Shows and stuff

Ochre & Ocre were at the Stratford Food Festival for 3 days over the weekend. It is always interesting to get first hand reactions to new additions to our ranges. The Honey Handwash and hand lotion were really well received, and several people who wandered off rubbing some of the tester into their hands, came back to purchase.
Our new hampers also got a great reaction, and a few local businesses who normally send M&S hampers to their clients were pleased to find a local alternative.
Unfortunately the new Venetien Red did not make it in time, but a lot of people were thinking about Christmas already. Our Christmas gift ideas leaflet proved very popular.
Our Organic Linen Table linen drew a great response - as when you get to see and feel the quality peope really appreciate just how beautiful it is.
As always at shows you get to meet lots of interesting characters, as well as networking with other small businesses. We were opposite French Flavour - who had a lovely range of smoked garlic, sparkling cider and wines amongst other items. Look out for future collaborations on our newsletters.
We have a bit of a break from shows for a few weeks now before we get into the silly Christmas show season, with lots of charity fairs, as well as the big Good Food Show in November at the NEC.

Stratford Food Festival

Image by Getty Images via Daylife

It's prep time again this week for our next show - The Stratford Food Festival which is taking place in the heart of Stratford Upon Avon. On for 3 days - Fri / Sat / Sun, from 9 - 5.30, it promises to be a great show.
I spent a few hours this morning making up new hampers ready, as well as some of our new mini hampers. Our beeswax pots look like lovely egg yolks when they are nestling in the wood straw. The wood straw is a bit lethal though, as you do tend to get a few bits digging into your fingers when you try to rip it from the bale. Gert has got very intolerant of me doing anything other than sitting at my desk, and leaves the office in a huff as soon as I start rustling. Needless to say she was not a fan of the hairdryer when I was shrink wrapping the cellophane.
After our mini eco break at The Scarlet last week, my session with Sharon at BFFA I know is not going to be easy this week - it's not that I've been taking it easy - shovelling gravel does wonders for your abs and biceps, but I know I am woefully unprepared for my forms.
As you know I like to share any online gems I come across, and I was very impressed by the service I got recently from The Big Plant Nursery, in West Sussex. I was after 3 architecturally shaped plants, (I don't do names!), so I picked out a few I liked the look of on their website. The exact ones I chose were not in stock at the time, but they quickly sent me pics of the exact plants they could send me, complete with model(ok the bloke who had dug them up!). They arrived within a few days, and they've even managed to survive my adhoc plant care!
So check out their website if you ever need instant gardening: www.bigplantnursery.co.uk

Scarlet Hotel

I was very fortunate this weekend to be whisked away to Cornwall for a very special Birthday treat - a 3 night stay in the super eco luxe Scarlet Hotel.
The Scarlet is brand new - it opened its doors this September, and I would urge you all to try and book in a visit while they have their amazing 50% opening offer on.
The architecture was gorgeous - mellowing copper, natural wood, and slate, and glittering mosaics in the bathrooms, bold wallpaper prints on feature walls - and views to die for.
The hotel is perched on the edge of the bay at Mawgan Porth - and from almost every aspect you get amazing sea views. We were lucky we also managed to get one of the rare weekends in the UK that was sunny, and on my birthday we even managed to lounge by the side of the open air pool, and grab some rays. I did not brave the water, which judging by most peoples reactions seemed to be sub zero - but I did have a quiet pootle in the indoor pool, which is heated by solar panels.
The Scarlets eco credentials are excellent - but you don't feel like you are in a hair shirt kind of place, because so much attention has gone into the design.
The electricity supply is from Ecotricity, and is 100% wind generated. Grey water is harvested to flush the loos, and there is a heat exchange ventilation system, whilst the heating itself comes from a biomass boiler fed by wood chips.
It is well worth the climb up the opposite cliff just to gaze back at the hotel which has been built quite low into the hillside.
The food was also excellent - with loads of fish choices which you would expect by the sea, but also so very yummy vegetarian options. The staff were very laid back, but in a nice way, so you felt like you could curl your feet up under you on one of the cosy sofas in the library.
The only disappointment was the table linen they had chosen was of the laundry style, bog standard white damask, with so much attention to detail elsewhere with the Organic Luma bedding, and local Cornwall Soap Box soap, it was a shame they had not gone all the way with the eco sourcing.
We also popped over to Jamie Olivers Fifteen restaurant, which was only 10 minutes away at Watergate Bay. Again we were very fortunate to have one of the best sunsets that the locals had seen for a while - (you could tell because even the waiters and waitresses were stopping to look at the sunset).
It was one of the nicest meals I've had in ages, and we also had one of my favourite Sicilian Organic wines, which you rarely see in the UK. The quality of the ingredients was excellent - where they could get a good local supply the food was local, but the olive oil and buffalo mozzarella were from Italy and tasted so fresh.
It was certainly a birthday to remember, and although it was only 3 days we felt like we had been away longer.

New Season

I love this time of year - it has that feeling of back to school without all the angst of starting a new term! The best bit about turning towards Autumn is that you get to cover up, with opaque tights and snug knitwear - and obviously update your wardrobe with a few key new pieces.
I've just received an email with Ascension's new Autumn look book - and I'm loving their new range. They have some really great strong colours and stylish prints, and are proving that being green does not mean sack cloth and beige! Formerly Adili, the online eco chic store works with small ethical producers, and has produced some really strong pieces. Their homewares range needs some love and attention, and lacks the attention to detail the fashion ranges have received.
We have been slowly adding our new Autumn ranges - the new Venetien Red Table linen is being made as I write, and will be online by the end of September!
The new Ochre And Ocre British leather range is now in, the perfect way to update your dinner table this Autumn.

Indian Summer

Image by Joriel "Joz" Jimenez via Flickr

Will we, won't we?? Everywhere I go, people gather to talk excitedly about....wait for it...the weather??? Ok, I know summer wasn't quite what was promised, but the excitement that a few days sun shine provokes is quite amazing.
I'm very pleased about the weather for a different reason, as it means that the brickies can crack on with the walls at the front of the house. I'm looking forward to the day, when instead of the battle of the Somme, I have a nice landscaped view!
I had a quick trip to the Autumn Gift Fair in Birmingham yesterday, mainly to see Nicola Wilkes, from Wales At Home give a presentation on trends for the next season. She did a really good presentation, and managed to keep going despite tannoy interruptions, and even a nearby stand collapsing. (Apparently some poor soul was trapped under the stand and knocked unconscious - mental note to self to check Ochre And Ocre's stand for the Good Food Show at the NEC is well secured!).
I had a quick whizz around, and caught up with some of our suppliers, and it was a chance to see what was new.
I had to rush back to take the estate agents, "show over" lady around the house, so she can take prospective buyers around. It is quite a strange situation, as you are selling your house, but when you walk around with someone pointing out all the nice bits, you do start to wonder, why I am moving again!
It is my 4th session at BFFA this morning - I find it is a really good way to switch off from everything and just focus for an hour on remembering the forms and just trying to breathe!

1 Year Old today!

Yey - we've made it!! Ochre & Ocre are officially 1 year old today! I have to admit there were several times when I didn't think we would make it this far - and its been a difficult time to start a business. But I've learnt so much more in the last year, far more than I would have learnt if I had stayed at Next.
So its only right I say a little thank you to a few people who have been really supportive and helped Ochre & Ocre get this far; Phillippe Oligario and team from Blue Earth Solutions, for putting up with my constant questions, additions to the site. (Thanks for adding the GWG guide banner this weekend!). Having a "shop" that not only looks good but that works is vital for an online business.
A big thank you has to go to Lindsey Joyce - graphic designer extraordinaire - she put together the look for the logo, and all our packaging, and has been a huge support. She also is quite good at telling me off if I don't follow her strict design rules!!
Obviously our suppliers have been a huge support, Adriano and Pedro in Portugal, for delivering a fantastic quality product. Doug for his lovely beeswax candles, and Kim for the amazing lavender. Plus many others....thank you to you all!
Finally a massive thank you has to go to my hubbie - Paul, as he has supported me both emotionally and financially on this venture - and we used to wonder what we did in our spare time. Now those long evenings fly by when we are making swatch cards!
But enough of the Oscar speech - we've still got a long way to go, and a lot more hard work ahead of us - onwards and upwards!!