Final Inspection - Check!

Zoe's buildout passed final inspection by the City of Alexandria today! Woo hoo!

There are a few cosmetic things left for the construction company to complete but I am able to start moving things in immediately (meaning tomorrow!)

A few pictures from the Construction Meeting this afternoon:

Outside trim painted! Zoe is no longer "John Q. Adams Center for the History of Otolaryngology"

I like this picture - it shows the mirror on the column and the reflection back into the space.

Mirrors on the dressing room door wall.  Mirrors will be installed on the dressing room doors also.

I won't bore you with any more plumbing pictures.  The walls have been closed in around the plumbing fixtures and the toilet/sink/water fountain will go in tomorrow (Saturday).

The benches will be installed in the dressing rooms as well as some shoe molding put down and some more trim painting to be done.  I cannot believe this is almost done!

It was a super busy day (in a good way, of course).  First thing this morning, the rep from my life insurance agency came by the house to delivery my supplemental life insurance policy.  Jim is very happy this is in place.  If something were to happen to me, he doesn't particularly relish running a boutique!

Just after he left, my Point of Sale software consultant arrived to delivery my cash drawer and receipt printer as well as conduct training on the sales side of the software.  The training in December had been to get me going on the inventory and purchasing piece.  He left at around 12:30, giving me time to grab a quick lunch prior to going to the construction meeting.

When I left the construction meeting, I stopped by the business post office to pick up my mail and tell them they could now stop holding it.  I will say, the Post Office has been great through all of this and they have not given me a hard time about having to re-extend the holds so many times.

Once I got home, I hit the ground running.  I gave the thumbs up to the fixtures/display company to ship on Monday.  I contacted my business insurance agent regarding the addition of the City to my liability insurance policy during the time we are putting the signs up.  I tracked down a package that was about to go awry (one of my clothing shipments) and had them send it to a FedEx location so that I could pick it up.  I called Comcast to confirm the status of the order.  My main contact told me that they had done their work and would be calling me on Monday to schedule the installation!  Still hoping they hit a home run on all of this.

I got the additional contracts and documentation to fill out in order to process credit cards and will get that back to them on Monday after I've had a chance to read through it this weekend.  There really isn't value in doing it too far in advance because a) they have to do a site visit to confirm that you are a legitimate business and b) they charge you fees during a month whether or not you process cards or not!  

And now...I'm a little tired!

Zoe Has A Floor

Another seriously WOW moment when I went for Zoe's daily inspection.  We have floors!

Love the Pergo floor!

Toward the dressing rooms.

It is still dusty - they will do a final clean of the space before we are completely done.

Carpet in the office/storage area.  You can't tell here but it has a green and oatmeal tint.

Vinyl in the Restroom

Significant things that still need to be done:

1. Toilet/Sink/Water Fountain installed
2. Mirrors installed
3. Benches in Dressing Room installed
4. Trim painted/second coat of paint
5. Some more minor electrical finishes

I am very eager to see what they've done when I go for the construction meeting tomorrow afternoon.  And to confirm that I can move forward with all of the things I have planned beginning Saturday!

I got the news today that the Sign company will install Zoe's signs on the 29th!  I need to go to the City at the beginning of next week and get the Right of Way permit to block the sidewalk.  

This morning, I looked at a line that I may begin carrying in the Fall - Alice & Trixie.  They are known for their Silks and Prints but have some gorgeous Italian Merino Wool as well as some amazing coats.  Jim asked a great question - "Is there really an Alice & Trixie?"  In fact, the designer named the line as she did as a tribute to the heroines of the 1950s sitcom "The Honeymooners".

After a doctor's appointment, I picked up the Rebecca Taylor shipment that I had UPS hold at their depot!  That shipment and the Tracy Reese one from yesterday have been added to the Point of Sale system.

After lunch, I faxed in my set-up documents for accepting credit/debit cards at Zoe.  I've been watching the fight over the timing of the debit card charges and the arguments from the banks, retailers, and consumers.  

I am keeping a close eye on Comcast.  I was initially elated when I looked at my Zoe email this morning and had an email telling me that they were ready to run the cable and needed to access the phone close in my landlord's space.  I confirmed with them that they could (I had discussed this with the landlord as part of a general conversation on Wednesday) and provided the contact information and also offered to be onsite if needed.  I also followed up with my landlord to let him know he might be contacted.  The gentleman from Comcast sent me a note back just after 8 am to let me know that it would be taken care of today.  Unfortunately, as of 5:30 this evening, there was no evidence that Comcast had been to the landlord's space.  I hope there is a good explanation for this change in schedule.  Don't go Verizon on me!

Chop Chop!

That's what I want to say to everyone not sharing my sense of urgency!  Chop Chop - Let's Go, People!

I decided to focus on web-based items first thing this morning before meeting my friend Renee for a walk.  I uploaded Zoe's logo to the Alexandria Convention and Visitor's Bureau web page and then worked on more content for Zoe's website.  I also worked on Zoe's Facebook Page and Facebook Place - I'm hoping to find a way to merge the two so that I'm not maintaining two sites.

I do want to share Zoe's official website with my loyal, loving blog readers.  It is shopatzoe.com.  I still need to get some Press coverage (so that I don't have the placeholder there!) but otherwise it is well on it's way to being what I want it to be!

This afternoon, I went to visit Zoe's home.  Not a whole lot of progress to report - I could see where they had moved two of the overhead lights and removed a brass plaque outside the door (it had been part of the museum).  Other than that, I could not discern any significant change.  I think they are going to need to be really busy tomorrow and Friday in order to finish!  I did have a UPS slip on the door so I was able to request that the hold the package at the depot until I can pick it up tomorrow!  More Rebecca Taylor tomorrow!

I then made my daily visit to City Hall to confirm the requirements for reserving parking for the delivery of Zoe's fixtures.  I also noted the numbers of the parking meters that I want to reserve.  Reservations need to be made 3 business days prior to the spaces being needed.  In my negotiations with Barr Display, we've now decided to go for a Thursday delivery so that I do not reserve the spaces (and pay the fee) for naught.

I had also been working on setting up the electric bill in Zoe's name since electric is one of the charges I pay as part of my lease.  Dominion VA Power was giving me the Verizon treatment so I called my landlord for help.  He said that he would prefer that they pay the bills and then bill me on a quarterly basis, which is fine with me.  I'm glad to have that checked off my list.

My Point of Sale provider is coming on Friday morning for our final session and to deliver my cash drawer and receipt printer.  He also put me in touch with their new credit card processor, who promised to send me the information on costs this morning.  When 5 o'clock rolled around and I hadn't gotten the email, I followed up.  Every day is precious now!

I also followed up with the Sign Company to try to set the sign installs for the week of March 28th.  Once again, the lead time with the City for the Temporary Right of Way Permit for blocking the sidewalk drives the need to be more precise with this schedule.  My contact at Affordable Signs was calling her installer and will get back to me.

And, another Tracy Reese shipment came today!  Plus we got confirmation that the City had approved some money from the Marketing Fund for the Christmas in July event for Union Street Merchants.  Save July 15 - 17 on your calendars!

The Final Sprint

Lots going on (but still lots to do) if construction is going to be complete this week!  But, construction companies seem to pull rabbits out of hats all the time so I won't be surprised by anything!

I have two days worth of pictures to share with you!

Ceiling Tiles complete and freshly painted

Those jagged edges on the door window show where they started to remove the film.

First coat of Primitive Plum on the wall!

At the window line

Facing the Cash Wrap area

Looking back toward the door to the office/storage/restroom

Looking toward the dressing rooms.

Monday was an extraordinarily busy day - I started making phone calls and follow up emails on so many items that had been waiting for construction completion.  So far, things seem to be falling into place pretty well.  There are a few things that I may not be able to confirm until a couple days before they happen but I'm trying to relax and go with the flow.  

Based on the plan for the flooring to be in on Friday, we are planning to go with friend Janice (and the truck she and her husband own) to pick up the cash wrap desk in Leesburg on Saturday.  As of right now, it looks like the fixtures and display items will be delivered next Wednesday.  I'm working with my Point of Sale implementer on scheduling our second session next week.  I'm working on sign installation the week of March 28th.  It is all starting to gel!

After my visit to Zoe's home this afternoon, I met with the Membership Director of the Alexandria Convention and Visitor's Association.  She gave me a tour of the section of their website that will include Zoe's "page".  It is a very functional website with lots of easy to use features that allow the business owner to really create the kind of presence he/she wants to have for visitors (or even locals looking for lots of information on Alexandria).  

I also got another Tracy Reese shipment yesterday!  And am expecting a Velvet shipment this week as well.  There will be no shortage of clothing availability for Zoe's customers!

The Babymoon

From Wikipedia:

A babymoon is a period of time that parents spend bonding with a recently-born baby.

More recently the term has come to be used to describe a vacation taken by a couple that is expecting a baby in order to allow the couple to enjoy a final trip together before the many sleepless nights that usually accompany a newborn baby.

This past weekend, Jim and I took a "babymoon" to Williamsburg.  Knowing that we are getting close to me having no time to go anywhere with the "birth" of Zoe pending, we decided to make a quick trip to one of our favorite places.    It was so much fun to just relax and enjoy the two days especially after receiving the good news on Zoe's construction on Friday.

Of course, I had a lot of fun "shopping" in Williamsburg too.  I didn't buy anything (unless you count gifts for my little niece and new nephew) but I love looking at the stores and their creative displays.  When shopping at Closet Envy, I found that I was recognizing the clothing from different brands even before looking at the labels!  That was both fun and funny!  I guess all that market shopping in Atlanta and NY is starting to permeate my brain!  Jim laughed and accused me of "working" while I was doing this!

Lots and lots to schedule over these next 3 weeks!  I'd better get to work!

Construction To Be Complete Next Friday

When I learned that Zoe's construction will be complete as of next Friday, I felt so giddy!  It is almost hard for me to believe we are almost there!  The construction meeting went well and there isn't anything of issue to address.  All of the trades are on tap to finish their work this upcoming week with the flooring being the last piece.  A couple of pictures:

Primer on the door frame to outside (finally rid of the icky yellowish color)

Doors being installed on dressing rooms.  Doors will have mirrors on the outside.  Oh, and nice pile of trash, isn't it?

The Potomac was starting to flood Prince Street - this was taken with me standing at Union and Prince.

Totally adorable picture of my niece Allison with my new nephew Caleb.  I know - nothing to do with Zoe but I love my little sweeties so much and just had to share!

Now that I know when construction will be complete, there are LOTS of things I can begin to put in motion!  Monday is going to be a BUSY day!  Are those labor pains I'm starting to feel? :)

Oh, and did you see the comment in yesterday's post?  Comcast has a group that looks at social media (Facebook, Twitter) and Blogs for mentions of Comcast and then follows up with people to address issues or to help!  I almost fainted when I saw the comment last night and initially thought it was a scam (I get some junk comments with people trying to sell me things) until I researched it.  Wow!  

Build Build Build

I love visiting Zoe's site and seeing lots of progress!  When I went for the daily inspection yesterday afternoon, I was so excited to see them still working!  A few pictures:

Getting ready to install the sink in the bathroom

Doors for the dressing rooms!

Making progress on the water fountain install

Installing the door frames on the dressing rooms

Juice, they must be reading my blog comments - primer on the trim!

Also, a confession.  I have not been shopping for myself since I stopped working last year (with the one exception being in La Jolla last August).  I get to buy clothes as part of my job so its not like I need it as an outlet any more!  But, since I am not going to be carrying shoes (and I had a DSW coupon about to expire), I did buy some shoes yesterday for "work".  Some very fun, comfortable wedges that I can wear  to work every day!  

I have a construction meeting this morning at which I hope they are going to tell me that they are still going to finish by the 21st!  Oh, and Comcast called me yesterday to confirm the results of their site survey and to let me know what they needed to do prior to scheduling the installation.   I remain cautiously optimistic!