Microsolve - Knitted Together

Knitted Together

www.knittedtogether.com

Our names are Tim and Nancy Wyatt. Our journey started in 2004 when we were working in our respective careers, I was practicing architecture and Nancy was a senior editor of magazines for Meredith Corporation, Better Homes & Gardens - Creative Collection. Nancy was the editor of Crochet Magazine and Knit It magazine along with several other titles. Spring of 2004 Nancy mentioned that she would like to open a yarn store. I knew she loved to knit but had no idea she had this dream. Later I found out that she had assisted a woman who was a good friend of hers and mentor in running her yarn store, years before we had met. I mentioned that she should begin to pursue this as I would look at whether we had the resources. Months went by and she didn’t make much progress as she is really more of an artist than a details person.

In November of 2004 I lost my position at the architecture firm where I was employed as the firm went through a drastic down-sizing. As I began to pray daily, focusing on God and His plan for us I was truly stirred that He was leading us into a plan together. When I discussed this with Nancy she was overwhelmed by joy, not only that I would join her in pursuing her dream but also because she was very confident in my ability to work the details.

This began a long and slow journey to study and understand business plans and develop a team of consultants. We determined that we could financially make this work and began to work the business plan. This became a much more time consuming and involved process than I ever imagined! The more we looked into the future to discover what a successful store would look like, and then work the steps backward to where we were, the better the plan got. Nancy left her position at Meredith corp. in May of 2005 to spend much needed time with our daughter Katie, who was growing fast and now ten years old.

I then began the process of designing the store space. Knowing that retail requires careful design and using up to 80% plus for merchandising, I felt led to go for a different approach. Early on we decided on a name for our store, Knitted Together “a yarn store & learning experience.” That name would begin to shape the design as we have always understood that the “learning” and “experience” would always be our goal and focus. People just don’t buy yarn; they need a purpose to buy yarn. Yes many know how to knit but unless they have a truly warm, refreshing, exciting and successful experience they won’t keep at it, they’ll move to something new. Our concept is to focus on the people and the yarn will sell. So the design for the store became a place where people could come and cuddle into oversized leather sofa and chairs on one side of the two sided fireplace that splits the room or work at a large maple table that comfortably seats eight on the other side. The store is contemporary yet warm and inviting, we provide all the amenities including: coffee, tea, lotion and perfume in the restroom and lots of help for people of all skill levels. Come in anytime, afternoon or evening and you’ll easily find six to ten gals knitting and chatting. They call the store their cashmere lined nest.

By August of 2005 we easily sold the plan to a banking partner and signed a lease in an upscale strip mall in the western suburbs of Des Moines Iowa in West Des Moines where we live. We really wanted to be close to home and our daughter Katie’s schools. One real plus with the location we chose is being across the street from Jordan Creek Towncenter mall, a premier destination location in Iowa and the Midwest.

As the build out began in September, Nancy and I started to work with vendors to order all the fibers we would offer. I also started looking really hard at the point of sale system we would purchase. I am very technology minded and was developing our computer network with consultants. When Nancy attended the TNNA in June she brought me info about several sources for POS programs. Having worked for the Midwest’s largest grocer as a teenager and college student, I had the benefit of seeing really good computerized and scanning registers implemented into that industry. I am also very hands on and wanted our consultant to be the same. As I looked through the info I was interested in Micro Solve and the POS•IM software from Ensign Systems that was tailored fit to our industry. However, there was no way I was going to work with a company on the west coast with no personal contact face to face. Unfortunately the other companies that I contacted from the show were not leading me anywhere. Some never called me back and locally no one knew anything about the needle arts industry but assured me they could start with a generic product and then customize it. That sounded expensive and how would I know what to customize if I’m new to the industry? The more I prayed about it the more I was led to talk to Micro Solve (I know it sounds silly, but it’s true). When I talked to Susan I began to feel at ease. We connected immediately. Susan is personable, honest and willing to let a client take their time with the decision. That is confidence to me - no pressure just solutions. She really worked hard for me to answer all my questions through several phone conversations. I was able to download a trial version to play with. When we finally moved into what ordering all the components would look like, Susan even worked with me above and beyond to assure that the peripheral devises would look visually the same as the computer hardware we were putting together on our end (I am a real visual freak for aesthetics). When I gave Susan our credit card number I didn’t have any doubts or buyer’s remorse.

Next we were introduced to Victoria to begin the process. First I should say that all of the products arrived just as Susan said they would and all was in working order. Victoria - where to begin - after working with Victoria for over three years now, I can say I believe she is probably the most brilliant person I have ever met (although I have never met her face to face). Victoria understands how the software is written and she understands what it is truly used for and how to use it. I can tell you that this is rare in the technology industry! Victoria also understands how the program and products must interrelate, she understands tax codes, she knows how to create the chart of accounts used in the program so that they interrelate to my accounting program and she understands business practices. And, most of all she can explain anything in a language a three year old can understand. That is really important to me. Victoria’s patience is amazing and in the over three years that she has help our business, I don’t think I have ever asked her a question she couldn’t answer. Victoria is a gem and I know Nancy feels the same about her and it always felt more like an arm-in-arm partnership than long distance.

POS•IM allows us to track everything: purchases, inventory, vendors, customers (this includes their personal data that they share with us for contacting them and every purchase they have ever made with us, which is really great when they need more of something and lost the label and have no idea what it is), and sales and all the information that goes along with that huge category - from sales tax to margins. The data in POS•IM also easily converts to files that export to piggy back programs for “Constant Contact” and e-commerce. Ensign also continues to evaluate and improve on their product, so this is a good reason to budget for the gold service contract.

I wouldn’t hesitate to recommend Micro Solve to someone looking for this type of industry software. POS•IM is a rich program and if you’re new to business you won’t even know what all the feature are that are available out of the box, until you begin to grow and realize what potential is really there. As for Ensign Systems the developer of POS•IM, they are really top notch as well. Gina Wardell helped us set up the credit card processing and it has been a great success and very safe and reliable … and now they are helping us develop a class “A”, E-commerce website that should be finished in May.

Well our store was finally opened in March of 2006, about three months later than planned due to unexpected timing issues with the contractor. The last three years have been an incredible journey for our family. The name Knitted Together came out of the Bible in Psalm: 139 (NLT) as God says he knit us together in our mother’s womb. Well He has certainly knit our family together and even given us a new family at our store that grows every day. We thank God for the opportunity to be in the market place and being able to focus our attention on just loving people without any ulterior motive or desired result.

As for the store, we offer classes from beginning knitting, intermediate, first sweater class, and first socks class (this is a very popular class as knitting socks are a big favorite in our area) to pattern reading along with various others. On Tuesday and Thursday evenings we have “knit togethers” - these are one month long, each night Tuesday and Thursday offers a different project to knit, so the gals come in choose their yarn and supplies and they all begin to knit a project led by Nancy or one of our instructors. They are all knitting the same project but tailored to their size or color preference. There is no cost for these “knit togethers” (we do ask that people buy their project materials from our store). Talk about crazy, there is usually 6 to 15 gals here and they really have a good time. Most of all these people have become family to one another and when someone has a problem, they really support each other, they really step up. We encourage people to take classes but, also we encourage them to try new projects each time that will build on their current skill set. We tell them that each project will add new tools to your bag.

In 2006 we were asked along with many other yarn stores to partner with Save The Children Foundation to call out to knitters and those wanting to knit to join in for “caps to the capital”, a program to raise awareness among people about infant mortality in third world countries by knitting baby caps and sending them to the Save The Children Foundation. Again in 2008 we joined them in “knit one save one” - a similar theme. Also, in 2008 Save The Children Foundation had a national advertising firm come to do a study on our store and community to try to understand more about the compassion and generosity of knitters.

We have also been the feature focus of wonderful photo and word essay in the 2008/2009 winter edition of Life Beautiful magazine. This is a national publication that has brought a great number of responses from all around the country. Also in Vogue Knitting feature our store in a “shop review” in their current issue 2008/2009 winter edition. Both of these publications are current and available on the news stands.




				Knitted Together www.knittedtogether.com Our names are Tim and Nancy Wyatt. Our journey started in 2004 when we were working in our respective careers, I was practicing architecture and Nancy was a senior editor of magazines for Meredith Corporation, Better Homes & Gardens - Creative Collection. Nancy was the editor of Crochet Magazine and Knit It magazine along with several other titles. Spring of 2004 Nancy mentioned that she would like to open a yarn store. I knew she loved to knit but had no idea she had this dream. Later I found out that she had assisted a woman who was a good friend of hers and mentor in running her yarn store, years before we had met. I mentioned that she should begin to pursue this as I would look at whether we had the resources. Months went by and she didn’t make much progress as she is really more of an artist than a details person. In November of 2004 I lost my position at the architecture firm where I was employed as the firm went through a drastic down-sizing. As I began to pray daily, focusing on God and His plan for us I was truly stirred that He was leading us into a plan together. When I discussed this with Nancy she was overwhelmed by joy, not only that I would join her in pursuing her dream but also because she was very confident in my ability to work the details. This began a long and slow journey to study and understand business plans and develop a team of consultants. We determined that we could financially make this work and began to work the business plan. This became a much more time consuming and involved process than I ever imagined! The more we looked into the future to discover what a successful store would look like, and then work the steps backward to where we were, the better the plan got. Nancy left her position at Meredith corp. in May of 2005 to spend much needed time with our daughter Katie, who was growing fast and now ten years old. I then began the process of designing the store space. Knowing that retail requires careful design and using up to 80% plus for merchandising, I felt led to go for a different approach. Early on we decided on a name for our store, Knitted Together “a yarn store & learning experience.” That name would begin to shape the design as we have always understood that the “learning” and “experience” would always be our goal and focus. People just don’t buy yarn; they need a purpose to buy yarn. Yes many know how to knit but unless they have a truly warm, refreshing, exciting and successful experience they won’t keep at it, they’ll move to something new. Our concept is to focus on the people and the yarn will sell. So the design for the store became a place where people could come and cuddle into oversized leather sofa and chairs on one side of the two sided fireplace that splits the room or work at a large maple table that comfortably seats eight on the other side. The store is contemporary yet warm and inviting, we provide all the amenities including: coffee, tea, lotion and perfume in the restroom and lots of help for people of all skill levels. Come in anytime, afternoon or evening and you’ll easily find six to ten gals knitting and chatting. They call the store their cashmere lined nest. By August of 2005 we easily sold the plan to a banking partner and signed a lease in an upscale strip mall in the western suburbs of Des Moines Iowa in West Des Moines where we live. We really wanted to be close to home and our daughter Katie’s schools. One real plus with the location we chose is being across the street from Jordan Creek Towncenter mall, a premier destination location in Iowa and the Midwest. As the build out began in September, Nancy and I started to work with vendors to order all the fibers we would offer. I also started looking really hard at the point of sale system we would purchase. I am very technology minded and was developing our computer network with consultants. When Nancy attended the TNNA in June she brought me info about several sources for POS programs. Having worked for the Midwest’s largest grocer as a teenager and college student, I had the benefit of seeing really good computerized and scanning registers implemented into that industry. I am also very hands on and wanted our consultant to be the same. As I looked through the info I was interested in Micro Solve and the POS•IM software from Ensign Systems that was tailored fit to our industry. However, there was no way I was going to work with a company on the west coast with no personal contact face to face. Unfortunately the other companies that I contacted from the show were not leading me anywhere. Some never called me back and locally no one knew anything about the needle arts industry but assured me they could start with a generic product and then customize it. That sounded expensive and how would I know what to customize if I’m new to the industry? The more I prayed about it the more I was led to talk to Micro Solve (I know it sounds silly, but it’s true). When I talked to Susan I began to feel at ease. We connected immediately. Susan is personable, honest and willing to let a client take their time with the decision. That is confidence to me - no pressure just solutions. She really worked hard for me to answer all my questions through several phone conversations. I was able to download a trial version to play with. When we finally moved into what ordering all the components would look like, Susan even worked with me above and beyond to assure that the peripheral devises would look visually the same as the computer hardware we were putting together on our end (I am a real visual freak for aesthetics). When I gave Susan our credit card number I didn’t have any doubts or buyer’s remorse. Next we were introduced to Victoria to begin the process. First I should say that all of the products arrived just as Susan said they would and all was in working order. Victoria - where to begin - after working with Victoria for over three years now, I can say I believe she is probably the most brilliant person I have ever met (although I have never met her face to face). Victoria understands how the software is written and she understands what it is truly used for and how to use it. I can tell you that this is rare in the technology industry! Victoria also understands how the program and products must interrelate, she understands tax codes, she knows how to create the chart of accounts used in the program so that they interrelate to my accounting program and she understands business practices. And, most of all she can explain anything in a language a three year old can understand. That is really important to me. Victoria’s patience is amazing and in the over three years that she has help our business, I don’t think I have ever asked her a question she couldn’t answer. Victoria is a gem and I know Nancy feels the same about her and it always felt more like an arm-in-arm partnership than long distance. POS•IM allows us to track everything: purchases, inventory, vendors, customers (this includes their personal data that they share with us for contacting them and every purchase they have ever made with us, which is really great when they need more of something and lost the label and have no idea what it is), and sales and all the information that goes along with that huge category - from sales tax to margins. The data in POS•IM also easily converts to files that export to piggy back programs for “Constant Contact” and e-commerce. Ensign also continues to evaluate and improve on their product, so this is a good reason to budget for the gold service contract. I wouldn’t hesitate to recommend Micro Solve to someone looking for this type of industry software. POS•IM is a rich program and if you’re new to business you won’t even know what all the feature are that are available out of the box, until you begin to grow and realize what potential is really there. As for Ensign Systems the developer of POS•IM, they are really top notch as well. Gina Wardell helped us set up the credit card processing and it has been a great success and very safe and reliable … and now they are helping us develop a class “A”, E-commerce website that should be finished in May. Well our store was finally opened in March of 2006, about three months later than planned due to unexpected timing issues with the contractor. The last three years have been an incredible journey for our family. The name Knitted Together came out of the Bible in Psalm: 139 (NLT) as God says he knit us together in our mother’s womb. Well He has certainly knit our family together and even given us a new family at our store that grows every day. We thank God for the opportunity to be in the market place and being able to focus our attention on just loving people without any ulterior motive or desired result. As for the store, we offer classes from beginning knitting, intermediate, first sweater class, and first socks class (this is a very popular class as knitting socks are a big favorite in our area) to pattern reading along with various others. On Tuesday and Thursday evenings we have “knit togethers” - these are one month long, each night Tuesday and Thursday offers a different project to knit, so the gals come in choose their yarn and supplies and they all begin to knit a project led by Nancy or one of our instructors. They are all knitting the same project but tailored to their size or color preference. There is no cost for these “knit togethers” (we do ask that people buy their project materials from our store). Talk about crazy, there is usually 6 to 15 gals here and they really have a good time. Most of all these people have become family to one another and when someone has a problem, they really support each other, they really step up. We encourage people to take classes but, also we encourage them to try new projects each time that will build on their current skill set. We tell them that each project will add new tools to your bag. In 2006 we were asked along with many other yarn stores to partner with Save The Children Foundation to call out to knitters and those wanting to knit to join in for “caps to the capital”, a program to raise awareness among people about infant mortality in third world countries by knitting baby caps and sending them to the Save The Children Foundation. Again in 2008 we joined them in “knit one save one” - a similar theme. Also, in 2008 Save The Children Foundation had a national advertising firm come to do a study on our store and community to try to understand more about the compassion and generosity of knitters. We have also been the feature focus of wonderful photo and word essay in the 2008/2009 winter edition of Life Beautiful magazine. This is a national publication that has brought a great number of responses from all around the country. Also in Vogue Knitting feature our store in a “shop review” in their current issue 2008/2009 winter edition. Both of these publications are current and available on the news stands.


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