Slowed in my tracks...

'Notice to previous retailers of Classy Kids, Inc. products:
We acquired them.
They didn't have much stock so your orders probably won't be filled.
We will be repackaging the stock they did have and get items back out to you in 3-4 months.
We are taking a look and may not be making more of their products.
Order our stuff.
Minimums have gone up to $500 and full cases of items.
Can't wait to work with you'.

I was paraphrasing there but...
Now, is this really a problem for my business?
Yes!!!

They create the biodegradable disposable items for caring for dirty diapers outside of the home. The items that I wanted to add to my kits which I am trying to get to the mass market. Trying to get my ducks in a row to get the new packaging together, marketing done, and, and now what? So many ducks just left the pond.

So, my response was to send an email asking: Are you going to make more of these 3 items, which I listed, and if so can I get them re-branded-or should I just go look for another vendor???

Big threat.

Cry, stomp feet, whine, drink wine, do more research-grumble while doing more research.

Make a Smilebox greeting

Mommy's little helper

AKA mommy blogs!
There are blogs for everything as you know by reading this one!
As a fledgling business I have had to look for creative ways to advertise and mommy blogs are it! I have had some success with these moms- they really get your name out there and get your products to shine.
Mommy blogs do 2 things to get products to there mommy network:

1)Rate/ review an item they have been sent or tried.
this exposure can be a great break. Showing people an item and telling them why they should get it- readers will trust them more than my the creator/seller.

2)Giveaway contests- everyone wants something for free! The blog mavens post the item up for grabs, their followers view it and either comment as a bid to win or not. But, they have seen said item and know where they can get it and that is the exposure I need.

2 Mommy Blogs I have worked with recently are:
Confessions as a First Time Mom and A Mom's Impression
A Mom's Impression uses her site to inform mommies of new and existing items on the market for little ones.
I love these sites!
Check it out!



Thank you mommy bloggers!

Trying to stay green

My big green push this year was to get Christmas cards that were made from recycled material or other more natural or eco conscious materials. I found a few, but noticed they were not made in the US. Then I got on a kick about finding US made. I did find one site that makes eco cards- in this case they all have photos on them. I already had photos (wallet size) to send out so I didn't want to go that route. However, they were willing to design something for me with what ever concept I had in mind...problem is I didn't have a Christmas card concept in my mind.
I went on for what seemed like forever, until I stumbled upon a Hallmark card that was made in the US. It was made with sustainable trees- I was sold! They had so many choices too!
I want to give a big thumbs up to Hallmark and there eco and US promotion. It's tough to find. And to Nesting Shoppe for their beautiful cards and helpful owner. I can't wait until we do business together!

Credit-eesh!

I started my business and was maintaining it via credit. Then all the passages were created to insure credit responsibility and they took lots of said business credit away. Of course I had felt that it wasn't any fair since I had made all my payments on time for the life of that card-but that was neither here nor there- it was gone!

So I moved on to my husbands card and eventually they did the same thing- apparently actually making your payments on time isn't enough, starting a business is nothing they care about and a great credit history us just that history.

Blarg, bleh, eesh, uck and AAAHHHHH! Crying didn't work either!

I started to go crazy worrying thinking I couldn't get to where I needed to be- how could I buy supplies, get items manufactured, advertise with out the money?

I started sewing with the fabrics I already had, and bought small amounts of scrap fabric with my measly spending dollars I had every month. I started doing focus groups to get extra cash to infuse into my business and pay the bills that were rearing their ugly heads and the credit was almost gone! That helped a bit.
Of course the most magical thing that could ever happen happened...I started to sell things here and there, and October was better then September ,November better than October and December the best month so far. I am no where near turning a profit but at least I could pay my last outstanding bills, buy some things (2) for Merry X-mas, buy some sample materials for a new bin design and the best yet start saving to take over one of those 2 mighty large credit card bills that funded this "project" as my 3 year old calls it.

I feel like a teenager setting out into the big world- needing some, wanting much, with empty pockets and a budget book.

Monday, I sold out of my 3rd BabbaCo. carseat cover. I only have 1 of each so I just reordered the same 2 that I am out of (leaving the 3rd for a spring reorder if not sooner)- I hate to see the temporarily out of stock notice on so many items in the new year. Don't get me wrong, I love that I sold out of things. However, I need to fill those holes in my stock for the new year. Plus, my store is BabbaCo.'s highlighted merchant for January- so there is a little video spot about my company. How embarrassing to have my store featured but her products sold out! She is so great and her products are original and cute, and I am excited to have the additional advertisement from her company. I hope to do a lot of business with BabbaCo. in the future. She is a good mentor!

I am feeling very squished- my goal is to pay my bill January 12 with business money...God I hope that can happen. January needs to be a better month than December to keep this expansion rolling.
My thoughts to get that done- weekly giveaways, sales and informing more blogs about my business.
Remember my goals: Pay own business bills,
grow the 4-7 year old section, revamp and market one of my items to the big time, do the Expo (market the revamped item), website redesign/greener web host and if all of that goes well- expand the busy mommy section.
Breath...eesh!

Make a Smilebox greeting

Just the outside

2010 is around the corner and LBBP will need to continue its growth.
Goals for the new year-
1: Get my first and main gift item set to market in the big leagues.
2: Add the next age group to toys, clothing and accessories
3: Vamp what I have going- switch to a green web host, get a better looking shopping cart that allows me more freedom with sale/discount issues.

Objectives: Create/Maintain an Eco-baby business that allows me to create and be available for my own children.
Stay true to the green factor and try to stay with companies who manufacture their products in the USA, and keep LBBP made products here in the USA 100% of the time.
Allow the growth and potential to occur and be steadfast to pursue it.

It isn't the new year but already I feel a push to figure this out quick. Small things come about and can throw me off in a second. I need to be prepared, I will over think, over write, over talk this issue and go around in circles until everyone is more tired of hearing about my ideas than they are now. I will be losing sleep in the new year until these items are set in stone, the store continues to climb month over month proving to myself and my investor (my husband) that this is worth the time and money and we can begin to breath again. I don't want the little pieces: sales pitches, boutique shows, buying, creating, sewing to set me off track-they are the support I need to get my objectives fulfilled.

So far, my plan includes : The list above.
I have found 1 packaging option. the best so far and I have been dealing with that off and on for 9 months. The store has been up and running for 7months. But, This is just the beginning.

My deadline: March for a mock up, I need to be ready for the EXPO in October but to get in they need to see my product is serious and looks the part. Eco, helpful and is buyer friendly. March is around the corner. I've only got a lead on the packaging- just the outside that is it! I'm getting hives thinking about the list I need to write of the things I need to get done for my first goal.

A Gripe and A Cheer

A Gripe:
Working throughout each day in momentary snippets to try and gain success in my small business. From ideas, to emails, boutique sales attempts, creating ads, gathering items for shipment, sewing, drawing, photographing, collaborating, thinking, thinking, thinking.
All I needed was a few moments to order some organic fabric samples for a new bib design. Even that 15 minute task was bullied and took longer than it needed to because of the family. I love them but really can't I get a break to do something I need to do? Yikes! I need a balance but I don't know how or what it would look like.

A Cheer:
My sewing machine broke. Right before I could finish my gifts, my machine broke. Luckily, sewing for my store was mostly done (just 3 custom bibs left) and it stopped. The timing was off- can't sew if the needle doesn't pick up the bottom thread! This machine isn't top of the line but it suits me for the moment. I bought it a few months ago so I could have a trustworthy machine to make these new creations of mine. Eventually, I want them to be manufactured locally with the same quality fabrics that I use now. But, I can't get to that mass production piece if I can't even make 1!
My machine wouldn't be back for 2 weeks. 2 weeks- 2 weeks to go back and forth to my moms house to make the custom bibs and the Christmas gifts for my little lovelies. Really Eco-friendly! 15 minutes drive both ways- for 1 hour of sewing before having to turn back around and get the kids. Lets not even get into when I have to take the kids!
But today...still 1.5 weeks, not including weekend, to go before getting my sewing machine back, fixed, I got a call and ...my machine is officially broken. It is a dud. They are returning my sewing machine to me with special paperwork for a new machine on them. Merry Christmas! It call only get better, if they call me tomorrow so I can get the new machine it would be great! If, I have to wait until the 29th then obviously, I will be exactly where I was before! For now I give out a little cheer for a new machine!!!!
Yeah for the ability to sew during nap time!

A Difficult Afternoon

A difficult afternoon.

I some how found time to sew at my Mom's house. Why my Mom's? Because, her sewing machine is working and mine happens to be broken and in the shop for 2 weeks. I recently bought this machine because my other one was old and couldn't keep up my the sewing projects- apparently the new one can't either. But, I have other resources in the meantime. Getting out of the house, without the kids, is an act of God that usually includes difficulties leaving the house, getting ready to leave the house or upon my early return prompted by text messages and phone calls begging me to "Please come home!"

I returned home at a prearranged time for a customer to pick up her order and have a play date. She is a friend and her little one seems to be endlessly happy. I love when they come over to play. My oldest, didn't nap even though he had been to a holiday class and usually is exhausted after playing in a class environment. No nap when he is tired equals a chicken with his head cut off. When I got back home my husband looked frazzled, my kids were already beaming with energy and ready to burst.

I was thoroughly embarrassed at my kids behavior. My kids were terrors. Jumping, running, destroying, completely not the kids that I would like a customer to see. Yes, this is a part of life but not a good part of business. It was luck that it was a friend not a new customer.

I tried all day to keep my boys busy, knowing full well that they were going to have a play date in the afternoon and were babysitting in the evening. It didn't matter. I played with the kids, but as usual it wasn't enough. I played withthe kids together and individually, I set up activities but they still created havoc upon my house.

All I need is a day without a difficult afternoon. All I ask is a few days a week without tantrums, screaming, running through the house or specifically waiting until I am on the phone, sewing or otherwise busy to ask for help, to be played with or some other issue just to get my attention.

Why does everyday have to be so difficult? I know, its the same reason I fear returning to the classroom and raising my kids-jealousy and focus. The kids need to be my focus at all times and no matter what the project or who I am helping my kids get jealous. That creates crazy behavior which results in a difficult afternoon. I just wish I could bypass them.

Ta-da! Day 1 with Lizzy

This blog, I've decided, is going to be a place where I can vent and just be informative about what is going on in my world.

Me-Lizzy: 30 year old
Mother of 2- E. 3.75 years old, J. 18months
Married to 1, Stressed out man who is attached to his technology
I am a former elementary school teacher
Currently, I am beginning a home business-creating eco baby pieces and
finding other like minded vendors
And always trying to find a balance in being a mother, wife, entrepreneur and self.
My business: Web store went live in May 2009
Eco-friendly, always looking for made in the USA companies
Trying to make it work in the Silicon Valley in the worst economy we could
have imagined.
Trying to stay afloat on 1 income and 1 start up leaching from it.
Loving it!
Sewing, phone calls, shipments, advertising all with little ones running, crying, screaming, playing, jumping, talking, hopping, destroying,coloring, building, reading, climbing- all around, with, pleading, starring and hugging me.

I hope you stay posted and help me figure this life out and coach me in being successful and hopefully I can let you in on a thing or two about the trials and tribulations of starting a business as a busy mom and committed wife in the wild world of the Silicon Valley.