Forums: Discussions for entrepreneurs and small business.

I don`t know if I listed this post in the best place... but I think so...

When I started Elusive Treasures, I thought it was forever. For those that don’t know, ElusiveTreasures.com provides earthborn & handmade products. Mostly this means artificial wood flowers and pottery. …We are closing our doors. Is it good? Bad? Ugly? Well, it’s not as ugly as it could be. And only the future can tell if it’s good or bad.

A few ailments began to affect Elusive Treasures. But even that wasn’t the final straw. In the beginning, Elusive Treasures had a wonderful supply line. Our wholesale costs were appropriate and there were measures in place to effectively bring containers from other countries.

Elusive Treasures functioned well, but didn’t achieve the level of sales I anticipated achieving. I turned product. I made money. I marketed primarily online, but also attended tradeshows. Everyone was happy. Not rich… but happy.

Then… My supply line (where/who I get my product from) started shrinking. My container shipping contact sold her import business. And the cost and design of product is changing. I started fixing all these elements, but these issues made everyone involved with Elusive Treasures start thinking about letting Elusive Treasures go. It made us money, and paid our rent… but it never bought us a house. Do you know what I mean?

Let me interject a new aspect to this situation. As with CraigL, I was a professional musician (for me, it was the 80’s). I loved it, but somehow fell out of the music scene. I performed on stage, then in recording studios, then became a stagehand and involved in production and and and and. My point. I was happy as a musician but not as much in those other “music industry” areas. Eventually, I ended up as a graphic designer, from working on ads and album covers from other bands.

One month ago, I ran into a very old friend I new from my music performing days. Of course they asked if I still played, and all that. They started trying to convince me to reenter the music industry. But I was busy with Elusive Treasures.

About three weeks ago, I heard the material of a local band that has some recording experience, interesting writing style (rock music), and a fair amount of followers. This band has been through several drummers but never found the right person. The band is ready to prepare for touring, but haven’t a solid rhythm section they can be confident.

After much consideration and contemplation, the wife and I decided to purchase new musical gear (I haven’t owned a kit for about 10 years. But I did keep all my cymbals--that’s an expensive part of a drum set.). I started practicing like mad to get the chops back. And then tryout for this band.

I do feel a passion for music. I don’t feel a passion for work. You see, to me, music isn’t work. It never has been. I enjoyed my online business. I loved the freedom. I loved only needing a laptop and Internet connection to perform job tasks. Ok, I had to do the shipping and all that too, but the plan is to eventually hire an employee for packaging… ElusiveTreasures.com just never got quite busy enough to hire additional help.

So, I am venturing out on a new career… um. Ok. It’s an old career for me… But so much time has passed that it feels completely new. I also think I will have a different attitude about the parts of a musicians life I dislike, this time around.

Two weeks ago I attended round one of tryouts. Passed! Last week I attended round two. This was a little tougher, but I passed. I know I am not even close to the level of playing skill I achieved in the 80’s. So I continue to practice. Next week is the final round. They say I am in their top picks!

Back to the original conversation… I was offered a fair price for the business, which is was started all the conversations about letting EluisveTreasures.com go. I have been provided a non-refundable deposit for the business, but the actual URL may remain mine. It’s still open for discussion. The buyer is interested in much of the inventory and the online cart, setup, look and feel… all that.

You just never know where life will take you. I never thought I would really consider returning to the music industry as a drummer. I guess I am going to have to update my profile to state “struggling musician.”



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Vincent Wilcox (a.k.a. KRAKR)
Drummer
My band: Letters Make Words

Vincent, your story is an ongoing fascination because it`s sort of the story of starting a business. Of course getting back into music is still entrepreneurial, and this time around you`ll have a lot more wisdom.

But from what I`ve seen here in the community, very few people start a business based on their own creative skill, product, or service. And so they have limited (if any) control over their supply line. It`s instructive to read what`s happened to Elusive Treasures because of that.

When Kathy and I were contemplating a more commodity-type product, rather than office chair slipcovers, we wanted something we created. We`d tried driving around to garage sales, looking for things to sell on eBay, and it was a total drag. We didn`t like the boredom, and couldn`t imagine year after year of driving around all the time just to sell 1 item that likely couldn`t be replicated.

Every sale would be unique, and we totally would depend on the availability of other people`s stuff. It took a lot of thinkin` and imaginatin` (as my neice would say), but we came up with something small, easy to make, low cost production, and with *almost* control over the supply. We still have hardly any control over our source of raw materials, but they`re not yet in danger of disappearing.

I wonder how many people will learn from your story? Either way, it sounds like you`re into it again, with the music. And that`s something you have on your own. No limit in supply there...right?
 

CraigL...  How did I know you`d be the first to respond to this post?  Your comment tells me my message seems to have got through. I wanted people to know, just because a business ends, doesn`t mean it failed. And, even when you do "everything" right, you cannot always control the entire process. ...Which may fail.

I have to admit. I am a little nervous about playing music again. Maybe more nervous than when I started Elusive Treasures. I think it`s because I know the effort it takes to achieve high level accomplishments in music, but I didn`t have any idea how Elusive Treasures would actually turn out. Maybe not knowing eased my fears because you can`t prepare for what you don`t know is ahead. With music... I know the hard work that`s ahead.

Hey Craig? Are you looking to join a band and go into music again? I know of a band looking for a keyboard player.


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Vincent Wilcox (a.k.a. KRAKR)
Drummer
My band: Letters Make Words

Kathy... I am very happy you still enjoy the decorative flowers.

Yes I did hint that there were changes in the air. We were negotiating at the time and nothing was solid... So I didn`t want to say anything until it was a done deal.

It is sad. To be honest... I have nothing to do during the day now. A few orders to fill each day (just as before), but I am not creating ads for online marketing, handing out flyers, maintaining the online store, and all that other stuff I was doing. A lot of work is missing from my day now. However, I am spending more time practicing than before. um... before this situation I didn`t practice at all.


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Vincent Wilcox (a.k.a. KRAKR)
Drummer
My band: Letters Make Words

Y`know, it`s funny, but just the other night I was saying to myself that I wish I`d known then, what I know now. Back then, even into my 30s, I never at all valued the bass player as much as I do now. Bass is the core of the music, the band, and the platform on which all else builds.

From there, without an equally solid drummer, that`s the end of the story. When I think back to how little I understood the concept of a groove, I wonder why? Pondering it over the years, I realize I just was too young, and hadn`t had enough of "life" to really let go of my nerves.

Now, many years later, older, wiser, and "slower," I understand the meaning of the music a whole lot more...radically so. I know you aren`t up to par, nor that you`re playing as you used to. Heck, I listen to tapes of myself and wonder who was playing because I sure the hell couldn`t play like that! LOL!!

But you also know that with time and regular playing, you`re going to get it all back as far as chops. This time, though, you`ll be matured as a person, which means the same as a musician. I think you`re going to be very surprised at how differently you look at, and listen to the music now.

Maybe most important of all, life is supposed to be fun! When it stops being fun, then you have to do something differently. If Elusive Treasures was more and more becoming a source of stress, aggravation, worry, and pain, then it`s something to pay attention to. If you also feel such a strong desire to move back to music, that too is a major sign. Not from the heavens above...but from your inner mind...subconscious, whatever you want to call it.

If you`ve made the right decision, a weight will come off your shoulders, regardless of if you get this particular job or not. And if not, you may end up starting your own band. :-) After all, and as the song says, "I...don` wanna work, I jus` wanna bang onna drums all day....."

 Congratulations Vince!  How exciting! As one door closes, another one opens.

You may be dealing with a lot of changes right now, but you`re going back to something you enjoy. 

Good luck!!

Hi Vince,

The bottom line in anything you do, you have to be passionate about it in order to feel good at the end of the day. You really seemed to like what you did with elusive treasures and it was a wonderful online business. The post seems to express a happiness when speaking about your music. In life, we only get so much time and to do something we truley love is the key to living a happy life whether it makes us a little or a lot of money. I really believe if we do what we are good at, something we love it will provide for whatever we need. There are so many folks that make tons of money who fell into a business or a career that they just don`t love so much. What happiness could that possibly bring? Not true happiness, the kind that keeps us awake thinking about it at night or gets us to jump out of bed in the morning. I think you are so courageous and I applaud you. You are a great example of living a true life dream. So many people get so far in, that they feel like they don`t have a choice to "get out". What you are doing is amazing and a beautiful way to live your life. I wish you all of the best and believe that this will take you to a higher way of living. You know, years ago i went to cosmetology school, i loved anything in the beauty and art field,  I was really great at it, made great money but found out that i truley did not love it, or like to do it as a career. I liked it as the art of it and still continue to style me friends and family hair and makeup when i want to. But i gave up 2 years of school, a great position in the company i was at, and moved on to do what i loved and I am now very happy. I still love to play with makeup...:) But what i am doing now makes me excited and it keeps me jumping out of bed every morning. I can`t wait to hear where you take this new venture and I bet it will be fun!

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Our Goal Is Your Success!
Founder Girls with Goals

Thanks to all for your encouraging comments! It really puts me a bit more at ease.

Yes! I will continue to be a contributor to SuN. It might be music, but business is business. And I think I have learned of a lot of things from the online store. Therefore, there must be someone asking the questions about online retail that I can answer.

If I clear this final tryout session, I`ll provide some links to music. It won`t be me playing, but it will be the correct band and music. I did  get some encouraging words by email from the band members, after my second performance tryout.

"...it is a breath of fresh air to find someone with the same goals and expectations as us. its hard with people nowadays, especially in this area, to find someone reliable, motivated and willing to work their butt off to achieve something great. but u have to work your ass off because opportunities don`t come knocking on your door."




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Vincent Wilcox (a.k.a. KRAKR)
Drummer
My band: Letters Make Words

Vince,

I can`t wait to hear that Music! I wish you well! I am very happy for you!

Erin

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Our Goal Is Your Success!
Founder Girls with Goals