Wow,
So we had our Friends & Family Event on Saturday the 10th and our Grand Opening on Saturday the 17th. Both were awesome and we are so thankful to our friends, family and community for their suport! Our dear friend Hawkins Wright jammed for over 2 hours and everyone was super into it! We were at capacity for a few hours and had some recommendations for extra tables and standing bar areas, which we are looking into! Here are some pics from the events:
Since the Grand Opening, it’s been a bit slow. I had been so head down in process/operations and getting the space ready, I hadn’t had a chance to do much marketing besides the initial advertising for the opening!
After kicking myself about the lack of marketing, I reminded myself that this had always been the plan — get our sea legs first and then start rocking the boat!!
We definitely have our sea legs now. I had amazing help from my step-sis Natalie and her wife MaryEllen, who have deep experience in restaurant management. They came in and whipped us right into shape! We still need to follow up on some of their suggestions, but hey, that’s what Sunday’s for!
So now that I feel good about operations, we’re starting to put the word out. I sent press releases to 15 local publications and a columnist from the NW Examiner came in last night and is doing a little piece about us! We had a costume model here while she was visiting and while we didn’t have many customers, I think she caught on to the cool vibe!!
I’ve also been targeting the local ad agencies with fliers, and a bunch of different organizations from PAF to Legacy Hospital. We’re doing some trade with the Portland Maps people across the street and will be “getting on the map” with them soon!
Today I printed 1000 two-sided cards about our lunch and happy hour specials, to get the local industrial businesses in the door for the food/drink!!
The food and drink is good… Did I mention??
The columnist from the NW Examiner told her chum, a local artist named Brooke Mackenzie about the place and she came in today with her little daughter Violet. She’s looking to turn some of her students onto The Canvas — what a great gal she is!
Scott from Taow Marketing has also been forthcoming with the ideas for the business. Well, everyone has really. EVERYONE HAS AN OPINION! And would you guess what the most important thing is about everyone’s opinions? LISTENING TO THEM!! People think they’re bugging me, but it’s really essential to listen to these new ideas. Ideas are what we’re all about and I am so thankful for everyone’s support!
Like I mentioned, we had our first costume modeling session last night and it was pretty dead. It was a bummer that few people showed up, but our model, Dezeree, looked great, doesn’t she!? What a spunky girl! She is super into fashion and is studying Japanese to become an international airline attendant because she loves Japanese fashion and culture!!
Today we had the PNCA grad students in for Happy Hour and they were hooting and hollering and having a grand ol’ time! I am so jazzed to have their awesome creative energy here!!
Now I just need to keep pounding the pavement, internet and Portland media to get the word out. I know we have something great here, it just still needs to be discovered!!
So, all in all, we’re having a good time. We’re working hard. My feet and my back hurt like hell! On Monday, I made as much $$ in a day as I used to in an hour! But we’re pressing on. We know it will build slowly. We like how it feels to work hard. Viva The Canvas!!
