Monday, March 31, 2008

Mavens Third Book

Toddlers Gone Wild.
I will have 5 to give away to lucky contest winners at the Today's Parent Show!

The Trade Shows

Here's a subject I have zero expertise on. So if you're reading this, and you've done these, I'm looking at you. (you in the sense that I'd like your input and insights, so put it in the comments section or email me).
I had a choice of the first major trade show I would do. It was either going to be the Today's Parent Show in Toronto, or the One of A Kind Craft Show, also in Toronto. Strictly by the statistics, you may disagree with my choice. One of a Kind can pull 250,000 people through the doors over the course of a week. Large audience. And beyond that, it truly is a marketplace, meaning people come to buy. The Today's Parent Show boasts 16000 people through the doors over 3 days. I went with the second one for a few reasons:
1. Smaller show, easier to get your feet wet.
2. Aimed directly at my target audience.
3. Parenting Media out in full force at the Parent Show.
4. Some direct sales, but this wasn't the point.

I am trying to take the long view that the more I get the word out, and the more exposure I can get for Smicko'z, the more I will create a brand. And once I've created a brand, I will create more retail opportunities. I wasn't certain One of A kind could do that. Now don't get me wrong, I want to sell product. I have just this morning fedexed off the package to One of A Kind for their Christmas show. It's juried, and it's not a for sure that they'll accept Smicko'z. But if they do, I will likely get to move a lot of product there - which will be great at chipping away at start up costs. I have decided to carry those costs longer. Some might think it's odd, to choose to stay in debt longer. But as I said, this is my long view, and it may be wrong. And truthfully, if I were to sell out of the first production run, I would use whatever capital there is, plus draw on the same debt to create the second run. Now, it may be smarter to create the second run. I already know (from the dynamic working framework) that my second run costs will be about 10% less than my first production run. And having a second run shows that you're there to stay.

I have a 10' by 10' booth over at Today's Parent. Inside will be this crazy carpet I purchased, a table, two wire displays full of product, (with these fabulous large dolls on top of them, each wearing a Smicko, thanks Darcy at DEW) my bannerstand (thanks Altered Perceptions), a clothesline accross the back with each Smicko hanging from the wood clips, and some Smicko's materials and the Moneris machine layed out accross the table.

Firstlly, a word about Moneris. You can be up and running and taking Visa/Mastercard/Debit in about 5 minutes with a portable machine. I was psyched when I received this in the mail. There are user costs associated - but I decided it would be a little too minor league to not take credit cards. Secondly, they track everything, and spreadsheet it for you at the end of the event. You can buy/rent/or special event these handy little machines. Special event is the most economical for now. The booth next to me, Tail Wags Helmet Covers rents hers. But she's years into this, and I am months. Incidentally, Karen over at Tail Wags has also been a huge piece of my network, advising me on a lot of small business start up and penetration (thanks Karen!).

The show is 3 days, 10-6 each day. And I've got two beautiful and amazingly energetic women volunteering to man the booth with me. Partiatlly so I can wander to other booths and introduce myself to anyone and everyone there that should be selling Smicko'z and networking with Smicko'z. More terror on my part. The public speaking face for three days straight. Anyone have any advice on the approaches?

Sunday, March 30, 2008

The Maven

Here's my huge shout out to "The Maven". I met her by chance, our daughters are in the same dance class together. She's pretty high profile, so most would know her on sight if they are Canadian. The Maven has been a staff writer for major newspapers, a mommy blogger, and is a published author, releasing her third novel this month. She has some clout, and she has connections. It so happens that I went to high school with her, and was in the same elementary school class as her brother. In fact, when I first met her, I didn't associate her with her high profile world - I instantly had an image of her walking my classmate home from school. So that's how I approached her, not knowing how pivotol the meeting would become for me.
I would say for the first few months I knew her, it never occurred to me to speak to her about what I was doing, and I'm a little gun shy that way. One day as we were waiting for our lovelies in dance class, she noticed I was reading a book (Idiot's Guide to Small Business, only recommend for US customers, honestly wasn't applicable enough to Canadian law) and of her own volition, asked me what I was reading it for. I hesitantly, shyly, almost apologetically told her in a roundabout way about Smicko'z. She knowingly rolled her eyes at me, and gave me my first and best lesson : speak loudly, clearly, passionately, and with knowledge and intelligence about your start up. And then she jumped in with both feet. Offered me every contact she could. Supported and gave advice via email and at Saturday class. This past Saturday after not seeing each other for a month, she immediately wanted the update.
Ask yourself if you know any Mavens. Mavens are some of the 'good people' I discussed earlier. Some Mavens may eventually want something in return (which is fine, honestly, don't be turned off if your Maven comes up with a way to cross promote in the future, they are entitled.) Also remember that there's no such thing as a free lunch, so be ready and able when a favor may be asked of you. But you're thinking, I'm so small, what could I possibly do for someone who already knows so much success? Don't know. But you will when the time comes.
The Maven is inviting me to her book launch party. Not because we are BFF's, but because every important person in the Mom-Universe of Toronto and possibly Canada will be there. She's inviting me because she know's it's an opportunity for me to network inside her network. She's doing it out of the kindness of her heart. Now I also know, being there, that all she can do is invite me. The rest is up to me. I can sip cocktails and pretend I'm 28 and out on the town again. (which trust me at this point has a great deal of attraction attached to it) OR, I can put on my big girl knickers and order the seltzer with lime, and walk around introducing myself and talking to anyone who will listen about why they need to write about me, promote me, and cross promote with me. I choose the latter. I am terrified of the latter. Yes. After all I've shared with you about the sales cycle, and the selling and rejecting, I am still weak in the knees about the rejection or snubs. So thanks Maven for the invite, I'll be there. I will hire the first babysitter I find that's breathing, and I will be there. And thanks for giving me another challenge to stand up and take a deep breath and make things happen for myself.
And what will I do for the Maven in return? I'll cross promote her any chance I get. I'll link the sales site of her new and older titles to my sites. I'll link her blog to mine. I'll thank her publically every chance I get, and if the media comes my way, I'll mention her there too.
So that's how I intend to use my limited resources to pay it back. What will you do to pay back your Mavens?
Oh, and who's this Maven I speak of?
Rebecca Eckler.
www.rebeccaeckler.com
1st novel : Knocked Up
2nd Novel: Wiped
3rd Novel: I'll report back when I have the title

I read Knocked Up when I was pregnant, and on bedrest, and let me tell you, I enjoyed it from front to back. Rebecca accurately conveys the feelings of going from cool hip scenester to suddenly pregnant and emotional and scared, and everything in between. Had I been up and on my feet at the time, I certainly think I'd have been eating pancakes with the veracity that she seemed to. And Mcd's.

Saturday, March 29, 2008

Feet on The Ground, Head in the Air

So now you've got your feet on the ground. You know exactly what it will take to get yourself off the ground, launched, and into retail outlets. Congratulations! Now what? Growth. Hopefully. Sustained growth that you can project, follow, and grow with. Most of us do this in the moment, without a great deal of further thought. It's hard, as a little manufacturer to even imagine that your product could outgrow your current capabilites. But it can, and for many it has. And that's where my current worry stream arises. I would point out companies like Toronto based Baby Legs as a great example of a small start with a rapid expansion. I also (you'll note them linked to the blog) would point out sweetpea baby food. Another small start with a rapid expansion, also Toronto based, and also still locally sourced. A great question, one I inted to direct to both of them the next time we speak.
In the meantime, I'll tell you about my conversation with he who shall be nicknamed from here on "The Guru", and my conversation with the high profile journalist or "The Maven". Both are people I have been lucky to meet and link into for various reasons. Both have not a thing to gain from their association with Smicko'z other than my fabulous sense of humor. But both are ready and willing to offer a great deal of advice and input, nay, even some contact creating on my behalf, based solely on the fact that they are decent people who believe in building the network. In fact, both are quite strong on the idea of building the network - with anyone who makes sense to build it with. Be it with local causes that you could partner with, or with other local entrepreneurs with who you can try to create cross promotional opportunities.
The Guru believes that now that I have completed my first production run, that I need to create a dynamic excel document as a framework of a business plan. And he's right. I need to do that. I am one of those "I know the numbers in my head" people, but he's correct in saying that hard data is hard to argue with. And as a side note to Guru, I am on it. Expect rough copy one next week. To the Maven. She's been there and done that. And one thing she and I talked about today was networking and rejection, not hand in hand, but how to work with both. As she comes from the world of journalism, her repertoire of rejection is great. She refers to it with some resignation and a twinkle in her eye (because in fact, she truly DID show them what they were missing out on). And she had another greater point to make in terms of the network, it really doesn't matter who your network are as people or individuals, it matters who they are as a company, what their corporate focus is, and how alligned with your vision they are. And from that, a great alliance can be made. Long story short, you may not be sipping cocktails with them, but there's great business to be traded, so get over yourself.
Maven's views on rejection are somewhat akin to my own these days - They'll be sorry they didn't get in on the front end, but no worries, because they will get on the bus one day. File it away. Guru's view on rejection is somewhat different, yet still grounded. Rejection can also mean a rejection of self, that a retailer or distributor lacks the confidence in themselves to promote a product that the world hasn't already approved. It works well for the Baby's R' Us of the world, not so great in niche market luxury toddler apparel.
And now to the network. Who would make sense in your network, or mine for that matter? You may have noticed the various links I have provided, and some are retailers of mine, and others are key in creating the network we've spoken of. For instance, the Linden Fund supports aiding families who've had a premature baby, and the various ramifications that come after the fact. They are grassroots, hardworking, and they get results. One can't help but admire that drive and initiative even in a not for profit. I am and always will be alligned with them, and will promote their cause in my efforts to launch my company. They in return will list me as a sponsor of the Linden Fund. Which I appreciate. The Linden fund has a roster of potential clients for me. It's a good association. Sweetpea baby food speaks for itself. Food. I am in the business of preventing food from ruining clothing. Good alliance.
I am always in the market for creating good strategic alliances, so if you have a company with a website, a blog that is manufacturing/service/ or not for profit AND juvenile oriented, write to me, and let's see how we can work together. email me at ina.ornstein@smickoz.com

Friday, March 28, 2008

It's A Big City

So large in fact, that many of the neighborhoods other than falling within the GTA have absolutely nothing in common at all. You're probably wondering what that has to do with the price of rice in China - well I'm going to tell you why it's important to know your city, and to know what you don't know about it.
If you are in the juvenile market, and I am, great! There's young families everywhere, in every neighborhood, and they need stuff. Babies are a constant emerging market. Everytime you lose a few customers to age, they are immediately replaced. Good news so far, right?
But neighborhoods vary by economics, culture, sense of community, and sensibility. What flies in one affluent downtown neighborhood, may sit on the shelf for years in the 'burbs. And it brings out the next question: How will you differentiate and take into account all the micro markets in your city? The first and most simple differentiator is the price of the item itself. I have lately been awed by the new crop of high chairs on the market that are retro-modern in design, and can cost up to $1200.00. I love them. I love the look of them. I will not buy one. Simply put, it's out of my market range. And I already own a high chair, and have dreams of the day when it's no longer a fixture in our home. But I tell you the highchair story so I can also tell you where it's NOT for sale - low to low middle income earning neighborhoods. These manufacturers already know something you should know about yourself - they know they priced themselves out of huge pieces of the market segment. They know their product is niche and luxury. They know who their buyer is. And I would chance a guess that if I ever saw their marketing materials and business plans, they would pinpoint their buyer almost by name.
So ask yourself who your customer is. What do they earn? What are their priorities? How will they spend their money? Is your product a 'must have' or a 'nice to have' ? And what if it's simple things like colour and packaging that will sell you in one neighborhood, and not in another? The answer, if you can afford it, is to create a line. Now in my case, the line is 16 different patterns. Many thought I was nuts to start out with this many. But the one thing I knew was that one pattern and one colour do not fit all gender/tastes. And I already know from retailer feedback how WILDLY varied the sales numbers are depending on neighborhood.
The easy thing for me, is that my line is essentially all the same product, made of different patterns. They are all priced the same. You may want to consider a line with two or three price points so as to include yourself in various niche markets. For instance, my product will never be seen in a Walmart. It cannot be, and will not be ever profitable for me or anyone else to sell them through the consumer friendly but manufacturing ugly big box stores. But, if you are manufacturing zippers in China, and have the ability to get into a Walmart or Kmart, by all means have at it. But you will lose control of your company pretty quickly.
But lets get back to the idea of lines and neighbourhoods. There's an affluent area of Toronto where the Dads have their own butch diaper bags. They are super cool, and I love seeing them. There are other downtown areas where Dads are happy to tote their partners flower bespeckled diaper bag. As I said, depends on priorities. And I have my product in both types of neighborhoods, and they both buy the product. But differently. One neighborhood buys multiples of it, for when one is in the wash. The other buys them just one at a time, and to match an outfit, or to send to nursery school with their little one. The feedback is extremely important, because it tells me how to market further into individual neighborhoods. And focusses the forward direction. Many small manufacturers are pleased just to get their product in stores, and then tend to shy away from the resulting feedback, with good reason. They are afraid they will hear that the product isn't moving at all. And if they give the retailer the chance over the phone or in person, they fear they will be asked to repurchase their own merchandise. This happens. But rarely. Because retailers KNOW what they are doing when they buy your product. So follow up. Often.

Thursday, March 27, 2008

Think Like a Retailer

Ok so I'm not a retailer. Chances are that you aren't either.
But you want to sell to one. And they have questions. Lots of questions. And you need to have answers. I don't mean "I'll get back to you" answers, I mean right now, on the spot answers.
Which means you need to have thought through a great deal before you ever get to the retailer.
Here are the most common questions retailers have asked me - I know the answers, and I can recite them off by heart. If you are going to do this, you should too.
1. What's your wholesale price?
2. How do I display it?
3. What are the dimensions of it?
4. Are you registered as a business?
5. Do you have a competition numer (ca number, for Cdns)
6. Do you have a wash/wear instructions and material content?
7. Who manufacturers these for you?
8. Where else are you selling these?
9. Do you have a website?
10. Will you be selling them on your website?
11. Do I get a bulk discount?
12. What's your turnaround time? (for a first production, this will be difficult for you to say, but the first production should give you a reasonably good idea of how long it takes you to source materials, produce, package, and deliver)
13. How do you intend to follow up/service the store?
14. Do you have any retailer support materials to display with your product?

Let me start off by saying I haven't been perfect down this road. Really haven't. But I've learned. And take it from me, learning from others mistakes is a lot cheaper than making your own. Here is the smartest thing I did - Packaging. I wanted my items to be easy to display for retailers, and take up little space, while still showing themselves off. I went with transparent vinyl zipper bags with rope handles. They can be hung off of pegs, racks, etc, and can even just be stocked standing upright on a shelf. Retail space is expensive. Remember this, the better and more efficiently you package your product, the more retailers will appreciate it. They do not want to : hang your product, fold your product, build shelving for your product. It needs to easily fit into what they themselves have already purchased. Remembering yourself though, however you package it, make sure your product/logo is clearly visible and not ambiguous to consumers.

YES! Angels and Saints

YES
Is a magical word.
YES
Means someone else believes in you too.
YES
Means your product will be out there for the world to see.


Your first retailer is someone who falls into the Angel/Saint category. They are taking a risk. They are gambling on you. They believe in you. They are trailblazers. They don't care that they are first. In fact, they LIKE being first. I have such a retailer, and I will give them a shameless plug here: Planet Kid www.planetkid.ca
I want to tell you a little about Carolyn and Sara, the proprieters of Planet Kid. For starters, they are sewers in their own right. Which makes them tops in my books. Secondly, they are trailblazing entrepreneurs. Thirdly, they are most keenly interested in supporting local artisans and crafters, and make every effort to stock their store based on that principal, as well as principals of organics and green living. Fourthly - they liked me. And I liked them. And they said YES.
The products they carry are local, quality, and designer represented. S and C don't do business with distributors. They want to be right at the source. And they want to develop a personal relationship with their designers. They don't just sell the product, they sell the story around it. What S and C don't know (but if they read this blog they will) is that a few undercover friends have gone in to their store to see how Smicko'z were doing. And S and C spoke so beautifully of Smicko'z each time, and voiced their support of the product each time, that I was thrilled. The S and C's of this world are few and far between. Find them in your area. Shop in their store. Support what they are doing. Help drive business to them.
And once you have them onboard BE LOYAL. Use whatever network is available to you to drive business to them. Other retailers will follow, because that is what your first retailer does for you. By taking you on, they tacitly invite other retailers to believe in you too. And most retailers out there want to know that your product is selling somewhere else. This is why, your first retailer is your Saint/Angel.

Sell Sell Sell, SCHNELL!

Otherwise known as SELL SELL SELL

I am not a salesman. I have never worked in a sales role. For many of us in this game, the selling is a brand new paradigm. And the thick skin comes in really handy here. Let me start out by saying that you must 100% believe in and love your product. You must truly believe that it's useful, attractive, and will be so to consumers.
I once literally stood in line to present to a retailer (at the cash register no less), and the person in front of me was a distributor who sells on behalf of a number of juvenile lines, and I keenly listened in on the pitch to see what I could glean for myself (take it wherever you can get it). I was literally stunned at what I heard. This gentleman was so blase about the product he was pitching, that honestly it didn't matter what it was. I wouldn't have bought it. I may actually need it. But to listen to him, I could take it or leave it. Lesson learned. People respond to your enthusiasm (and in some cases not, but you gave it your best shot, so move on). And then I asked myself why a distributor, who stands to profit from his pitch, could sound so utterly banal about the product, and I came back to the fundamental I have accepted from the start of this venture: No one will ever sell your product- and by extension YOU - as well as you can.
So when you are representing you, bear the following fundamentals in mind:
1. Be concise
2. Be passionate
3. Accurately convey the benefits to the retailer and consumer
4. Never leave a potential retailer empty handed (leave a marketing package and a sample)
5. Confirm a follow up. Let them know you'll be calling them in one week, 3 days, whatever, but let them know they can expect a follow up. This is important - retailers do not follow up with you, they expect you to do it, so do it.
6. Never sound apologetic for taking up someone's time. You are presenting the retailer with an opportunity to sell a fantastic new item, they are not doing you a favor. (ok, some are, but we'll get to that in Angels and Saints).

What's a marketing package? Joys of the Internet. So many of the tools you need are here and free. What should you download?
1. A standard nondisclosure form (to be signed by anyone who sees/creates your protoype
2. Marketing tools, how to create a product page
3. Networking sites for your product
4. Mompreneur sites - many downloads available for marketing kits
5. Contractors in your area (also called incubators for people working with anything in textiles)
6. Photoshop - if you don't have it, get it - also, get a digital camera with the most megapixels you can afford. Pro photography is a fortune, and the more you can do yourself, the better.


So having never worked in a sales role, I have gone through the pitfalls that I suspect any new salesperson would go through. I could give you a list, but honestly, I think every sales opportunity is different, and will require you to be nimble and change quickly. At the very least, know something about the store you are selling to. I suggest visiting them incognito to see if your product would actually fit. You can save some time and energy this way. And that brings us back to thick skins:
REJECTION
Even the largest manufacturers and distributors have a rejection rate of over 50%. Tell yourself that every time someone says no. And remember, sometimes no means, not right now. Some retailers will offer you a window of when to re-approach. Write it down on your calendar, with the persons name, and stick to it. Smicko'z had a couple of rejections that have come back and asked if they could stock Smicko'z for the next Christmas season. It's a ways off. The sales won't be made until September. But it's an important lesson in remembering that even no is sometimes maybe. And sometimes no means no. Don't get too down in the dumps over no. No happens to the best. Don't dwell on no. Call the next person on your list and keep going. And even if a person says no to you remember to thank them for their time, and ask that they keep the marketing package to consider it for the future. Always end on a positive note. (but by all means go back and retrieve your sample, you only have so many of these things and you need the samples back to try on a new prospect)

Read the next to come installment
The Promised Land; or YES

Who Am I To Give Advice?

It's true, I am just a small venture out there in a sea of juvenile products. But I've learned some lessons along the way. I have gotten my product into stores. I am doing trade shows. I am in talks with distributors. People are aware of my product. I won't see the upside of this venture for a long time. But I'm taking the long view. Slow and steady, at a rate I can handle, will win the race.
So now ask yourself what your definition of success will be? I go back and forth on this one. Is success setting up the company and creating the product? Is it successful when a retailer agrees to carry it? Is success going to come when actual customers (who don't know you) go out and buy your product? I'll be honest. When I accepted delivery of my first production line, I felt overwhelmed. Because I knew the next step:
SELL SELL SELL

Smicko'z World Part 2

Time Money Patience

And a thick skin.

Someone asked me not too long ago what it takes to start your own small business. This was my answer. Though frankly, the last one should really come first. For every positive person out there, there is an equal naysayer. There are thousands of reasons NOT to do this. But if there is even one compelling reason for you to keep going, then you should.
How to start? Well, you should have an actual product in hand. A prototype. Then you need to go out and figure out what it would cost to create 100, 500, or 1000 of them. How would you brand it? How would you market it? What benefits would the product have to the retailer and the consumer? You immediately need to start thinking past yourself. I suggest starting by making a bunch of prototypes and getting people to test them and give you feedback. All feedback, positive and negative. It's all useful, and take all of it in. If something's not working, fix it. In fact, constructive criticism helped build Smicko'z out of my house and into a real business.
Get your financial house of cards standing. How will you pay for it? If you are a mompreneur like me, you have a score of financial commitments that CANNOT fall through. Your family depends on you. So you won't like what I have to say next: Don't quit your dayjob. The startup capital may come from your line of credit, an angel loan from family, or from hard fought for savings. But immediately, and without further ado, set up a business account, and from that point on keep business money separate from household money. Oh - and incorporate yourself, you need to do that to get the business account.
Next, find the 'Good People' who are going to help you manufacture, package, and brand your product. Don't be in a hurry. The good people are hard to find. You will speak to a ton of other people before you find the good people for you. The good people may be ones you've never thought of, and may be in places you never figured you'd be doing business in (I'm in Canada, my packaging is coming from North Carolina). The good people will not care that you are small, and are ordering in small quantities. They will treat you professionally and courteously, and will be appreciative of your business. Because the good people know something that a lot of other people have forgotten: Your small business today, could be a big business tomorrow. And they will have won your loyalty. And as much as you humanly can, you will attempt to keep using the good people. Your good people will also become your network launch pad. They may be in touch with retail outlets, buyers, and distributors, and if they believe in you, they are going to connect you. Be good to your good people. Create an honest back and forth relationship. Don't get angry with them if they make a mistake. Work with them to fix it. Mistakes are how you and your business will learn and grow. Business is built on mistakes. Attempt, at all costs, to never blame - you will alienate your good people. There may come a time where your business is going at such a large volume that your current network can't keep up with - you will have to find more people - but in the meantime don't worry about it.

Stay tuned for Smicko'z World
The Retail Experience

Smicko'z World Part 1

How does one start their own first blog entry? I have been so impressed with so many of the blogs that I have been reading for years. This blog I suppose, is intended to track my adventures through my new world of manufacturing a mom invented product. The blogs that I read have been much more devoted to conceiving and raising your children, and have been great inspirations to me. I love how wise and witty these ladies are, and can only hope to have some magic turn of phrase in my repertoire also.
Smicko'z started in my house, with my daughter. Who would. not. wear. bibs. Period. She ruined all of her clothes. Industrial solvents couldn't solve my problem. I have the sewing skills of a girl who took family studies class at Zion Heights Junior High School in Grades 7 and 8. We learned some simple stuff. I sewed a pair of sweatpants as my first project. They looked great. They lasted two washes before my seams fell apart. My teacher patiently helped me resew the seams, and taught me how to make sure my lines and hems were true and plum. If not for a dusty old sewing machine in my Mother's basement, it likely would have ended there. But for some reason, after Zion Heights was over, I got the idea to sew something as a gift for a friend. Then I found an easy pattern for sewing pillow covers. Trust me, if you are going to start sewing, pillow covers is a great place to start. And you can look like a genius, because the more beautiful the fabric, the better looking the pillow cushion. My current pillow cushions on my sofa change on an every other year basis.
So I took those sewing skills, and applied them to the bib problem. I sewed a bunch of silly things that failed. And then I tackled the fundamental issues for my daughter, which were:
No neck ties
No plastic
And so the Smicko came to be. Many ask me how I named the company and the product a Smicko. I will reveal all here. For many years, I posted on an IVF site, and met a number of fantastic and supportive women along the way. A small group of us joined together and created our own private 'free space' where we could talk about everything in our lives.
When my daughter was turning 3, my dh (dear husband) and I went out to find her a dollhouse. We found one that we thought was fantastic, and I sent the weblink of it to this group of ladies. One of them, whom we shall call 'C' here for anyonymity, wrote back " Fantastic dollhouse, S is very lucky, looks very Smicko!". I emailed her back and asked her what on earth that meant. Her reply said it all - literally, Aussie slang for very cool. And Smicko'z are cool, if I do say so myself.
So how was the process of getting this up and running? Long. Hard. Full of pitfalls. If you are prone to walking away when things get too hard, then becoming a manufacturer is not for you. There are times I've questioned if it's for me. But the payoff is so very worth it. To have something that is completely yours, that you created, sourced materials for, found packaging, worked side by side with graphics designers and a web designer, and then SOLD the product to actual retail stores. I can't tell you the amount of satisfaction that comes, literally, from owning something that is truly yours, and I encourage anyone who has a wont to do that, to get out there and start.

Stay tuned for Smicko'z World Part 2