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The Gifted Retailer

GDA Staff -- Gifts and Dec, 6/6/2011 10:20:09 AM

Georgia Ritter, owner of Le Melange in Henderson, NV, started the business with her mother. Neither thought the venture they embarked on together would last more than a couple of years. Le Melange has been open for business for 33 years.

Gifts & Decorative Accessories: What do you like best about being a retailer? Le Melange
Georgia Ritter: I love the opportunity to meet people from different countries and cultures. Having been in business for 33 years we have had many visitors who did not speak English and still wanted to shop with us. (I even have repeat customers from China!). My established customer base includes several who like to share their cooking and baking expertise with us - always a special joy! All in all, I love the extended family and enjoy watching it grow each year!

G&DA: What was the most valuable piece of business advice that you ever received?
GR: I was told not to rely on one person or source. You need to focus on how to achieve the best palette for your particular store and audience. Blend sources, colors and styles to best advantage. Within our 2,000 square feet of location we have a variety of styles that represent over 300 countries and several hundred vendors.

G&DA: What is/was your most successful promotion?
GR: The most successful promotion was unintended. Our shopping center was sold and the resulting management and ownership caused the center to "collapse" as previous tenants fled. We had never planned to leave (at least not until I would retire), so we fulfilled our lease to the day and planned a huge reduction sale as we packed for the move. Our customers loved it and even helped pack and later unpack. When we reopened (in less than a week), we had several VIP Open Houses for our loving customers. They supported us with both sale and non-sale as well! Our best intended promos involved Annalee Mobilitee Dolls and both signings and special events that they helped us promote (we will have one this fall again).

Le Melange G&DA: What three products/lines are you best sellers?
GR: Annalee Mobilitee Dolls and all their themes for both holidays and everyday. They are felt dolls with hand-painted faces that originally were made in Meredith, NH. Our various music boxes and figurines are a strong part of our sales throughout the year. We even have some personalized by a company in California. In our Christmas lines (we are Christmas year round) we have followings for Fontanini, German nutcrackers and smokers,and Dean Griff's Charming Tails.

G&DA: What are you doing to attract new customers?
GR: We write articles for the Country Register on a regular basis. We donate to local fundraising efforts through some of our existing customers. I have created displays for luncheons and galas as well. We are located on a street that has a freeway entrance and so our windows have often attracted new customers. We urge our customers to bring a friend to many of our events as well.

G&DA: What was your most effective display?
GR: Our upside-down "trees" that were created by my husband. They create interest and show our ornaments well. Sometimes we have needed to redo the whole theme because of sales (a happy thought). Two of them hang in our front windows. The metal trees we use have also sold well (just planned to use those for display).

G&DA: How do you find your best employees? Le Melange
GR: Currently our oldest employee was a returning customer from Nebraska. She was a retired teacher who enjoyed our shop. (She is the same age as Mickey Mouse and has been with us for 15 years). In general, over the years, we have found that our existing customer base was the best source of great employees. After the big move (2002), we had to replace one of our employees who passed away. We did that with another faithful customer, who is still with us (to our great delight). We do also have a former girl scout and neighbor who has been with us since she turned 16. My 20-year-old grandson also joins us from time to time (school schedule permitting).

G&DA: What was your biggest retail problem and how did you solve it?
GR: Other than the sale of the shopping center, I would say it was the economic situation over the last few years. We continued to try to keep communication going with as many as we could (some lost their homes and/or jobs). We were thrilled to see some of the old customers back before and after Christmas this year. We were even more thrilled that they were able to make purchases once again.

When my mother and I began this endeavor, we thought it would be for a few years. At the time my children were in elementary school. Now, my grandchildren are in high school and college! As I look back over both good and bad times I am thankful that we did it - we met so many wonderful people along the way!

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