You are Blogging About What?

March 9, 2008.

I have a confession to make, and I am not proud of it -  sometimes I get stuck, I mean really stuck.  I sort of think Twitter is to blame, but le'ts face it - it's me.  I get stuck on what to blog about.  In fact,  I just want to pull my hair out over it.....I sit and think what should I write about.  Or worse I have a great post in my head in the shower and get all excited, get out of the shower and totally forget it.  These days when we (me) are having to get creative in every aspect of my life with finances my brain is fried when it comes to writing a creative blog post.*

I posted last year on Silicon Valley Mom Blogs and on JPD Mom about what I learned at Blogher '08.  I whined, I bitched, I agreed, I disagreed - and I told some amusing tales about what it was like.   Not really a huge deal, but I was thrilled just to attend and truth is it did not change my "blog world" or my blog readers at all.  After the dust settled I decided I would never ever go to another Blogging Conference.  I figured been there done that and got the t-shirt, why should I attend again?

If You Can Not Attend - Ask a Friend

Fast-forward to Blissdom earlier this year (last month I think) and a good friend attended.  She was a featured Mompreneur type here over a year ago and she posted about the event at Bilingual in the Boonies.  I loved her honesty, her advice and her candor.  I actually started thinking maybe I would go to Blogher, just maybe.  Go over there and read her post  and my favorite new quote I would like to have tattooed on my forehead (or at least if someone could write it on my mirror each morning I would be happy.  The quote is:

"Don't fall in love with yourself too much.  Someone is always better, someone is always less fabulous"

I am almost worried that the quote alone could crush Twitter - you know the whole, "what are you doing?".  I am so guilty I almost never write anything other than an announcement about some good news, some press - I mean who is not already sick of hearing about me on Twitter?  I am!  Everyday I read the tweets of those that I follow, I check who is still following me and um, those that dumped me while I slept...........really, while I sleep I can lose followers, I gain them - I don't know why. 

To You I say No Thank You Sir!

I am not attending Surtex, I did not exhibit at this year as I had thought I was going to at least attend.  And oh, let's see the bottom fell out of the Economy and well - My company, Jamie's Painting & Design's extra money went bye bye.  Not going to Surtex this year. 

As for the CHA show in Southern California, earlier this year  - that would be another nope, did not exhibit.  I had really hoped to exhibit, or at least attend it and focus on my licensing of my art.  Did not even pay attention to deadlines or prices - really, the Economy came a knockin' again.

Atlanta- I say no,  New  York Gift Show - um, no.  If you have decided to exhibit, I say good for you and good luck. As for me, I am not so keen on spending about  $8,000 on a trip to Georgia, Las Vegas or New York.  I can not just hope I sell a bunch of inventory to a bunch of stores that might (or might not) be in business by the end of 2009.  I live in California = so big expense for me.  If it works for you - cool, me not so much.  And, if it works for you....it would be great if you could post a blog about it....um kay?  I am needing some good retail news therapy!

And lastly we no longer have our Texas reps any longer - bye bye!  We only picked up about....um one store with them, and they dropped us after only one year.  I was like, okay - not that this past year was awful for retail and the last quarter was worst in what, 27  years?  So here comes January and they wanted to get rid of us - okay, I mean really - my fault?  I don't think so, but you want to drop us - fine, one less headache for me.

Never Say Never

So....as I sit here with a little bit of some blogstipation (pssstttt totally stole the word from Ms. Carrie Weir at Los Politos/Bilingual in the Boonies post) I have a confession to make.  I purchased a ticket on Saturday for Blogher  in Chicago.  I am sort of, alright I am actually excited.  I can not believe I am actually attending again....but me being a glutton for punishment and total crazy competitive self (yes for a short time I was the wii step champion in my home - damn my husband for beating me) I want my blog to improve.   I am going to Blogher '09!  I am hoping to do a little more schmoozin' and boozin - no, I am kidding about the boozin (but it is a weekend without children or husband).  I would really like to meet some more "like-minded bloggers". 

Moving on Up, or Down

Fact of the matter is no one knows what to do now.  Some tell me to spend, others tell me to save, market, advertise, blog, give aways - you name it, I have either been told it or read it.  I have some telling me to expand.......in fact my favorite piece of advice was that I was (and I quote) "You are just marketing to the wrong group of people." Yep, yep - that is why my sales are down.  In the end of 2008 I started marketing to uh, men behind bars that had no children, or family - dang!  

The fact is no one knows is spending much money and consumer confidence is down - you (me, we).  I just read this morning Mr. Warren Buffet says the Economy fell of a cliff....um ya it did!  If you want my advice, I say we  just need to sit back, wait and watch - but be careful out there.  I am making no quick moves, I am not making any risky investments or partnerships.   Times are tough - I am going to make it through this year.....only time will tell who else makes it.

*Ya, ya I took a picture of some peekaboo shoes....again borrowed from Carrie - shoes are it I hear.  They are from a dinner out, where I wore two different shoes.....real smooth - not the first time I did that either...sigh, maybe the Blogging Conference is not for me.

Comments

[Carrie]

You are kind and hilarious -- and so damned honest. Congratulations on the Blogher ticket. I expect a full written report, and lots of pictures of shoes!

[Stacie Dale]

Have fun at Blogher! I think it's good that you are going. You always listen to your gut and if gut says "go", then you should. I agree with not exhibiting at any trade shows...not much out there to trade with stores going OOB. My gut has been telling me to do something new ( actually something old that I did years ago). I'm starting a line of hand-painted dresses to go along with the hand-painted keepsake chests. While business is still surprisingly good for me, I feel like now IS the time to try something new. If nothing else, it gives me a new focus and helps me stop thinking about the economy. Your blog is great and you should nurture it just like anything else you love doing.
PS-Why are good sales reps so hard to come by? I can't even get them to return my emails or phone calls. I feel like giving up on wholesale totally!

[kim]

Hey - I will email you about my thoughts on Blissdom {since I went} Funny, I sorta felt the same way you did about Blogher! But I will tell you why in the email {comment spot is not the best place for what I have to say!}

talk soon!

[kyoot]

I have no idea what i'm missing by not going ot Blogger but I think I read it's a bit like Highschool? :P And yet I still want to go, but Canada air fairs to US, are like robbing banks. I could bop over to Maine and fly over but I hear they are sold out, and I can spend that money on my sippycup addiction