Archives for "Huge!"

Posted by Megan on 24th January 2012
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Yes. this is the week.

Yes, this is the week that I begin loading in for the New York International Gift Fair. This is it, kids. Months of planning, making lists, spending exorbitant amounts of money, have all come down to this.

I am terrified

I am excited.

I am not ready.

I AM READY.

There are still little tedious things to do, like fold brochures and pack products, and update my Ikea shopping list for the 32nd time. But all of the major things are done, all of the plans are finalized, and the culmination is here.

I have no expectations, honestly if I make my costs back (~$5k) then I would be the happiest person in the world. I could coast for a few months on that and hopefully not have to go back on the job hunt.

Stay tuned.

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Posted by Megan on 8th November 2011
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We could only go up from here

big news, kids.

No, not about my last post…but I’ve been so down for so long that I just knew something had to give…I had to move upwards somehow.

A few weeks ago it was the semi-annual Henri Bendel Open See.

Continue Reading

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Posted by Megan on 4th August 2011
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August and everything after


July was bananas. It was Steves “Dirty Thirty” (i was the only one who called it that) so we went to Atlantic City for a few days to celebrate, and to finally have a vacation. Between our day job schedules, his writing, and my Metropolis we never really get much time to be together. So it was nice to catch up.

I also got my ass OUT. It was so terrifying…I actually WENT to a Whole Foods to talk to a buyer. I’m much more comfortable hiding behind email. Anyhow, I went there with a freakishly calm demeanor and, as we say, “gave them the business.” And that is how I landed my first Whole Foods account*

*Okay they haven’t ordered YET but when I followed up with a phone call (!!!!) I spoke to ANOTHER buyer who knew who I was and explained the reason for not ordering yet but assured me it would be very soon they placed the order.

Even if it never happens and the deal falls through, this has been a fantastic motivator to get Metropolis up and businessy. I’ve been getting my business things in gear and ready (insurance, bank accounts, and the like) and just forced myself to accept that if I want to play business, Im going to have to do business things.

Plus on top of all of this i launched the new line this past Monday. I’m very proud of how professional it has turned out. I will miss the pulp horror fun aspect but, again, if I want to play business I know I’ve got to be willing to change.

This month will involve some serious evaluations on my future plans for Metropolis. I very much want to move on from the street festival/craft show scene and into tradeshows but I know the cost of doing this is prohibitive…which is why the street fair scene becomes a necessary evil. I would love to get away from all of that come 2012 and I think this month will involve taking time to sit down and figure out my strategy.

and also making a crapload of soap.

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Posted by Megan on 5th May 2011
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Call for Entries

Hey there,

Are you self-employed and in our fair borough?

Let me interview you!

I’m looking for entrepreneurs in Brooklyn who want to talk about their ups, downs, and everything inbetween that goes with being self-employed in BK.

I’ll feature you here, on twitter, and our facebook. All you gotta do is answer some questions!

Reply to this post or shoot me an email [helloAThandmadebrooklynDOTcom] and let’s have a chat.

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Posted by Megan on 6th August 2010
1

Woot!

Back when I was reading The Success Principles I had made a list of goals I would like to accomplish by the end of this year and also into 2011. Of course as the year goes on I find new goals I want to accomplish but I don’t add them to the list. I feel like the original list was what I really wanted and was less of a fleeting thought…like most of my goals are now. It is what it is.

Anyhow one of the goals was 15% coverage of the United States, which means I would have my products in 8 states. It wasn’t overly ambitious, but I thought it would be a good goal to have for the 2nd year in business.

So lately I’ve been having some branding crisis, wondering if I’ve carved out too much of a niche, wondering if I’m losing potential money by not portraying a more, ahem, “upscale” brand instead of the “quirky” style. So I’ve been going back and forth on it. Im sticking with what I’ve got and promised myself I would revisit this in a year, giving me enough time to see where the market has taken Metropolis and if there needs to be a change (or an addition).

I was updating my shops page when I noticed “hey, there’s a bunch (sort of) of states on this page…how many states are we in?” Nine. NINE! Which means I passed my goal of 15% coverage and I’ve still got 4 months to go! Woooooooohooooooooooo!

I also remembered this post and I can now cross “6 new wholesale accounts” and “$1500 at a craft show” off of that list! I don’t know what I meant by “cut my debt in half”, Metropolis bottom line or my actual debt? Not sure…but its not important now.

So how do I feel? Great, of course…reinforced, remotivated, re…passioned? It’s all baby steps, but I’m thankful for each step taken.

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