The booming call of the locomotive still makes many of our hearts leap with excitement and joy.

Who wouldn’t love to possess this sound, such a striking reminder of a child’s delight upon seeing his first train? To have the power of an Amtrak at his fingertips — or at least the sound of it?

Indeed, the idea of attaching train horns to one’s truck is a popular one, these days. Just google the words “train horn” and dozens of links appear, promising to deliver this very thing to your doorstep.

It’s even possible to have them installed for you, although many traditionalists prefer to do their own work, some enjoying the use of antique horns. It is also possible to purchase a train horn as part of a kit.

The two top manufacturers of train horns in today’s market are Nathan/AirChime and Leslie horns, with Nathan/AirChime producing the vast bulk at this time. The wider and the longer that the horn is, the deeper the sound that it produces. Note that, despite the claims of some, these dimensions do not determine the decibel (or loudness) of the sound produced.

It is important to be aware that most “train horns” found on the internet are in fact just chrome air horns, and are not musically tuned to the exact specifications of a train horn, nor is the sound that they produce of that quality. The produce little sound while consuming much power.

These chrome horns are also much less stable mechanically, due to their chrome composition.

When it comes down to it, though, the decision to attach such a powerful horn to one’s vehicle requires many practical considerations. For one, the sheer magnitude of the sound that leaves the locomotive horn is too intense for an ordinary roadway. Such a startlingly loud sound could lead to accidents (and potentially, to your resulting arrest).

In fact, using a locomotive horn carelessly can lead to permanent hearing loss. These powerful instruments were created to warn people of speeding trains and to communicate with railroad employees. They are not toys.

A maintenence issue to consider is that horns can easily become clogged up, whether from flying insects or debris — this kind of clog can distort or dampen the sound of the horn, or even cause real damage. So it is important to consider how you wish to protect your horn. Nylon covers are commonly used, as are “snow cones.”

When used correctly (off the roadways!) a train horn can add some real fun to your outdoor celebrations. It produces a great sound to accompany fireworks, for example, where they are legal, or could perhaps be used to cheer on your local sport teams.

Train horn enthusiasts and hobbyists enjoy congregating and enjoying the use of horns in (typically outdoor) conventions. In advance, it is customary to receive the permission of surrounding areas, due to the loud volume of this activity. Train horns are also sometimes used in ice hockey.

For the small boutique owner, inventory can be your best friend or your worst enemy. Having too little can send customers away empty-handed, but over-purchasing can lead to big markdowns, which mean a large drop in the worth of your biggest asset.

On the other hand, how up-to-date and in style your merchandise is are also critical factors in your success — hanging on to winter clothing into the spring season isn’t going to move your goods any faster. Putting off a necessary markdown only means that you’re extending the period of time over which your shelves are stocked with goods that no one wants.

Well-selected and timely merchandise is what brings customers into the store in most cases, and what keeps them there, and brings them back for more. Despite all the fuss made over displays and atmosphere — and despite the importance that these things have — your success or failure as a business is ultimately dependent upon your inventory itself, and whether or not it sells.

As a boutique owner, you must remember that fashion can be a fickle master indeed. The highly-touted “next big thing” for the upcoming year may not hit next year, or even at all. And what’s hip today may be gone tomorrow.

The best you can do is to keep up with what people are wearing and what they’re talking about. Remember, the location of your store is a unique shopping environment. You can’t just observe anyone — you need to be aware of your market; what your market wants, wears, and thinks. If those size 6s aren’t selling the way you’d anticipate, stop stocking so many of them.

Shop for your seasonal inventory in a timely manner — remember, time (and fashion) stops for no woman. When should you shop for spring inventory? The answer should be early January. Not February, not March.

You need to be prepared to clear out nonmoving merchandise, and to base your new stock upon what sizes you’ve been moving recently, the styles and lengths that you’ve traditionally sold this time of year. Be aware of what’s going on in your neighborhood. Are ninth-graders attending Homecoming this year? You’d better have some small sized gowns in stock.

So much of owning a small boutique comes down to simple common sense and connections. The business plan that you write up at the beginning of the year should never be far from your mind — or your fingertips.

Follow how closely your expectations match up to the realities of what customers are buying. If your business plan was not on a month-by-month basis, make it so.

The marketplace changes rapidly, so pay close attention to trends in your area and how your sales are impacted. When you stock seasonal inventory for this upcoming spring, be prepared to make changes to your business plan based upon changes in your area.

We all know that the big season for sales is in the fall, but, if anything, that means we should try harder in the spring.