Our Wake Up Call

year over year change in retail sales, source: census bureau

Looking back is always easy. It’s looking ahead that is tricky when you are a small business that relies on the consumer. But looking back for me is important in assessing what was working and what wasn’t working. 2007 when we purchased our fine hand-crafted glass shop the economy was still strong, though those watching the indicators saw the dominoes shaking in place. Mike and I knew very little about retail and jumped in head first with excitement. We ordered too much and we planned too little. We simply loved selling beautiful art glass, interacting with people and were caught in a high of owning our own business together. Even the beginning of 2008 lulled us down the same path of stocking the shelves, adding artists and not asking what if?

It really took the October 2008 stock market crash to wake us up. That was a good thing actually for us when I look back now. At the time it was devastating. Our comfortable bubble burst. Our savings took the hits of the shattering stock market. Consumers abruptly zippered their wallets and tightened their belts. If we had maintained the same modus operandi at Crescent Moon we surely would not have survived the recessionary period in 2009 and 2010.

Looking back, I can clearly see our weaknesses:

1. Overstocking product – tying up cash
2. Didn’t pay attention to cash flow as closely as we should have
3. No business plan or setting our goals
4. Taking the economy for granted
5. No marketing plan – operating on a hit or miss plan
6. Didn’t understand our client clearly

But we were having fun! Thankfully we both have solid business backgrounds that we could draw from when we finally opened our eyes in the retail reality world.

Looking back, I can clearly see our strengths:

1. Educating ourselves on art glass and techniques of the trade
2. Building solid customer service practices
3. Drawing on our backgrounds in Marketing (me) and Operations (Mike)
4. Attending every free seminar that came our way
5. Willingness to work hard
6. Solid partnership with each other

November 2008 we woke up and put our thinking caps on.

New small business journal started January 10, 2011 - check the archive

A New Year A New Blog

BLOG: Many blogs provide commentary or news on a particular subject; others function as more personal online diaries. taken from Wikipedia 2011.

So I decided Crescent Moon’s blog should become the diary of the small local business, its survival, success, trials and tribulations. Why not, it’s a subject that I’m becoming quite the knowledgeable thinker on. Thinking is a lot of what I do these days to plan for productive days and profitable ways to keep our little glass shop thriving.

I will need to be purposeful with this blog, to help other small businesses by providing informational links and again by offering my thoughts on the challenges of day to day operations and decisions for a Mom & Pop. This could prove to be the best tool I use for myself to work through some tough months ahead.

So… It’s A New Year It’s A New Blog…come along and join me on this online journal.

Harvesting Art Glass and Metal Sculpture

Autumn Tree of Enchantment $45
Kitras Art Glass...Canada



Harvest Gold Pumpkin $72
Luke Adams...Luke Adams Glass, Massachuesetts








Autumn Gourd $72
Tom Kelly...Vitrix Glass, New York

Copper Fired Maple Leaf Mobile $88
Jay Jones...North Carolina







Creepy Pretty Spider $30
WGK Glass...Pennsylvania







Original hand-crafted art for seasonal decor doesn't have to be put away after the holidays. Each piece becomes a part of your collection, for display year round and eventually an heirloom. Each artist signed collection will only increase in value...certainly more enjoyable than the plastic production made decor.

Arrivals in Art Glass this Week. Blown - Fused - Painted - and Stained

Hand Blown Tear Drop Ornaments by Sunrise Glass
Scott Simmons delights us with the vibrancy of his 4" round and tear drop ornaments. Multiple colors can be found on our website. For collectors the tear drop shape is a nice gift selection. $39 Tear Drop $34 Round
Hand Blown Shell Sculpture by Richard Bunting
An actor, singer and director in local theater, Dick describes dancing with molten glass like dancing with a "hot" partner. His conch shells are well known and given as Tourist Volunteer awards in the Southeastern region. Dick's other works include wave bowls, perfume bottles and oil lamps. Shells range from $85-$295
Fused Glass "Wine Wardens" by Serendipity
Local artist and my sister, Anne Bartlett, shows her whimsical side with the creation of these fun wine stoppers guaranteed to ward off the hangover. Find more expressions and colors on our website. $26
Stained Glass "Fish" Panel by Karmawood Glass
Karen Harbaugh, another local Wilmington NC artist is both a glass and metal stained glass artist and a wood artist. Talent runs wide in her many one-of-a-kind creations. Here is her recent "fish" window panel measuring 15 x 11 and priced at $248
Hand Painted Glass by Shelby Spencer
New to our gallery is the line of hand-painted stemware, ornaments and serving pieces by Shelby. This pair of holiday lights wine glasses make an original artistic gift for you giving this season. $22/pair $12/single $40/for 4



Stayed tuned for tomorrow's arrivals.

Keep in Touch with our Industry

Niche Magazine is published by the Rosen Group who in addition is responsible for creating each year the Buyer's Market of American Craft, the venue show where hand-made craft retailers such as little ole' us go to select new artists or stay in touch with our current artists. Last year we were honored to be named a 2009 Top Retailer by Niche and our relationship with this industry of North American Craft continues.  National recognition within your industry is a wonderful experience.  The article titled "Building Business with a Standout Website"  in this month's Niche online magazine about our new website is a thrill.  As both a marketing professional and gallery owner, it is what I strive for.  Being passionate about our craft artists in glass and metal makes it easy.

Holidays in this season...Part One Hanukkah

Hanukkah starts at sundown next Friday, December 11th and continues for eight days.  As the first celebration in what we all consider a "holiday season" I thought I would provide a little insight and background into the origin and rituals of each one.  At Crescent Moon we make it a point to familiarize ourselves with the items used in the celebrations because it pretty much means one of our artists or maybe several have created unique works of art glass from them.  Our Hanukkah menorahs are a part of our complete Judaica line in the shop.  Artists such as Andrew Jackson Pollack, Tamara Baskin and Sara Beames have become favorites here.  Read on...

reprinted from About.Com:Judaism
The festival of Hanukkah (also spelled Chanukah) was established to commemorate the Jewish Maccabees' military victory over the Greek-Syrians and the re-dedication of the Second Temple, which had been desecrated by the Greek-Syrians, to the worship of God. Thus, Hanukkah is a celebration of Jewish national survival and religious freedom.

Celebrating Hanukkah
In commemoration of these miracles, a Hanukkah Menorah (also called a Hanukkiah) is lit during each of the eight nights of Hanukkah. Lighting the Hanukkah Menorah is the central observance of the festival. One candle is lit the first night, and an additional candle is lit each successive night. Thus, on the last night of Hanukkah, all eight candles of the Hanukkiah are lit. The candles should be lit by a window or door in order to fulfill the commandment to "publicize the miracle." While lighting the candles, blessings are recited and the ancient chant Hanerot Hallalu is traditionally sung. After lighting the candles, it is a tradition to sing Maoz Tzur.

Hanukkah is a fun festival, especially for children. After lighting the Hanukkah candles together, families (and often invited guests) will eat and play games. Traditional Hanukkah food is oil-rich in commemoration of the miracle of the oil that burned for eight days. Potato pancakes (Latkas in Yiddish, Livivot in Hebrew) are a Hanukkah favorite. Israelis eat Hanukkah doughnuts called soofganiot. Dreidel (sivovon in Hebrew) is a traditional Hanukkah game, with game rules so simple that the whole family, from toddlers to grandparents can play together. The custom of giving Hanukkah gelt (money) to children has evolved into a gift-giving tradition in many Jewish families today.

Here are some of the Hanukkah items currently on display here at Crescent Moon.
                                

A Yad is not a Yard in Boston

With Rosh Hashanah approaching at the end of the month, and the expansion of our art glass Judaica line, I thought it would be appropriate at this time to explain some of the most interesting works of art depicting the pieces used in the rituals of the Jewish religion. One such item is the yad. Most yads found in homes and synagogues are made of metal. But leave it to an inspired artist, particularly a glass artist, and you will discover what we here at Crescent Moon have; simply the most beautiful works of art by a few Jewish artists. Wikipedia is my resource of choice to look up definitions or to sort out information. The wiki below provides the best explanation for a yad.

A yad (Hebrew: יד‎), literally, "hand," is a Jewish ritual pointer, used to point to the text during the Torah reading from the parchment Torah scrolls. It is intended to prevent anyone from touching the parchment, which is considered sacred; additionally, the fragile parchment can be damaged by the oils of the skin. While not required when chanting from the Torah, it is used frequently. A yad can be made of any number of materials, though silveris most common. The yad is often shaped like a long rod, with a small hand and an index finger pointing from it.

Now that you know what a real yad is…you’ll never confuse it with a yard pronounced by a Bostonian! The picture above is a cobalt yad flame-worked by Andrew Pollack, a Crescent Moon artist from New Orleans, Louisiana. Crescent Moon has four other Judaica artists with Passover, Rosh Hashanah and Hanukah art glass items. More on the artists and art as we go along.

It's a new day...

This blog thing is all new to me and I must admit a little intimidating since I don't consider myself a journalistic type. Writing copy for ads and such is another thing. But today's marketing says you should have a blog, build your followers and keep them interested. So here I go, diving in head and feet first with my first blog post at 11:18pm while watching the Eagles play the Cowboys and oh, what a game. I'm an Eagles fan big time, and I'm sure some cheering will enter into my future blogs as the football season progresses. Oh, and I love the football season.

But art glass, yes art glass, is our theme here. At our gallery we display close to 65 artists who work in glass. Blown glass, fused glass, stained glass, flame-worked glass all categorized as functional, collectible, decorative, wearable or for outdoor. I'll attempt in this blog to inform the reader about art glass, and it's allure. And throw in some interesting stories about us.