I can’t quite believe that it’s one year that we’ve been in our pop up space. Much has changed in the fortunes of Potassium and we seem to have reversed the downward trend we were experiencing at our old location. At the time of writing our numbers are higher then 2009 and close to pre-recession levels of 2008.
Store Street is not just a better location it’s a great location – still with the community feel of our previous store but on a bit of a larger scale. We have not only returned to our original program of events, but the KGBs are still rocking the house too with some familiar faces and some that are newer.
Much of this could not have been achieved without the support of our supplier base. Their flexibility has meant we have been able to refresh our stock and introduce new lines. In addition we’ve partnered with some new labels in particular OUTSIDER who has been a great addition to our mix. Other notable names are Plane Clothing, introduced to us by one of our new friends Rassami, Monkee Genes, Soomin, NV London Calcutta and recently Darlings Little Treasures and Nancy Dee. Underpinning each of the new additions to our assortment is an open honest relationship that creates ethical and eco friendly products for the modern man and woman.
One of our more recent successes has been the introduction of our “Mid-Week Market” which is an extension and development of our original “6 Week Rail”concept. Mid-Week Market has allowed independent ethical/eco designer/makers to set up a stall outside our main shop front. The crowds that appear when Tilt& Wonky’s Vintage Emporium are here are amazing. The smiles on men’s faces as they pass by Darlings Little Treasures make great people watching. Only Miss D can make these guys smile with her South London via Manchester banter. We would like to continue with the Mid-Week Market, so if you or someone you know would like to pitch a Wednesday or Saturday stall tell them to get in touch.
So what’s the plan for 2012? Ideally we would like to stay in our current location although it is a little big for us. The question is what we do with the additional space. If you have ideas, do let me know.
On a global scale I am cautious. There are some real issues in the global economy. Paradigms were set to change after the crash of 2008 but clearly they had not run their full course. Today the banks suggest they are sympathetic but I hear from too many other people in business that they are not. All too frequently they change the rules and the charging tariffs along with them, which puts a huge pressure on independent business – we don’t have deep pockets like the majors, but the reality is that without us there will be no growth. Independent businesses that survive do so because they remain flexible. I feel that Potassium has always been like that adapting to what essentially people want. For independent businesses their strength is to be able to respond and react far quicker than the wheels and cogs of a large corporate and I say this because of a conversation I had recently with a new wine shop that I know. Although a chain of 12 the point they have missed is one I practice; “Think Global Act Local” Listen to your customers and your colleagues. If as an in-store customer I don’t know that you offer a case discount you need to find a way of telling me rather then relying on me searching on your website.
Store Street is signed until the end of January and I’m hoping that we’ll be able to stay beyond that. New products for Spring Summer 2012 have been selected and now I’m thinking how we can celebrate all that London and the UK has to offer in what will be “the greatest show on earth” If the forthcoming season is as strong as this current season has been so far, Potassium will be able to re-launch our much sought after and cherished private label collection.
More imminent than the re-launch of the new Potassium line, is the need to update our website to encompass technological changes. Although currently a miniscule part of our business our web offer is a great way to extend our customer base. Those that have shopped with us on-line have often come back and shopped again - impressed not only with what we sell but how we sell it too. Service after all is where we can make the difference. Our web-shop aims to be as functional and seamless as possible, compatible in all formats including “e” and “m” What we need input on is how to replicate the in-store experience on-line. If you have ideas then do let me know.
So far we’ve concentrated on engaging via social media tools Facebook and Twitter and have seen our followers grow four-fold in six months. These pages don’t just tell you about new arrivals and events but also link to articles that we think may be of interest to those interested in the ethical, the ecological, and the fashion-forward. We like to think of it more as a magazine rather then a “please hand over your credit card” tool although…we don’t mind that either.
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