This is as far as I got setting up the new store — the first photo is the most complete, taken just before I walked out last night. I’m reasonably happy with it so far, but I think there are a few tweaks needed. The biggest issue is the window — I think an open etagere-style shelving unit will work much better (picture something gold-framed with glass shelves, about 5′ high) for giving usable display space, while still not blocking the window.
I’ve been trying hard to spend as little money as possible setting this space up, but so far, I’ve kept the budget pretty tight — about $100 for paint (which I have a lot left over, and will hopefully use for something else), and $20 for wood shelves. An etagere will be around $170, so I think that’d bring me to about $300 total, which doesn’t seem bad for investing in shop set-up, not that I really know. 
People should go buy stuff — that will help! (7129 Cermak Road, Berwyn.) All my books are signed!
I didn’t manage to label absolutely everything — some of the tea towels and the resin rings and the resin bookmarks I didn’t have time to get labelled, so that’ll have to wait until Monday when I’m back in town. But ALMOST everything. Hopefully it won’t be too frustrating for anyone, having a few things that are just display-only right now.
Funny story — apparently on Tuesday (when I was half set-up), someone did want to buy something from the store — the ottoman! Which is not something I made and is not for sale; it’s just from my house. Although, y’know, I could look up what I paid for it — I’m not sentimentally attached to it or anything…
Other tweaks coming next week — do I want to add string lights? Hm. Do I want to stencil the bare vertical stretches (the border of cream against mint near the top is bugging me)? Do I want to stencil the wide border under the slats? Instead of stenciling, do I want to use some peel-and-stick leaf and branch wallpaper I have leftover from a home project?
I could use another 3-4 shelves, but I’ve used up the last of the brackets they have on site, so I’d need to buy more, which is fine, but then they likely wouldn’t match, so do I want to switch all of mine over? Maybe. Hm. A little more money too.
I *could* add another row of shelves on the top (moving some stuff down a bit), if I want to maximize space utilization, but I don’t want it to look jam-packed; that can be a fun aesthetic too, but I don’t think it’s my look. Not that I’m a spare & modern person either, obviously. I like cozy, but with a little breathing space.
The chalkboard sign is temporary; I’m going to order a sign through them that will coordinate with most of the other shopkeepers. That’ll take a few weeks, I think, for design work and production and installation.
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Berwyn Sprout Small Business Incubator
7129 Cermak Rd, Berwyn
Tuesday – Saturday from 10am-8pm
Sunday from 10am-5pm
