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There seems to be much concern about all the changes we've made to the business over the past two months. Rumors and speculation in the ranks and on sutler row have been fantastical so I thought I'd explain why these changes were made.
I've been offered and have accepted a full time position at a museum down in Virginia. While I love my business and my customers, this is a good move for my family and an opportunity I couldn't pass up. As you can imagine, this has made for a very hectic time for me, my family and my customers.
After 11 years of running my business full time I had some hard choices to make. I wasn't sure if I should try to keep the business as a full time entity or close my doors for good. In the end, I chose to scale back and run it as a part time endeavor...I'll explain my reasons later in this post.
What'll stay the same:
What'll change:
What'll improve:
When will this take place?
Good question. Some of it already has, we are in the process of moving and I've already started working at the museum. Right now my biggest concern is finishing up back orders. I have a few dozen customers who are waiting on orders placed before the September 15th deadline and those people are my PRIMARY concern right now. If you are one of these people, feel free to call me to discuss your order, I really want to hear from you via phone and assure you I have not forgotten about you through this change.
Also, I want your input on how you think I can better serve you as a part time vendor. (this is new territory for me too) Your ideas, comments, concerns, suggestions, complaints and thoughts are important to me and I'd love to get e-mails regarding these changes. Maybe you think I eliminated something you think I should still make? Maybe you think I am offering something nobody wants? What ever it is, please let me know.
Finally, I want to thank the over 4,200 customers who've made the last 11 years so enjoyable for me. As I said before, I love my business dearly and this was not an easy choice to make for me. I've met customers from all over the world and it's one of the reasons I decided to keep running the business in a limited capacity.
We've successfully completed over 10,000 transactions via the mail to those of you who couldn't make it to an event in person, but for those of you whom I've met on Sutler Row, I feel you are a part of my family. The greatest moment in the hobby for me was after the tornado at Spotsylvania in 2004. Scores of customers came to sutler row to help the business people raise our tents and dry out our inventory, that selfless act is something I recall fondly to those in and out of the hobby. When someone says how crazy reenactors are, I tell them that story. And that's the chief reason I couldn't close my doors altogether, I still feel like I owe it to you to stay a bit longer.
This isn't a good bye. I'll be at Cedar Creek on Saturday and Sunday, I'll be in the store on Remembrance Day. I'll be attending events in 2008 and please look to our in-stock page in the coming months as I plan to stock that full once my current back orders are filled.
Thanks for your time.
I've been offered and have accepted a full time position at a museum down in Virginia. While I love my business and my customers, this is a good move for my family and an opportunity I couldn't pass up. As you can imagine, this has made for a very hectic time for me, my family and my customers.
After 11 years of running my business full time I had some hard choices to make. I wasn't sure if I should try to keep the business as a full time entity or close my doors for good. In the end, I chose to scale back and run it as a part time endeavor...I'll explain my reasons later in this post.
What'll stay the same:
- My commitment to authenticity will not change. That'll NEVER change!
- The store in Gettysburg will still be open and will be run by Kara at Corner Clothiers.
- We'll still be attending events on sutler row, although will cut back slightly from years past.
What'll change:
- My mailing address and phone number have changed.
- My phone hours have changed dramatically, you'll only be able to reach me between 8-10pm est. I hope everyone understands why I have to limit my hours as my commitment to family and my hours at work are going to make this an important part of keeping the business flowing smoothly.
- I've stopped taking custom orders.
- I have scaled back our produce line to a dozen or so items that have been our best sellers in the past and cut out items that never really sold well. For a full list, click here.Changes to our Product Line
What'll improve:
- Delivery time, despite doing this part time, delivery time WILL go up as I won't be bogged down in custom and back orders. So if something is in stock, we'll be able to get it out quicker.
- Customer Service. One of the biggest gripes is returned e-mails and phone calls, while I do get back with everyone, at a rate of 70 e-mails a day, it was a huge task, hopefully by not taking custom orders, I'll be able to concentrate on answering your questions about in stock items much quicker.
When will this take place?
Good question. Some of it already has, we are in the process of moving and I've already started working at the museum. Right now my biggest concern is finishing up back orders. I have a few dozen customers who are waiting on orders placed before the September 15th deadline and those people are my PRIMARY concern right now. If you are one of these people, feel free to call me to discuss your order, I really want to hear from you via phone and assure you I have not forgotten about you through this change.
Also, I want your input on how you think I can better serve you as a part time vendor. (this is new territory for me too) Your ideas, comments, concerns, suggestions, complaints and thoughts are important to me and I'd love to get e-mails regarding these changes. Maybe you think I eliminated something you think I should still make? Maybe you think I am offering something nobody wants? What ever it is, please let me know.
Finally, I want to thank the over 4,200 customers who've made the last 11 years so enjoyable for me. As I said before, I love my business dearly and this was not an easy choice to make for me. I've met customers from all over the world and it's one of the reasons I decided to keep running the business in a limited capacity.
We've successfully completed over 10,000 transactions via the mail to those of you who couldn't make it to an event in person, but for those of you whom I've met on Sutler Row, I feel you are a part of my family. The greatest moment in the hobby for me was after the tornado at Spotsylvania in 2004. Scores of customers came to sutler row to help the business people raise our tents and dry out our inventory, that selfless act is something I recall fondly to those in and out of the hobby. When someone says how crazy reenactors are, I tell them that story. And that's the chief reason I couldn't close my doors altogether, I still feel like I owe it to you to stay a bit longer.
This isn't a good bye. I'll be at Cedar Creek on Saturday and Sunday, I'll be in the store on Remembrance Day. I'll be attending events in 2008 and please look to our in-stock page in the coming months as I plan to stock that full once my current back orders are filled.
Thanks for your time.
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