Our Big Renovation
As many of you have seen on Instagram we are making some big changes around here. We are getting a lot more questions than I anticipated so I thought I would take a moment to clarify a few things!
“Your store is beautiful, why are you renovating?”
The short answer is that it is just not good enough. I started Charmed twelve years ago while I was still in my twenties. My vision at that time did not match my start-up budget. If you have read our start-up blog you know that was sub $2000. Since then I have bootstraped and improvised Charmed into a successful business. Most of this is credited to my beautiful customers whose loyalty has kept us around through good and bad. It’s time for our look to match our product quality and service.
It’s never going to be perfect. If it was feasible in the Uptown area I would be in a space with tall ceilings, an easy layout, and big bright floor-to-ceiling windows. While we considered changing spaces we couldn’t escape the charm of our current space in historical 2 King St North. The decision was final once we came to an agreement with our landlord(whom we love) to take over the space next to us. Since then I have spent the past two years planning and pondering and finally landing on an aesthetic that fits the space and reflects Charmed as a whole.
“What’s wrong with the current layout”
Everything.
I am obsessed with efficiency. This is one of the reasons I needed to work for myself. Systems that don’t flow well or slow down the floral process drive me mad. I am not Jeff Bezos, but it does keep me up at night.
Moving the location of the till will improve team communication and supervision. Moving the bouquet rack to eye line right when you walk in will avoid a lot of confusion when entering for the first time.
Most importantly I made the mistake of not considering scale when initially laying out this space. Our new layout will allow for more seasonal help and accommodate our current volume of orders.
“What can we expect”
The same Charmed with expanded services and a bit more room to walk around! We have been listening to your feedback over the years and have made changes with that in mind!
These changes include:
An expanded card section
An expanded grab-and-go section with market flowers by the bunch
An easier to see and shop vase arrangement display
A selection of ready-made gift bundles
Separation of pre-ordered and pick-ups to avoid the “are these for sale?” question
Room for strollers at the top of our steps
“When will the reno be complete?”
Certainly by the end of January.
“Are you a sucker for punishment?”
Yes, yes I am.
I can’t wait to welcome you into our new space. Thank you from the bottom of my heart for your support as we renovate, this wouldn’t be possible without you!