LAND MINES, VALLEYS AND MOUNTAINS

Since my last blog, I have stepped on land mines, strolled through the valleys and climbed an incredibly tall mountain.

I refer to land mines, because the obstacles that I have pushed through are ones that make you step back and reevaluate and ask yourself, REALLY? REALLY? The following is one example:
It was an exciting day when I hired, meaning, "paying", someone to assist me. She was fantastic for a couple of weeks. Then one day no assistant. No phone call, no text, no email, no nothing. One day during that particular week, I received a phone call from a family friend and mentioned my frustration. I was amazed to the response of, "welcome to the world of business today".

My experiences are like an awakening for me. Now that I have been exposed to this disrespectful behavior, it is amazing how often this happens in the business world.The work ethic of today is nothing like the work ethic of the past.

I grew up watching my entire family, grandparents, my parents, aunts and uncles be dedicated to responsibility and respect for their work, family and friends.  I cannot stress enough about the meaning of  RESPECT and COMMITMENT.

The valleys have been wonderful. This is the part that makes me keep putting one foot in front of the other. Introducing and discussing my aprons to past, new and potential clients is fantastic. When they see my aprons for the first time their response is always, "I Love it!" Receiving orders from past customers is always exciting. I absolutely believe in my product. I will never design anything you cannot use. As I have stated before, my aprons are PRACTICAL, SUSTAINABLE, AND FASHIONABLE.

Climbing the mountain has been very difficult, at times. This is the business part of the company. Figuring cost per square inch, excel charts, data input, inventory, calculations, quikbooks, and the list goes on and on. This is the part that is the heartbeat of the company. It demands a lot of attention. I have to give credit where credit is due. I could not have reached the top of the mountain without help. I have had incredible people help me. They have given their time to me, unconditionally. I am presently at the top of the mountain and I want to say thank you to everyone that has helped me thus far.

I am presently working on a web page.  One step at a time.

https://www.facebook.com/elizabethackal.zachary
https://www.facebook.com/pages/KaCo-Designs-By-Liz/177216055643207

BUSINESS SENSE

Throughout the last 3 years, I have had a blast creating, designing, meeting, traveling, and growing to a level I never imagined existed, for me. Since the holidays are over, I can absolutely say, I have had a remarkable year and definitely achieved my goal for 2011.

I have had to put the brakes on the fun part and develop what I call, "BUSINESS SENSE".  We cannot forget about tax day, April 15th.  As I shared in my very first blog, I set weekly goals in order to reach where I am today.

 In order for me to complete the necessary work for the business side of my company, I had to devise a daily schedule.  Remember, I am a wife and a mom, too, but my girls are at Ole Miss. The following is an example of my day:

9:00 pm (night before) load dirty clothes in washing machine and set timer for washer to start at 3:00 a.m.
4:30 a.m. transfer washed clothes to clothes dryer, coffee, journal, read current events, etc
5:30 a.m. household duties (hang or fold clean clothes, dress to exercise, etc
6:00 a.m Walk my yellow lab to the lake and complete my isolation exercises (beautiful view!!), feed                 Nila, water plants
6:45 a.m. cook dinner. I love to cook. I create with whatever is in the pantry and freezer.
7:30 a.m. shower, dress, prepare for the day
8:30 a.m. In my office and  ready to work non-stop. Most of the time, I miss lunch.
All day, recording, scanning, filing, every receipt from the entire year.
6:00 p.m. close the computer

I have been frustrated to the point of tears. Every day I learned something new dealing with the business side of my company. I kept saying to myself, All I want to do is create. This part is not fun, at all. However, I am so relieved that I am very close to completing my goal.  I can honestly say, I have had wonderful guidance when situations occurred. Tracey, Becky, Leah, Jim, Esther and Melissa, thank you so much for your friendship, professionalism and help.

As stated before, I have met the most incredible people since KaCo Designs by Liz, LLC was developed.

I am wearing my "Ragin Tiger" waterproof apron. I also work for Neely creating arrangements for
weddings, luncheons and dinner parties.  I am very passionate about what I do.

http://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100000216068273
http://www.facebook.com/pages/KaCo-Designs-By-Liz/177216055643207

WHAT TIME IS IT?

Timing is everything, right?  The last 3 months have been non-stop to network, promote, sell, sell, sell. It is now January 2012 and I have accomplished that goal. The people that I have met throughout this process have been true inspirations to me. Many customers have purchased the aprons for Christmas gifts, shower gifts, birthday gifts, or for themselves. The aprons have been shipped throughout different parts of the country as well as sold locally.

KaCo Designs by Liz Aprons are now sold in Mobile, AL at What a Stitch, sold in Hattiesburg, MS at Westside Studio and Blooms, sold in New Iberia, Louisiana at Kimberly's and For The Little One's located on main street.

I am overwhelmed and excited by the positive feedback.

It is a new year and and new goal. Now is the time to handle the business side of my company. I admit that I am very challenged in this department. I have to depend on other people for help. There is so much more to building a business than just designing and creating. I have been frustrated, exhilarated, and educated in this department. I am so appreciative for the individuals that are helping me.

It goes without saying that my family comes first. Even though I have accomplished my company goal, I have also accomplished taking care of the entire Thanksgiving, Christmas Eve, and Christmas Day meals. I have traveled back and forth to New Iberia, Louisiana and continued my mom's traditional American and Lebanese cuisine for the holidays. The support of my family is incredible.

Here's to 2012!! Thank you to everyone for helping me make it many steps closer to my final goal.

http://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100000216068273

http://www.facebook.com/pages/KaCo-Designs-By-Liz/177216055643207

https://twitter.com/#!/lizzachary63

Time Management

Time management is very important in order to have an organized and productive shopping event . In the past 4 weeks  I have had to manage my travel time,  time packing and unpacking the car,  set up time for my portable display, the time to take down the displays and repack the car, etc. These all must be taken into account before a show.

For the last 4 weeks I have been working non-stop to promote my multipurpose aprons; traveling from Mississippi to Louisiana and back to Mississippi. Preparing for each show has taken a lot of time. The back of my SUV was packed to the ceiling with supplies. Each venue required a different set up.The space for me to set up shop had to be evaluated and then I determined the layout. My background in interior design helped.  I set up my portable display in homes, outside in the middle of a street, and a rented facility, just to name a few of these venues. For the most part, setting up for a show has been a breeze. However, there have been a couple of instances that have not been so easy.

When setting up outside, a bit of advice to remember, check the weather forecast. Especially, the wind conditions. Aprons, hanging on a portable display, being blown down by a gust of wind actually happened this past weekend. I always say " you grow from your experiences".

My phone has not stopped ringing with orders for my designer aprons. I have received orders from Texas, Florida, Louisiana and from here at home, just to mention a few.

It is now time to evaluate my sales for the year and to determine which fabrics are the most popular. It has been a very productive 4 weeks and I want to say THANK YOU to all of the customers that have helped me take another step toward my goal.

New Iberia, La holiday home show

Display downtown Hattiesburg art walk at the Saenger Theatre

Displays throughout the home

New Iberia, La home show shopper

My 94 yr old grandmother, sister, and me wearing 3 patterns from my collection

My family members assisting at the New Iberia, La home show

http://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100000216068273
kacodesignsbyliz@gmail.com

CAJUN COUNTRY

Trunk show in New Iberia, Louisiana.  Cajun Country!! The weekend before Thanksgiving I traveled to my home town and had a trunk show to sell my 100% cotton multi-purpose waterproof designer aprons.

 In order to have a successful event, organization and proper preparation is required. Helen created my address database, Tasha created my invitations, filled containers with aprons, I packed mannequins and a large box with "staging" supplies. Finally, the weekend had arrived. I loaded the back of my SUV. Thank goodness for side mirrors. I felt like the "traveling apron lady".

The night before the show, I spent several hours setting up. I created apron displays in the kitchen, in the living room, and in the dining room. I also created fresh floral arrangements that were placed in selected areas. It was the perfect scene for  Christmas shopping.  On the day of the event, my guests were greeted with a holiday cocktail served by a family member wearing an apron from my collection with Christmas music playing in the background. My trunk show was a huge success.

The days following the event, I received many phone calls from people who had heard about them and from people who were unable to attend on the day of the event. I literaly sold aprons out of my tuck throughout the week.

I am extremely grateful.

kaco designs by Liz: SIMPLY INCREDIBLE!

kaco designs by Liz: SIMPLY INCREDIBLE!

SIMPLY INCREDIBLE!

My work day begins very early in the morning and it is non-stop until the evening. Throughout my adult life, I have never experienced such a feeling of passion for a job as I presently feel. Being a wife and a mom goes without saying, of course. That is my absolute ultimate passion.  But, a job? Yes, I can honestly say, it is an incredible feeling. I wake up around 4:30 a.m. , pour a cup of joe, grab my computer, and begin my day. Before I know it, several hours have passed. I have, without a doubt, love what I have accomplished so far. The incredible people that have entered my life as well as some of the faculty and students at the University of Southern Mississippi, THANK YOU!

http://www.facebook.com/pages/KaCo-Designs-By-Liz/177216055643207
https://sites.google.com/site/kacodesignsbyliz/