National Stationery Show 2011 Coverage

Don't miss all of the sneak previews and show coverage over at the Crow and Canary blog! I'll be co-piloting for Carina to keep her 2011 coverage website packed with up-to-the-minute goodies. You can also stay in the loop over on the Crow & Canary Facebook page.

National Stationery Show - Hot topics: Press Kits, WiFi, and Taking Payments

 via @CarriePony
Who's doing press kits for #NSS? How many are you bringing?

   via @emmajCARDS
QUESTION #nss- Is there WiFi in Javits? Can we bring laptops?

via Denise
What is your opinion on payment....since we are small....we do not have the ability to do credit cards....do buyers....write checks there....what is the protocol on that....or do they make an order....then send payment? 

My Replies~

Press Kits
I suggest bringing as many as you can create, if that is 5 or 25! Keep a few in your booth because inevitably you will find an opportunity to hand them out. In the past I have have brought 15 or so (the most I had time to put together) and they were always gone when I returned to the Press Room to see if any were left behind. Drop them off early, because everyone always has a list of last minute to-dos in the morning. I cannot claim to be an expert on Press Kits, but I have dug up a few links that are helpful from the always resourceful Design*Sponge Blog:

• biz ladies 09: PR advice from alisa carroll
  
• biz ladies 09: fresh from the oven- media kits
• biz ladies 09: maximum visual impact for your business

Internet Access
The Javitz Center does have Wi-Fi Internet access.. for a price. I found it slow. My hotel wasn't much better. Between the two I wished I had an Internet enabled phone and went immediately out and bought one when I got home.  Now I couldn't live without it, my phone is my second computer, my camera, my everything. {sigh}

Payments
Buyers will expect to write the order at the show only. Payments are handled later. The buyer will either provide you a credit card number (to be run at the time of shipment) or request NET 30 terms to be paid by check. When providing terms, an Invoice should be included in the package at the time of shipment-with the terms starting from ship date. Another option is COD (check on delivery), and it is worth noting that there are extra fees associated with COD--so make sure you include that in the shipping charge on the Invoice. If you are running a "Free Shipping show special", my policy is that extra fees, rushed shipping, international shipping do not qualify.

I cannot urge everyone enough, get setup to take credit cards. It is much easier than you expect and the fees are worth it to protect you and ensure payment. Cashflow in a small business is fragile, and to accept a credit card for an order means that you charge the card BEFORE you ship the product. If the credit card doesn't go through, you don't ship the product. Then you never have to worry about trying to get payment later--because you already have it. There are many credit card merchant services out there, and as long as you can enter and run the credit card without the other party having to confirm anything (sorry, no PayPal), you are good to go. I'm sure others can suggest some services they use. I use Authorize.net and accept only Visa and Mastercard (not AMEX). 

Of course the devil is in the details, and in this economy it is not uncommon to have at least one instance where the credit card will not go through and the store does not respond to you... kind of a "back door" way of canceling orders. So my reps always tell me to fill immediate orders as soon as possible after a show--first to charge gets the order. Sounds terrible I know... but it is a lot better than sending product with terms and never getting paid and having to spend countless hours being frustrated and making unpleasant phone calls. Don't be surprised to get orders that are months out from the ship date. Do not ship these orders early or charge their cards more than a few days prior to their requested ship date.

Got a question or a great suggestion? Contribute in the comments below or chat me up on Twitter! @owensays 

Art Innovator : Ghost Patrol Pencil Sets

Ghost Patrol pencil sets make my heart flutter. The clever and unusual use of shaved down pencils as a canvas pairs perfectly with the artist's touching and fantastical style.

Leaving Pencil Forest
Originally uploaded by ghostpatrol

Hostage, Throat Cut
Originally uploaded by ghostpatrol

Trees Are Made From Pencils
Originally uploaded by ghostpatrol

hyper coustume
Originally uploaded by ghostpatrol

reaching key
Originally uploaded by ghostpatrol

Visit http://ghostpatrol.net/

Springtime: feathers in your hair, butterflies whispering in your ear, favorite charms around your neck..

Delicate jewelry and showstopping-yet-demure hair accessories - the TenThings store is a delight.

I am sticking my big toe into spring and I'm ready to jump in! Are you ready for some new favorites? Come meet Kerri J!

There are a bounty of items from TenThings that are a perfect compliment to a breezy spring day. Long neglected, some of my lonely vintage dresses will get a new feathered friend in the form of a fine headband. For kicking around town during the day you can't beat the voodoo heart necklace charm! Visit TenThings and the companion store Tulle on Etsy and read the Blah Blah Blah Blahg.

{inspiration} I discovered TenThings when I was lucky enough to have her win Crow & Canary's Twitter giveaway for my gnome bookmark. Follow @Ten10Things on Twitter!

Crow & Canary Giveaway - recycled multilingual thank you cards

7 chances to take home one of the most popular items from the Owen Says greeting card line.

from the desk of Crow & Canary-

Our Owen Says giveaway has arrived! This round, we are gifting 6 hand glittered "thank you" cards printed on 75% recycled paper. The set comes in Owen Says' signature packaging; Cleverly designed for reuse, the inside is printed with a bookmark and mini-planner. Tres chic and oh, so green. To sweeten the pot, six singles of this popular multilingual notecard are also up for grabs. Yep, seven chances to win, my friends. Best of luck..
Click here to enter

shop for this card online

Giveaway: Gnome Themed Bookmark

Carina over on the Crow & Canary Blog is hosting a little contest. Here are the details.  

"Owen Says and I are working on announcing giveaway no.2 later this week. In the meantime, we thought it would be fun to do a mini giveaway. If you would like to win this no-slip, gnome themed bookmark: join or login to your twitter account and send me a direct message by Wednesday March 3rd at midnight. That's all you need to do to enter, easy peasy! Stay tuned for details on our second Owen Says sponsored giveaway, I promise you won't want to miss it!" tweet her now: @crowandcanary

congratulations @ten10things

Barbie collides with NY Fashion Week

The scene: the creme de la creme of creative talent, elbow-to-elbow -- a moment of solidarity in the fashion world. An occurrence as rare as a sighting of the infamous Sasquatch. The competetion is still strong, but the goal is a shared one. view NYFW Barbie Runway Coverage Inspired by ever popular fashion icon and it girl-- Barbie; The Barbie Runway Show was an inspired event where top designers (Alexander Wang, Tuleh, Bob Mackie and others) each created a different Barbie look resulting in a spectacular collaboration. Heidi Klum and Jonathan Adler were among the celebs looking on from the front row. {READ MORE COVERAGE: http://www.fabsugar.com/ } {RETWEET: @owensays @heyfabsugar} {SHOP: UK Telegraph Cover and vintage Barbie photos c/o Ebay. click on the photos to search current auctions}

Your childhood doll just became high art - The Barbie Doll Portrait Project

I admit, as a child I was not into Barbie dolls. I would buy them at yard sales, cut their hair and discard them. 

Far more joy was found in the purchase of the Barbie Star Traveller Motorhome -- which I sat on top of and rode like a skate board down the street. I was too much of a tomboy for Barbie, and thought that Skipper should have had a better backstory and more accessories. It was a travesty that Barbie's dog was so silly looking. But Barbie just got arty.

These series of photographs, known as The Barbie Doll Portrait Project ignites a Barbie passion that I lacked as a child and tickles the vintage loving photography enthusiast in me.  For 52-weeks a collectible Barbie doll was transformed into portraits with details about her hair, clothes and story. "Here was an opportunity to FIND ART in the form of a reclaimed mid-century icon." [from website] 

The blog features post after post of delicious portraits of Barbie and some impressive vintage hairdos and finery. Look at the detail on the handbag! When you find an image you can't walk away from you can buy 10 cards and envelopes for $15.00 and frame a little Barbie vignette on your wall. Be sure to include your favorite Barbie enthusiast. Or you might create a convert, much like myself.

      

Make A Paper Gnome from Crowded Teeth

Gnome week continues. I stumbled upon the excellent artwork of Crowded Teeth artist Michelle Romo and fell in love with her website and blog and just had to share! Check out this whimsical gnome and the adorable directions to make one for yourself. I can't wait for the book of all her handicrafts to come out! Everyone will want one on their shelf.

Read my fab West Coast's Rep's Blog: Crow & Canary

Carina-my beloved and hard working Rep, who can be found traveling throughout the West Coast and beyond-has lots of pretty photos of cool stuff on her Crow & Canary Blog. She has an impeccable eye and is always finding wonderfully marketable lines from artists around the country that are not found everywhere. Her keen style and sweet personality have made her a fast favorite among the artists she represents and the stores that call on her to select product to stock their shelves. Visit crowandcanary.com for more information on the lines that Carina represents.

plush cuteness abounds

i love the site called mypapercrane.com with crafts by heidi kennedy. 

she creates some of the cutest things in the world. seriously, how can your mood not be improved by plush donuts and cupcakes? it is almost like huggable prozac. check out her store and blog by linking through her main website!

 

when blogs collide - Urban Honking

Back in November I was walking down the street with my friend Ryan and we came upon his friend in the midst of a shoe crisis, one that was also being chronicled for her blog. You can read about it here and see a funny photo of me in the background.

She did finally retrieve her shoe. I have since figured out that she is also one of the exclusive bloggers on Urban Honking (an invitation only site for those that want to contribute) that is getting a whole lot of attention. Read the article about Urban Honking in the Willamette Week.