Our New Mantra...

Telephone Wire Designs

Necessity is the mother of invention right? Well, in South Africa she a crafty mother at that. Check out these amazing pieces and patterns crafted using telephone wire.

via: Folk Art South Africa

The Roundtable Is Full Circle...

I was recently invited, to my honor, to take in a rountable discussion this week at the showroom of Vicente Wolf. Yep, that Vicente Wolf. The roundtable included Micheal Bruno of 1st Dibs, Amsale, Jason Kontos, and Preston Bailey. (*Vicente was unable to partake as he came down with pneumonia, I hope he's feeling better) If you're guessing that I was swaying in my boots at the mere thought of being in the room with these folks who are a part of my daily style vocabulary, then you're so right. I wish it could have gone on for hours, but the short time I was there I literally soaked in everything I could. In short here's what I learned: 1) take the chance on your dream 2) balance your strengths by hiring others who excel at your weakness 3) maintain your passion, once that fizzles so does your business 4) find your voice and stick to it.

I felt like a kid in that room. Here I am trying to make something of my little idea, they were leaps and bounds above anything I am doing with myself...right? I mean these guys KNOW Oprah. Until I looked around and realized two things: 1)the entire panel had been where I was at one time and 2) everyone in attendance was as eager to learn as I was. Established interior designers, editors, business owners, PR gurus, designers. Questions like "How do I dicsuss pricing with my clients?" , "Is PR important?". Do any of these sound familiar to you guys? They're the same questions we're asking right?

As I was chatting with Vicente's PR Director about the popularity of his blog, I realized that people are yearning (whether as consumers or business owners) to hear the real voices behind the glossy magazine features, the fabulous floral displays, the stunning wedding gowns and runway shows. In short, I hope to be a part of more of these in the future and bridge that divide that is becoming more evident in the digital age. There is an accessibility that is afforded with having a blog for example. That call and response between post and comment allows us to learn from the best and teach going forward. Eh, just my little soapbox for today. Still squealing with delight at getting to meet all the above :)

2010 Goals

Did I just burn your eyes with that post?? It's only September and here I am thinking about 2010 goals...yikes! Well, I was watching tv the other day and someone said there were umpteen weeks left in the year...WEEKS!!! WEEKS?? You can't cut the rest of my year down into weeks! I need months, days, hours and minutes...those sound way longer no? But the fact is as a small biz, my life revolves around this impending end of year where the maximum of my sales happen. Drawer liners, tea towels, and whatever else I've dreamed up make a mad dash to the post office to make it in time to the homes of those who love the handmade. Phew! Then I crash sometime after Christmas and am still too tired by New Year's to do anything but watch the Honeymooners marathon. Oh, who am I kidding? I watch the honeymonners marathon every year without fail :)

But this year it's time to think about smart expansion. You see, I do everything by hand...everything I say. Currently I keep little to no stock, just fabric and print as necessary. That happened to be the best way to start, but now with a growing business it's time for the next step. You know, the one that will allow me to put on the other 10 hats I wear. Accountant, clean up crew, tradeshow display maven, customer service, etc. So with that said here are next years goals in order of importance... but the most important being to grow this little business of mine organically and independently.

1) Hire PR firm- very necessary

2)Outsource printing of fabric and possibly drawer liners

3) Tailor collection of prints

4)Do at least one major tradeshow, most likely NYIFG

Pricing & the small business...

So in developing an organic bath and body line I finally came across real pricing dilemmas. When I started Hammocks & High Tea (as a wee stationery line), I found it easy to compare it to other goods on the market. Most A2 sized cards are the same price, letterpress will be a dollar or two more expensive. Ok, lets look at tea towels. Anywhere from $8 / $10 to $18 / $22 per each tea towel. I took my measurements, looked at the amount of work and time it required to cut/print/sew each one as well as the ability to wholesale them, which was an important aspect developing my business. But I fell into a dangerous small business owner category. Will customers pay for this if it cost $22? The fact of the matter is that cheap moves quickly, and cheap and cute moves even faster. I was happy with my end retail price but wholesale was cutting it close, and when the cost of my supplies increased, I had to increase my prices. As my friend at organic clothing co. Earthy Beginnings told me (cause, really every small biz has been throught it), 'price your goods for what they are worth in the first place'.

So in developing Ilha Organics I was back in the price boat but with a whole lot more ingredients. Ones that come in tiny vials with high price tags..I swear I hold my breath while opening these oils for fear of inhaling the entire contents in a single breath. 20 roses for one drop of oil...aye aye aye! Could I have chosen not to go organic? Sure. But organic supports people like me for one thing, and pouring wonderful smelling, chemically processed oils into a product that goes on freshly washed, damp skin...ummm, just doesn't sound sexy to me. It's easy to write a thesis on organic vs. non-organic, and since I found plenty in my research for this line I'll leave it out of this post. But at the end of the day, I'm a small business trying to price fairly for great products (oh, please stop clapping, I'm embarrassed :), and I know for sure I'm not in this boat alone.

Ilha Organics Official Launch...really...officially..

Ilha Organics will launch on 9/14 but I was too excited about my new packaging and photographs to hold out until then. As this collection will only be offered online, I wanted the packaging to literally breathe organic luxury. The labels are a beautiful textured paper with an updated apothecary feel and a nod to the carib roots of the product...phew!
In other news, I'd like to embarrass my friend and photographer Rayon Richards , who got exactly what I wanted after seeing the packaging alone. It is what I wanted and then some...and I'm trying desperately to convince him to start teaching indie designers how to take amazing product photos...nudge, nudge.

Instyle Magazine

Thank you Instyle Magazine for the beautiful spotlight on our drawer liners. I could effuse the slightly cheesy but ever so humble way that I really feel to be featured in a magazine I've wanted to be in since I was a child...but I think that statement alone will do :) Honored and just wowza!