For today’s recap of the The Creative Connection Event I’ll be covering the ‘How to Launch a Business” panel, The Pioneer Woman luncheon, and the food and tablescape designs. It was such an honor to have gone as one of the official social media correspondents.
Even if you aren’t interested in having a handmade business, you’ll love the Food Glorious Food video as it has the coolest tablescapes and designer decor. {{squeal in delight}}
Amy Barickman, Laurie Lenfestey, Margo Tantau, Serena Thompson, and Khristian A. Howell
These women are so incredibly smart, savvy, creative and warm. Serena and I bonded over being crafty girls with all boys. Khristian is a blogger and tweets! So naturally we were meant to be friends. It was an honor to be in their company and get to know them better. Naturally, I’m stalking them on Facebook and can’t wait to get to know them on a more personal level.
How to Launch a Business
The following are tidbits of information from How to Launch a Business panel. The panel mainly focused on the logistics of having a creative business like licensing designs and products, going to trade shows, and general advice. Here’s a quick recap:
- Have a story or emotional connection to your products.
- Serena Thompson didn’t have any professional training and just kept sending product to Country Living magazine.
- Go to the trade shows and put yourself in front of people. Networking is key to a successful business.
- Serena Thompson envisioned what corporation she wanted to work with and contacted them over and over again.
- All panelists in the business session have lawyers but not all have agents. They do outsource things they are not good at like bookkeeping.
- Serena Thompson does trademark her products and has a lawyer to police it. Your trademark won’t be valid if you don’t police it.
- Fire people quickly – don’t think people will change and keep your overhead down!
Obviously my notes don’t even come close to capturing all the quality advice that we received – so I hope you’ll join us next year for The Creative Connection Event. They have something for everyone! Creative classes, Smart Bars which are one-on-one instruction on how to use the computer, panels on growing your business and get published, and many many networking opportunities. The handmade market where women sold their products was absolutely divine.
The Pioneer Woman Frontier Luncheon
I got to meet Ree Drummond during the CONFESSIONS OF A PIONEER WOMAN Frontier Luncheon. She is completely delightful, easy going, relaxed, and sweet. My goodness she’s got it all together. I would have been completely overwhelmed with all the attention. She was gracious and completely genuine. I was completely star struck and a total dweeb. {{“L” on forehead – giggle}} It was so much fun to chat with her and a highlight of my weekend for sure.
Food Glorious Food Video
Here is the Food Glorious Food video that I made showcasing the yummy food and designer tablescapes! Only at The Creative Connection Event would you have designer hand sewn table cloths made with Amy Butler fabric and a party favor at every meal. This is just a quick 1 minute glimps into the beauty. You would have LOVED it! I’ve never seen anything like it before.
I’ve never been so excited to go into a conference room to see eat and walk into a conference hall to see what it’s going to be decorated like.
I have to thank my fabulous sponsor My Girlfriend’s House! They have the coolest party and packaging supplies. Here are a few of my favorite things from them:
- How to Wrap Videos – Never fear My Girlfriend’s House is here with several easy to watch videos with great ideas on how to wrap packages with all kinds of unique and creative ways.
- Tulle Netting – I’ve gotten completely addicted to wrapping my gifts with a tulle bow. I love how it’s different, easy, and gorgeous.
- Ribbon and Bows Galore – Now you have several options on how to make your gifts and packages with your personal style thanks and branding.
Tomorrow, I’ll be sharing the advice we received on how to use social media as a marketing tool.
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