I Would Love Your Help...

I am embarking on the first real advertising adventure for Trove next month (paid advertising as opposed to the ongoing media push) and have had to put together an ad.

A very very tiny ad.

The ad spot comes with a text post/giveaway later in the month, which is where the real value lies, but I am having issues in picking the ad that gives the most bang for my significant buck.

If you would be so kind as to take a peek at the ads below and tell me which you think is the most effective/eye-catching, I would be so grateful!

Obviously they're all variations on a theme, and also obviously quite tiny. But that's all I have to work with.

I'm inclined to go with a live-person shot and am drawn to both the bottom left and very bottom versions particularly. They seem to look bigger than the others and give a feel towards the target market and lifestyle that comes with the label (I've been reading my marketing books!)

But would love your thoughts. Which one drew your eye first? And why?

Thanks xx

We Came, We Saw...

We kicked its arse!

Back home from our very first tradeshow - Life inStyle - and am thoroughly exhausted. But elated.

The whole experience was fabulous. The people I was fortunate enough to exhibit near, the buyers I met, the things I learned, the orders I took - it was all incredible and my head is still spinning.

I had hoped to take some more shots of the amazing labels and displays in First inStyle (the emerging label display space that Trove was exhibiting in) but it totally slipped my mind. But here are a couple of fairly ordinary shots the Trove stand.





I will be back later to share some more about the show and the past week, but for now I have six days worth of laundry to do and a house in desperate need of a tidy!

Progress...

Sneaky peeky at one of the concepts for the new collection, tentatively known as 'geometric'.






**PLEASE EXCUSE MY OLD-LADY HANDS! CONSTANT WASHING AND LATEX GLOVES WILL DO THAT TO A GIRLS DIGITS**

This is just the first step in getting the new collection under way, and was more about playing about with a brand new technique. I'm so so so pleased with the results though that I just want to dive head-first into designing the entire collection RIGHT NOW, but of course can do no such thing.

Life inStyle is my current focus and today calls for:
- Picking up printing (catalogues, linesheets, order books)
- Finishing display design
- Finishing fact sheet to go with buyer's pack
- Tagging each item on display with price, code, colour etc

And I also found out during the week that I've been accepted into the quarterly Handmade Market in Canberra, which I've heard is a fantastic market for both buyers and sellers. The first for the year is on the Sunday 28th March (10am - 4pm), so I also have that to look forward to and plan for.

Aside from that, it's the weekend soon! Family days! Swimming lessons! Gardening!

Current Challenge

The back is on the mend, thankfully, and after another session or two with the chiro and a couple of visits to the accupuncturist (who is on holidays. how rude!) should see me back to normalish.

So now that I can stay in the one position for more than a minute, my mind has turned to my display for Life inStyle.

The current challenge:

Fitting my entire wholesale range (three collections) into the First inStyle display space, measuring a whopping 108cm x 60cm.

That is approximately this size:



I am a very hands-on, visual learner/thinker (if I ever have to type something out, I first need to write it in full, by hand, and then type it out. Uni assessments were a bitch!) so I decided to get my head around the challenge in the only way I know - I spent a good couple of hours figuring out the best way to use the space by shuffling boxes about and imagining different props/risers that I could use.




Then I measured and drew it all out:




Then I tried to source risers that fit my requirements (probably should have done that first), then I discovered that said risers would cost a ridiculous amount, so then I had my own made up.

They arrived this afternoon and look fantastic, so I will show the set up tomorrow.

(I know I'm a massive nerd, but I have had a couple of people ask me about my preparations for the tradeshow, so I thought I'd show a little of what's been happening.)

Aside from that, I've been doing really boring things like getting my stock levels sorted out and documented so that I know exactly what's on-hand when orders are placed, as well as writing out my production process in full to develop accurate delivery times (info I already had stored in my head, but having it on paper will make the training process so much easier when I hire some help this year).

Rather excitingly though, I have also been working on the new jewellery collection (samples on their way) and the newer than new, very exciting home accessories line! Jewellery is absolutely my passion, but the techniques I use and the aesthetic of my work lends itself to bolder, more decorative uses too, and I've been working through the how's and the why's for a long time. It's great to be getting somewhere!

More Good Things

Firstly, and most importantly, I made a BRILLIANT discovery over the weekend:



Cadbury Creme Eggs are back! And to celebrate, we ate some.

Secondly, and ALMOST as important, here are some fairly ordinary shots of the new packaging. (They will ship out with the perennial favourite black waxed cord around the box, and sometimes a pretty paper band, but you get the general idea).








I really do love the packaging though. Very pleased with the simplicity of it.

In terms of other good things:

Sparky and I watched two (TWO!) movies uninterrupted over the weekend. We watched District 9 (loved it, despite feeling vaguely ill throughout 60% of it - it's a little creepy) and Adventureland (also loved it - very cute. but not nearly as cute as Nick & Norah's Infinite Playlist. If you haven't yet seen this, SEE IT! You must. It's cuter than cute. Plus it has Michael Cera in it. Win-Win.)

We also went out for dinner with my folks. I know, not exactly a raging Saturday night, but it was lovely to be out in a restaurant, talking grown-up things, having a glass of wine.

In terms of other not-so-good-things:

We've had huge amount of rain in the mountains over the past 72 hours and as a result, the studio flooded. The newly laid carpet is drenched and anything that was on the floor (display items, packaging, shipping desk, sign used for markets) is now also drenched and mostly ruined. Tis a big bummer, for sure, but thankfully the new packaging wasn't out there and had this happened before the Great Studio Clean Up of 2010 it would've been a whole lot worse.


I hope you all had a lovely weekend, with more good than bad!

B x

Good Things

As far as weeks go, this one feels as though it's been quite terrible.

There's been much angst from the little one (teeth giving her a lot of bother), the weather's been humid and atrocious, the doggy is driving us crazy with her mad landscaping skillz and I've been struck with a moderate case of the blahs.

But when I look at it, there have been so many more ups than downs. And I'm talking good ups.

- The new packaging arrived. And as I said on Twitter, "ohhh...my little label is growing up. first shipment of 'proper' packaging just arrived. looks incredible." I'll post some images shortly.

- I got myself an iPhone! Sure, everyone's doing it, but I am an Apple lover and my phone was on its last legs, so I conformed. And it feels good.

- I received word from the fashion editor of a big newspaper that there will be a feature on my jewellery come March. This as a result of a media push I did a couple of weeks ago.

- I brought together my thoughts and ideas for the next collection (see previous post). It's still very much a work in progress but I'm getting more and more excited about it every day.

- The lookbook and linesheets have been finished for Life in Style and will be printed next week.

- I was approached to apply (and did apply) for a new mentoring program that Australian Fashion Partners are putting together, called Fashion Business Boot Camp, which will take the participants through a number of topics that relate directly to small labels trying to establish themselves in the Australian fashion industry. The topics will cover marketing/sales, business planning, cash flow management, strategic planning, range development etc. It sounds like a great opportunity and I'm hoping that it will herald the beginning of the next stage for Trove.


So I guess, it really wasn't a bad week at all. Just the old mindset needed a shake-up. And the weekend is going to be fab-u-lous.

Isy's got swimming lessons, we have dinner (out! in a restaurant! with other adults!) on Saturday night and Sunday will hopefully see us visiting some friends for a beer and a chinwag.

So things ARE looking up. Which is good.

Inspiration

While these may not look like much, these teeny little chicken scratchings done in about 3 minutes at my cramped desk are the culmination of at least 2 months worth of mulling over. I've had some ideas in my head since well before Christmas that I wanted to incorporate into my next collection. (Yes! Next collection! Already! I haven't even taken Grafica to a single tradeshow yet.) And one night they crystalised in the old brain and I just had to get them out.

Next day I was in touch with my plastics guy, who is a real gem and quite creative too, hence more than happy to work with me on some new techniques, discussing the options. The samples are on their way and I should be able to test a few ideas next week. I am so excited! The creative fire has been relit in my belly. It's been a while, and it feels good to have it back.

So much of my work-time is now taken up with administrative tasks, marketing, media, sales and production that I don't have a lot of time to play around and experiment, so it's a wonderful feeling to have a new inspiration rolling about in the old head.

Routinely Routine

I am a sucker for routines. I love reading about the routines of other people, particularly self-employed folk who work from home. More particularly still, creative entrepreneurs who work from home. But, really, any kind of routine porn is good.

That's why I practically squealed with joy when I discovered this site: Daily Routines. I mean, seriously, could this be more exciting for me? Unless it involved Agent Booth from 'Bones' cleaning my house while I sipped French champagne and read a whole magazine without interruption, then no it could not.


Strange fantasies of fake FBI agents cleaning my house aside, I have also just discovered a blog I love very very much.



It talks about routines and creative-entrepreneurship, among many other wonderful things, so I love it by default. modernemotive is ace. I read it every day.

I never used to be but I'm now quite pedantic about my routine. I'm afraid that if I don't stick to it then the whole day/week/month will go down the chute.

At the end of last year I wrote out everything that is a constant to-do in my life, both business and home-related. I then divvied all those tasks up to one of five workdays. Now I have a standing to-do list for each day of the week and add to that as needed. For example, Mondays I have the following on the list - exercise, clean kitchen, sweep, vacuum, mop floors, laundry, ironing, email catch-up, plan blog posts, stocktake inventory and supplies, list anything requiring re-order, write up the week's production list, tidy studio.

Then every day has a running order that I like to stick to, but I won't bore you with that. Suffice to say, it starts at 6am and finishes anywhere from 5pm to midnight.

Image from here.

We Are Go For Launch

The new website is live live LIVE!

I'm so chuffed with it so far, and haven't come across any glaringly obvious faults, but if you do take a look and notice something that needs a-fixing, I'd be delighted to hear it.

Otherwise, let me know your thoughts, suggestions etc.

When Good Babies Go Bad...

Or get bored.







I hope your weekend was...neater.

Busy here, but good. I've been checking through the new website (to be launched this week, so keep an eye out) with a fine-toothed comb, getting everything ready. I need to have that done before a scheduled media push, and it needs to be running perfectly before Life in Style, which starts in around five weeks.

The lookbook is being designed, the stock is being made, the linesheets are being fretted over and the packaging is soon to be ordered. It's getting there.

Other exciting news - two new stockists for Trove! Stock will be hitting the shelves in Maubourg (Sydney) and DeNada (Wellington, NZ) at the beginning of Feb. I'm so thrilled with both of these retailers - the first for inner-Sydney and the first in New Zealand!

Fabulous!

Renovation Nation.

2011 will be the year Sparky and I extend and renovate our teeny-tiny little 2-bedroom house (yay!), so 2010 will be the year we find our inspiration and make our plans.

We're actually painting the living room (the only room that will remain structurally unchanged when we renovate) over the long weekend, and have been looking at a gazillion home-y design-y blogs for inspiration. In the end though, we didn't have to look far because the people behind one of my favourite blogs gave a tour of their beautiful apartment on Design*Sponge and BOOM! we're in house-love.




White walls are a definite (with a child, yes, I know) because I love how they look with our timber floors, and how they will look when we eventually get a new grey lounge or two. We have quite a few interesting odds and ends that we haven't yet unpacked (I guess we were waiting for the walls to paint themselves) and I love the whole 'gallery of interesting photos and things' look on a crisp white wall.




I also have to finish decorating and organising the studio, even though it's tempting to get stuck straight in as it is, which is infinitely better than the gong show it was last year.




But I know that another half day getting EVERYTHING sorted will make such a massive difference. I've got a huge amount of work coming up and to be organised will make life a breeze (relatively speaking).

Plus, 2010 is the year to get organised and stay organised. And the year to exercise more.

Ivy & Bird

For those of you in Brisbane, my newest (and quite possibly loveliest) stockist is Ivy + Bird.

I first met Maria (an amazing jewellery designer herself) at Fashion Week last year, where she kept me sane during the quiet times. She has impeccable taste and is certain to unveil all sorts of loveliness upon opening her brand new store.



Hopefully a flying visit is on the cards for the not-too-distant future!

Fresh and Shiny

Happiest of the happy new years to you! I hope it's a wonderful start to an incredible year. I'm certain that's the case here at Trove HQ.

Sparky and I have spent the best part of the last three days clearing out the studio and getting organised, so I'm feeling particularly upbeat and prepared for the year ahead. Miss Isy has very much enjoyed her first official silly season, and all three of us are keenly looking forward to our first camping trip coming up soon. It's. all. good.

I've yet to take any artfully staged, blog-worthy shots of the refreshed studio, but I will. Promise.

I can, however, show you the abomination we were faced with upon opening the door for the first time since the Christmas madness ended. And, can I just say, I am incredibly, unequivocally ashamed.



Fireworks image from here.

Looky Looky...

Got my shots from yesterday's lookbook shoot back today. Needless to say, I am stoked. And I have the most gorgeous model ever. And the speediest and greatest photographer going round.