MAGIC or was it?
It's hard to know where to start sometimes. I'm absolutely overwhelmed with how good God has been to me and I just want to tell everyone that will listen! Ok, last Friday it had been a bad day. I was in a bad mood (get those?) and the store had been empty all day. In fact, the store had been slow all week. This is a "down time" for retail in our area anyway, but that week had been particularly slow. Not only that, but 4 stores in my neighborhood had closed or had announced their closing and we were all feeling the shock of the economic backlash in Michigan. Dreadful. So, there I was alone in the store... all day... feeling sad for my fellow retailers..and maybe a little sad for myself too. I started to pray. This store is not owned by the economy. I know who owns this store. I thanked God for all He had done and planned to do through our store. It's always been about His plan for my business, not my plan. I mean, I never planned to own a shoe store in the first place. The relationships we have developed in the store, the friends we have made, the opportunities to serve women... have always been at the forefront... and then, oh, we sell shoes and handbags too. (smile) I asked him to take any spirit of fear from me. I didn't want it finding a home in my store or in my heart. AND, I asked him to work on my attitude, because I was feeling sorry for myself that no one had been in all day. Then in walked John. John is 52 years old, white, Jewish, balding on top, thick glasses and so friendly. I thought he must want directions or something because he walked straight to the counter. It wasn't until he handed me coupons for Cottage Pizza (in Novi, MI) that I realized he was passing out promo material for them. He told me about their pizza and delivery services and then he started to leave. Almost at the door, he turned around and said, "I'm a songwriter too!" I thought that was funny to tell me on the way out, but he started back for my counter. "Has anyone ever written a song about your store, Lauren?"
"No!", I told him.
"Well, I wrote a song about your store and it goes a little something like this here!"... and he proceeded to RAP! Oh my gosh. It was so funny... I laughed until I cried. And he left. He told me to order pizza and he'd sing for me every time he delivered, and he left. I called his boss and thanked him for sending John the singing Pizza Man. I told him he had been an answer to prayer and that my attitude had been changed. Not only that, but I would buy my pizza from them for now on. I hope it's good!
Then, not 10 minutes later I got a call. "I can't explain it", she said. "I was just searching the internet when I came across your website. I didn't even know about your store. I love Shoe Of The Week! I love your website! Tell me about Shoe Parties!" Then she said, "My name is Jennifer and I'm in charge of PR and Marketing for MAGIC 105.1 fm in Detroit and we would like to partner with you. How would that sound?"
Seriously, you guys... I had to ask her for her name three different times. So, that's how we ended up on MAGIC 105.1. For the next three weeks, they are having SHOE-A-PALOOZA during the 9-5 workweek schedule. The 25th caller for the FREE SHOE SONG OF THE DAY wins a $75 gift certificate to our store. In exchange, we are being mentioned on the radio over 100 times, we have a prominent spot on their website (which gets nearly 6000 hits a day) and they are sponsoring a WINNERS party at the CHASE BAR & GRILL (in Northville) on Feb 21st. All the winners (and a friend) will come to enjoy free appetizers, cash bar, entertainment, and be eligible for free shoes for a year. A Shoe A Month for a year! How cool is that???
I had to remember my prayer. "Thank you for all you've done and are going to do in our store. Please help me with my attitude." Within 30 minutes of that prayer, John the Singing Pizza Man & Jennifer the PR person from MAGIC had come to call. I'm thinkin' "Who doesn't pray enough!" Right?
Then, the very next day, we had a visit from Strut Magazine to tell us that we had won Best Independent Shoe Store in Detroit, in the Women's Choice Awards for Strut Magazine. The winners will all be listed in their April Issue, but they wanted to tell us personally. WOW!!!
I just wanted to share that good news with you. God has been so good to us at Lorla's. He's the one that owns this store. If it's going to make it, He's going to have to be in charge. I simply get to go along for the ride.
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