What Makes a Retailer Feel Really Good

I had a great experience yesterday, the kind of experience I would imagine most retailers want to have.

It involved the pure joy of receiving some beautiful merchandise and being able to unwrap it, handle it, observe all the details of each piece and then the feeling of pride that our store was going to be able to present this merchandise to our customers.

The package I received was the Spring Collection from Trollbeads.  Just to set the stage, Trollbeads was one of the first jewelry lines we decided to carry in the store.  We have remained over all these years the only Trollbeads retailer in Oklahoma.

Trollbeads is an artist based line.  Each piece is made by hand by a jewelry artist.  Not too long ago, I watched a DVD showing how these jewelry designers and artists work up their designs, then make a mold for the sterling silver pieces or use glass to make the glass beads.  I was so amazed at the skill involved in producing these tiny pieces of art.

They follow each piece from start to finish.  When you buy a Trollbeads piece you know that someone in the world has made this jewelry....it was not cranked out by a machine... and each has its individual personality.
Naturally we want all the items in our store to be as thoroughly produced and lovingly presented.  Trollbeads is definitely at the top of that list.

Now add to that experience the package of Quilling greeting cards which arrived today.  If you know Quilling, you are aware that this art form originated in ancient Egypt and has been practiced throughout Europe and Asia.

The origin of the art and its name comes from the use of birds' feathers or quills which were used to coil strips of paper around to make a design.  Each card takes about 1 hour to produce and it is all done by hand.

The company we purchase these cards from has become Fair Trade certified.  The 2 factories which produce these greeting cards employs over 300 people in Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam.

Not only the beauty of the cards, but the practical fact that each card guarantees a job for over 300 people really makes me feel terrific.