Palm Springs • Miami Beach • Sussex • Las Vegas • San Pedro

Marie OMara BlogTalk Show Interview :)

Posted on March 23rd, 2010 // No Comments

So, i did an interview today for the Romantic Travel Association of Belize on the Marie OMara talk show.

click the link below to listen.  My part comes on about 15 minutes in, following Marie’s introduction, and a really interesting bridal make up update from www.cheecktochic.com :)   Its quite interesting, and i am actually followed by Holly from Cotton Tree Lodge near Punta Gorda, Belize.  Very excited to work with them :)

http://www.blogtalkradio.com/marieomara/2010/03/23/honeymoon-trends

In other news, I’m also working on guest blogging for www.honeymoons.com blog.

the new line will be posted shortly :-)

It’s been very interesting to me to watch how the two, very distinct, businesses support each other.   Romantic Travel Association of Belize came about purely out of need to market Lemon Crush Belize, and i simply knew that more can do more.  I see LCB as a client of RTAB, and there are two distinct ‘voices’ in my head.   I hadnt realized how much so until i did the interview today.   I kept going through the  members in my head to make sure everyone got some mention.   It was so much fun.  I just love having a brain again :)

was able to give a shout out to each of my stores, Amethyst Coutour, Strings Las Vegas, the Palm Springs Riviera Hotel, Lockharts Wedding and Special Occassion, and Moondancer.

well, much to do, so off i go! :D



Las Vegas – ya, we got that

Posted on March 17th, 2010 // No Comments

Well, i am finally able to sit and blog. first and foremost, we sold in vegas. There are now 5 stores that carry my suits.

Vegas was a tough town to sell in. Not because people werent nice, they were. not because its a pain in the ass to drive around in, it is. but because its a very very strange town. There are no boutiques. there is no quaint area where the locals would shop and buy nice things for themselves. I once asked someone “where do the rich people live”. They buy on the “strip” too. All chain stores, nothing really truly unique.

Until i found Strings Boutique, of course. Cori the owner has her own drummer in her head. Great sexy shop. she also makes and alters the suits for all the casino pool areas. www.stringsvegas.com. just cool peeps.

The week was HARD. Its hard to cold call, but its like learning something along the way with this business. each time i learn more, something happens, and i know to keep on going. Not only was i able to sell suits in vegas, i was also able to get an appointment with Assistand Buyer at the Wynn Hotel. www.wynnlasvegas.com check out the shopping section the website. I didnt get to meet with the head buyer, Todd, as he was in Paris, for Fashion Week. It was an amazing opportunity to meet with Alex, and i cant wait to see where that relationship will lead.

Alaina introduced me to an amazing woman, Sue, who is the Canadian national sales rep for Maggie Sottero www.maggiesottero.com. She loved my suits, and offered to take them on the road with her. So, basically, I have a canadian national sales rep now, helping sell Lemon Crush Belize bridal swimwear to the most discerning brides in Canada.

A couple other really cool things happened while I was there regarding the business, but i’m gonna keep that under my hat for now ;)

Alaina and i did finally get to relax on Friday evening, where we drank like fools in our hotel. Oh dear american beer, how i love thee. Then on Saturday we treated ourselves to a bit of bargain hunting, and then saw Le Reve that night. It was lovely. A true inspiration of the human body, and a beautiful feast for the eyes. We drank at the bar in the Wynn and people watched. For a long time…

And as always, as lovely a time i had, as wodnerful to spend time with alaina, as thrilled as i was to be able to add Las Vegas to the elite places where you can buy my swimwear, it is good to be home :D

Now, i’ve got to get to work, and figure out where the next trip is going to be to :) Alaina, NYC seemed to keep on hittin the radar this week…….



Watch out Las Vegas, Here I come

Posted on March 3rd, 2010 // No Comments

Lemon Crush Belize will be at the Market Bridal, Formal and Prom Show in beautiful Las Vegas, NV from March 11 – 13, 2010. Can’t Wait to get there!



Bring on the nerves

Posted on March 2nd, 2010 // No Comments

almost 5 pm on tuesday, march 2. its tuesday. i have suits, well alaina has them. the seamstress was waiting for the check to arrive before she sent them. huh??? didnt she catch the whole RUSH thing? Anyway, thank god alaina followed up with her, got them overnighted, and away they will go to Caroles cousin tomorrow for delivery on friday, which is the very last possible day for her to receive them. Ugh, bonnie the seamstress…but alas, alaina kept the wheel on the wagon, while i dealt with the box wheel.

ah, the great box debacle. With one month notice, i was assured my boxes would be done. I phoned the guy, who i was giving a third chance to, two weeks in, and he told me he was going to get in touch with his worker and make sure they were getting done. never heard from that box guy again (again).

the thing about this process i’m going through with building these businesses that i actually love is the learning. I love learning again. I love that i CAN learn again, and i love that i can HANDLE stuff again. I love that i’m back to being as competent as i used to be….back when i was that other person…with an office and a car. As competent, but not the same, and thats good.

What i relearned with the box guy is one of the most basic HR lessons i learned when i was cutting my teeth on the employee handbook of corporate life. There are “ass biters” in this world. These are the people that as a manager or supervisor you would give them “just one more chance” because you genuinely thought the person was a good person. When you find yourself with teeth marks on your ass, the only question in your mind should be “how many marks” because the fact that it happened at all is your own damn fault for giving them a chance when you really knew you shouldnt. But you just, wanted to be nice to someone.

Box Man bit my ass pretty hard. And the lesson to be learned is one that i am learning in this current growth spurt, and through its complimentary pains.

The first incantation of LCB was my debut, so to speak, and while i really had hoped to work with the “little guy” on a lot of things, had hoped to find people that would grow with me. I hoped to take some guy (have had 7 attempts at finding someone) to truly help them build a small business with me. Its a shame. I pay a good penny for those boxes, and someone would eventually have a nice basic living wage just off them. Sadly, i cant find anyone who is able to do it. Granielles might just have to pull me outta this one. Didnt have a great experience at ALL with them when i first moved here, and i had hoped to avoid them altogether. I’ve been told that the store is much worse than the cabinet shop. They truly were a pleasure as i got pieces of wood cut today for box man number 7 to try to salvage from what boxman number 6 had started. havent been able to get a hold of boxman 7 all day, drove by his house he’s not home. so, boxman 8 will have to be granielles, and they are going to have to make, stain, vanish and DRY 10 boxes in 4 days. Its possible, but its gonna cost me. UGH!

Poor Aida received the wrong fabric from chetumal, so it had to go back. she got me some LCB wrap pants though! So tonight, i will begin sewing the first of the OFFICIAL LCB WEAR!!!!!!!!!! YAY!

did i mention its tuesday?

Its been a slogging through this weekend, with my friend Barry Bowens’ passing. It sorta derailed me a bit as well, but i’m very grateful to be in a place that even with all the stressors of going away for a week (dog, cat, travel) and two businesses launching simultaneously, and a plane crash death of a true friend (i have a lousy track record with pilots in my life). I am proud to say that i’m holding it together, i’m gettin’ ‘er done, and i’m gonna somehow pull yet another rabbit outta my ass. its what i do :)

i’m maintaining my balance despite the chaos. its very exciting :)



Balance

Posted on February 25th, 2010 // No Comments

I’ve always said that if i ever got a tattoo, it would be the Mayan glyph for balance.  Seems my life is about balance, and as i get older, the scales are just bigger and bigger.  good thing i’m a Libra…i’ve a  predilection for balance.

seems i’m growing two businesses at the same exact time.  RTAB is doing what i intended it to do: Become the marketing machine behind LCB.  I’ve gotten3 paying members, and waiting for confirmation from a fourth.  The members i’ve approached, i’ve approached because i believe them to be the best of the best at running an actual BUSINESS on the island.  I cannot say how honored and humbled that they would consider working with me.   The website is up and running, but as with most things with me, nothing stays small for long.

Bigger scales, smaller fulcrum.

LCB is miraculously nearly completed making suits, new stressor:  no way to get them to me.  Worst case scenario, i get them shipped directly to the hotel in vegas, and i start sewing the minute i get there.  not ideal, but not the end of the universe as i know it.

Carib Creations is on board now.  Aida is making Lemon Crush Belize wrap pants and dresses that i’ll embellish as well.  Perfect cover ups for the bride :)

Carole Goodreau Esthetics www.cgesthetic.com is making Bridal Barefoot Sandals for market under the LCB label as well.  These are also one of a kind hand made items that really are perfect for the bride.

Still slightly concerned about getting the boxes in time…thats the one thing i’m still waiting to hear about.  I spoke to the box man, but i dunno…this bits making me a wee  bit noivous…

RTAB is going to be advertising on www.honeymoons.com, so i’m excited about that exposure for both LCB and RTAB.  Working with these amazing and respected business women is amazing.  I feel like i am truly among the best possible company to create a world class business and raise the boat for the whole island.  They bring balance to me in their mentorship, knowledge and supportiveness.  Its awesome.

So, i have to go rewrite all the copy for this site.  Now that we’ve started narrowing the LCB focus, i’m now ‘talking’ to a whole other audience :)

here comes the bride!!!!!!!!!!!

new website coming soon  :)



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