in our visual window displays, following our excellent training from Metamorphisis. Since the awards ceremony we have undertaken some more training with Metamorphisis and continue to look to improve and vary our windows as well as our fitting service.

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Location:Horsham

Best dressed window competition

2010-12-22T11:12:00.003Z

Raspberry Laces has been entered into the best dressed window competition run by The Resident newspaper, entries close on 24th Dec. We have put a lot of effort into the window and had some excellent training by Metamorphosis which was both interesting and useful, some of their ideas we put to use in the window, We have great plans for 2011 and a number of fun window ideas which you should see as your passing.

Please use this link to register a vote for us.

Setting up a sale

2010-12-15T16:10:00.001Z

Having just set up our first sale it has become apparent there is quite a bit involved! First work out what stock to include, then what discount to apply, then mark up all the items and put them on display. Then update the website create a new sale section, discount the prices, include some new graphics and banners and upload. Update your social media with posts and tweets then let your customers now by email.

Then set up monitoring to work out which lines are likely to move fastest. But now it's all done the second one should be easier.

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Getting ready for christmas

2010-12-09T12:02:00.000Z

The shop is looking great and we are getting ready for christmas we have new stock in store from Toughees, Terra Plana and baby grows and pram shoes from Inch Blue. We are entered into Horsham's best window display and as the window looks brilliant, I think we stand a good chance!

Three months in

2010-11-09T15:54:00.000Z

We have been trading now for three months and the business is improving and the website is being more active, still lots to sort out but we have just taken some new supply of boots and shoes from Start-rite and Toughees and are looking to get in more brands next year. It seems there is a world supply issue with Wellies and that is our current problem to tackle. Getting the right product at the right place is clearly the mantra we will continue to live and die by. But learning everyday and the shop still looks great ad attracts a great deal of complement from shoppers.

Three months in

2010-11-01T18:44:00.000Z

Shop opening

2010-08-12T11:54:00.000+01:00

Time really flies when your busy, the opening was a huge success with a small queue forming whilst we were still moving stuff around with final preparations right up till the last minute, the shop opened at 9.30 and the day was a huge success with lots of positive comments and feedback. The following weeks have been steep learning curve in regards to the till and stock reordering, not forgetting the most important bit, fitting shoes onto hundred's of children! The new team have all worked very hard to ensure we opened and delivered the level of service that we wanted. Our appointments have been very successful and the brands we stock has been very well received.

We are now onto planning the next few months activity and no sooner had we opened than we were of to a trade show to consider the style for next spring and summer.

Shop fit out

2010-07-22T10:54:00.000+01:00

The shop work is still ongoing at a real pace and the work done by John Kirby and his team (Allaspex management Ltd) is fantastic, still on course to do a three week job in two weeks with lots of other support thrown in. The same can't be said of ADT who are probably verging on useless. The paint should be going on today and then ready for the interior finer points next week, just on time for the opening on 31st July.

Website launched

2010-05-24T11:54:00.000+01:00

Our new ecommerce site has launched today, Being honest we are about 6 weeks behind where I wanted to be but we have arrived!! On our site you will see we have included examples of our range of stock and styles and will be adding and amending to it over the coming days and weeks as more stock is available or purchased. We look forward to providing a high level of service both for our online customers and those that visit our shop and welcome any feedback.

Online site being tested

2010-05-09T21:54:00.000+01:00

It has been many months in development and now we are at the last stages of checking our site, linking pages together and standardising images. Combine this with ensuring our linked EPOS and ecommerce site are in tandem and there has been much more work than I envisaged. Our final test will be done over the weekend and we should be live on Monday with our new website. Fingers crossed.