JPD Mom

Freedom...free........erh.......Flexibility!!!

August 27, 2008.

Okay so I have a bit of a predicament to deal with tomorrow - a real kawink-a-dink, a conundrum if you will.......oh what the - it SUCKS!  I get to go put my Mommy britches on and be a real Mama Bear.  Let's just say that IF I worked for "the Man" or "Boss Lady" I would need to take the day off.  However, I work for myself, and (puffing chest out and pounding it with my fists) I am the boss.  So, my uh....problem will get to be dealt with immediately - work will wait.

I get to be the bad gal, girl, lady, mom - pretty much you can just try and think of that mother in The Hand That Rocks the Cradle....ya I am gonna be one bad-ass Mommy.  There seems to be a little um, "mis-communication" (and yes, I am standing here doing the quotation marks with my hands when I say this).   I need to go and meet with the principal at my son's (and now daughter's) school and uh.....well, I will hopefully be able to "fix" (yes air quotes again) the situation.

The nice thing is that I have the freedom to just DO IT.  I can stick around all day, I can pace, I can picket, I can cry, I can make meetings, I can do WHATEVER it takes to "fix" ( ya, ya, you know the drill) the problem.  Being a Mompreneur I have that luxury to stick around - as much as I love what I do, and I love my business, I love my children more.  Well.....cross your fingers I can fix this.  I often hear from mothers all over the country asking, thinking, wishing they could start a business - and I tell them the truth about it.  But, I honestly wish them the BEST of luck and hope that they do it - I love the prospect of another Mother starting her own business - I support them 100%!  To be in charge of your own destiny is huge....it is pretty awesome. 

So.......that being said I am feeling very generous (and vulnerable) today and I thought I would put something out there.  Why don't ya check this website out?

www.jamiespnd.com

Hmmm, have you been to the site?  Do you need a new ornament?  Would ya? Could ya?  Well as of yesterday my super-duper webmaster (here is the disclaimer that the big wigs use - he is my cousin's husband but I still love him dearly) posted all of our new products up on our site.  We have really expanded our line of products  (yes....251 different products) and hope to continue to do this.  The absolute joy I find creating new products and then having them become best- sellers on our site, other sites....well it is just AWESOME!!!  But, I digress:

I have a a request: Anyone, everyone that leaves a "comment" on this blog about the website (good or bad - please be honest!) will receive a free ornament (Small ornament the retail is $20.00).  You can email your personal information to jamie@jamiespnd.com - I swear I will not SPAM you!  So, you pick, which one you want - but you MUST leave a comment about the site - good or bad!!  The comment has to be on the blog, and the constructive criticism will be appreciated!  And your address will be a big help....

So go on out there people!  Take a risk......I know YOU read the blog!!!  It's easy....feedback is the big part of writing a blog.

Don't make me beg, it is soooo un-ladylike!

The Truth Behind the Post

  August 24, 2007.

So there is nothing like getting the heck out of Dodge for a few days of R & R, you know?  We took our last (well only) vacation this summer and I was unable to use my laptop....hence the delay in this post.  Please forgive me for not posting sooner, but I did not want to get sand, sunscreen, beer, ice cream on my laptop.

It seemed my last post struck quite a cord with many an entrepreneur out there.  I am glad it did - it's nice to actually write something people comment on.  Though some did not like what I wrote - it is the truth.  It is NOT all roses when running your own business - there are good days and there are some gosh-darn take the air out of your lungs, crying with that ugly face, swearing like a sailor days......come on now, tell me that is not true?  I know you have all had some of those days - don't make me name names!   

Now I have always been honest, maybe too honest as some will tell me - but honest none the less, so I must divulge a little bit about why I wrote that post:

1. Lay Off

I had to make that very tough decision, well the decision was not hard, it was the delivery.  I think every boss lady knows when the time has come to let someone go, it is waaay past there time to er uh, go.   I find that I will give someone I work with a benefit of the doubt and keep hoping and praying it will work out.  However, it did not work out and well I felt the weight of taking the job away from someone.  Again - back to making the tough decisions and owning them - I do NOT regret the decision.

2. Real Entrepreneurs Do Not Say Those Things

Okay, come on - those "entrepreneur-isms" or "envy you" comments never come from like-minded people like us.  They come from people that are, let's face it lazy, not really thinking about what they are saying, or don't REALLY want to do what it takes to start a business.  It takes a very special person to start a business and to persevere and just you know like Nike "DO IT".  People that are serious about starting a business will pick my brain about other things, like: funding, patents, trademarks, liability, insurance, funding, marketing, workers comp, hiring, websites, email, shipping, funding - did I mention that one?

3. Think About It

Let's face it, and many of you chimed in - we would not change a thing even if we knew ALL that we know about running a business.  The freedom is huge, the monetary rewards will eventually come and the control we all have is fabulous with a capital F.   I actually have a friend that was all gung-ho she wanted to do this, this, this own your own business thing.  She thought she could - and I coached her, helped her, gave her tons of advice.  However, at the end of the day she did not have the support of her husband, it would a be a financial burden on the family and honestly I do not think she had the drive.  I believe that she had that "Ya-Butt-Syndrome" I so hate.

4. In Charge with a Capital "C"

So, um well okay, okay OKAY - I do love being in charge.  Back as long as I can remember (and I have a few old friends and a sister that will confirm this) I loved to be in charge.  What shall we play - I get to decide.  Who wants to do a skit to the Olivia Newton John song "Physical"?  Anyone?  Get back I will do the choreography.  And my very favorite (read cringing with face turning red) bossy- boss event - took over my best friends birthday party to insist everyone follow me in a Grease Lightning Dance-Off.  So....I uh, well most times do like to be in charge ("sorry Chrisser, I swear I will behave at your 40th, promise me there will be no songs from Grease though - k?").

4. Are We Having Fun Yet?

It is fun to own your own business, just the sure joy of seeing your logo up in your office, the first press you received, seeing your product in a print catalog - all things only other entrepreneurs can relate to.  Those days of signing up a new store, the first website we built, even the first brochure we printed - very, very cool things.  The pride I feel when we get a thank you from a customer, or we fix a problem and a channel tells us how much the love our products - all warm and fuzzy for sure.  There is really no job that I ever had that could compare with this one - My worst day owning my own company is better than my best day working for "The Man".

5. The Glamorous Life

Truth be told, the recognition is pretty darn cool - but I like, err uh LOVE the response Is get from this blog more than any article, TV Show, or celebrity endorsement I have ever received.  This blog is such a great outlet for me, it lets me speak my mind - it lets me use my brain and help (hopefully) other entrepreneurs.  It also gives me a forum to meet other amazing women who own their own businesses - some of them I even call friends, really, really GOOD friends.

So I hope I didn't <ahem....nervous cough> totally ruin the impression y'all had of me.  I do, I do love running my own business.  I am not sure I could ever work for anyone else again.  And I always say if this ceramic thingie ma-bob does not work out - don't worry I am sure I will do something else - you can quote me on that.

Fancy Yourself and Entrepreneur Do You?

August 16, 2007

All of the business magazines talk about how being an entrepreneur is so "in vogue", it is now studied at the best universities, oh and us Mom's that want to run our own business, sista' pleeeze!  We are growing in leaps and bounds - they say that the numbers are too large to measure.  More times than not, when I meet someone and tell them what I do they go, "Oh my gawd I would love to do that."

So.....with the week I just had, I thought that I would tell you what it is really like to run your own business.  I would like you to think long and hard about what it takes to run a business.  See if you really want to do this:

"I would love to be in charge of my own destiny"

Really?  Ya, that is what I thought when I started JPD...in fact I like to say that when people start quoting self help books, Tony Robbins or any of that super age....cra........stuff.  Being in charge is great, however you are in CHARGE with a capital "C".  You have to decide what to do, when to do it, and how to do it.  You may have to figure out how to get sales, how to build a website, how to fix a printer, who to call when your garbage cans are stolen.  You and only you get to be in charge - I don't know about any of you out there but I am already in charge at home....sometimes I would like to NOT be in charge.  Some days it would be nice to let "the man" write me a check for my work, pat me on my head and send me home on Friday.  As an entrepreneur I don't REALLY leave work on Friday......ever.

"I would love to be the one who makes ALL the money"

Um......well who doesn't want that?  I mean, okay so that is NOT what it is all about, but for argument sake let me address this comment.  Unless your company is totally funded (and if your company IS, please tell me all about it, 'cause that is not the case with me) and you are taking home a HUGE salary you are going to make sacrifices - maybe not monetary ones, but sacrifices none the less.  Even IF you take a pay check, you will be working LONG hours and long hours equal.....about $2.45 an hour.  You do NOT get to work 9-5, you will not take long fun lunch breaks, you will NOT relax on vacation and you will NOT make tons of money while you are starting, growing or working IN your business.  You may make tons of money later on, but at what cost?  What sacrifices are you willing to make?  What  is your family willing to risk?  Willing to sacrifice?   Trust me, there will be sacrifices.....

" I would LOVE to come and go as a I please, you have SOOO much freedom"

Yes........that is right I just lolly-gag in around noon, take a long lunch at 1:00 p.m. then cut out early for a mani-pedi, golf lesson, massage, possibly a nap in the break room or gee a shopping spree at Neimans (is that what they call it?).  Okay, I do have the freedom to leave early, volunteer in my children's classroom, go on SOME (not all) field trips, and use the photo copier at my free will.  But, but, BUT....screw the however - I then make up for it ten-fold.  I work weekends, I work nights, I work mornings or I answer emails in traffic, I take my lap top on vacation, I check my blackberry when I am in bed with a 102 temperature, I check voice mail while driving to a field trip (okay not the driver, not the driver).  My freedom comes at a cost, and I am always attached to my business - you have to be. 

"Wow it must be so exciting and FUN, you are like famous!"

Pssstttrrfffoooooo........excuse me, while I spit my drink out all over the person that just said this to me.  First of all, publicity IS great, and it does help your business grow, but don't believe the hype.  In almost five years in business I have sort of found it just feeds the ego of the owner of the business.  It does validate the business, however it takes hard work and lots and lots of sales to put food on the table.  And let me address that FUN aspect, being in charge is not always so much fun.  I get to make the bad decisions too.  I get to decide when to let someone go, I get to decide when to not do something, and I get to decide to what to do next.  If I make a bad decision I get to own it, I have to be the one to explain myself, or uh fess up, or eat crow - I do not get to hide behind a manager - I do not HAVE one.  And if letting someone go is part of the day's agenda - guess who does that person's job?  Guess who cleans up the mess?  Guess who gets to be the bad guy......er gal.

This is not complaint or a rant post, or a "poor me" - this is MY life, and I chose it.  Running your own business and being run-ragged by your business are two different things.  I do not know who does NOT live in their business.  Though we did move it out of the house close to two years ago and that does change things a bit.  However, it is like the college student that left home, but still comes home to wash clothes, grab some food, sleep on the couch, get money for tuition, rent, books and then ask to borrow a $20.  That college student may weigh 175 pounds, be 6 ft tall and 23 years old, but he will always be my baby - no matter how far away he lives, or what he does.  That is my business - it is mine - and it will ALWAYS be a part of me.

So - does this still sound like fun to you?  Does this still sound like you want to roll up your sleeves and jump in?  Are you salivating at the mouth and saying, "sign me up!"?  If so - then good for you, that is great.  I have to say, I never knew that running my own business would be as hard as it has been.  I did not even think about these things.....I was that person that said those silly things to other entrepreneurs.  So, good luck - you GO girl!  Call me in about 4 years though, and tell me if I was right, okay?

My True Passion - Birthday Parties

August 15, 2007.

I bet you thought it was cartoons, or drawing or rhinestones........well truth be told I will always have a soft spot in my heart for rhinestones....and glitter!  I do love myself things that are all sparkly and covered in glitter.  When I was tad younger (oh let's say I was five) I used try and wear jewelry to school, basically sneak the contra-band into kindergarten.  They would send me home with a baggie pinned to my back with my precious jewels inside - telling my mother that "Jamie has trouble drawing in class when she has a ring on all ten of her fingers".

Alas, but no my passion is... I love, love, LOVE throwing my kid's birthday parties.  I just go to town with the whole theme thing - and the invites, the cake, the decor, the games, even the food is all wrapped around one theme.  Trust me with a five year old and an almost eight year old (boy and girl) I have done MOST parties.

Abby turned five so we did a "Build Your Own Bear" Party.  Since she has like 12 bears from that place, I did not want to go there once again.  So we got our own bears, and made our own clothes.  Each child got five Bear Bucks to spend on a bear, bear clothes, decorate a bear cookie, face painting, popcorn, and lemonade.

Some easy things I did for the "Build Your Own Bear" party:

• Invites were simple, with teddy bear stickers that the kids helped me decorate.  We (my mom that is ) wrote about Abby's Beary Special Day...
• Chocolate cupcakes from the bakery we decorated with Teddy Grahams
• Bears were ordered on line for under a $1.00 each
• Clothes were made from felt, lace can make great skirts, rhinestones for earrings, blush on the cheeks, even fake eyelashes, hats from the craft store even.
• Teddy Bear cookies made ahead of time, the kids got to cover with frosting and sprinkles
• Decorated backyard with teddy bears
• Played Teddy, Teddy, Bear when the natives got restless (Duck, Duck, Goose)
• Painted small brown teddy bears on kids cheeks

The problem with this party idea is the kids were done dressing the darn bears in 1/2 an hour so we had to improvise, and run next door to the park to blow off some steam.  And, uh the sugar probably did not help, but oh well - figure why not pump the kids full of crap....then send them home.

Of course best part of staying with the theme, is letting my daughter be a part of the decorating and the planning.  As you can see from the 47 bears on her bed, she uh........well she likes bears.

This is what I spend my free time doing....planning birthday parties.

The Grand Finale....in Hot-Lanta

Chapter 4.

Coulda....Woulda.....Shoulda          

1. The Show was slow, and it was not just me being bitter or counting people as they walked by.  It was much slower than January, the traffic was just not there.  However, when someone (anyone is in your booth) others always gravitate to that booth.  It is really a strange thing because you will be having a very nice conversation with  possible buyer #1 and all of a sudden you are swarmed and then then buyer #1 leaves, then you try to talk to #2 while then #3 walks in, by the time you turn back to hand #2 a catalog, all three have left the booth and you start to think you imagined this.  This would be a time when I could really use some of my good ol' college buddies (and by buddies I mean sorority sisters) because when we rushed girls - we had this down, businesses have even added this to their interviewing processes.  You need someone to take over and HELP you out - really it's called rushing girls...oh never mind another blog.

It has been almost a month since I got home from Atlanta and I am just now recovering from the trip.  My boxes that were shipped back from Atlanta only arrived a week ago - and a shout out to the shipping company for crushing them AGAIN, really thanks so much!  I have mixed feelings about Atlanta and my opinions are mine and mine alone - though most of the vendors I spoke with had similar experiences.  I don't want this to sound like I am bashing the great Atlanta show....but I am just telling you the facts ma'am.

Coulda - I could have done a better job of reaching out to existing stores and letting them know we would be attending.  I also could have sent our mailers to buyers attending the show.  I wish I had set up more appointments for the show also.

2. My thought is that in July there is less time and less money than the stores have in January.  We are all flush with cash in January (well if your channels pay there bills that is) and time off.  No one spends money (by no one I mean stores are empty, people have new Xmas gifts and they are looking at there tax bills)  in January - and the budget is wide open.  I had 66 sales leads when I left Atlanta, and tonight I got one more.  Let me tell you these are - these are not cold calls, these are solid in- bound leads of stores contacting me via email or phone.  And as of today 4 already said they had no money, or my products were too expensive, or not now maybe later, or your products are ugly and your mama is fat......no kidding on that last one - but would not surprise me.  The thing is, money is tight now, gas prices are high and it's July - tough time.

Woulda - I would defiantly have had no minimums.  When you pay a huge amount of money to attend a show the bottom line is sign up as many stores as possible - do try and sell them more products later on.  Opening up accounts are a good start.  I would have also given something away - anything to get the buyers (even the few that were there) into our booth and keep them there.   

3. I did get some stores, I did get some re-orders from existing stores that came to see me at  my booth.  I also sold those JPD Style Guides to all new stores and almost every existing stores.  I also have a huge opportunity for a direction I would like to take my art and company in - since it is not um, well solid I can't say.  However, this one thing will pay for the entire show....eventually.  And it looks like I may have added two to three new showrooms that will feature my line.  These are all good things - really good things.  I am just not sure it is worth the cost of the booth, the cost of the flight, the hotel, the shipping , the samples made.... and a week away from my family.

Shoulda - you should follow up with leads.  You should religiously set it in your calender to call them (do not harass them or annoy them), but do let them know you are interested in working with them.  The advertisement helped - every lead I get has been from the ad.  Even those that are not interested, I still keep them - I hang on to there information and I ASK if I can contact them in January to tell them of our new products.  And react quickly, if your minimums are too high - lower them NOW!  If your products are too expensive - make them attractive, throw one in for free.  If your packages are all wrong - change them.  Whatever you do = do not do NOTHING, do something - you are there for five long, long days.  You should do something.

As of right now I have decided I will not be exhibiting at the Atlanta Show in January of 2008.  I think I would rather spend my money on a few other shows, and I do not think that this is the show for me.  I am happy for those artisans that found success in Atlanta -I did, honest I did, just not enough of it.  Now I am not saying never, but for now - I am not so sure I believe in the whole show model - not this one anyways.

Atlanta.....the final frontier

August 7, 2007.

Chapter 5.

Finally....even I am sick of talking about this!*

Okay, okay so this has dragged out longer than moving the business out of the house, or even my bathroom remodel....ha ha jokes on you, that is still going on.  This will be the second to last chapter (gosh I hope) on my Atlanta Gift Show Odyssey.  I thought I would include ya' all in on some people you will meet at these trade shows.  Now, please do not email me or comment on this and say I am not being fair, or I am stereotyping......go to a show and TELL me you did not meet these people. 

The Friendly Neighbor

This person, or I mean, vendor could be the booth right next to you, or a booth 5 isles away.  This is the person that has a nice word to say to you whether there are 13 people in your booth, or you are asleep on your chair and you are catching flies.  She (or he) will give you their last piece or gum, or a mint, or even if you are SUPER nice a little glass of wine.  She will point out that little piece of cilantro in your teeth, or that piece of cheese hanging off your chin (Thanks by the way, you were a sweetie for point that out!)  She will even keep in touch after the show and really, really like you for who you are and not NEED something from you.  She will not hold a grudge if you had a great show, and if you had a bad show she will downplay her success.

The "I am NOT your Friend" Neighbor (you knew this was coming right?)

I have exhibited at three major shows, I have walked four major shows, I was in 3 permanent show rooms, I have exhibited at a ton more "not so major" shows.  I have spoken to other exhibitors and vendors....I do know what I am talking about. 

This person (or woman) will walk by your booth no less than 20 times past your booth that is, and pretend not to look at your work, yet as soon as they pass the booth they will do an 'about-face' and turn around and walk right past the booth again.....not looking of course.  They may send their husband to walk by and gawk in and see how you are doing.  They will come over ONLY to tell you how fabulous the show is going for them...even if no one has ever stepped foot in their booth.  They will ask you WHY did you do this?  Or what made you do THAT?  And every time you talk about a small (or large) accomplishment at the show they will reply, "Oh, I already did that!" 

Ms. What Have You Done for Me Lately?

This is one to stay clear of, be aware of this one.  This one will come over and gush over your products, salivate all over you and all your "accomplishments" then offer to help you out at some other show, if you only do ONE little thing for them.  This "person" will walk by with customers and pretend they do not know you, if you go by to visit them at their booth (stupid, stupid - should have known) they will blow you off.  This one will only want you to HELP them get one of the following:

a. Sales channel

b. Press

c. Information

d. Press (oh did I mention this...gee, wow - must be what they kept asking me for)

Be nice, I repeat, be nice.  But do not give away too much information.  Just nod, smile, say thank you and maybe give them a little bit of information.  You (or uh, me) do not want to look too mean, or too stuck-up.  I do not look at "this person" as a real threat, if they were a threat they would not need my advice.

The "Fake" Buyer

This buyer is super sweet, she will come in, ooh and ah and ask all the right questions.  She will point and smile and point and nod her head.  She will ask for a catalog and ask very specific questions ("Now if I only order one what will it cost me?") and not be embarrassed about it at all.  After she spends about ten minutes with you she will announce she is a. having a grand baby soon or b. her daughter may want a product or c. her sister LOVES to make crafts or d. maybe her husbands body shop could carry these some day.  These "wanna-be" buyers do not bother me, they may just order on line, or they may have a need to find us on line.  They do sort of bring ya down a bit though, if you were fooled by the nodding head and smiling .

The "I Just Want Your Designs" Designer (beware she/ he may carry a hidden camera)

If you have never attended a trade show you may not realize there are rules, regulations and um, ways to be polite and be niiiice.  If I must tell you it is rude to steal other peoples designs, or copy other people......well then you have not been paying attention.  However, apparently there are some people who do not know, or whose mothers did not tell them the famous rhyme that escapes me at the moment, but goes something like, "copy cat, dirty rat...."

1. A bedding designer was exhibiting at a show, a woman came up and asked where his products were manufactured.  He sort of laughed, did not understand the question and explained he designed them with his wife and they were manufactured in China.  She then said NO, I want to know who you use in China so that I can go use the same manufacturer.  The kind gentlemen claimed that he was not comfortable giving that information to her.  She replied that, "no, it's okay, I just want to take your designs and sell them in another country, with Arabic wording....don't worry I will give you 'a little something' ".  He thought she was kidding, she was not.  She left his booth very irritated and mad that he would not help her out.

2. A man with his badge turned backwards (it is very evident depending on the color of the badge to determine if a visitor is a buyer, a manufacturer, a sales rep, or another vendor) so that others could not tell where he was from.  Randomly walked into booths and while others were not looking he took pictures of products.  He snapped his camera, capturing images of artisans hard work and original designs.  Even though security puffed their chests out and claimed to wonder out loud, "which way did he go? which way did he go?", nothing was done and he left the show with valuable information. (please note taking photographs without permission is NOT permitted)

3. A woman entered a booth and oohed and ahed over the product being exhibited.  She was admiring it while others were in the booth.  She grabbed her cell phone/camera and started snapping pictures of items in the booth.  When the exhibitor asked her what she was doing she said, "Oh, it's fine, my daughter does this kind of stuff.....I am sure she can do this."

4. Two ceramic artists had two booths next to each other.  As the first day of the show came to an end they got ready to leave and go enjoy themselves with some much needed drinks and food.  However, before exiting their booth they noticed two women that had continued to walk by the booth, repeatedly, and they saw them lurking (yes I said lurking) and hiding behind another booths display (really I could NOT make this up) watching them.  The two decided to stay put and wait and wait, to see what they wanted.  Well they scurried away and were nowhere to be found.  After waiting almost fifteen minutes,  these two artisans decided to leave .  This did not discourage the two lurkers though, soon after they left they soon found out that the other two came back by the booth, came IN the booth and proceeded to touch, tap and rub the products. (Please know this is SOOO not cool to do, nor is this legal.......you are not allowed to do this!  Be nice, play nice people!)

And yes that is someone taking a nap under our table at the show.  It is a very, very long day and we uh, well we do what we have to do.  Again, I swore to not use names or uh well (psst.........it was NOT me) nicknames so that everyone was left anonymous......

Okay, so the photo was uh, well taken after much coaxing  and laughing.  But, that IS how you feel by day four....

Girl we are not in Kan.........California anymore!

August 2, 2007.

Chapter 4.

The Show....finally, sheesh!

If you are a superstitious type of person, the first day of the Atlanta Gift Show would have probably freaked ya out!  It landed on Friday the 13th...ooooh ahh ha ha ha, oooh ah ha ha ha(that was my creepy sound).  We arrived at the booth just minutes before the show opened.  It was very exciting and nerve wracking, you should see some of the early bird buyers were standing, waiting to get into the children's section - a security guard was holding them back.  I personally felt very smug and important (make a note this was the LAST time I felt that way the entire week) as I showed my exhibitor badge and marched over to my booth.

Friday was very busy - we both ran out of our price lists and London actually had to regulate the brochures she handed out due to the fact that.....well they were going so fast.  We were literally up out of our seats every five minutes, we did not get to finish (I mean gulp down in 4 bites or less) our meals without being interrupted - I am NOT complaining, this was good! 

Now, once again I want to step back and say that you should have some goals for the show - so even if you do not sign up 345 (come on really?  Isn't that goal a bit lofty?) new accounts at the show - did you make good contacts?  Did you make TOO lofty a goal for yourself?  Did sales rep court you to sell your products?  Was your booth busy?  Each day is different at the show, each booth is different EACH day.  Assess each day - don't jump the gun, or you know hang the noose.  And by all means wait till you get home - I think I mentioned I have had stores purchase samples  that saw me exhibit at the ABC Kids Expo (3  years ago) this past year.

Soooo...Friday was one of the best days, we (me) wrote one of (not biggest) our largest store orders ever.  We also had some re-orders from existing accounts.  We also had amazing ( and orders) feed back on our new Style Guide - it features all 251(cha-ching!) different product designs for the stores to keep in there store - twice a year we will send our new products for them to update the binder.  This brilliant idea was NOT mine.....kudos to uh, well okay kudos to London.  Without giving too much away - it is really brilliant, and it helps if your product is personalized and the customer needs to order something theme based.

A few Trade Show Mantras (these help, trust me.....)

Be Positive

I believe the children are our future, teach them well and let them........sorry minor 80's Whitney Houston flashback.  As I was saying, I believe it takes months till I will know exactly how successful this show was.  I will have to wait to see who gets in contact to order products AFTER the show, or which possible editor got my information, got my press packet, or reads my blog (psst....hey O Magazine!!  Send my best to Oprah!)  If your first day at the show was awful, then girl - hike up your big girl panties, go out and have a couple drinks (no, no NOT seven, put the cosmo down....just a few) and get ready to knock them dead DayTwo!  I always try to have a positive attitude before attending the show and when at the show, (at least till the last day, then I am totally poopy) people can tell this.  I swear buyers smell desperation a MILE away too! 

Be Flexible

Now if you are at the show and you have spent the money, I do not mean give away the farm, or sign on hardware stores just to cover your costs.  I mean get as many accounts interested in your line as possible.  For example we are pretty much chock full of websites, we are done taking any new ones on.....however I met a few at the show that I may consider taking on.  At the very least get some information on the "channel" you think you don't need.....because you might NEED them someday.  Towards the end of the show (or if you are me and you sell birth certificates) Grandma's with sales contracts, tend to want to purchase items for their grandchildren, and they do not want to pay minimums.  I do not shoo them away, I do not blurt out our minimums - I give them a catalog and say nicely, you can order from our website.  Secondly, if it is a new store with a limited budget - be kind, you should recall what it was like when you were starting out and NO ONE would talk to you.  I always think of that store that gave me a break.....maybe lower your minimums for this little store.  I personally will not squabble over a measly $14.00 or $43.00 - make the sale!

Take the Good, the Bad & (you knew it was coming) the Ugly

Busy booth=Busy Show, just looks good, even if you did not make that $500 deal with Barneys!  Did people say nice things about your products?  Were they interested?   Find out what they like about the products.  Find out things about the store, and sell it sister!  I mean work it - the growth, the press, the sales, the product, the celebrity endorsements - pump your chest out like a man (sorry, could not resist) and brag about your company.  Just talking to people and getting your story out- that can equal a successful show!

Sharing a booth with your competitor, or a company that generates (Prayer Plates...the South, uh, the bible belt...really, need I say more?) lots of interest can be a bit daunting.  Now, I am not saying we are competitive, but really people know My Little Dish, and I think her display was better and well, buyers LOVED her products.  And she does lay on the Southern Charm waaay better than me, no seriously she just has the cutest damn products, or as they say in the South, "Shut up, could you just die Mama!"

The competitive nature of those around you really comes out after the first day.  It is a damned if you do, and damned if you don't.  Here is what I mean - if you are doing great, writing orders, people are in your booth - those vendors around you will hate you, look at you and say, "What do they see in that?"  If your booth is vacant, does not seem to be busy, those vendors around you will stand around and say, "Poor them, jeez this booth must have cost a fortune.....I can not see why people would order that."  Okay I am making generalizations here - but I have been on both sides of this fence, and even at the same show - just different days.  I have talked the talk to these people - I swear I have! 

Make sure and have a very thick skin when you do a Trade Show, and don't, I repeat do NOT start to re-think your whole business and product line while at the show.  London and I were looking around and discussing dreamily how great it would be to just un-pack baby blankets and burp cloths........so lightweight, so easy to fold.....ooh........oh sorry there I go again - I was fantasizing about the cost of shipping light weight blankets, sorry.  See what I mean?  You are there to sell, put on a big smile and sell!  Pat yourself on the back and don't worry about those around you - you have no idea what they are thinking...........just be positive!