Ashling

Ashling woke up the day of the clearance sale with her stomach in knots. She’d barely slept. Clearing out the warehouse for more working capital was the first piece of her plan to get the money they needed to comply with the architectural codes.

She’d put ads on Facebook, distributed flyers all over town, and she’d emailed their small but growing list of new customers. They’d be selling the stuff upstairs, vases, crafting supplies, cardstock; it really was a Pinterest lover’s dream sale.

Not only was she getting that capital, but she was also getting space to streamline their operations. They needed to bring the costs per item sold way down. And that meant getting a better handle on inventory.

Plus, that huge warehouse space, she knew she could rent small booths, get the local crafters in, maybe each weekend. And get foot traffic up.

She walked by all the display cases. She’d filled them with her best floral designs. Colleen had helped her. A she turned all the lights on she hoped they flowers would sell and help her book lucrative events. Weddings, that’s what they needed.

She made last minute adjustments. Colleen and Gus had outdone themselves. Potential customers would have to walk through the retail space and when they did they’d see modern and classic flowers displayed in a way that hopefully caught their eye. And hopefully got the word out about the O’Shea’s.

Of course, all this was contingent on people actually showing up. What if they didn’t?

When the doors opened there were people, not a million people, not a flood of people, by any stretch, but people.

Ash was somewhat relieved. She watched as customers started loading up with their extra inventory. She also noticed a few younger women taking photos on their phones. Good. That was good. She needed to get the word out that O’Shea’s was in style. This was fifty years of out of style she had to combat.

Ash put that aside and helped the customers find what they needed. Everything in the warehouse was five bucks or under. It was meant to move, and slowly, she saw the shelves empty.

She’d also had her two interns from Grand City Community College learning the ropes from Colleen.

“How is it going?” Ash asked Colleen and the interns.

“Alisa and Hailey here are doing just fine.”

“Great!” She hoped to have a little extra cash to give the interns at the end of the day. They were supposed to be doing this for credit, but still, a little cash could go a long way when you were in school. She knew since it was just a year ago she was.

Gus was out making their normal deliveries, so Ash was doing the heavy lifting. She loaded orders, moved more stock around, and generally answered questions.

She loved seeing the activity and felt like no matter how much they sold today it was good to have so many people in and out and at least some new money coming in from this old stock that wasn’t moving before.

Ash noticed a young mother and daughter shopping together. They were lovely actually, and Ash was struck by a creative impulse. She found a sprig of stephanotis, a small white bud, then she approached the pair.

“Hello, I’m Ash. Can I help you find anything?”

“Hi, I’m Larissa, and this is Mommy.” The sweet little girl introduced herself.

“Joelle, my name’s Joelle and Mommy.” The woman smiled; the two made a pretty pair.

“Well, Larissa, if Mommy says it’s okay, would you like a flower in your hair?” The little girl looked up at her mother, and Joelle nodded.

Ash put the small buds trailing down a lock of the girl’s hair. It looked like they’d bloomed there.

“You look like a woodland fairy princess!” Joelle said. It was the effect Ash was going for. Her Irish roots were her inspirations when she did floral accessories for hair styling. Most people did floral hair accessories all wrong. Ash believed they should look organic, and magical, just like Joelle had described it.

“I do floral a little differently I guess than most,” Ash said.

“It’s beautiful,” Joelle said, “Do you have a card?”

“I’ve got hundreds,” Ash replied and fished one out of her jeans pocket.

“Thank you.” Joelle was stunning, Ash realized. She was just the kind of client they needed, young and fashionable.

“May I ask how you heard about our sale?”

“Oh, sure. I saw a flyer hanging at the Great Wolves Gym around the corner. My guy works out there, and we got bored waiting, so here we are.”

“Well, I’m glad you paid us a visit. Do come back.” The gym around the corner. Ash realized that Jessie must have palmed one her flyers and put it up there.

She flushed red thinking about ways to thank him. Where had that come from? This man was under her skin, which she did not have time for.

“I’m sure we will and I’ll send some friends. Seems like everyone I know is getting married these days.” Joelle said, and the two continued their exploration of O’Shea’s.

“Bye, Ash. I like my flowers!” The little girl waved a chubby hand at Ash. Ash gave her a wink.

Alisa, one of the new interns, came over.

“Do you know who that was?” She asked her.

“Uh, her name is Joelle,” Ash responded.

“She’s a ballerina with the Grand City Ballet, a rising star! That’s what Grand City Today online said, anyway. She sure is skinny,” Alisa marveled. Well maybe the rising star would spread the word about O’Shea’s. Ash hoped the ball was rolling like she planned.

“Ah, she’s very pretty, and her daughter was a sweetheart. How’s it going?”

“Are we selling all the low bud vases over there? Some wedding planner woman wants to know.”

“Yep. Everything must go.”

“Got it.” Alisa went back to the customer she was helping.

The day was fast and busy, but in the end, Ash figured, after she subtracted salaries, they probably cleared over five thousand dollars on the sale. For one day, that wasn’t Valentine’s Day or Christmas, it was pretty good. And four thousand nine hundred more than a typical Saturday if Uncle Peter’s ledgers were accurate.

“Well done,” Gus said to her. They’d all worked hard.

“Thank you. How’d it go on your end?” Gus was mostly in the warehouse and had helped dozens of women load their minivans today.

“Well, we had a lot of curious folks complimenting your displays.”

“Good, why don’t you take off? You’ve done so much today.” Gus had never questioned her plan. He just worked hard. She could see why Uncle Peter kept him around and feared that Theone would drive out the two loyal employees of O’Shea’s. Theone had been absent all day, she didn’t lift a finger to help, but at least that meant she wasn’t there berating them.

“I thought you were staying open until seven. We still have an hour.”

“It’s down to a trickle. I don’t want to incur any more expenses. Get me?”

“Ya, I do. Savvy businesswoman. Keeping overhead down.” Gus gave her a smile.

“Careful going home, Gus.”

“Will do. And don’t forget to lock up the till.” Ash saw Gus out. The till. She’d paid a little to the interns, and the normal rate to Colleen and Gus, but didn’t pay herself. Somehow it felt wrong. She’d pay the utilities for the building and be glad that also meant her little place upstairs. That would have to be enough. Who needed food?

She was tidying up when a final customer walked in the door.