. . . 'tis the Season!

Aaaahhh - the joys of the Holiday Season. Or is it just a shopping frenzy? I am so grateful to have The Crystal Garden which is definitely a sanctuary any time of the year yet at the holidays it seems to be extraordinarily special. I've shopped in person and online this year. It wasn't too bad because it appears I either pick the right time to go into a store or people aren't buzzing at the mall this year due to the "shrinking economy."

We must be doing something right at The Crystal Garden. It isn't shrinking at all. It's expanding daily. This year's numbers YTD are definitely up over last year. So why is my business doing well? I'd have to guess because of our genuine intention to serve and help people have a happier more fulfilling life. I say "our intention" because it's not just me! It's my whole staff. Every single one of us - Pam, Dawn, Tecia, Chrissy and myself - we all want to assist you. Not just shopping your way through the store (although that's great and thank you) but to help you feel the love and well-being that each and everyone deserves.

People audibly sigh when they enter our doors. We maintain a "no cell phone zone" and usher people out to take their calls on our front sidewalk with our live lucky cats. They return to continue their shopping with their cell phones silenced so everyone enjoying the store can have a respit from the sounds of cell phone rings!

It also smells so good inside The Crystal Garden. Our customers comment on that all the time.

Many people come to visit with Sha Nay, my blue and gold macaw. She is definitely a character and quite good looking. But Mikael, the white dove, is also a phenomenon! Mikael is 19 years old, flys around the store and laughs and coos. This peace dove has a new trick. He sits on top of the earring spinner rack, removes the peace sign earrings from the earring card and then looks at you and laughs! What a kick!

He's no ordinary bird!!! We love all our animals.

Anyway, it's time for me to get ready for a yoga class. I'm going to try to take today to rest. I'll be working straight through til Christmas. Aaaaaa . . . tis the Season!

Merry Christmas!

Green Bags and Branding My Logo

I am so blessed to have Victoria Rose Martin, artist extraordinaire, as one of my good friends and angels. She happily created the logo for my store. I knew I needed to work on branding for marketing purposes.

It wasn't until my 19th year of The Crystal Garden that I established a very definitive logo and focused on branding.At the last International New Age Trade Show, INATS, one of the main themes for seminars and the show in general was "Going Green." I realized that it was time for The Crystal Garden to have a 'green bag.' I love how it turned out. When people participate in my special layaway program going on this year at The Crystal Garden til Dec 15, they get one of these with their purchase. Otherwise, they are available for sale. They are very big. I'm impressed on how many groceries fit in them. My cousin, Camille, has had great results with using it for grocery shopping.

Remembering to bring the bags with me into the store - all stores - is a new habit that I am still working on integrating. I usually remember when I run in for groceries. I am still working on remembering to bring my bag with me for other types of shopping. I've been a compost nut for years. Now that I have a lot of land, my yard is so happy to receive the nutrients from the remains of vegetable cuttings, coffee grounds, egg shells and so on.

How are you going green?