It's official!!

I'm a business! That's right. The news came back from the county clerks office and Nature's Nook, New York has been accepted. Although I did get a nice personal note telling me that I could have trouble because of the previous registration. But with this letter I got a copy of the DBA filed in 1978.

So, I have the person's name, address and phone number. Maybe I'll drop this person a nice little note asking them to render the situation.

But..alas. I am good. I am official. I'm a business. Now what.....

Try and try again

Needless to say I was quite put off by the whole name thing. Not being able to use the name I want because some Joe (or Jane) Shmo used it in 1978. Blah.

However, I am thankful to those who helped with trying to come up with some other names. I'm particularly partial to the one "nature's a bitch especially when you live in a flood plain". But, alas, I thought it would not help sell my products, or any product for that matter.

So I have settled on a new name. Introducing....

Nature's Nook, New York

Does it have the ring of some majestic Garden of Eden nestled somewhere in the state of New York? No? I didn't think so either, but I still liked it and it allows me to keep Nature's Nook. I've refilled my DBA and am awaiting the final answer.....

REJECTED!!!!

That's what it said on the top of my DBA paperwork. A DBA, or "doing business as" is the form you file with the County Clerk's office to establish your business name. It makes you official. Today I got back in the mail with a big fat REJECTED stamped on top.

Why? Because in 1978 somebody started a business named Nature's Nook. The name is already taken. Of course it doesn't matter that this business no longer exists. There is no current business in this area with that name. Not that I can find. 30 years ago some one took my name and it's still on the books....I'm out of luck.

Back to the drawing board.

Home is where the business is...

And the heart. I suppose. It wasn't exactly what I wanted to do, but I've decided to start my business out of the home. A necessary evil. Why? You might ask. Or you didn't ask, but I'm going to tell you anyways.

One, it's cheaper. I don't have to pay to stock a store, pay a lease or spend money on design.

Two, I don't think anyone would lease to me anyways. I'm a start-up business. I have no major capitol backing. I'm young. I'm female. I'm...excuse, excuse, excuse. Anyways, if I start it home based and build some (hopefully) income, sales and customers then I might have an easier time finding a place to rent.

After some major brainstorming (thanks mom) I've decided to go in the gift basket route. I'll still be selling natural soap (thanks Kat) along with organic wash clothes, loofahs and pumice stones. I've found some biodegradable au-natural wrapping for the baskets.

I'll have a website. I'll target everyone and their mother, brother, rabbi, priest, monk, hairdresser, babysitter, mistress... and so on. I'll offer a la cart (meaning you don't have to buy an entire basket, just the item/s in it). I'll offer design your own (you pick it, I stick it....in a basket that is). I'll deliver (assuming it's in town).

Oh this is going to be more work then I imagined, but hopefully it will be worth it.

Update

A lot of people have been asking me what's going on with the business. So here is an update. I had found a store front I liked. I really like it. Thought it would be perfect. I filled out an application, talked with the leasing manager and did all that stuff. Now he's not returning my calls. I'm frustrated. I feel like he wasted my time and strung me along for a few weeks.

Now I am back to the drawing board. Kicking around new ideas that might work.

But I have NOT given up. And that's what's important. right?