"If Taylor Swift was an etsy product"

I don't check google analytics as often as I should, but sometimes there are some super fun surprises in there...Like this article in Slate about Taylor Swift. I'm reading it wondering how all those people went to my site from a piece about her Fairytale song, and then I got to the end...Thanks Slate! Love it!

Countdown

This time next week, I will be checked into the New York International Gift Show. I will have painted my space, wielded my power tools to mount the display shelves, and drank way too much coffee. I will be wondering why I felt compelled to sample every style in every color in every size (not kidding there), and how I will manage being in booth, rip roaring ready to sell at 8:30am every day for the next 5 days.

But this is the part where I am so grateful for all those years working runway shows in fashion industry. This is actually my favorite part of a show season - it's the last week. If it isn't on track by now, it isn't getting done. You can see the light at the end of the tunnel. Weeks and months of planning are all coming together in a seriously magical way (like, really, there will be a collection? ready? on time? really??) (oh - and it looks good too??)

fritillaries

The spring 2010 collection is a mix of best sellers from the last year and new styles. Some favorites that are coming back include Go to the Gym, Tree of Life, and Seahorses. Let's Make Out has been a roaring success at retail for the last 5 months, but will be new to the wholesale market. Two of my favorites that are debuting this week are Call Your Mother and Fritillaries.


Lots of major company overhauling is timing together with the opening at NYIGF. I have been working with Jaime from Bluestitch Books to re-do my logo and branding. My website, www.alexandraferguson, is completely down right now, so don't visit it. But that too will be coming back stronger than ever (or at least without broken links). The etsy shop (which you can visit) will be getting a makeover.


Maybe I'll even blog more...

My company turned 1 year old this past Saturday, January 16th. Happy birthday, company!

Sunny day in Brooklyn (and Manhattan, and Queens)

Today I went to my second {newnew} etsy street team meeting, which was at the etsy labs in Brooklyn. Just like the last time, I managed to run 45 minutes late. Not only did I start late (good excuse--Josie my cat had to have her drain tube taken out of her face--long story, not pretty), but there was terrible traffic and then I took a wrong turn somewhere in deep burrough territory and did 100 blocks the local way down atlantic ave.

After the meeting, which was very informative, several of us walked over to the Brooklyn Flea which was just hopping with people enjoying the sunshine. Stopped at the {newnew} tents, bought some delicious chapstick from Nordea's Soaperie (www.nordeasoaperie.etsy.com), got to say hi to Kristen from Cakehouse who wrote a lovely interview on me for the newnew blog (www.cakehouse.etsy.com), and somehow wrap my head around even more things I had to get ready before May 9 when I would be selling there myself.

After this lovely afternoon, I then managed to drive into Manhattan (planned) and did a full tour of Queens (unplanned). At least I had the top down on the car and managed to get some much needed sun on my shoulders.

Finally put up a bunch of listings tonight on etsy. Visit www.alexandraferguson.etsy.com. Most of them (99%) are monogram pillows, plus I did a fun silver/orange colorway of the watering can pillow.

Something cool that I learned in this last monogram moment? 1. W is an awesome letter. 2. oatmeal and black are rocking next to each other.



Another cool moment that doesn't have a photo yet is a new "be nice or leave" colorway courtesy of a wholesale special request. I'll post the photo later, but for now let me just tell you that 1. I was pleasantly surprised and 2. I loved it more and more as I was sewing it (which is a good sign). Going to work on even more "be nice" colorways that I will debut next week.

Finally, just checked google analytics and learned that we had a pretty cool moment on the etsy shop this week. On Thursday April 16th, we had over 1000 visitors to the shop! It just so happened that I was on the front page of Etsy 3 times that day, which probably helped.