Life With 'The Shop'

INFO ABOUT SHOP HOURS click here

My apologies on being delinquent in posting more lately.  Since we had the soft launch in early May, we hosted a successful Grand Opening launch party.  I promise to share photos from that grand event soon.  In the meantime, I wanted to share a few photos from the shop itself.  In the last 2 months that we've been open, I've been trying to establish an idea of what customers are hoping for when they walk into the shop.

The local response has been overwhelming.  I'm amazed by the number of customers that have read this blog and are local!  I ask every customer that walks into the door how they heard about us and most people say from this blog or from instagram or Facebook!  The power of social media!

I have found that almost daily I am tweaking the displays within the store and constantly trying to optimize the way the products are displayed.

The benefit of a brick and mortar is that you can tell almost immediately what products are "staples" and extremely popular.  Some of the items literally fly off the shelves and have become extremely popular; for example, the Gurglepots!   They come in every color and they are great for water, lemonade or iced tea.  They're also great just sitting on a bookshelf for a flash of color or using as a vase with fresh flowers.

A few items are selling like molasses (uh, no I'm not about to share what those items are in case you happen to come into the shop and want to buy one of those items).   ha. 

This has been a dream come true but it is also a lot of work!  It's enjoyable and fulfilling but demanding!  I find myself constantly thinking about inventory, marketing, staging, staying unique and creative!   Yesterday, I was sitting at the pool placing orders for the holiday season.  I do love the flexibility in that I can be outdoors and still with family and 'working.'  No complaints, but my point is that I'm now always "on the clock."  My mind never shuts off from thinking about the business and the brand and continuing to make it great.  

Just recently, Vivid Hue Home was featured in New England Home Magazine's Summer 2015 publication for our urchin planters:

Under the Sea:  The Urchin Planters found at Vivid Hue Home get their organic shapes from spiky underwater creatures.  Farmington, 860-677-0301.  vividhuehome.com

I was thrilled to be included  (and a big thank you to Lynda Simonton from NE Home Mag).  

Thank you to all of the wonderful customers that have already stopped in to support the shop. Thank you for all of my blog buddies that have made the trip from outside of Connecticut to stop by and say hello!  Your support has been tremendous!  Promise to post again soon.

Cheers, 

Heather 

Ferrari's and Fancy Fun

Meaning of procrastination:

Discovering a photo folder on laptop from July 2013 and creating a blog post about the event in November. 

The family and I decided to escape to Lime Rock, Connecticut one weekend in July for a Ferrari show.  Basically, this lil shin dig brought out more types, colors and sizes of Ferrari's than  I have ever seen in one place.  It was a great day for the kids to see how the race track drivers refuel their cars after a few spins around the track (did you know the tires are usually bald after a professional racer gets off the track?) 

It was also a chance for non-pro drivers to parade their models and take a fast paced spin around a professional race track.   It was a great day for the 'adult kid' in my family (my husband) as well as the little kids. 

 

The VIP tent had a bocce court

 

And beautiful tulips on rustic barn style tables inside a tent

Yes, Vivi and I were just about the only goons that wore pink...not red.  Doh. 

Vivsters, EG, and Jack watch the cars race around the track

Touring the cars

 

VIP Seating and outside lounge area

 

 

Nice little activities inside the tent, including massages, lunch, wine, face-painting...

 

 

 

Jack stays with the Ferrari theme.  

Taking a break from the heat with a buddy.

 

 Of course! A Vintage Ferrari Barbie. 

Taking a break

 

Scene from the hill

 

 

 

 

 

 

 It's taken me awhile to share our fun day, but it's nice to relive this nice hot summer day as we prepare for snow within the next few days.  ha! 

Thanks to everyone for the kind comments you've left about the One Room Challenge reveal!  I plan to reshoot the room in the daylight and I promise to repost the photos soon!  The photos that are on the blog right now don't do the room justice! 

 

Hope you're having a great week! 

Cheers!
Heather | Vivid Hue Home

New England, Dawn Lombardi Style

Welcome to Farmington, Connecticut.  This is my home.  A quintessential New England town with tree lined streets.  The historic main street is bordered with white picket fences and colonial white houses.  It's home to Miss Porter's School and the Stanley Whitman House. 

It's also home to reknowned American Impressionist artist, Dawn Nolan Lombardi.   Dawn is originally from Northampton, MA and now resides in Farmington with her family.  Her work is featured in both private and public galleries around the country and, impressively, adorns the White House and Smithsonian Museum walls. 

Imagine my delight when I was able to score two original works by Dawn at our recent elementary school fundraising event.  I am beyond thrilled.   This oil painting represents the New England quaintness of Farmington's Main Street. 

The details are exquisite (hard to convey here). 

I love the pop of color that the second painting brings to my sunroom. 

The colors are vibrant and brilliant. 

For Connecticut locals, I hear that Dawn's work will be displayed in the Farmington Starbucks in the very near future.  Keep your eyes out, it's worth the iced latte to view these babies close up and in person. 

Another example of Dawn's work:

I encourage you to read more about Dawn here.  Dawn is also available for commissioned paintings.

PS--Did you hear that butterflies are coming our way?  Check out some of Vivid Hue's other posts here: 

Butterfly Mania

"The Shops" at Target

Ready for the latest design sensation to hit Target?  Prepare for "The Shops" at Target, debuting May 5th. 

This is a new design platform that is being launched by Target.  Initially, it will include merchandise that has been collaborated with five prestigious boutiques across the United States.  The design team from Target continually had people asking them if they'd visited specific specialty shops and this sparked the novel idea. 

The first flight of The Shops at Target features collections from five different U.S. specialty stores: San Francisco’s The Candy Store, the Cos Bar of Aspen, Boston’s Polka Dog Bakery, Privet House of Warren, Conn., and The Webster of Miami.




The collections will remain online and in stores for 6 weeks (yeah right, we know better.  Remember Missoni for Target?  It sold out within hours).  There will be nearly 400 fantastic items from these shops and the shops will rotate with others as time goes on. 


Here are some of the exciting items that will be featured to start:

Privet House of Connecticut Collection

The Privet House in Connecticut

The Candy Store Collection

The Webster House Collection

The cos bar Collection

More Privet House Collection

Cos Bar Collection

Deco Dress from The Webster

Polka Dog Collection

Polka Dog Collection

Get ready for May 5th.  As history dictates, the early bird gets the loot!  Gear your computers up and get your running shoes ready.  The Shops at Target are guaranteed to be a "must have."  If you happen to miss out this time around, don't fret, additional boutiques will be featured soon!