The importance of writing to do lists

Hello,

 

Happy Friday!

 

I was feeling a little overwhelmed this morning at the amount of information just rattling around in my head. I've been a project manager now for more than 10 years and I do sort-of know what I'm doing but I now tend to do things on such a grand scale that the sheer amount of stuff I'm dealing with can be kinda scary.

 

So, I decided to write things down. Having the mood board for the look of The Shop has really helped me focus more on my design plans and made purchasing items easier. Plus I am the kind of person who won't sleep because I worry I've forgotten something.

 

Therefore, killing two birds with one stone style (which is pretty mean when you think about it), I created a project plan/ mind map / visual to do list/ brain dump!

 

 

 

I just scribbled my thoughts and plans to start with and then colour coded to remind me of the order. When planning a large project - order of how things are done is crucial. Plus, it's really important to focus on the items that might take the longest first and have a timeline alongside the to do list.

 

 

 

 

It's also a really good way to make sure things don't get missed. Plus, I like a handwritten document that I can look at regularly and it's very quick to write something else on.

 

 

 

 

For me, it's a way to identify all the large things first - like stock! And then plan around that as to what the smaller steps needed to be achieved before we achieve the bigger goal.

 

And I colour coded some of the more important decisions to make now, so I can see at a very quick glance what needs to be done yesterday NOW.

Starting a project of this size, I actually find it much easier to work backwards. I imagine a shopper, and think about them - how did they hear about The Shop? What made them walk in? They might want to have a drink, use our toilet, look at our goods, buy something, try something on, bring their kids to play... Once I can see them in my mind then I can work backwards to make sure they can do everything they need to. For example, above I am sketching out someone wanting to try something on. They will need access to changing rooms, the item will need to be priced, they will need a mirror to see the item. From there I can plan how we can create changing rooms - at the moment I think shower curtain rails, wardrobes and curtains can be combined to create something rather wonderful and suitable.

 

I think the hardest part to get right of any campaign is marketing. Whatever you do, it's never enough and I always get criticised from someone (sadly some-few sometimes!). We are thinking of different ways to reach people, including traditional press releases and radio, some door-to-door work, boards on lamposts and railings and an online advertising campaign. I think part of the hardest bit of advertising too is that it's expensive so you have to choose wisely.

 

So here is my page in full. It's almost a picture of my thoughts today! Anyway, it did relax me and help me focus on what needs doing now, and I can stop worrying about what needs doing later.

 

But, of course, we are not just opening The Shop on the weekend of the 6th and 7th December. I'm also project managing the 6th Nelson Art and Vintage Market. This one is easier for me to do, as I've done it five times now, but it's still a huge amount of work. I think people always underestimate how much time it takes to set up large events like these.

 

So I made a start on doing one for the market too. Mostly to make sure I don't forget anything and have waking-up-at-three-am issues.

I'm thinking of encouraging people to use the hashtag NelsonVintage, as so many stallholders are involved and they are normally pretty good at using social media to spread the word on the market.

Again, I have to make sure there is a good mix and enough traders to fill the market. Each one has different requirements and preferences and I try and accomodate all their needs, plus make sure we don't have stalls with similar goods near each other and that the market feels exciting and vibrant and different as people turn each corner. Plus we need to make sure all our traders know what they can and can't do and what we will give them and expect from them.

I'm very lucky though as I have a fab bunch of traders to work with - we're like one big family now!

 

And then, I need to make sure that we have shoppers too. How will people hear about the market? How will they know where to go? I plan a full marketing campaign each time and usually tweak what we do from the feedback from the last market. This time I want to have more signage around roads and in Nelson itself in advance of the event. This is always quite a stressful part, as I simply won't know if it's worked until about an hour after opening. If you spot me at the market, you might notice that I always visibly relax around then!

It's crucial to have the right staff doing the right jobs and this is one of those tasks which needs a long lead time. I have to make sure all the staff know their days and times and shifts around now, so that they don't book any non work stuff that weekend.

 

 

 

I tend to start spreading the word about the event on social media and then move on to leaflets, press, boards etc. I have started posting on the Nelson Vintage facebook page already, but I still wrote it on the list to make sure I keep on top of it.

 

Marketing needs to be a drip feed, bit by bit, not just one big hit. And, it needs to be interesting too. I don't just want to shout the dates at people, but whet their interest for the event.

 

And, serendipitously, talking of whetting interest, I always plan some activities for during the market. People pay £1 to enter and in return they get to take part in some fun things to do, see more than 40 different makers and artists and get a discount cup of coffee. This years activities are shown above. I think there should be a prize if anyone can work out what they are!

 

Writing these lists is quite cathartic for me, and reminds me that if I break all the steps down into smaller steps I can get everything done.

 

You know what else is quite cathartic? Writing this blog!

 

So a heartfelt...

 

Thanks for reading.

 

 

 

 

Kirsty

Hello,

Do you know what! It's not an easy task to fit out a shop on a tiny budget. Pendle Leisure Trust is a not for profit organisation and this project is funded through public money. Although the aim is to cover costs, not make money, we still have to be thrifty. But, we do love a challenge and what do you do with a large space and little cash...

Scour all the locations where bargains may be found! And we have started with collecting furniture; from second hand shops, from eBay, from charity shops and from the auction house too. 

The secret is going regularly and buying what you see as it won't be there if you come back for it later. 

But this means you need somewhere to put it. For a long time we have been using my stable...

As you can see it's  now quite full. 

 

This lovely vintage print has been renamed Daphne.

 

 

And here she is with her partner, who we like to call Dimitri. Sorry for the blurry-ness, I was snapping the pictures on my phone while busy today (mostly trying my hand at being a removals person and realising I'm not really cut out for it).

Luckily our new landlords-to-be have a space which isn't currently being used and we have taken advantage of that space... 

 

It may seem like we are collecting a very strange assortment of items, but fear not! We have a plan. It involves paint and fabric and sanding and creativity and an awful lot of cleaning.

And so piece by piece, our shop starts to feel real. It's so nice to feel that, after so long just living in my head.

And we found some amazing treasures - like this box of vintage sewing items.

And fate had a part too. My great - grandparents were Swarbricks, so this suitcase and I were destined for each other, obviously.

Do you know what else though? We really need lots more chairs, so I'm going to have to do all this again soon! Fingers crossed all the bruises will have healed by then (I meant it when I said I'm not cut out for a new career in removals).



Thanks for reading,




Kirsty

The Festival of Thrift and more The Shop preparations!

Hello all,

So it's been a busy week as always! Lots of stuff going on.

Carmela is busy trying to find additional venues for Arts on Prescription to run cookery courses in the evenings... It's not as easy to find venues with enough space, ovens etc. But hopefully some news on that soon.

I've been attending lots of meetings recently to keep an eye on all the projects I am involved with. I had a pleasant afternoon last week writing a concept for a new bid outside in the sunshine, attended the Health and Wellbeing meeting to fight the case for Arts on Prescription to receive more funding and be able to continue after June next year. Watch this space as there were exciting murmurs of agreement.

I caught up with my fellow project managers on our new Strategic Touring programme which is bringing some great affordable family theatre into Pendle and Blackburn with Darwen and which is allowing people to choose the shows put on in their local venues. I'm going to do a more in depth post on that next week...

Also there was plenty of The Shop related activity. I attended the auction in Burnley for the first time, and was very brave - bidding with my piece of card with my number on it - and didn't get carried away on anything (I was tempted to buy a taxidermy duck in glass case but overcame it). I did buy a few really useful shop items and am planning on going back again soon, albeit with boots, jumper and a flask of coffee. It's rather nippy in the big concrete space.

I've been looking into music licences, wifi and insurance and all the really important stuff that is needed to get the space up and running. We are still negotiating the lease but I'm not going to worry about it and keep thinking positively.

I've been thinking about how our local community can get involved in the space too. It's a bit of a chicken and egg situation at the mo - can't go in and do stuff until lease is signed really, but don't know when that may be so might not have enough time and so on and so on. So I was thinking about running some open mornings or Saturdays at The ACE Centre where people can come along and decorate their very own piece of plywood. Yes you heard right - plywood! Only the best eh?

We could decorate these in advance - with pattern, with just block paint, with collage or wallpaper and then use them to cover up the walls in The Shop. Obviously I would measure up and things and provide all the materials if people wanted to do this. Let me know what you think?

Also, we have been firming up plans for local artists, designers and makers to be able to put their own mini-shop into The Shop. At the moment we are fairly committed to offering 5 or 6 mini-shops and then also offering a rent-a-shelf scheme. If you are interested in this do please talk to me or email me. I'm planning on sending more information out next week, by email - so if you want to know more, my email is on the about page.

Then - last but not-at-all-least Carmela and I took a trip to The Festival of Thrift in Darlington to gather some inspiration and ideas for both The Shop and our Art and Vintage Markets. This is organised by the Wayne Hemmingway brand (not sure it's him personally) and it's a HUGE event, so not something we could ever afford to replicate, but that doesn't mean we can't steal borrow some of the ideas involved.

So here are some pictures of the day....

 

This was a very simple idea using nylon cord but it's very eye-catching.

 

Loving the handwritten sign.

 

Wow, BBQ on a car

 

Best name for a hot dog stall?

 

A pig that is also a theatre? Where you put on pig tails and kneel at the teats to watch a show. Of course, can't believe it's not been done before!

 

Off set and quirky signs - loved them.

Canteen Alley was actually lots of VW campervans where people could book a meal for 4. It looked really good. 

 

It was busy.

 

With lots to do.

 

Over a pretty big site.

 

This group were building an actual shed during the weekend.

 

There were lots of lovely stalls.

 

And a DJ playing vintage tunes and sharing thrifty tips. If you gave a tip, you got to take part in the 'Unlucky Dip' which was a bin full of sawdust and items that charity shops couldn't sell!

 

More caravans - this one was a beauty van which also made milkshakes.

I think by the end of the day Carmela and I had convinced ourselves that we needed a caravan.

 

Steampunk pigeons!

 

While having a quick break for a coffee on the Village Green we met Meryl and Beryl and helped them organise their family tree. Very good fun! Lots of cross dressing and celebrities involved.

 

 

Then the skies darkened and we started to head for home. It was good that the weather held as the whole event was outside.

 

More weird and wonderful creations.

 

Love the jewellery displayed in bun-tins.

 

 

I felt like we should end on the pig!

So that's me checking in with what's going on this week. Happy for people to feedback and tell us what you think but do please try and be positive or constructive. I work pretty hard and hope people realise that although I don't always get it right I do try!


Thanks for reading.




Kirsty

What Kirsty Did: Steampunk Market

This is the final What Kirsty Did this week.

Just last Saturday I headed to the Steampunk Market at Queen Street Mill in Burnley. Running a market myself, it's important to go to others and collect new potential stallholder details, see how it all looks and enjoy too!

 

As we walked through the door the Palace of Curiosities were beginning a spiel. Husband immediately volunteered both boys to help with the magic disappearing flea trick.

 

It worked.

 

 

Then we started to have a look around the stalls and the museum. It was clear how well the Steampunk market fitted with the Museum (which is steam powered).

Oh, just spotted an accidental selfie of me in the glasses above! 

 

Some of the machines were demonstrated, the one above and below, was making towels.

 

I kept being drawn to the textures...

 

and colours...

 

and patterns...

I know you can't quite see the rules, but it basically states you can be fined for anything that isn't working, including taking too long in the toilet and leaving your area untidy.

 

It was really loud once the steaming began, and that was with only one machine really operational.

 

The steam engine.

 

But the best bit? All the people who had dressed up. The costumes were amazing.

 

I liked this sign on the food stall. They boys all preferred the home made chicken pakoras and lamb samosas.

 

Couldn't resist, that boy of mine has loved guns all his life, no matter how much I discouraged him.

 

 

So I really enjoyed the market. I think the best bit was the atmosphere, everyone seemed really happy and keen to be there. Also it seemed to appeal more to boys that most of the craft markets I've been to, which meant we could all enjoy our time there.

 

 

Luckily I spoke to lots of exciting stallholders and collected cards and contact details. Hopefully some of the traders will come along to the Nelson Art and Vintage Market in December.

 

 

Thanks for reading,

 

 

 

Kirsty