Notes From The Shop - Chapter 2 "The Brand Audit 2025"

So what exactly is a brand audit and why do one? A brand audit is a self initiated “check-in” on myself. I started this exercise in 2023 after one year in business as means to keep myself accountable - specifically I was interested in learning how well the core values that drive my business were in fact represented in the shop.

If you have been following my journey you may have noticed there are four consistent themes which I come back to time and time again - Women Owned, Sustainable, Handmade, and Local. These primary initiatives are goals I set for my business and are built into my mission statement. These are not only important to me personally, but are also values I wanted to share with my customers.

Curating products for the shop can be challenging. In addition to the above factors, I also have to consider the cost of the item and if the item is a good fit for my customer base. Lastly, I need to decide if that product actually works with the shop vibe.

From the above bar chart you can see the shop is doing pretty well in all areas except in the “made local “ category. Currently there are 97 brands (up from 88 in 2024 and 53 in 2023) represented in the shop. Out of the 97 brands 35 are local consignment brands. I offer consignment to local brands as a means of “testing the water”

This arrangement is beneficial to me as a shop owner as I do not have to purchase product outright (which helps with cash flow) and as a brand it affords the opportunity to be in a retail environment on a daily basis.

That said, consignment does not always work out and many small brands do not have the bandwidth to produce product without getting paid upfront.

In 2026, this something I will be devoting more time to, hoping to get this figure over the 50% mark or higher.

For comparison 2025 vs 2024 see the chart below