Catch 22

Often I have found myself in a Catch-22 or chicken and the egg situation when it comes to sales, marketing and PR for nomie baby. It seems that stores, especially now, are hesitant to take inventory on anything that isn't going to fly off the shelves and sell itself. There are fewer sales people in stores explaining and selling new products; therefore, the products need to be well known and recognizable to the consumer. This recognition factor involves a tremendous amount of PR and marketing.

When trying to market a product or get press placement, I have found that it is helpful if the product is familiar to the editors, and doesn't need a lot of explaining so they know where to place it in stories they are currently planning, or they think of the product when deciding upcoming articles or features. Perhaps you see where I am going with this. Chicken or the egg comes to mind. Getting traction and familiarity takes a tremendous amount of time and persistence. Every once in awhile someone will take a chance on me or nomie baby, and that will open doors ever so slightly, which makes the next go around just that much easier.

There are a couple of accounts and press I have been trying to get for the nomie baby, which I have always thought were perfect matches, and others have mentioned them as well. Now I have been able to go back to them and say, "CBS Early Show" and "Pregnancy & Newborn" magazine both featured the nomie baby car seat cover as a "MUST" baby product, and now those accounts are interested! So it seems you need PR to get accounts, and the press wants to know where their viewer or readers can buy the great new product before running a story on it. And so it goes, slowly building until it reaches the "tipping point." It feels as if it's getting getting there. I hope we're tipsy!

CBS's "Neat Baby Product"

A couple of weeks ago Sabina at Collective-E called and suggested that I submit the nomie baby car seat cover to CBS's Morning Show for a segment they were doing on great new baby products. I was thrilled to hear that the producer has little kids, "got it" right away, and wanted to use it! Then I played hurry up and wait to find out that the segment was going to air on May 2nd, my anniversary! What a great present. I set the DVR, but didn't want to tell everyone I know to wake up for the 7:44AM Saturday piece, just in case a big news story like perhaps the Swine Flu outbreak preempted it. Well, much to my delight the segment ran on schedule! There was the nomie baby car seat cover along side a Bugaboo stroller, a changing pad, and a stylish diaper bags. It was such a thrill seeing it there for everyone else to see!

I have been spending a tremendous amount of time and energy on PR, since I know that if people know about the nomie baby car seat covers, they will understand why they are a mommy-must-have, and then people won't pass them by on the shelves. When I am in front of moms during demonstrations and trunk shows, they sell incredibly well, because they are reasonably priced, and solve many messy problems easily, and as the CBS producer said, people "get it!"

I know that it takes a long time to build a brand, but getting recognition just gives more fuel to keep plugging away, and getting encouragement from others has been a tremendous help.

Just in case you didn't happen to be up at 7:44AM this morning, I don't want you to miss the CBS segment, so here's the link! http://www.cbsnews.com/htdocs/pdf/050209

_baby.pdf

People really do do the nicest things

There are so many lessons I have learned through the process of starting nomie baby. I have learned about website design, SEO, manufacturing, packaging, customer service, promotions, blogging, twittering, and the list goes one and on. However, the best lesson has been how incredible people are.

I have found that in all areas of building nomie baby as a company the people I have encountered have genuinely wanted to help me, and see me succeed. There are so many examples from my manufacturers who have taken me under their wing as their "pet" project, to the stores like Citibabes and Albees who took nomie baby car seat covers early on, and gave me a chance. Most recently I was struck by kindness when I was looking for helping in sewing new labels onto the covers for a co-promotion I am doing with Kid Car NY, which is a car service specializing in driving families with young children needing car seats. All of their car seats have nomie baby car seat covers, which is great exposure for nomie baby, and the hassle-free cleanups are fantastic for them. To enhance our co-promotion I created labels with a joint nomie baby/Kid Car NY logo. I asked my storage company, Elite Logistics in NJ if they could help. They are aware that I am just starting out, and counting all my pennies, but I couldn't believe it when Cindy, woman who works at the storage facility, called me from Ohio. She was there starting up a new storage facility, and said that she brought the nomie baby car seat covers with her, all 30 of them, because her grandmother is there, has a sewing machine, and she would be able to help me out! I couldn't believe what an incredibly thoughtful gesture this was. Cindy and I have never met. We have only emailed one another, yet she was willing to go to this trouble for me. What kindness!

I keep learning that people really do do the nicest things! This is definitely something I will pay forward.

Tweeting and Twittering Success!

When it was first suggested that I twitter about nomie baby, my response was, "What does that mean?" I was again feeling like a techno-rookie, but I had gotten over being ashamed about asking questions. I followed the directions, went on twitter.com, started an account, and began tweeting and twittering. I must say I was told what to type in 140 characters or less and started "following" people, which seemed a little creepy at first. Slowly people started "following" me, and I even began to get "DMs." I have to admit, I'm still not entirely sure how it works. It mostly feels like I am sending 140 character messages into the ether, but something does seem to be working, because a new store in Iowa is now carrying nomie baby car seat covers, and a number of product reviewer have posted reviews on their sites and blogs. I guess it really doesn't matter whether I completely get it or not, because others are "getting it!" Tweet Tweet!

The Spring Has Sprung

Happy-mess is as easy as 1,2,3!

It is starting to feel a little like spring, which I suppose means that we are shedding our layers, cleaning up and getting ready to be out more. I can't wait. I'm not thrilled about the cleaning part, but I have realized that there are some tricks that make it easier and more hassle-free.

When I first created the nomie baby car seat cover, I knew that if I had the problem with cleaning up, then other parents probably did too, and I was right. Now I see that there is an easier way of dealing with the ritual of spring cleaning. Here are my suggestions for cleaning out the car: get 2 bags, 1 for garbage and 1 for things you want to keep, but might need to wash or switch out. Now start attacking the inside of your car. I'm sure there are plenty of broken toys, spare mittens, and food wrappers littered around your car, and you can easily sort them into one of the 2 bags. After you have cleared out the winter's worth of stuff, take the nomie baby car seat cover off, shake it out and throw it in the washing machine to get ready for the next season of mess. If you don't have a nomie baby car seat cover yet, this is a great time to get one. There are 6 terrific colors, and if you enter "Spring" as the promo code on the website, http://www.nomiebaby.com, you'll get 10% off your order from now until May 1st. Now you'll be ready for those sticky ice cream fingers!

Here's to happy-mess!!

New Arrivals

I know I can't be everything to everyone, nor can nomie baby, but I'm trying. When I first started selling I went to one store in NYC, and while they loved the feel and ease of the nomie baby car seat covers, they felt that their customers would like colors that "blended" more with their car's interior.  The next day I went to Kidville, and they loved the "sherbet" colors, so my mind was spinning, and I was cautioned not to try to make everyone happy, but that's my nature.  Therefore, once things were up and going, and I started thinking about the next run, I decided to introduce new colors: navy and charcoal, and the response has been great!  They are sleek and chic, and let parents pretend that there isn't an ugly cow-print car seat behind them.

I also realized that while my website was fine, it wasn't great, and I wanted great.  I have been working with Collective-E on branding, getting the word out and pushing to the next level, so when Katie at CE suggested "cutification" I knew that's what I needed.  Once again, not my strength, but certainly Katie's, so we were off!  Now the nomie baby site is cleaner, has great features that allow people to click and buy more  easily, and is more in keeping with the whole idea of nomie baby, which is to solve problems for parents.  Please check out the new improved site at http://www.nomiebaby.com.  You can add a review, send it to a friend, and of course order all the colors now available.

I have also been told that I need more products, so keep your eyes out for the soon-to-be-introduced "carry-beaner."  It is the extra helping hand that everyone needs!

Once again, I am learning that while this might be my "baby," I can't do it alone, and having wonderful people around to give feedback and support is key!

Getting creative with parties!

It's time to get creative.  I am getting so tired of hearing how bad things are, how it's only going to get worse before it gets better, blah, blah, blah...  So instead of throwing up my hands, I've decided to roll up my sleeves.  I am not the only one in this situation, which is comforting, and allows for great brainstorming.  Therefore, when I was talking to those who inspire me at Colletive-E.com and my friend who started Kule clothing, I realized that the nomie baby car seat covers are perfect for house parties.

Right now it's a little tough to invite people over to spend money unless you are saving them money.  This isn't a riddle.  The nomie baby car seat cover can save people money, since it's perfect to use with a hand-me-down car seat to make it new again, and it also can help extend the life of your car seat.  Moms love to share their great finds with friends and families, and especially now if it's a great way to save money.  That's why I have decided to launch the nomie baby house parties.  Host moms can sign up at www.nomiebaby.com, or send me an email at katie@nomiebaby.com, and then they are on their way to spreading the word about a great new mommy-must-have, as well as making money for themselves.  The word of mom is the most powerful tool of all, no matter how scary it gets out there!