If we placed a magic wand in your hand, what's the one thing you'd like to change in your store?

The Loft, Duncan, OK

I'd make one of our neighbors ready to move. Our building is a 1919 brownstone, and our business is based on the aesthetics of an old building, but it excludes us from being able to expand, unless we want to go up. So far, my neighbor isn't willing to sell, or we'd knock out the brick and expand sideways, because we share the building. That would be ideal, since his windows match mine. The other side is an antique mall that has more space than we need. However, there are always limitations with a building this age. There's the plumbing, and the tin ceilings are a challenge when displaying light fixtures. We have halogen tracks that attach to the original outlets, which were probably meant for ceiling fans back in the twenties. Still, the challenges are worth it for the nostalgia value of an old building.

Zinc Details, San Francisco, CA

A after asking everyone here, the answer is unanimous: we all want more space, especially more storage space. Right now, our store only has about 200 square feet for closet and shipping space in the back. The store looks great, but the storage space, where the customers can't see, is a nightmare. We do hope to expand, but the problem with prime retail space is that you're paying prime retail prices. It's a catch-22. It's a great location, but you can't afford to have 1,000 square feet of storage, especially since we have no basement. It's a lot of juggling. Everything always has to keep moving, but we manage. The store comes first, but storage is definitely our Achilles heel.

Ruby & Begonia, Ogden, UT

Because we change everything in the store every month, that takes care of any in-store problems we might have. What I would like to change is its environment. The historic district we're in is still a work in progress. There's a small transient population on the street because of a nearby government hotel. Plus, there are three vacant buildings on the two-block stretch. We'd like them filled with the right kind of businesses. We want this area to be a destination, like Park City, Utah. They had an old beat up historic area, and people moved in and turned it into a destination with wonderful shops and galleries. That's our goal. I really think we'll be there in the next five years, but if I could wave a magic wand I'd make it all happen tomorrow.

Zehnder's, Frankenmuth, MI

We're very fortunate that Zehnder's Magic of the Seasons is beautifully designed and has a great location. But if I had a magic wand, I would always have the perfect fixtures for each new product line. As our name implies, we focus on seasonal merchandise and our displays are changed often. It would be great to have just the right cabinet, table, risers, and props to display the merchandise. I also wish we could have nice weather and were busy year round. Our busiest season starts in July and runs through December, with October and November the busiest. We do as much business in one November weekend as we do in the whole month of January. You go from 100 to zero. I can keep busy going on buying trips, but my staff hates the change in pace. It's so hard to adjust.