Lizzie Bits Here I Come!

Okay so remember how I mentioned I had some things up my sleeve that I would share as they showed they were actually happening?

Well the past week and a bit or so I have been putting together a small sampling of doubled receiving blankets to show to the owner of Lizzie Bits Baby Co. It is a baby and kid store here in Kamloops and they focus on cloth diapering, consignment and new clothing, and mompreneur products. Right up my alley. They have a great selection of items and a great sized store. I finally got my blankets together and then had to take them down and show them to Jen the owner of the store.

Let's go back to the beginning. About a week and a bit ago I went to buy some fabric to make some doubled receiving blankets to sell on Etsy (which was my original plan, and then diversify into local markets, etc...). I came home with enough to make a good little start of blankets and got straight to work.

Well wouldn't you know that week I picked up a local mommy magazine (Kamloops Momma) here in Kamloops hoping to get to know the market a little, the types of things people here are interested in, and hopefully to get to know where I could find baby and kids items if need be.

Well I came a cross a few baby and kids stores and decided to check some of them out. One of them was Lizzie Bits. I noticed that they sold mompreneur products, and became quite interested. I also remembered talking to a woman at the market the first day we went that mentioned how she sold her muslin blankets there. Well the dots started to connect.

As I was half way through making the receiving blankets I couldn't get the thought of the mompreneur opportunity out of my head. I dropped what I was doing looked up the number and gave the store a call. I was initially anticipating a long drawn out application process, months of waiting, and a fight to get my receiving blankets in. Not so. I mentioned what I made, and Jen (the owner) gave me the scoop of how the system works for mom's, and told me to come in with a sampling of my products and that then she's give me a contract to review and sign (there was more conversation and questions asked than that, but not so interesting for all of you reading).

Pete and I reviewed our current cost of production, what we wanted to make from these receiving blankets, and tried to gauge the market value. Once we had a number I completed my last couple blankets and was ready to go. I had also mentioned the bibs I've made to sell, and that seemed to go over well. I went in to Lizzie bits this week to see when I could bring my things to meet with Jen. She was volunteering all week long with the Western Canada Games being hosted here in Kamloops, so Saturday was the only day available to meet with her.

I nervously went in yesterday to present my items. As raw as they could be (I surprisingly didn't even package the items - so not like me). I was so nervous that the product wouldn't suffice to her expectations, or that she wouldn't be interested, or that the critique would be a hard hit in the shins. I cautiously went in introduced myself, and showed her what I had.

Basically lets just say everything was GREAT in her eyes. She loved the blankets and the bibs, and I even threw in my kids and baby cards I've been working on to see if she'd be interested. She said the blankets would fly out since she doesn't have anything similar selling in her store. The closest thing is the muslin blankets. A baby store with no receiving blankets? I would love to fill that void!

I am excited to say that I will be selling my things at Lizzie Bits Baby Co.

I have full control over everything. My merchandising, my inventory, price point, and start date. I still have to hash out the official launch date of when I'll be setting up, but I was given the go ahead as soon as I wish. Jen would make room, and give me any necessary tools to create the type of display I want. Merchandising background coming into good use. Wonderful thing about all of this is low overhead, and great opportunity to get my name out there.

I have given myself a couple of weeks to create a visual concept, branding, marketing, and image so as to start off on a stronger foot, as well a create a stronger start off collection of blankets and prints. I also have to throw around some ideas regarding name. I don't think I want to go with Agape, as that is reserved for my clothing (whenever that decided to work out for me), and so far I've been seling things on Etsy under my own name, but I'm not to excited about doing it that way. I have an idea so far of a name, but I'm open to any suggestions, ideas, or thoughts. Feel free to drop me a line.

I'm excited, nervous, terrified, and hopeful that things will go well. I want them to go well, I want to be able to keep up with demand, and see this take off.

Well there you have it folks. I will keep you posted as I near by launch date and will show you pictures.

Thanks for reading, and pray things pan out smoothly and get going easily and well.