Sally Bartz had been running Halsea, a chic travel bag shop in Newport Beach, and Mindy Gayer had been selling stationary and related items at
Sally Bartz
Cotton Idea Studio in North Laguna.
In February, they combined both shops under one roof at 409 31st St. in Newport Beach.
Each store is still under separate ownership, but the women figure their products attract a similar clientele. So they’re not just sharing leasing expenses but customers.
Mindy Gayer
It’s another example of how small-business owners find creative ways to weather the recession.
“We had been aware of each other’s business and met about a year ago,” Bartz says. “Both of our leases were coming up and I didn’t need as much space as I had so we agreed to share.”
Bartz has been designing accessories for the surf crowd for years. As she matured she couldn’t find the types of stylish travel bags she wanted.
So she designed her own. Halsea bags are sold in 30 retail stores nationwide including the 31st Street shop at Bartz owns.
Gayer sells custom gifts, stationery, wedding invitations and other correspondence products.
Views from the shop, courtesy Halsea and Cotton Idea Studio. Click on images for larger view:
Each shop maintains its own space and look. One has sea-grass wallcovering, bright fabrics and vintage blue furnishings. The other highlights contemporary white walls, floor and furnishings.
“It was definitely a leap of faith (to combine the stores) but I’m thrilled every day that I did,” Bartz says.
“Another thing that’s nice: I’m not down here all the time. I would come and go,” she adds. “But with two of us, we can have set retail hours and cover for each other.”
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Combo-businesses are a great idea. In Japan, I frequented a small shop, selling cake, by the slice, and coffee (on mix-matched cups and saucers), and they also sold live plants and art, that were hanging. So, while a customer entered for coffee and cake, they might leave with plant or painting, for their home or office. Marketing is the subtle art of getting into the mind of the customer, before s/he realizes it.