The main theme this week has been production. We’re growing and it’s raising issues with production - mainly keeping up with orders. The blankets are quite a process - each requiring complete customization, from the placement of each letter to the fabrics to cut the letters out of and all the thread colors in-between. Sales are on the up and up and the contractor is working on bringing on more hands capable of the applique work around the letters. It isn’t easy and requires some practice to keep the letter in place on top of the plush without the letter bunching up.

I have lot of ideas for streamlining the process, but they require more funding and right now, we just don’t have it in the budget. We’ll get it into the budget now that we’ve identified the need, but it’s not there now. I felt so hopeless about the thing because we’re pushing almost every blanket to the end of our four-week time limit and I do not like that. The contractor is very positive and I know it will work out, so we’re just saying our prayers and working for the best. I know we can make it happen!

As a mompreneur(R), I have to wear a lot of hats and fighting the fires with production this week has caused me to get behind on some of the stuff I need to do to bring on our first sales rep. Like getting the sales kit together. I did not slack off on sales this week though. I have some appointments next week - which reminds me, I have more than a few emails to send to warm prospects.

My DH, and partner, is committed to taking over the bookkeeping, which could just save my sanity! Help is on the way because it has to be!!

There was a recent conversation on the MompreneursOnline forum about the economy and how it is impacting our business. Since I have been in business for only a year, I am not sure if the slow down many of us our experiencing is due to the time of year or it is a reflection of the unstable economy. So keeping current customers is so important to maintaing our businesses.

There are things that I like to do to help build relationships with our customers. Women especially are very relationship oriented and look to make connections before choosing a company to do business. This definitely the case in my business.
Here are a few things that I do to help maintain my current customers and gain new ones:
Keep the lines of communication open: Be open to suggestions on how you can add or delete services or products. Showing you care about their satisfaction level speaks volumes about your commitment to them. If you haven’t heard from them in a while, touch base to see how things are going.

Methods of Communication: It is best to not rely strictly on e-mail to communicate. Either call or visit. It brings that relationship to another level. Also a handwritten note shows you took time for them and is a welcome surprise when they open their mail.

Turning Bad into Good: So you mess up. Cease the opportunity to take the bad situation (which you can’t change anyway) and show your customer you want to make it right. Address it immediately and go above and beyond to make sure everyone involved is satisfied.

We all love that feeling of connection. If we limit it to just our personal relationships, we are missing out on so much. Letting your customers know you care about them and their business will get you so far – business wise as well as a personal feeling of gaining a new connection.

Yesterday I had really good time doing a radio interview with my good friend Diana Ennen Publicist / Author / Radio Host/Virtual Word Publishing www.virtualwordpublishing.com  To hear the interview go to  http://www.blogtalkradio.com/stations/bc/momcast 

What you didn’t see behind the scene was me doing my “Mompreneur Shuffle”.  That’s me trying to do something very “professional” while also taking care of my most important duty, being a mom.  Diana had asked me to do the interview at a very specific time (Tuesday the 13^th at 12:00 as that’s when the show airs) and I am not one to ever pass up a good PR opportunity.  I knew that my 5 year old would be in school and I didn’t need to leave the house until 12:35 so that wasn’t a concern, but my 3 year old was going to right there with me.  I had to strategically plan my morning.  I knew that 12:00 was prime lunch time for her so I needed to rearrange her lunch so she would be finished by 11:45.  I also wanted to do a lot of playing and wearing her out, so after her early lunch she would be happy with a nice 40 minute video so mommy could lock herself in her office for a little chat on the phone with Miss Diana.  I had to make sure she went pee pee on the potty before noon because I didn’t want everyone in cyber space to hear “MOMMY…. I NEED TO WIPE!!”  I also needed to make sure that she had her drink right there with her because if she decides it’s time for her orange juice and I’m not there to open the container, the entire world would know it.  It’s no wonder us mompreneurs are so successful.  We have to plan and strategize every detail to the Nth degree, including how to make a 30 minute phone call!  What you also did hear (or maybe you did) was towards the end, my little one got restless and started calling for me from the bottom of the stairs.  (Sometimes even my best attempts fail) I got a little distracted for a second (could you tell?) and put my hand to my lips to her and then gave her the finger… you know, that index finger held straight out that says  “Mommy will be there in just 1 minute so PLEASE PLEASE PLEASE just be quite for 60 more seconds PLEASE!!!”  She gets that finger probably more then your average kid, so she knows what it means and is normally very good about keeping quiet for a few more seconds.  After I got off the phone we rushed out the door to pick up Madison and we went to the park to play since it was such a beautiful day here in
Charleston.    I’ve said it before and I’ll say it again… Do you think this is how Trump started?? 

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

Taking a step away from tradeshows for a moment, the big topic today seems to be about social networking.  We have sites like MySpace, Facebook, LinkedIn, Twitter, etc that are all about networking and connecting with each other.  Through our own connections, we might be able to link two friends together to help in business or social.  I’m surprised Kevin Bacon’s name isn’t on the top of these sites to see how we can all be linked some how to him.  It’s an interesting concept but I wonder how many of us take advantage of it.   Then there are many other review sites: StumbleUpon, Digg, Trend Hunter, Viewpoints….all ways to get the word out about your website, product, service or business. 

I’m putting my company out there since I believe it can’t hurt.  Even if you get one lead, that lead might turn into another…. I am interested to hear about everyone’s experience with this new form of social networking.

 Gwen Austin, RC Art Toys, Inventor of the Color Bug™  www.rcarttoys.com 

Working at home I often think has special meaning to us moms. So many of us started our business to be home with our children. 

I know I did.  23 years ago.  This year that little one that I couldn’t take to daycare, graduated college. 

As he walked down the aisle and waived to me to after the ceremony, all I could think of was those tears I shed when I dropped him off at daycare.  It was like it was yesterday.  I remember him tagging along with me to drop off work, and getting dressed up for all the holidays.  We dropped off Christmas gifts to clients, and Valentines, and even Easter Baskets.  My clients knew we were a packaged deal, and knew Jeremy’s firsts just like I did.  It was great growing together. 

My daughters came 10 years later.  By that time, my business was already established.  I guess that’s why I feel a more personal connection to my son and my business and why this graduation feels so much like an accomplishment for my business as well.  I can still remember Jeremy jumping up and down when we landed clients. Even as he grew older he still make it a point to do this.  As a teenager that meant a lot to me.  It was like he still cared.  Of course, it probably had a lot to do with the fact that we’d go celebrate, but the important thing was it was a great way to get him involved.

 On Mother’s Day this year I have so much to be thankful for.  I hope you all do as well and wish you all the BEST and Funnest day ever!

If you have a special Mother’s Day story, please do post it and share with us.  We’d love to hear it.

Diana Ennen, Virtual Word Publishing, www.virtualwordpublishing.com

Ok, so I know it’s been waaaay too long since I blogged last. I figured it’s about time for an update! I guess I’ll start with yesterday since it was a pretty exciting day for Storybook Studio.

I had applied online for the FAO Schwarz Toy Audition last week before heading off to Chicago to meet my wonderful and oh-so-talented, fellow Mompreneurs (we had a blast BTW! I learned a lot and it was just so awesome to be inspired by likeminded women with such diverse backgrounds.). I was busy planning and preparing for the trip (and psyching myself up to fly for the first time in 9 years!) so I didn’t really give it much thought. I returned Monday to find that I had received email from FAO! They confirmed that they had received my application and invited me to the audition!! It all happened so fast I really didn’t have much time to prepare or get nervous.

Yesterday morning I woke up early and headed off to the Big Apple, dragging my mom and little sister (who is 17 and was MORE than happy to miss a day of school). We took the train up which was an adventure in itself. I live in Jersey but rarely even venture out of my town! Navigating the railways with connections and path trains…well, it was easy once I figured out how to do it. But the unknown is always (at least for me) a little scary!

We arrived in NYC and took a cab to FAO. I was so exciting to pull up in front of the toy store that I fantasized about when I was a kid. I had been there once when I was younger, and I pretty much thought that somehow, it just wouldn’t be as exciting. I was SO wrong! As soon as I walked past the doorman (who is dressed like a wooden soldier and speaks with a British accent) and stepped inside, all of that magic came back. It was amazing! Of course, I didn’t really have too much time to take it all in. I quickly made my way to the party room where the auditions were being held. I filled out some paperwork, found a seat and chatted with other toy makers while we waited. It was so interesting to learn about their products, and I have no doubt that at least 1 or 2 of the products I saw will either make it into FAO, or do very well in other stores. After about an hour or so, I was called in.

In the audition room, there were two tables with a buyer seated at each of them. I met with a woman who asked me some questions as I unwrapped my kit to display the contents and explained how it worked. I couldn’t believe it, but the president of FAO was also in there. He walked over to my table and asked me some questions. It was amazing just talking to him! The audition was short and sweet. They said they’d contact me in a few weeks to let me know what their level of interest in my product was. I left with a positive feeling about it, but who knows?! Now I wait…and wait…and wait!! It was a great experience no matter what happens, and I’m so glad that I went.

The rest of the day was great too! We explored FAO a bit more and I couldn’t resist picking up a few things for the kids. I ended up walking out with a few huge shopping bags. Then we had lunch at a little Italian restaurant around the corner, and made our way back to Penn station. It was so much fun to spend the day in NYC with my mom and sister - I really need to get back there more often!

In other news, I did get out and visit some local retailers recently and I spent the last month tweaking my product based on the feedback that I received. I ended up adding a hangtag to the side of the box that shows the items you can decorate with the kit and also describes the step-by-step instructions. I also added an item to decorate (either a hair band or tote). I had been considering this when I sourced the kit overseas, but I didn’t want to add another expense. In hindsight, I should have just sourced it. And item for the child to decorate immediately really completes the kit. These changes sort of made me crazy for a few weeks, but in the end, I feel more confident about my product. I’ve also received another wholesale order from a hair salon/gift shop for little girls. They’re ordering kits with the hair bands, which will just be perfect for their store. So I’m officially in 2 stores - I know, it doesn’t sound like much, but just I’m excited to be adding little dots to the map that hangs in my office.

Today it’s a rainy day and I’m actually happy to be stuck inside at home. I’m cleaning, organizing and working on some graphics for clients. I’m tired and sore (the puppy knocked me down the stairs when I got home yesterday. I’m ok. No broken bones ;0) so I think I’ll just take it easy. I’ll be back SOON with more updates. I promise!!

Read this review (it’s the one on May 7^th)

http://www.eriksherman.com/the-pan/  then we’ll talk:

Okay, now why in the world would I want to bring to your attention a not so flattering review about my product?  Well, as you know, I always try to keep it real and show the good, the bad and the ugly about business.  Not everyone is going to love my product.  Obviously, not everyone is going to even LIKE my product.  As a women I think I take things a little more personally then a man might, and sometimes I think that helps drive me.  It’s hard to separate myself from my product.  I’m not sure that I would have the energy to do what I do every day if I didn’t feel like my product was an extension of me or if I viewed Grill Charms™ as “just a product”.  Nope, I’m one of those crazy people that view my product as my “baby”.  So when I read this today, it did take the wind out of my sails for a second.  Then I thought as I read it again, a lot of things he didn’t like about the product are things he did not understand.  And if he didn’t understand, how many other people don’t understand?  You certainly get the most out of and gain the most from the negative comments people make about your business, product or service.  Praise and positive stuff is nice, but rarely do you learn anything from it.

I’d like to clarify a few points brought up in the review as I don’t want people to misunderstand my product.  This review taught me that I need to work harder to make sure I am clear in product submissions, on my website and in marketing material as it is obvious from this review that I have not been clear enough.  While I’m here I might as well address the issues incase anyone else is a bit confused as well.   Regarding the comment about putting the charms in after the first side is already cooked because you have to cook both sides.  To clarify, Grill Charms can be put in your food RAW and grilled with them in the entire time.  They have serrated stems and will not fall out when flipping and they are stainless steel so you don’t have to worry about them getting messed up on the grates.  You just grill like you normally would.  Make no mistake, the grill master still has to know how to grill, but as a guest, it’s just so much easier to find the steak you want once you have plated up all the meat and served it your guests.  Instead of cutting into the meat, or asking the chef to remember where on the platter he put the rare one, you simply look for your Grill Charm™.   

Regarding the Charmed Life collection and the comment about the grill guy remember all the charms.  To clarify:  No you silly goose!!  The concept is similar to that of a wine charm.  The GUEST knows what charm is theirs, and they can season their pork, chicken, steak etc… any way THEY want.  The whole point is so the grill guy DOESN’T HAVE TO know or even care what chicken has the lemon pepper, which has the Greek and which one is Uncle Bob’s who’s allergic to garlic so he just has salt and pepper.  It’s kind of like monopoly.  You pick your Grill Charm, do what you want to your food, and have the grill guy cook it up, then simply look for your charm when it’s done.    

Regarding the comment about the Spicy collection and the spicy having multiple peppers.  To clarify,  the spicy is a pepper on fire but that’s okay, the picture might not have been clear. 

Regarding the solution of dividing up the grill.  Yep, that’s what can do absolutely!  However, as soon as you take the food off the grill and put it on a serving plate, forget it.

I do know that there will be tons of people that would never dream of needing my product.  (Remember Bill Zanker on The Big Idea?!)    But I need to make sure in the future, the people doing the review can tell from my website or materials what the product is and does.   I guess I need to clarify those points to make sure other people totally understand my product first, AND THEN they can hate it!   Hee hee  Okie doke, enough with all that. On to some GREAT stuff!!! 

Remember the other day when I said that contests are a great way to get some publicity?  Well, I just got this email the other day from Orca Communications.  They are a top PR company out of
Arizona that represents some BIG inventors and entrepreneurs, including my mentor Tamara Monosoff!  (She wrote The Mom Inventor’s Handbook which I have always given TONS of credit to for helping me get where I am, ESPECIALLY in the beginning)

Here is the email:

“Subject: Congratulations Leslie! You Won
America’s Best Invention Contest 2008 for April!

May 5, 2008 

Dear Leslie, 

After careful review of all of our entries, our management team found that your Grill Charms are exceptionally innovative and we are very excited to endorse it as one of the best products of the year!  As a result, you have won a coveted slot in our “Best Products Media Guide™” media campaign for “Fabulous Food Finds”.  This prize is valued at $3,975 – at NO charge to you!  The “Best Products Media Guide™” is a collection of 10 to 15 of the most innovative, interesting, fun and practical products in one dynamic group PR campaign.  We are pleased to award you with this exciting opportunity for the months of June through August of this year.

This campaign reaches out to national magazines, regional/local magazines, newspapers in top 100 markets, national TV, local TV, radio and online. It’s a blockbuster blitz!

The campaign includes photos and descriptions on our designated media website (www.bestproductsmediaguide.com) as well as a 3 month PR campaign where we write and distribute pitches and press releases to thousands of media outlets. We also follow up, coordinating photo and sample requests and line up interviews and stories.   Our previous campaigns have generated terrific media coverage (Good Morning America, The View, Today Show, CBS Early Show, People Magazine, Time Magazine, USA Today, New York Times, Wall Street Journal, Health, Parents, Parenting, Good Housekeeping, Glamour, Lucky, Cookie, Wondertime, House & Home, Country Living, Log Home Living, Los Angeles Times, Better Homes & Gardens, Family Circle Magazine, Martha Stewart Living, O, The Oprah Magazine, Skylights Magazine, Redbook, BestStuff.com, Ladies’ Home Journal, Us Weekly, In Style Magazine, Upscale Magazine, Toronto Star, Sacramento Bee, San Diego Union Tribune, and much, much more).

As this month’s winner, you are also an official Semi-Finalist, and as such you will be considered for our grand prize of a Full Service Media Campaign.  This prize will be awarded at the end of this year to one of our eleven Semi-Finalists.  The Full Service Media Campaign is an individual, customized public relations effort designed for one particular business.  This campaign is tailored to the company’s specific goals and market.  With this service, we pitch all aspects of a company and its products to services to targeted media outlets.

I have also attached the “Best Products Media Guide™” logo that you are welcome to immediately add to your website.  Congratulations again!”

YAHOOOOOO!!!!!!

I also found out recently that I was one of the winners of a local entrepreneurial type contest for the top 40 biz peeps under 40 in
Charleston. 

http://www.scbizmag.com/content/view/71982/107/ 

There is a banquet and stuff on May 22^nd. 

So that sums up the past few days.  Stay tuned folks… it’s about to get interesting!!

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

Packing for the tradeshow needs a little thought especially if you have to ship items.  You will most likely have to have everything packed up 2 weeks or more in advance depending on how or where you are going to ship it.  If you are driving, then you have a little more leeway however you need to review the laws of the convention center on what you are allowed to carry in versus what the union has to do for you.  Usually if you can carry it with one person or roll it, you shouldn’t have a problem.   

Here is a general checklist of the items I would recommend having along:·        

• Scotch Tape·        
• Masking Tape·        
• Duct Tape  ·        
• 2-sided Tape·        
• Velcro 

Seems over kill I know BUT you never know when some part of your booth is going to fail you and you need a quick fix. 

• Scissors·        
• Pens·        
• Lint Brush (this helps clean up table clothes, a quick carpet clean…because you do have to pay for them to vacuum, or if you have a popup booth with fabric sides)·        
• Stapler·        
• Binder for leads·        
• Sell Sheets/Catalogs·        
• Price list·        
• Media Kits·        
• Business Cards·        
• Quick easy snacks.  I brought Power Bars because you often don’t get time to eat.·        
• Water or other beverage·        
• Mints (I don’t recommend gum)·        
• Camera  (you are not allowed to take pictures of other booths without permission nor are they allowed to take a picture of yours.  I stopped more than one photograph)·        
• Screwdrivers/tools that you will need to assemble your booth or for your product.  ·        
• Power strip·        
• Extension cords·        
• Extra lighting to brighten up the booth.  (you will get charged for electricity)·        
• Extra product for samples to buyers.  You do not need to give a free sample to each buyer and often times they will offer to pay for it.   Quite often the buyers will ask for samples to be sent so they don’t have to carry so much during the show. 

Obviously don’t forget the basic elements of your booth and your product to showcase.

 ”Go confidently in the direction of your dreams. Live the life you’ve imagined.” Henry David Thoreau

Gwen Austin, RC Art Toys, Inventor of the Color Bug™  www.rcarttoys.com 

Perhaps I should rephrase that. On the other hand, it might just be a double duty title. We all have misconceptions about being organized and we need to get those misconceptions dealt with - or organized. I think I’ll leave the title just like it is. It says everything I want it to say.

What are your misconceptions about organizing? Do you feel you could NEVER do that? Do you feel it’s for “other people”? What is it? I would submit that we all feel like we could never live up to some expectation we have for ourselves and so many times we give up in frustration.

I want to share with you here something that has helped me immensely. Maria Gracia of “Get Organized Now” gives us the Infamous Organizational Myth.

Myth: To be organized means to be neat and tidy.

Truth: To be organized means…1. You get everything done when it’s due and 2. You find everything you need when you need it.

It really is that simple. She says to keep these two phrases in mind and you’re well on your way to optimum organization.

Now, true confession time. I’m really good at #2, and working hard to conquer #1. This has been a problem for me for more years than I care to admit. However, I haven’t given up yet. Every morning I get up and remember that it’s a new day for me to use effectively or not. Forget yesterday, press on today and make it a great one.

So…how’s your day going? What are you getting done or getting organized today? I would love to hear how you’re doing on the organizing journey. For many of us being organized is a struggle and a necessity more than a natural way of life. Trust me, I get that.

Today I am making a commitment to post at least once a week some encouraging words about getting/being organized. Now…who wants to hold MY feet to the fire?

Hello friends!!!  I know it has been a while, but we took a family vacation to
Holland last week, and I’m back and ready for action!  The girls met their Dutch cousins for the first time and it was amazing.  We stayed with a cousin of Jason’s who has 3 little girls (8, 6 and 3).  I was very interested to see how this vacation would go because my girls (5 and 3) don’t speak a word of Dutch and their girls don’t speak a word of English.  It was the most incredible thing I ever saw.  I did not warn them what-so-ever that they would not be able to “communicate” with their cousins (a statement which I now know would have been false anyway) but instead, just let the situation play out.  Do you know that none of them really seemed to know or care that they didn’t speak the same language!  They played like they had known each other their whole lives!  All 5 of them would disappear up to the playroom for hours.  It just goes to show you that sometimes ignorance is bliss.  I kind of feel that way with business too.  Nobody REALLY told me how hard starting a company would be so I went in somewhat blind.  Thank goodness!  To this day I still don’t really KNOW the statistics (or believe them) about the success rates of companies, or how many people have ideas and fail to do something about it.  Just like my girls, I went into a situation no knowing that it was supposed to be difficult and found a way.  The girls didn’t know that they weren’t supposed to be able to communicate and so they found a way.  

I want to take a moment to give some recognition to my fantastic support system I have through www.mompreneursonline.com  My friends all knew that I was going out of the country for a week and right before I left, an inquiry came across a PR wire we all belong to asking for pitches about Summertime BBQ gadgets.  This was a Bull’s eye for me right??!!  Knowing I was about to leave, my fantastic mompreneur friends (and I’ll name them in a minute, just because these are wonderful gals you need to know and support) sent me emails to make sure I did not miss this most perfect PR opportunity.  Two of my gals (my wonderful graphic designer that designs my Grill Charms, Melissa Yamello and of course my wonderful fulfillment queen Janene Jaroscak) even took it upon themselves to act as my PR reps, replied on my behalf and sent a requested sample)  I LOVE MY VILLAGE.  It is so important to have a strong support system in business and in life and I’m so fortunate to have mine.  These gals are all running their own companies and raising their own kids and still found the time to look out for me.  This is my “shout out” to you guys for having my back and minding the store while I was gone!! 

Thank you: 

Melissa Yamello www.storybookstudio.net Creating inspirations for happy ever after… if you have little girls with birthday’s coming up, check our her company for a great gift idea and party theme. 

Janene Jaroscak www.trendingsolutions.com offers a full range of affordable, customized
services designed to help support your customer base, bringing your
customer service to the next level.  (Also the best order fulfiller EVER!) 

Annmarie Vanini www.flippee.com  She invented a product For boys & men of all ages…
(and those who clean up after them!)  If you have a little boy in your house, check out her invention/product/company 

Dianne Cernese www.saltychix.com creator of the beach fashion lifestyle taking over the country.  If you love the water, Salty Chix is your brand!   

Julie Northrop www.freebirthdaytreats.com  If you know of ANYONE having a birthday soon, this is a must see! 

Veronica Adams www.polkadotbumblebee.com for the cutest custom photo cards and stationary 

Gwen Austin www.rcarttoys.com Inventor of Color Bug which was AWARDED TOY OF THE YEAR 2007 FROM CREATIVE CHILD MAGAZINE.  (and she’s been on Oprah!!) 

Kendall Morris www.thebluetophat.com The Blue Top Hat® Experts in the Art of Gift Giving! She invented a gift giving concept that’s perfect for all occasions. 

Angela Rivet 

Jill Caren www.ilovephotogifts.com Creating Art & Gifts from Personal Photos! 

Moschel Kadokura www.timelymatters.com  Inventor of On Task On Time for Kids (If you have trouble keeping your kids on task and on time… this is MUST SEE!) 

Diana Ennen www.virtualwordpublishing.com Publicist / Author / Radio HostVirtual Word Publishing and FABULOUS person!!   

Cindy Chrysler www.clevercontainer.com Founding Consultant The Clever Container Co.
“It’s not just the product, it’s the process!”  

Robin Lucas www.chicpeeks.com Creator of Chic Peeks by MYSS “This ain’t your mamma’s dickie”  

Lisa Otto www.creativewritingstudios.com Provides professional copywriting for the small business.

Laurie Stroupe www.cobalt-world.com  Check out her site for the perfect Mother’s Day gift. 

This is just a very short list of my fellow mompreneurs who I can count on, on a daily basis to be there for me and with me during this journey.  THANK YOU GUYS!!  I love ya!!! 

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