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I’ve been getting a lot of questions about whether it’s worth it do the trade shows (KIDShow, MAGIC, ABC) and how much it really costs to do the trade shows. Which works out perfect, because I’ve been wanting to feature some of the great blogs out there, and Jamie at JPD design just happened to write a post answering all of those questions.
In my previous post, I mentioned that trade shows are not part of our marketing plan for year two. It’s hard to measure exposure, but if all you’re getting is exposure and a few new accounts, then it makes sense to invest in PR instead. It was a great experience to jump in and do the trade shows, and I think part of the pull is just “being there”. We’re trying to run a smarter and tighter business in year two, so for the first quarter at least, we’ve decided trade shows are out.
Jamie writes an open and honest blog, and she’s been in the business a few more years than I have, so she has a somewhat different perspective to bring to running a business in the children’s industry. Bookmark her blog, it’s a good read!
October 30th, 2007
It’s amazing how fast things can change. A couple of days since my last update and we now have a new deadline in our schedule. We’ve been invited to participate in a pre-golden globes event, a gifting suite. We get to give free Baby Fabulous schwag to celebrities and there should be good press and we can take pictures. So, we have to have a certain number of items available for gifts and the date is one month away.
This doesn’t change things too drastically. Still working towards KIDShow as our main market deadline, but I definitely want to have a couple of things ready for the January gifting suite too. I’ll know more tomorrow about how much we can swing, what kind of variety would be best, etc. I’m very excited, but mainly just feel a huge need to buckle down and guarantee we’re ready for this. We have to be, we have to be. I feel it’s a golden opportunity.
This week is creeping away from me. My pattern maker is just waiting on me. I forever underestimate how long tasks will take me to complete. But I’ll meet my Friday deadline. Always meet my deadlines. I’m still reeling from yesterday’s - getting a swatch ring to one of the local boutiques. Worst - forgot I had my kids in the afternoon, so it was my first appointment where I had no choice but to bring the kids along. It went fine and I made a new friend. It’s the small things, - like the appointment going smooth in spite of it being the end of the day & in spite of having my kids with me- that make a BIG difference.
OK - tonight is about working on technical sketches. And a plan for the gifting suite. Priorities, priorities.
December 6th, 2006
OK!!!! It’s all done in my head. The Fall and Holiday line. In my head, in my head, in my head. One of my dearest friends gave me some insight into myself this year (because one of her dear friends gave her some insight into herself & we’re very similar). She told me to pay attention to how much work I’m really doing in my head and not knock myself down for being a procrastinator. And it’s so true. So much happens when I close my eyes and go inside and focus.
Today I drew out the plan for my whole line. And I feel good about it. Here’s the key points and next steps:
- Small Line: I’m already going bigger than I had originally planned because I’m doing a couple of boy’s designs too. I would slap myself on the wrist for this if it didn’t feel so right in my gut. Still, it’s small. 7 designs (8 maximum - which is about double what I originally planned) - and 2 colorways for each design.
- Technical Sketches: I need to do drawings of each design that are technically accurate and contain the design specs. Mainly, measurements and finished lengths. This is one of the hardest parts for me. I was learning how to do it on the computer, but I’m not sure if it’s easier to do it on sketch paper. I think I’ve mentioned this before but my pattern maker always gives the pattern back to me with a better technical sketch than I handed over.
How’s that for awesome? But I need to get better so she doesn’t have to redo my work. Bless her patience.
- Source Fabrics: I’ve heard it’s best to get the fabrics first and then do the design. I agree that this is the best way to be inspired and do a design. I’ve been careful to do designs with standard types of fabric that I know are easy for me to source. The only challenge will be for me to find a new print or weave that I’m happy with for that design. I’m taking this route with a couple of my designs because I want to capitalize on some of my previous work and what sold well. But I know this will make sourcing the fabric more of a pain for me. On project runway they certainly did the sketches first, looked for the fabric second. Of course, they often changed their designs after they selected the fabrics. Either way, this is bound to be a journey for me.
After I’ve got the fabrics and technical sketches solidified, I take my spec sheets to the pattern maker. I’m so happy this came together in my head because I was in this wierd fog where no new design ideas were coming out and it was making me nuts.
P.S. I’m also prepared to cut my line down even more based on fit testing and costing estimates. We’ll see.
December 2nd, 2006
We’re in the middle of moving our blog from blogger to our own domain. In the meantime, we’ll probaby publish our posts on both sites. We want our own domain mainly so that we can really own our own content and have more content management control, such as the ability to categorize our posts. This was one of the main reasons I started to blog about our journey - so that I could capture the lessons I was learning. Once you’ve learned something it’s hard to remember what it was like not to know it. Things seem so basic, you forget what it was like when those same things were foreign concepts to you. So, blogging is a way for me to capture the experience while I’m going through it.
I’ve found that it makes me feel more responsible to complete what I say I will, it almost operates as my manager in a way, if that makes any sense.
Anyhow, right now, I’ve got so much to do to get out online store launched by Monday (that’s about a day and a half) that it’s insane. Absolutely insane!!!
September 16th, 2006