Busy Busy!

I've been very busy over the last few weeks!

I have been down to Somerset to source materials for Cecily Plum's unique jewellery, plus to meet maternity wear designer Harry Duley.

Harry Duley was great, her clothes are really lovely. Plain jersey basics in a range of colours - these are perfect for Cecily Plum. I am also going to order a limited edition range of Harry's clothes, and commission my own, specially for Cecily Plum.

On the home front:

The house renovations are still ongoing, with the dining room the next target for completion. Baby Oli is growing like mad, and seems to be teething again (still no actual teeth though). Bertie starts Meithrin tomorrow afternoon (pre-school at the Welsh medium school), which is very exciting!

Items Coming Soon ...

Photobucket Album

Web design Company Ditched

Well, the web design company haven't done any work on the design for a couple of days now, and I am fed up with them, so have sent an email telling them to stop working on the site.

Hubby has done a beautiful new holding page for me: http://www.cecilyplum.com, and will develop the rest of the site.  I'm planning to use Roman Cart for the e-commerce.

On a more positive theme, I am really looking forward to viewing some maternity collections tomorrow, and meeting with one of the designers, very exciting!

Website Woes

I am having trouble with my website. It was commissioned from webcreationuk, for them to exactly copy my design, with the design done within a week.    

To start with they didn't copy my design, but started with a new one, which I didn't like (communications problem between here and India where it seems they actually do the work). Then they promised to copy mine, but had another communications problem, and didn't. At this point I was ready to burst into tears!

It's now over 2 weeks, and they still haven't got the design done, and don't seem to be doing a very good job of copying my work.

I may decide to ditch the company and do it myself (losing the hefty deposit). I am currently investigating how possible this is. I just want to get started!

Supplier Found

Suppliers
I am very pleased to have found two great Breast Feeding clothing suppliers for my shop. One will supply basic, useful tops, the other gorgeous Scandinavian design. Once the shop's open I'll post links to all my suppliers here.

At the moment ...
At the moment I am organising all my stationary and printed advertising materials. There are some great designers and printers on www.MumsClub.co.uk, but first I've contacted an old friend of my husband for a quote.

I am also awaiting the first view of my website, the first draft should be ready by the end of this week - I am very excited!

On the home front
Hubby has been busily finishing off the current phase of plumbing, plus doing some plaster-boarding. Soon we'll get the builders in to put skylights in the bathroom and baby Oli's room.

Bertie is happily watching a feature length Thomas the Tank Engine which he has dubbed "Big Long Thomas" much to Hubby's amusement.

New Breastfeeding Supplier Wanted!

The main supplier I had lined up for breast feeding clothes is no longer available, so I have to find someone new, and quickly! This gives me the opportunity to find something a bit out of the ordinary, and I'm looking at Swedish designers, plus those using organic cotton.

I am somewhat distracted from my search by baby, who is very pleased to learn he has hands, and is very cleverly batting the toys on his baby gym. Plus he's just today discovered his feet, and spent a happy five minutes watching them.

Busy and wet

Well, I've been busy organising. I am going to see an agent for a few different maternity lines, plus one of the designers, in two weeks time - it's all a bit daunting as it will be the first time I'll meet these people; so far all communication has been by email. I'll have baby with me, so hope he's his usual quiet self.

The meeting's in Cambridge which is a long long way from Aberystwyth. I'll be stopping with family in Hereford on the way, then I think I'll make a detour to Nassington (nr Peterborough), to see friends, then drive home via Hereford again.

I've also been talking to the people who organise the Baby Show, who are keen to get Cecily Plum at their Manchester show this November. But I think it's a bit too soon - I estimate it will cost around £2k in total, with accommodation etc etc. I'd like to do the NEC one in May instead. I think I'll pop along to the Manchester one as a research exercise. Will give me a good idea what I'm getting into.

On the home front - Hubby has been plumbing today, and there's been quite a lot of horrible black heating system water leaking out of places. It all seems to be fixed now, but was very messy for a while.

Company Formed!

I have a fully formed company, registered, and with a company number!

Here is the excerpt from Companies House.

Apart from this, I have been in touch with suppliers trying to work out when I can see them, plus it turns out Autie Jill used to be a fashion buyer (I thought she was a cosmetics buyer) for Co-operative, so I want to go and see her for some advice.

I have also been madly ebaying - we have so much junk to get rid of - I've spent most of the day describing baby clothes.  I hope they sell for a reasonable amount.

Website is commissioned! 

I've paid the deposit, and Cecily Plum begins!

Back from Somerset

Well, I went down to Somerset to see the parents. It was a very productive trip, not only did my Dad (an accountant) give me invaluable advice on my business plan, I also got a haircut for the first time in about a year!

The business plan will need a bit of work, not least of which the figures, which Dad thinks are a bit over-optimistic.

I also managed to commission some jewellery whilst I was down in Somerset.  My ideas are going to be tried out, then I'll go back in a few weeks and we can source some materials, and go ahead.  The best part is that they'll be done on a sale or return basis, so great for cash flow.

My parents had some comments about the webpage, so I've made a final few alterations.  I'll get Simon to have a look, and then pay the deposit to start the process! It's about time.