Get Going with 2012

In Groundhog Day style, every few months I find myself in the same situation. I'd like to think I'm getting better at detaching myself from the situation; looking at it as a blessing in disguise and a chance to learn and improve. There are also those rare moments when I'm detached enough to find it amusing. The situation I'm referring to is staff turnover at the store, at a time when things are chaotic at the production unit or at a time when I'm working on a big project.

In 2009 it was right before my wedding, then in 2010 during a weekend anniversary getaway (we shortened it to a day trip). In 2010 it was right before my Bangalore exhibition and a couple of weeks ago it was right when I was shifting to a new workshop and launching the Winter collection at the store. Rain doesn't pour for nothing, right?

Last week on the 30th, I woke up to read an email from my new store manager saying she wanted to resign.  I spent the better part of that day just calling up recruitment agencies, friends, and contacting people who had mailed me their resumes before. That afternoon I found my new store manager. It was a total Booyah moment, and it put me into a temporary deluded state that I could solve any problem that came my way. (Keep it humble, Anaka, those delusions always get you into trouble). I came crashing down a few days later when another sales associate who was supposed to join on Saturday called to say she won't be able to join after all. Back to hunting, calling, interviewing....

Strangely, this situation is a bit different this year. Maybe I've finally accepted that this is a big part of running a business (holding onto tailors and holding onto sales staff are both hard), or maybe I'm just naively hopeful in the way that most people are at the beginning of the year! So many awesome things are in the pipeline for this year, and that excitement is carrying me through this phase of staff turnover. Besides, I had forgotten how fun it is to spend the whole day at the store, meeting my wonderful customers and helping them find cool clothes to wear. 

Anyway, enough about me. We've got a new line of knitwear coming up, a Spring collection on the way, an inspiring Brass Tacks woman in mind for a creative shoot, and the much awaited online store. Let the year begin already!