First let me say I am so tired from working I am a bit delirous ... Ok so I have been working as of today 37 days straight, 14 hours a day. Normally I can handle this, but this week really started crappy and no I am crashing badly.
There are 2 other clothing stores in my area, both of whom have been lying to my vendors to try and steal them from my store. They have given false address to get my merchandise, sent "spys" into my stores to take notes on my brands then try to carry them .. I am just so pissed about it. Most of the time my vendors are great and call me when it happens , but on monday a customer informed me that store "x" has in one of my favorite brands. I call my vendor and she knows nothing about it. Turns out store "x" called the new york showroom instead of the LA showroom, gave them there sisters address (which is in a different city) gave them a fake store name and then had her sister ship it to her. ALL that crap just to break the rules. So my vendor had to call them and tell them that they are banned from every carrying the line again. But STILL , who the hell does that??
I guess what really annoys me is that I feel I am honest and play the rules and never try to "steal" brands and these people come in and act like that ....
In the retail boutique world, your brands and prices are everrything. I work my a** off to get these brands and keep them and sell them lower than everyone else, then these sneaky snakes come in and lie and cheat and I am just so over it!!
I really should go confront the other store owners doing this, but frankly that just isnt my style.
AGHHH.... I think i need a massage and some sleep. :)
aw, i'm so sorry allie... one day, they're going to get their a$$es handed to them. i respect you for not stooping to their level of sneakiness. hang in there, and take care of yourself!
oh alliegurl, if i lived closer, i would go into "x" shop and totaly mess up their store. drop clothes on the floor, leave the fitting room a mess, try on everything and just when their sales girls are frustrated and pissed, not buy anything, and then tell them i looooove your store better. but since i am not closer, i will imagine i am doing it and hope other people do it to them instead. (((((((((((big hug))))))))))
There is a reason why they need to resort to this type of behavior and you do not. People will always be jealous of your successes. You are the better business woman and person and you should take comfort knowing that!
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"Whatever you are, be a good one." --Abraham Lincoln
From one Allie to the next...I worked in at a small boutique in my area and I understand what you are talking about! By seeing this type of behavior first hand, you will profit in the end. I applaud you for trying to keep great prices and great vendors! Think of this as a way of weeding out the bad and in the end you will standing in one of your 3 beautiful boutiques being successful in the long run! Big hugs!
You know I'm the queen of indirection... But um, if you catch someone in out and out dishonesty, you can either huddle in a traumatized ball (which encourages them), joke about it which makes you feel better without necessarily changing the situation for better or worse, or raise holy hell, which could earn you an emeny and a huge hassle, but might also prevent more people from attackign you.
In this situation, I would pick option three. And I would get some friends first, other people have to know this is going on. Get some kind of consensus that it's not ok, then go in there and confront the one pulling the crap. And do it soon. Bad people are like puppies. If you wait to get them back, it won't do anything but upset them unecesarily... Does that make sense?
But whatever you do, don't ignore it. It will just get worse. (I'm in law school with these people, they are the reason for the give-an-inch-take-a-mile saying..)
I know how you're feeling right now. But you have to understand that all of this stems from jealously. I am having a similar problem as you, and I have come to the conclusion that they are simply jealous. You will always be the honest one, the one that everyone wants to be, and just knowing that should prove to you how different you really are from them. Keep your head up, and make your store the best it can be... because the better you get, the more you prove that nothing can shake you.
I have a friend that owns a shoe boutique & went through the same thing with another store that opened at the same time. She did all kinds of unethical things to steal lines & 2 years later she was out of business & my friend is continually growing 6 years later. I guess my point is that your vendors have surely seen this behavior before & any reputable company /rep won't put up with it & will see through it. I'm sorry you are having to deal with it, but stick with it & good things will happen for you. I know you know that but still......
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Who do you have to probe around here to get a Chardonnay? - Roger the Alien from American Dad