Sunday, May 22, 2011

Meanwhile, back at the ranch...

Not sure what it's like where you are, but where we live, it's the year of the 13-year cicada. We've found hundreds of shed outer layers, hooked onto plants, porch columns, even onto the nose of a stone porcupine we have! And now all of these bugs are in the nearby tree tops—thousands of them. Their buzzing is incessant and loud. At first we thought it was a neighbor's machinery but were amazed when we finally realized what it was. The one in this photo is pre-shed. Though his red eyes look almost plastic, I knew when he moved that he saw me snapping his photo!

Saturday, May 21, 2011

National Stationery Show 2011

This past week was absolutely fantastic, spent in NYC at the 2011 National Stationery Show. Months of preparation and planning came together in what you see above: our corner booth on aisle 1100. We met many interesting and nice people, including our neighbors Fisk & Fern from Brooklyn. The preparations took a while, but not too long. Here's what we had to start with:
We also were finalists in the Best New Product competition (!), which meant we were able to place a board with selected note cards in the front lobby. This was a great way to gain exposure, and several people who came to our booth said they'd seen our products out front.
Now it's down to business! Following up and fulfilling orders. And thinking about next year...?