I really thought that I would be much better with this blogging thing, but as it turns out, its time consuming, and time is short when you are starting a new business. We just got our calendar in sinc to do street fairs, festivals, pet expos, and wholesale pet trade shows. Its really exciting finding something that you are passionate about and going the distance to make your dreams come true. Even the grunt work (ie: the many hours of research, the cooking of recipes, and the filling of bottles, and many more things that would take too long to list) I've become passionate about. It's amazing the difference in one's attitude when they do something they are passionate about.
I was raised in the sportfishing community which is something I do enjoy. I still work for my parents and I thoroughly enjoy the fishing season and the customers who come with it. One of the highlights of the year for me is working the Fred Hall Fishing, Sport, and Boat Show in Long Beach California. But, I've come to find out that there is a big difference between enjoying something and being passionate about something. All I think about is what ingredients I can put in my next product that is all natural and good for pets. I want to make a difference! My true passion has always been animals. Now don't get me wrong, even though my family might argue with me on this, my human children and my husband definitely come first, and that is how God meant it to be. But, I was one of those people that he gave the gift of wanting to care for His 4 legged creations.
Gracie's Miracle Breath and Tooth Decay Spray is a relatively new product out on the market. So, although there has been plenty of testing beforehand, the public is just now getting started in on using it. I got my first testimonial from a lady who was at the Pet Expo in Orange County, and after one week she's had tremendous results. I can't tell you the feeling you get when someone else, who doesn't have personal ties with you, believes in something that you believe in. That, honestly, made my week.
We did the Orange County Pet Expo a couple of weeks ago and it turned out to be a successful one for us, as far as getting our name out there. Tomorrow we are going to give Scripps Ranch Farmer's Market a try. The only drawbacks that I can see is that I have to wake up at 6 am and there is a lot of set up for only four hours of having a booth up. This is a learning experience for both me and my friend, Christi, with Pure Country Pet Boutique. We've kind of teamed up when doing shows because we work well together and our products go well together. This is new for her, in the fact, that she's not done too many retail shows or events. The main reason is because she does mostly wholesale. She is starting up the retail side of her business for her daughter, Taylor, to take over, because Taylor is just a natural for that aspect of her business. I'm really looking forward to this Farmer's Market because it will be a training experience for us. But the real fun is going to the be the wholesale shows. I can't wait!!!!!!!
Well, I'm going to sign off for now, because there is entirely too much fun going on around me and blogging is almost impossible to do under those circumstances. Ok, so I will really, really, really try to post another blog in the next couple of days for those who are actually looking for the next one.
Friday, April 30, 2010
Saturday, April 10, 2010
In The Beginning
I was told by my close friend that when starting a new business, I must also start a blog. And seeing as I would trust her with my life, I figure, why not trust her on this. As a matter of fact, this new business has happened because of her. I am truly thankful for her love and support, and all the time and effort that she gave up to help me succeed. So Christi, this goes out to you.
I never had the thought to start my own business. I was always just content to work for others and let my husband, Rob, be the business owner. He was the go getter and the entrepreneur and on top of those titles he is also a painting contractor. He has always been a great provider, so I never had the itch to start something on my own (and when I say on my own, I mean taking the initiative to make a dream move forward, because starting a business, usually requires the support of others). In the past couple of years the economy has been in a decline and my husband's businesses have suffered, but he still made it happen with all of his hard work. A few months back he was in an a car accident that physically took its toll on him and made it almost impossible for him to continue with his painting business. And its because of this accident that I knew I had to figure out a way to help alleviate all of the burdens that were weighing him down. Not to mention, my friend Christi was heading to Baltimore to do a pet show for her business and I was jealous, because I wanted to go. I love trade shows! Especially ones that involve pets. And that's what started the fire that would turn into "Gracie's Miracle".
I wouldn't say that I am unmotivated, but to be honest all I have been able to think of for the past 18 years was how to keep up with our 7 kids. Our oldest is 27 and our youngest is 5, so you can imagine that life has been hectic. Lately, though, things have slowed down in that department. Most of them are grown or are in their teens and all that is left is our little 5 year old Ben. I can finally breathe a little. After all of those years, though, of being a sold out devoted mom, I feel that I forgot how to be creative and inventive, and that's where Christi stepped in. I was introduced to Christi by a very close and dear friend to me, Coppi, who has been telling me for years that I reminded her of her friend Christi. I always just laughed and shrugged it off, because she lived in Oregon and I lived in California, and the probability of me ever meeting Christi was nil as far as I was concerned. Well, it just so happens that Christi moved to California a couple of years ago, and after a year and a half of Coppi throwing out little hints to me of meeting Christi, we find out that Christi only lives a few miles down the road from me and that our kids go to the same high school. Talk about coincidences (I like to call it part of God's plan)! Well, Coppi, basically sets us up on a blind date, and what happens next is the beginning of a new chapter in my life. She has inspired me and taught me that there still is some creativity buried down inside of me, and that all I needed to do was go after something I was passionate about. For me, outside of God and my family, I am passionate about my pets. And that was the common thread that bound me and Christi together, not to mention our love for wine. Haha.
So, here I am now on a journey that I would never have even considered 6 months ago, but because someone else believed in me and made me believe in myself, I am starting a business that I am passionate about. And this is the beginning of Gracie's Miracle. Stay tuned, because in the coming days, weeks, months, and years I am going to bring you, the reader, on this journey with me of starting a new business, balancing family life, friendships and new adventures.
I never had the thought to start my own business. I was always just content to work for others and let my husband, Rob, be the business owner. He was the go getter and the entrepreneur and on top of those titles he is also a painting contractor. He has always been a great provider, so I never had the itch to start something on my own (and when I say on my own, I mean taking the initiative to make a dream move forward, because starting a business, usually requires the support of others). In the past couple of years the economy has been in a decline and my husband's businesses have suffered, but he still made it happen with all of his hard work. A few months back he was in an a car accident that physically took its toll on him and made it almost impossible for him to continue with his painting business. And its because of this accident that I knew I had to figure out a way to help alleviate all of the burdens that were weighing him down. Not to mention, my friend Christi was heading to Baltimore to do a pet show for her business and I was jealous, because I wanted to go. I love trade shows! Especially ones that involve pets. And that's what started the fire that would turn into "Gracie's Miracle".
I wouldn't say that I am unmotivated, but to be honest all I have been able to think of for the past 18 years was how to keep up with our 7 kids. Our oldest is 27 and our youngest is 5, so you can imagine that life has been hectic. Lately, though, things have slowed down in that department. Most of them are grown or are in their teens and all that is left is our little 5 year old Ben. I can finally breathe a little. After all of those years, though, of being a sold out devoted mom, I feel that I forgot how to be creative and inventive, and that's where Christi stepped in. I was introduced to Christi by a very close and dear friend to me, Coppi, who has been telling me for years that I reminded her of her friend Christi. I always just laughed and shrugged it off, because she lived in Oregon and I lived in California, and the probability of me ever meeting Christi was nil as far as I was concerned. Well, it just so happens that Christi moved to California a couple of years ago, and after a year and a half of Coppi throwing out little hints to me of meeting Christi, we find out that Christi only lives a few miles down the road from me and that our kids go to the same high school. Talk about coincidences (I like to call it part of God's plan)! Well, Coppi, basically sets us up on a blind date, and what happens next is the beginning of a new chapter in my life. She has inspired me and taught me that there still is some creativity buried down inside of me, and that all I needed to do was go after something I was passionate about. For me, outside of God and my family, I am passionate about my pets. And that was the common thread that bound me and Christi together, not to mention our love for wine. Haha.
So, here I am now on a journey that I would never have even considered 6 months ago, but because someone else believed in me and made me believe in myself, I am starting a business that I am passionate about. And this is the beginning of Gracie's Miracle. Stay tuned, because in the coming days, weeks, months, and years I am going to bring you, the reader, on this journey with me of starting a new business, balancing family life, friendships and new adventures.
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