Sunday, June 10, 2012

The BIG Dream!

Welcome back..........its been 6 very busy months since I last blogged- I broke my promise :(
Sorry xx

Well on this wet and dreary day I have found myself thinking way too much whilst I pick and pack the large number of orders from last nights FB sale.

The thinking I do today is what I dream and think about most days when I'm laying in bed and cant sleep, driving in the car, sitting at the sewing machine but most of all when I open my email inbox!

So you ask, what do I think/dream about? well.................I think about my little handmade label and where I want to take it! 

Do I want to keep it plotting along like it is? And unfortunately be unable to meet demand and have unhappy customers, have a limited range and availability

Do I get more help in my home studio with the sewing? and not be able to utilise the work space myself when needed and increase in cost due to high labour cost

Do I outsource sewing here locally? and worry about quality and if customers will not buy as it isn't 'handmade', increased cost due to high labour cost

Do I use an aid organisation to help with production? again, quality, not made in Australia 

Do I take all production off shore and just do the design?????  again, quality, not made in Australia

Do I increase the range? and finally release the swimwear range I designed 2 years ago

Do I start (or increase) selling to boutiques? 

What markets do I do?

Do I do shopping centre Pop ups?



Gorgeous Swimwear designed in 2010





Gorgeous swimwear designed in 2010



Why do I ask myself and now you these questions? Well I LOVE my little label just how it is but the dream is big, the dream is for I'm a Princess to be a well known children's clothing label (maybe a little ambitious, but its my dream, haha)! Unfortunately I cant achieve my dream while I do the majority of sewing myself. 
One of the main reasons I started I'm a Princess was because I couldnt find pretty and afordable clothing for my little baby (now 6) and everytime I come to pricing my items I know I am under pricing for alot of it and the main reason is I dont charge for my labour, the time I spend designing, pattern making, making the garment, sourcing fabric, selling, photographing, uploading online etc. but I price it like I do to make it affordable and because I LOVE it!

The reason I have finally put all this out there for you all to read is I'm READY! Ready to grow, expand and take on the world (again maybe a little ambitious, but its my dream, haha)! 

I would LOVE your feedback and thoughts on a couple of things. 

1. Do you buy I'm a Princess because:

-It's a (mainly) Handmade Australian Label? Made by a Mum? 
or
-Beacuse you love the style and design and don't care where or who makes it?

2. Do you prefer to purchase:

-online?

-at markets/pop up stalls?

-boutiques or shops?

Well there it is, its of my chest! Hopefully you will all give me a little feedback so I can have something else to think about:)

Hope you all enjoyed your long weekend.

Cheerio,

Belle x







Saturday, January 28, 2012

A lot has changed around here!

Welcome! I feel that I have neglected my little blog and this year I promised I would keep it up to date! Lets see if i can keep it up!

We certainly have had some changes around here since my last blog in October!
We have so many new and loyal fans and I feel that I have become friends with many of you, I will take this opportunity to let you know more about me and I'm a Princess!

Me-

I'm a wife to and a busy mum to Mia and Kai

(bad photo but the only one I have of all of us)

As many of you would know June last year (see previous post) saw me give away my much loved and successful career in Dental Implant Sales..................I didn't think I would be able to stay away for very long and in October last year after the company waiting very patiently for me I went to work for a competitor company (cheeky I know) part time.

close your eyes if you don't like blood:) But this is what implant dentistry is.....



A little different to the pretty floral fabric and image that comes from I'm a Princess, but I LOVE it and the Surgeons and Dentists that I visit.
It keeps me busy! and I love it. We have had to change SO many things due to I'm a Princess growing so quickly , going back to work and being so busy.

It is no longer just me, I now have my brother Mat who works for me- babysitter, housemaid, shop assistant, kids taxi, and swing dress maker extraordinaire! Mat even learnt to crochet this year, and NO he isn't gay! Just one great guy- and still single!!
When we are busy with our PoP up stalls we have the lovely Hayley that helps us out and Lou when interstate, that's when she isn't busy with her business Wigglewogs!

Here we are on our trip to Melbourne Cup- We had a PoP up Stall in Doncaster! (very convenient timing)


(Hayley, Mat, Me)
I am also very lucky that I have found some help with the sewing, I have our cousin Gayle and another stay at home mum that comes to our studio to work when I need the assistance (quite a bit lately)!
This gives me more time to design and get ready with our new ranges!
I cant wait until our winter range launches! 
Excitement!!

I'm a Princess is my baby, I LOVE it and that is why I needed to go back to work- so I enjoyed what I did, like a hobby not a job! It allows me to be creative, I get more done when I'm busy and stressed!

This year you will see our online presence increase and popping up in locations all over!

I look forward to sharing a little bit more about me and I'm a Princess each week when I will try and remember to blog:)
Now I'm of to write my one hour presentation that I have to present on Monday at our National Sales meeting! (death by PowerPoint)!

Cheerio,
Belle x