Challenge

Schools out for summer,  Jacks at camp everyday, Maggie spends the day at the Beach with Kelsey and Gus rolls around the house counting minutes between feedings.  It is great watching these kids grow in different stages and a challenge to meet there needs.  

eco kids is growing as well and it is a challenge to meet the needs of the company.  We have 6 weeks till the New York International Gift Fair and a full plate of deadlines to meet.  We are debuting 7 new products to market!  With this comes organizing ourselves, coordinating with our office team, working with our illustrator, graphic designer, web designer, packaging staff, shipping team, and getting all of this to the printers in time for New York... ...what else would I do today?

I sometimes think how nice it would be to be one of the kids. We are stretched thin but know what the outcome in NY can be. Bringing our new products to our existing retailers, and knowing that the major accounts will be in to talk to us...that is exciting.  We'll grow larger, employ more people, build a presence in the market place, give our staff livelihood and be able to do more with our families.  To know that we conceptualized something from an idea to the market shelf is pretty cool.  Isn't that what this challenge is about, being able to do more, experience more and travel the world.  We have exiting things to come in the near future.  We are looking ahead but keeping our eye on the daily tasks to get there. Stay tuned my fellow readers, the challenge continues...

Thanks!

A little teaser of things to come...

PS.  No one at llBeans has contacted us yet.

Full Circle

Never boring and never predetermined life does take you on a journey.  Some travel hard and fast and burn out quick, others meander along winding trails full of forks and turns.  And many of us find that life is full of circles.  Even though I have traveled the world, I am occasionally stopped in my tracks and realize how small the world is. 

No matter where I have been, when I think of home, I think of New England.  Where I spent my youth, and where most of my life realization took place.  You always gravitate home, either mentally or physically.  As I start to pack for Market Square Day in Portsmouth, New Hampshire...I think about my childhood where I grew up and graduated from high school.  I think about my old bedroom, in my old house, the posters on the walls, the friends of my adolescence, the snow falling on the mill pond.

Now I return, as an adult with a family of my own, and a growing business.  I look forward to returning to Portsmouth, to Market Square Day.  I also look forward to possibly running into old friends and actually saying "Has it really been 10 years?", and meeting there children who are about to circle and navigate the world.

 

Market Square Day

Portsmouth, NH

June 9th, 2012

9:00-4:00

It has been an odd week at eco-kids.  There have been a lot of special requests coming from all directions. Some good, some frustrating.  We are looking forward to working with a non profit group - supplying eco-kids products to children in over 25 hospitals around the country.  More to come on that as it develops!  When you own a small family business it's always hard to please everyone. There are distributors, rep groups, retailers, your wife, and most importantly your kids.

Jack doesn't understand why I can't stop my day the second he gets off the bus and play Star Wars, with used action figures bought off eBay that were made during 1978 to 1982.  Back when the toys were made in Hong Kong with quality, and have the names of kids from generations past written on the bottom of there feet. (Sorry had to throw that in there, and by the way, they are more affordable, last longer, and have a great sense of nostalgia when you are playing with them).

OK, so back to all these requests.  You can't please everyone as your company grows.  As you grow, you work on bringing your cost of goods down while trying to meet demand.  As you make changes to survive, there will be those who can't change with you, but if those changes build your business while holding on to your convictions of running a sustainable environmentally conscious business...others will come.  It might be hard to see that while in the thick of it, but if you believe in who you are so will they.  You may lose an account, but you'll gain three in return, all the while trying not to let negative energy consume you and wish those party's well. After that, stop what your doing, pick up your X wing fighter, forget that your almost 40, and run around the yard with your son protecting the rebel alliance from the Republic and FLY!

Flash Merchandising

As a young child I remember my father waking us up early in the morning for our bi-annual pilgrimage for duck boots, khakis and flannels.   LLBean has always been a part of our lives like holidays and birthdays.

Being a Maine based company, eco-kids has always wanted to be featured at Beans.  However, navigating through the maze of corporate retailers is sometimes very hard...unanswered faceless emails,  jumping through hoops and dead ends.

So the other day I decided to just drive up and place our products on their shelves.  With my accomplice Gus, I walked past the giant boot and through the door,  past the trout pound and up the elevator.  

As I looked over my shoulder I planned my attack.  I decided to Flash Merchandise™ their shelves with the entire eco-kids line!  Whether or not we ever receive an order from Beans....I will forever know that eco-kids made it on the shelves.  I would like to think that Leon Leonwood Bean would be proud of my assertiveness and tenacity.

I look forward to a phone call from head quarters wondering who the hell I am and how my products got on their shelves.

If you happen to make a trip to LLBean ask for eco-kids!

eco-kids Flash Merchandising™ at Beans!

June is almost here which means the end of school and the start of summer.  After two weeks of rain in Portland the eco kids family is looking forward to getting OUTSIDE! This is our slow time of year at eco kids, which gives this family time to reconnect after a busy work and school year.  We have already planted our garden, started our weekly trips to the Deering Oaks farmers market and have been more consistent about our morning and nightly walks. 

We all are so busy that it's nice to stop and smell the lilacs on our walks and forget about margins and projections for just a moment. We feel very lucky to live in Maine and we are looking forward to summer lobster bakes,  Damariscotta oysters, fresh picked strawberries on the way to kettle cove Beach and building fairy houses with Maggie on Mackworth island.  And on a personal note we plan on eating tons of locally grown corn this summer!

 
          It is a beautiful Friday today in Portland Maine.  

                        Have a great weekend!

Another week has flown by at eco-kids.  A week filled with orders, product development and marketing.  It is amazing to think how far we have come in 5 long, short years.  We have gone from stove top to counter top in stores around the country and over seas.  From negotiating our spot at the Hollywood Farmers Market to negotiating our deal with Taka our Japanese distributor. An exciting journey continues as eco-kids grows. 

We recently attended a boot camp at The Stonyfield Farm Entrepreneurship Institute in Concord, New Hampshire.  We enjoyed talking and meeting like minded people that were on many levels and stages of business.  Everyone from someone with a start up idea to companies grossing millions of dollars.  Cammie and I left so inspired to be better business people and to make sure we don't lose our roots while we grow.  Also, to always remember what kind of impact our company has on a local and global scale.  We will continue to be an eco-responsible company.  As simple as this sounds it is overlooked more than less.  It is nice to feel like there is change in the air, and the big business practices of the past can and will change, and we feel privileged to be a part of that. 

We would like to thank...

The Stonyfield Farm Entrepreneurship Institute

 The Carsey Institute

 and

 The Whittemore School of Business and Economics 

THANK YOU!

 

2008 Where it all started!

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eco-kids introduces Maggie's Naturals!

You know eco-kids, now meet Maggie’s Naturals!

You’ve gotten to know eco-kids, makers of all natural art supplies – now that same family run business would like to introduce you to Maggie’s Naturals.  The two companies are rooted with the same philosophy, to bring all natural ingredients into your everyday life.

Just like eco-kids uses all natural ingredients in their art supplies, Maggie’s Naturals takes it to the kitchen. Through the use of all natural plant, fruit and vegetable extracts, Maggie’s Naturals wants to change the way you add color to your recipes by introducing you to the company’s natural food coloring line.

With Maggie’s Naturals natural food coloring you won’t cringe every time your child puts a homemade frosted cupcake in their mouth. You’ll know your food, because you know your ingredients. It’s time to change the standard and go back to the farm!

Maggie’s Naturals natural food coloring can now be part of your retail line! It is available in six beautiful colors (blue, brown, green, orange, pink, yellow) and is liquid based.

Help spread the word about Maggie’s Naturals.  Like eco-kids and Maggie’s Naturals on Facebook.  Learn more at www.maggiesnaturals.com.

 

Order Maggie's Naturals now!