Simply Socks Yarn Company welcomed it's first visitor to our new store today- Fort Wayne's Mayor Tom Henry! My own mother hasn't even been in the space yet- in fact, the only people that I've had in since we moved 4 tons of yarn in have been employees or those who are in some way setting up and/or fixing things. It's not that I don't want to show off the space yet, but the store won't even open until the Grand Opening on August 20th (mark your calenders!) so I was kinda taking my time tweaking everything.
So this afternoon while James was home napping, Joe called me from the store and told me that the Mayor wanted to come by and should he let him? Uh, yes Joe. If the Mayor wants to come to the store you say, Yes please, do come in. So what I did I do? I immediately dragged James from his bed and drove the 25 minutes into Fort Wayne (keep in mind we don't live in the same city as the new store). I just happened to walk in the back door as the Mayor and his group came in the front.
I think Mayor Henry enjoyed seeing the yarn and space. And when I explained that the yarn was particularly for knitting socks, well, there were many raised eyebrows from his group. He asked some good questions about what makes a yarn a good one for knitting socks, and I explained a bit about the fibers I sold and how much of what I sold was hand dyed and painted by artisans all over the world. I showed off the above sock (which I knit using this yarn and this pattern), and he talked of the craftmanship of hand knitted socks and asked about the popularity of knitting and I explained that there were actually many more knitters in the US than there are golfers. It was a very nice visit and I'm happy that Mayor Tom Henry and his group were the first to visit the store. A great sign of things to come.
I actually worked for the city/county when I opened the store, and when I left my full-time job there because the store became to busy, my coworkers could barely believe that I would leave a secure full time job with benefits to sell sock yarn. I think it's turned out okay though, don't you?
Wow, what a great visit. Sounds like you made an impression on the Mayor with your sock yarn.
Posted by: Virginia | August 03, 2011 at 08:06 PM
awww.....i'm so excited for you!!! that's awesome!!!
Posted by: chevas | August 03, 2011 at 08:14 PM
I hope my unfinished comment didn't just go!!!
"... we moved 4 tons of yarn in ..." Really? That's about 64,000 socks, isn't it? Good for you!
Posted by: Merna | August 03, 2011 at 10:49 PM
Way to go, Allison! What a nice photo of you and your family. James cracks me up - he always looks like he's about to burst with excitement. Imagine how he will remember his childhood surrounded by color and creativity and yarn and love. And that wall behind you is to die for! That's how I want to redecorate my house :-)
Posted by: Vickie | August 04, 2011 at 05:49 AM
I caught the August 20th date! YEA! YEA! YEA!!!! It is on the calendar and even though my kids will have just started school....we are planning on a road trip! Congratulations with the Mayoral visit...what great press!
Posted by: April | August 04, 2011 at 11:18 AM
Uh, yeah, I think it worked out just fine!!!! LOL How fun and exciting to have the Mayor visit! Good PR for both of you! I SOOOOO wished I lived closer......
Posted by: Lynn | August 05, 2011 at 01:13 AM
Cute picture of your family with the mayor. Love the expression on James's face. But that wall of yarn really made my knees go weak! Please say your grand opening is more than one day. I'll be getting off the train from Louisiana with a suitcase full of dirty clothes at 9 am on the 20th. The following Saturday ROr the one after that) would be perfect for a road trip & the timing - just before my Labor Day birthday - gives me a great excuse to treat myself!!!
Posted by: Donna | August 05, 2011 at 02:25 PM