Today I make an exception and do 2 posts. My shoppe is closed on Sundays and Mondays so today is actually my Monday.
I love the people that I meet here in my shoppe. So many good people in this town that are almost taken aback by normal one on one interactions they have here. They all wish that this was the way everywhere. The network of small business owners in this area are the best, most ethical, dedicated and generous people I know. These are the people I want to give my business to. Much different than the impersonal big box stores who's sales people rarely even lift their heads to acknowledge you or smile or say anything other than the rehearsed, "have a nice day" because their bosses are making them do it. Please don't get me wrong with that comment. I know people are generally good hearted.....but there seems to be very little interest in personal interactions from the big box stores. Just a set of store policies that everyone must follow, so they follow them like robots and then go home and be normal human beings once they "punch out". Sooo.....wow....this turned out to be a long one. They won't all be like this.
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1st, I want to just mention that there is a new game in town. Dakotah Norton's Local Indoor Farmer's Market. Opening up November 1st in Mundelein at the southeast corner of Rt. 176 and Midlothian. This is exactly the kind of business we need in Mundelein. It's time to think about what our town truly wants and needs to bring it back to life......and this is certainly pointing us in the right direction. Thinking about nurturing our town and small local businesses is where we should be focusing as residents. Thinking about the future and how things will be for our children. Thinking about sustainable living. We all talk about this so called "trend" of shopping local but how many of us really live it. How many of us just go out on the promoted day of "shopping local" and then the rest of the year they shop the big box discount stores? We are cutting off our nose despite our face folks. We are not saving ourselves money this way. We are giving it away to some wealthy people we don't even know who don't give a darn about our town and don't live anywhere near Mundelein. I understand the reason for shopping the big box stores, but shop the little guys for as much as you can. This is what keeps a town alive and prosperous.
We all look so forward to the summer Farmer's Markets so I think it was a great idea of Dakotah's to have it all year round. Personally, I love to get the better quality, better tasting foods from the farmer's markets and I am so disappointed when summer is over and markets close for the season. I am absolutely thrilled to have this happening right here in my own neighborhood. I am certain this will be a huge hit in this town and I hope for more innovative business ideas. Let's create an identity that is different from our neighbors. If we have something that everybody wants, yet we are different than everyone else, we become a destination. I've already gotten responses from out of towner's who are interested in shopping Dakotah's Indoor Farmer's Market and that, right there my friends, says it all. Well.....Mouse In The House Interiors, Inc has made it thru the 1st year. There have been lots of ups.....and lots of downs. It is truly an awakening to have taken this on all by myself. Thank God I love my job. It's been a challenging year and I have decided that, from today forward, I will be sharing my daily activities whether good or bad so that, those who are interested, can see what this world is like from the standpoint of a small business owner. It's like another world and a unique vantage point to be where I am today. To know from the inside, what is happening to the world because of the big businesses and to work around all that.....it's kind of mind blowing. Additionally, I would like to share the good and not so good parts of my job since I think that there's a lot of misinterpretation of what a real interior designer does. It's definitely hard, hard work and not the glamorous gig that most people think it is. I want there to be a better understanding of just how much "behind the scenes" work there is......not to mention the psychology degree that is needed.....oh, and don't forget the miracle performing when it comes to making sure it all turns out beautiful in the end....oh, and then there's the math portion, which is huge. I will be talking about my town specifically because of the challenges here in Mundelein, IL. There are so many things that could and should be happening here that are fairly simple...and most of us want the same things, yet none of us gets it. There is a ground swell in this town and I believe that things are going to start happening. I am as involved as my time will allow and it is my mission and goal to be a part of bringing this town back to life. Don't get me wrong, there are some very good things happening too...just not necessarily where and when we need it. I feel very strongly that, if we do some of the obvious things right here in the heart of town, the rest will begin to fall into place. We must see the long term picture instead of the short term issues that don't mean anything once all is said and done. I have got at least 25 years of this under my belt in the design world and I am now going to share my thoughts on it.....and I hope someone listens.
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Catherine Flauter, Owner and Designer
I believe that everyone is entitled to the peace that goes along with having beautiful surroundings and that good design should be accessible to all. Categories
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