Blog: Archives / January 2012

The crowd wasn't as big this  morning as we headed down the tunnel to the Mart.  We made our way over to Building 3 and up to the 4th floor.  After greeting all of our neighbors,  we started our day.  Lots of customers stopping by to visit and drop of their orders at the Sissy Made It booth.  We've enjoyed being next to the designer from EnV Bags.  She has such a crisp and colorful line of reusuable totes!  If you have time,  check our her website at www.envbags.com  Her bags have also been featured in Self Magazine. I took the time to venture over to the Natural Life Booth to place an order for the trendy teenage items!  We also found some awesome new sandals and straps from Lindsay Phillips.  It may be cold outside,  but we are planing for flip flop weather!  I looked at a new card line for the store as well.   The Mud Pie products are fabulous!  The Baby line and all of the fun entertaining items are going to look awesome in the store. It was nice to visit with the Sissy Made It customers from Alabama, Georgia, Kentucky, North Carolina, South Carolina and Florida today.    With the new product introductions for Sissy Made It,  it has been a fun and exciting Trade Show.  Thanks to everyone who followed the blog while I was away in Atlanta.  Can't wait for you to see all of the new products we've found for the store. Bags are packed and ready to load the truck early in the morning to ensure we get a  "Princess" parking spot in the garage for easy loading!  - Last Blog from Atlanta ......

Things are a little slower on Sunday in Atlanta, but as usual,  we were up and on our way to the Mart.  We had several items to look for before the crowd arrived.  Once our booth was straightened,  I headed over to see Starr at the Starr Luna booth.  She has the best designer T's.  We can't wait to receive seven of her new styles!  I can't decide which one is my favorite.  The Starr Luna shirts will be arriving next week.  My Dad headed over to Building 2 to see what floors 6-14 were all about.  Happy to report he arrived back with lots of brochures and new product ideas.  It is always good to see what someone else likes!!! We had so many customers bustling around today.  So nice to see our friends from the Lily Pad, La Te Da, Ivy Traditions, and so many more. Received news today that our friend Ms. Natalie Chang and the company she works for won "Best of Floor".  I am so happy she received the award.  There is no else who was more deserving of the honor. Our friends from Houndstooth and Polka Dots came by to say Hi!  The ladies from Show Off Art are so super sweet.  They are gearing up for the Dallas Market that start Wednesday.  I can't imagine doing two shows in one month,  but my friends are relentless and push on through.  Can't wait to see the new design for the Harrisburg Bulldogs that Houndstooth and Polka Dots are creating for us. I have met the most interesting man in the booth behind me.  He is a self made business man who started with nothing and now owns five distributions centers and has over 300 employees who work for him.  Such an interesting conversation and what a story to look back on when I have a down day.  His father sent him to the United States to get an education and he is now a multi millionaire.  Just shows that hard work does pay off!!! At dinner this evening we met Pam Zonsius designer of the Brelli.  She is in the High Design Section of the Mart.   What an interesting conversation we had with her and her daughter.  Check out their website www.thebrelli.com Until tomorrow - Signing off from Atlanta

Atlanta was quiet this morning as the city woke up to another day of brisk weather.  We headed over to the mart a bit early to check out some of the vendors we needed to place some orders with.  It was nice to see that Howard from Whitney Howard designs was in his booth early.  Howard is such a nice guy and his products are made in the U.S.A.  The new necklaces, bracelets and charms should be in the store before the end of the month.   Next,  we were happy to find the Beehive Designs booth and placed our order for Closet Skinnies.  Most of the Dream Baskets customers know them as Flip Flop Hangers,  but they have been renamed to Closet Skinnies.  They told us they are ready for immediate shipping,  so next week they should be in the store. It was quickly 9 a.m. and the Market opened.  Today,  it was very exciting to meet some awesome new customers for Sissy Made It.  Ms. Debbie from Chocolate Ooh La La's has such an interesting business.  We really enjoyed discussing working together with Chocolate Ooh La La's,  so we will keep you posted on the progress.  Next,  we met several other customers who will be bringing in our line of Sissy Made It Tags, Notepads, Magnets and inspirational plaques.  Initially Yours by MEG and Bonnie Blue Boutique just to name a few.   It was an energizing afternoon talking to so many fantastic customers.    At the close of market, we headed over to building 2 to place our order with Lifeguard Press!  Ms. Natalie Chang assisted us with selecting some awesome new products for our store.  Can't wait for our new Lily Pulitzer items to be delivered.  What an nice display all of the beautiful pink colors of Lily will make. Dad and I then worked our way down to the 1st floor and back to the Marriott.  We enjoyed dinner at High Velocity and there were some load New Orleans and San Fransisco Fans enjoying the game.  After a nice dinner,  it is back to the laptop to blog, type in orders, and update facebook.   Until tomorrow - signing off from Atlanta.  

Alarm clock went off bright and early and then it was off to the Mart.  One thing about attending Market in Atlanta,  there is not alot of downtime.  This is definitely my kind of lifestyle since I don't like to be still for a minute.  So down the elevator and thru the tunnel to the Mart.  Mass craziness is the only way to describe the main floor at the mart.  Keep up with the flow or get run over....and oh don't forget to grab your coffee, because there is no stopping and cutting through the traffic to get in the Starbucks line.  Once we maneuvered the escalators and headed to our booth,  the hustle and bustle of customers began.    I always find it very interesting to meet current customers and hear about their business and hear about their families.  Lots and lots of contacts today and lots of new customers!  Very excited to begin selling our products in some new markets. Took a small break and went to visit my dear friend Starr Luna and her mother Marianne.  They are such amazing people and have become such great friends.  The ladies from Show Offs Art had a fabulous day and we enjoyed talking to them and placing an order with them for Dream Baskets.  My Dad took some time and headed over to the Lawn and Garden floors to see what he could find and then ventured down to the main floor which is cash and carry merchandise.   Can't explain the look on his face when he came back two hours later.  I knew it was mass chaos downstairs,  but thought he would enjoy the experience.  He just shook his head and said those people are crazy!  You can't stir them with a stick! LOL!  It was priceless. The afternoon was busy with a visit from Sissy & Bob  Blanchard.  So nice to see Ms. Sissy and show her the new items we have added to the line.  Later,  we visited with Elisse from Flights of Fancy,  Stacy from Giftmart- Alpha Delta Pi, and Cindy from the Chi Omega Organization.    Lot's of new customers stopped by too!!!  Very exciting afternoon and we are looking forward to a busy day tomorrow.  After helping our friends from Show offs Arts reinforce their wall with our handy dandy fishing string,  we packed up and called it a day. As we were walking out I bumped into my friend Ms. Stewart from the Buttercup in Charlotte, North Carolina.  Can't wait for her to stop by the Sissy Made It  booth and visit with us this weekend. As we exited with the masses, we leave with happy memories of the first day and high hopes for tomorrow and the remaining days of the show!!!  Until Saturday night .......

As most of you know I have the opportunity to visit  the Americas Mart in Atlanta twice a year.  Not only do I get to  look for new merchandise for the store,  but I also have the opportunity to set up, display and sell the Sissy Made It product line to hundreds of thousands of people across the United States and abroad. I love talking to people and learning about what type of store they have.  I have made alot of great friends here in Atlanta over the past two years.  What an opportunity for a small town company to have the chance to meet large and small business owners just like myself.  I am always excited when we write an order for  a new store that is located in a  town or state that we aren't currently selling our product in. My dear friend, Mrs. Natalie Ellis-Chang is here with Lifeguard Press  and her showroom is fabulous.  I didn't get a chance to snap any pictures today,  but with a packed showroom,  it would have been difficult for you to get the full effect.  She is one of the most talented ladies I have met.  She gave us the inspiration for the additional items we've added to our Sissy Made It line.  We now offer stylish and chic inspirational and motivational plaques.  In addition,  we've added notepads that include our colorful Sissy Tags.  The final item we've added is Sissy Tag Magnets.   All of these items will be available at Dream Baskets when we return from market. I am very pleased to have the chance to spend this Trade Show with my Dad.  This is his first Trade Show as an exhibitor,  but we've signed him up as a buyer,  so look out Hathaway  Feed, Seed and Lawn Supply - we are looking for some new Spring merchandise to add to his store.   We enjoyed the drive  down  to Atlanta yesterday and spent the morning hauling all of our items for our booth up the freight elevators.  We are early birds,  so our booth was finished when everyone started arriving.  We did get a chance to say "Hi" to our friends from Bed Head Pajamas, and the ladies from Angel Court Jewelry.   One of our newest  neighbors is from Show Off Art out of Nashville.  We've ordered their items before and their new line is awesome.  I  can't wait to visit with Starr and her mother Marianne  from Starr Luna tomorrow and see what other great T-shirts and designs they  have available. With our booth set up,  we headed over to the Marriott Marquis and checked in.  The bellman  informed us that there are 1700 rooms at this hotel and that they are sold out.  I guess that means it will be an awesome show! Let's keep our fingers crossed and hope so.  I am thinking it might be a sign.  When I was unloading  everything in our room,  I found a penny heads up,  so I am hopeful for a great show!   Once we unpacked,  we headed back to the mart to look around and place a few orders for some merchandise that we need at Dream Baskets.  Ladies you will be happy to  know that those awesome pieces of jewelry you love so much from Treska are on their way!!!  There new line this year is awesome and chunky and fun.  We also found the coolest wrap around watches!!! Can't wait for everyone to see these.  Dad and I then headed to another one of our favorite stores and picked up some bibs, bloomers, make up bags and burp cloths.  Super cute and fun!!!  I am writing my order for Show Off Art tonight,  and I believe the ladies said it would ship within two weeks!!!     And thanks to my friend Tricia Johnson,  I have a new obsession for Art by Amy.... you just have to experience her booth to appreciate her talent and artistic talent. Finishing up a few last minute details for tomorrow and then hoping it is a Fabulous Friday at the Americas Mart Atlanta!!!  Bring on those shoppers!!!  Until tomorrow night,  I hope you enjoy the posts of my 2012  Adventures in Atlanta !!