Entrepreneurship, Second Edition

2.9. CASE: Alison Barnard

Having spent her Saturday morning redesigning window displays, folding inventory, and following up with a supplier who seemed disinclined to take back an entire shipment she felt was unacceptable, Alison Barnard, 27, was finally settled at her desk in the corner—fully intending to make some progress on her growing management task list. Chief among those neglected missions was getting up to speed on her software system for monitoring sales and inventory.

In-jean-ius, her upscale "jeans and t-shirt" boutique in Boston's North End, was attracting professional and wealthy women from Maine to Rhode Island. As one of many satisfied customers wrote, "Alison has an uncanny ability to match up the right person with the perfect pair of jeans. If you have ever gone 'jean shopping' you know that that is not an easy thing to do! Experience In-jean-ius for yourself. You won't shop for jeans anywhere else again."

March 2006. Alison looked up from her work with a weary smile.

Open just over six months, and actuals are tracking nearly twice my projections....

As it had from the very beginning, running her hit venture continued to consume nearly every waking hour. The creative, high-energy founder was far less concerned with burning out than with having the day-to-day concerns usurp her ability to plan and manage for growth. And with only one full-time employee—not yet fully trained—Alison couldn't expect much relief anytime soon.

Her attention was suddenly drawn to an ...