Our takeaway arrived and we tucked in, the conversation dominated by our new business venture. Veronica, Paulette, Laughlin, Milly and I agreed that we wanted to give Created With Love our best shot and were happy to equally split the up-front rent. There were so many other decisions to make including the opening hours and how we covered them fairly, bearing in mind Milly worked and Veronica and Paulette both had several diary commitments each week.
‘I don’t mind working more hours,’ I said.
‘I don’t either.’ Laughlin caught my eye and I had a feeling he was thinking the same as me – gratitude at filling the empty days without our spouses.
‘You’ve got Lancelot to look after, though,’ Veronica said.
‘And Yvonne’s got Trevor,’ Saffy said.
I smiled at her. ‘I’m sure we’ll be able to work something out.’
‘I’ve done some research on how craft collabs like this work,’ Saffy said. ‘The most commonly used model is for the crafter to take a percentage of the asking price and for the shop to take the rest. The rent, overheads and any wages would be paid from the shop’s percentage.’
We fired questions at Saffy and laughed as Veronica raised her hands to silence us.
‘I have a suggestion. Why don’t we take the rest of the week to think carefully about this? Consider the hours you’d be willing and able to work each week and also think about the crafts you’ve made and the price you’d need for them to cover materials, labour and some profit. The village hall’s free from noon on a Wednesday so we could have a couple of hours together next week before Cake & Craft Club. I love this idea and I want to be part of it, but it’s important we do some number crunching first to see if it’s viable.’
‘That sounds like a good plan.’ Paulette reached for a spring roll and dipped it in a pot of hoisin sauce. ‘Looks like we all have some homework to do.’
Every time we tried to steer the conversation away from Created With Love, somebody threw in an idea and talk focused back on our proposed business. Yes, we had some work to do and Veronica was absolutely right to ensure we considered the practicalities, but if enthusiasm could have any influence on the success of a business, Created With Love would soar.
After we’d cleared away and moved into the lounge with hot drinks, Saffy’s phone rang.
‘It’s my bestie!’ she announced, her eyes sparkling as she excused herself and rushed upstairs.
‘My goodness, your Saffy’s brimming with talent,’ Veronica said, her voice full of admiration. ‘You must be so proud, Paulette.’
‘I am. She’s always been artistic. I assumed she’d go to art college rather than sixth form and I was surprised when none of her A levels were art-related. I suspect now that it was her mum’s influence and not what Saffy wanted.’
‘What sort of things does she like drawing?’ I asked.
‘Anything and everything. She’s pretty versatile. I don’t think she’s found her preferred style yet.’
‘Is she staying for long?’ Veronica asked. ‘Because, if she is, she might like to consider one of the art classes at the village hall or perhaps an evening class at the art college.’
‘You know who she should speak to?’ Milly said. ‘What’s the name of that illustrator who got a book deal with her fiancé? It was in the paper. They live in Willowdale. His aunt and uncle own The White Willow.’
‘Oh, I know who you mean!’ Paulette said. ‘I think her name’s Autumn.’
Veronica nodded. ‘Autumn Laine. I was having a senior moment then but when you mentioned The White Willow, it fell into place.’
‘I’ll take Saffy to The White Willow for lunch tomorrow and ask Kelly and Aled if they can put her in touch with Autumn,’ Paulette said. ‘It would be great for her to chat to someone who’s made a career from their art.’
‘I wonder how many people end up doing jobs they don’t want to because they were pushed into it by their parents,’ Laughlin said. ‘I wanted to be an artist when I was at school but my dad was a mechanical engineer so three guesses what I became?’
‘A circus clown,’ Milly joked.
‘Brain surgeon,’ Veronica suggested.
‘Stripper,’ Paulette cried.
Laughlin’s eyes widened before he spluttered with laughter and flexed his biceps. ‘Oh, yes! I can see why you’d say that.’
The conversation moved onto how we’d fallen into our careers and the jobs we’d loved or hated.
‘I wouldn’t say I had a career as such,’ I said when it was my turn. ‘I got a job in the typing pool at the council when I left school and I did that for several years until Cliff set up his own business. I then helped run that, making appointments, keeping the books, ordering supplies. I can’t say it was a dream job but it was easy work and home-based so I could do my crafts around it.’
‘There must have been something you’d have loved to do, though,’ Milly said. ‘Even if it was only one of those fantasy jobs kids have like being a firefighter or driving a train.’
