I know, I know...

I'm a horrible blooger...but atleast i admit my faults up front...It's not so much that I'm a horrible blogger but I need some help looking time management and balance. As a business owner, I tend to focus ALOT on the business and some other things fall by the waistside but am learning how to better balance my time so that's forward movement right? well one of the reasons I hadn't blogged in a while is...drumroll please....I was working on my business plan, or should i say, finishing it! AAAhhh i see the clouds in the sky parting...:-) but wait there's more...It was also submitted to the bank! yep yep! did you hear that! the bank has it and is reviewing it! how's that for forward movement. Thanks so much to SBA's SCORE, I was able to make it shine, add more elements and make it really strong. If you're thinking of starting your own biz and have made alot of progress in the sense you know what you want to do, have some relative experience in it and know the direction you want to go in, make an appointment to chat! They have a wealth of knowledge and are there to help. They are volunteers who ran their own businesses so they know how best to help you!

What else-wrapped up all my Spring/Summer 2010 designs and I finally did my first magazine shoot here in VA-that was a blast and the spread which might also be featured as the cover story runs next month. Hey if I was away from blogging, atleast I was productive with my time. I'm also going to participate in the first ever Full-figure fashion week in NYC next month! June is going to be a busy time so good thing....I am leaving today with hubby to an undisclosed location to spend the weekend! He won't tell me where we're going but it's going to be nice, secluded and far away!!! Will touch base when i return and I promise to do more blogging!

Score, Sales, and Fabric Oh My!

I seem to have dug myself out of insane busyness that has been the past 2 weeks. Between meeting with SCORE (phenomenal meetings I must say) , adding new stores to my roster (whoohoo) and running around the DC metro area securing fabric for the Spring/Summer 2010 collection (gotta love the rain-our local streams and rivers definitely needed it) I am finally breathing. Let’s recap!
If you’re a new business and you haven’t taken advantage of SCORE-you’re missing a great, FREE resource. SCORE is the SBA’s program that matches you with a mentor in your field to help you with your vision, business plan, accounting, etc. You name it, they can help point you in the right direction. They have a local DC office and offices all over the DMV area. Check them out. I am almost done with my plan. Just need to do my financials.
I am hoping to lock two more stores to carry my fall line-one in Chicago, another in Seattle. With the recession, some stores are hesitant to spend money. Life can’t stop because money’s a little tight. As an entrepreneur I definitely value money but and as a business owner I also understand the philosophy you have to spend money to make money. It’s one foot in front of the other ya know. And we’re all in this together. Businesses help out other businesses. As my mom says, through talking, people understand each other. So talk to your customers and clients-see what’s on their minds and see what they think you can do better.
Did you happen to see a champagne-colored SUV zip madly through the streets yesterday? That was me making the dash for fabrics for my S/S 2010 collection. It’s partly my fault. I was making decisions late in the game as to what colors I wanted and the types of fabric. I got it all so no worries. It required a lot of thought and for my husband and mom, a lot of patience as I made decisions regarding colors sound like life or death. They were incredibly helpful but sometimes we all have to remember: your emergency isn’t everyone else’s.
Mother’s Day Plans? Since my mom’s birthday is also next week, am looking into when I can get away for a few days to NYC…Enjoy your moms and every other special woman in your life.