Seize the moment

Ya know when someone suggests something and you think,
"Oh I really SHOULD do that but I just don't feel like it?" or
"That sounds like fun but it just seems like too much trouble."

Well, I suffer from this kind of thinking. Luckily my hubby just says, "Come on, we are doing this." And I drag along until I get with the program. If this sounds like you, do your best to find the energy to experience what is in front of you.

If I hadn't climbed to the top of the peak (which is something I only half wanted to do) I would have missed this view.

Now that would have been a pity!



This is Lake Tahoe. Not a bad place to grow up.

Have a great day!

Happy Holidays

Moving weeks/days before Christmas is something we have done for two years in a row. I'm very glad to be in a new house with more room but it makes the normal Christmas groove a little challenging.

Luckily our kids don't seem to notice. We have the Las Vegas, all white Christmas tree up, half decorated. But hey, we are going up north for Christmas week anyway. Ya know, when you are spinning burning plates at both ends in the air things get re-prioritized.

Hu?

One bit of holiday advice I have for you is:

DON'T IGNORE THE WRENCH!

Our 2006 Honda hybrid had the little orange wrench show up on the dash board. This means something needs attention. We knew that the oil needed to be changed so we assumed that was the problem and just kept driving around for a day or two... then we began lurching around the neighborhood floored, going 4 miles an hour. Even with my hazards on because my hamster powered car was OBVIOUSLY having "issues" people were honking at me and swerving around me like I was some kind of hundred year old Sunday driver from Pokipsy.

I'm quite sure being behind me was like following a street sweeper being driven by someone who was reading the paper while talking on the phone between bites of a big mac but Jeeze people! I honestly could not go any faster. Eventually we rolled backwards into a parking place, engine dead. 8:00pm on a school night, two kids in the back seat, one coming down with a cold, the other asking, "Is the car dead? What happened? Will we have to get a new one? Idon'twanttowalkhomeWhenarewegoingtoeatMomI'mhungryIsthecarok
IwantnoodlesWhenarewegoinghomeArewegoingouttoeatI'mcoldIhavetogopee

AHHHHHHHHHHHH

I figured since it was a hybrid and the assist battery gage was gone, just plain empty, that it was a battery thing. And not the kind you can jump and get on your way... But the expensive kind. The hybrid kind.

I kept saying, "In a normal car, it feels like the carburetor isn't getting any gas, likes it's a clogged fuel filter." My main point of reference being our "other" car, my 1971 Volkswagon bug that was a birthday present for my 16th birthday. Now THAT car I expect to break.

But you pop the hood on the hybrid half expecting to find Tinker Bell and her friends sprinkling fairy dust in there and it just mysteriously running... the engine doesn't even turn over when you start it, it just kind of - goes on - then hums, does not ever shift gears, the engine completely stops when you slow down but kicks in when you take your foot off the break. That's NORMAL operation so how the hell was I supposed to know what the wrench stood for? What on earth could go wrong with the magic-mobile? Was Tink caught in a fan belt? Did it even have a fan? Or a belt?

Well apparently it does have a fuel pump, JUST like one of them regular type cars! ... and a faulty fuel pump at that. Just like a regular car. So much for my romantic, exotic manifestation of some new fangled Jetsonesque repair. Sigh.

So the kids and I took a taxi home while R dealt with the car.

So when your little wrench goes on in the dashboard of life, don't ignore it or it will likely bite you in the butt at a most inconvenient time.

That reminds me, I need to make an appointment for a physical.

Have a very happy holiday.

Here is a link to a fantastic post by Mamanista.com. They offered Stylease as a contest prize. I love seeing which outfits people liked best. I will make a note of it when designing the next line. Thanks Mamanista!!!

http://www.mamanista.com/2007

Why Trying to Fit In Doesn't Work

With the holiday season upon us, and the stress some are faced with, yet again this year, just like every year... dealing with the in-laws or long lost crazy uncle, being forced together to have a happy holiday season, let's face it... It's a stressful time of year. But it shouldn't be! I have a little story for you...

I've been taking voice lessons on and off for the past couple of years. In my last lesson, I was having some trouble. I just wasn't singing well. I wasn't hitting the right notes and my timing was off. I was annoyed with myself and my frustration was building. Finally, my voice teacher said to me, "Stop thinking, stop trying so hard, and just sing." So I did.

I closed my eyes, took a deep breath, and let go. Suddenly I was singing again, and sounding great. Afterwards, it occurred to me that I was just trying too hard.

I was trying to hit the right notes,
trying to breathe in the right places,
trying to project my voice...
I was caving under the pressure.

But once I stopped trying so hard and started trusting myself, the pressure went away. My performance improved greatly, I felt relaxed, and I had fun.

If you're trying really hard to live life the way you're "supposed" to, then chances are you're stressed out, frustrated, and overwhelmed. Stop trying to fit in and start embracing your differences. Trust yourself and do what works for you, not what works for everyone else. Some examples include:

* Feeling comfortable taking care of yourself, even if that means saying "no" to people or taking a day off just to relax

* Doing whatever it is you have to do in order to pay attention, even if that means doodling in a meeting

* Organizing yourself in ways that are comfortable for you, even if that means being a little disorganized compared to most people's standards

* Refusing to stress out about the little things, even if that means running a few minutes late sometimes

Don't try to be good at everything. Don't try to conform to other people's standards. Set your own principals and standards and stick to them for you, not someone else.

Success isn't all about money and material gains. It's about feeling comfortable being yourself, and finding solutions to your challenges on your own terms. It's about enjoying your life, and having confidence in yourself.

Most entrepreneurs aren't afraid to be the "odd one out" because they know that following other people's rules doesn't always work. It leads to stress, frustration, anxiety, and pressure. Breaking those rules and making your own is sometimes a much better fit.

Wouldn't you rather be happy and successful than waste energy trying to fit in?

So go ahead and let your relative attempt to guilt you about whatever their hang-ups are... how you aren't good enough for your spouse or you don't cook right or whatever... They're going to do it anyway. Bring it on. If you refuse to let their standards be imposed upon you, then *POOF* no worries. Once you don't let them get to you, it's kinda fun to watch them try.

Here is a good book if you suffer from a little "Trying to Fit In Syndrome"... Apparently some adults with ADD are especially vulnerable to this. Even if you don't have ADD, most of us have so much crammed into our brain that sometimes it's a challenge to stay organized and prioritize what's important. And that is taking care of yourself.

If you don't have much cluttering your gray matter, congratulations! What's that like?!

---

Jennifer Koretsky is the Founder of the ADD Management Group, Inc. and the author of the new book Odd One Out: The Maverick's Guide to Adult ADD. Jennifer and her team work with ADD adults who are overwhelmed with everyday life in order to help them simplify, focus, and succeed. For free resources and information on adult ADD, visit http://www.ADDmanagement.com .

Setting SMART Goals

Happy November!

We all know the definition of insanity is doing the same thing over and expecting a different outcome. So if you resolve to re-commit to any unfulfilled goal (lose 10 pounds, quit smoking, find a new job, etc.), I have some suggestions for taking the struggle out of the process.

Write your goals down. You can write them in your journal, in your Palm Pilot, or on a cocktail napkin. The physical act of writing anything down commands that “Google search engine” that is your subconscious mind to attract resources, information, anything you need to attain that goal. Further, as soon as you attain one goal, create another. Keep a constant “Things to Do List” for your life.

When writing your goals down, make them SMART:

Specific and Simple. The subconscious, which is where all behavior comes from, needs clarity and precision. Broad goals such as “I will be happier in 2006” are too vague. Ask yourself what specifically would make you happier? A new career? Make that your goal. The subconscious is a doer, not a thinker, and it must receive the bottom line, crystal clear bulleted targets: “I’m enrolling in law school.” Or I’m being promoted to vice president.” Or “I’m becoming a non-smoker.” Don’t flood the engine of the subconscious with TMI (too much information) such as complex business plans and financial projections from the data processing department.

Measurable and Meaningful. How will you know when you’ve gotten your goal? Make it easy for your subconscious to help you attain your goal. “I’m making $250,000 this year.” “I’m doubling my sales quotas.” These are “idiot proof” measures that anyone (including your subconscious) can recognize and applaud.

Your goals should be meaningful to you. I can’t tell you how many people think they have no willpower or that they constantly self-sabotage. Actually, at the root of it all, they simply don’t want that goal. Perhaps they keep failing the Bar Exam because they really don’t want to be an attorney…they’ve been trying to please their parents, or someone else. Make sure your goals are in line with YOUR dreams, because it will show up in your work, in your health, in your heart, in your face, and in your life.

Achievable. All Areas of your Life. Act as if you have it now.

There is no point in chasing after a goal that is unachievable (although with quantum physics, the unachievable is beginning to be a thing of the past). It’s an unachievable goal for President George W. Bush to hold a third term. (Thank God!) There are certain professional standards and limitations that we must honor, and allow them to guide us setting our goals.

Act as if you have it now, and it is simply a matter of time before it becomes reality. This is not delusion …unless of course you are constantly affirming that you are the Queen of England. You begin calling yourself to a higher level, clearing fears and obstacles out of your way, and summoning all the forces of the environment to fall in line with the new you. It is rehearsal. It’s training your subconscious to draw its attention to your goal to manifest it. You will be shocked and amazed at how many “coincidences” begin occurring when you stand in your commitment.

Realistic and Responsible. Our goals must be realistic. I can hardly expect to become an attorney if I have not completed law school and passed the Bar Exam. Our goals must be in line with our training, experience, as well as our desires.

Set responsible, ecological goals. It may not be responsible to open a liquor store if your spouse is an alcoholic. Rethink any goals that may damage the environment or cause others to suffer.

Timed and Toward. Give your goal a deadline (first quarter of the next year by March, in 5 years, etc). If you miss the deadline, no need to beat yourself up. Simply reset it and re-commit. Quantifying and qualifying goals keep us in action and fosters a fun, sportsmanlike spirit about it. When we simply say: “I’m becoming a better golfer,” then losing just one stroke has technically made you a better golfer. Setting a specific goal (“I’m consistently scoring within 3 points of par by the end of this year” gives you a healthy sense of urgency in attaining your goal.

You might consider designing a goal that moves toward something positive or pleasurable as opposed to moving from something negative or painful. When we want a new job just because we hate our current one, we will probably recreate the same misery, if not worse. This is because we get what we focus on. For example, Martin Luther King, Jr.’s dream was not based on moving people away from racial injustice, oppression and discrimination, but rather it was toward brotherhood, equality, and freedom for everyone. Use this as a map for a world of difference and power in your goal attainment.

So rather than focusing on losing 20 lbs. because you feel like a fat pig who can’t get your clothes on, focus on overall health and fitness and fitting in that ideal suit size again. The first mindset has a limited, negative charge (down) and the latter is positive (up) and limitless. Where are there more possibilities: in outer space or in the ground?

Now go out and get your goals!

If you are interested in some interesting links to get and stay motivated, check them out below they seem a little infomercial-ly but taken in small doses, they provide some good info -

---

Dr. Irwin is a psychotherapist/therapeutic hypnotist in private practice in Los Angeles. She is also an author, public speaker, and avid goal setter.

http://www.hypnotherapistlosangeles.com

http://www.youtube.com/DrNancyIrwin

7 Minute Marketing Plan

Could you really create a marketing plan in just 7 minutes?

If you want to win in any field of endeavor, you need a better plan than your competitors.

In business, the lack of a good marketing plan is a key reason why most businesses fail in their early years.

Most business owners create a product or service then they go out to the world effectively saying to everyone 'buy mine, buy mine' and hope to succeed.

Yet it really doesn't have to be like that.

The problem is that most people make the idea of having a marketing plan so complicated that it just never happens.

The truth is a marketing plan has to be easy to develop and implement. Otherwise you will either never start on it or never do anything with it.

It has to meet some basic standards. For example, it should be

written
resourced
measurable
and timed

But it doesn't have to be a large document and it needn't take long to create.

If you are disciplined, you really could create an effective marketing plan in seven minutes or less.

Seven minutes is better than no time at all.

And it's better than spending seven months planning without taking any action.

If you spend just one minute thinking about each of the following seven issues, you'll already have the basis for a strong plan.

1. Without a clear sense of direction in your business, you'll be unfocused and uncertain about what to do. So you need clear 'objectives' for what you want from your marketing.

2. The first and most obvious secret of successful marketing is having a product or service that people want to buy so you need to be clear about your 'proposition'.

3. The most successful businesses usually don't try to be something for everyone. Instead they recognize the value of focusing on a specific part of the market – so you need to be clear on your 'niche'.

4. You need to stand out from the competition in a way that is attractive to your market. This is your 'positioning'.

5. You need to have a consistent 'message' that appeals to people and that you communicate effectively.

6. When you know your message, you have to choose the right 'tactics and tools' for getting it across.

7. Finally you need to pull these tactics together into an easy-to-follow 'calendar'.

With the right approach, this really is possible in just 7 minutes. But the truth is you'll get the best results by investing a little more time. Try 7 minutes on each of the 7 issues. The secret is to follow the process quickly and then keep coming back to it regularly to improve your answers.

Of course, having a plan is only the start.

The most important thing is just to take action.

If you do that on any of the points covered here, you'll be amazed at how quickly you see results.

------------------------

Robert Greenshields is a marketing success coach who helps entrepreneurs and independent professionals develop the success mindset and marketing strategies for a better lifestyle. For his 7 top tips on earning more and working less, visit http://www.MindPowerMarketing.com

Essentials in Baby Clothes

Baby Clothes 101: Needs and Proper Care

If you are a first time parent to-be, there are numerous tasks that must be accomplished before your new baby's arrival. One important, and fun "labor of love" is purchasing baby clothing. However, with such a large selection of baby clothing, you may be asking yourself which of these adorable little items are essentials. This is crucial information to know, as well as their proper care.

Onesies

"Onesies" are basically baby t-shirts and are a necessary baby clothing purchase. To keep the onesie from creeping up and exposing your baby's belly, most onesies have snaps in the crotch. They can be worn alone or as an undergarment. Onesies, also known as rompers, come in basic white, colored or patterned varieties. For your basics, you should have between 5 to 10 onesies.

Sleepers

Sleepers are one-piece items with long legs and long or short sleeves. They usually have snaps down the legs for easy accessibility for late night diaper changes.

When preparing your basics, you should have between 5 to 8 baby sleepers. These are necessary as it is recommended that a newborn not sleep with thick blankets. This could inadvertently cause suffocation. The best material for both your baby's warmth and comfort are cotton or fleece sleepers.

Baby Socks

For your baby's requirements, you should purchase between 6 to 8 pairs of baby socks. Although socks are not necessary in warm weather, they should be worn if taking your little one outside in chilly temperatures. They are also indispensable at night if your baby is wearing a sleeper without feet.

Baby socks are made of either thick or thin weaves. You should purchase a combination of both, as thin socks are desirable if your baby is to wear shoes.

Hats

Hats are baby clothing essentials for your little bundle. When taking care of your newborn, it is important to keep them adequately warm. Newborns often have difficulty regulating their body temperature and much of their heat escapes through their head.

It is recommended that your newborn wear a hat through his or her first month of life. After that, it is not as crucial unless you are taking them outside on a chilly or cold day. For this purpose, you should have 1 or 2 fairly snug, but not too restrictive, hats for your baby.

Proper Care for Baby Clothing

When caring for baby clothing, there are two schools of thought. The first is that your little bundle of joy's clothes should be washed in special detergents to alleviate the risk of skin allergies. There are numerous varieties of mild laundry soaps that are scent and dye-free. Many of these detergents are aimed at the baby market, such as Dreft that boasts "A gentle clean. Just for baby".

The other school of thought does not believe that "gentle" laundry soaps are required for baby clothing. If your baby's skin does not react adversely to certain detergents, then a special detergent is not necessary.

Stain Removal

Your bundle of pink or blue will not think twice about staining their cutest outfits. Certain formulas, baby food and stains caused by leaking diapers are often difficult to remove from baby clothing. If pretreated before washing, some of the most stubborn stains can be eliminated, leaving the clothing both clean and in pristine condition. One tried and true stain remover is Oxi-Clean. You may want to "audition" or try different stain removers to find the one best suited for your laundry needs.

Wash New Clothes Before Wear

Before dressing your baby in new clothes, it is essential that you wash them first. Although baby clothing may look fresh and clean on department store hangers, many have come into contact with dirt, little four legged creatures and bugs during the shipping and packaging process.

Minor skin irritations may also result from sizing placed on many pieces of baby clothing. Sizing is used to keep items looking nice until they are purchased.

Getting prepared for your little one's new arrival is both a joyous and stressful time. Knowing what baby clothing is essential in your little one's layette and how to properly care for their clothing is one of the many tasks that lay before you. Knowledge is power and being prepared is half the battle.

And of course, when they get a little older and you are looking for something more stylish than the layette t-shirts and onesies, pick up a Stylease outfit or two for their wardrobe. You still get the convenience of that one-piece, and all the style of separates! Shameless plug, I know.

------------------------
If you are in the region, visit Paul Easton of Jack and Abby, a baby clothes store in Auckland, New Zealand. Even if you aren't lucky enought to be in New Zealand anytime soon, you can sign up today for their free email newsletter, and get first pick on their special offers, plus you'll get great exclusive VIP specials and FREE gifts too!! http://www.jackandabby.co.nz/

The magic word...

It's not what you may think.

One, tiny word can bring about massive changes in your life. It's a word that we hate to hear, and hesitate to say ourselves. Have you guessed it? That's right, the word is 'no'.

Don't worry; I'm not going to tell you to become a negative, selfish person who refuses to help others. What I am going to share, however, are effective strategies for saying 'no' when it really counts.

Most of us are kind people by nature. We really want to help others, whether we're volunteering our time at a charitable organization or being supportive to our friends and family. But sometimes our good intentions can get the best of us. We end up taking on more and more obligations, and feeling uncomfortable when someone asks us for a favor.

How do we say no without offending them? Will they get angry at us? What if we really WANT to help, but it would be a great imposition to do so?

It can be helpful to first figure out why you hesitate to turn down requests. Do you believe they'll stop liking you if you do? Do you believe that making life easier for other people is more important than your own peace of mind? What is the worst thing that can happen if you say no?

When you start thinking about the answers to these questions, you'll probably realize some surprising things about yourself that you may not have been aware of previously.

Then, come up with a simple response to use when you really have to say no. Here's one that works well for me:

'I'm sorry, I'd love to help you out but I just won't be able to at that time'.

Notice I don't try to defend or explain my decision. I don't promise to do something else for them in the future to make up for not helping now.

When it comes right down to it, it's not up to you to save everyone. You have every right to help when you can and refuse when you can't! And you don't have to explain why or justify your decision.

Surprisingly, most people won't freak out over your refusal. They'll just accept it and move on. Some people might get annoyed, or even a little angry at you - especially if you usually bend over backwards to make their life easier. They won't be pleased that you're not willing to do it anymore.

But ultimately, what is more important to you: keeping them happy or keeping your sanity?

Saying no definitely requires a bit of inner strength and determination - but so do most positive changes in life.

---

If you want a good resource for dealing with this kind of thing, Robert Greenshields is a marketing success coach who helps entrepreneurs and independent professionals transform their business results by changing their mindset. Sign up for his free tips on Calming the Chaotic Life

Women in Business

Women are taking control of their financial destinies and careers by starting and running their own business. Women owned business opportunities are often of the work-at-home type due to several reasons.

When you work from home, there is usually little start-up costs involved in getting your business going. You already have a living accommodation that can double as your office, so you save from paying office rental.

There's the freedom to set your own work schedule. No more having a boss telling you what, when and how to do your work. You don't need to travel in bad weather or be stuck in a traffic jam.

You don't have to pay childcare costs or travel expenses such as gas and automobile maintenance. Many women in business are deciding to work from home so that they can spend more time with their children and family.

Potential Setbacks

Due to the fact that you have the flexibility to set your own schedule, it can be very tempting not follow it at times. You may become distracted and lose track of time. This will put you behind in your work and set the stage for stress and aggravation. Other distractions, such as the television, radio or telephone can interfere with your ability to maintain a schedule and get your work completed on time.

There may be household distractions such as the dishes that need to be washed or the floor that needs to be mopped and this is why it is important to prioritize. You can be distracted by friends dropping by unannounced to hang out because they don't understand that even though you are at home, you still have a business to run.

Overcoming setbacks

You must cultivate a strong commitment and self-discipline when running a home based business. Set your hours that you are going to work and stay as close to your schedule as possible. With a small child you can expect to have some unplanned interruptions so allow extra time for your projects to account for this. When the workday has ended, spend some quality time with your family even though you still have unfinished work.

Don't overload yourself with work. Once in a while you may receive a big project that will take extra time, but keep this to a minimum. You don't want to do this on a regular basis where you are constantly struggling to keep up. Remember to take breaks. It is easy to get so wrapped up in a project that the day is gone before you realize it. You can get really burned out this way. Divide up your workday with breaks by going for a walk, having lunch outside or have a special time set aside where you play a game with your child.

Be sure to keep in contact with others. Networking is an essential part of running a successful business. The rapid rise growth in women owned businesses is due to women placing more emphasis in building a business relationship, thus increasing customer loyalty and referrals.

---

Online opportunities are now more abundant than ever for women entrepreneurs wanting to start their own home-based business, since all that is needed is a computer with an internet connection.

If you would like some tips on how to get started www.ehome-basedbusiness.com caters to women who are seeking business opportunities. They cover 6 areas of starting a women owned business and provide match-up opportunities.

Categories in Licensing

There are endless categories in licensing. Some are appropriate for some brands. Some are not.

Pierre Cardin is a good example of how you can dilute a brand by licensing it poorly. According to an article I read, the brand owner doesn't care because he is making money.

Remember when Pierre Cardin was a high end men's fragrance? A logical place to go with licensing would have been high end men's wear and accessories, auto accessories and all things to do with the upscale male. And they did that successfully. But then you started seeing it everywhere, on cheap shirts and flip flops in drug stores, next to Suave in the grocery store. The brand became diluted and lost its cache. My husband just brought back two kids backpacks from China with the Pierre Cardin label. They just happened to be cool backpacks, he didn't buy them because of their label. But how did they get from high men's items to kids backpacks in an airport?

Licensing to every and any category. Maybe the brand has enough staying power to not be completely destroyed by this stunt but in general, as brand management goes, its not a good idea.

Examples of a good brand extension for the Kleenex brand (for instance) outside its main category of paper products might be cold remedies or other "comfort" areas concerning personal care. But would you buy a copy machine with the Kleenex brand on it? That would be a poor choice for them to try to forge that category because the public perception of that brand isn't likely to go there.

Victoria Secret could probably generate some good royalties licensing Nascar's #8 but they (thankfully) wouldn't do that because Nascar and expensive lingerie are generally not thought of in the same sentence.

So if you are thinking of looking into licensing for your brand, consider which categories would be a good fit.

That's my two cents anyway.

Licensee vs Licensor

Defined:
li·cen·see [lahy-suhn-see] - noun
a person, company, etc., to whom a license is granted or issued.

li·cen·sor [lī'səns-or] - noun
a person or company who grants official or legal permission to do or own a specified thing. See Synonyms at permission.

I had to be clear on these before I even ventured to the Licensing Show. Sure you know what they are but what are they REALLY? In terms of intellectual property or tangible things?

Well I went to the show thinking I was a licensee because my brand isn't well known enough to garner much attention. Certainly not the kind that some slightly larger companies were getting.


The show inspired me to go into licensing and scrap the whole manufacturing thing. But that's another blog post.

Some of the booths were so cool. They looked like little stores.


So it turns out that I was right (kind of) in thinking I'm the licensee because my brand does not have much equity yet. But I would only be a licensee if I was there to, say enter an agreement with an artist so I could put their designs on my line of kids clothes. I would be licensing their art in hopes that people would like it enough to buy it, thus selling my product because of their art. I make money, they make money.

But in another case, because I am a brand owner I would be a licensor. Say Stylease had brand equity and someone wanted to capitalize on the Stylease brand being connencted with mom-invented, problem-solving, well-made products. They would license the logo from me for their products and I would make a royalty on the sales of those products. People bought their products because of the Stylease brand. I make money, they make money.

But not just anyone is granted a license. If you have hardly any distribution and you want the Coca-Cola logo (for example) so you can get broader sales channels (grant me the logo and the sales will come) well, it doesn't work like that.

Coke wants to grant their logo to big companies with wide reach so they can get their name all over the place.

There are apparently no hard rules in licensing. Loose guidelines yes but with all the billions of dollars being made in the licensing industry, there is no such thing as a "Standard Licensing Agreement" every facet of every line of every thought or idea is negotiable.

This is a great thing. but also extremely dangerous if you don't know what you are doing. You would have to hire a consultant and licensing atty. to protect you from pitfalls like a single sentence in a wordy contract that negates a line somewhere else

>POOF< they don't owe you any royalties - didn't you understand line 58 b.1 section 7.

As intimidating as it was with the big guns signing HUGE agreements and renewing successful past deals, what struck me was the incredible energy everyone had. No one was moping around like at the apparel shows where I exhibit. People in licensing are very happy people.

And why shouldn't they be? Here is company A being approached by company B so everyone can make lots of money. And they do. A good licensing partnership is like the best marriage in the world.

Customers want to buy the brands they believe in and trust. Brand owners want to offer products in as many categories as are appropriate for their brand perception. It's a win win.

Next time I will discuss good and bad match-ups between brands and categories. Why some work and some don't.

Licensing Show Journey

So as you may know, I attended the mother of all Licensing shows in NY in June.

It came about in the strangest way. I had been receiving literature about the show for 2 years or so and I always wanted to go but it wasn't a priority. And as you busy people know, things that are not in the top 5 on the list... well, they just don't happen.

So I was going to be flying back to MI with the girls around the time of the Licensing Show so I wrote this year off too (as far as not being able to go) because Rob was staying here, no one to watch the kids, plus we would have JUST returned to MI the timing wasn't right blah blah blah.

Well the same little slap in the face came to me as did when I started this thing. I was digging through old e-mail, found an important contact from last year, and reconnected with him about two weeks before the show. He wanted to meet and asked if I was going to be in NY. I e-mailed my sister-in-law, "Can you watch the girls?" Yes she'd love to. Went to Orbitz, bought my plane tickets. Went to the Licensing Show website and registered, then signed up for the whole conference package since I had no idea what the hell I was doing, kissed my hubby goodbye and left for Michigan. Got briefly settled in then took the girls to their cousin's house and left for New York!

So the moral is: Sometimes the only one getting in your way is you.

Next will come all the stuff I leaned at the show!

Good questions

I had a nice fellow contact me and ask me some start-up questions. I am happy to report that he has gone into production on his line and he is on his way with a fabulous product that you will no doubt see on shelves soon. I am including parts of his reply because I think they bring up some good points. Most of what you read, doing research, is corporate positioned facts and statistics. One reason I started this blog is to let you all in on my actual experiences I encountered starting a soft goods company and trying to launch an apparel brand.

Statistics are interesting and important but I found that when I was doing my research I was not really absorbing the information because it was all so new, I didn't have any reference in place to apply it. I look back now on what I read in the books I bought at the beginning and think, "Wow, that's right! That is true." But at the time it didn't make much sense I was just filling the mental library with information.

I hope you enjoy the following exchange:
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Question:
I’m just now uncurling from the fetal position after realizing how little I know... I’ve been doing a lot of research and a lot of what you covered I’ve never heard before. If only you had more time I could totally see a book from you, that breaks down how to launch a product, based on different budgets.

Awesome tip about who manufactures the product. I would have never phrased it like that.

Did you set the amount you were going to spend at the beginning and have a large upfront cost that maintained you for awhile, or did you have to spend and spend and spend?
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
My reply:
To answer your question regarding money... I did not do a business plan. (But I have one now) Blessing and a mistake.
A blessing because had I planned more, I would not have started the business because I would have had some indication of the colossal undertaking involved in trying to launch an apparel brand.

A mistake because had I planned more I would have had some indication as to how expensive it would be.

The problem with investing "in the beginning" is that the beginning could take 5 years. I have invested about $400,000 so far. Investors, 2nd home mortgage, separate business loans etc... Your trade shows and advertising budget annually should be about $20,000+. It is imperative that you advertise consistently. The best venue for juvenile items is Earnshaw's. It's a phenomenal, very focused infant/toddler children's wear trade mag. I pick up 1-4 new accounts a month just from my ad in that magazine. So that's about $700-$2,000 a month in ad rates depending on the size of the ad you run. Travel and hotels for tradeshows run about $1,500 per show plus $3000 in booth fees x 2-4 shows a year. You might surmise from this, that a 10-15K initial investment is nowhere near enough to sustain even the first year. And you can't count on that nice $250,000+ order from Sears in the first couple years. You might get it, great! But what if you don't? Do you have the cash flow to keep moving forward?

If you have a gift item you should REALLY invest in fantastic packaging design because if the concept is great, fabulous packaging would put you over the top. Consider consulting a MERCHANDISING specialist. Marketing and publicity is great but someone who can help you with merchandising will be key. You will also have to deal with high insurance premiums and textile testing because you are in the juvenile market. It's pretty strict in flammability requirements and you are dealing with the highest liability bracket so insurance will need it's own budget consideration.

Even if you do get a big order right out of the gate, you will need to use asset-based lending to manufacture it because you won't see a dime from big stores until 3-6 months AFTER you SHIP the order. Try not to use a Factor. Their rates are not competitive. Celebrate your first big order but should they cancel while the order is on the way to the floor (which they do, because the wind changed direction or the PMSing buyer never wrote the order down and says she never made one with you. I'm not kidding) Then you have lots of inventory and you will have to pay for it somehow.

Start small. Boutiques prepay with credit cards mostly (get set up to take credit cards if you don't already) But be prepared to be in the mom and pop market for a while. If you can open enough accounts, the cash flow is much better and MUCH less hassle than big accounts.

Consider contacting big brands like Gerber or Carters to see if they want to license the patent (if you have one to license) so they can put their name on it and your manufacturing and distribution problems are solved.

If you plan to launch your own brand, be prepared to commit a couple hundred thousand $$ for the long haul.

And know that in the United States, in this economy it is extremely difficult to get a big box store to give you that vendor number and the real estate (rack space) on the floor and get behind the product so that you will see the sell through you need to get a re-order. So far, I have found it impossible. That isn't to say it can't be done, but unless you have an in, all I can do is wish you the best of luck. And should you succeed you must come back and tell me how you did it! :-)

OTHER LINKS:

Consider advertising on JamesGirone.com It's also a great place to find reps and a ton of other info for the juvenile soft goods industry.

Find a good, honest contractor (manufacturer). They will source fabric for you and trim and print up your hang tags, garment tags, order your custom painted snaps... EVERYTHING. One-stop-shop. They will even handle all the packaging. And work in US dollars only if your contractor is overseas.

Just for clarification: YOU are the manufacturer of your product. Even when you hire a "manufacturer" they are actually your sewing contractor. People will ask you, "Who manufactures your product?" The answer is, "We do. It's our product, we design and manufacture it." Unless of course you license the patent to Gerber... that's a different story.

My warehouse and fulfillment company is:
E Fulfillment Service. Great rates, incredible customer service, safe, clean, dry warehouse with virtually zero error and theft rate. They are so so SO good.

On a smaller scale to help with pattern development right here in the US of A... try
Pattern Design Unlimited I have never worked with them but am constantly intrigued by the services they offer...

Contact SCORE if you want for free business advice... investor stuff and you name it. My SCORE consultant is one of my most important allies. And over the years I have worked with him, we have become good friends.

One of these days I will get into the details of licensing. What a great industry THAT is!!!

Moving again

No apologies this time. I'm packing up half a house and kids and pets and business stuff to head back to California. And have been for a few weeks. It has been a nice but short summer. I can't help but think next summer will be more fun and less do-dad and odds and ends. There was so much to do this summer and so little time. And really no help. It was fun having Rob here for two weeks but I could REALLY use him this week!

The girls and I go back on Tuesday. I have so much I want to tell you!!! A follow-up on all the amazing stuff I learned at the Licensing show, a few topics that I read in the paper made me want to run to you and bloggity blog about it but I even forget what the topics were. It was important to remember at the time, but there they go... Whooosh!

But just since this rental property bathroom took up 3 solid weeks in July, and impacted my summer a bit...here it is:

This is what it looked like when we got a hold of the place. Broken tub and toilet wall in the middle of the tiny room, paneling... it was a nightmare. Someone call the fashion police.


So we ripped it out and put in this one


It was nice but the shower had leaking issues that ruined the floor and walls so I tore it out and decided to go the tile route...


So now we should not have to deal with it ever again. Plus, the claw foot tub is very stylish I think.

Success!!

Yes, we can all certainly tell how well my new plan is working!

I've been posting every day. I'm such a good girl.

What do you mean there were no new posts? WHAT?! All that fantastic advice and life experience WASTED? But but but...

Yeah. About that. Too bad. I'm here now aren't I? :-) I've been re-doing a bathroom in a rental property next door. Which is the thing to do during show season when you are trying to run an apparel company...

Tile a bathroom.

Rob is home for all of 2 weeks and can we go camping? No. Can we go snorkeling. No. There was a sign at Home Depot today that read "Do it right or do it over." Ain't that the truth.

So how the heck did "ain't" make it through my spell-checker?!? I understand that the apostrophe is to replace the missing letter as in (do not = don't) or (were not = weren't) but what the hell is "ain't" all about? My smarty pants writer friend Lisa probably knows.

Other funny things I saw today... a bumper sticker on a truck that said
"Driver Carries No Cash - he's married"
I'm glad I think that's funny. I have a friend who would be offended by that little bit of wife-bashing.

On a COMPLETELY unrelated subject... I added Paypal to my website. So now all of you baby clothes shoppers can do an express checkout easy-cheesy.

Here is a little cutie sporting the style Cleo. Yes, I know she is standing on a table... I normally cut the models out, discarding the background. But here you see the "director's cut" as it were. Lucky you.



This picture is actually the basis for my August ad below.

New Plan

I have to have a new blogging plan because OBVIOUSLY the current one is not working.

In a perfect world I would love to post every day. Lord knows I have enough to say!! Why can't I do it? A couple reasons:

1.) Discipline.

The same discipline I lack to get my butt up and get to a gym... Actually, I just plain don't like working out so that is really more preference than lack of discipline.

2.) Justification.

Like how I justified my lack of discipline as merely a preference... nice one.

So the new plan is to not try to post some big profound thing. Just go for little bites. Little things that occur to me or things I run across.

So todays little ditty is this... I was reading the Cherry Festival schedule this morning (because the National Cherry Festival is going on here right now) and some singer named Kellie Pickler will be performing on Sunday. Then about an hour later I get an e-mail from a girl named Connie Gurkin... Then I was talking to our tenants next door and they mentioned their dog Olive...

Pickler
Gurkin
Olive

Praise the Jewish Carpenter it's a sign from above! I should have a summer porch party!!!

Who am I kidding? I can't even seems to handle a regular blog contribution. Well, Rob is due in town on the 21st. He's a bit of a porch party all by himself. He's the Mojito-maker anyway.

We'll wait breathlessly for his arrival.

Back in Michigan for the summer

Ah what a grand time to be in No. Michigan. The trees are all green and the fish are biting. I caught a good sized rock bass tonight while fishing with the girls. Threw it back since I don't have a license yet this year. Well, that and I don't like cleaning or cooking fish... But it was great. No bait either, just a killer lure (which got stuck in a rock on a later cast so I no longer have it...) sigh.


So the Traverse City Film Festival is in full dysfunctional swing and I have to say I am so glad I'm not involved. Word is that the founder is tougher and tougher to work with. I gave up last year. Or rather I should say that I have enough self esteem to not tolerate my time and talents being wasted, insulted and disrespected, for a second year in a row. I imagine he will be insufferable this year with his latest film coming out just before the festival begins. It's a shame too because I think his work is really important. He has a loud voice that yells about issues that most of us wish we could do something about and some try but how can one person or even an impassioned group change huge corporate problems and injustices?

Well he can because he mobilizes the masses. But this is a little lesson in good management... You simply cannot abuse the people you need services from. An ex-assistant of his told me that he has to restaff with all new people after every project he does because no one will work with him again. That works fine in New York because there are lots of people to go through who will take the abuse for the privilege of working with him. Once. The problem with mistreating people in a small town is that he will very soon run out of individuals who are actually trained in and able to do some of the specialized things that need to be done.

He may have tyrant syndrome (I just made that up). It's too bad he does not know when to turn it on and off. It was very evident to Rob and me last summer that it isn't the Traverse City Film Festival but in fact it's the Michael Moore Film Festival. It really is. Not from a political platform, but a micromanaged one.

I hope the public has a fabulous time and soaks up some great film experiences. And I hope he doesn't burn his way through every willing volunteer in Northern Michigan. He may just have to move the festival to Flint after all.

Happy summer folks.

Licensing - The Great Unknown

I probably should not title a blog post like that when I'm on the verge of departing for the biggest Licensing Show of them all. What if someone reads this? Then they will know, that is one little corner of my business I can safely say I know nothing about. A ripe target for some savvy licensor to take advantage of little ol me.

Yeah, well I promise you two things:

> I will not sign any major licensing deals before I go. (Except maybe to renew my driver's license)
> I will be A LOT smarter in about two weeks.

I get to go to NY for 4 days and be one of the lucky ducks going to the conferences and walking the floor. It will be fun to not have to set up and tear down a booth.

My company is sending me, all expenses paid! I'm so glad I work for me. I'm so nice! But I'm also frugal and pining for a visit with my Score buddy Phil, so I will be staying with his lovely wife and him.

We leave on Tuesday to go back to Michigan for the summer. I need to touch base with my warehouse. Love them still.

Swing Set Sweetie

Here is another adorable kid in Stylease.



This little cutie-pie is actually one of our models getting all grown up! You can see her as a littler person modeling our Garden Party style.

Littler is right. The pictures of our models are teensy... I will have to fix that.

Yea, yea, I'll put it on the list. If I had a boss breathing down my neck, they would be saying,
"Where are those reports Hughes? Did you mail out those catalogs like I told you to? What about resizing the images on the website? Hu? Are you listening Hughes? Are you? Did you lie on your resume? You can be replaced you know!"

"But... but but... just give me another chance. I have kids you see. And and and I was sick with the Chicken pox and a cold. The... the sun was in my eyes and and..."

"Not my problem Hughes. I got problems of my own. Get caught up or your fired!"

Slowly I start packing the pictures of my family and the other personal items from my desk. My favorite coffee cup, a candle that I was never allowed to burn. The little tube of hand lotion there by the phone. I'm going to miss this place.

Hey, wait, that's my dining room table. I'm clearing it off because we have to eat dinner!

Branding

Earnshaw's, a magazine that I advertise in, was doing a story on branding. They selected me for the interview. These were the questions posed and how I answered them.

What is your company known for?
Stylease is patented one-piece infant wear that looks like separates. Giving ease to the parent and style to the child.

Did you recognize the value of branding from the beginning and intentionally brand your company? If so, how did you go about it in the beginning?
Yes, absolutely. Because our product is specific, all our items are one-piece rompers that look like separates, I knew I wanted consumers to tie the Stylease brand to the concept.

I bought two books when I started the company. One of them discussed branding. I designed and executed my brand in photoshop. I went to the USPTO website and read through tons of legal documents and filed my mark for consideration for a trademark. After about 4 months I was granted registration and changed my tm to an ®.

When I consulted a patent and trademark attorney to write my patent app. he asked how I knew what to do to register a trademark. There are apparently quite a few rules that I managed to comply with. I just told him I read all the paperwork. He also mentioned that I had a very strong design. That it possessed qualities of a successful mark. That was nice to hear, since I didn't use any guidelines when designing it.

What do you do now (ads, in-store events, hangtags, etc)?
I do regular advertising, have hangtags, in-store displays, booth signs, website, catalogs, direct mail postcards.

How do you protect yourselves from the also-rans? What role does your established brand identity play?
I filed a patent application and it was pending for 18 months then was granted. A patent pending is sometimes stronger than the actual patent because no one can see what is being patented while it is pending. So far that seems to be working. The Stylease brand is establishing itself not only with the product but with our company mission of a 100% satisfaction guarantee, terrific customer service, innovative products, value, comfort and style. Even if the copycats start, they won't possess all the qualities that the Stylease brand offers and our customers will turn to us for the service and quality they have come to expect.

Have you needed to adjust your brand identity as the company has grown or offered different product categories? If so, how did you do it--by creating a separate brand or expanding the one you had?
Yes. The company wants and needs volume sales to survive. In order not the jeopardize the branding level that Stylease has established, we are coming out with another brand that will be distributed to different levels of retail.

Is your brand message targeted to kids or their parents?
Definitely to the parents. Our products run 3-24 months in size. The mini-adult styling and easy-on-easy-off one-piece design is geared to appeal to parents, grandparents and the overall gift market.

Jenservation: Launching your own brand is HARD!! And expensive. Who knew?! Consider licensing if you are short on resources and don't necessarily want to start a business to launch your idea.

Stylease hits the Masters!

Well, Ok... the baby golf masters...

This cute little tyke showed up on the course looking especially stylish in his red Hawaiian Stylease outfit (Poo-Poo Platter).

It's hard for ME to believe that it's a one-piece outfit and I designed the darned thing! It warms my heart to see little babies looking so cute in the stuff.

Thanks Baby G for looking so debonair. And thanks to his mommy for allowing him to be published.

FORE!

Send catalogs and they will come

It's amazing how, if you provide people with information
like a catalog
they will use it.

A bunch of old stores that stopped using the reps we no longer have, received our new catalog and were so excited, they placed orders right away.

Imagine if I had sent them out regularly. Ok, my new mid-year resolution is to get into a serious routine with deadlines like catalog mail dates and newsletter send dates that go along with my sample completion and go-into-production calendar.

It will be easier to function next year because Lil will be in school all day, like P. Right now I have 2 hours of uninterrupted time to work and running to the grocery store or doing laundry sometimes sneaks it's way in there... sometimes I take a half hour to eat lunch... you get the idea. Not much is getting done. But I am making good contacts and am involved in my kids school and their activities and that is important so I'm not beating myself up too bad about it.

I think the newsletter campaign will be fun. I am also looking into licensing. It's a world I know nothing about so we will see what's involved.

Taking the kids to Disneyland tomorrow to hook up with old friends. Should be fun.

Ah the good old Day

Mother's Day is around the corner and I even managed to get something in the mail on time for my mom. This is quite a feat in my scattered schedule.

The girls have been talking about what they are making me at school. I can't wait to see the stuff.

So on Monday morning at 6:45 I groggily went to the guest bathroom in the hall to do the obvious, and looking up at me from the toilet bowl in the dim morning light, with a chilly and slightly embarrassed expression on its face, was a baby opossum...

IN my toilet.

Not thrashing around or hissing, just sitting there submerged like a little furry alligator with its forehead eyes, ears and nose just above water level. Looking at me with a half concerned but mostly uncomfortable expression.

My first reaction was, "Get the camera!" But it was fleeting because the little bugger looked so cold I thought I'd better get him out of there. Now I'm kicking myself because I could have had my photo op AND saved the little twerp because he had probably been in there for hours, what's 30 more seconds for a portrait?

Oh well. One of those regrets I will carry to my grave.

So I figured I could reach around the back of his neck and pick him up like a mama cat picks up her babies. He hissed a little but what could he do? He was in a rather calamitous position at that moment. He basically complied and I wrapped him up in a nice warm towel. He (or she) actually looked rather grateful. As grateful as a humiliated Opossum can look I guess.

Once safe and sound in a box to dry out for the day, he promptly did what his mommy had taught him and played dead. Rob remarked that he admired the dedication of a critter that could lay that still while fleas crawled all over its head... gross. The fleas had gone to higher ground and camped out on Opossum Head Island. I even noticed a tiny hammock and market umbrella by the left ear.

This is some other bloggers "Opossum in Toilet" picture and isn't half as good as the one I would have taken but at least she took one!


I'm so disappointed in myself. I usually don't miss an opportunity like that.

Now the moral of this story... to try and tie this incident, somehow to a business based blog... would be:

Don't overreact to a situation. (not screaming at the sight of the thing)
Take a calculated risk (reaching in with un-gloved hand to pick it up by the back of the neck)
Don't hesitate and miss a once in a lifetime opportunity (photo op)
Have compassion (Didn't flush the little sucker)
Keep nerves under wraps (The fleas on his face GROSSED me out big time but I stayed cool)

Have a great Mother's Day all you fabulous Moms out there. (That's just in case I don't get a chance to post again before then... I make no promises :-)

Shipping Woes

It's amazing how one little transposition can screw up a shipment so completely.

On my catalog order I accidentally put 95104 instead of 91504 for the delivery zip. Because no person actually LOOKS at your package any more, it just gets scanned and loaded from truck to truck bouncing around Sacramento, San Jose and Los Angeles when it's supposed to go to Burbank, one little number causes great distress and angst to a person waiting for catalogs that were already 4 months late in getting done!

Shee-ish!

Ok, so I can not blame anyone but myself for this one. Believe me, I tried. I at first blamed FedEx. Then when I found out the wrong zip was being used I wanted to get my money back from the printing company who OBVIOUSLY wrote the zip down wrong from my original order.

So to prove my point I checked the automated response from my web order, summarizing the info I had input, and there is was, by MY hand...

9 5 1 0 4

Crap.

So, I still don't have them. They shipped 10 days ago...

I'm so annoyed at myself. Because every once in a while I'm reminded that I am a mere mortal and not the ever-perfect, never (hardly ever) erring organism that walks the earth.

I have erred and it is costing me. Waaaaaaaaaaaa!

Tomorrow is a new day. I wish it was Saturday. I could use some sleep.

Carry on mighty soldiers.

What the?

Where the heck did my comments box go? Ok, granted I don't get a thousand comments per post or anything like that but, um... I would like it to at least be an option... I know that most of my 5 million+ readers a day don't leave comments because they are very busy, important people. They all call me though so it's nice to hear from you all, but please, I need to get back to work and you should SEE my cell phone bill! So text me from now on, ok?

I thought it was about time for a picture. More graphics! Give me more graphics!!!
Here is a rental property we own in Traverse City, Michigan. It's a sweet little victorian home that had at one point been turned into a duplex. One+ bedroom apartment upstairs and a two bedroom apt. downstairs. It JUST happens to be for sale if you are looking for a terrific investment property or an owner-occupied situation. It's listed at $235,000. A steal! Do you like the colors? That was me. :-)



And here is Traverse City in the fall...

Strange Holidays

Around this neighborhood today there was much flag waving and car-hood-banner wearing. A lady asked, rather annoyed, why the Persian market on the corner was closed. She couldn't get the stuff she wanted. Someone told her that is was not a Persian market, it was an Armenian market and it was closed because today was Armenian Genocide Day... An unofficial "holiday". The woman replied, "What Armenian genocide?"

So goes the virtually unknown fact that Armenia went through one of history's worst genocides ever, during WWI between 1915-1917. Around 1 million Armenians were systematically eliminated by the government of the Young Turks. The lack of a public prosecution of the organizers behind the Armenian Genocide by the Allied powers was said to have largely influenced Nazi Germany and Hitler.

When I moved here to L.A. in December I looked up info on Armenians because I wasn't sure what the heck it was. Was it the middle east? Was there actually a country called Armenia and why are there so many Armenians here in LA? Why did they want to leave their country?

Armenia is a fascinating and tragic place.

What I couldn't figure out is why on earth they wanted to create a holiday about such a horrible thing? None of my Japanese friends celebrate "Hiroshima Day" with a day off from work (that I know of)... I don't remember the post office being closed every year on the day Pearl Harbor was bombed. So I really didn't get it.

Then a young girl passed me on the sidewalk this morning and the back of her shirt said "We demand global recognition of the Armenian Genocide"

And I thought, "Oh, ok. That's fair. I get it now."

So to the Armenians I say, "I'm sorry for what happened to your culture. It's unthinkable. Now, could your young men please stop drag-racing their Mercedes sedans up and down the street at 500 mph? And would you please turn your music down after 9pm so my kids can sleep? You are welcome here but please respect your neighbors."

I'm glad the market on the corner will be open again tomorrow. They have great baked goods and lots of neat foodstuffs you can't get anywhere else.

The trouble of a Tool Room girl

I took the liberty of retyping the following prose because I thought it was just a piece of history that needed to be shared. My husband Rob and I came across these words typed from a very old typewriter, on very old, yellowed aged paper, so light from exposure, you could hardly read it. It was in a display case at the railroad museum in Griffith Park near Los Angeles. I retyped it exactly as the writer had written it. What war she is talking about at the end, I don't know. Most likely World War II. At the time, women took men's jobs as they headed off to war and this young lass apparently worked in the tool crib at a rail yard. There was no name on it or date but we thought it was very entertaining. She seems slightly ahead of her time. And I give you,

“T R O U B L E S”

My job is full of troubles and now I will tell you a few of the unpleasant things that I’m forced to do.
Now if I wasn’t naturally a virtuous young miss, I wouldn’t hold my job down long enough to tell you this. A dozen times a day my modesty is shocked and I’m a very thankful girl the tool room door is locked.
Now I don’t mind such decent tools as wrenches, drills and shears but some of the tools they ask for make me red behind the ears.
A man fixing a bearing comes and asked to see my balls and before recovering from the shock, another fellow calls. He asked for cocks to put on pipes; for counterbores and tits. But when they ask me for a screw it scares me into fits.
They want reamers to enlarge their holes. At least that’s what they say. And then they ask if I have a nut, a dozen times a day.
They ask me for a ratchet drill and for a bastard file.
One day a fellow come to me as I had returned from lunch, and asked me through the window if I’d seen his big prick punch. Such things as that annoy me but what I won’t forget, is when the cashier asked me if I’d had my monthly yet.
The foreman looked one day for some tools to gut a slot – said to me “open up my drawers, and show him what I got.”
They ask me for a bitch dog, which makes my temper wild. One asked me for a female gauge, which almost made me wail, because I had to ask the difference between a female and male.
One man complained, “My tool’s too short” Another “It’s too long” Another says – his tool’s too weak, another – it’s too strong.
One asked me if I could put him wise as to where he could find some tailstock. Another wants a bunch of waste to wipe off a plumber’s cock.
Another old machinist who had one half a jag, asked me at the window for a handful of my rag.
Now this all goes to show you that on all working days, a tool room girl must take it in a dozen different ways. But when this war is over and we all start life anew, I guess I’ll miss that window and the boys who need a screw.

The trouble of a Tool Room girl.

And then there was this time...

when I was in the spice isle looking for dry white wine...

I kid you not. This recipe called for dry white wine and I thought, hu powdered wine. I don't think I've ever seen that before. I must have spent 15 minutes searching the spices. Searching and searching. A woman asked what I was looking for and when I told her, and I heard myself say it... I felt like an absolute idiot. There I was in the spice isle, laughing my butt off.

I can't even call it a senior moment...

HOOZAH!!!!

The F$%^&(@#$%&^#%$$#%#^ING catalog is done!

And due to a warehouse error, there is a typo. Grrrr. I had marked a size of one style out of stock but the warehouse had switched sizes by accident and in fact I have plenty of the "out-of-stock" in stock but the 6-12 month size listed in the catalog doesn't exist.

Oh for Pete sake!

And who the heck is Pete anyway? Is it Pete's sake? Like, as in St. Peter? One time I was writing a paper and I wrote "...the boy next store" I knew it didn't look right but it took me a while to figure out what was wrong. Oooooh. Next DOOR.

And I love it when people use "of" when they mean "have". I worked with a management level employee (Eric, you know who I mean) who constantly put out broad reaching e-mails and memos and ALWAYS used phrases involving "of"... "I would of done it myself, but I ran out of time..." Holy grammar Batman!

My mom and grandmother were teachers and I do pride myself on my proper grammar but I do still say, "Me and so and so" Instead of "So and so and I"

I guess I just think I'm worth putting first. Yea, that's it, I have a good self image...

Are you buying this at all?

Here is the cover of the new catalog. I'm so happy I'm done.

This Week's Weather

Now, I don't mean to brag or anything. But Southern California is not a bad place to spend the winter and spring... Normally we would be at the midwest office in Michigan.
Next year the school schedule will actually allow me to get some work done. But for now I will upload my new catalog to the printer with sick kids in tow. Both are home sick from school today.
So goes the balancing act of the mompreneur.

Happy spring. I'm thinking of you wherever you are.

Happy Anniversary

To me.
It's my 13th wedding anniversary today. I say "mine" not ours because my hubby is not here. :-( He is in Michigan in the snow. Ha Ha. His Disney vacation and the kids spring break didn't line up so we took our vacation and he worked. Now the kids are back at school and he is on vacation without us. Sigh. Too bad Disney (the FAMILY company) scheduled the production break so that it would not line up with ANY spring break with the employee's kids.

Morons.

Well, better to have a 13th anniversary with the significant other MIA than to not to be having an anniversary and having the schlub live down the block... I don't think that came out as positive as it was intended...

Oh well. Maybe the girls and I will go out to dinner to celebrate. Woohoo Chuck E Cheese for my anniversary!

Party on!

This picture has nothing to do with this post, I just think it's funny. This is the one designated smoking area at Disneyland. You can't walk around outside and smoke. You have to go to this lousy little corner by some dumpsters and stand there (not even any benches) to get your fix before continuing to enjoy the "happiest place on earth" with your off-spring.

Childhood Diseases

Like Chicken Pox

Getting them as an adult...
I don't recommend it. Though granted, it generally isn't one's choice to contract these things. So at 40 years of age, why did it not dawn on me earlier to protect myself against it?

I have no good answer. Except to say that I simply wasn't paying attention.

PAY ATTENTION! IF YOU ARE AN ADULT WHO HAS NOT HAD CHICKEN POX AS A CHILD AND WERE NEVER VACCINATED AGAINST IT (which you were NOT prior to 1995, when it was licensed) THEN GET YOUR BUTT TO A DOCTOR AND GET A SHOT!

Have I managed to express the sense of urgency that I intended?

I have the chicken pox. It is most unpleasant. And that is a gross understatement. Is it really worse as an adult like they say or are adults merely more dramatic and not as stoic about pain as small children? I don't know but man, it stinks! And the lovely appearance, like that of an escaped leper or the unfortunate target of a swarm of killer bees, is its own reward.

I feel compelled to quietly explain myself, defend myself, to people as they avert their eyes, trying not to stare.
"Chicken pox." I say with a shrug and roll of the eyes. A comment to which I am assured much "Ohhing and Ahhing" which is not why I say it. Honest. I pull myself together in the morning, you see, so I have a certain level of vanity that is pretty much shattered with my recent 'good' fortune. sigh. I'm glad I'm not single and in the dating game this week.

So all things happen for a reason hu? Still looking for the hidden meaning in this one.

Happy spring!

So true, So true!

The following excerpt is from an article that Andrew Field, president of Printing For Less (.com) wrote for SmartBiz. I use printingforless.com and their customer service and product are top notch. I really like the comment below. It really sums up how I think about things. Good advice!!

Mix Optimism with Pragmatism:
Through an unlikely marriage of optimism and pragmatism, you can accomplish the impossible.

As an optimist, ignore the naysayers. As a pragmatist, tread carefully. Take one step at a time with hard work and patience. Stay focused on your vision of what’s possible while staying grounded in the needs of the hour. Try to reflect this mindset in every area of your organization.

Keep your eyes on the prize while staying realistic on how you’re going to win it. Most importantly, know why you want what you’re striving for. If your business truly reflects your ideals, your optimistic goals are within reach.

Saying No...

What is it about people who have trouble saying No?

Is it a fear of offending someone?
Are they afraid of making an enemy?

This is more a parenting post than business related, but it does have merit in business too.

I was behind a lady in line at a store here in LA. She was shopping with her daughter and trying, almost successfully, to keep up with her physically. The daughter was maybe 20 or could have been one of those 5'11" 14 year olds who have been drinking hormone laden milk all their lives and just looked 20, but anyway... The mom had the same long straight dyed blond hair and size 0 jeans but mom had big fake boobs and the skin under her make-up didn't have that youthful glow of the daughter but rather the chemically skin-peeled, botoxed hell-of-an-effort shine of someone trying to keep up with their 14-20 year old beautiful-but-too-thin daughter.

ANYWAY...

The daughter was loudly "in LOVE" with this little vest but "it's expensive". Mom says no way but daughter is "SO in LOVE" with it and would wear it a lot, she didn't know where, but she would, honest she would wear it "ALL the time" she swore! But mom would then have to put something of hers back (said mom in an exchange with the daughter that somehow volunteered me in the show since I was receiving smiles from Mom as if including me in the conversation.) I said quietly as if to myself, but directed at the mom since I was in some strange way, now part of the family, "Don't put something back, just tell her no."

The mom looked at me like I was from Mars.

I don't think the concept had ever occurred to her. After all her and her daughter were no doubt "Best friends" "Pals" "buddies who do EVERYTHING together" BFF.

News flash Mom... your best-friend-forever-mini-me was working you pretty good. Without further incident the vest was in the pile to be purchased while Mom decided what, of hers to put back...

No effort was made by the adult daughter to offer to pay for any of the clothes that she obviously expected mom, who made a few comments indicating how "strapped" she was, to fork over whatever funds she had. The vest and other items were things Blondie was clearly entitled too under the "BFF with a parent" clause, section 4D.

And I didn't hear a "thank you" either after the transaction... but people sometimes forget to say thank you for things that are merely an expected result.

It's your call

Cell phones:
"On the plus side, they've made us instantly available anyplace, anytime. On the the minus side, they've made us instantly available anyplace, anytime." says Nina Cooper of Las Vegas (Parade Magazine March 11, 2007)

So says Bill James of Austin Texas, from the same article: "They ruin our personal time. Both your boss and your client want you to be reachable. A quiet dinner with the family? A movie? Fuhgetaboutit!"

News flash Bill... Um, try turning the phone off. Is this guy one of those parents who doesn't say "No" to his 3 year old because "he doesn't understand what it means." Oy vey Bill! It IS in your control. It's just a phone. If I am in a meeting I turn the ringer off. If I'm at a lunch date where I don't want to be disturbed, I turn the ringer off. Even if I'm at lunch or in a meeting and I'm expecting an important call, out of respect for the people I'm with, I put the phone on vibrate so I can decide exactly when the call comes in, if it's appropriate to take it at that moment. It's a matter of tact Bill. Does your family rate in the number one position at all or is work always always in the forefront. Maybe because I'm a mom, I will always put my kids first. But then, I'm the boss of the company too, so I don't have to be worried about getting fired for not taking a call but please people, everything in moderation.

If it's a Saturday night and you get to sleep in Sunday morning, try turning off your phone. There will be a little button that allows you to do that. Consult the manual if you can't find it... I'll bet you a hundred bucks, whoever is calling can wait a minute or two to have their incredibly important issue addressed.

Take control of your life! And have a lovely day.

Funny kids

Mom: What should we have for dinner?
Lil: I KNOW, I KNOW!!!!!
Mom: What?!?
Lil: You decide.

Why I oughta... Lil has been full of them lately. I'm glad too because up til now the contributions to the "Kid comment" book have been mostly Phoebe. Lil is the quiet one. Well, at a certain point, they turn the corner and it starts.

Life in LA is good. Probably because the sun shines most of the time and how bad can life be when the sun is shining? I still haven't finished my catalog, which is the first step in updating our stores with new information before we can call them to see if they would like to order. My new rep in Dallas is having fun with the line and has been faxing orders. I miss not doing the shows. NY is right around the corner... hope they don't miss me. :-) I know they will. There are over 1,000 booths at the ENK Children's Club show and every buyer, all 25,000 or so of them takes time out of their busy show schedule to come see me. So I'm sure my lack of presence will be a blinding omission from their visit to NY. I hope they find the rest of the show worth the trip.

Well... back to work on the catalog and my April Ad for Earnshaws.
I love that trade mag. It's the best of the bunch as far as I'm concerned. And my ad rep David is a peach.

Ta for now -

New Stuff Coming

I'm always so excited when a new season of styles is ready to get on the boat and find it's way to our warehouse. That means I get to ship them to our waiting customers. The Spring items will ship on Feb. 13, right before the Chinese New Year, when the whole country closes down for two weeks. The fabulous manufacturer I use busted their kiesters (sp?) to get my stuff out before the holiday. And I sent them new hang tag designs too that needed to be printed and proofed. So that added another step. I needed tags that explain the product a little better.





But they came through for me, like they always do. It is very important to have a good partner of that magnitude.

I received what I thought was a funny e-mail today. It was an unsolicited mail advertising the services of a company that acts as a liaison for America trying to deal with China. In one sentence they said they can solve communication problems. Later in the e-mail they used the following phrases:

How you will pay for us?

· We will charge you on order basis only. We will demand a small percent of the total amount of the goods which we can discuss (be sure that what you will not pay us more than a quarter of your own office here)

· We will demand the sample charges if you need us to provide

It totally cracked me up the way they used "demand" which is a little strong when you are trying to gain business. So these guys are going to solve my communication problems hu?

So you hire them and they kindly "threaten" facilities into "forking over" the goods while "demanding" sample charges... sounds a little like Ming "the knife" Cabrese and his "friend" Chang "Baby Face" Manicotti are gonna "take care of tings..."

I bet they'll do well, actually.

Thankfully, I don't need their services.

Smoldering snows

Now there is this discussion of global warming going on and while we were in Singapore earlier this year, I would swear the sun was just there on that spot, never leaving for any other part of the world. Even at night it was a billion degrees. But I see from my little weathercam that it has been snowing in Michigan for, like, a month straight. Lots-o-snow. So there is that. However, I do believe we are to blame for screwing things up here on this lovely planet with all our "ingenuity" so we bought a hybrid anyway. LOVE IT!

I like seeing all the beautiful snow drifts ON THE WEBCAM and hear from my friends THROUGH E-MAIL all about the lovely snow.

Don't miss it.

Nope.

I don't.

I was raised in it, I ski in it. Take the girls sledding in it... but I walked them to school today while wearing a short sleeved shirt. I'm ok with that. Of course, what comes with nice weather in the winter, is all the gajillion other people who also want nice warm winters too. Lot's of them. People. In this town.

Oodles. And only one out of about 15 people I encountered today even smiled back. Most avoided making eye contact. It's worse than NY. At least there they yell something at you or glare at you. I don't remember people being so grumpy.

I love the fact you can look up a word like gajillion and get an answer.

I was chatting with some moms today, one of whom was 26 as it turned out, and the subject of age came up. They said in a shocked tone, "You look so great for 40!!"

Um... thanks? Yea, not, "You look great!" But, "You look great for FORTY" I can't wait until I look good for 50 and 60. Geez, I hope I look good for dead.

Ya know, when I'm a gajillion.

Didn't this post start out about global warming? What the?

Turned out more like global whining. :-)

Have a great evening.

Here is How it Works

Here is a little stop motion demonstration I did to show the functionality of Stylease.
Enjoy!

Promos

Publicity is a strange thing. It's very difficult to predict.
I haven't mastered it yet. Things I think will kill, bring in virtually no traffic and things I think will tank land huge response.

I guess it's a good thing I'm not a publicist!

This little movie was made back at the begining of this journey of mine. It is on a CD-ROM that I send to new stores.

Enjoy.



Click on the little play icon at the bottom of the movie window to view it here. If you click the middle of the movie window, it will take you to YouTube. Which is great fun by the way.

The Gift of Language

I witnessed an interesting thing while waiting to pick up my kids at school.

Now that we are in LA, the cultural diversity is so extreme, compared to Northern Michigan, it takes a little getting used to. In the area we live, there are as many Armenians as there are Hispanics, so the sounds around you in a group of people and the patterns of the spoken word that are swirling around all at the same time, take on a bit of a Minestrone Soup quality.

I bet you thought I was going to get all poetic hu? Ha! So the thing I witnessed, that I thought was so cool was this little second grade boy. He came out of the school gate, quite excited about an issue with some books. He was speaking in that delightful, excited kid voice, in perfect English. His mother, who greeted him warmly, responded in Armenian seeming to show interest in what he was saying. As he responded to her, either positively or by correcting her, he continued to speak in English while his mom spoke in their native tongue. Then, as the conversation evolved into a more level tone, the mom started to speak English, saying, "Well, we ARE waiting for you, so you don't need to pass the time on the playground." Then as the boy became a little agitated he started speaking in Armenian and his mom was making her point in English. As they both started talking at the same time and the conversation became elevated, every other sentance or so was in English and another in Armenian.

It's not like they were using some hybrid version of Amen-glish or Englenian. Each complete thought or sentence was being expressed entirely in either English or Armenian. I thought, how cool to be so comfortable with a language that it is interchangable with your own.

It was pretty neat.

It made me want to take up my French lessons again.