A set-back...

So I faxed my Business Name Registration off on Tuesday and today received a letter saying 'sorry, it's too close to another business name'. The good news is that the turn around for the application was really quick but I'm pretty shattered as I was really hoping to have my business trading under that name. Looks like I'll have to go about things in a slightly more abstract fashion...

The rugs will still be called a Piccaninny Rug, but my business trading name will have to be something different.

I'm really glad that I got the letter today after a good day with my son yesterday and a day at work today.  I'm not sure how I would have handled the news in the sleep deprived, stressed out state I was in on Sunday and Monday!

In other news, a good friend of mine has placed a bumper order of 3 rugs (one by next weekend - eek!), I have 1 to make for another friend, my hairdresser is wanting one before Christmas (and another for a birthday present in January) and I somehow need to find the time to get a stash of stock together in anticipation of a market.

I'm going to be one busy little bunny!  I may have to take some holidays from work so I can sew while Darling Hubby is looking after Darling Son...

The getting of motivation...

It's funny how our moods can impact on our ability to get things done...

I've had a pretty tough couple of days with my little boy and as much as I have wanted to sit down at the sewing machine, I just haven't been able to.  Put it down to teething, a growth spurt, Wonder Week (what ever you like really) but the upshot is an 8mth old who has recently decided that sleep during the day is over rated and the best way to pass the time is in mum's arms or screaming if left alone.  Not fun for mum, that's for sure!

So, for now, the making of rugs has taken a back seat to the rebuilding of the mummy/bubby relationship that has taken an absolute beating of late.  As much as I'd like to be sewing, he simply won't let me...

So what have I been able to do whilst not at the sewing machine? 

I've finally applied for the registration of my business name.  As I mentioned in my last post the online registration process was a big fail for me, so I've done it the old fashioned way and hopefully when a human takes a look at it there will be no issues.

I'm still waiting to hear from Sugar and Spice Children's Market to see whether I have a spot at Woodend in December.  And I have to send a big 'Thank-you' to Lisa who told me about a new childrens' market starting up in the Eltham area - one for me to investigate a little more.

Spotlight have a sale on and lucky for me some of the materials I use in my rugs are reduced.  I'd love to get over there today, but it's just not going to happen.  Hopefully tomorrow after work...  I'm also chasing bulk purchases on eBay.  The only problem with that is that once you factor in the postage, the price isn't quite as good per meter as it initially looked...

Any way, it's all a learning curve!  Hopefully the little guy decides soon that he's happy for mummy to start having some time to sew and the rugs will start covering my lounge room floor again!  In the meantime it might be a good opportunity for me to vaccum the threads off the carpet...

The ups and downs...

So this week has been a bit of an interesting one from both a professional and personal perspective.


I've been trying to register my business name all week using the online registration facility.  The problem is that my business name keeps being rejected by the computer system as it is too close to that of other businesses.  Having done an ASIC search of business names, I'm pretty sure that Piccaninny Rugs is quite different to any other business name using the word 'piccaninny'.  I had all but given up hope (and was ready to close my FaceBook page - you can't change the name) when I spoke to a friend of mine who has recently started up Sugar Plum Tree (beautiful appliqued baby and kids clothing).  She told me that the online system rejected her application several times but once she had lodged a hard copy application, it went through.  There seems to be some logic in getting a human to do something over a computer... It was really good news for me as I'm now revved up and re-energised about getting the business up and running.

I've also engaged Rachel from AnEdge Designs to whip up a business logo to be used to product labels and business cards.  We've got the font spot on, but are working out the kinks on the image.  I can't wait to get it finalised so that I can get some 'official' stuff printed.  Look out!  I'll be appearing like a legit business soon!



If only I had a little girl, this one would
 be staying at home with me!

Spotlight are once again in possession of way too much of my money.  The up side is that I have some great new fabrics to mix and match.  Darling Hubby did happen to point out that I'm going to have to make an effort to find some 'girly girl' fabrics for some of my rugs.  Being the mum of a boy and not the most 'girly girl' going around, I'm not particularly drawn to pinks, flowers, fairies and the like. I have a great collection of block colours, spots and stripes, but when it comes to the prettier side of life, I really need to make more of an effort.  Like the Pantene ad says "It won't happen over night, but it will happen"





On a personal note, my little boy is growing up so quickly!  He'll be 8mths old next week and has just started crawling.  He still prefers commando crawling as he can get to places (and things I don't want him to get to) much quicker, but the hands and knees crawling is coming along nicely.  He's also resumed babbling and loves to shout at the top of his voice to anyone who will listen.  And on top of all that, Darling Hubby and I are desperately trying to convince the little guy that he really doesn't need to wake at 4am for a feed because he's not really hungry.  It's a bit hit and miss at the moment.  Just when we think that we've got it, he wakes at 5am instead.



So I find myself at the computer typing away (thank you Mr MacCormack for teaching me to touch type in Yr 8 on an actual typewriter!) to give myself a bit of a break from the sewing machine.  I've posted some new photos on my FaceBook page of the new fabrics and given that I have made a rug and a half today, I think that it's time for me to rest my tired eyes and get some sleep.  Well I will after I give my little boy his last feed for the night.  I may crawl in to bed before midnight after all!

You have to spend money to make money...

Today I've taken 2 very big steps in growing my business.

1. I've spent way too much money at Spotlight
2. I've entered a submission to be a retailer at a popular children and babies market

These 2 events have 2 very important consequences

1. I have to start to source wholesale/bulk fabrics (and I have no idea where to start!)
2. I really have to get sewing!  If my application is successful, I'll need at least 20 rugs in various sizes and a heap of Tag Blankies ready to go (and I only have about 7 weeks to do it in!)

In sourcing fabrics for my rugs I have found that there is a particular fabric store that has a much larger range of fabric prints than the other 2 within easy driving of my home.  This is really good news as I was starting to dispair at the lack of cute and funky prints available as the contrast fabrics for my rugs. I have posted a heap of new photos on my FaceBook page showing the fabrics that I now have available. There is also a fabric store in Fitzroy I want to check out but given it's a bit of a drive from home, it's going to have to wait until next Friday when I'm in nearby Carlton for a Mother's Group catch-up.

I feel like I've spent way too much money today on fabric and ribbon today, but if I'm serious about making this business work, then it's got to be done.  I've also taken the first steps in getting AnEdge Designs to create a business brand.  This will enable me to get fabric labels made for my rugs, storage bags and Tag Blankies. 

It seems after the trials and tribulations I've had in the past 2 days, that things are really motoring along.  It's exciting but really scary too.  My biggest fear is that I won't be able to create enough stock in time for the market I'm hoping to attend on December 12th.

I'm going to set myself a goal of 2 or 3 rugs per week between now and the market (obviously this assumes that my darling son co-operates with my plans) and to have about 20 Tag Blankies made up in the same time frame.

Wish me luck!

The daunting task of starting out...

So here I am... a new mum to a 7mth old son, wife, part time employee and now crazy lady who doesn't have enough on her plate so she wants to start her own business!

Insane?

Probably!


Excited?

Totally!


Overwhelmed?

Yup!

I started Piccaninny Rugs only a couple of weeks ago after I identified a gaping hole in the babies and childrens market.  Where do you get a rug to use outside with your little one that is functional, light weight and cute?

Sure, you can buy a picnic rug from any camping store, but they are:

1. Ugly with blue or red tartan patterns;
2. Impractical because the fabric on the top collects stones, sticks, grass and leaves and;
3. Not comfortable for adults to sit on so how is a little one supposed to enjoy tummy time in the park when they can feel every stick and stone underneath them?

Hence the need for a new product!

I started by sketching what I would want as a mum and playing around with the sizing.  My first rug was sized to fit inside a playpen and they have only got bigger from there. 

So far the feedback I've received for the rugs I've made rugs has been overwhelmingly positive with my paying customers loving their rugs and sending me photos of their babies enjoying themselves on them.

My dilemma now is, how to expand my business without getting too far ahead of myself.  I'm only one person making these rugs and between working 2 days per week and caring for my son the other 5 days (Hubby helps out on the weekends) I estimate that I can make 2 rugs per week.  It's not really as many as I'd like but thems the breaks...

So now my mission is to try to source fabric in bulk quantities so that I can save on the materials cost of each rug... I have no idea where to start but through the magic of Google and Ebay, I've got a couple of leads...

Wish me luck!