Rain Rain Go Away....

I know we needed the rain, but since it's started it hardly seems to have eased up. Fingers crossed it is just April showers as we have to plant up our veg plot. Last years effort was a bit half hearted, due to the early arrival of Baby Ochre, but this year we have good intentions of using all the raised beds as well as the greenhouse. We (that being the Royal we) have managed to plant a few rows of potatoes, but so far that's it! 

Our new lawn mowers have arrived for the Spring / Summer season; 3 sheep and 6 lambs. They have already settled in well, exploring our orchard and the lambs bouncing and skipping around. Puppy Ochre is particularly taken with them, and takes any opportunity to slip out of the office to sit and watch them through the gate.

On the business side for Ochre And Ocre our latest wholesale customer is the very lovely Webbs of Wychbold, and Ryton, the Organic Garden Centre. Both excellent days out, if you are near either we thoroughly recommend popping in.

With no shows this year, it is nice not having to load and unload stock and props, and it does give us more time to forward plan; we have decided on our new Autumn colourway. Weather permitting it would be great to get some shots in the garden, instead of the week before Christmas like we usually do! I just hope we can tear Rachel Spivey away from her summer weddings for a trip to the Malvern Hills one ( hopefully fine) day!

Business as usual

Time has flown by over the last few weeks and we have been really busy since the new brochures have gone out. Our wholesale side has also been busy and as well as some good repeats from customers like RHS, and The Hen House, we are thrilled to have got into some new accounts like Fenwicks in Tunbridge Wells and Rossiters in Bath. Both proper, department stores, offering a wide choice as well as good service. A novelty in some high street stores.
We have had some more press coverage in The English Home magazine, this time it was our new puppy who had a starring role, accessorised with some Organic Cotton textiles! Another mention in the Sunday Express magazine, all helping to give our brand some credibility.
Time to forward plan is in short supply but knowing the leadtimes our thoughts are already turning to new introductions, and it would be really nice to have a summer photoshoot instead of the week before Christmas! (Although the weather may not be any better!)
Outside it really does feel like Summer is on it's way, the Spring blossom is everywhere. We have so many apple trees in our area looking out of the office window it can almost look like a covering of snow some mornings.