Rain or Shine Kids 20% off Coupon Code

I just released a coupon code the blog fivedollarshake.com. Use SHAKE20 at checkout to recieve 20% off your total order at www.rainorshinekids.com. Offer expires Feb 5th!

Keep an eye out for good things to come this spring from RoSK!

Branding in 2010!

To say that I am excited about RoSK in 2010 barely scrapes the surface. I started to think about this year and how I need to make a huge change to my brand. My excitement was fading as Rain or Shine Kids started to move into this very comfortable, safe branding position that wasn't my vision, but what I have been financially able to manage. Well I said ENOUGH! I decide to kick down the money for a kick ass branding company that would catapult my company to the next level of serious business. I needed someone that would help set RoSK apart from the competition in a way that would set us up for ridiculous success...branding that allows & encourages growth. I contacted CorHouse (I worked with co-owner Cor at BabyLegs and know her brilliance) and I cant wait to share with you what they have done for RoSK...which is what my 'urban gear' company will be referred to as...RoSK (Rain or Shine Kids). The logo is BRILLIANT! The possibilities it gives us for future products is amazing, and they have given me back what I was starting to miss in my brand - a smidgen of attitude. Moms like me are my customers. We are urban, educated, start companies, travel the world, have children and like products that make our lives easier. We are not shrinking violets, wall flowers, or debbie downers. We appreciate a good sense of humor with just a hint of sass. That's my new brand, and I can't wait to show you. Expect good things from RoSK in 2010!

HOLIDAY SALES for WooBee's

I know, I know...you are being bombarded with relentless holiday specials from every company possible and now I'm doing it too...I made a special code for a customer that I am leaking to you all. Enter code 'SALLY' at checkout on www.rainorshinekids.com and receive 25% all WooBee products and 'b' blankets. Sweet deal.

OR

I am also running a web site special buy a WooBee blanket & get a WooBee bib for free ($20 value). That coupon code at checkout is 'BIB'.

Hope you are all healthy and happy. I am swamped and have to go, but I'll be back soon enough.

Business Growth is a Beautiful Thing

Rain or Shine Kids has noticed a wonderful sales growth this quarter despite these unfriendly economic times. It makes me wonder why now, in a recession, buyers are purchasing new lines again. Could it be that people are feeling that the worst is over? Maybe their companies have already made all the layoffs necessary to survive the recession so there is a stronger sense of security and spending is starting to resume? Could it be the switch in media focus to healthcare and off how bad the economy is that is lifting the dark spending anxiety cloud that has been looming over us?

I like to think that the reason Rain or Shine Kids is experiencing this growth is because buyers are finally understanding the value of our 5-in-1 protective blankets. That the marketing decisions I have made are actually showing there ROI (return on investment), and that more of our multi-function 'b' blankets are out in the world thanks to BabySteals.com - where we are now in their books as one of the fastest sell-outs (300 b blankets in 20 minutes!!). Actually, the 'b' blanket was so successful on BabySteals.com they are posting it again on Monday the 19th as their 'steal of the day' for $17.99!! Spread the word.

Rain or Shine Kids is also very excited that the high end Japanese department store Isetan has picked up our all weather WooBee product line. This is the perfect way to launch a high end product into the Japanese market. The launch is Nov 1st in one of their Tokyo stores and 3 blankets will be listed in Isetan's advertisement going out to 500,000 Japanese homes. I am looking forward to a long and successful partnership with this company via my distributor.

Hey - I just did a talk on the King 5 morning show about baby gear. You can check it out at http://www.king5.com/video/?z=y&nvid=406685. I will also be doing an interview on the Fox Q13 morning show live on Monday morning at 9:45. Should be interesting.

Hope everyone else out there is feeling the economic flow starting to move again.

Multi-function Confusion

It is actually amazing how much I have learned in the last 3.5 years of owning These Two Girls, LLC. and running our brand Rain or Shine Kids. When I have conversations with industry people, or even business folks not from the children's industry, I can hold my own now. I understand terminology and processes I had no idea about even 2 years ago. It is very rewarding.

One big thing I have learned about when dealing with large stores (REI, Target, Babies-R-Us, etc.) is that a multi-functional product has a much harder time being placed with these big boys than specific use products. Here is why. Buyers from big box stores have what they call an 'open to buy', i.e., their budget for buying product in their specific category. So a blanket/bedding buyer will only be looking at products that fit into blankets and bedding. Say a blanket product can also be used as a nursing cover, stroller accessory, etc. the buyer is more likely to skip that product and focus on something that fits nice and neatly within their category description. Should they decide to choose the product for the online store, it can be very difficult to have it placed in any other category than that which the buyer purchases for. So although a product might be a stroller blanket, if the blanket/bedding buyer purchased it, good luck getting it listed as a stroller accessory, or carrier accessory. It's crazy. Also, multi-functional products cause problems with big-box stores when they try to merchandise it. Does it belong with strollers, blankets, carriers, nursing covers? This alone can keep buyers from picking up the line.

So, although all the research says parents are searching for good quality multi-functional products for their babies, getting these products on the shelves is harder than you would think. I guess we need to stop thinking outside the box people. OR, you can design both multi-functional and specific...hmmmm.

ABC Show

I just bought my tickets to go to the ABC Kids show in Vegas in September. I have chosen not to get a booth this year, but it is important for me to see what's out there and new in the children's industry. I'll be shacking up with the friends for the 4 nights and am realy looking forward to being surrounded by industry people. Being the sole person running a company can be lonely. I have consultants I use for numerous tasks but it does not replace brainstorming and bouncing ideas off a team. My life has been so crazy with the girls home this summer that I am actually really looking forward to time away.

Doing a photoshoot on Friday! I am very excited to get some new pics. Look for a new all weather WooBee for winter.

Remember...the Rain or Shine Kids all weather WooBee summer sale is over Sept 1. Get over there and score a protective blanket at a great price!

Ah, interns

My life suddenly got better. I placed ads for interns on Huskyjobs.com and found my first intern, Fei. Although Fei is currently in China at a summer internship she has agreed to help me with some smaller projects until she returns to Seattle. I sent her 5-6 photo's that needed white backgrounds and she returned them the next day! It takes me forever to white out backgrounds! It makes me all tingly just thinking about it. The deal with bringing on interns is to have clear objectives for them and the experience needs to add some enrichment to their education...what can you do for them? I can offer interns clear project descriptions, with room to implement their own process to get the desired end result. I do not want to micro-manage someone. The opportunity here is that my interns will be able to list specific projects they were able to accomplish to move my business forward. It's all about how it translates to their resume folks. It has to be a win-win. In the process, you get (hopefully) good help and a fresh outlook. So frickin' awesome! Oh, and incidentally, I am still looking for one or two good peeps. If you know anyone that wants to gain experience in building a social media program or with PR give me a holler.