It’s been a month since I blogged. That’s just downright shameful.

I feel like I’ve been so disconnected lately, and I know many of you have written to me wondering what’s up! I’m posting on Facebook about 1/3 as much as usual. Well….it’s like this. Ya know how on roller coaster rides, you spend the first part of the trip going really slowly up the ride, click-click-click-click. Then, you get to the top, pause and the SWOOSH! You’re off on a screaming, fun, wild, giggly adventure? Well…..We just started the SWOOSH portion of ZozoBugBaby! In a couple of weeks, ZozoBugBaby will hit the 4-year mark and I feel like the first 4 years have been the slow click-click climb. The anticipation of the ride!

Things have just been bustling around here and I have a lot to juggle right now as we position ourselves for the next phase. I promise I”ll get back to chatting on a more regular basis very soon! Anyhoo…….the last few months have seen such wonderful changes and I am just still so giddy about the national press ZozoBugBaby has received!

Photo by Shannon Sewell.

I do believe more is to come, but…..I’ll let ya know! Needless to say….the press definitely has been keeping me on my toes!

I’m also thrilled that ZozoBugBaby now has Market representation in the Midwest, Atlanta and Dallas, so our wholesale business has been booming, too. For the last few months, we have been beefing up the sewing support, and with just a few little tweaks, we are finally in a “two thumbs up” position! (Thanks, also, to all of my wonderful customers for hanging in there with us and being patient during this big adjustment!). The Fall 2012 line is already out to the reps and showrooms and will ship to retailers in July. It will also launch on the website then, too! One thing I am THRILLED to report is that going forward, all collections will be pre-produced and sold as in-stock items. That means there will be no orders going forward and when items are sold out, they are gone. While I will have the 2 main collections each year, Spring/Summer and Fall/Winter, I will also be offering lots of limited edition and short run items that are all in-stock. (In fact…many goodies are in the works now for a little anniversary party soon!). With heading into Market, it’s been a challenge to design lines a year in advance, with production beginning about 6 months in advance. It’s where I’ve wanted to go for a while and we are finally THERE! In fact….Spring 2013 is in the works right now!

But…on to other news……

I just returned from a great business trip to New York, where I attended Playtime and ENK Children’s Club (children’s clothing trade shows). I plan to return in August as an exhibitor! It was a great trip and I was able to connect with so many people from the industry….magazine editors, clothing designers, and friends! I had some down time to really hit NYC, shop in Soho, and dine with such lovely ladies like Ellen and Ryam from Right Bank Babies (ADORE THESE LADIES!). Here I am (left), with my great friends Jen (The Trendy Tot), Adrienne (Magnolia Public Relations) and Kiki (The Measure):

My purpose was twofold in that Shannon Sewell and I also went to scout out new talent to feature in DREAMER! Oh…and boy….did we EVER! Surprisingly..I didn’t take a lot of pictures while in NYC. Here are just a few:

(from my hotel window…I stayed at YOTEL…pretty awesome hotel!).

I HAD To stop by MOOD, right? I thought Tim Gunn would be there to personally greet me, but yeah……not so much! LOL.

ROLLS and ROLLS of knit!

Landing in NYC…at dawn. SO beautiful!

Georgetown Cupcake! YUM!

I had the red velvet. Can’t take the Mississippi out of the girl……

Met up with photographer, Jennifer Beitchman, to eat bagels and shop! I adore Desigual (tell me this doesn’t shock anyone), and was super-happy I got to shop in person!

LONG post, but…..that’s what’s been going on ’round here lately. Shannon and I have also been working on DREAMER and each edition just more and more fun! Look for a little tutorial I was asked to do for The Sandbucket magazine, too, in the next issue! I can say that I’m FINALLY at the tail end of our outstanding orders, both wholesale and retail. What does that mean? READY-MADE SUMMER DRESSES! Coming in just a couple of weeks for the 4th anniversary!

WE have one more big push of activity in the next week and then it should be back to normal! I even feel a sale coming on……………..

XO,

Julie