Playtime Magic

The gift of giving...

noreply@blogger.com (Jessica - Playtime Magic) — Wed, 08 Dec 2010 10:04:00 +0000

This year so much has happened! High redundancy start to the year, Earthquake in Christchurch, Pike River Mine tragedy and now the Te Aroha meat works facility Silver Fern Farms which burnt down.

Coming up to Christmas there will still be a lot of financial and/or emotional burdens for many so to assist we are looking for 1 deserving family to help this Christmas!.

So in the spirit of giving this Christmas why not nominate a family you know that has it tuff at the moment...

Send us their story to info@playtimemagic.com

Include the names, ages and sexes of any children in that family so the presents can be suited to their ages etc.

We will choose a family on the 16th of December :)

Happy Holidays & a Happy New Year!!

From the team at Playtime Magic x0x0x

Fun holiday activity ideas!!

noreply@blogger.com (Jessica - Playtime Magic) — Mon, 27 Sep 2010 01:15:00 +0000

Here are some fun school holiday activity ideas!!
What my family and I (Jess) did was create a school holiday activity chart!. Sounds complicated but really it's not I wrote down a list of activities much like the list here with stuff we have on hand and cut them into strips... folded them then placed them into a hat. Each of my kids then picked out an activity and put beside a weekday that i wrote on the chart once we worked out which activities and which week days we were to do them on we copied them into the spaces beside the weekday name.
E.G
Week 1
Monday - Book Making
Tuesday - Baking Day

Here are some great activity ideas for these school holidays for school aged children and toddlers alike.

Book Making
Family Books (Make up books about your family and loved ones. They make good gifts)
Chalk Mania (Crazy fun with chalk!! Try different surfaces for extra fun and educational value.)
Baking Day
Poster Painting
Family Painting (Everyone paints one big picture which can be hung or if fabric sewn into a lounge pillow etc)
Letter Writing
Finger Painting
Learning Game Day
Popcorn & Movie Day (My kid's favourite)
Playdough Day (Make and play with playdough add essential oils for a gorgeous smell (Recipe on our website)
Board Game Day (Have some fun with indoor board games great for rainy days)
Planting Day (Plant some fabulous plants as a family)
Outing Day (Plan an outing could be to the Zoo, the local park or anywhere else you could go to as a family.)
T-Shirt Painting Day! (Using fabric paints paint some funky designs on plain white t-shirts!! Make great gifts if decorating adult shirts.)

There are many different things you can do together these are only a few that we have in our little bucket that we have made up as it's going to be a regular holiday ritual.
Today is Monday for us so we are doing Book Making kids have been at it for about 3 hours now and are loving it!! All we used was paper, card, staples (Which i used to make the books as they are under 7 & under), colouring in pencils, felts, glitter, glue and fabric scraps just things from the kids art & craft box so you don't need much and the kids love it plus gives us adults a chance for a nice cuppa in peace :)

KFR - Christchurch Care Packages

noreply@blogger.com (Jessica - Playtime Magic) — Tue, 07 Sep 2010 08:34:00 +0000

New Zealand is a great country and we are known for getting in and helping others be it in a business sense, personal sense or by helping communities so let's help the families and children effected by this tragedy.

We are sure there are more great businesses out there that would love to contribute!!

KFR are putting together care packages for their members that have been directly effected by this tragedy.

We have are making a pile of blackboards to send down anyone else that would be keen to donate to the care packages or by donation for the auction on Friday night.

Please read this touching email and first hand account from KFR........

EMAIL....

Christchurch Earthquake

As many of you will be aware a massive earthquake hit Christchurch in the early hours of Saturday morning.

As a Christchurch girl who only moved away nine months ago and with all of her family and friends still in Christchurch i flew down yesterday to take a look for myself and to make sure our house was still standing (it is a little bruised and battered but still standing)

One of my male friends described it as being as drunk as you could possibly imagine at sea on a boat that was in the worst possible storm you could imagine while in complete darkness with the sound of a jet plane going by.

All whilst trying to run a gauntlet of obstacles to get to your children. People could hardly stand let alone walk to get to their children. Bouncing from side to side off hallway walls.

The thing that struck me the most was the trauma that adults and children are going through. Especially the elderly and older children.

Children to scared to let their parents out of their sight, families all sleeping together.

With over 100 aftershocks (some of them registering at 5.4) you are on edge .

I was present for a few shakes yesterday and much to the amusement of my neighbours in Christchurch i screamed and ran for the door frame. My neighbours are a little more resilient having survived the 7.1.

Putting it into perspective Haiti was 7 on the richter scale.

Many people in Christchurch are coping very well although on edge and tired most now have water and power.

Some areas are in ruins. Devestating to see the city you have known your entire life now in pieces.

Kids Fashion Review wants to help.

We have thought long and hard about the best way to do this and after visiting Christchurch yesterday have decided that we want to support our members here on KFR directly effected by the earthquake. We want to support the kids and

we have decided to send care packages to those members in Christchurch whose children would benefit from them.

Some amazing companies have already stepped up and offered there support.

We have a discussion open in the forums where if you wish to be included you can let us know.

We will be holding a Charity Auction on Friday night with proceeds going towards the Care Packages.

We need your help in the following ways.

If you are a company that can offer products for our care packages for these kids in crisis whether its just a few toys or books or a large amount please let us know if we havent contacted you already.

If you have your own children we would love to include messages from other children to the children receiving the care packages. Nice to know other kids care. Maybe you could encourage your kids to write little messages and post them to us at 63b Nalanda Crescent Broadmeadows Wellington.

Companies that can offer a product or voucher for us to Auction on Friday night please email editor@kidsfashionreview.co.nz

Finally you could support us by bidding on Auctions in Friday Nights live KFR Chat Raising funds for Care packages for Children effected by the Christchurch Earthquake while purchasing fabulous items at the same time.

To our Members in Christchurch we are thinking of all of you

You are so brave and your resilience and sense of community astounds me.

http://www.kidsfashionreview.com/

New launch party date!

noreply@blogger.com (Jessica - Playtime Magic) — Thu, 12 Aug 2010 03:49:00 +0000

Okay so we have changed the date from the 14th of August to the 21st of August after an advertising company stuffed up our ad times it's frustrating for us as as I'm sure it is for you too ...but it's still happening we are not giving up!!! We want to PARTY!!! and giveaway some funky products!!

We emailed a few previous customers who really wanted to attend but couldn't because of the time being at 12:00pm so between us we came up with a new time of 8:00pm to 9:00pm! This way most parents can relax as the kiddies are in bed!! Instead of a rushed lunch time party while kid's are a foot. This works for us too as our kiddies will be in bed by this time too!

To clarify....

Where: http://facebook.com/playtimemagic

When: 21st August 2010

Time: 8:00pm - 9:00pm

Who can attend: Anyone in New Zealand or Australia

All advertising has been altered to suit the new date and time slot :)

We will think up something we can do as a fun giveaway competition on either FB, Twitter or here on our blog if you have an funky idea flick us an email to info@playtimemagic.com otherwise stay tuned we will start a competition soon!.

Hott New Prices!!

noreply@blogger.com (Jessica - Playtime Magic) — Tue, 10 Aug 2010 03:06:00 +0000

This afternoon our new price lists will be distributed out containing our new prices ....... are they going up???
NO! They are going DOWN!! Since relocating we went on a hunt to see if their is a local supplier more cost effective then our previous but still keeping within our Eco standards and we found one!. This has enabled us to drop our prices substantially so we are very excited about this especially since we can now place ourselves even and slightly under our competitors!!

Doing this is also going to put EXPORT within our grasps also so we are very excited and hope you like he new prices.

E.G of the new pricing ... Play 'n' Push vehicles & animals will now retail for $16 instead of $22.50!!!

Check out our retailers over the coming weeks to see the new pricing and grab your little one(s) some great kiwi products at fab prices!

Play Fun Newsletter! Call Out

noreply@blogger.com (Jessica - Playtime Magic) — Thu, 05 Aug 2010 08:16:00 +0000

Play Fun Newsletter Call Out

Hi everyone!! We are holding a call out through August & September for a new newsletter which will have it's first edition printed in October.

Play Fun Newsletter - By kid's for kid's
Cost: FREE

Calling out for ..... KIDS!
We have a feature list of topics but are keen for any other idea's as to what your child may like to see within the newsletter. The feature list is going to run every season with articles, stories, photos, art work etc from kids written by kids for kid's!.
The feature list is below aside from the feature list we would love any stories from children it can be on what ever topic they like this not only helps with assisting in the development of literacy and writing skills but also gives kids a positive sense of achievement by seeing their story, photo, art work in a newsletter which is read by children all over the country.

We have had some awesome submissions already so thanks for those!!

FEATURE LIST
Our Town - Write a article/story on your town feel free to include images or any art work!
My Family - Show us your family or maybe write a story about your family e.g "My new baby sister"
My School - Write an article/story on your school! You can add images, art work, photos anything that helps to show others your school.
About Me - All about you!!
Amazing Adventures - Tell us about your adventures this could be a trip to another country, visiting the local gardens or even hiking through bush you can tell us all about it here!!
Let's Play - Got any snappy pictures taken while playing with friends, maybe a picture you have drawn send it in to us to be used in the Let's Play gallery we will be giving away prizes in each issue for the best photo.
Recipes - Submit your favourite recipes!
Sponsors - Small advertising section for child/baby related businesses

There are some seasonal topics also which will change every year.

If your interested in submitting content ask an adult to email it through to us at info@playtimemagic.com or via the Playtime Magic website till the Play Fun newsletter hub is launched in October. Joining the newsletter is easy you can email us at info@playtimemagic.com alternatively once the Playtime Magic website is launched next weekend you can sign up via the websites Play Fun newsletter section which also allows your child to submit content easily using an uploader.

Launch Party & July Update

noreply@blogger.com (Jessica - Playtime Magic) — Sat, 24 Jul 2010 04:28:00 +0000

Playtime Magic are having a launch party!!

Why? Well after relocating from Christchurch to Auckland what felt we wanted to do something different to celebrate and contemplated having a party on Twitter but thought facebook but be a bit more better suited.
We have a variety of awesome prizes up for grabs to win over the period of the giveaway and will be unveiling our new website!
Join our facebook page for more information or wait for the advertisement in your local mailer in August.

Thank you so much for your patience and support while we were relocating!!

Notice the bar at the bottom of your screen???
This is a new feature we just put up and will also be on our website along with a funky shout box!.
You can use this bar to do all sorts of things.. follow us on twitter, join us on facebook, comment inside our facebook page!, check our live notices, see our photo gallery and you can even use it to share content from our blog to many of the major social bookmarking websites!!

New Website!!
Our new website is launching in August and will have a new location as well!
Our new addess is http://www.playtimemagic.com/ we opted for a .com instead of our previous as its global! which suits our dreams and ambitions as well as our customers around the world.
We decided to remove the retail website completely and put in place a website better suited to our customers and our retailers. We will be keeping the wholesale site which will re-launch for retailers in August also with a new home of http://wholesale.playtimemagic.com/ so till then you can email us for current price lists, media information and the like.
The new website will feature a lot of activities and play ideas for children. Printables for parents and kids alike as well as images and information on our latest products and industry news. So yes it's a pretty big site and has been taking awhile but every day we are nearer completion which is fantastic!!.

Thanks all for now folks! Why not jump on over to our facebook page and feel free to contact myself Jessica or Cindy we are both on there too :)

Expansions

noreply@blogger.com (Jessica - Playtime Magic) — Tue, 22 Jun 2010 20:14:00 +0000

Playtime Magic will soon have a sister! Heart Felt which will comprise of Felt food, Role play costumes, role play equipment, soft learning toys, decor products, cute doll range, pillows, stuffed toys that are all unique Heart Felt designs. To be in the know of when this awsome little beauty launches email us at playtimemagic@hotmail.com with Heart Felt in the subject and I'll ad you to my subcriber list for the launch!!

Heart felt features products I myself (Jess) has designed and will be my own little baby instead of a partnership like Playtime Magic is. I'm soo excited and love all the neat products i've created so far and the fab interest and support I have recieved so far!!. Catered to the baby, child markets so i'm constantly coming up with fresh new ideas and I'm loving the thought of having a new brand.
Heart Felt the name?? Sounds a bit odd but it will be called Heart Felt as I always put a lot of thought, love and emotion into my designs, everything is handmade, and I have sourced special materials so that they are eco friendly! so my heart plays a big part and I hope you take the products into yours and love them as much as I do.

Thanks, Jess
(P.S Playtime Magic will still be running along as normal :) )

Play 'n' Push Animals --- Ginger!

noreply@blogger.com (Jessica - Playtime Magic) — Sun, 02 May 2010 02:43:00 +0000

The Play 'n' Push Animals range is starting with "Ginger" our gorgeous ginger kitty, "Dino" our dinosaur friend, "Rabby" our oh so playful rabbit and last but not least "Squeak" our cheeky little pup!.

INTRODUCING.....

GINGER!!!

Ginger is a little kitty that loves to play and roll around in the grass! Totally enjoys long walks and loves kids!.

Being bright vivid orange with gorgeous deep orange tiger stripes and the cutest pink ears whats not to love!

New Products

noreply@blogger.com (Jessica - Playtime Magic) — Mon, 26 Apr 2010 22:33:00 +0000

New products released this month include our play 'n' push animals, cars & trucks game and butterflys & flowers game.

General Update...
We are debating on putting the retail website back online due to the issues it causes for some of our retailers so we are looking at maybe just keeping this blog or alteratively keeping the website up but with only a catalogue not the retail site. We will more then likely leave the wholesale site up even though most orders are currently emailed, faxed and phoned in. Any thoughts on this would be greatfully appreciated.

We have had a great response to our agent positions and wish to thank again all those that submitted their CV's and experience details it's been much appreciated.

Off to paint stock of the new products! Totally loving the animals they are adorable!!. Have had two retail orders already for these little beauties and they are selling well wohoo!!! Just what we love to hear!!

New Blog layout to match the site!

noreply@blogger.com (Jessica - Playtime Magic) — Wed, 24 Feb 2010 07:13:00 +0000

New blog layout to match the website, new tags, new business packs, and new marketing tools.
Cant wait for the relaunch its going to be massive we have been working our butts off for the last few weeks making sure everything is organised and adding little extra touches as we go along so that the relaunch runs smooth.
6 New posters have been designed today as well and they fit with the 2010 marketing strategy for retail stores and markets for the new ranges. New posters will be available for the new lines as they come out also.

Posters come in A4 & A5 sizes and also A6 shelf sizes and are laminated for protection.

We are currently on the hunt for a sales rep/agent and have placed ads around online as we don't have the time to seek out new retailers & stockists. If your interested or know someone who might be please email us.

New 2010 retail price packs and media packs available please email us if you would like one sent out the 09 retail kits are all gone but we are making some new 2010 ones to match the marketing strategy we have in place if you would like to be put on the list for one when completed please let us know.

The launch includes a range of new toys before the launch happens a release will go out to retailers to let them have a sneak peek at the new toys and pre purchase / listed on sites for when they are launched if wished.

Sooo much to do so little time but I'm getting there and everything is getting finalised and completed in time. The relaunch aim is for end of March or beginning of April but will let it out on here first when we release a confirmed date as we are waiting on boxes and now the new tags which shouldn't take that long to arrive.

Have to love ya 'n' leave ya but will check back soon with more updates, Jess

NEW NEW NEW

noreply@blogger.com (Jessica - Playtime Magic) — Wed, 24 Feb 2010 03:24:00 +0000

Well as the relaunch draws ever so closer we have some exciting news! we have new product tags!!. Sounds a little mundane I know! But we are really excited our previous tags we have been using and making ourselves for awhile now but with the website getting makeover with the new branding and all last year I decided it only seemed right to give the tags a fresh look too.

OLD TAG!

The old tag looks quite plain and boring but was good for when we needed it.

Kept the black and the logo just threw in some colour and images to spruce it up a little and so glad we did! Now we just have the tiresome wait for the new tags to arrive in 2-3 weeks cmon posties!!

Okay I tried to copy the image into here but its not quite working its actually a little bit wider then that about the size of a average business card but you get the idea. This is the NEW product tag design! we are so rapt with it and think it turned out pretty good.

NEW TAG!!
Hope you like it as much as we do :D
x0x0x0, Jess

The great move

noreply@blogger.com (Jessica - Playtime Magic) — Wed, 03 Feb 2010 04:13:00 +0000

Move went well! Its brilliant being back in Auckland I must say I think we actually missed it!.
It's been a rollercoaster since we have been back if anything could go wrong it did... stock got damaged in the container, some tools decided to pack up but now that the stock is being replenished, the tools fixed, and the workshops set up we are good to go! New products and lines are being made over the next two weeks including building the stock up of these products so that when I re-put the site back up it's full of new innovative toys as well as the normal Playtime Magic toys we all love.
More news... We have decided to keep the retail site mainly because we have alot of toys now and by the end of this year there will be double what we already have (And thats just a few pages from my design book!) So unless we can find a online retailer interested in stocking most of our ranges we will probably just keep the retail store for now in the future we might see about changing the website entirely but currently its fine how it is.
I'll post a date for the relaunch soon! Might see about a twitter or facebook party too!

Soo much to do better run,
Jess

Revamp

noreply@blogger.com (Jessica - Playtime Magic) — Tue, 20 Oct 2009 01:36:00 +0000

Just letting everyone know, once my dad was a bit better he went back to work only to be made redundant (sucks we know!) after looking around he got a job in Auckland and as a result we have all decided to follow him which suits us fine as we "know" Auckland and miss it.

We are planning a revamp to launch after the move and are looking at warehouses with shops attached so that we may house a physical store with not only playtime magic products but also products of businesses that we know and love for babies and children! Fun! fun! fun!.

Because we it is a very big shift from Christchurch to Auckland I have left the website down so that we can move as fast and as efficiently as possible! The sooner the better I reckon!.
Will post more details as they are available currently I am sitting in a room full of boxes wondering how a little amount of ornaments can take up sooo many boxes! :S Oh well the joys of moving I guess.

I better go now and finish the last few boxes,
Jess

Family

noreply@blogger.com (Jessica - Playtime Magic) — Fri, 17 Jul 2009 06:45:00 +0000

Hi all,
A note went out saying "Due to the health of a family member the site has been temporarily taken offline as some of you may be aware. We apologize for this inconvenience" To provide some more information no its not me (Jess) but my dad has become quite I'll after recently suffering a heart attack/stroke a few weeks ago and as my mum who is my business partner runs the cutting/sanding section in her workshop we have decided to take a break so that my dad can get the rest he needs in a quiet atmosphere. Being a typical male is being quite stubborn so now he is being forced into relaxing.
Sorry again for any inconvenience, we are gutted to have to put it on hold.
The first phone call to tell me that my dad was going to hospital freaked me out beyond belief he's the fit healthy one and the last person in my family I would think would have a heart attack so we are all hoping that he gets better soon and rests up for the next two weeks or so. I'll write an update on his condition when we know more, sorry and thanks again...
Jess

Blog layout!

noreply@blogger.com (Jessica - Playtime Magic) — Thu, 28 May 2009 01:44:00 +0000

The Playtime Magic blog with be getting a whole new look in coming weeks when we integrate it design wise with the website and new branding that was implemented earlier this year throughout our other marketing avenues. New competition will be launched tomorrow to gather information not only for our own general business research but to also help and aid other businesses with the information we collect so please forward the competition details on to anyone who might be interest in filling out a few questions every person who answers the questions will receive a 20% off voucher on the final date the survey results are collected and also go into win a set of ABC & 123 Blocks and Disk Counters from our ABC & 123 range.

Location Location Location

noreply@blogger.com (Jessica - Playtime Magic) — Thu, 21 May 2009 21:55:00 +0000

Our main workshop has now been relocated! To a much bigger premises in a better more secure area our office and second workshop gets relocated at the end of June. The new location is much better and allows for us to designate areas instead of having to group certain areas together so now we have lots of space to work and create!.

Winters finally here!

noreply@blogger.com (Jessica - Playtime Magic) — Fri, 08 May 2009 06:29:00 +0000

Although it's been colder and colder by the day winter is now well and truly here! Rain all night long and most of today so I felt a bit cruel when sanding and painting began on our new products as warmth is something our workshop very much lacks. Think we should of taken up a sewing business idea instead hahahaha. Being our first winter as a business we have more indoor oriented products coming in the next week or so which will help entertain as well as educate children. Winter is putting a dampening on things as we prepare to relocate our workshop to a larger more suitable premises so we may end up having to try and move all our equipment in the rain while covered with tarps which is going to be hmmmm very very interesting! That's my update for now while i finish doing paper work for last weeks orders hope everyone has a safe weekend! I think this weekend I'm going to bundle myself inside with hot cocoa mmmmm.

Website back online!

noreply@blogger.com (Jessica - Playtime Magic) — Fri, 01 May 2009 06:13:00 +0000

Just a short brief before the newsletter goes out tomorrow!
The website is back online! Yay! Took what seemed like forever to do the updates but the new product rotation block on the main page looks fab! we are so pleased it's funny how the smallest things like that can make you soo happy!!!. The new Play 'n' Push Train has been added along with the Play 'n' Push vehicle set which excludes the Train due to the fact including it would of made the price too high and we want to keep our products as affordable as possible for everyone including our retailers!.
If you browse along to the Stockists section there is a few of our online stockists while we finish working out who wants to be listed from our physical retailers, online stockists who are targeting certain countries are launching themselves online soon some of which include Australia, USA and Ireland. We want to encourage online retailers to send us a logo and news, event information to help us with advertising their companies.
T-shirts coming soon!! We have finalised the designs that we want because instead of being cliche and having our own logo plastered on them we are instead having two graphics that look cute but also inspire learning. We will be distributing these out to our retailers as soon as possible.
Well this blog post has been sitting while i've been getting caught up in Twitter if you want to add us on twitter we are www.twitter.com/playtimemagic
Enjoy your weekend everyone!
Jess

New products, changes and more

noreply@blogger.com (Jessica - Playtime Magic) — Thu, 30 Apr 2009 06:54:00 +0000

Currently we are updating the Playtime Time magic website with new products, changes to make navigation easier which includes access to wholesale from the main website, added information as we plan on being the first toy manufacturer in the pasific to include safety data and testing information as part of our website concept! New sections and pages including information on how we are environment friendly all these are being done now! We hope to have the site back up and running by tomorrow evening.
If you need to contact us before then feel free to flick us an email at info@playtimemagic.co.nz or myself at jessica@playtimemagic.co.nz
Thanks,
Jess

Playtime Magic store offline

noreply@blogger.com (Jessica - Playtime Magic) — Thu, 30 Apr 2009 01:56:00 +0000

The Playtime Magic store is temporarily offline for two days while new changes are made notification will be made when the store is online again sorry for any inconveniance.

noreply@blogger.com (Jessica - Playtime Magic) — Fri, 20 Mar 2009 06:16:00 +0000

Videos!! Will look at making some for our other ranges next week!!

Playtime Magic - Reward Systems

Playtime Magic - Puzzle Fun Range

New product updates and new info!

noreply@blogger.com (Jessica - Playtime Magic) — Tue, 17 Mar 2009 01:52:00 +0000

Both my two younger girls have all got the flu so I have been trying to do some work around them. Lets hope they get better soon so I can spend more time finalizing the new promotional material some of which hasn't arrived yet so we are all not too happy about that!. But on the bright side of all this drama we have new products and new images for all our current products which I have started to add today to both our retail and wholesale websites in between sanding, painting and looking after the kiddies so they should all hopefully be up by Wednesday!.
I should run off now but don't forget to check us out on Twitter!!. We are still getting the hang of it but its a lot of fun.

Update

noreply@blogger.com (Jessica - Playtime Magic) — Mon, 02 Mar 2009 04:12:00 +0000

Due to time commitments we are thinking of closing down the retail site or making it more a catalogue then a e-commerce site as it takes quite a bit of time to make up stock, new products as well as sorting promotional materials for both sides of the Playtime Magic business then there is both the retail and wholesale sites to keep current as well as this blog, twitter, the networks we are apart of and other general business duties related to each. Either way we will be looking at the retail side of the business in a few weeks so I'll update everyone then once we have decided on a plan.
I haven't been around much and have been going through withdrawals :). I really enjoy getting to meet people on here and staying current with whats happening in various industries it's quite important to me. On the plus side there are new promotional materials that are nearly finished for release and also new products we are timing with the new materials. Once the rest of the promotional gear has arrived they will be split and sent to our retailers to be used in competitions and other ways that promote their own stores and also the Playtime Magic brand.
These include T-shirts for toddlers, caps, bumper stickers, new swing tags, magnets, posters and advertising boards. Unlike some manufacturers we supply these free to retailers as it helps them as well as our business so everyone is happy.
You may have noticed the new links that have been added! Take the time to browse through you will find some amazing NZ made products, things we think are totally fab and of course great prices!

Lessons learnt in 2008

noreply@blogger.com (Jessica - Playtime Magic) — Thu, 15 Jan 2009 06:05:00 +0000

Seeing at though last year was effectively when we started trading I decided to write a post of what we all learnt! Boy did we learn a lot!! and we met some great people along the way!

Lesson one: Don't try and do too much too soon.

No laughing but i seriously had a table FULL of papers from trying to do too much at one time and this isn't including all the little paint tubs i had on there too!! From website developing drafts, accounts, systems, marketing information the works! Lesson learnt! Much more organised now!

Lesson two: Plan plan plan!!

End of last year was total and utter chaos! We just went through the design book and thought oh we will make that one! instead of planning it all out for the proper times for certain products!

Instead this year we have planned it all well to be completely honest we have planned a few years ahead! So we know what products we are releasing and when as we just have so many to make seriously my design book is now overflowing with bits of paper poking out all over the show! hahahaha Yes it's definitely a little worse for wear but now we have defined a plan of attack on the toy world!

Lesson three: Take time out

From the time I did my business plan I was constantly doing something business related and although I do love it and its a strong passion of mine the one thing i always forgot to do was to take time out for myself so I am hoping to eventually take time mid year once the new range is released so I can have a breather although looking at the events around that time I might be dreaming :D. It's definitely one bit of important advice to share though.

Not really a lesson as such but something I have found to be equally important is networking with others who have businesses. You learn a wealth of knowledge from things they have learnt over their time in business not to mention making some great friends in the process! Also never be afraid to ask questions sometimes even what may seem to be the dumbest question on earth actually turns out to not be so dumb after all.

Great business networking sites:

http://www.mumsontop.co.nz/

http://skouttradefair.ning.com/