Thursday, July 31, 2008

Busy Bee

So, I am swamped (what's new) and have numerous cool things happening. The biggest thing...Target.com is picking up the WooBee line for their new Baby Boutique. What does this mean? This means I have been spending hours trying to get my infrastructure set-up so I can become a Target.com vendor. I have had to become EDI (electronic data interface) compliant, got my insurance up to par, I have had to choose a distribution center, and get back into production. At the same time I am working on the new line due out this fall which is being manufactured overseas, working with my new distributor in Singapore (covering Malaysia/Indonesia & Korea), getting ready for the ABC trade show and here's the biggie...I am changing my company name!
So yes, I am basically committing PR suicide by changing my company name. Why am I doing this to myself? Because I had no idea what I was doing when I chose the name Woobee for my company or how to do an adequate search to see who else was using it. Let me be clear - no one is threatening legal action on my company. The truth is my current business goal is to build this company to amazing potential and then sell it to a company who understands that potential. In doing this I need a name I can trademark and a name that speaks to my growing product line in it's entirety. So keep your eye's out for Rain or Shine Kids which will feature the WooBee luxury line and every future product I manufacture that is water resistant. Why am I still using the WooBee name? Because I have spent time and money on branding the WooBee name and even though the name will not be front and center it is still the same wonderful products and Rain or Shine Kids needs different product line names for the different levels of products. Consider Fleurville diaper bags...they have the Mothership, Re-Run, Escape Pod, etc. all different products based on the same materials and style sensibility. It is all very exciting and I feel like the timing is perfect - new product line coming out, ABC Kids show to launch the new Rain or Shine Kids name to thousands of buyers, and we are still a small company. Not to mention the timing is perfect for my distributors and reps who just picked up the line to introduce the new "umbrella" company name.

Pictures of camping over hubbies b-day and the girls being summertime girls (and sporting Super Woobee's the perfect blanket/towel for the beach - shameless I know).










2 comments:

OyBaby LLC said...

Hey Woobee Mom,

Isn't EDI a pain? I spend more money and time on it then it's worth. Have you checked out ezcom software yet? They have a pretty good EDI solution for small biz.

Also, I just set up a Google group for fellow entrepreneurs attending the ABC show. Come by and trade ideas!

http://groups.google.com/group/abc-kids-show-entrepreneurs?hl=en

Regards,
Rob

Rain or Shine Kids (RoSK) said...

Hi Rob. My girls love your CD /DVD. We have actually listen to the CD so much tht scratches cover half, but the girls don't mind the skipping.

I am using a company called B2B Gateway for EDI and they have really eased the pain with great customer service. They have a good "web based" small business plan which doesn't entail full intergration which is perfect for me at this stage. Thank you for the reference though.

I will stop by the google site, and look forward to meeting you at ABC.

Heather