Happy Hump day!  The dentist went REALLY well.  My little one was such a trooper and didn’t even really know there was anything unpleasant going on.  The giggly gas worked WONDERFULLY!  The cavity was so shallow they didn’t need to give her a shot; they just drilled a little while she got to watch a video and breathe that strawberry smelling nitrous oxide.  The dentist had to stop a time or two because she was dancing in the chair.  I am so relieved!  Okay… onto business! 

Apparently my initial understanding about what happened with my big order wasn’t entirely accurate.  (The outcome is still the same, but it’s more involved). I did not understand the entire buying system for that company and I took what one person said as gospel when there were other issues I did not know about.  It wasn’t really her fault, she explained things to me as if she were talking with someone that knew their system and after speaking with her again I realize that she assumed I knew what she was talking about, and I assumed I knew what she was talking about when I apparently, did not.  (Okay, are you confused yet?) Basically way back when, her basic words to me were something like this “This is what I will propose to the committee and normally the order comes back for XXX many cases so you will need to XXX cases ready for pick up by May X) Then we both went on talking as if it would happen. I did know not to believe it until I saw the
PO, but all conversations after that were so positive and we talked as if it were already a done deal. Things happen, people change their minds, some people don’t always agree, and everyone has a boss to answer to. Had I known this order would not come through, I would not have placed the next big
PO to my OEM, BUT it could have just as easily went through and then I MIGHT be stuck without inventory.  It’s all such a guessing game.  Does anyone really KNOW what they are doing?  I’m learning valuable lessons every single day.  If you are at all risk adverse DO NOT start your own company!   

Since my last blog I have really ramped up my sales efforts and made about 10 cold calls a day.  (Can you tell, I really feel the pressure to sell some Grill Charms!)  It’s paid off because now I’m in a total of 21 stores in 8 states.  I’m getting there one set of Grill Charms at a time!  My web guy has also put some cool new stuff up on my website.  If you are a business owner and you are not blogging or using video, you probably need to take a look at using those mediums.  I’m no expert, but from everything I’m reading in the business magazines, social networking is a must these days.  I now have a video demonstration as well as a photo gallery on my home page www.grillcharms.com  and the blogging… well, you know, been there, done that.  The video is just me in my kitchen doing what I do.  It’s not professional by any means.  I’ve got music in the background and kids playing upstairs and my husband doing the best he can with the camera, but it’s REAL and it’s ME.  Someday when the need arises maybe I’ll have something fancy, but I’m not there yet.  I want people to know when they buy Grill Charms; they are supporting a real person with a dream and not a corporate machine.  Maybe I’ll be that corporate machine someday, but for now, it’s just me, my family and our love of grilling that got me here and that’s what I wanted to show.  So long for now… Keepin it real! 

Leslie Haywood, Founder and President of Charmed Life Products, Inventor of Grill Charms™  www.grillcharms.com