Oct 31, 2010

Lindy Rhodes of Palo Cedro Gift GalleryBy Carole FergusonRedding.com

What prompted you to start your own business? I made floral wreaths and sold them to boutiques in the Bay Area. I loved the charm of those shops and thought that was something I could do.

What is your educational and career background? I have had numerous positions. One was as an office manager, which has probably helped me out the most. Understanding the bookkeeping process came in very handy with owning my own shop.

How much research did you do before starting your business? I probably thought about doing this for about a year prior. Talking to friends and family helped. I asked a lot of questions to people already established in their business. What it would take to be successful and things to avoid.

What were the most helpful sources, including websites? I think the most helpful sources were other boutique owners. Learning where they go to buy their inventory and how they display the product once they received it.

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