To Manage a Shop : Oct 01, 2007
From FiranMUX
Eirene enters the shop, beaming ear to ear. She's certainly a cheerful little thing. "Mer Garmon, /thank you/ for seeing me," she says, nodding to the older man. "I can't say how much I appreciate it. I know you must be very busy."
Garmon stands behind the counter with Mes Amiana. She is speaking with her employer about the latest commissions and other such things. Garmon motions for the woman to unlock the door and let in the guest. The older man smiles at the woman and says, "Come in, do come in." His vibrant eyes seem to chuckle with his smile as he motions Eirene in, scooping up a stool and setting it down, "Please make yourself comfortable." He waves to Amiana as she makes her way out the door, "Do tell the family I said hello dear." he says before bringing his full attention to Eirene. He smiles again and says, "Well, busy yes. But of course, I have need of an assistant to help me with such business. If you are up to the challenge of course."
Eirene nods politely to Amiana on her way out, then turns to grin at Garmon. "Oh, I wouldn't worry about that," the young woman says, with a hint of amusement in her voice. "My mother said -- used to say, that is -- that I'm as stubborn as an ox. Once I put my mind to something, it's very difficult to divert me from my chosen path. Rest assured, Mer Garmon, that I will work very hard for you.. as hard as it takes."
Garmon nods his head, clasping his hands behind his back and smiles, "Well, that is very nice to hear. I have had a few offers of people to assist here in the shop, but as it seems, they are more interested in lessons that helping to run the shop." He notes with a flare of his hand guestures towards the shop and says, "I am as you can tell, a man of many talents and high expectations. I am willing to teach those who wish to learn, but at this moment, I am in more need of an assistant, one who will help to run the shop, and show certain promise in my field of expertise." he motions to the racks of clothing and says, "We cater to nobles of all clans and tastes as well as the common families in the city, they all have very particular views and expectatiosn of this particular shop."
"I understand you completely, Mer Garmon," Eirene says, with great enthusiasm. Her aqua eyes shift along the shop, taking it all in, perhaps. "What you've managed to build here... well, it's impressive. I should only be so lucky." She chuckles, softly, "But, before that can happen, I know need to do my time and put in some serious, hard work. I can think of no better way to learn than through experience, and what better way to gain experience than from assisting a man of talent such as yourself?" She pauses a moment, then asks, "Perhaps you could elaborate on the duties you'd expect of your assistant, please?"
Garmon thinks about this a moment and says, "Well, I have never in my experience of this particular venue taken to allowing people not of the family sell things in this shop. But as it were, I am in need of someone to help me keep the shop up to par. If you are willing and your designs show promise, the main goal of assisting in the shop is the public relations as well as the stock of goods in the shop." He smiles and says, "I am getting up in years as you can tell and I will be needing someone to perhaps one day take over. I am sure one of my many daughters will be able to do that, though they have pursuits of their own and thus, I would like to mold someone, and shape someone to help if that time comes in which an old man such as myself can no longer do it."
"It would be my honor," Eirene answers, quite seriously. She appends this with a solemn nod, but there's still a muted smile on her lips. "I do hope you'll select me. Even if only on a probationary period -- let me /prove/ to you my worth."
Garmon nods his head and says, "Well, you must of course acquire a sponsor. I cannot allow you to sell things and make a living here if you do not have a noble sponsor." Garmon smiles adds, "I would be most pleased to help you in the decision of finding one for yourself if you wish. In the meantime, tell me, what do you wish to gain out of this experience, should you have any expectations."
Eirene smiles at Garmon, "I would be most grateful to you for that. It seems I can't win, no matter whom I choose, I feel." Shaking her head slightly, she continues on, "I hope to gain.. hm. Where to begin? By the end of this, I hope to be a well-known clothier whose quality is unmatched and who has the ability to effectively run a business." She grins and continues, "Which would mean, I suppose, that I would like to learn more about pricing and how to minimize production costs. How to manage a shop -- the shopkeeper must be seen to, the store must be arranged.. I'd like to learn how to handle fine materials -- silk, in particular -- without fear of ruining it. To gain a deeper sense of fashion, and perhaps someday, dictate how people define what /is/ fashionable."
Garmon listens quite intently. The bushy eyebrows above his bright green eyes arch every now and again at certain points and he smiles. He nods at this or that and when she is finished, he motions to her, "And what kinds of skills do you possess right now?" He thinks about this and rephrases the question, "In other words, how skilled are you in tailoring to this point? And perhaps, do you have the ability to make other things just as accessories, jewelry, leather, or footwear?" He ticks the things off on his finger, "As a curiousity point of course, what kinds of clients have you worked with and how skilled are you with working in the upper class fields of customers?"
"Making clothes is by far my best talent," Eirene answers, with a nod of her head. "But I've done very little work beyond cotton, linen and wool materials. Silk on rare occasion, but never anything more complicated than a pouch. In Lurashar, I catered to middle class people, so I didn't need to work with silk. Here, it seems as if to be successful, it is a necessity. I can make footwear and I work with leather, as well. I'm better at leatherworking, though, to be quite honest."
Garmon chuckles and says, "Well, yes to be successful, you will need to have the skills of silk cloth. Here in this shop in particular." He smiles at her and says, "But I am sure that we can certainly work on that in due time. For the time being, I would like to see some of your work, perhaps your technique and the fashions you have picked up while in your home." He motions to her, "Do you think you could perhaps give me a piece of sample work that you have at a later date?" He thinks about this and says, "And for the time being I think it might be good for you to find a sponsor and then of course, we can begin to detail out a probationary type setting for you." He tilts his head and says, "I would like to have someone help Mes Amiana in keeping the shop clean and tidy as well as someone to schedule fittings for me, and run errrands. Perhaps even deliver commissions. Are you up for the small mundance tasks before we work towards more important tasks?"
"Of course," Eirene says, nodding her head. She doesn't look bothered in the least by such tasks. "I actually expected to do so. I'm an apprentice, not a partner." The young woman quirks a bemused smile. "I can have some samples to you soon. I arrived in the city with ... very, very little and I'm afraid I have to work from square one. As to my sponsor, well.. I've been contacted by Lord Yaffros Iberik, Lady Lasanna Iberik, Lord Marsalos Tanelish, Lady Suphi Tanelish, and Lady Tia Firgalik. I am a bit overwhelmed, to say the least. I did not expect such a response."
Garmon listens to the list of people who wish to sponsor her and thinks about this, "Well, you are Eagle I am assuming, with such high number of them calling for you to be their sponsoree. I would suggest Lady Lasanna or Lord Marsalos. Both of whom are fine examples of the noble community. The others I have not worked with on a day to day basis and don't have much knowledge of. Of course, my Lady sponsor's husband, I hear also has a spot available for a sponsoree. Lord Fiero does take good care of his sponsorees. You might wish to contact him and see if he might be interested." He pauses and says, "I would be of course, willing to provide you with supplies and even tools should you need them for the first bit of your work, do you have a place to live for the time you have been here?"
Eirene quirks a smile at Garmon and says, "The first thing I did when I arrived was invest in a set of tools. I couldn't manage to find any cobbler's, but I have almost everything else I need -- as well as a bit of material. I have a place to stay, I rented an apartment, though I'm going to be moving soon. Lady Lasanna hired me to look after her grandchildren and do some general help around the house." She chuckles and adds, "Bills and rent are a new thing for me. Stenis have suddenly become much more important. But, I digress. I think I might contact Lord Fiero -- Lady Firgalik seemed very upset when I mentioned the other nobles to her. Very offended, even."
Garmon chuckles and shakes his head, "I have heard that she does indeed get quite offended easily. I don't know her well, and as well, I have not done much work for her. However, I don't wish to pressure you in either event of what sponsor might suit you. It might do you well to set up a meeting with each of the Eagle nobles as they may be well suited for you. But I am also sure that Lord Fiero would be a fine choice as well, I know his Lady wife is a fine example of noblity." He tilts his head and says, "Well, I have stenis and I have materials, I can weave you anything you need, and we can see about getting you cobbler's tools. I could perhaps see if someone can make you some. So that you have them."
"Oh!" Eirene exclaims, looking truly touched. "That would be greatly appreciated. I would repay you, of course, when I can." She beams at Garmon and asks, "How often should you like me to be here? I do have my position with Lady Lasanna and I promised to assist Lady Suphi occasionally, but beyond that -- my free time is yours. All of it."
Garmon thinks about this, "Well, I think I would only ask that for the time being, that you be here to help in the evening, to clean up and make sure that all the commissions are delivered to their rightful owners and make sure the weeks fittings are scheduled. I would however like to meet with you from time to time and make sure you are faring well, perhaps you can help me start stocking the shop soon should you show promise in assistant to keep the shop organized and run smoothly while I am so busy."
Back to Garmon
