Let's catch up!

Hello! Over the past few days, while I've been busily working with the rest of the Pure Green team to get issue 7 wrapped up, some fun things have been happening for English Muffin too!

So here's a little run down, incase you're curious...

Puces Pop Holiday Craft Fair - Dec. 10 & 11

English Muffin will be at the Holiday Puces Pop show! I'll have lots of 2012 calendars, posters, prints and a big fat 34 week pregnant belly ;) Come say hi!

New Stockists - Buk & Nola and Emeline & Annabelle

Buk & Nola

Emeline & Annabelle

I'm so thrilled to announce that English Muffin prints and the 2012 Calendar are now available at two of the loveliest shops in Montreal. Merry Christmas to me!! And, as luck would have it, Buk & Nola and Emeline & Annabelle will also be stocking Pure Green Magazine.
A 2012 Calendar + a lovely Canadian magazine = the perfect holiday gift!

Press - The Bedlam of Beefy, Petit Eco Kids and The Academy

The following folks have been kind enough to post about the 2012 Everyday Objects Calendar, check 'em out!

The Bedlam of Beefy

Petit Eco Kids

The Academy

I think that's all the news! I'm currently working on some Holiday Printables, so stay tuned!

Have a wonderful Thursday :)
xx bess

Small Business, Small Steps: In the shops

I've been slowly making the rounds, contacting stores that I think would be a good fit for English Muffin prints and am happy to report that I have welcomed some new shops to my ever growing list of stockists/retailers.

By far, this is the hardest part of the business for me; approaching new people and pitching myself and my work to them. I am trying though, and I'm even starting to consider emailing stores I didn't hear back from, whom I really think would be a good fit for my work, more than once (gasp!). I know from receiving emails concerning the blog and the business that sometimes I don't respond right away, not because I'm not interested but because that particular email requires more attention than I can give it at that moment, and of course it eventually finds its way to the bottom of my inbox. So, while I promise not to become an email stalker, I will try at least once more - if I really fancy you ;)

The response from the stores carrying my work has been really positive thus far, so that definitely gives me encouragement that my work can do well in other online stores and in brick & mortar settings. I have however yet to pop into any of the shops carrying English Muffin prints to see them in all their glory. Now that I've got a couple of retailers in Toronto, I really will have to stop by for a visit. Maybe I'll wear a wig and dark glasses and go incognito ;) Kidding!

For the complete list of English Muffin retailers, please check my website.

Have a wonderful Friday!
xo bess

Summer 2011 Wholesale Catalogue

I've finally updated my wholesale catalogue, which means you'll start seeing some new English Muffin products in my shop soon! For a sneak peek, check out the new maps on page 7. These are a collaboration with The Land of Nod, they'll be selling them as part of their Back to School canvas program! And, on pages 14-15 you'll find the return of some of my favourite Counting in the Kitchen illustrations. They sold really well at last weekend's Puces Pop show.

If you know any shop owners who might be interested please share the new catalogue with them. For more information you can email me at, bess[at]englishmuffinshop[dot]com

Have a wonderful weekend!

xo bess

Small Business, Small Steps: In good company

It's been a while since I've checked in with a proper Small Business, Small Steps post. It's not because I haven't had anything to write, quite the opposite, I've been wanting to share so much with you, it's just that I've had some difficulty finding the time to sit down and commit my thoughts to paper - or screen, as the case may be. fyi, it's 1am...

In the middle of last month, once I felt that I had as many ducks in a row as I could round-up, I began actively pursuing new online and bricks & mortar shops that might like to carry the English Muffin products. I compiled a list of stores I felt were in-line with my own aesthetic, who valued handmade, eco-friendly children's products and began emailing. And emailing, and emailing. I am going to be completely honest with you, I emailed about 100 different stores. And now I'm going to be brutally honest with you, I heard back from four and am now happy to report that of those four, two are carrying English Muffin products in their shops. Since that initial email campaign I have received interest from a few additional shops, and so the wholesale accounts are continuing to grow.

Some may read those numbers and find them discouraging. I, on the other hand, was not discouraged, not for a moment. That's because only a couple days after the emails went out I heard back from two stores that were way up on my list, one in particular I almost didn't email, because I thought it was positively unattainable. That's why I am so pleased, thrilled, tickled pink to announce that not only is the full line of English Muffin's prints and posters being carried in fawn & forest, but English Muffin is also featured in their bi-monthly forest finds. You have no idea how warm, encouraging and kind the folks at f&f have been. It is pretty much my dream come true to have my designs along side Petit Collage, Dwell Studio and the like. I never imagined I'd be in such good company.

There's still so much to share, but for now I will leave it at that. Things are in a good place, and although there are bumps in the road every now and then, the scenery is lovely and I'm enjoying getting closer and closer to the destination.

Have a wonderful Wednesday,

xx bess

Small Business, Small Steps: Me + Shak-Shuka

I'm so happy to let you know that English Muffin prints are now available at the adorable eco-friendly online children's boutique, Shak-Shuka. This is my second wholesale account and it was such a pleasure to work with them from start to finish. In fact, it's a perfect example of how social media, in this case Twitter, can increase your business' visibility and facilitate relationships and opportunities.

I can't remember how I found Shak-Shuka on Twitter, but something must have piqued my curiosity and I decided to check out their website. I loved the look of the shop and decided to follow them. Joslyn, one half of the Shak-Shuka team, followed me back and sent me a message asking for my wholesale info. Luckily I had created a line sheet (wholesale catalog) a while ago for another potential account and forwarded that to her. From there it was pretty much smooth sailing, she placed her order and I filled it, and followed up with product shots for their website.

I feel pretty lucky that both of my wholesale experiences have been really positive and (to be honest) with very little effort on my part. I have yet to approach any shops on my own and I think that's where it will get a little scary. However, before I do that I am going to do some serious research on developing the wholesale side of my business. Don't worry, I promise to share all the goodies I find.

How about you? Have you had any success with wholesaling your products? Have your experiences been positive? Any tips for me?!

Bess

ps. Go visit Shak-Shuka!