The internet's back!

Ok, we have internet again, no thanks to Clearwire. DON'T get clearwire if you're thinking about it for internet. Just don't do it. It has been in and out for several months, we'll just randomly lose connection. You know, like when the dog sits next to it, or someone goes through the lobby. Anyway, we came in on Friday, and the modem wouldn't pick up a signal at all. And no one at Cleawire can explain it. Oh well. They have the WORST customer service too.

Anyway, everything is toodling along here, we're getting our shelves stocked with the new line to get ready for getting it on the internet. Our customers are loving it too, if I haven't already mentioned that. It is just so hard to work on something for months, and not let anyone see. I am loving the reactions they are getting. Alright, off to walk the dog and eat some dinner. Hope you all are having a great monday.

Business Meetings at Persnickity Designs

The best part of being self-employed

I took a workshop a while ago in which I picked up a book for artist businesspeople the speaker had written. Within the first few pages was a quote that went along the lines of "the bes part of being self-employeed is deciding which 16 hours of the day you are going to work." That has been my fall back statement since.

It is now 10pm, and I am still at work. Kendall is coming in a night or two a week to work around her other job. Tonight was one of those nights, so I am sitting here writing my official, professional, not chicken scratches business plan. I really don't mind staying late, every once in a while, I work much better at night and there are less distractions. But, at this point, I think everything I am writing is sounding exactly the same. So, I think it is time to go home. Off to redundant business strategy dreams!

Ack!

So, Alex was taking pictures of bears to list on etsy.com, and managed to take this one of himself. I don't know, you figure it out.



What a workplace.......

Vespa Bag

How cute is this? I think it came out darling. Our customer ordered a it few weeks ago to match her red vespa. This completed the custom orders I was wanting to do: a rocket and a vespa.

So, other exciting news for today? Our 4th (4th!!) industrial machine is getting dropped off this afternoon. Wow, that is just cool.

Ok, off to do officey, writey, employee manual kind of stuff. No enjoying the beautiful sunny weather until this evening for me.

Who's really in charge here?

Some days the line between human and dog as boss is very fine….. Right now Abbey is sitting on my lap trying to lick my fingers as I type.

So, we’re here, we’re great, and we’re excited about life. The new line is going over fantastically in the shop. Thank god since I lost a lot of sleep after putting them in the store Wednesday night. Most of the regulars in our building have stopped in already to tell me how much they love it.

It’s nice for me: all of my “top, top, top priorities,” I’m on to my “top, top priorities” and I see my “top priorities” in sight. Big sigh.

And guess what?! We got the product photos for the website done today. So that means the website update is coming in the near future.


Alright, James is distracting me with the Red Hot Chili Peppers making of the Dani California music video. Off to watch that, I mean get to work. Right, work….

Out with the old.....

Here's the pile of the old line on the way to the etsy.com store:



So, what does that mean? They're here!

The new line is unofficially in the store as of this morning. I will be sending my official mailer out Monday or Tuesday next week, as we are still waiting on some pictures, and other little details to make everything perfect. But, they are in the store, on the shelves, and ready for your shoulders. If you're in town, come on down and check them out.

Wow, we have been working on this since November, and it is finally here. There have been so many ups and downs along the way, I think in many ways I never thought this day would come. Ok, I think I am going to take a nap now.

It’s Wednesday, that’s all I have to say

Look, three posts in three days. I think that’s a new record.

I have been sewing all day, finishing up a wholesale order that was supposed to be out yesterday. It’s been very nice to sit and chat with Oso, I really enjoy having her here.

Other than that, we are stll working on the new line. Oso’s getting the last size finished, Kendall’s coming tonight from 7-10 to do more sewing, and Alex is getting some mis-cut bags re-cut. James is working on taxes. Wow, what an exciting day. Hmmmm. We are paying state taxes quarterly now because we have employees, plus we have state sales tax. We had an accountant do the federal income taxes, and that is long in the mail and to the IRS, thankfully. I hope everyone else has there done, or at least nearly done!

Well, that’s about all there is to report. Here’s the cute bike display from the front.



I’m off to box up and ship this order!

Ramblings dedicated to You, Our Customers!

I just thought I would take a day to say Thank You to you, our customers. We couldn’t do what we are without your support. We know you have a lot of choices when it comes to handbags, and everything else for that matter, and it means so much that you choose to support an independent company rather than your local box store. Thank you.

That being said, please Please send us any questions, comments, concerns, or suggestions, any time. You can reach us at rebecca (at) persnickitydesign (dot) com, or james (at)persnickitydesign (dot) com. Of course replace the at's and dots, you know the drill.....

Our new line (which will for sure be on the shelves of the store by Saturday this week!) is full of little things that I altered from our old designs because of suggestions from our customers. We listen to what you have to say, because in the end, all that really counts is what you want. And we don’t know how we’re doing without your input.

I hope you all are having as good of a week as I am. Off to sew some tags!

The Growth of a Small Business

Look Pa, I'm writing a post, just for you!

But anyway.....

First of all, I want to start with a big sigh. We have been working so ridiculously hard on our business, and it is beginning to fall into line, and start going exactly as we want. We have hired 3 (3!!) employees. Alex, Oso, and Kendall have started helping us out. Alex is doing sales, and cleaning up after James and I, shipping orders, and other odds and ends. Oso is sewing our bags at the shop during most days, and Kendall is coming in and sewing for us a couple nights a week after her other job. It is so nice for me to be able to be working on our business plan, or catalogue, or hangtags, or whatever 1,000 other things need doing, and have Oso or Kendall working away sewing and Alex getting the shop cleaned up for us.

Here's Alex, shipping a bag to a customer:



Here's Oso, smiling because we tried to sneak attack her with the camera:



And, a corner shot of Kendall sewing away:



So, we’re doing great. Like really great. It has been such a good learning experience with this new product run. I am still stressed because it is taking so long, but I think that is just how things go. And, now I know for the future. And, we are getting a warehouse set up, and getting our selves ready to expand.

I just can’t even tell you how cool it is to be in such a quickly growing company. And more than that, to be at the helm and deciding what directions we go. And it is all thanks to the support of our loyal customers. Thank you.

I was at Target (for shame!) yesterday, picking up a pop up dog crate. I didn’t even know they made those things until we saw one there. Oh well. Anyway, when I went to check out, there in the kiddie seat of a shopping cart sat a Persnickity Designs bag. It was pink and mocha with a stitched flower on it. That right there makes this whole thing worthwhile. So, that big sigh at the beginning is one of complete contentment, and just a little bit of tired.

Alright, off to go manage these employees. Everyone is here today, and it is a feeling I can’t describe, going to check on people, and seeing like 5 times as much work getting done as usual. Better go look like I’m working too!