Virginia Beach visit

I left Lacy with her daddy and they went off for a weekend in the Hamptons while I flew with my three sisters to Virginia Beach We went to visit Aunt Marie and Muffy, her sweet, latte colored 5 year old chihuahua. I brought down my first "Maxine" experimental sweater, which was really tiny, (good for a belly shirt) thinking that Muff was much smaller then she really was but she graciously allowed Aunt Marie to put it on her and let me take pictures. She looked adorable, prancing around for the camera and although my aunt was touched that I brought it for her (and proud of me and my newly launched business) she doesn't put any apparel on Muffy ever! ( definitely not my customer) so off it came when the photo shoot ended. I did like how, even though it was the wrong size and too short (she could have used the xs), it still stretched and fit comfortably, getting me to conclude that maybe I can offer this size for the teacup breeds.

On our last day, we had brunch at the beach and I spied 3 Bichons on an outing on the boardwalk in their enclosed stroller. Dogs aren't allowed on the boardwalk at certain times of the day because of the crowds, until after labor day. They were just so adorable, I was compelled to take a picture. Taking care of one Bichon is hard enough for me, but these three looked well groomed in their fuffy bichon style haircuts and their pet parents were obviously devoted to them, pet papa proudly shooting pix after pix as their heads peeked out of the window.

I'm home and up now at 5am and tired so I may have to rewrite this after I've had my coffee. Meanwhile, I'm deep in preparation for the Harvest Festival and made a couple of purchases for it at a huge antique emporium my sister took me to in Va. Much yet to do, the biggest thing is finding a tent. More later........Lacy needs to go out.

Pet Fashion Week(end)

Slim pickin's at PFW this summer. Too bad. The products and the exhibitors were ALL great, their booths looked inviting and the offerings were very high end, current and totally saleable. It's just that there were fewer exhibitors this year than last but at $2000 a pop for a booth, I can see why exhibitors chose to stay away. Though the rain and steamy humid weather might have turned off some attendees, (I didn't go on Saturday but chose steamy Sunday instead), it's still a tiny venue that should be greater. The show in Sao Paolo, Brazil was over the top so why couldn't it be as great in New York where it first originated? In the heart of the garment industry. Derek and Mario are smart and must know the answer to that question, but I sure don't. It probably all stems from money (doesn't everything).

When PFW first began in 2006 I think it was, there were 6 foot tall models wearing haute couture and walking or carrying pets in equally haute apparel down a fashion runway. I wasn't in the petwear business then, but was still enraptured by the idea of catwalks with dogs on center stage. I know the economy has fizzled and luxury, or frivolous items moved WAY down on the priority list of most consumers, but........Just like Starbuck's philosophy, the key is to convince people that they truly WANT the best coffee on the planet and will truly WANT to pay $2.00 for it (or whatever a vente goes for nowadays.......)

To my benefit though, the vendodrs I spoke with were friendly and happy to talk to me and willing to share their ideas even though I was not a buyer, .............I love dog people.

Another bull is killed for a blood sport

So the news today is that in the Navarra region of Northern Spain, where they are still permitted to continue the blood "sport" of bull fighting, a bull jumped the barrier protecting spectators, (on its third attempt) and injured 40 people. The "sport" taking place was actually not a bull fight where the animal is taunted by one matador, tortured into submission, then slaughtered with a sword. Instead, young men prove their manhood by antagonizing the bull into chasing them, so they can show their bravery by running away. Hmmmm.......I don't get how that concept works but....
End result of course is that the animal is subdued then promptly killed and again I ask "why?"
Cruel treatment of humans is something animals aren't capable of. Self preservation, fight or flight....that's normal. No animal is thinking, let me see how many spectators I can take out today. WHY is the animal killed when it's natural reaction to being abused, is to fight back?
It's sickening that once again, humans think it's within their right to slaughter a helpless beast.
Yes the bull was 1100 pounds, with one horn (the other having broken off in it's attempt to jump the barrier) and given a fair fighting chance could have injured or killed many more people. The sad fact is that if these Spanish sons were killed while proving their manhood, their mothers would still be heartbroken and I'm sure, not feel pride in their "achievement". Maybe if the bull succeeded in doing more harm, this archaic, backward custom would also be banned here as it was in the Catalan region of Southern Spain. Too risky for humans ( sadly, never considering the animal)
But hey, if that what it takes, I hope it happens soon.........

Getting the word out....step by step

The article written about Lollypups, Lacy and me in the Rivertowns Enterprise, came out August 13, 2010 and was a nice little perk. There's a column called"business buzz" for local business owners celebrating grand openings or offering unique new products, so I sent out the press materials to them and boom.......get a call. I did the same for Westchester Magazine but no word there .....and for all the consumer pooch magazines. No free press there either. They sent me the press kits to their respective magazines with their astronomical rates and said they'll let me know if they want to do a feature article....so that tactic didn't work. Not to give up though.

Doggie Aficionado did a nice job on the ad and, with minor tweeking, I approved it and it went to press the 13th as well. The "Best of " issue comes out in October. Then I can either use the same ad, or make another one for the Winter/ Holiday issue and a third one for Spring 2011. I need to develop some more Spring styles but can always feature Maxine (and offer other color combos). That would be fun.

Meanwhile, the freelance gig didn't work out (too slow), so I'm back in semi-retirement mode.

Not too upset about that though. It just made me realize how much I dislike working for other people. It's just not for me any more. I did my time. That's why I have to make Lollypups work....Everything about it is delightful!!

Got word back from Stockbridge Botanical Gardens, who I contacted about Lollypups being a vendor at their Holiday Marketplace from December 3-5....well, almost. The woman in charge was away but the director of the Gardens loved the website ...quote: These are adorable! ... and told me I'd be contacted at the end of August. That sounds like it may be worthwhile, as long as it's not too expensive for a table. Lots of cold weather up there in the Berkshires, lots of pet lovers and lots of wealth. Especially around the holidays..........it's so very Norman Rockwell!

Meanwhile, I was looking for more of those really cute vintage wood hangers that I love and came upon children's ABC blocks (the big kind). So I rummaged through and found all the letters for LOLLYPUPS plus a picture of a dog. Don't know what I was thinking when I told the owner I needed a "space" between Lolly and pups. (brain freeze) Glad to know the extra block was free and that they're making tremendous progress in treating Alzheimer's.

So, Italian dinner in the West Village with the spouse tonight, then a rock concert ....And onward I tread.........

What a reaction to the website.......

Now let's see if the sweaters sell!!. Erika did a fantastic job, put in a little musical ditty she composed, figured out all the paypal, shopping cart and page turning stuff and Jeff sent out a mass e/mail to all his friends and posted the link to his fans on facebook so we got a lot of hits.....but no sales. But it is August and it is 90 degrees!! Who in their right mind would purchase a sweater for their dog in sweltering heat?? I did have to get in the inventory now though because the consumer magazines such as Doggie Aficionado, Modern Dog, Fido Friendly and the rest, all put the cold weather issues to bed in August and September. I did take out an ad for Doggie Aficionado for the next three months and happily, I will be billed each month so the meager remains of my seed money will stretch a bit longer.
Got an e/mail from the local paper (to which I sent a press release) and they'll be doing a story about Lollypups and me. Dad will be proud so I won't say anything to him, just send him the article, which will come out on August 13.
Ofcourse, the one person I would LOVE to have see it, is Eileen Fisher. A little intro before I apply for her grant for woman owned businesses. Can't hurt.....
Meanwhile, I took on a freelance assignment to try to earn some money since we've been dipping into our savings for two and a half years. I'm glad the bulk of Lollypups is completed, so the timing really is ok.