Daily Candy Kids!!

Wow, what a week! I must say this is one of those days that I am on a total rush and enjoying every minute of this business. I am also counting my blessings every chance I get!!

I mentioned a few months back in a seperate blog post about this super sweet girl that I met that was a new mom and also in the fashion industry. She is a writer, tv host, mom...you name, she does it all! She found RuffleButts online while shopping for her little angel, but then heard about our company through an Associate of her husband's. Anyway, she was so sweet and asked to write about RuffleButts for Daily Candy Kids!!! Yes, you read that correctly, she is a writer and editor for Daily Candy Kids! I could not be more grateful to her, as our article just came out this morning and you can not wipe this smile off my face!

I have said all along that I have 100% faith in our products and moms write me all of the time to tell me how happy they were to find us, but it just takes time to let moms know about this fun new brand without having the financial $s of a big-name corporation to advertise to them. That's where fabulous publications such as Daily Candy Kids and babytalk Magazine come in. They have access to these awesome moms that are excited to learn that there really are fun and feminine products out there for their little girls! And for those of us that grew up in the little ruffled diaper covers...they are back to stay!

So, to make a long story short...I am thrilled to share our so well-written write-up on Daily Candy Kids. Be sure to check it out for yourself!

New homepage!!

My hubby has been hard at work again with his creative and crazy-brain talents! I am so excited to launch our new homepage at http://www.rufflebutts.com/. It is still the same website everyone is used to, but we have changed up the main page a bit to give us a little face-lift.

When running this business, there are always so many things on the to-do list, it is tasks like these that continue to get pushed down the priority list. My husband has been so great working till midnight after work every night to try to help me. I think he did a great job and I am happy to share it with all of our customers!

We also spent part of our day working on our very first print ad!! This is a super big deal for me, as this is a huge step for our business and the biggest financial commitment to marketing that I have ever made. There comes a point in a business when you have to spend money to make money and although we are so very fortunate to receive regular editorial and reviews, which is so greatly appreciated, I am commited to this brand and have to take the next steps to continue our amazing growth!

Fun photo shoot

I always have such fun when it is time for a RuffleButts photo shoot. This one was quick and easy, as we only had a few new styles that needed pics, but taking time out of the office and seeing our creations on this sweet little angel (named Connie) is such a nice reminder of why I do what I do! I also sent out a little email notification to all of our newsletter subscribers, so they would be the very first to know about these 2 new limited edition tees. Check out the sweet pictures below:

Contest! Prize Package worth OVER $2000.00 - Moms United In Business

Moms United in Business is holding a contest!

Contest Deadline: Friday August 15, 2008 11:59pm EST. Winner will be chosen via random drawing and announced Monday August 18, 2008. Prizes have been generously donated by members of Moms United in Business.

For my fellow moms in business, this is a great opportunity to win a ton of cool prizes, including FREE ADVERTISING! I was not extremely familiar with this organization, but after reading the short description below, I have to say, I love what they are doing!

"We are not merely a business community, promoting women and their businesses. We are an organization of motivated and energetic women offering inspiration and support not only as a wife, mother, sister, daughter, and/or friend, but as a woman in your own right!

We believe that by following our own dreams, listening to the whispers of our hearts and by nurturing ourselves we are then able to give more abundantly to our families and our businesses.

We are dedicated to supporting you as both a Mom and a Business Professional. As we all know, the key to a successful business is networking and to a successful life is balance!"

My RuffleButts Experience

Ruffle Intern V:

"The best changes often start as a single, simple thought. Think big, and discover the ways to make your dreams real."--Hearts and Minds: Information for change

This is one of the major ideas I have discovered over the course of my internship here at RuffleButts. I feel as though nothing is more applicable to how this business got started; but I also feel that it is an ideal that we can all share and adapt as our own mottos in our everyday lives.

Working at RuffleButts this past summer has been an extremely rewarding and fulfilling experience. I am happy to say that my first major occupational endevour has been a complete sucess in my eyes and as a bonus, filled with some really great people. I have learned a lot about myself over these past three months and discovered that I can push myself outside of whatever pre-established comfort zones I might have and pursue different aspects of my field and business in general that I normally would not have attempted or looked into. Let me tell ya, it feels really good to tackle something that use to make you uneasy. I have grown a lot through my trials and pursuits at RuffleButts and I have definitely come out of this experience a more occupationally confident and independent person.

I can't express how much I appreciate all of Amber's guidence and support in my position this summer. I never imagined I would be able to work so close with a designer who is so willing to share every aspect of the business. The extremely personal experience of my internship made this decision all the more fulfilling and beneficial. I have to thank Amber for all of the opportunities she has given me this summer included mass producing my apparel designs and allowing me to try my hand at several different creative endevours. She has also shown me the nitty gritty aspects of running a business and all which that entails--something I could not have possibly gained from a classroom or a studio. However, one of the most inspiring things she has shown me is what an incredible amount of determination and passion one must have to run a business (especially in the fashion industry!), qualities which I am anxious to display in my own independent business endevours.

Before I finish up my final RuffleButts Intern posting, I would just like to say what a pleasure it has been to work with all of our customers. You guys are wonderful and all of your positive comments and support are a major part of what makes working here so rewarding, and reminds me of why going into children's apparel was a step in the right direction. Thank you.

-V

Nana update

I try to use the blog as an inspirational tool for the business, but today, I am cheating, so please excuse the big belly pictures! Since my husband and I currently reside in South Florida, we are many, many miles away from all of our family and many friends. As this is the first grandbaby for my mom, now officially "Nana", I'm sure you can understand how excited she's been through this whole prego process! My mom is not only a incredibly supportive mom, but also my best friend, and I am thrilled to share this experience with her. So, mom, here's your promised pic...I am getting rounder by the day!

Our little "RuffleButt" is a mini-acrobat and it is so fun to watch her grow so much at this stage. Although we are super busy with the business right now, Mark and I finally took some time this weekend to go check out some needed baby products. It is such a funny feeling walking through the store with our little registry gun, realizing that we really have NO idea what we are doing as 1st-time parents!! There are so many products out there, I am really depending on my mommy friends to guide me in the right direction.

I also have to take this time to thank all of my super supportive fellow-mommy business owners. Your warm wishes, emails of support, and baby gifts are incredibly appreciated! I am so excited to deck out our little "RuffleButt" in so many of my favorite small-business brands. And you better believe I will be promoting the heck out of your businesses to all of my new mommy friends! I couldn't ask to be a part of a more supportive group of women...you are all fabulous!

Up and down

Any mom, grandma, business owner, or really any person can relate to me here...but sometimes I am just plain worn out! As women, we sometimes have the natural tendency to look at others and wonder how in the world they hold it all together. We compare ourselves, and resurrect that nasty little emotion called guilt. I keep in touch with a few other business owners and one of them yesterday just kept telling me how she was a bit overwhelmed by this whole business thing. I can totally relate to her and told her that I understand, but she will get through this and is definitely not alone!

Well, today, I need that pep-talk of my own. Please don't get me wrong, I totally love what I do and feel enormously blessed to have this opportunity, but today, I am just tired. I have decided that our little angel-to-come is a future gymnast, or karate champ, or something else crazy active!! She has a little pattern of getting a little wild and crazy around 5:00 in the evening and it continues all night long! Last night, after a 12 hour day at the office, I was just so darn exhausted, I slept through most of it, but I can't say that for the night prior.

Okay, I am almost done with my whining, I promise!! So today, I am finalizing those big decisions that I mentioned earlier this week and dealing with more production delays (I am learning that production delays are just a requirement to be in this business!). The delays don't affect any of our customers (yet), since I planned so far in advance - learned my lesson last season, but it is still a big headache and keeps me up at night! I am so glad today is Friday, as it is a welcomed break this week. I have been so excited about the business lately, and I definitely am still on that up, but I just need a little rest to keep me going.

See, you are not alone!! We all have our days. I used to feel extremely guilty about them, but I am starting to accept the fact that I am human and just have days a little less up than others.

Have a great weekend!

Share a Smile Day!

I wasn't sleeping well last night and found myself with a million thoughts...new designs for RuffleButts, conversations that I needed to have with vendors, registering for the baby, and then the thought crossed my mind...what I have I done to share a smile lately? This is always a number one priority for me personally and with this business, but sometimes I find myself so caught up in my daily life, I forget to take a minute for someone else.

So, today my goal is to share a smile. I am also going to call the local Starlight Starbright Organization to plan a day for RuffleButts to volunteer our time.

This is your little reminder to think of something small that you can do today to share a smile with someone in your world. Maybe making a call to schedule your own volunteer project. Or possibly you have a mommy friend in despirate need of a little help. Maybe a phone call to your grandmother/grandfather would totally make their day (oh, I need to add that to my list too!).

I also have to take this moment to thank those of you that take the time to comment here at the RuffleBlog. I know sometimes it can be impersonal when you type in your comment and don't receive a reply, but I want you to know that every one of your little comments, words of encouragement and input, always puts a smile on my face. It is just nice to know that someone out there cares about what I have to say....so, thank you!

No Slippy Hair Clippy

You all know how I am always preaching about how much us entrepreneurs have to stick together in this crazy world? Well, I needed advice, so I turned to the owner of this fabulous company, and she totally came through! It is extremely important to me to support my fellow business owners and give advice whenever I can (not that I am the oh-so-experienced one), but if I have a lesson learned to pass along, I am always more than happy to do so. Unfortunately, I have learned in life that not everyone is on this same page, especially in business. I understand why and respect others business practices, but my philosophy will never change.

So anyway, I needed some advertising advice and decided to call Annie, the Co-Founder and President of No Slippy Hair Clippy, whom I had met at the Boom Boom Room in CA this past January. Annie was so friendly, that when I noticed her company in a publication that we were considering for marketing purposes, I decided it was worth a call. Annie was beyond friendly and supportive, giving me her opinion and feedback from her past experiences. No Slippy Hair Clippy is an adorable company that has done a fabulous job of branding themselves...something I also hope to accomplish! I highly value Annie's opinions and am so grateful to her for sharing.

We have never really done any advertising in the past, but are at a crossroads in our business where I believe it is time to take the plunge...next month marks 1 year in sales!!! We are ready to ramp up, so wish me luck, as I have some major decisions to be made this week!

Thanks Robin!

I must say that it totally made my morning when I checked our google analytics (by the way, if you are a website owner, this program is a must-have) to find a larger than usual amount of traffic coming from iVillage.com. Turns out that this sweet lady who saw our RuffleButts in babytalk Magazine, shared her find with other moms on the message board...

" I saw this ad in a magazine I was reading at the doctor's today, I just thought they were too cute! I'm sure there's places to buy the same thing other than this website, I just haven't found it yet. Just thought I'd share!!!
http://www.rufflebutts.com
~Robin"

I know it sounds silly, but it is always such validation when I receive feedback from others who appreciate my work! Of course, I have faith in what I am doing, but it is so tremendously rewarding and makes it so exciting to keep plugging away, when others agree!

If you are a fan of RuffleButts, I am so grateful when you take the time to share your opinions about our products...on blogs, message boards, and recommendations to tv shows, magazines & websites. You would be amazed what a little posting like this can do for a small business. Back when Kari Way took a few minutes out of her day to recommend RuffleButts to lilsugar.com, we received more website hits in one day than we had ever received before! It really takes a ton of time and even more work to share our creations with the world, and I am so touched, as always, so have the support of so many amazing women out there behind us!