Topic: Attention all Ladies
started by: nattiejean27
Posted by nattiejean27 on Aug. 28 2003,7:17 pm
All right ladies of this forum. Now that I mentioned what store I owned, I want your opinion. I guess I was a little naive on my view of empowering the women of this area by opening up a store of this nature. My "gifts" are more on the risque side of things - if ya know what I mean *nudge nudge wink wink*. What holds you back from coming into stores like this? Don't get me wrong, I get a lot of women in here, but not as many as I hoped or want. In most circumstances wives/girlfriends send in their husbands/boyfriends for items that they need, while they sit out in the car. I am still on this mission for women empowerment this way in my life (with or without the store here) and would like to know ways to be more effective in reaching out to women that may be embarrassed or hopefully curious, but take no action for themselves. I feel that women NEED some of the items I carry in order to have a more fulfilled and satisfying sex life. We all know it takes a lot more work for women on this end than it does for men (saying there is no medical issues going on for the men). Anyone of you gals willing to post in here and inform me of what your opinions/suggestions are? It would like to hear all ends of the spectrum on this one - whether opposed, totally for, or even just curious...
One misconception I get is that people come in and wanting to talk to my 'boss' and who HE is or what GUY owns this store? LOL
I get quite a shocked look from most everyone that finds out it's little old me and the HE they are looking for doesn't exist (except for my hubby, but that's not the HE they are looking for anyway). I realize this topic might be a little taboo and more on the risque side, but hey, what can I say? It is my business and what I do!!
Any men want to participate on this one, please feel free too.
I'd appreciate any kind of enlightenment!
Posted by GEOKARJO on Aug. 28 2003,7:32 pm
I agree women are intimidated by my back room I have cameras in there and when I watch couples look at my inventory it brings them a little closer together. They don't always buy something but they do take each other into there arms and give a affectionate hug, I know leaving here they both have the samething in mind.
Posted by nattiejean27 on Aug. 28 2003,7:37 pm
I so get the same thing too. A lot of the couple's have made me smile while spotting them doing this on my cameras. It's cute to see it happen so often. 
And yes, I'm sure they do have the same thing on their mind - explains the pink cheeks and permi-grins. 
Posted by jimhanson on Aug. 28 2003,7:52 pm
I haven't been in either your store or Prinzing's new store, but I think there may be something he did right--but unplanned!I have no verification, but one of Prinzing's guys told me the new store in Rochester has 40% women visiting--one of the unexpected benefits of having to take the "harder" stuff out for a while. As I understand it, the standard of the industry is that if 25% or less of your business--measured by sales, square footage, or displays--is "hard", it is defensible in court. One of the "Unintended Consequences" of the morality police was to make stores LARGER to meet these tests--and the store found a new market--WOMEN!
According to the source, they had a lot of couples, a lot of "Batchelorette" parties, etc. coming to the store. I think it helps that it was newly remodeled, and stands by itself, next to a well-traveled road--compared to city zoning requirements in many cities that SOBs be located in "less desireable" parts of town. I think women feel safe patronizing the store--also, since it is free-standing and not downtown, they don't have to worry who might see them coming and going ("and going, and coming, and ALWAYS TOO SOON!
).Merchandise varies, I'm told, from "Frederic's of Minnesota"
to "hard" merchandise, and people can shop at the level they are comfortable with. As I said, just good merchandising, good location, and even Mal doesn't claim credit for it. Sometimes it is better to be lucky. Good Luck to you!
Posted by GEOKARJO on Aug. 28 2003,7:59 pm
I have to honestly say I have more women customers than I have men due to the fact I cater to the bachorlet party more than anything else
Posted by minnow on Aug. 28 2003,8:40 pm
What the hay do you twos do...own adult stores of some kind?
Posted by Mamma on Aug. 28 2003,8:50 pm
I think for me it would be the embarrassment factor of knowing that people would see my car outside of your store. I have a distinctive car. If you had been located in a mall, I think I may have ventured in and checked it all out. I think with all the red and black.....it made it almost like an adult bookstore and I didn't want to be caught peeking. I don't feel that intimidation in George's store though....not even in the backroom. I guess I never thought about it before either.
Posted by Spidey on Aug. 28 2003,10:36 pm
nattiejean .. I didn't even know your store existed. What do you sell that makes it so embarrissing for women to go in there? Most of the women I know wouldn't be afraid to walk into an adult store and would be laughing at your post. Perhaps you should have advertised more?I'm not sure what you mean it "takes a lot more work" for women then it does men. There are all kinds of toys for both sexes.
You said men would come in and buy things while the women sat in the car ... if that's the case you should have still made the sale. What does it matter to you if they come in or not?
I'm finding your post a bit self righteous when you talk about "you" being a women and "everyone" is shocked that you own the store ... or all other women are afraid of sex (old school thinking) except for you ... or that we "need" these items that you sell. Did you ever stop to think that women may be buying somewhere else rather then your store because no one knew you existed? Or maybe these kinds of items are easier purchased over the net or through a catalog because that way they wouldn't have someone watching them thinking they are "cute"? Or .. maybe ... everyone is being sexually satisfied with their partners? Or all of the above?
You seem to have a very old school way of thinking .. I'm surprised to hear you came from the cities. Which makes me wonder ... why would you move a business like an adult store "from" the cities to a town like Albert Lea in the first place? Of course you will have less sales.
GEOKARJO .. the last time I was in your store I didn't even know you had a back room. I saw shelves that were dividing the room a bit ... on the other side there were adult funny cards and some joke things, but that was about it. Where is your "back room"? I've noticed all of the computers when I walk by ... what's that all about? Sorry ... haven't been in there in light years. I thought maybe the store changed hands.
Posted by GEOKARJO on Aug. 28 2003,11:59 pm
Hi Spidy we opened the web-room accross from the court house in Jan. 2000 moved to the mall in the food court in jun of 2000 it only took 6 months to see I could not attract people because of lack of parking. In june 2001 we bought and move our business into the Family Fun
the first thing I did was move the shelf and build a backroom with a door on it, next to our check out.
We brought in much more in the way of body jewelry, tees, OTH, darts, pool sticks, table accesories, we provide dial up and high speed dial up internet, build and repair computers, we are an audit firm for a charitable gaming association, I transfer vhs to dvd, 8 mill film to vhs, to dvd, photo reproduction, computer sales, web design, and our unique gifts, lingerie, game boards, and so much more.
Posted by Spidey on Aug. 29 2003,12:23 am
Wow ... sounds like there is a lot more in your store now. I'm think'in I need to make a pit stop there to check things out ... sounds kind of fun. You mentioned charitable gaming association .. I wonder if you don't know a friend of mine ... hmmm .... Gets you thinking how many of us know each other. Things that make you go hmmmmmmmm
Posted by Tiger on Aug. 29 2003,8:56 am
I knew about the lingerie store on broadway but I thought it closed only after about 6 months or so. The store I knew about doesn't have anything in it anymore. ADVERTISE!! ADVERTISE!! ADVERTISE!!
Posted by 1adam12 on Aug. 29 2003,3:01 pm
Nattie - hate to see you go, but I can't blame you. I don't know if there are enough uninhibited people in this town to support your business. Maybe it was the location. Maybe both.I haven't been to your store. Frankly, I didn't know it was there til I saw your sign on the boulevard 3 weeks ago. I don't know if you've advertised...I don't subscribe to the rag. Several of our friends who are very uninhibited would love a store like yours, but even they haven't mentioned it.
A few years ago, my wife and I went to Loving Fun in Rochester. Very tasteful store, and we had a good time (and several more as a result
). The staff was great, and made us feel welcome. I had no problem going there - cause I knew the end result was going to be worth it! Best of luck to you, and keep posting here.
Posted by Bubba on Aug. 29 2003,3:33 pm
Got anything in red flannel?
Posted by nattiejean27 on Aug. 29 2003,4:01 pm
I think you might have me confused with the store right downtown. It closed after 4 months and did not carry my backroom items. I'm a little farther down Broadway and have been here for 10 months. Yes Tiger, you are right about advertising. I did advertise in the Trib, Shoppers, all nearby local papers and on 2 radio stations, but am also new and it takes time to become a staple business in any town and to reach everyone.Thanks for all the feedback about the store. Some things mentioned I have definitely realized and some things are new to me. I'm sorry for giving the wrong impression about the women that come in. My ratio is around 35% are women alone (excluding couples). I just know that there is more out there.
Spidey, I'm going to focus on your post because I think you totally took me the wrong way and you seem a little defensive on what I was saying. You are obviously not the kind of woman I'm trying to reach so-to-speak, because you are already there. I am happy to see that you and your friends are comfortable coming into stores that carry these items. That's what I am trying to do for other women that don't feel the same way we do. I've talked to a lot and I get the sense that majority of women ARE curious or would like something, but MOST (not all) in this area aren't comfortable doing so. It sounds like you'd actually be shocked yourself too if you experienced what I have with this store that way.
| Quote |
| I'm not sure what you mean it "takes a lot more work" for women then it does men. There are all kinds of toys for both sexes. |
| Quote |
| You said men would come in and buy things while the women sat in the car ... if that's the case you should have still made the sale. What does it matter to you if they come in or not? |
| Quote |
| I'm finding your post a bit self righteous when you talk about "you" being a women and "everyone" is shocked that you own the store |
I still think it's cute to see couples standing a little closer and being more touchy with eachother when they are looking at these items. It makes me happy to see that they are there together and supporting eachother. What's wrong with that?
I also didn't move this store from the cities. I was doing other things there. I moved to this area to be closer to my hubby's kids and didn't want to take a road trip everytime I wanted something in this nature.
It's not the actual amount of sales that are the problem either. The summer has been quite slow but the winter I did much better than expected. I just would like to see more women than men in my store (even though I appreciate the men customer's I have just as much), because I'M a woman and realize how much an enhancement most of the items are for me personally (which in turn is for my hubby too) and would like to introduce some of them to women that aren't feeling as satisfied as they would like, but most of the women that feel this way are embarrassed to get something for themselves. Which is the point I was making. I would like them to feel comfortable, if that's what they are interested in.
Does that clarify my point and questions better to you?
| Quote |
| I think for me it would be the embarrassment factor of knowing that people would see my car outside of your store. I have a distinctive car |
My store was (and I say WAS because I'm outta stock of almost everything LOL) fairly comparable to Loving Fun. Nothing risque was offered in the front area, just Lingerie, Body Jewelry, and Candles. There also was nothing too hard core in the back area either, stuff like Loving Fun has.
Sorry Bubba, no flannel
Posted by Bubba on Aug. 29 2003,4:19 pm
nattie, I pulled the plug on a business I was in. It's tough, and I don't envy what you are going through. Although you will never look at this as being a great time in your life, if you really want to be in business for yourself this shouldn't be the end of that dream.Best of luck in the future.
Posted by hoosier on Aug. 29 2003,4:22 pm
I visited Nattiejeans store the other day, very nice. Nattiejean is a very friendly person also. Parked my truck right out front for everyone to see. The only people I was afraid of seeing my truck there was my wifes friends, figured they would tell the wife, then the wife would be expecting some nice sexy nighty. Sorry honey, just went there to meet Nattiejean. Wish I would have known about your store sooner. Got any nighties on closeout sale?
Posted by Tiger on Aug. 29 2003,4:35 pm
I ageree with Hoosier, I wish you would've mentioned your store on this forum sooner. Look at the publicity you are getting now. I know I will talk with all of my friends about it over the holiday weekend and we are in our mid 20's some single and some married and some dating.
Posted by nattiejean27 on Aug. 29 2003,4:45 pm
Thank you Bubba for that. I'm also not closing my store because I HAVE to financially. It's more of a personal choice, I honestly just don't want to live in Austin or AL anymore. No offense to anyone that does - it's just not for me. I'm sad to see my store close, but I also refuse to be strapped down in a place I'm not happy in because of it. Life is too short for that. Little side note I'm telling you, anyone that is interested in opening up a business. For the first 10 months in a small town, this type of store took off better than expected, and if someone was willing to give it a good couple of years to really getting going... you'd provide yourself a pretty decent living here . There's a demand in this area. (I'm not saying this to sell my store either, because it's not really for sale- just the stuff in it.)Thanks Hoosier too! It's was very nice to meet you finally (and the other couple that have stopped in to say hi from the forum).
I maybe should have mentioned the store I owned earlier. Yet, I didn't really want to force my store on anyone and I used the forum personally - separate from my business. I don't know if that makes sense but it didn't feel right earlier. Also the old forum felt A LOT different to mention it on, unlike this new one - which I feel is MUCH MUCH better!
Posted by nattiejean27 on Aug. 29 2003,4:47 pm
And yes Hoosier, EVERYTHING that's left (which really isn't much) is 50% off. I'm also not going lower on the discount, so don't worry about waiting for a better deal. I sell on ebay so there is no point in doing that. ;)
Posted by Mamma on Aug. 31 2003,8:46 pm
Just a little note on those "sexual enhancement" things. I went to a in-home lingerie party one night where they sold lovely nightgowns and novelty items. One of the items was edible underwear. Let me warn you girls.....take into consideration, when buying this stuff,.......could you actually out run one of your pets?
Posted by rosebudinal on Aug. 31 2003,11:07 pm
Okay, okay I'm coming...................and I'll park out front to, you see I am a bit of a rebel in this town and have never been out to impress anyone. Kinda chilly tonite. Got any flannel negligees???