Inspirational Story from Hope Colling of Marmalade

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Posted in: Everything Else
June 19, 2009 by Amanda | Comments (0)

At CRAVE, we are all about women taking chances to improve their own, as well as other women’s lives. Hope Colling, owner of Marmalade in San Francisco, knows exactly what we mean by taking risks, this is her story.

Before I opened Marmalade, I walked into every single store in every single neighborhood I considered opening my boutique in half a dozen times. I wanted to talk to the owners and get a first-hand account of what was involved in owning a small business, but I was too shy to ask. I was hoping for some encouraging words, because at that point I was unsure if this was the right thing for me. I had the passion, but I had zero experience. And I didn’t have a lot of money. I wasn’t sure if passion was enough to turn a dream into a reality.

The day I found the CRAVE book on the counter in Jest Jewels was a major turning point for me. I read it cover to cover in one sitting, and referred back to it many times while writing my business plan. I learned from the fabulous women in the book who were honest and courageous enough to share not just their triumphs, but their tribulations. I recognized a little bit of me in each of them, and reading their stories gave me the confidence boost I needed to move forward.

About six months into it, I hit a wall. Business dropped off, I was working seven days a week and already feeling a little burned out. I was worried that the ‘honeymoon’ was over and I began to think that I had made a huge mistake. I remembered reading in the book that Donna O’Leary, owner of Ambiance, had said that one of the things she loved most about owning a business was being able to share her experiences with other women business owners and mentoring the up and comers. I sent her an email telling her that I had read about her in CRAVE and that I owned a boutique just a few doors down from her Union Street location, and if she really meant what she said, I could sure use her help.

She emailed me back immediately and then actually took the time out of her busy day to come into my store, have a walk around, and give me her very honest opinions about what changes she thought I needed to make in order to improve. She helped me with my window displays, with merchandising the inside of the store, she even gave me the names of some places and contacts that she had worked with in the past that she thought I could benefit from. To me, this was what CRAVE was all about- a sisterhood. A network of those who had come before and done it well, and were passing their knowledge on to those who needed it!

Any success I have today I owe in part to CRAVE and to all the inspirational women who were and are a part of the CRAVE network. Owning a business is not easy, but if I can do it, anyone can do it….as long as we have each other to learn from and lean on, we can all shine!

Marmalade is featured in our CRAVE San Francisco Guidebook, arriving July 2009!

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