One of those moments

I recently had one of those moments.  You know the ones where you laugh at life and wonder how you got where you are at that certain moment.  

There I was in Augusta, Maine at the back bay of our printer who had just finished a custom order where our new art pads and crayons had to be shrink wrapped as a bundle.  I was in between two large freight trucks in my minivan and could not stop thinking about the farmers markets in California from where we came.  I felt encouraged, and hopeful for a busy Holiday season and first quarter of 2013.  You need these moments when you run your own business to remind you to keep going.  Maybe one day those trucks will say eco-kids and they will be leaving from our distribution center.  

You have to imagine it for it to become reality...right?  

Build a Block set

It is part of life sometimes to feel disconnected.  

Life sometimes feels rudimentary. Something happens like Hurricane Sandy on the East Coast and the people on the West Coast are reading about it on there home page.  It happens to all of us when something tragic occurs thousands of miles away.  For me personally,  it's times like this that connect us most.  Flights are cancelled around the country affecting busy schedules and lives.  We start to read the stories of the aftermath and the people who were hit the hardest.  The pictures start to amaze us, like the shark swimming around the yard in New Jersey and stories of perseverance start to emerge.  I think of the hospitals that got evacuated, I think of the staff and nurses that worked so hard to make sure that other peoples family's were safe.  My thoughts are with the people who lost a loved one. I also hope that those without electricity and food will soon get relief. 

On the business side of Hurricane Sandy, an entire country is affected.  Businesses are closed or running on a skeleton staff,  orders are lost or delayed and guaranteed deliveries have no guarantee anymore.  Anyone who works with, or relies on,  manufacturing that comes out of the hardest hit areas finds themselves making adjustments to keep there businesses moving forward.  Here at eco-kids this is the case.  The company that was helping manufacture our bio degradable marker casings is based in Long Island and they have been dramatically affected by Hurricane Sandy.  Our hope to have the new eco-markers in stores by the holiday season will not be met.  With this news adjustments and tough choices have been made.  The company that produces our eco-markers is assessing the extent of the damage to their factory and we wish them luck.  For us, we are postponing a great new product that represents hundreds of man hours.  For them, they may lose a business that represents millions of dollars in property, production, employment, and livelihood.

So as our connection to Hurricane Sandy leads us to postpone the release of our eco-markers, we are now focusing on getting our stores the new eco-build a block set.  Another product we are proud of here at eco-kids!  A 100% recycled cardboard build a block set that inspires imagination and creativity.  

Life has to move forward and you have to land from the bumps in the road and be open to the path that is in front of you.

 

 

Nothing in the world can take the place of Persistence

This morning eco-kids received an email from our Japanese Distributor.  He was letting us know that eco-kids products are now available in 60 retail shops in Japan.  Along with the email, they sent pictures of our products in their Japanese packaging.  I'm really blown away by this...how did this happen?  How amazing!  What an accomplishment for my family, my business, and our staff.  So many times our bank account has drifted to the point of me loosing my sanity from worry.  But each time, we reinvested more money and believed that we were on the right track.  It is moments like this that makes the stress worth every penny.  

I think about how I grew up and how my father always talked to me about persistence.  Once when I was 13, and struggling in school, he gave me a plaque with a quote on it. I have never forgotten this quote and it has led me through life.  It has also given me the strength to fail over and over again so that I could finally succeed.  I will always be grateful to my father for giving me this knowledge.  Trust me, he had to be persistent and persevere to get it in my thick skull.

So...as eco-kids still perseveres to maintain relevancy in the marketplace, moments like this are affirmations of our goals and our visions.  It is important for all of us, no matter what walk of life, to have these moments of success after persevering through the challenges.  So I am humbled and thankful that my father talked to me about persistence, and that I now have this story and photos to share with my children and pass on this knowledge.


Nothing in the world can take the place of Persistence. Talent will not; nothing is more common than unsuccessful men with talent. Genius will not; unrewarded genius is almost a proverb. Education will not; the world is full of educated derelicts. Persistence and determination alone are omnipotent. The slogan “Press On” has solved and always will solve the problems of the human race.
- Calvin Coolidge

 eco-kids in Japan!

 

Fall

There are two Japanese lilac trees in our front yard.  This morning I became aware just how bare they have become.  During spring, I always look forward to the arrival of green buds on these trees.  They have an amazing scent that lasts for months and since moving to Maine they have signified warmth and growth to me.

  It was a summer full of travel with the kids, planting our garden and mowing the lawn.  Today is a new day.  The leaves are falling and for the first time there is frost on the cars.  It is cold.  It is Fall.  Halloween, Thanksgiving and the holidays are around the corner.  For most, this is a time of year to slow down.  Shorter days filled with fires, winter stews, and of course lots of dark ales. For eco-kids it is time to gear up. Like most businesses the fourth quarter is when it all needs to come together.  This is the time of year when we order the most from our vendors to supply the needs of our retailers.  We are preparing for two trade shows in January and February.  It's hard to believe that we are already fulfilling orders for our eco-eggs coloring kit.  The response to this product over the years has been amazing.  This year we will be sold at Williams-Sonoma, Pottery Barn Kids, West Elm, JCrew, and Whole Foods.  And most importantly, hundreds of Mom and Pops that were and still are the backbone of our rising success.  It's almost too mind blowing to imagine that this all started at a farmers market in Los Angeles.  It is time to buckle in for the ride of endless phone calls, business meetings, Jet Blue Mileage points, and lots and lots of coffee!

On a side note, I would like to add that the other night in Portland, Maine we had a 4.0 earthquake!  Yes an EARTHQUAKE!  I thought there was a runaway train or an off course jet.  I never would have thought when we left Los Angeles that Maine would be where I felt my largest earthquake.  Maybe it was a sign.  
Anything can happen, right? 

So I guess for us, we are meant to travel an open minded path and let the bumps in the road change our present coarse.

We have a winner!

Thanx to everyone who subscribed to our eco-kids blog.

The lucky eco-marker winner is Wayne!

Wayne...please email us with your shipping information.

nancy@ecokidsusa.com

Congratulations!

 

Two Worlds Collide

So...I live a double life. I must admit it now.  Some of you know my secret.  Both lives recently collided as scheduling and logistics came into play.   I have acted in several films and one is a popular horror film called The Strangers.  I have to say that whether or not you are a fan of horror films, there is nothing like a horror convention.  The fans of these films are passionate and always so happy to meet you.  They are some of the best fans on the planet.   

You never hear of Romantic Comedy Conventions, right?

So getting logistics, flights and contracts squared away, along with traveling to NYC for eco-kids means the two paths will finally cross.  I always find it interesting when fans in the film world come up to me almost too scared to speak.   I want to tell them “don't worry…its okay, I make art supplies and toys in real life!”   Or, when I’m at a trade show for eco-kids and people ask if I have a background in chemistry,  I usually get a good laugh.

I've always kept these two worlds separate but I have learned that people want to know about eco-kids, our family, and my life.  So when you meet me and I am showing you our new markers, playing with your kids at our art table, painting with our vegetable paints, or showing you the new woodland world coloring book, remember...

I’m an ax-wielding maniac in the film world!

Kip Weeks

 Come see me at The Dead Winter Horror Convention!

eco-markers

Phone calls, e-mails, deliveries, new employees, new products! 

Fourth quarter has started and retailers are gearing up for the holidays.  This is a great time of year for business like mine.  Another busy summer getting new products to market has come and gone.  If I look back, my favorite time in our business is when there is not enough time in the day to get it all done.  We've been answering questions from every avenue that they could come from. 
 

I am so happy to be delivering five new products to market in the next few weeks that have been in development for over a year. One in particular, our new eco-markers, has been a constant thought for over five years. 
 

We are honored to bring our world and our children the "FIRST" alcohol free fruit, plant and vegetable based markers.  Each box of markers will have 6 colors; blue, brown, purple, green, orange and yellow.  On top of that the casings used to make our marker barrels are made from biodegradable plastic.  I am proud that we are part of the evolution of sustainable products that fit into what needs to be a sustainable lifestyle.  

We are all learning how to be better people to the earth.

 It is our responsibility to make it better. 
 

I love industry and business but today I feel like saying, 

"Go Hug a Tree!!!"

eco-markers at eco-kids

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