Chapter 18 #2
“Damn.” They were silent the rest of the drive, and when they walked into the gallery, the first thing Gypsy saw was a display with Willow’s designs.
She walked over and studied the display.
Trish walked up to her and whispered, “That red card in the corner means it’s sold, but next to each one is paper and a pencil.
If a customer would like the item, they write the item number and name on it along with their address on the card and turn it into Susan. ”
“I hate to admit this, but I didn’t know Willow made stuff like this. I’ve seen these.” Gypsy turned slightly to the left and discreetly pointed to the items there. “But not these. Guess I’m going to have to put together a book of some sort so that I know what she has to offer.”
“I have one set up back at the office. I don’t know why, but I actually made up three of them.
I happen to have one in the car that I’m going to show to this new gallery owner.
That’s how we picked out these items. I’ll tell you there’s no way in hell I’ll have Willow make everything she’s done for display. That would be too much on her.”
“I agree, and I have to say thank you for looking out for her.”
“No problem, but I’ll tell the new gallery owner that what’s in the book she’s made in the past, but she can only pick out a certain number.”
“How many did Susan pick out?”
“Thirty.” She laughed at Gypsy’s expression, and they wandered around, and Gypsy was impressed by the setup.
“Trish.” They both turned as a woman almost like Trish had described Willow as being, approached.
“Susan. I’d like you to meet Gypsy. I hope you don’t mind, but I invited her to join us for lunch.”
“Okay, but can we talk about Willow? You know that’s why I set this up.”
“You can,” Gypsy said. “I’m actually Willow’s personal assistant. I handle her life at the home front, where Trish handles her business life.”
“You can answer some questions today.”
“I may be able to, but I’m going to warn you, I’ll shut the questions down if they become too personal.” They looked up as another woman, who looked like she just walked off a runway approached.
“Gabby, you made it.” Susan gave her an air kiss on each cheek and then turned to the others. “This is Trish Bowers, who I told you about and this is Gypsy. I just found out she’s Willow’s personal assistant on the home front.”
“Willow’s not here?”
“No.” Susan frowned. “We only set this meeting up late last night. I told you the chances of Willow being here would be slim to none. Now remember you’re not in New York, so tone down the attitude.”
“Sorry, it’s just that I have so much riding on this. If I can get this Southwest exhibit off, it’ll cement my place at the gallery.”
“I understand, it’s hard working for someone else and trying to get your ideas across.
Let’s go to lunch. I have reservations, and we’re in a back room so we can talk to our heart's content.” They went out to their cars, and Trish followed Susan.
It took several minutes to get settled and order a drink.
They decided to table the discussion until their lunch arrived and made small talk. Finally, they settled down to business.
“So, Gabby, tell us what you want.” Susan started the business conversation.
“I want to have an exhibit with a Southwest flair. I have permission from my boss that I can have the exhibit up for one month. I don’t expect the artists to be available for the entire month.
But I would like them to be present for opening night and the next night. That would be a Friday and Saturday.”
“Before we go any further.” Gypsy interrupted. “What date are you talking about?”
“There are two dates I’m looking at. The first one is from the middle of October to the middle of November. Starting the twentieth, and ending a couple days before Thanksgiving.”
“Well, I can tell you right now, I know for a fact that Willow won’t be available that time. She has some personal dates during that time that can’t be canceled.” Gypsy spoke up.
“Okay then, I can scratch that off, and I’m sort of glad.
I didn’t really want to start an exhibit in the middle of the month.
What about the entire month of November.
We can open the first, which is a Friday, so I’d need all the artists there for Friday and Saturday.
After that, they can come and go as they please.
But I’d really like them there that weekend. ”
“I don’t see a problem with it, but where is this to take place?” Gypsy asked as she took notes.
“SoHo,” Gabby said as she took a bite of her sandwich.
“And that’s...” Gypsy asked in confusion.
“New York City, almost the artists’ capital of the world.”
“Willow will be there.” Gypsy grinned and saw the three women stare at her in shock.
“Without revealing any personal information, Willow told me that if there is ever another gallery opening and it happens to be in New York City, then if it didn’t interfere with her personal life, I am to say yes.
Since I studied her calendar before I came, I know she’s available for all of November. ”
“It’s booked then.” Gabby laughed and turned to Trish. “Do you think your other artists could make it to New York the first and second of November?”
“Which ones?”
“All of them. At least definitely the ones that are in Susan’s shop.”
“That’s all the artists that I represent,” Trish said, and pulled her phone. “Let me send a mass text to them and see if they’re available that weekend. What about hotel accommodations?”
“We can come up with something. I’m sure I can convince my boss to not pay for it all, but maybe help if I can get everyone.
You know, do something like a room block and give a deep discount on the fee if the block gets booked, but we can work on that as the time comes.
I like that we’ll have several weeks to prepare.
I know everyone’s been very successful at Susan’s gallery.
” Trish sent the text, and everyone watched as in the next ten minutes she got a response from everyone.
“They all said yes, and for me to give them details later.”
“Great,” Gabby said, and Gypsy saw her whole demeanor relax.
They moved onto looking at the folders that Trish had of her artists’ work available.
When they got to Willow’s folder, Gypsy paid close attention.
She was surprised by what Willow offered.
Gabby studied each picture and put a sticky note over the picture she wanted to display in her gallery. “I think these would work perfectly.”
“How much room does your gallery have?”
“Big, with three stories. Now I’m not saying we’re going to be using all three stories. We’re a new gallery. New as in we’re not even open yet. But I can have the grand opening for this exhibit. It’ll work perfectly for the holidays.”
“You have storage room?”
“We do. Where are you going with this?”
“What if Willow and the other artists were to send you items ahead of time. Say those bowls you picked out. What if Willow sent you five of them? You display one, if it sells, the person can take it with them, then you replace it. I’m not knocking the way you’re taking orders, Gabby, but that’s what I would do if I ran a gallery.
Have the overstock in the back, but readily available. ”
“No, I don’t think you are. We’re such a small gallery. If I had space, I would have loved to have extras in the back. I understand where you’re coming from.” Susan admitted. “I think this would work perfectly for Gabby’s plan.”
“Okay, I don’t want to step on any toes. But I do have one major concern.”
“What’s that?” Trish asked as she sipped her water.
“Trish, you know that Willow’s slammed with orders.
Not only from the website, but also from the sales at Susan’s gallery, as well as the other galleries her work is in.
That’s why she hired me, to organize her from the front line.
But if this new gallery opening in New York is going to be as successful as everyone thinks and hopes, I don’t think there’s going to be any way she can fill the gallery orders for Christmas.
I’m not saying she can’t submit her items for the opening, I’m talking about the orders she might get from it.
I’ve only worked with her for two weeks, and she’s working twelve to fourteen hours a day six days a week. I don’t want her to get burnt out.”
“I understand.”
“Maybe when it gets closer to the New York opening, I can put something on the website that there’s no guarantee that the item can be shipped by Christmas. I can come up with something. Do you know if Willow has a lot of inventory on her end?”
“Actually, she has nothing. As soon as she gets an order, she makes it and ships it. If she gets anything extra, she sends it all to you, Trish. She told me that she sent all of her overstock to you for Susan’s Gallery.
That last big shipment you received a couple of months ago was that overstock.
Since Susan’s gallery opened, that’s all she’s doing.
Filling those orders along with the internet orders. ”
“I know it’s only the end of July, but hopefully they’ll taper off because she’s only going to be on display for another week,” Susan said.
“And how many items will be needed to replace items in the regular shops she’s in?”
“I don’t know. With you here, we’ll have to drive around and stop at all the shops.
I know I have some stuff at home in my garage.
That’s where I keep her overstock. Maybe once Susan’s exhibit stops, she can catch a break and make stuff ahead of time for Gabby’s exhibit.
I know this morning she only had about a hundred and fifty orders total from the website and the exhibit. ”
“That’s good. She’s not finished with last week’s orders, but getting there. Maybe there will be calm before the storm of the New York exhibit. That’ll give her three full months to stock up.”
“And she can send stuff directly to you?” Gypsy asked Gabby.
“Yes, but not until October 1st. We’re still remodeling, and I don’t want them to get lost or damaged.”
“Okay. She has space at home to store them.” Feeling like she was protecting Willow, they talked for several more hours before they broke up and Gypsy ended up spending several days in the Seattle area getting all her questions answered.
When she went back home, she felt good about taking the job.
Knowing she was good at her job for organizing, but also knowing that she had been able to protect Willow’s privacy and her interests.
She hoped with what she had planned, Willow wouldn’t be burned out by the time the New York show happened.