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Otion Seattle Store Update

Filed Under: Business Musings

Soap Queen reader and commenter, Goat Lady Soap, asked about our Otion Store II location.

I am disappointed to report that our lease negotiations broke down. Or rather, the property management company decided that Otion couldn’t afford the space. We disagreed based on our 4 years of financial history in Bellingham and our conservative budget for the Seattle II store. But still, they cut the space in half to lower our rent, thus making it too small for Otion’s needs. I understand. The property management company doesn’t want stores that they don’t feel can adequately make a go of it. Doing leases and due dilligence is labor intensive and they only want to do it once in five years.

It’s okay. I still love the location and the neighborhood. When we have a 2nd store in Seattle that’s doing well, we can always go back to them with our hard numbers to show them that we really can afford 1200 square feet plus common area rent at the boutique prices this spot commands.

So, we’re back to the drawing board. If we don’t find a space by July, we’ll be looking at a 2009 opening rather than a 2008.

I’m a little disillusioned but trust that a new space will be easy to find and even better than the one we were looking at.

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15 Comments

  1. WOW! Thank you for the outpouring of positive thoughts and support. I really appreciate everyone’s amazing feedback.

    I feel very confident that we can find another location … I just don’t think it will happen this year.

    But ya’ never know … good things sometimes happen when you least expect them.

  2. Thanks for the update Anne-Marie, I’ve been wondering. But I am so disappointed. Living in Seattle I want BB to be here NOW. But I’ll try to be as positive as you and the rest of the soapers who have responded. I’m truly glad you are not giving up looking for a good place in Seattle.

  3. Hopefully another opportunity will open up for you guys! We would LOVE an Otion in Southen California!!!

  4. I’m with Dragonlady! Only I say Delaware…tax free shopping, would greatly reduce shipping for all of us east of the mississippi and you’d already have a loyal employee/customer…ME!!!

  5. With what you have already accomplished, your positive attitude, and your obvious drive, it is just a matter of time until the right time and place will be available to you! Thanks for being such a great inspiration for us!

  6. I know it’ll work out for you, Anne-Marie, despite the current set back. You have the knowledge, business savvy, and persistence…oh, and lots of charm!…to make it happen. Throw in just a little bit of luck, perhaps, and it may happen a lot sooner than you expect! 🙂

  8. YES!!! Central New York would be GREAT!!!!! But Seattle is a BIG place, I’m sure you will find another spot real soon.I was hoping for July because I’m on my way To visit my son in Alaska,he’s in the Air Force and this is a one in a life time trip and the train goes as far as Seattle soooo……I thought maybe I could get to meet you.Now I’m trying to finaggle( is that really a word?)a way to get to Bellingham. I want so bad to visit your store and maybe meet you.It’s just not my day, my son just found out Wynona Judd is putting on a concert on base the night before our plane lands. BOO-Hoo

  9. I’ve got to echo some of the other sentiments–not to sound new agey, but maybe it just means this one wasn’t meant to be. I am sure that another spot will work out–and I too will be happy to stand in line as one of your first customers!!

  10. OMG! Carrie ~ Gigi, I had the exact same thought come through my mind when I read this post! Wow!!! So, Anne-Marie…ditto what Carrie ~ Gigi said! LOL

  11. personally, i would LOVE if you could get a store open on the east coast of the US, say in NY or somewhere in the North East? 🙂 how awesome would that be… 🙂

  12. Sounds like you have had a disappointment – but in true business-woman style you know that there is something better around the bend….

  13. I didn’t realize you were looking into this. I’ll be excited to stand in line to be one of your first Seattle customers. Things will come together.

  14. I hate to sound like a mother, BUT when one door shuts, another will open.