Every year around this time we have our anniversary sale, and I take the moment to stop and think about how much I love Melange and all the people who have touched it thru the years, and all the wonderful women who touch it still. I have owned the store for 12 years, and in all honestly, it had quite a bit of twinkle before I owned it (it had already been twinkle-fied by the previous owners), so I can't take all the credit by any stretch, but the last 12 years have been full of smiles and quite a bit of twinkle. I've decided I'm obsessed with that word this year, "twinkle"--and sadly I can't find nearly enough places to use it in everyday conversation. It's such a great word....so happy, and light, I definitely want ot be someplace that twinkles!!
Anyone who has a small business will tell you, it can be consuming, and makes you want to pull your hair lots of times, but in the moments when I stop to think about Melange, I have nothing but warmth and appreciation for everything it has brought. Owning a small business is like a marriage....you walk in starry eyed, you adjust to reality, you love some of it, you are irritated by some of it, you work crazy hard at it....at times it is held together only by a thread and a sense of loyalty, and then all of a sudden you are madly in love with it again. Each person who has worked at Melange, shopped at Melange, or walked thru our doors, has been part of that marriage, and for that I have incredible gratitude. Thank you. Thank you for being part of my labor of love, and for creating and maintaining this home that has housed many other women who've called it their labor of love, and been a source of support and love (and I'm sure some irritation at times too--marriages are never totally smooth).
We fall short lots of times, we've made hills of mistakes, but each day we open the doors with a sense of purpose...a desire to connect with women, help them buy some great clothes, build relationships with them, and bring a little fun and happiness into shopping. Thank you for tolerating our mistakes and shortcomings, and seeing our twinkle thru it all.
With love and appreciation, {me} LV
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