Delaying tactics

Image via Wikipedia

I don't know if anyone else has this problem or maybe its just me - but when it comes to doing something I don't really enjoy, I manage to find 101 things to do instead.
I dread getting the Bank statement through the post, as it means I need to update the accounts, and tackle SAGE. I don't mind analysing sales, best sellers etc, but somehow just entering numbers doesn't do it for me, so I seem to find lots of other things to do - hence writing the blog now. Well I did need to update it!
We are not so much winding down for Christmas at the moment, as gearing ourselves up for a 2 day photoshoot next week. I went and met our new photographer on site yesterday just to check the layout and lighting levels, and to go through the shot options and styling. Then a quick trip round Sainsbury's to get some food props - if anyone had looked in my trolley they would think  I had a strange diet of red onions, cherry tomatoes and garlic.
Luckily when it comes to the ceramics I have lots of prop options - from my time as Kitchenware buyer at Allders to  Gift Buyer at Wedgwood - I've always had a penchant for nice ceramics. Add in a few cookbooks, pestle & mortar, and pepper grinder and we are good to go. Apart from the one vital ingredient; the new samples themselves.
It has been a frustrating week, rearranging dates, chasing Portugal for information, and now waiting on TNT to deliver the goods. A true Virgo, I like to be organised, and had started work on the new range months ago, but my attempts have been thwarted at every turn. The danger with no time between the samples arriving and the shoot itself means if they are not quite right there is nothing we can do.
Fortunately Rachel Spivey our photographer seems very organised, and judging by the shots on her online portfolio a great eye as well.
So another delaying tactic from the accounts at the moment is to keep checking the TNT site for delivery updates...........
Ok - I'll get on with the accounts, but I might just check the weather forecast first!

The Last Show of 2010

Image by michaelallroy via Flickr

We have our last Christmas show this Friday - which is a big relief as they are such hard work. You have the day before sorting out the stock, signs etc, and then the show itself, followed by another day putting the stock away, adjusting the stock, and doing the banking. Also the day job still needs tackling - so after a month with no time off, the thought of a show free weekend seems very luxurious.
I do feel that we have had a more successful show season this year than last year. Obviously we were only just setting up last year, but monetary wise we have done better this year, although emerging from the recession may be a large part in this.  I am pleased to say that we did learn from the mistakes we made a year ago. Finding the right environment to sell your product in is critical - a big clue last year was the number of times customers said, "we are surprised to see you here?". Often it was a very local craft fair and our not so crafty luxury items stood out a mile.
Snobby as it sounds, when selling table linen for fine dining,if the visitors to the fair are donning tracksuits, and want free samples, you know you are onto a loser before you start.
The other big difference is our mix has evolved - whereas a year ago we sold just the textiles, this time our wider range of pick up gifts have been the solution to a lot of customers present buying dilemma's.
Hearing customers say - this is the nicest stand here - (that was at the NEC!), was also a huge boost, as you feel you must be getting something right.
So we now are looking forward to 2010 - and revisiting our marketing plan. What worked, didn't work, which shows shall we do again, and which were frankly a waste of time. It is at times like this, I wish I had a crystal ball - knowing which ads will work, and which are a con, which shows will have a good footfall of the RIGHT type of customers. But as I said at the beginning, I am pleased that we have learnt from our mistakes, we are evolving, and feel that we are in an even stronger position to tackle 2010. Bring it on!

The Christmas Build Up

You know Christmas is near when you start to hear those festive songs on the radio - I have to admit I am a sucker for the old Phil Spector tunes - I have a special Christmas mix on my ipod, that gets played over and over in the weeks pre Crimbo.
In my old days in retail, we used to get a new "tape" once a month, (I did say old days - for those younger readers it was like a CD, but sometimes it snapped and we were back to the previous months offering!). We used to look forward to our new tunes every month - but by the end of the month hearing the same 12 tunes every hour would cause the sanest person to grit their teeth.
Having just spent a week at The Good Food show I thought I would feel more Christmassy - but I think because it is such a large space you lose the intimacy and Christmas Spirit that you get at smaller markets - hence I'm actually looking forward to the Moreton On the Marsh Christmas Fair this Saturday. They are switching on their lights, and there will be mulled wine and Christmas gifts aplenty!
It has been great to get an instant reaction from all our leafleting at the Good Food Show last week - and we have already had a few follow up orders.
Alongside the Christmas build up we are also busy working on our new print range - which we are very excited about. Personally I love prints - they are a great way to inject life into any space. One of the designs has a real 50's / Lucienne Day feel, which I think makes a refreshing change from a market currently swamped with Cath Kidston florals.
As always though, getting the samples in time is causing a few sleepless nights - as it appears all retailers are placing repeat orders, and a smaller company like Ochre And Ocre can get bumped to the back of the queue. Not knowing if / when the samples are arriving also makes booking locations / photographers difficult... but as my friends keep telling me, "if it was easy, everyone would be doing it!".
I'll leave you with a few pics of our stand at the NEC - we had so many favourable comments about our display from customers, it was lovely to hear.