Jamie's Blog

Closing of A Business....no wait NOT Mine

November 21, 2012.

"At the end of your life, you will never regret not having passed one more test, not winning one more verdict or not closing one more deal.  You will regret not spending time with a husband, a friend, a child, or a parent." ~ Barbara Bush

I have had some good & bad times running Jamie's Painting & Design.   I tend to like to focus on the good times (like most everyone) instead of the bad times.  However, the bad memories, or bad times are just as much a part of my ten years in business as are the good times.  Sometimes when things get really bad I start to consider closing Jamie's Painting & Design.  Luckily, I never get past the question, "What the hell would I do?"  As I hit my ten year mark this November I just can't imagine not working on and in this company.  Next year, I may have a different take on the state of Jamie's Painting & Design, but for now  all is good.

Sadly, that is not the case for all of my counterparts, competitors and friends.  The last few years have been tough on the small business owner that makes children's products.  I would say the problems started about five years ago, but I already touched on that - and who wants to go there again?  Some companies weathered the storm, some closed, some licensed their work and some of us stuck it out.  I don't know if it would have been better to close before the storm, or weather the storm only to close after surviving it - but we did what we thought was the best for our company at the time.  Just this past week I have spoken to two other partners/friends that will most likely be closing their doors at the end of 2012 or early in 2013.  This will probably not be my last post of this nature:

Say Goodbye to My Little Dish

It is with a very heavy heart and much sadness to report as of November 9, 2012 My Little Dish has officially stopped taking orders for their very popular Personalized Prayer Plates.  Once those plates are painted and shipped to customers, the doors will be a closing and closing for good.  

This was not an easy decision for them to make, nor was it one they ever thought would actually happen.  After an incredible partnership with a large company ended, London Edwards was left with hefty obligations and wasted inventory.  Her existing sales were not going to be enough to keep My Little Dish profitable.  

London started My Little Dish late in 2001.  It was soon after the 9/11 when like many Americans were craving traditional things in their lives, so was she.  She wanted to find a way to appreciate the small things and create special memories for her children.  It all began with an idea for a dinner plate.

London’s husband. Patrick, had received a set of hand made, personalized plastic plates as a child from a very dear aunt. The plates were being used by her boys and began to show some wear and tear. London adored the idea and decided she wanted to make them their very own plates to use and pass down.  The original Prayer Plate TM was born. The hand painted adorable children's dish had a prayer inscribed around the rim.  It was meant to teach children a variety of dinner prayers.  The company’s original line proved to be a big hit among retailers and even launched a major licensing program with a national gift ware company.

Sad to See Another Business Go

I have written about London and our unique friendship in the past.  I have written about our 
numerous trips to Atlanta, when we attended for fun and when we exhibited and worked together.  I have blogged about her success as a Mompreneur and I have even discussed her incredible luck (and talent) that landed her in the most coveted catalog of the Children's Industry.....Pottery Barn Kids.  Ironically enough, that is one of my popular blog posts and every few months I still get a few random emails from small business owners asking me for the connection to get them into PBK (Connections I never had....it was London, not me with the connections).

"Sometimes when we stare so long at a door that is closing that we see too late the one that is open." ~ Alexander Graham Bell

I started to write this post a few weeks ago, as I was in contact with London as she went through this major life transition.  I have had a hard time trying to write what I felt and how I am guessing she felt during this tough transition.  I hope I was able to help her as she set off on a new chapter of her life.  I don't think this change will alter our friendship, as in the last few years we talked less 'shop' and more life.  Our IM and texting conversations are less and our phone conversations are almost non-existant.  But that does not mean that we are no longer friends, or that I do not think of her constantly and all that she has to wrap up.

As I was writing this post I was able to go back over my posts, her posts and smile remembering happier times.  I also tried ot link to her website, but it has been pulled down already.  For some reason that made me sadder, that made it real.  So it is, one of my competitors, yet one of my best friends in the business is no longer making personalized ceramic plates with me.  We have not spoken in a few weeks but word on the street is she is good with her decision and happy with what her future has in store.  This makes me happy for her and hopeful she is satisfied with her decision.  So, when we talk again we can focus on other things....like life and gossip and where are we going to meet in 2013. 

All Wrapped Up in Warm Biscuit Bedding

November 16, 2012.

I got a call from my past yesterday, and I heard a voice on the other line that I had not heard for over a year.  The voice of a woman that I admired, respected and even idolized at one point in my career.  If there was one person I could attribute the early success of Jamie's Painting & Design (other than my husband) it would be her.  As soon as I heard her Texas drawl it brought me back to the fall of 2003 when we first met.

Meeting Vicki Bodwell

Our partnership with The Warm Biscuit Bedding Company started in the fall of 2003, but did not come to fruition until the catalog featuring our products dropped early in 2004.  But our story did not really start then, it started much earlier for me.  After leaving the work force to become a stay at home mom in the summer of 1999, I remember getting Warm Biscuit Bedding catalogs in the mail.  I would pour over them, wishing I could do something that could be sold in the catalog.  So, wishing I had a creative outlet, other than my current one - faux painting & re-painting my hallway while taking care of my infant son.

After starting Jamie's Painting & Design in the fall of 2002 I slowly quickly started picking up boutiques and on line stores.  By the summer of 2003 I thought I had enough experience and confidence in my product to send Vicki Bodwell, the owner of Warm Biscuit Bedding Company an email.  It took a lot of time, a lot of re-writes and a swift kick from my husband to actually send her the email.  Shocking to me she replied......the Vicki Bodwell I had been following for years.  And not only did she reply, she agreed to carry my products.

Looking back I know for a fact that this was by far one of the most important and altering decisions of my company's existence.  Her decision to take a risk on a small business owner changed the direction of  Jamie's Painting & Design forever.  The doors that her bedding company opened for me were many.  Her sales were nothing we had ever seen, nor would I ever see again in the following years.  It was, and still is probably the highlight of my career in the children's industry. I do not think I have ever been more excited by anything than the prospect of working with the Warm Biscuit Bedding Company.

2004 Changed Everything

I find it hard to explain the pride and the joy I felt when I first saw my signature name tiles wall letters in the WBB catalog.   I had spent time creating a few designs that I thought would compliment her bedding....and they did.  Not only were we in the the catalog, we had the back cover - this is the primereal estate spot if you ever get your product in a catalog.  At the time I did not realize how much of an honor (and risk) this was for Vicki and her team.  Lucky for me we were up for the task and we were able to meet all of the demands of her customers.

Over the years I was able to work with Vicki and her team, we were developing new designs and new products that complimented her bedding.  She started selling our ornaments, birth announcements, plates and name plaques.  We created exclusive designs to compliment most of her bedding.  We brain stormed (eek, how I missed doing that!) on the phone for hours at a time.  I even visited her in New York three times and she came and stayed with me to attend BlogHer together.  Our business relationship quickly turned into a realfriendship.

To say it was fun when we were on that drunken ride of success together, would be a huge understatement.  We were shipping hundreds and hundreds of products out weekly.  We had press, we had excitement and everyone that had a baby knew who we were.  It was like having a bar stool at Cheers for me.  It was an amazing time to own a business, especially a woman owned business.  We were in the eye of the Mompreneur Storm and we reveled in it.  Vicki was held up (correctly) as a huge successful Mompreneur with a very successful bedding company.  It was some good times we shared..... I like to say we'll always have Paris,  I mean those memories.

Everything Good Thing Must Come to an End

Sadly we amicably ended our partnership with The Warm Biscuit Bedding Company in 2009.  We had outgrown each other and found that it was best to go our separate ways.  First we had the crisis with lead in children's products in 2007, then the recession hit all of us in the industry hard in 2008.  Things would never be the same again, everything changed.  Money was tight, orders were smaller and both our business models were changing.  As much as I missed the sales and the brain storming sessions, I missed our friendship....I missed talking to her.  

So, yesterday (and an other call today because we had a whole year to catch up on y'all) wereminisced about the good old days.  I had my own little Glory Days moment with someone that was there in the trenches with me through the good and the bad times.  Sometimes we were on the same track, other times we were not - but we always talked about it.   Talking to Vicki reminded me how much I enjoy keeping my old friends around and why I refuse to replace them.  It was just comforting to talk to a friend in the business. So, when I half joking tell her, "I used to be somebody", at least she laughs and then agrees with me.

 

Expecting (or hoping) to find at Atlanta Gift Show 2012

January 11, 2011.

The last two times I walked shows (San Francisco Gift  Show, New York Gift Show, Stationary Show & Surtex) I did it alone....with a capital A for the most part.  I hated it.  I mean not the show or the walking (though my feet were killing me because I wore heels), I hated just being alone.  I hated eating alone.  I hated walking alone.  I remember walking up to a booth that licensed children's art and trying to talk to them....I was so green I thought they were the actual artists who created the art.  The looks and eye rolls I got from the Blonde Marketing Gals in Skirts would have been humorous if I were not....alone.  I slinked away and licked my wounds all the way back to the hotel.

This Time It Will Be Different

This will be my third trip to the Atlanta Gift Show.  The other two times I was exhibiting at the Gift Show.  This time I am just walking the floor and attending some seminars.  I am beyond excited to be staying with three great like-minded artists/entrepreneurs also.  Shelly Kennedy, London Edwards & Kelly Rightsell will be in my wolf pack this coming weekend....hope things don't go all "Girls Gone Wild" or anything.  I don't know, but having only traveled with London in the past I know how crazy thinks can get when everyone is punch drunk tired.....

What I Hope To See at the Atlanta Gift Show

• I would love to meet or see other business owners & artisans I have worked with in the industry.  It would be great to meet face to face with some of the business owners that have sold my products for the past nine years.  It would be refreshing to also possibly meet up with artisans and manufacturers that I actually exhibited next to or talked with at previous shows.  
• I really want to see the trends and not just read about what the next color or new gimmick everyone is hawking for 2012.  Reading about polka dots and vintage patterns is one thing, but to see it used in bedding, ceramics, wood or even decopauged on actual products is exciting.  I hope to get tons of inspiration on new color combinations and Industry trends.
• To be able to walk the Children's Section, The Home, The Textiles, The Garden, The temporaries & the Permanent Show Rooms will be fun.  Exhausting and pretty much impossible to see everything, but good to do.   For the first time I won't be hiding my badge or taking a quick trip to the restroom before going back to stand for 8  hours straight in a booth.
• Since I won't be wearing the exhibitor badge I won't get the evil eyes from competitors, or catch competitors sneaking into our booth after I left.  The buyers are treated like kings and queens at Trade Shows.  Buyers get schmoozed at the permanent shows, catalogs shoved in their faces in the temporaries and they get free food and cocktails with just a snap of a finger.
• Seeing what (if any attend) my competition is doing.  NO one wants to admit it, but that is something you do at a Trade Show.  It is smart, it is good business and it is what other business owners do.  I won't be taking photographs from smart phone or stealing samples, but I want to take it all in.
• I would love to meet other artists, or like minded people that are crazy....like me.  Some shows I have met some great people, others....not so much.  I am going to enjoy just going under the radar and taking in the sites and the products.

Almost in Atlanta Baby

So, in a nutshell I have a very, very long list of things I would like to accomplish while in Atlanta.  I am so hoping that it all goes smoothly and there is no drama or....wait I so want me some drama!  That makes great blogging, great reality TV and fabulous stories to relive over cocktails, and snorting while laughing.  I can't wait to feel inspired again.....and I hope my inspiration is coming from Atlanta.

 

 

 

 

Just a piece of Pottery Barn

October 20, 2011

I wrote over almost a year ago about submitting my products to Pottery Barn Kids, and admited that my products did not get accepted.  I have to admit getting rejected sucked, it was one of the last feathers I wanted in my JPD cap.  I also blogged about a good friend that was much luckier than I was, she actually got contacted by them and they carry her products as we speak.  

Just when I was not totally focusing on not getting in (kidding), I received this nice email in my inbox:

Jamie,

I stumbled across your blog one day and found it entertaining and informative.  I have some business questions for you when you have time.  In one of your posts you talked about submitting your artwork to Pottery Barn, how did you do that?  How did you present to them?

Debbie

Even though I did not get in, I can honestly say this has worked for other catalogs, websites and physical stores.  Take it with a grain of salt, this may not be the correct way but 9 times out of ten it has worked for me.

So....without further ado I will give more details on my submission to Pottery Barn Kids or any other company with buyers, decision makers and leaders in the Chidlren's Industry.

Getting The Contact

Finding the right person at a company is key to getting your products into the correct

hands.  Make sure you are not just sending them to the secretary that gets the mail or worse the shipping clerk.  You need to do your homework either on the company website, Linked In, Industry contacts, Facebook or just Google.  Linked In is a great place to start and I am betting you can find almost anyone in a place of power on that site.*

You can send an email asking for permission to send products or you can just send them to the buyer.  It is also a good idea to find out when they are meeting to review new products and what they are specifically looking for.  Sending products during the Christmas Rush (August though December) if not requested is usually a waste of time.  

This is what I do/did/dione in the past:

1. Find the buyer and send an email asking if I can submit products. 

2. If I do not hear back with in a week or two, I call the main office and try to speak to the buyer in person.  I will leave one voice message and then if I do not hear back within 3 days I will continue to call but I don't leave another message.  You do not want to annoy them. Also do not get mad or angry or take it personally.  These people are very busy and probably get bombarded with submissions from vendors.  Be patient.

3. If I get permission, I put together a package with my best products....and with Pottery Barn I made exclusive designs.  I did my homework (even though it did no good) and I looked at what was best selling on their site.  Do note that they are already onto the next year's products and what you send is probably NOT going to end up anywhere - but it let's them see what you can do and possibly the items can be tweaked to work with upcoming designs.

4. The package contains a very nice well written letter to the buyer and list what I am sending, what I can do and my prices.  If you have any catalogs, postcards or publicity...include it.  Be careful to not overwhelm them with your entire line (45 pices of pottery) and only send what you want them to consider.  Again, do not waste their time with discontinued pieces or...um, crap.  

5. I try to be patient but I do follow up within about two weeks.  I mark it in my calendar every week or so to check in, again I don't send daily emails or bombard them with phone calls.....  Do your homework and if you do not get a response...be patient. Or better yet when you have initial conversation, ask how they would like to be contacted and when.

6. My biggest regret is when PBK said no I did not ask why, if I had it would have answered lots and lots of unanswered questions.**  If the answer is no....ask why. Take notes, be humble and learn from success and failure.  It is good to know what they liked and what they did not.  They may not tell you, but it is worth a shot.

                                                                                           There Are Always Other Options

If you get rejected, and you probably will....sorry but most companies that send their items to big companies get rejected. Don't be upset, do not give up!  Try again, maybe a new line, a new color combination or better yet a new product.  Keep up on industry news - anywhere you can find information about the company you are trying to get into.

You can also attend or exhibit at a trade show that the buyers are attending.  This a total long shot but you may meet their buyers.  I found that the bigger companies actually wore their badges backwards so that they were not inindated wtih requests.  Another regret when I was walking the San Francisco Gift Show back in 2003 I saw the Nordstrom Baby Representatives and did not have the guts to introduce myself.   Trade Shows are expensive and I DO NOT recommend them....but to each is own and you won't know till you try.  Just realize that there are a lot of large costs. 

If all else fails, maybe find a Representative that works with large companies.  Gift Centers all over the country work with large companies....go get one.  The best are of course New York and Los Angeles but Pottery Barn is based in San Francisco, so....they may have a rep in San Francisco...again do your homework!  You can find other businesses in your industry (or close to it) and see if someone represents them, or maybe if they work with PBK.  

One thing I would not suggest is to out right ask (been there) a stranger in your industry for their contact at a large company...big, big NO, NO.  Imagine you spent an entire year (London of My Little Dish) getting into a great catalog and then had someone actually wants you to give them all your information just like that.  It does not work that way.  And...they are probably under contract to NOT give out the information.

Be Prepared....Be Overly Prepared

If you really want to be a small fish in a big pond, or you want to be play with the big guys....be ready.  Be ready to take on huge orders at a moment's notice. Make sure you can make a profit and produce it in a timely manner.  If you fail with a big company, I am guessing you won't get a second chance.  

Also, know what you and your company can handle...again do your homework.  Even if your dream is to work with Pottery Barn Kids, Land of Nod or any other super large company make sure you can do it well.  It may sound all good and well but if you are a one man shop doing the work of 10 you probably can not handle 500 orders a month.  But then again if you are an entrepreneur at heart I am guessing no one can tell you that you can not do it....or maybe that is just me.

*A search I did today on Linked In for Pottery Barn Buyer listed many buyers, however they were listed with just first name and last initial (Susan B.).  It may be harder than it was for me a year ago, but I am sure you can still find the correct people who make decisisons at PBK.

**I found out almost a year later that the buyer did not dislike my work she hated that it was flat.  She wanted hand painted, she liked to touch things and feel the bumps and strokes and she liked the hand painted look.  I also recently found out she is no longer at PBK.  In large companies people move around a lot....so just because someone said no once, does not mean the answer will always be no.

You Trying to Hack Me....Again?

September 1, 2011

The first time I got my bank account hacked I thought I was going to vomit when I was on the phone with the bank.  I wish I had paid closer attention to my bank statements and the signs and clues that I should I have noticed as they happened.  It happened a number of years ago when my children were still young and I was not paying super close attention to things....like when my debit card kept getting declined over and over again at different stores and restaurants. In fact the time that I recall it happening when I was forced to call the bank was when I was purchasing decorations for the trade show in Atlanta.

Small Children + New Business = Very Stressed-Out Mommy

Finally after months of suspicious behavior I had a store refuse to sell me something until they contacted my bank.  I of course was running late, had two whining children with me and started to freak out at the store.  Apparently when a card gets declined after trying over and over you need to call the bank, not just run it as a credit card....only then did we find the problem.  It seemed that at some suspect website where I ordered a super cute Curious George t-shirt for my daughter's birthday some ass.....er person got my credit card information and had been going to a Gas-n-sip in Florida once a week spending less than $70.00.....so it did not raise a red flag.  

Now, back to the me vomiting while on the phone with the bank - the bank at least refunded everything we had lost and started to keep an eye on my account.  Which, would come in handy since it happened a few more times:

Hip Hop Attorney livin' in Compton Beetoches

Yes, you read that right, someone got my social security card number and had filed tax returns. The best part was I was listed as an attorney (who knew right? ).   I um, was pretty busy too making all of $80,000.00, I was living in Compton and I worked for Hip Hop Attorney....yes, that was name of the company.  I also kept trying to open up some credit at all the IKEA's in Southern California.  I had filed a tax return with H&R Block and they are the ones who figured out that me living in Foster City, yet working in Compton was ridiculous.  I even got to fill out a whole Identity Theft form at the police department...exciting stuff and made for some interesting phone conversations with some creditors calling me....."um no I do not live in Compton.  What?  You called a 650 area code in Northern California. No I told you I am an artist....in Foster City!  What?  Hip Hop Attorney - I do not work there!"

 I have Never Even Been to WalMart

Lastly, about a year ago I got a phone call at home from Wells Fargo (that be my bank) early in the morning on a Saturday.  I sort of got freaked out and was getting all nervous, like the teacher called on me when she knew I had not read last nights homework.  The woman on the other line was not cruel or mean she just kept asking me the same question over and over and I guess I was not speaking loud enough for her.  The conversation went something like this;

"Hello is this Jamie Lentzner?"

"Yes, this is her."

"Mrs. Lentzner this is Wells Fargo Bank and we have some questions for you."

"Um....okay (in my head I am thinking I am in big trouble with my bank....and I need some coffee)."

"Ma'am (shoot....I hate when they say that) can you confirm where you were about two hours ago?"

"Um, asleep."

"Yes, but where where you specifically?"

"I was in my bed."

"No, where were you?  What state were you in?"

"You called me at home.  I was in my own bed. In CALIFORNIA.   Am I in trouble?  Or am I being punkd'?"

"No ma'am you are not being...what did you call it? Punk'd?  Can you confirm that you were not in South Carolina at a WalMart purchasing $800.00 worth of diapers this morning?"

"Bahahahah! What? Diapers? In South Carolina?  I have never even been to a WalMart.  No, no I was not buying diapers this morning." 

"So you are positive that the you did not purchase diapers?"

"Um, yes I am pretty confident."

"Ma'am is that your final answer (well maybe she did not say that, but something like that)?"

"Yes I am positive.  Can I go get some coffee now? I need to go look for a place to stash my $800 worth of diapers in my home.  Kidding! I am kidding!" 

Are You Trying to Hack JPD

We just moved part of the business Wednesday and already we have some big excitement here.  My husband informed me that someone or some thing tried to hack my companies website not once but seven times the other day.  

I said tried, it if of course did not happen because we have a fantastic host and superb security system on our site.  I am told that there were seven different IP addresses trying to crash our site and get credit card numbers.....but again, it did not happen.  Why would my site be targeted I asked (If the hackers had read my blog they would know we are not a million dollar company)?  There is of course no explanation. 

At first I thought it was funny, then I was like, "Really? Really? Hackers?"  I started to really stress about it and worry if it could happen again or if next time they would succeed.  I stupidly started to get all worked up about it and freak out, but we made sure it did not happen.  So, nothing bad happened to our site or to our customers.  I will scratch that off my lisf of things to worry about this week.  I hope I have good luck with that...the worrying part, I tend to stress about things that are not worth worrying about.  I like to use this quote when that happens:

Worrying is like paying money on a debt that may never come due

These Are & Those Were The Days

As I already tweeted or facebooked (is that even a word?) we are downsizing , and we are doing it big time.  I am not saying that I was not sad (okay, yes I cried a few tears if you must know) by the huge change and pressure to downsize.  We are sub-letting space(s)  and moving some employees to work from home.  We can actually do that you know - without sounding like we losing the battle with the Economy.  I am not saying I am thrilled, but to be honest thinking smaller, meaner and leaner sounds pretty good to me these days. 

When we rented our space 4 years ago we were growing in leaps and bounds and had at any night up to 8 employees in the studio working.  It was very cramped and it was exhausting to manage everyone's schedules.  From morning till night we had people coming in and out of our home.  It wasn't their fault, heck I hired them - it was just too much for me to handle.

The Dog Days Are Over....Almost (oh and yes, yes I do  LOVE that song!)

The Economy still...uh sucks, and retail is um oh well it is challenging (I am trying my best to not be negative or have a potty mouth - so work with me) to say the least.  The Economists (the ones that are not totally bipartisan) claim that we will start seeing some real job growth and recovery in the summer of 2011.  I figure the worst is behind us and we can only get better, right?  Like I mentioned in last post - it could be worse, and right now I soooo know that.  I am thankful for all I have and I am still willing to pull up my pants by the boot straps (okay what does that even mean?  Stir-Up pants? Suspenders? Booty straps maybe?). 

Out With the Old In With the....Not Much New

Anyway - our lease is up and we are outta here.  I have actually started to get excited about scaling down and getting rid of extra baggage.  I already have a pile of decorations, frames and office decor on the table in the work room just ready to throw on Craig's List.  I also have a butt load...ton of inventory/samples/errors/duplicate orders to get rid of.  I am thinking 65% to 75% off retail to my Facebook Fans.  We won't have the space to just keep tons and tons of inventory and samples, which again is good and smart (I think).

So, while pulling a part my office space I have been doing a lot of thinking.  Just ripping nails out of walls and photographing all the samples we have in our warehouse has made me think a lot about the past, and mistakes I have made.  While cleaning out our space I came across some interesting items, and by interesting I mean all my notes, invoices and orders from our eight years in  business.  Most importantly (or most depressing) we saved them from 2005, probably the most prosperous year for Jamie's Painting & Design and the worst year for me personally. 

2005....It was the Best of Times, it was the Worst of Times

So after pouring through the entire year in sales for 2005 I am able to look back with (I hope) an un-biased and rational eye.  The good, the bad and the oh so ugly literally jumped off the pages at me.  The orders, the notes take me right back to that year.  The way we stamped each order and signed off on the inking, the ribboning and the shipping - it was so time consuming.  I can see the mistakes we made and I can see the right decisions we made.  I can remember what it felt like, I can recall most of that year.  It was my last year of not sharing (that is code for before I started this blog) of hiding in my "in-house studio/garage" and finally realizing I was/am a really bad manager.  It was a simpler time back then, or so it seemed.

The Worst of Times in 2005:

• My Living Room had popcorn and bubblewrap  in one corner
• We never entertained because of our employees/business/supplies that flowed into every room
• My un-remodeled Master Bath was un-usable due to boxes and boxes of tiles stored in it
• My life was my business, and my business was my life
• I started work  (and my husband also) at 6:00 a.m. and usually till well past midnight 7 days a week
• We got an order for birth certificates for triplets from a channel, but one was still-born.  We refused to charge them for the 3rd birth certificate.  We got a heart-wrenching thank you letter from the customer.
• My daughter was put in the hospital the middle of December because she could not breathe.
• A few days before our drop dead date Warm Biscuit Bedding sent us a 100 page fax with more than 100 missing orders, due to a malfunction in their system (good for orders - bad that we were having a hard time filling all orders).
• At least 30 plates were shipped 2 day  (on our dime) and overnight (again us) to make our guaranteed Christmas deadline
• I was a bitch to everyone
• No really I was not a nice person

The Best of Times in 2005:

• Our orders were huge, people ordered Name Tiles for their daughter ISABELLA....now they order an I
• Everyone paid their bills on time
• Most companies gave us credit cards and they were never over their limits....NEVER!
• My employees made a lot of money and were paid top dollar to paint/ink our tiles
• I never had to take off my slippers to go to work
• That was the year Roy Disney ordered a tile
• We grew the business by 50% from the year earlier
• Darin (husband in case you are new) worked with me a lot - which I totally enjoyed.
• We had our first TV appearance at the un-godly hour of 6:00 a.m.......for one of our ornaments on The CBS Early Show.
• I got to work with some fabulous women, and I so looked forward to when they came into the office/studio/garage.

 The Past is in The Past

I am not one to really focus or obsess on the past.  I have never been that person, and I do not plan on changing.  When my friends were crying because our children stopped breast feeding, or started walking & talking - I was celebrating.  I approached parenthood like a project, with me checking of an invisible box when my child reached a milestone.    After each big event I gave a big "Hoo Ha!" and waited for the next.  I embraced change, I encouraged growth and I detested trying to hold our children back, but instead focused on moving them forward.

My business, though not as monumental or important as raising my children I have tried to come at it with the same philosophy.  It is hard for me to talk with young (wait for it, I am not being evil)  entrepreneurs that only came into their business within the last 2 or 3 years.  It is just that being an Entrepreneur during a Recession is not like being one during the Glory Days.  Yes, some things are similar - most are not.  Their growth is nothing like mine was and their losses are nothing like mine are/were.  Though in their defense they are probably smarter, leaner and more timid when it comes to taking risks.  Even as little as their companies  grow, they see the best, they are so positive - they are me from five, four or even eight years ago, an even though I do not want to go back to 2005, I wish I could talk to that me.  I wish I could give the me of January of 2005 a bit of advice.  And not that I have given it much thought (oh but I have), my speech would go something like this;

"Look Jamie I know that the last three years have been amazing and your business has been all that you can think of (or talk about - and trust me, your friends & family have all heard just about enough about it), but times are changing.  This year is going to be your toughest yet.  You will find yourself hiring a large number of employees. Please remember, with managing people comes a great responsibility.  You may (will) have to acknowledge that you are not a very good manager.  While we are discussing your weaknesses, I happen to know that  you do not separate business from personal life very well either.   Don't shoot the messenger, but this year will bring you to your knees - literally, not metaphorically.  You will be forced to accept that you can not separate business and home life and let's face it your business may (well will, but I am the wiser Jamie of 2011) over-run your home life.  Sales will be good or dare I say it better than ever."  

"Though I ask you at what cost?  I advice you to stay calm, stay sane and realize that this growth you have experienced will not keep up forever.  Look at the history of our country.  Lastly Jamie - try not to be so tightly wound and anal.  Try really hard not to be a.....uh a bitch.  You will thank me later.  Also, don't be in such a hurry to move the business out of the house.  Times are not as bad as you think, and you can work better/smarter/more efficient if you are willing to look at other options.   Lastly I would suggest you breathe, just breathe and enjoy your success - it will not last forever." 

Back to the Future of 2011

Oh how I wish like Back to the Future the Older Marty McFly could have sat me down and gave me that speech....oh wait I guess it would have been the older wiser Jamie McFly.  Anyways, if anything at least I have learned and grown from my very very hard lessons.  I hope I did not hurt those that worked for me.  I hope that they have forgiven me for the way I was.  As I look to downsize I think quite a bit about all those employees that worked with me in my garage.  I look around my now empty garage and wonder what they think of those years.  I may never know,  but I hope they know I am sorry and I wish I had handled that year better.

Top Ten Things I Didn't Share in 2010

When I was a little girl I always loved the end of the year specials on the news.  They would go over the highs and lows of what happened that year.  I was always so upset if I missed "The Year in Review".  As I got older I became obsessed with the top 10 songs of the year or the top 10 celebrities, top 10 books - I still get all sucked in to those stories. 

I thought maybe I should do that, well not 10 best things but my Year in Review on the blog.  Then I realized that was pretty much the easy way out and I would only be me just cutting and pasting parts of posts I wrote this past year.   Instead I am going to share the top ten things I did NOT share with you this year.  Sometimes I did not feel it warranted a whole post, other times I did not want to share.  Yet, here we are at the end of the year and I figured what the hell I will share what I have learned and what I have NOT blogged about;

1. The End of Warm Biscuit Partnership

Sadly we ended our 6 year relationship with The Warm Biscuit Bedding Company.  There was not knock-out drag out fight or an email battle, we just went our separate ways.  I will only say that with the tough Economy we need to be paid within our 30 day agreement or have a credit card on file - times are/were/still are tough.  Some larger companies are not able to do that - so that is that.

Truth is I really do miss working with them and the friendship I had with their founder, Vicki Bodwell.  What I miss most is the collaborative designing her like I used to do.  She was and is one of the most creative and talented people I have ever met.  Talking  to her could be exhausting at times, she would bounce from one idea to another - I could not take notes fast enough to keep up with her very active mind.  Yet, even if I was exhausted after the call I was ALWAYS energized, motivated and inspired.  I miss those calls.

2. Wall Tiles Fundraiser Project & Then Again

We did another wall tile fundraiser for a local grammar school in San Mateo.  The project lasted most of the first part of 2010 and was finished right before school ended.  When we ordered the tiles from our supplier and discussed the tiles being hung outside and in the sun, there response was something like (and yes I may be exaggerating, but they did say OK) "Okey Dokey sounds fine by us.....how do you want to pay for that?"  What they should have said was, "Um you should not have our tiles hung in direct sunlight because they will fade.....how do you want to pay for that?"

What happened is we had to do the tiles twice, because they were hung in direct sun light.  It was an unfortunate incident and I felt awful for the school.  However, I did the right thing and I got a discount when we re-ordered the tiles....again for the school.  Our supplier apologized for not being forthright and then asked for our credit card number.  A hard lesson to learn during a very hard year.

3. No Sales + Late Payments = Late or No Rent

For the first time in the last four years of renting our space we have NEVER not been able to pay rent.  This year I got to give the 'ol "Never Say Never" speech.  It was a very depressing fact and it was sobering to watch our sales slow down even more than the previous year.  If 2008 saw the Economy collapse, then 2009 was flat I would say 2010 just sucked.  Almost every one of my channels that I spoke with agreed with me - sales were worse in 2010 then 2009.  Other small business owners that I spoke with had similar experiences with their business.  So, we paid rent late and sometimes we paid it even later.  It was not my finest moment - but we survived. 

4. Businesses Are Still Closing Down

Sadly this year we said good bye to some fabulously talented women and businesses in our industry and some other industries.  Some of sales channels closed their doors, other companies focussed on direct and some artists closed up shop.  I will miss talking shop with these talented women;

• Kristen Sloop of Kootie Bug Designs
• Carrie Sommer of Sommer Designs
• Diane Cullen Page of CCC Gifts

There are countless other small boutique stores and websites that quietly closed their doors this year.  Many of them were run by some amazing women that I used to enjoy talking with over the past eight years.

5. Drooz Studio is Copied....Again

Even though I am amazed and maybe some would say a tad obsessed with artists copying other artists, I am still shocked when it happens.  And, it always seems to happen to the very talented Ms. Shelly Kennedy.  I almost wish she would just release new products she would put a disclaimer on the back of each piece that says something like;

"This original piece of artwork is great isn't it?  Please do not copy it - because I will find out.  I will not be happy and it is NOT legal.  Did you catch that last part?  It is illegal."

I do not know what or if anything happened when Shelly saw this product, her product copied and sold through another channel.  I can only imagine and hope she make them stop it.

6.  New Blog Home at The Mommie's Diaries....for a short time

After the demise of Silicon Valley Mom Blog this summer I wanted to find a new home where I could write about life with children.  I tried it out at Parenting on the Peninsula for a few months but it the end I bit off more than I could chew.  I had to blog once a week and it had to be up by 11:00 a.m Sunday morning.  I can't even blog on my OWN blog once a week let alone someone elses!  And, if you must know I do love me some sleeping in on the weekends when I am not being forced to hall my ass to some softball or soccer game.  So there.  I sadly had to give my resignation and I no longer blog for anyone but me!

7. 80 Ornaments You Say? Why, Yes We Can!

For the past three years we have gotten a rather huge order from a housing development back East.  And this year we got the same order.  We give the wonderful customer a small discount andd we make 80 ornaments for them to pass out to their entire neighborhood at their annual holiday party thing.  I had every intention of photographing the large order going out and then they were ribboned and shipped, but then I felt sort of weird about it and did not want to be a braggard.  So, for the record I am not braggin - just saying it was not all bad in 2010.

8. Celebrity Client Drew Brees & Then Some

Okay, so I have had celebrities before.  For the record Charlize Theron has my dog plates, Roy  Disney ordered a birth certificate for a relative, Oprah & Ellen have ornaments by me,  and Nicole Kidman got a birth certificate for a gift.  The woman who wrote Legally Blond once ordered 50 princess plates for her daughter's birthday party.  Larry Sanders sent a birth certificate to Adam Sandler and now I have made ornaments and a birth annoucement for the one and only Drew Brees of the New Orleans Saints.

These are all just cool little tidbits I get to throw out there at cocktail parties and um when I try to impress an ex-boyfriend or a reporter.  Until one of these celebs decides to either have their child's room filmed for People Magazine or wanders around outside with my birth certificate around their neck - my business won't be changing much.  But still - happy to have 'em and shout out to Mr. & Mrs. Drew Brees and his family .

9. Moving On Down....Not Up

We are leaving our rental space and soon.  We need to find smaller and cheaper space.  It may even be (though doubtful) in another city.  When we got this space we had 4 other employees and it was the smallest space available in Foster City, oh and times were booming.  Now - not so much.  The thing is we could run the company in about half of the space we use now, and I could work from home more. 

We had a perfect place that I was super excited about moving into....and yes, re-decorating smaller, smarter - I had so many ideas.  And then while signing the 35 page contract I saw on the last page in itty bitty (well maybe not but still) font there was an extra $255.42 (yes I memorized it) added on to each month's rent.  Not that much you say?  Well, no it is not - but yes, it sort of is these days.  Worst yet was that it was SNUCK in there, had I not paid attention and signed the contract I never would have known.  So, I am back to trying to find us a new rental space.

10.  Life Is Shorter in 2010

This year has seen many friends get sick, marriages dissolve and worse - people have passed away.  I have seen first hand the devastating effects of disease and the loss of loved ones.  I have vowed to live more, love better and enjoy life.  I realize that it is not the end of the world if business is slow or even if we do close our doors.  Life is so short and so precious that I pledge to live each day to all it is worth.  When asked this holiday season how business was, I was able to honestly say, "It was not great, but that was fine.  I am healthy happy, my kids are healthy - we were good." 

Here is to wishing everyone who has taken the time to read/comment/spam my blog a very happy healthy (and maybe wealthy) new year.  May you have a better 2011 than 2o10 and may you live life to it's fullest.

Ladies Don't Start a Business, Just Have Babies?

I read a blog post yesterday that really made me think about what it took to own/start a business.  Penelope Trunk, founder of Brazen Careerist wrote a post on Tech Crunch titled, Women Don't Want to Run Startups Because They'd Rather Have Children.  In the post she touches on many broad points and makes tons of assumptions about women entrepreneurs and mother's that own their own businesses.   She does this of course AFTER she has decided to pretty much take a step way back and let other people run her third Start-up.   She is pretty much pointing her finger at VC backed Tech companies - but she makes some bold and assumed statements about female entrepreneurs. 

Here are the highlights, if you don't have the time (or stomach) to read it:

• Starting a business can be Hell
• Women are under pressure to have kids - they have biological clocks
• Women don't want to give up their personal life in exchange for the next big Thing
• She won't even go there regarding women with young children that start a business
• She compares the stupid farms people build in Farmville to how Men and Women differ
• Women want a lifestyle business, so they can control their time, work & be flexible with raising kids

Just for the Hell of it, let me counter, question or decipher her points:

Starting a Business Is Hell

Yes, yes, yes sister  it sure can be Hell!  But uh, anyone in this day and age that does not know that has been living under a rock or is really lacking in the whole brain department.  I mean, gee thanks for starting the obvious.   I sort of loathe people that fail (and yes I know harsh words, but she did fail) at something and then tell everyone else NOT to do it.  It is demoralizing and patronizing.  I mean she is right about the whole starting a business is hell....but it is also a hell of a good time.  Those first two years for me  were mostly exciting, amazing and exhilarating.  Everything was so new and so much fun.  I was Leo DiCaprio in The Titanic, "I'm on top of the world!"

Women Are Under Pressure to Have Kids - Due to Their Biological Clocks

What?  Really? Is it real? No, it is not it was actually conceived as a metaphor for the sense of urgency some women feel regarding reaching menopause, being childless or arriving at her thirties unmarried and without a suitor.  We don't really have the biological clocks - but some of us do have the need, want and desire to have children.  I don't like the fact that she lumps all women into this nice little decisive statement.  Even though I am not who she is talking about, since I started my business after I threw the damn clock away.  I already had my children....then I started the business thank you very much.

Women Don't want to Give Up Personal life for the Next Big Thing

The funny thing is when I started Jamie's Painting & Design I thought, no I knew I was going to be the next big thing.     Okay not like Mark Zuckerberg or Bill Gates....but I was positive I was the next Rachel Ashwell or even Martha Stewart.  I had such conviction and an ego that was huge.  I could actually taste that desire for total world domination thing.  And, for those first few years I did give up a LOT of my personal life....a lot.  Our social card was empty, I worked while the children slept, I was  thinking and talking about my business all of the time (shout out to those friends that are still my friends....I must have been hell-a annoying back then).  It consumed me, like most entrepreneurs - I was obsessed with my baby.  But, back to her statement, it is so final and um broad reaching.  She, Penelope decided to quit.  She decided she wanted more of her personal and private family life.  I mean, she is even sort of snide saying that she wants to be the center of her family NOT her company.

The Impossibility of Starting a Business with Young Children

The crazy thing is she did this, her sons are young, she even says it in the article.  But, back to the fact that she did not succeed at it, soooooo no one else should try.  I did take offense to this part of the article since I was the one who did exactly that, but then I realized she has no idea who Jamie Lentzner is or what the hell to the L what  Jamie's Painting & Design does.  Since I am not going after VC money and I don't make some snazzy tech gadget...I am not that woman she is thumbing her nose at.  But, I still don't like the statement - so there.

Playing Farmville Shows the Differences Between Men & Women

I hate, hate, hate Farmville.  I never ever had the desire or time to play it.  I have seen it, I have watched it being played...and I don't get he attraction.  Maybe I am biased due to my total disregard and violent hatred of the game but still, I am not sure about her comparision.  She claims that women build colorful fun farms and men build big McManssion farms, proving that is why so few women pitch to Venture Capitalists and that even fewer get funding.  Okay?  So I say to her - what does my (if I had one) fancy farm have to do with me asking or not asking for money?  That means nothing to anyone.  I think it proves that these men spend way too much time on their computers and Facebook.  Or the men that built these huge farms are actually over compensating for something. 

Women Want a Life Style Business - To Control Their Life

Okay now I am thinking she is looking at me.  I have said this, wrote this, blogged this, cried this and screamed this.  I like the control, but doesn't everybody?  I have yet to meet a 40 something woman that did not like being in control of her own life.  We can't stay 3 forever people - we need to learn how to get dressed, earn a living and use the toilet.  Am I right?  I think men start their businesses for the same reasons - to control their own destiny.  Most uber successful entrepreneurs (I am thinking Donald Trump not Louie my Dry Cleaner) even have enormous egos and love being in control of their own lives.

But What Kind of Entrepreneur am I?

The post, as you can imagine got a ton of comments (482 at last count) and most were from women  with and without biological clocks screaming at her.  When I first read it I did take it personally and got all, "Oh no she didn't...." and I wanted to write a nasty comment.  Then I read it a few more times and I was not as irritated as I sort of confused.  I mean, I agree with her on some parts of the article (that would be one part), but coming on the heels of deciding she can not and will not do it all, sort of sounds like sour grapes. 

I do know one thing, oh she is so not talking about me or  Jamie's Painting & Design.  She doesn't even know my name (see another Sixteen Candles reference...I think I will start slipping them into EVERY post from here on out).  She knows nothing about what I do, or other like-minded women in small industries do.  I tend to buy into the whole You can have it all, just not at the same time theory and my personal favorite quote, "Life is hard...deal with it".  But I also think that a woman should not be held back by a ill-concieved pretend biological clock, or her real biological children.....I am just sayin' from experience and all.

Have I Said Everything?

I do not want to go back to the year I apologized constantly about my lack of posting - but my posts are lacking, or I am lacking the ability to post.  The last time this happened I got a large amount of emails and phone calls of people begging me to just shut up and blog.  Everyone was so sick of hearing me start each blog blushing with my head down and twisting my hat in my hands, begging for forgiveness.  I am older and not quite in the mood to ask for forgiveness these days.  I feel more like Popeye these days, swinging my muscled arms and stating, "I am what I am".

I have been asking myself how I have gotten to this point.  How could I have written all there is to write?  It is not like I have an army of apprentices that I call grasshopper.  I did not sell my business to Google or receive that most coveted call from The Oprah to feature my product.  None of those things have happened - so how could I know everything? Why do I have writer's block?  What is wrong with me?  This is what I have thought about so far:

Why This Even Started

I started writing this blog because I felt I had something to say, something that people wanted to hear.  I found nothing on the Internet that gave help, advice or even an honest view of what it took to run a business.  and not just any business, but a business run by a woman and most likely a mother.  Our problems were different, our solutions were creative and our failures were unique.  The words literally came bubbling out of me, like nothing I had ever known.  I did not realize I had so much I needed to share, or wanted to share.  I had to be vague sometimes and coy not sharing too much.  I felt that if my competition read this I would be in trouble.

As the years went by and some of my competition fell by the way side, went bankrupt or just kept hand painting, I became more open.  I am not being cruel or mocking them - I decided I just decided not to hand paint my tiles.  I felt I could either paint or I could design more and manufacture products.  I shared what had worked for me and I tried to explain how I did it.  I could produce more products (and better) for my customers, lots and lots of customers.  I am happy with my choice and I am not quiet about it.  I think my way was right, and um well it worked for me.  Yet, I am second guessing myself these days.  Did I share too much?  Was it better when I was not SO honest?

The Economy....Really Must We Go there Again?

The last two years have been hard...how many times have I written that sentence.  Anyone that can answer that question gets a years worth of SPAM and some new Ceramic Tiles for their child's room. I think I have beaten that poor dead horse enough.  Even though it has all but consumed me or the past years, I have sort of become a broken record

How many times can I discuss how hard the last two years have been?  Maybe not everyone has felt the pinch, probably the smaller the business the harder it has been.  Or it could be some industries suffered more than others?  Until the Economy rebounds and we are all spending money again, this weighs heavy me, hence why I write about it....a lot.  But, even I am getting tired of writing about it....I am sick of it - fix the Economy already!

Blogging to Blog or Blogging to Connect

Sadly, I sort of wonder if I have said everything I have to say that about running a business.  Without giving a list of my sales channels, my press releases and all of my bank account numbers I wonder if I am of done.  But still, I love to write - I enjoy to connect with others.  I am trying hard to find new topics to discuss.  I am not giving up, I am not closing down.  I am just wondering....what the hell else can I write?  (pst....that is not an open ended question either...I would REALLY like to know).

Do not worry, this is not my swan song, I am not riding my horse off into the sunset today.  I just thought I would be honest here (lying not my thing so much....but you knew that right?).  Truth be told I am frustrated.  I literally bang my head against the wall weekly, trying to figure out what to wear......write.  Not much has changed in the past few years, hence the head banging.  I am sure I will figure something out, or something will happen - it always does.

Curse my IT Department!

When I worked for The Learning Company if I ever had a computer problem all I had to do was contact the IT department to come help me out.  Within 5 minutes one particular IT guy would come to my little cubicle and make everything right.  He had glasses, long sideburns and always wore large belt buckles.  If I am not mistaken he had a love for country music and trucks.  I may have been invited to a concert once or twice.  Regardless, he made everything all better; like when I did not understand why our connection was down, or the printer did not hook up or um even when I could not figure out where the network was. 

Small Business has No IT guy

Sometimes I sit and wonder where my IT guy is now, I daydream that he might some day come in and sweep my computer off my desk and make all my computer problems go away.  I miss him, I miss my IT guy, I have no IT guy.....I am the IT guy.

Today was one of those days where I sat and wondered about my IT department.  The reason was due to a snafu or a "reasons we can't explain" as the lovely lady at AT&T called it.  My internet went down and I had to figure out why, yep me, myself and I on the phone with AT&T.

Tech Support On The Phone

First I argued back and forth with tech support regarding the fact that we had changed our plan and changed our DSL lines and I was pretty sure that AT&T had turned off the wrong line (it has happened numerous times and only AFTER we turned a line off or changed it).  The guy told me his name was Angel....yes he said Angel and he could help me.  He also said no, he was sure my router was broken, or my phone line, modem or....maybe rabid squirrels ate through the cables and reconfigured my computer while I was out - I sort of stopped listening after the seventh possibility.  Well maybe he did not say squirrels, but he might have - I had no idea what he was talking about. 

We went back and forth with what could of happened for about ten minutes.  I finally interrupted him and asked him to help me fix it...just explain to me slowly what I had to do.  I may have gotten a tad irritated but I did not start crying (been there, done that).  He started by explaining to me what cord to un-plug from the modem, and back into the router, the phone, then the computer. The phone conversation went something like this; 

Angel: "Take the blue cord from your router and put it into your computer.  Now ma'am take the cord from your modem and put it in your router, now put the cord from your Modem into your computer.  Did you do that ma'am?"

Me: "Yes I (grunt, whimper) sorry I had to pull my hard drive out and I am now laying (breathing hard)on the ground plugging and un-plugging cords...I did that."

Angel: "Are you okay ma'am....you sound like you are struggling ma'am."

Me: "I am fine Angel, just having to tear my entire system apart and plug and un-plug things."

Angel: "Phone line working or not ma'am?  What about the internet ma'am?"

Me: " I am on the phone so that works. No Angel, the internet is not working."

Angel: "Try to plug this number in....now this one...now this one....does that work Ma'am?"

Me: "Nope, no not that one....no that does not work either."

Angel: "What does your router say ma'am?" 

Me: (It doesn't say anything.....hahahahaha but it blinks) "Sorry I was day dreaming, um it is not lit up, it is blinking."

Angel: "Do you have internet now ma'am? How about now? Now ma'am?"

Jamie: "No, no....wait now it works.  It works!  It works in safe mode and when I bypass the router."

Angel: "Okay good that is a start.  Is your modem old or new ma'am?"

Jamie "Um, here is the deal could you please stop calling me ma'am?  I hate being called ma'am.  It makes me feel old and I am not old enough to be called ma'am....call me Jamie, please."

Angel:"How old are you ma'am....er Ms. Lentzner.......I mean Jamie?"

Jamie"I am 40."

Angel "Wow - that's how old my Mom is.  I am 22"

Jamie "Never mind, Thanks - ma'am is fine."

How do I talk to an Angel?

All kidding aside after 2 hours on the phone with Angel I was ready to get his home address and send him a Christmas card.  He was very patient and not once told me that I may be a total ignoramus for not understanding my internet, or remembering ANY of my passwords.  We discussed our past vacations, how he still got carded and his lack of a Texas accent (he was working at a call center in Texas).  I was a tad bit smitten by him - he had helped me and all was good.  All was going to be hunky-dory....until he told me this.

Angel: "Um Jamie (yes we got past the ma'am formality) I am not certified to take this call any further.  I need to forward you to the Tech Support that handles router problems.  Uh.....and they will be charging you for the call.  I am real sorry, you can ask for a payment plan...."

Me: "Fine, whatever....thanks for your help, you have been very nice.  Sorry for uh being rude in the beginning. Take care.....(call me?)"

Angel:"You too Mrs. Lentzner, ma'am....Jamie I mean.  I will send you an email"

Three Hours Later

I got into a fight with another more senior IT department person, her name was Talon.  Is it just me or have I entered like a strange universe with names?  It was like a Percy Jackson book, or a Greek Mythology novel I may have read in college.  I was sure that her supervisor Zeus was going to get on the line.

Anyway, I was trying to prove that my phone line was NOT disconnected since I was talking to her on it.  I also go to argue that NO I could not go on the website to fix the problem because....I HAD NO INTERNET!  My accountant (mother) came in to the office on her day off to help with the problem.  She got to argue and fight with Tallon also.  And, once again we were reminded no less than 7 times that this was our problem and we had to pay for this service.  Ya....that would be the service that AT&T screwed up when they turned off one of our phone lines, then turned it back on - this screwed up our Internet address.  We finally got a tech support person (I was hoping his name was Falcon, Medusa or Apollo....but I think it was Frank) to get our Internet working. 

And That's The End

At the end of the day all was well at Jamie's Painting & Design.  Our internet was up, email was working and the birds were chirping............uh not really, but we had internet so Hallelujah!  We (me and my Mom) did get it all up and running, even without an IT department and me having not one idea which cord went where or what the hell I was doing.   Guess my IT department consists of me, my mother, Talon, Angel and Frank.  I hope Angel doesn't come into my office tomorrow and try to get me to go to a Billy Ray Cyrus concert....I may have to say yes.

Getting into Pottery Barn Kids

My very, very good friend London Edwards has done the impossible.  She has her products for sale in the Pottery Barn Kids catalog and website.   There were ups and downs, good and bad days.  It was a very long process that started last fall and just finally came to fruition last week.  Her products debuted on the Pottery Barn Kids site late Thursday, July 22, 2010. 

If you are like me and wondering how the hell...er heck did she do that - well I found out.  Actually, I lived through it with her most of the past year. She was nice enough to answer a few questions to help others that might (like who wouldn't?) want to get into Pottery Barn Kids.

Can we get a little history about your Company, My Little Dish?

London - I started My Little Dish in 2001.  Began wholesaling immediately with local stores, I never did any local shows.  We did our first trade show in the first few months and again 6 months after that.  Even though now I think trade shows are a waste of money, but I did learn the term "Licensing" from a neighboring booth.  That turned out to be helpful in 2004 when I licensed some of my products.

How did you get into PBK? Did they contact you? 

London- They called late one afternoon. I didn't answer because it was after hours and normally don't even check voice mail until the next day. Something told me to check right away and when I did, I about fell out of my chair.  (I still have that voice mail saved on my phone.  I also have the voice mail from when she called to confirm they were adding them to the new line.)  I called them back and spoke to the senior buyer, who said they needed samples immediately could I overnight them!

I guess I should have asked her how on earth they found her, because I still do not know.  I am guessing that if the buyer was searching for personalized dishes or plates, My Little Dish would be one of the first to come up.  Something I wish I knew when starting a company, it helps to have the product name in the company name.  I can not tell you how many times I am called to paint a house, paint a sale sign at a Burger King or ask if I am hirng contract painters.

What was the process like?

London - The process was long. Actually that's an understatement.  From conception to the finished product it was exactly 8 months.  With a lot of back and forth, design changes, many more samples and dealing with dozens of different people. Everyone I dealt with was very nice, but big companies can be interesting to deal with.  Everything has to go through senior designers and buyers and they change their minds more than a teenage girl changes clothes!

Ahhhhh, like I said in the intro, I was going along with her on this entire ride, getting emails, texts and phone calls from her weekly and sometimes daily.  I know for a fact it could be very frustrating sometimes for her , especially if you are not used to collaborating with so many people on your designs.  When working with big companies (I have done it) you take the good with the bad and learn that it is not just you but an entire design team that is helping (or hindering) your designs.

How did you come up with your designs?  Was it a collaborative effort?

London - They asked me for my top sellers and told me what they were looking for (sort of in a very vague manner) and I painted all 12 designs in both girl and boy colors.  After they looked them over and told me they loved them, they started to pick them apart.  They didn't like the black, could I change text color? This pink was too light, but that one was too dark.  So after a few more batches of samples, we finally narrowed it down.  Then they sent me a few bedding samples and asked for designs based on that.  Voila! Done, sent the samples. They loved them and were going to take all of them.......then they weren't going to take all of them.  Indecisive definitely, but with so many cooks in the kitchen, I got it!  They were always very polite and very appreciative of everything, so it made the changes very bearable.  I have been very appreciative of how kind everyone has been there. You hear stories about big companies. I have stories about some big companies.  But this company has not disappointed me in the least, yet.

Was there anything crazy or funny that they asked you?

London - I can't remember anything they asked, but I can remember a comment that blew me away when talking to the first Buyer.  She wanted a price break, because (of course) they are a profit driven company.  When I asked her for the volume they thought they would do so I could run numbers, she said a similar product sold 10,000.  10,000 units? 10,000 dollars?  For a quarter, for a year what?  She said $10,000.  I assumed she meant in a year. (Which my accountant informed me that plenty of my accounts sell that much in a year, so a price break might not be worth it.)  Sooo.......I emailed her as much.  Within seconds she shot back an email saying "No, that is $10,000 a week!!!!!!!"  I began laughing hysterically.  I'm not sure why, if I found it funny, or if it scared the hell out of me.  But I couldn't stop laughing. All I kept thinking was OMG, that was for one product and they just took 12 of my designs. 

Something to keep in mind is that many companies (large and small) always give out these huge projections for what they think they will sell.  I have been doing this for eight years and never have they been correct.  Almost always (except for one Halloween Plate) they were way off.  It is very exciting and I hope that PBK is dead on, but just keep in mind that projections are not facts.

Anything else you can share for someone hoping to work with big Company?  Bit of advice? Or something you wish you knew?

London - Ask a lot of questions, kill them with kindness, don't turn down additional products they want to add, because chances are they will narrow down the line eventually after numerous meetings with other buyers.  I wish I had agreed to do the melamine, ornaments, frames and any and all they initially asked instead of being cautious.  Some problems are good to have, so take them on and worry about how you produce them later.  That's easy to say now, because I haven't started producing yet.  So ask me again in a few months, in the middle of Christmas season!

Well, actually this is only half the story, I can't wait to see how this plays itself out.  London is a hundred percent right about asking questions.  Also I would add if you are itty bitty and run your business out of a closet....maybe do not share that.  I never used to let on how small my company was - as long as I could deliver what they asked, that was good enough.

I have worked with some large and very, very large companies.(psst...Nordstrom, Target, Warm Biscuit Bedding when I was a newbie, Home Goods, Favorites Catalog, Femail Creations Catalog, The Right Start).  One store even took an entire year to pay me.  A. Year.  I am not saying that will happen here, but if you choose to work with a large company know that you are doing everything on THEIR terms.  Also, you may need to hire additional employees, rent more space, buy more supplies, purchase special packaging - added costs that you may not know when you get wined and dined by one of the big guys.

Great Resource for Designers

October 22, 2007.

I am not even sure how it happened, but I stumbled upon a wonderful magical place on the Internet.  I was frolicking along, minding my own business....oh wait I was probably doing one these things actually:

1. Trolling around trying to find a good Entrepreneurial Blog to read
2. Looking for a humorous "Mom" blogs, so that I could laugh a little, or a whole lot
3. Catching up on the latest trends, finding out what is "HOT" for next year
4. Goofing off at work....wait NO that was NOT it, I swear I was doing r-e-s-e-a-r-c-h

As I have stated in the past if I can talk with other artisans and designers, then I am a happy camper.  Better yet, if I give some snippet or nugget of advice that actually helps another - high five to me, or you.  So I am very happy to tell you all about this wonderful place:

The Daily Stroll Designer Only Lounge

Did ya catch that "ONLY" part.....hee hee I was almost giddy when I saw that.  I could not wait to join, share my stories, read others stories - and have it be soooo relevant to my industry.

The site states:

A private forum has been created just for designers! We know that you need a special place to share ideas, celebrate, and ask questions from your fellow successful maternity/baby/toddler designers.

RULES:
* Only designers are permitted
* You must design Maternity, Infant, and or Toddler goods
* You must complete the application at the link below and include your website to be approved
* You must have your user name be your company name
* Applicants who do not follow these simple rules will be deleted

I have only used the site for about a week, but it has great post and great topics.  The topics range from Industry News, Introductions, Publicity & Marketing to Suppliers Information.  It is a place where designers can share ideas, ask questions and know they are ONLY speaking with other designers.  Oh, did I forget to mention - sales representatives, boutique owners, and publicists need not apply, only us peeps who make our own products.

So, please join the fun, sign up, tune in - drop out - oh heck what is that saying?  I would love to have an open forum for discussing industry topics....you know kind of like THIS blog!

Are You a Quitter?

October 8, 2007.

....He's like this....he's like this mindless machine that I can't even relate to anymore...."Andrew, you've got to be number one!  I won't tolerate any losers in this family...Your intensity is for shit!  Win.  Win!  WIN!!!"

The quote is from The Breakfast Club (one of my all time favorite movies, though it really is a right of passage if you were a girl in the 80's right?) and it is the famous scene where they all sit around and realize how they are all so much the same, and there parents pretty much suck.  Ya, it's  a great movie, as your kids get older though - um, a little harder to digest.  Especially with the whole, "are we going to be like our parents speech....." it gives me the chills, even as I write it.

Awesome Product (ya I know 80's again)

Reason number one I will not quit, is that my products sell.  I am NOT bragging, it is a truth.  If your products are selling, then keep selling them, do not quit.  If they only do well in certain channels then do what they tell you to do in Business 101 (for me that would be reading Entrepreneur Magazine) - grow those channels.  Grow your fan base, it is much easier to sell to people that love you than those that.....well don't so much.  Nurture and grow that business that has a big fan base for your products, they already love you...love them back!

I Totally Can't Do it!

I may not be the best business women, I may not have the best business sense but I will be the last one standing - I can not quit.  I am loyal to the end.  I feel loyal to my customer base, to my sales channels, to my employees, to myself.  I have this crazy idea that the world would stop spinning if I stopped.....let's be serious, if I stopped producing, someone else would just pick up where  I left off and make something to take my place.  I uh, well I really could not let that happen though, could I?

Even though the word "quitter" is not in the Breakfast Club speech, it always seems to be what I think of when I think of quitting.  Now, before you start hitting the comment button, or sending me emails, DO know I am not quitting.......sometimes, it does pop into my head.  It happens (every time) when I get really sick, I start to realize I can not just lay there and be sick, I must continue to run the company and figure things out....just like how when you are a parent you can not REALLY be sick, you must still be a parent.  I always whine (shocking I know) and my husbands says, fine - quit.  Well, come on, I can NOT quit....it is NOT in my personality.  I did not say "change" I said quit, quitting is really is not an option.

If I were to really slow down, and consider letting myself quit..I still could not stop (it's an illness, really it is) I would just take the business in a different direction.  I have a friend who always focuses on the "light at the end of the tunnel".  I am like, "um I can not even get THROUGH the tunnel, where is the damn light?"  These are the times that I tend to think of broadening my brand, growing products, brancing out - if you have nothing to lose....you have everything to gain!

The Lentzner's Are Not Quitters

Last year a girl from my daughters soccer team (The Purple Pixies of course) quit half way through the season.  Her parents walked up to my sister (who was coaching as a favor to me when I had a girls weekend away) and said, "Our daughter is quitting soccer" and they they marched off the field with there heads held high and never came back.  Um, did I mention the girls were four?  Ya, it was a great experience - we had four girls on our team after that - really nice.  I would never let my kids quit mid-season, it is just not in my blood.  Darin and I literally started saying to the kids, "The Lentzners are not quitters!" - I feel like Chevy Chase in vacation....but uh, well the kids got on board.  We are NOT quitters, we will not quit - I mean come on, Stick It Out!

I may be able to step away from the business a few days a week, I am able to go on vacation and I am able to go in a different direction and grow.  Quit?  Close up shop?  Not even an option - no matter what happens.  I swear I can not imagine just throwing my hands in the air and saying, "That's it, the party is officially over."  Those words are not in my vocabulary.

Well You Have My Support

I know how hard it is to run your own business, really sista' I do.  I have also talked many an entrepreneur off a ledge, convinced them to stay........uh what does President Bush say "stay the course".  I feel that one failure, is a failure for all of us.  Being able to talk someone through a tough patch, a tough decision, or a "oh my gosh do NOT do that......walk away from the phone!" moment is huge.  The community of women I have met through this blog, in this business has been amazing.  I am amazed at the power of positive reinforcement - the power of a nice word,  a compliment , a suggestion.  When I worked for a big organization I only got a pat on the back quarterly or even yearly....oh and do not forget that fabulous 2% raise!

Now that I am the boss, the monetary reward is not what drives me.  The small accomplishment, the new friend, the new product, the margins increase - or just the new sales channels pushes me forward.  Really if God is in the Details, then he IS in small business.  I get such a rise out of the small accomplishments that I make on a daily basis.  And, truth be told, when others tell me about THERE accomplishments - that is just as cool!  The truth is NOT in the pudding, the truth is in your support system.

Mommy Needs to Go Back to School?

If Mommy owns a business she has lots of questions.  If you are that Mommy, and you are trying to figure them out on your own you know how frustrating that can be.  Most of us "Mompreneurs" did not major in business.....er, let me re-phrase that I did not major in business, or advertising, or get my MBA at Stanford or do my internship with some famous entrepreneur.  I don't know about the rest of "us" out there - but for me - nahhh, did not happen.

What I have found is that the longer I am in business, and the more I reach out to other entrepreneurs, then others reach back out to me.  That expression 'you scratch my back I will scratch yours' so holds true.........well this week it does.  I hope someone does not cut me off at the knees next week, but for now - nice things from nice people.

A few months ago I happened on to this great blog I found on Entrepreneur.com, written by Lisa Druxman.  I was very familiar with her name, and her very successful company Stroller Strides.  She started the company when her son was a baby and she had no time to go to the gym.  She proceeded to create a series of exercises to get her back in shape.....and well, the rest is history.

So, since I know how much it means to me when I get a nice email or an 'ada' girl' from someone - I sent her an email.  She was so kind, and I could not believe she emailed me right back and invited me to this "Mommy Owned Business Academy Open Forum".  I was able to call in to a radio/Internet Open Forum to discuss ideas, get advice and hear how she was able to create this amazing company.

So, I thought I would share the information with some other Entrepreneurs, Momreneurs or Parentpreneurs....what a tongue twister.  Anyhoo - her next forum is on October 30th, and she meets once a month and you must sign up to be added to the invited participants.  Her topics range from PR (she rocks at this....check out her site), Grass Roots, Co-Ops and Balancing Work and Motherhood.

To be invited to the Open Forum email her at [email protected]