What's Up Doc?

During my eight year hiatus from retail, I kept files, tear sheets, and notes about great products I happened upon.  Knowing it was only a matter of time before I found myself behind the counter again, I wanted to be ready for that eagerly awaited moment.  Happily, here I sit at Lucky Hill surrounded by many of those lines that piqued my interest.

One of the companies that never failed to bring a smile to my face was Maileg.  The Danish design brand of contemporary lifestyle concepts was established in 1999 by Dorthe and Erik Mailil.  For those familiar with Maileg, the mice families and bunnies most often come to mind.  The first time I caught a glimpse of a Maileg bunny was in the French magazine Marie Claire Idees.  While I was unable to read the copy, I couldn't help but fall in love with the adorable creature.

The bunnies have arrived at Lucky Hill!  As soon as I opened the box and saw the little bunny noses peaking out, a smile spread across my face....accompanied by a giggle.  I challenge anyone to look at the little Danish bun buns and maintain a straight face.

Sleeping Beautifully in Needham Lane

You always remember your first....sale that is.  Lucky Hill's first sale was a pair of Needham Lane pajamas in the beautifully elegant "Pagoda" pattern.  Needless to say, the line was such a hit I had to place another order after our first week of business.  The new order is here!  In addition to our initial offering of silhouettes and patterns, we've added boxers in the adorable "Shrimp" pattern, lounge pants in the swirly "Isabella Blue", and new prints in the long sleeve pajamas and nightshirts.  All silhouettes are 100% cotton.  Sweet dreams are made of this.

Flying Fish

During a conversation with a sales rep regarding another line, she suggested we carry GurglePot.  Gurgle what?  I assured her I would check out their website and let her know if we wanted to place an order.  Based on her brief description, I couldn't imagine what would make this a "must have" for Lucky Hill.  On the website, there was a link to an audio clip of "the gurgle".  I played it once.  Then again.  And again.  I couldn't help but smile.  When Dan came into the room I played it for him.  Then again.  And again.  He couldn't help but smile.  We were hooked.

So what is a GurglePot, you may be asking.  It's a pitcher that can also be used as a vase.  You can use any liquids, with or without ice, and when you pour.....it gurgles.  In addition to the basic utility, it's a clean, modern design that would compliment virtually any decor or tabletop.

When the GurglePots arrived, they were fun, colorful, and perfect for our coastal town.  I sold two little ones.  Then a big one.  And another.  I quickly came to the conclusion these fish not only gurgle....they fly....right out of the shop.  At this point we only have one left.  A big white guy.  But have no fear!  Another order, chock full of fun colors, is due in next Tuesday.  Stop by for a demonstration!  Gurgle, gurgle.

Up & Running

It's pretty safe to say when the moving truck backed up Main Street (don't ask) Thursday afternoon and I assessed the stacks of boxes, never in a million years did I think we would be open and doing business by today....but we are.  I'm not sure how we did it, but I know there were no little elves who came in while we were sleeping so it must have been Dan and me.

This morning Dan was still carrying boxes upstairs and I was placing product.  Paintings were being shuffled from one location to another and spotlights were being added.  We're still waiting for a few product lines and I now have a better handle on what the space can accommodate, but in many respects it feels like I've been here for months.

Don't ask what the rest of the house or Dan's studio look like right now, but the most important thing was to get Lucky Hill up and running.  The day the movers were here, a woman walked past and we chatted briefly about the delayed moving truck.  She told me "this shall pass".  To which I replied, "kidney stones pass too, but with a lot of pain."  When I walk around the bright rooms that contain beautiful product and ethereal fragrances, I don't remember any pain at all.  Lucky Hill is open.

You Just Have to Love this Town

The outpouring of warmth and kindness just keeps coming from the residents and business owners in town.  This morning while Dan and I were trying to tidy the front garden, Sara (of Sara Sara's) and Brenda stopped by to chat after their morning training run for the Otter House 5K tomorrow.  Not long after saying our good-byes, Brenda returned...on behalf of her and Sara...with a beautiful vase of flowers from her garden and a bottle of Pinot Grigio Champagne.  The flowers are the perfect addition to our transitional store and the bubbly a welcome birthday gift for Dan.

Speaking of which.....Happy Birthday to my wonderful husband, partner in crime, best friend, and favorite artist.  I hope the year ahead is full of wonderful memories, great laughter, and more good painting days than bad.  I love you!  

Open for Business.....Sort of

In the retail world, there are soft openings, hard openings, and then there's ours.  If one were being kind, they would refer to it as a soft opening.  I, on the other hand, have taken to referring to it as a marshmallow fluff opening.  Fluff, however, seems to be working. 

Lyn and Paul graciously offered to lend us tables, baskets, and a branch so we could open our doors and give everyone a hint of what we're hoping to bring to Castine's Main Street.  A few weeks ago when I was concepting the space, I had considered using a tree branch for the pajama display, but rejected it in favor of an antique armoire.  When Lyn walked me out to her garage and showed me the branches, I knew it had to be fate.  The branch is now a permanent fixture.  It appears to hover in space, casting dramatic shadows on the wall, supporting lovely pajamas, nightshirts, and gowns by Needham Lane and Yala.  One young woman said it looks like an art installation.

Dan and I have now named it the lucky branch as our first sale in the shop was a pair of Needham Lane pajamas plucked from it.  With that first sale, on what we had always intended to be our opening date of July 1, it was official.  We were open for business.  It may not have been how we envisioned it, but in the years to come it will certainly make for some good stories.  Maybe by then we'll be able to laugh about our missing moving truck.  Then again....maybe not.