The calm before the storm!

I haven't been majorly busy since my last blog post! I think this is the calm before the crazy storm!!

I signed my contract with The Princes Trust and officially made everything legal! So now I am just awaiting my funds to come through so I can start production on my clothing! Very exciting!

After going to The Princes Trust offices in London, I took a stroll down to Great Titchfield street to a shop called So Tiny London. It is a beautiful gift shop full of great quirky and cute gifts for babies and young children. I went in there to speak to the owner, Emma Kennedy,who gave me so much advice and guidance about becoming a childrenswear designer, retailer and wholesaler. I now have to think about where I want to focus in terms of being a retailer or wholesaler. We also talked about being fair in business and understanding that the boutiques I decide to sell through are my partners and to treat them with respect! Thank you to Emma for taking the time to speak to me! I really loved all the beautiful and varied gifts in the store and purchased a really cute pink 'Little Sister' vest for a friend who is due any minute now! I recommend if you are expecting or know someone who is, buy your gift from So Tiny London. Drop into the shop if your in London or order online at www.sotinylondon.com as they do deliver worldwide!

I also had a really lovely meeting with Justin Cox who owns Pinky Purple girl Ltd which is an online store that sells brightly coloured and gorgeous organic clothing just for girls! We had a lovely tea meeting in The Chalet bakery just here in Tadworth! If you haven't been, you should go! It's has a really awesome atmosphere and the owner is extremely friendly!

Justin and I discussed designing and how to start getting the customers to buy from us! It seems it is not as it looks to get customer to go to your website! Website traffic is something I constantly think about. However I think because I will be selling face to face at Brixton Market, this will give me a little more help in getting people to visit my online store!

It was really lovely to meet up with Justin and we found that we have a lot in common! We have decided to try and partner up in some way but we are still working on when and how that will happen! If you do have gorgeous girls and are Eco friendly and reasonably priced, do take a look at Pinky Purple girl at www.pinkypurplegirl.com

So now I am only a few weeks away from launching, the fear has really hit me and at the same time I want this more than ever! Funny how this time last year, I only had an idea!

I urge everyone to go and do whatever it is they have dreamt of doing! You only live once, why not make sure it's an amazing life?! 

I leave you with these last words from my idol and wish you an amazing rest of the week!

All dreams come true if we have the courage to pursue them.-Oprah Winfrey 

Wreck it Ralph! Good vs Evil

I went to see Wreck it Ralph with my little family and I must say, it was a really good film! It was little Elijah's first trip to the cinema and he was completely mesmerised by the size of the screen! He is obsessed with cartoons (he gets that from me) and I have never seem him sit still and be quiet for so long! I know what to do now when I need moment to myself, Cinema!!!

So while watching the movie, I thought about the amount of parents who brought their children to the cinema on a rainy Sunday afternoon to see this particular film. I'm sure if their children were anything like my son, it would have been because they had been pestered and bombarded with questions, 'can we go see Wreck it Ralph?', 'when can we go see Wreck it Ralph' and 'I wanna see Wreck it Ralph!' To the point you just surrender and take the child to the cinema!

I always think films like this are genius because the creators come up with such great films which we pay to see, then they make toys of the characters which we parents buy for our kids and eventually they make a video game which we also buy! Very similar to Toy Story!

It really is an extraordinary way to build a business! And thought about how I can apply it to Mini Men UK?!

Mini Men UK will be launching in March and selling long sleeve tops, hooded tops and sweatshirts! We will also be introducing an exclusive summer collection that's about getting outdoors and exploring your world around you!

And later on in the year we will be launching new products such as trousers, jeans and cardigans!

Adding innovative new products to the brand is, a great way to gain customers and cater to the existing customers! 

Using your gift of high intellect is the best way to innovate your products and market them! Apple is the perfect example of innovation and marketing!

I thoroughly recommend taking your little bundle of joy to see Wreck it Ralph if you haven't been already and enjoy the wonderful story of good vs evil! This is what Mini Men UK is all about.

Don't forget to 'Like' us on Facebook! www.facebook.com/minimenukltd or follow us on Twitter www.twitter.com/minimenukltd 

Happy Sunday everyone!

Going from demotivated to motivated!

For the past few months I have been finding it so hard to get up in the mornings! To feel excited about anything has really been a chore for me! With everything I have achieved, you would think I would be on cloud 9 but alas, this is not the case. I was so happy to have been approved by The Princes Trust and just before Christmas, I was really excited about being well on my way to becoming a business owner! 

And then a huge spanner in the works came along! I was having trouble getting approved for a business account with Natwest bank! Why? I hear you ask?! I still do not know! But this problem meant that I had to push the launch of Mini Men UK back because without a business bank account I could not sign for my funding from The Princes Trust which meant I could not buy my stock or marketing materials!

I can't tell you how upset I have been because of this and even had thoughts of giving up! I mean why put myself through all this stress right?! This ONE thing pretty much tipped me over the edge and i lost it! highly stressed and strung, I was having sleepless nights and I was extremely irritable! I couldn't get out of bed until sometimes 11am! Which If you have young children or run your business, you know this is way too late to be getting out of bed!

This has been going on for 2 months now! And I have finally realised that this is all a test! It is a way for me to be tested to see how badly I want this business to work! Will I give up at the first sign of trouble or persevere and keep pushing until my dreams are achieved?! 

I have decided to keep working hard and pushing to make my dreams a reality! You may knock me down but I will keep getting up! It may take me a while to get up but I will make sure I get up!

If you have ever felt this way or are feeling it now, don't suffer in silence! Talk to your friends and family. Go and see your local GP to get some professional help and keep believing that everything will work out fine! All is well!

Someone once said to me, 'If you want to be successful then that is what you will be! Only you can determine what you will be. No one can stop you but you!' And with that, I say if you have ever wanted something, go for it! Don't let anyone or anything stop you from achieving your dreams!

The best way to determine what you want is to write it down.

Firstly make a list of the things you want but write it as If you have it already.

Example: I am a successful fashion mogul

I live in a 6 bedroom house in Miami, Florida

I own a black Bentley Coupe Convertible with the number plate Mini Men

The more detailed you are the better! Get really clear about what you want and put this list of things in your visualisation book or board!

You need to look at your board or book every day and visualise yourself having the things you want! No matter how big or small your dreams are, you have to believe that you can have them and that you deserve to have them!

Remember, our thoughts become things and whatever you think about, you will 'be' about! 

We all have a purpose in life! I would love to know what your dreams are! No matter how small or big! Send me your list of aspirations and believe you can achieve them!