JPD Mom

Small Business Early Products

November 25, 2007.

Looking back at the business and how it has grown can make me cry, swear, it can make me groan and it can make wonder how the hell I got this far.  In the beginning I feel like I was just throwing stuff out there and seeing if it sold.  I never did any research, I never tested the market, I just painted a sample, snapped a photo and stuck it out there.

Were I to do it over again, and the way that I come up with product ideas, and design ideas now - I would never do it that way.  It is a little hard to admit that I just designed products in a total vacuum.  Not sure if it was bold or stupid - but I did create to create back then.  I never sat and thought about the margins, the audience, the cost of creating a new product.

Rough Stone Coasters

I would literally sit with my good friend and sift through magazines, advertisements, catalogs - blurting out crazy ideas until she said, "ya do that".  I could not for the life of me decide on what to do with the coasters, all I knew was they were selling well.  I was selling them to wineries, boutiques, family, friends, non-profits - they were selling.  I just could not wrap my arms around them, it was like I did not have the passion for them.

These were just tiles purchased from Home Depot and then hand painted acrylic paints, wrapped up in some raffia and bingo a hostess gift.  I hope I am not giving away any trade secrets, but it was that simple.  At the time I was thinking how can I be selling these, when anyone could go and do the same thing? 

While spending time opening up new accounts and making new designs I would travel around the neighboring cities doing craft shows.  Yes, it is true I did many a Craft Boutique, a Mother's Club event, Purse parties, and even private shows at friend's homes.  I know this does not sound glamorous, and trust me it is not.  This is how you learn what people want, what they do not want and you get to really know your customer.  I still have some customers from that first year I started.  It is a very humbling experience - and a different audience then say, selling in a large store, or on the Internet.

Disturbing Working Conditions

I still can not believe that I convinced my husband to build my studio for me in the garage.  I am still in awe at the amount of tile I used to paint, cook, ribbon, wrap up to ship or deliver.  I used to get marks and cuts on all my fingers, and I would have paint on every piece of clothing I owned.  Working with tile like I did can be tad tough on the finger nails too.....hence I was not getting manicures at the time.  This picture makes me want to kind of throw up in my mouth a little.

Newsletter for JPD

Today was a big day, I sent out my first ever real newsletter - I feel like such a real business now.  I think if you click here you can see what I sent out.  I have been meaning to do it for over a year, I usually send out an email to existing customers around this time of the year with a discount - but now we have a real newsletter.  If I could only figure out how to put the "opt in for our newsletter" HTML on my blog and on my website I would be soo legit!  If the link works - go ahead and use it - an early Merry Christmas!

An Old Favorite

I can not tell you how many of these coasters I sold to friends, family and local boutiques.  Sex and the City was a huge deal back then and these coasters were a very popular hostess gift.

Now, this is not what I would sell as part of um, say my children's line - no I am NOT encouraging under age drinking for little Johnny.  I am actually doing them for a friend's boutique this Christmas, a favor...and I don't even drink martinis.  Okay there was that one year where I had like um, a few too many appletini's - but it was my birthday and not my fault.

I am not sure what to do with them.  I am thinking of selling them through the blog and through the newsletter...or just to close friends and family.  Or maybe I will give them as gifts to people, I really do not know what will become of them.  They have a sister set of wine glasses to go with them - any suggestions? Thoughts? 

At least I am creating art to create - that has not happened in a very long time.  And trying to paint new designs this time of the year, uh to quote what I said in 1983, "NOT!"

How Jamie's Painting & Design Really began

November 20, 2007.

It was a dark and stormy night..........oh wait, sorry I have been watching the Peanuts Thanksgiving special, maybe that is not how JPD got started.  You have to love Snoopy's way of grabbing your attention though....

My daughter Abigail Marion Lentzner was actually born late in July of 2002, and I was ecstatic to say the least.  Not only was I expecting a boy (no we did not do ultra-sound, I just thought I knew....please do not get me started) but she also came out with bright red hair, another shock.  My mother was a red head, and her father - it's the Scottish in us, not the Irish (yep, we got that too!).  It did skip a generation with my sister and I,  you think I would not be so surprised....but hence, maybe it was labor, or just the pure amazement, or the shock of having a daughter.

So, as the fable (no really it's true) or the story told to many a reporter goes, I was just trying to find some theme based letters to personalize my daughter's room.  I waited until after she was born to decorate the nursery to boot - no small feat for anal creative decorator crazy Mom, thank you very much.

  At the time, in 2002 there were no theme based letters, so I took my talent (in cartooning, not in painting tiles) and made my own letters.  Truth is - and you know I can not tell a lie - I never took painting classes in college, I did not have a cool studio.  My degree was an art degree, with an emphasis on computers.  I had to beg my husband to drill holes in the tiles I painted.  Then I ran, or dragged two k ids to the nearest fabric store for ribbon and I (again) begged him to hang them in her room.

Original Name Tiles

These are the original Name Tiles I designed for my daughter's room.  She was not even old enough to sleep in the room, but I needed her to have these Name Tiles hanging in her room.  They matched her bedding perfectly(duh, anyone else surprised?).  Looking back, they are so simple, so void of design or theme, I am embarrassed to almost show them.  However, I think for those starting out it is important to forge ahead, no matter how fugly (um, I am talking about my designs, don't take offense) the original design is.  I am really a girl who likes to fill the canvas, the screen, the tile, you name it I like to fill it....but these tiles have one letter and one flower - not me at all.  I am going to blame it on post-pardom hormones, not my inability to have a "style".

My "other" Original Product

I also decided to create coasters of all things, not that there is anything wrong with that.  I just find it ironic since I don't even use coasters, and my forte is in a cartoon style -which these were for sure - other thing is I don't even drink Martinis - but these were hot sellers.  The coasters were this easy revenue stream for JPD, and everyone I met wanted them for hostess gifts.  Because when you have a 3 year old and a 4 month old - what else to do but paint products and sell them to friends, right?

I used to hate to do them, not sure why, but I did.  My passion has always been with cartooning, animation and children's products.  I have sort of 'given-in' to the coaster thing (I will show you later) it is turning out to be quite enjoyable to design something completely different.  I love kid's stuff, baby images, children's products, childish art if you will - it is the truth.

Do As You Are Told

Back when I hand-painted everything, wrapped it, gift wrapped it, shipped it, invoiced it (just checking to see if you were paying attention....you all know I don't do math), delivered product, I made whatever anyone asked.  I would take the order by phone (no website in the dark ages of 2002 and early 2003) and do whatever the customer asked.  I had no problem painting exactly what was asked of me.  At one point I had a woman describe and send samples of her daughter's hair, so that I could match the color for the birth certificate.  Hmmm, wonder why I don't do that anymore?

Our (my)  Real First Tile

This is the first tile I ever painted - I had no idea what I was doing actually.  No, no I did have an art degree, but I did not know how to paint on ceramic tile, nor did I understand glazing or sealing the art work in.  I did know that I loved working on the tile, I loved the slick surface and I loved the fact that it was a keepsake.  I have a container in the attic (my husband swears he did not throw it out) of prototypes of my original products - this one hangs at the office.  Truth is, painting on tile is very hard - not so easy to do.  The paint and paint pen move quite different than on a canvas.   I  keep this tile as a gentle reminder of how far Jamie's Painting & Design has come, it helps when things get crazy....and um at this time of the year, crazy town here I come!

Five Years in Business...yip-yip-yippee!!

November 19, 2007.

It is totally official I have been in business for five years, five very, very long years.  Yessirree - yep, five years, uh.....I wonder when my boss is going to give me a 3 week sabbatical, an anniversary cake  or that engraved watch?  A  party?  Anyone?  Are you guys going to surprise me and take me to El Torrito for lunch? Not even a pen?

Sigh....this is one of the non-perks of owning your own business, no one will be making a speech about me today, or getting me a cake, or flowers, or uh giving me that paper weight I so covet.  I am thinking that pat on the back is not coming either.....

However, it is not so bad.  With five years under my belt I thought I might finish off November with a walk down memory lane.  A sort of (blushing from embarrassment) showing everyone where I started, because we have come a long way.   Warts and all, I have no problem admitting where I came from, what I did to get here, no matter how embarrassing the past is.  It is not that I am ashamed of where we started or where we are today, but it can be painful to go back and look how far you have come.  I would hope it helps others that feel that there is no end in sight, or no end in the orders to fill by December 24th.  So, for the next few posts please, um take a walk down memory lane with me, only if you promise not to laugh:

Original JPD Logo

I speak with business women all the time, those that are trying to get started, establish a brand or just want a cool logo for their company.  I get asked a lot to develop logos, help design websites and even on occasion to develop a mascot. 

Although I may be an artist, I am not a graphic designer.  Now, I am flattered when asked to help someone, however artistically talented, I am not properly equipped.  It is like asking a Major League Baseball Player to go sub in for an NFL game - yes he is a professional, but he is NOT equipped to play that sport.  Not sure if that analogy worked but my husband has the Monday night football game on in the other room and it is SO LOUD!!!  I do NOT, I did not ever develop logos, I leave that to the professionals - I could possibly hurt myself or pull something....sheesh.

Our original logo is from late 2002, and um, well....my husband created it.  Yep, true story - I did not even do our first logo.  Our second one (the existing one) was created by a good friend and a very talented graphic designer....see the difference is, she does this for a living.  Work on your product, your pitch, your sales, your packaging and your customer service and um, try for some local press.  The logo is NOT going to sell the product.  It won't even be remembered five years from now (uh, see that one up there, case in point, I bet no one has even seen it....ever!). 

The Importance of A Logo

So, back to logos- they are not that important when you start out. A logo is a nice to have, and if you can make one or create it yourself, by all means doodle to your hearts content.  But, do not lose focus on your business - the world will keep spinning while you sit around and try to figure out a logo - and I mean it, it will spin baby, it will spin.  I have high school art, two years of graphic design study in college, an art degree, 5 plus years in cartooning, extra art classes, animation for four years, 5 years designing over 350 pieces of original art for my own business.........I can not even design my own logo!

I know what you are thinking, ya but...ya but.....I know I was there, say um five years ago.  I spent hours, and days trying to create this original creative logo that said ceramic art, instead of writing a business plan, going after sales, or painting damn tiles.  My husband literally jumped in and took over - saved me from myself.  He has no art experience, he has no art talent (no it's okay he knows it, just like I can't do math)  he created the simple logo in five minutes.  It is so simple, it is so not thought-out and yet it worked for a good two years.  What is that from school they used to say?  K.I.S.S - Keep It Simple Stupid...or so I do not offend Keep It Simple Silly. 

It really is not about the logo in the beginning, you need to just work on the product - trust me, hubby is still taking credit for that logo.  Humor him please, God knows I do.

This is an old staged photo from early 2003, for some article, or something - but in the beginning I did spend many an afternoon with a baby on my lap and a paint brush in my hand (the crying toddler and barking dog have been so nicely cut from the photo).  The years make us soft and we (me) look back with rose colored glasses, I know.  Sometimes I so miss the one room studio....or maybe it is just the sweet little baby in my arms I miss.  Ya, I am sure that is it.  I miss her, not the rest of it....

I'm Your Biggest Fan!

So...I know, I know I have already spent another recent blog blabbing about the greatness of the marketing guru known as Seth Godin; I am an avid reader of his blog, I just devoured one of his books and am on to the next; I find myself quoting him, and when speaking with others I often scoff, "What do you mean you have not heard of Seth Godin?" And then I realized  I was talking to my daughter's nursery school teacher.  By the time I tried to engage my poor husband in a marketing/advertising debate I thought.........I um, may have a bit of a problem.  I may need to venture out and read something else. 

Yet, I feel the universe had a different idea - I just got the latest issue of Entrepreneur Magazine and quickly started reading it cover to cover.  You will never guess who was a featured in an article?  Go on.....guess!  Guess! Guess!  GUESS!  Yep, my hero, Mr. Godin, the Marketer with the Mostest......he was interviewed about knowing when an Entrepreneur should either cut their losses or keep going, you can read about it in his new book The Dip......Okay um, I really do have a problem. 

Anyhoo.....

First what I love about Seth Godin is his honesty and ability to look at the world of marketing, and marketing your product different.  He sites different ways companies have succeeded and failed marketing their products.  He  tells, if not dares you to become that purple cow, become something that stands out from the pack.   If you were driving down the road and saw a purple cow that would make you stop.  How do you become that purple cow though?  One way was to find your Sneezers: 

Sneezers -  Sneezers are people that spread an idea.  They find something new and they tell their colleagues, friends, admirers about a new product or service.  They are the ones who launch and maintain a products success, or ensures it has legs.  If you are going to rise above the pack you need some Sneezers.  These days they can be writers of blogs, E-Newsletters, E-Zines, Celebrities, Moms, Columnists, Oprah, Dog owners, Donut eaters - all depends on the industry. 

A Sneezer has to be someone who not only likes to tell others about a great product or service, but they are considered a credible source.  They need to be someone people listen to and tend to follow, or take advice from.  Someone who is influential in there groups, an expert in the given topic.  If the crazy lady that walks around my neighborhood with no pants on (true story) tells me about a new restaurant I won't uh, be so ready to eat there.  Yet my good friend who is a brilliant cook and eats out all the time.....you get where I am going with this?

If you are lucky enough to have found some Sneezers, congratulations! You should ask yourself these questions though:

What are you doing to keep them happy? 

Do you listen to them? 

Do you cater to their needs? 

These Sneezers are your most important customers.  Love the Sneezers....cater to your sneezers! 

When you try to sell your product to everyone, you water it down, dilute it.  You will not be an amazing product when you try to sell to everyone.  Sneezers will ignore you.  Think of what a mediocre fast food restaurant In-N-Out Burger would be if they kept adding items to the menu.  They would not be a Purple Cow in a sea of other cows.  People will drive for miles just to eat a burger that is "Animal Style", but really will they drive for miles to get another chicken sandwich?

We have been in business for almost five years.  I have been asked on many occasions to put my art on canvas and sometimes wood.  I refuse.  It is not that I am a dumb business woman - but that is not what Jamie's Painting & Design is about.  You could not call it a ' ceramic keepsake' or a 'long lasting ceramic gift' when it was painted on canvas.  Long lasting - means my artwork is on the tile F-O-R-E-V-E-R.  And again, I ask there are SO many other artists(or one in my opinion, really must I go there again?) who do it SO well, why would I want to enter such a crowded area?   

At last count on one of our channels websites there were 12 different artists creating canvas artwork.  I can easily point you to ten more that are on other websites. Ceramic wall art..........there is one.  Numero Uno, an Island, you know the song from Sesame Street, "One of these kids is doing his own thing..."

Go ahead pick some advice...it's free!

I got to give out advice two times last week....one time it was even asked for.  Well maybe a tad bit few more times i gave it out for free; like the bagger at the grocery store that threw cans on top of my tomatoes; and the woman the cut me off in traffic I gave her a little unwarranted advice of where she could put that finger she was flipping at me; oh, the best was the advice to my four year old daughter that she should always wear pants OVER her underwear...

Anyway this is the tale of two kinds of advice, Business Advice and Personal Advice.  One of them was not really um asked for...you can uh...guess which one I bet.

1. Business Advice

A friend who is a fellow business owner and a good friend called me at the end of the day, she was having 'one of those days'.  She just wanted to commiserate about things, she was tired, plain old tired of doing it all.   I empathized for sure, and I agreed with her, having seen the sad and lonely side of being a sole proprietor.  We did not talk for long, and I did not feel I helped her at all.  After a night of sleep and a couple conversations with my husband I decided I should call her back.  I called her the next morning, and said, "Okay I have thought about what you said and I want to know, do you want my advice or did you just want me to listen to you?"  She said, yes she did value my opinion and she did indeed want my advice.

I told her not to worry about best sellers,or margins, or anything but be true to what her company was based on.  She started to say 'yes, but (my favorite saying) that is not even close to our best seller'.  My response was well figure what you want to do - and do that.  Either let someone else do the "other things" or stop doing everything.  And I threw a quote back at her that she told me years ago, "You can't be everything to everybody". 

Whether she decides to take my advice or not is not the point.  She had called for and asked for advice, not just someone to agree with her.  I hope I helped her. The conversation would have gone very differently had I just blurted out advice during our first conversation.

2. Personal Advice

My sister was not happy about something and she started to tell me about it.  She was just relaying the story and asking if I agreed.  Well, I guess I put my "I'm going to give you advice" hat and I agreed and then gave some advice, then some more....then kept talking.  She (to her credit) said I am not ready to hear that, and that is not what I want to talk about right now.  Then she turned away and kept talking and saying, I do not want to talk about it,  and maybe later I will ask  you.  So as I was leaving the room I then decided to put on another hat, "I am your Big Sister that will Push Your Buttons" hat and I said something.....not nice, not true and not what I meant to say. 

Ah...ya well she blew up at me, she got really mad at me.  I yelled back - a big nasty crying fight with very hurt feelings, hers mostly (Sibling fights are the worst and sometimes nastiest - we know each other oh too well). 

Well the damage was done, I tried to explain what I meant and I tried to calm her down.  I apologized and apologized over and over.  She was really mad at me....um did I mention that already?  I know I deserved her wrath, whether it was true or not it was not warranted and I am kicking myself even as I write this.  In fact I am still trying to pry my size 6 shoe out of my mouth, since firmly planting it there Saturday afternoon.

Problem is I broke cardinal rule number one, I never asked if she wanted my advice.  And...after she TOLD me she did not under any circumstances want any of my advice, I then blurted it out anyway. 

When I worked in computer animation, and on the computer for like 10 hours a day, I started to get some crazy thoughts.  It was usually at the end of a project and after pulling 12 or 14 hour days I would get pretty punch-drunk tired.  I would drop things a lot and say things I should not (lack of sleep and stress-induced deadlines will do that to me).  Anyway, after screwing something up I would always in my head think CTRL+ Z, sometimes I would even say it out loud or type it in the air, hoping by some miracle that I could change history......

CTRL+Z, CTRL + Z....

Marketing 101 for JPD

IMG_0662
Originally uploaded by mama_lentz.

I have been reading, and reading Seth Godin’s blog (http://sethgodin.typepad.com/ ) and I even bought two of his best selling books. He is a marketing guru, agent of change (uh...he has that in his bio) and an entrepreneur to boot. He talks about great products, he recommends we change the way products are marketed and is against the way we USED to be market them, he makes you think….

For the past few weeks I have been struggling with what to do next, and how to do it. I have thought about it for quite awhile, discussed it with key employees, complained to poor hubby and yes I have even blogged about it . Growing a small business can be daunting, and challenging to say the least. When you are not the founder of a multi-million dollar start-up (uh…that would be me I am referring to) you do not always have the connections, the contacts, the marketing budget, the advertising budget…or most importantly the cash you need.

However….I am very, very creative, a bit artistic if I don't say so myself (did I mention humble?), and have been called crafty a few times (don’t call me crafty) and I can paint:

We are very excited to introduce our very first marketing campaign for 2007 (see photo) to drive more direct sales: Sandwich Boards and Arrow signs!

Your children will love listening to their tunes and dancing around on a street corner with these signs. What a fun way to spend your Saturday! We made the signs small and light weight for little hands to hold.  We even designed some special smaller ones for your toddler to hold.

We are taking applications immediately for any children that need a job this Spring Break…*

*Sunglasses, sunscreen, iPod and/or music not included. Check if your desired street corner is still available. 12 and 8 hour shifts available, plus weekends off!

Happy April Everyone!

Paint+Labor=NOT Efficient

Back in Garage painting (early 2003)
Originally uploaded by mama_lentz.

November 21, 2006.

A little glimpse at the by-gone days of Jamie's Painting & Design:

Looking at this photograph, I am not sure if it gives me fond memories or anxiety. But gosh my highlights do look good don't they? This how I used to spend my mornings, evenings, weekends, afternoons....

I can't quite remember when it was taken, or why. I think I was going to be in a catalog as the featured artist and they wanted photos of me in action. But that does not make sense, maybe it was for our website.  Or an article I was going to be in (obviously did not make it in)?

Anyhoo....back then it was just me. I can see there is the first name tile jig in the bag, the ribbons, the paint, the samples, the raffia...(what the heck was that for?), the shipping boxes are just out of sight in the corner. However lonely and isolating, it was sometimes liberating to do it all and be able to create new products alone, in a vacuum.

Then again, IF this was November of 2003 and I was out there painting for the December Rush, it was not relaxing. I had help for shipping and ribbon tying, we basically made them, glazed, fired and shipped out the products....um, some were not yet dry - oh gosh that almost sent me over the edge come January!  We have had a TON of progress since then, become very efficient....

Progress is good.  As a small company, the best advice I can give anyone starting out or fumbling through it is - be as efficient as possible.  I can not stress that enough.  Efficiency is what will make a good company great, make you ready when that big order comes in or Oprah comes a calling (please call, please call!!)  Efficiency should be the word everyone you work with says when you face "challenges" at work.  I believe that efficiency is the difference between success and just getting by.

So this year we will test our new Efficient way of doing things.  Third Full year in business, third full Christmas Season really in business, my husband thinks it will be no big deal this year - he is convinced we won't have any problems, "Easy for you to say!" I say under my breath, as I start working at 5:23 a.m. and he lays on the couch playing Madden Football.....

Some Bad then Some Good

August 31, 2006.

So, not to sound like Debbie Downer, but but yesterday was not a great day.  We had two problems, er challenges (as I have been advised <thanks hubby>to call them).

First, our Office Coordinator that was slated to start in less than a week decided it was not going to work out.  Which puts JPD in a bit of a pickle as we start to slowly creep into Holiday Season (the job had been held open for about a month for this person).  Oh and crying, did I mention that I did not cry?.

Second, I was working with someone and they did not seem to really grasp the job.  After about an hour of training and explaining and showing there was still a huge gap there, and possible language barrier.  Then when the work was done it was exact opposite of what I had done. They may not have understood what I said, or I explained it poorly, or...did not understand the program as well as they claimed. 

Then two things happened soon after:

1. Our very high-end store in Beverly Hills paid us quite a compliment. Let me back track and mention we are manufacturing our products differently now (uh, better I guess).  The owner got two new orders recently and said the writing was the 'most beautiful' we had ever done', so I was thrilled to get that compliment.

2.  Our new Federal Express Rep actually went on our site, read our press, reviewed our products and sent the nicest email complimenting our company.  She then called and continued to compliment JPD (I had to make her stop, it was embarrassing). She also forwarded one of our articles to her Manager (the hook in our SF Chronicle article was that my kids favorite part of the day was handing shipments to our Fed Ex driver and counting them for him).

I decided to forgo the pity party and do something productive.

So, moving forward both incidents has made me write an Office Coordinator job description for Craigslist.  I had to sit down last night and list all the job descriptions, qualifications, perks, etc. It post earlier today.

Second it has forced me to create documentation on our existing process(right now...).  Documenting and writing manuals is a must.  For us to continue to grow and train people, I know this is the right step. 

Though I doubt I will be getting any emails or phone calls with props for my writing of manuals and job descriptions.....

Where do you find the time?

July 26, 2006.

I must get asked this questions once a week, if not more.  Whether it is referring to work, my son's birthday invitations or re-decorating the family room.  More people than not though ask about when I blog (this was started at 6:45 a.m.). 

This got me thinking, and so I started making a mental note as to when I did things.  The quick and dirty answer is multi-task, the long one is figuring out when I did what:

• Making Dinner, re-decorate family room, wash clothes
• Paint at 5 am, dictate at husband who helps update website for me
• Design son's invitations late at night, daughter decorates in a.m. (with close supervision) while getting ready in morning
• Check voice mail while waiting for swimming lessons to start
• Shipping labels in early morning, while waiting for rhinestones to dry on tiles
• Work on products while watching The Daily Show
• Write business plan while driving across state (duh, I was the passenger)
• Read new business book on vacation
• Blog furiously while kids sleep
• Have sales rep fax signed contract, send changes via voice mail from amusement park
• Order supplies while printing orders for week

There ya go, that is what I do.  And asking for help is good, hard but good.  But the biggest thing that I now do is.............say no.

I know, I know, it's stupid (I can hear my daughter saying that's a bad word mommy in my head).  I have had to cancel on engagements, buy instead of bake, drive instead of walk, fast-food (un-healthy, pleases no lectures) instead of home made, gift bags instead of gift-wrapping.

I want to make it clear, I do not feel good about flaking, and I try very hard NOT do it to my kids.  I don't do it all the time, but sometimes I have to say no, or maybe.  Not being able to do it all has been my biggest obstacle, but I think I'll get over it - if I don't my husband will just tease me till I do.

Christmas in July

July 7, 2006.

It should have been Christmas in June if you want the truth.  Every year we have to focus on what we are developing for the holidays.  The products need to be developed, tested, reviewed, tweaked, photographed, sent to channels, added to catalog, shopped around trade shows.  I have done some new holiday ornaments during the year, but now it's crunch time.

New products?  Yes.  New holiday ornaments? Yes. New plates? yes......yes...........yes.  Last year I was still doing this development in our home so I blasted Christmas Carols to get things going......my daughter rearranged my CD's and I can't find them now.  Truth be told I am too tired to go hunting for 25 minutes.....and when I am developing at work the CD's are at home.

So....to add to all the other 'things' going on I am supposed to get super creative and brainstorm, and research and design new products.  The sad part is that this is what I enjoy, this is what I am good at.  All the other business stuff; interviewing, processing orders, shipping, ribboning, adding finishing hardware, not what I am best at.

And - did I mention it was summer?  If you work and have kids you know what that means?  Do you? DO YOU?  We spend a gazillion dollars on camps and then I spend all day driving back and forth dropping off and picking up.  Oh and I must not forget swimming lessons.

I used to work with a woman that would always say, "Find your happy place Jamie, find your happy place."  I so need to find that place...

For now, I am writting lists, and crossing one thing off a day.  As a small business owner, this 'to do list' is a must.  I also must admit that not everything on the list will ever get done..but I try.

Tweaking the Model

June 28, 2006.

Small business = Tweaking

Being an artist, I always want to tweak something.  Whether it was a project in school, faux painting my hall way, a mural in my son's room, or an image on one of our plates - I have the need to look at it and think....hmmm, it just needs a little something right there.  So, you might say I am a 'tweakin' expert', 'cause I swear I get it, I know the need and desire to tweak.

However, had I realized that running a small business would mean continuing to tweak, and tweak, and tweak a little bit more day in and day out - I don't know if I would have jumped on board.  Well, let's face it, I would have said 'bull-sh*t' and done it anyways (assuming the person that told me was wrong).  Running a small business is a continuous tweak, here are a few:

• Changing a shipping procedure to guarantee no breakage
• Tweaking the development so less people actually touch the product
• Tweaking the order entry, changing the naming conventions, shortening lead times
• Finding ways to increase margins, but keep quality
• Tweaking a job description to meet a new job
• Altering art to make a large channel happy
• Adjusting shipping charges to accommodate increased shipping charges
• Changing filing system
• Purchasing in bulk instead of direct
• Removing a product that is not selling

A small business is like a moving target, and what once worked sometimes does not six months later.  Accounting makes me take long hard looks at all aspects of the business quite frequently - trying to find how we can tweak it.  I often think someday I will not have to do so much tweaking, but I am sure there will always be ways to improve.

Many small business owners, mompreneurs if you will - that I know - are not always willing to take that long hard look and make the hard decisions.  I feel that I would rather be the one looking at my product and choose to change it, rather than a customer finding out a problem I had not seen.  You should know your companies strengths and weaknesses - a customer should not be able to shock you with something about where your product falls short.

Hence, taking the time to write this tonight....I am in the middle of a major tweak....and I am procrastinating - cause it's late and I have like one brain cell left.

Multi-tasking or Working Smart?

June 14, 2006.

Multi-tasking, a novel concept to my husband.  He just does not understand it, I describe it, I show him, I do it -- nope, nothing, wave my hands in front of his eyes and they just glaze over.  Having the ability to talk on the phone, fold laundry and make the kids lunch is foreign to my poor hubby, but he is male.

This weekend we are away for a few days without the kids, a long drive across the state - you say blah?  I say YEA!  I am going to use the time to tighten up our business plan and finalize it.  It is a uninterrupted hours of talking an figuring things out.  I can't wait! 

We are also making sure and stop at one of our show rooms and visit one of our high profile stores.  And then hand deliver some of our new summer products for the up coming show.  When first starting out we would always try and find new channels while on vacation.  I still always have my eyes and ears open.

Money, money, money

June 1, 2006.

Who was the idiot that said, "It takes money to make money"?  He (or she) was correct, and I know this, but damn it's frustrating.  Being a small business owner I often have a long list of what we could do with some extra money:

• Printing new collateral
• Updating Existing Products
• Developing New Products
• Getting more sales channels
• New light fixtures for warehouse
• Publicity for new children's products
• Sales for new Pet Division
• Photographing new products
• Sponsoring local sports teams
• Advertising in Trade Magazines
• Do a Major Trade Show

You name it, it's on my  'wish' list.  And that is my short list, that does not even cover what we need to do for the Holiday Season.  I am not even saying we will or won't do any of those things, some have to be done...but others.

I have a really good friend that always says she is going to go out back and shake the money tree, I mentioned this once to my children, (they were asking why we did not have a swimming pool in the back yard, not to mention our yard is dinky) I start mumbling the money tree had NO money left.  A couple of days later my 3 year old pipes up from the back seat of the car, "Mommy can you go check the money tree today, to see if there is any money for a swimming pool?"

Ah, ignorance of childhood...unfortunately I know where the money tree is and I KNOW if I take some money from it, I need to put it back and then some.  So, that's the crummy part of being in charge having to make the hard decisions and determine where and what to spend the money on.  My priorities today may not be the long term priorities.  Some impulsive decision's (Little Circus Themed Name Tiles and a Feather Boa Shop till You Drop Name Plaque) have been busts and a money losers, while others (sending free samples to a high profile store - securing a spot in a major magazine and celebrity clientele) a GREAT idea.  Learn to listen to your gut, I mean who isn't afraid of clowns?

I think my head is going to explode

May 20, 2006.

Ever get so mad that you think your head is going to explode, so every time this happens you say it to your three year old and you both laugh about the absurdity of it?   You know, turn it into a little joke between the two of you?  And then when your parents take your son to look at Christmas lights one night, he belts out, "IF I SEE ONE MORE CHRISTMAS LIGHT I THINK MY HEAD WILL EXPLODE!"  Um, guess I over-used that line a bit much, and had to explain to my mom why I was so stressed (ouch!).

These days, the only time I say that is when I am at work....and everyone else has gone home.  Things that are not finished, things done wrong, items not shipped, development not done...I could go on and on.  And if one more person says to me, "Ya, but...." when I show them the error of their ways, I am POSITIVE my head will explode.

Part of being the boss means having to take the fall (yes we have addressed this before) or the blame.  And sometimes, it even is my error.  Like last week, everyone was running around (literally) trying to find all these order forms, they were on our sheet for processing, but the actual orders were gone.  We looked everywhere, then I thought as a last ditch effort I would have to go home and see if I brought them home.........yep, you guessed it I screwed up.  I had to come back to work with my tail between my legs and apologize upside down and backwards that it was me, I made a big mistake.

So, my point is I take hours or even days before putting anything in writing.  I sit on it, I would like to say I have learned my  lesson (email fight with an ex-sales channel that ended badly).  I try to bring a calmness to the conversation and stay less emotional after finding an error.  I also try to put myself in their shoes, try to remember what it was like to be the employee, part-time,a full-time college student with other stresses in their lives.  And if all else fails, my husband will proof my email, bring me down a notch to realize we are all human, it is not the end of the world, and say, "no Jamie your head will NOT really explode".

Patience...uh sometimes?

May 8, 2006.

Patience - a must when starting and running your own business.

This is my first in a 27 part series on Patience.  What?  You don't think I have patience?  Wait a minute......my husband just fell over from laughter, I have to help him up so he does not swallow his tongue.

Okay, I will admit I am not the most patient person..........um, if we are being honest, I am not patient at all.  This is one of the hardest parts of starting a business for me.  I have to wait for so many different aspects of the business:

• I wait for a possible prospect to answer a New Product Submission
• I wait for a store to put in an existing order
• I wait for the existing channel to send their checks
• I wait for people to review a new version of our website
• I wait for a new channel to run numbers on sell through to see if we will continue to work with them
• I wait for a possible product placement in a major magazine
• I wait for materials to ship
• I wait for EVERYTHING

Being a type 'A' personality (I know you are surprised....stop I am blushing) I have mostly no patience for anything.  I realize that it takes months, sometimes years to establish ones company as a brand, a leader or a sought after partner.  Believe me, in my head I know - but my heart is not so patient.

This has been a difficult thing for me.  When I feel that I do not have the patience for something, I often need to focus on something else that is tangible.  I may need to go into the shipping department and do shipping that gives me a feeling of accomplishment by the end of the day.  Or, I pick up the phone and start cold-calling channels, or follow up on dry sales channels. 

Don't get me wrong, none of these things fill the void of 'WHAT' I am waiting for.  However, it does let me do something that has been on my arm-length to do list that would have otherwise NOT gotten done.

Get - it - in - writting!

May 3, 2006.

Sounds pretty obvious, I know.  You say you KNOW that....well this is easier said than done.  It is so easy to get all excited over a handshake or a or a phone call conversation.  I can tell you from experience if you don't get it in writing, it may be too good to be true.

Here are a few things I never got in writing:

• Feature one of my products in major magazine
• Products carried in a catalog
• High-End website agreed to carry my products
• Store samples ordered over phone, but owner refused when products received
• Boutique agreed to carry products
• Sales Representative agreed to represent my line of products
• Check is in the mail
• Project finished by certain date
• My company's name would be listed in newspaper article
• Competitor's products would not be sold on website
• Competitor would not copy my products
• A contract employee promised to work till a certain date

All of these things were things I was promised, either in person or via phone conversation.  None of them came to fruition.  Sometimes I have been wrong, but more times than not - it never happens if it's not in writing.

The key takeaway is that if someone commits something important to you, then get a confirmation in writing, whether it be email or on letterhead.  Once you have it in writing then you can fall back on it,  besides, it is a binding agreement.  Again, easier said that done, now I try to send a follow-up email to my partners, contract employees, or channels to verify what we discussed. 

sticky notes - everywhere

April 19, 2006.

My 3 1/2 year old loves to draw my pictures on sticky notes.  She writes her name, she asks how to spell things, she draws faces, animals...quite the artist (um, I should know).  In fact, she has been know to leave them all over the house, and for two weeks on every door in the house.  The poor  friend got quite a lecture when she tried to remove them from their designated spots.  She also leaves them around my office, on my computer, in my pocket - little pictures and what she calls 'notes'.

I thought about these notes as I was reading, Fortune Small Business Magazine, http://money.cnn.com/magazines/fsb// ( I am a bit behind on my reading).  Anyhoo....The Small Biz Makeover section mentions Fox Relocation Management use of sticky notes...the phone had been covered by sticky notes on which an RFM employee had scribbled data, prices, contacts. etc.  She goes on to say that all their intellectual property was lost.  Um....that would be MY desk.

The ah-ha moment struck me a little too early this morning....gave me a headache in fact.  I have a pile (yes a pile enough to make a new pad of sticky notes) on my desk.  I have contacts, new stores, new ideas, processes, phone numbers, clients, customers, press contacts, did I mention phone numbers?  So my first instinct was to run over to the office (in my pajamas of course) and put the information into a document...............ah but what document?  And who else should have access to that information? 

All of that information is so important to my business, I need to get it into the correct documents.  When my life is crazy or out of control, I find that getting my work, or desk or paperwork organized and in the correct place helps me out.  I am thinking of giving my daughter all the sticky notes so I am not tempted to use them.

Take a step back....way back

April 18, 2006.

Have you ever had a friend or confidant complain about a problem that they could not figure out?  They go on and on about it, and they just can NOT put their finger on the solution.  You, being able to stand outside of their 'circle of self-pity' can see EXACTLY what the problem is.  You are so smart, you KNOW all.  Now, can you tell them what they are doing wrong?  Probably not....

Being the business owner you need always to figure out the problem.  This is a daunting task and one that most people have trouble with.  You know there is a problem, you know you need to fix it and you KNOW the answer is there, you just can not quite put your finger on it.

Two years ago (almost to the day) we changed a major component of the way we manufactured our products.  When the discussion came up months earlier I held my ground, put my head in the sand (Ala ostrich), drew the line that could not be crossed - I refused to make the leap.  I could not see the big picture, I was being very pig headed and I was making LOTS of assumptions.  I assumed our customers would not be happy with the change, I assumed that no one would sell my products, I assumed wrong (as my uh, husband will reminds me).

Taking that leap of faith (you know the one where everyone said we told you so) taught me a valuable lesson.  I am not always right, and I can not ignore a problem.  Even though I had not solved the problem, I had to be a part of the solution (damn I hated being wrong).

I have learned my lesson, and realized that change is good....it is very good.  Channels dry up, stores close, products lose their appeal, employees leave -  it happens.  However, when one door closes, another ALWAYS opens up.  A good entrepreneur sees the next big thing, sees where to fill in the gaps -always changing, always growing - never getting comfortable or complacent -this is a successful company.

So when a problem arises that you can not solve, or a catastrophe hits your company, stand back.......maybe another step back.

It's all you...

March 23, 2006.

Starting a business is so glamorous and exciting.  You get to be in charge! You get to make all the decisions, you can do what you want when you want to. Work or not work?  These are all decisions that you get to make, and in the beginning it is exhilarating, no one telling YOU what to do.

Hiring an Employee

After awhile you can not do it all anymore.  Any entrepreneur must, at some point, hire someone.  Make sure this first hire is made very carefully.  It is very easy to hire the first person that comes to the door, or first friend or relative that mentions in passing that they are interested in your business.  Once you have hired this person and are able to let go of some of your power and work it can be a relief.  Having someone to bounce ideas off of, someone to do the things you can't do well, or do not like - it's great, at first.

Then they screw up, and it's big.  Your customer is mad.

The Fall Out

It can be hard, but you need to take the fall.  Do not throw your employee under the bus.  Being the business owner, being the one in charge - it's you, it's all you.  You need to make it right and you need to be ready to step in and do whatever it takes. 

I always try and remember this.....and realize most times I did not take the time to train them.

Cheerleader....ya I got that

March 13, 2006.

Starting a business can be lonely, and sometimes you can wake up in the middle of the night and think, "Am I crazy? Will anyone even buy my product?  Why am I doing this?"  There will be bad days, tough decisions, lack of funds, lack of sleep, and tons of stress.  This is when you need to call in a professional, a cheerleader that is - someone that will support you unconditionally.

I am lucky, I have one - and I am married to him.  My husband is my biggest supporter and he will move mountains for me.  When a supplier dried up I was willing to give up on the product, he searched the Internet for weeks trying to locate another one...and he did.  He will come up with marketing ideas, how to save on shipping, where to cut costs, he will also pat me on the back when I need it.  When I am exhausted, spent, feeling like no one understands the pressures of running a business, he always listens (and he must be tired of my rant).  He tells me he is proud of me over and over. 

I thought I had one big hairy cheerleader, until this weekend.  We had a grand opening 'Open House'  at our new office space.  About 75 friends and family came to see our new space and offer congratulations.  The kind words and the oohs and ah's were so unexpected.  I just smiled, and said thank you, claimed it was all smoke & mirrors.  It was very overwhelming and humbling, I am forever grateful for all their support and kindness.

John Sortino writes in his book, "The Complete Idiot's Guide to Being  a Successful Entrepreneur" that everyone needs a cheerleader.  When you are down you need someone to tell you that your idea is great.  Someone that encourages you to take the plunge, take the risk, do whatever it takes to succeed.  He claims that your mom may a great one for the job (like the Outback Steakhouse commercial, 'nobody loves you like your mum').  This is great advice for any entrepreneur, especially us 'mompreneurs', the support is like oxygen, you can't live without it - or succeed without it.