'Shop Local' Initiative

This is an AMAZING Ladies Who Launch event and if you support local then please check this out!

2009 has been a difficult year

Entrepreneurs have had to be resilient and resourceful, nimble and creative. It has been especially challenging for independent boutiques and shops. Our neighborhoods are populated with fabulous, unique and interesting businesses that create the personality and character we love. We have lost many of our favorites all over the region and we are at risk of losing more in 2010.

I am increasingly convinced that collaboration is the best model for success in business and life. As women, we practice that quality instinctively. Our Ladies Who Launch community is blessed to include some of the most generous and passionate women with which I have ever had the privilege to be associated...and I am hoping all of you would like the opportunity to show the world (at least, our corner of it) what brilliant, committed and passionate women can achieve.

"Survival isn't a solo act" - Cinda Baxter

What are you willing to do?
If you are a retail shop, would you spend 2 hours at a meeting to collaborate?
If you have a product to sell, would you do a trunk show or a 'pop-up' shop?
If you are a PR Diva, would you help with Press Releases and Media attention?
If you are a Marketing Guru, would you design an Event Template?
If you are an Event Planner, would you give advice and counsel?
If you are an artist or entertainer, would you be available for an Event?
If you are in the media, would you talk or write about this effort?
If you are a lady who's launching, would you show up and support us?

Sign up now, come to the meeting, offer your suggestions, bring your ideas, support us and collaborate!

Date: Tuesday, November 24, 2009
Time: 7pm-9pm
Where: 5Focus - 1009 8th AV N - Seattle, WA 98109 (MAP)
Parking: Street parking is available and it is FREE.
Price: FREE for everyone just register here so I know how many chairs to rent!
?'s: Call Linda Snyder at 206-390-6167 or Candice Caldwell at 206-715-2410

Message from Linda:

So, why am I doing this?
I love retail...30 years at an entrepreneurial department store, many years as a retail coach consulting with entrepreneurs. I have friends and clients who are passionate about their businesses. Several incidents occurred in the last month that got me thinking that "someone should do something about this!"

My To-Do list has included "join the 3/50 project - post on site and FB" since July. At the end of October I went to the site, signed up and started reading. Cinda Baxter's question to retailers hit me between the eyes.

"So, do you want to be around a year from now?"

I was shocked! Then I stopped to consider. What could I do to make a significant difference. I knew that I had a platform and forum to start the conversation and get the word out. I started pounding the pavement, visiting shops, inviting them to attend our meeting on Tuesday, November 24 and now I am hoping that you will feel the same way I do.

I could put this passion and energy to work for a charitable cause, I have done so in the past and will again in the future. I guess it all boils down to 'I Love Retail', it's like a virus for me, it's in my blood and I want it to be vital, healthy, vibrant and fun again! It's theater and drama and dynamic and exciting when it is done well...and so many places I love do it brilliantly.

Some of my friends have said that they "are tired of not shopping". Nothing has changed for them, they are among the 90% still employed, still have credit cards, still have dinner out and spa appointments. But some where along the line, they stopped shopping and started feeling like they needed to do the 'patriotic' thing and follow Suze Orman's advice. I almost came through the television to throttle her last year when she said "stop spending! start saving!" It's good advice, but everything in moderation folks! I actually had someone tell me it was unfashionable to shop!

I believe that even if you have to buy less, you should spend local.

Local business spins the wheels of the economy. It is where the jobs are generated, the sale tax revenue comes from, it creates the neighborhoods. Let's share the love a little this next year and keep our purchases local.

And if you can't attend, please sign up for the 3/50 project and support us by putting your local shops and favorite Boutiques on your Holiday Shopping List!

Thanks for listening,
Linda

Seattle Company Picnic

I've been to lots of company picnics, but never have they been this much fun!

We arrived at the Armoury at Lake Union where many local entrepreneurs were talking to each other and they were networking up a storm. There were several vendors setup around the room talking about what it is they do and how they can help you.

My friend, Melissa, came with me to help me take notes on what was going on while I took photos of guests mingling, eating, drinking, dunking each other in the "dunk tank" (it was actually a shower tank of sorts but I was told the water was VERY COLD)... You know all the good things for a successful event. I tried my luck at the dunk tank - no good, I don't have a good pitching arm apparently.

Award time came around and guess what, we won an award - YAY! Urban Fashion Network won the Sideline Entrepreneur (who is moonlighting successfully). Thank you to all who voted for us, we are honored. Once I get the list of all the winners I will post them on here.

Melissa tells me the food was delicious, cesear salad, salmon and a roll. At the bar there was Laughing Buddah for beer and Kestral Winery had white and red wine. I had the white wine and it was delicious!

I wandered around taking photos and talking to people. A few people who were there were Girl Power Hour, Jason Levine of Perfect Pixels, Bridgette Boudreau of Momentum LifeWorks, BJ of Brunette Mix, Darcey Howard of LifeStyled, and many more!!



I feel I met some great folks at the Seattle Company Picnic and now it's time to send them emails and get connected. Happy networking!

Ladies Who Launch - they rock!!

I wanted to put a shout out on my blog to an amazing group, Ladies Who Launch. If you're a woman entrepreneur and not a member of this group then stop reading this immediately and go sign up.

I joined LWL a few years ago and they are such an amazing and inspirational group. They help you with your business ideas, send you tips, keep you informed and help point you in the right direction.

Go sign up, it's worth it!!

(they are not paying me to say this, I just really think it's a great organization if you own your own business or want to...)

Oh, what a weekend...

My weekend was wonderful! I didn't have to really work on Friday due to my departments holiday party at Jillian's. It was nice having the day free after the party ended at 3pm-ish. I just went home and made flyer's and tea cup signs for the models for the Saturday show...

Saturday day, Regina and I headed down to the Urban Craft Uprising. Dawn and her family showed up to shop as well. We stopped by and said hello to some of our vendor friends (Tara, Erica, Marlo, Sam, Gunlis...) I bought several Christmas gifts and even a few items for myself. The show has 200 vendors so it's easy to find something for everyone!

Saturday night was the Defmode Midnight Market that UFN has been helping with... Several folks were worried no one show up due to the snow. (Oh yeah, did I mention it started snowing?) Thankfully the snow fall didn't hinder the party being a success. I can only speak for myself but I had a great time, I will assume that Regina did as well (I'm sure she'll blog about it too)! I met so many cool new people (Tim, DJ Snax (AKA Matt), Brad, Karl, Michael, Wesley, David, Gwen, Susan, Rachael, etc... I wish I could name them all, there were just to many of them - they all rocked!!). I was worried I would be exhausted by 2am since I tend to hit the hay by midnight... I survived!

The evening was packed full of vendors selling, patrons shopping, partying, art work, drinking, DJ's spinning tunes, a fashion show, the infamous photo booth, and lots of fun.


We, of course, had several pictures taken from Liminist.com, which should be up on their site soon. I can't wait to see them as we had some pretty funny one's taken with lots of people!

I added some pictures from Defmode, check them out.

This morning I woke up (it was quite a struggle, I tell ya what...) and headed to Shilshole Bay Beach Club for the Ladies Who Launch Holiday Show. The show went pretty well considering the dreary weather. I sold a few items and did some valuable networking, which is always a nice thing! Here are the photos from that show!

Hope you had a good weekend too - what did you end up doing?