New Photos

Thank you to Ben Peterson for shooting the bags and creating such wonderful images.

kristin j

It's official! Daisy's Bags is now kristin j. The new website is much more user friendly, allowing customers to purchase custom created bags directly from the site via PayPal. I am still working out a few minor issues with PayPal and my new business bank account but that won't affect purchases (I inadvertently connected the bank account to PayPal before the bank account was formally created at the bank.)

I've set up the DBA (doing business as) which is the legal entity I chose, am nearly finished with the business plan and finalized the press release. The press packet will go out shortly-just making copies of the DVDs which will include professional photos of the bags and the Good Day NY appearance.

It appears that my husband isn't the only one reading this blog so I'd LOVE to get some feedback from you folks. What do you think of the new site? Colors, functionality, etc.?

Resources

I wanted to devote a post to plug a number of great resources for readers who are interested in entrepreneurial efforts with a small budget.

SBA.gov
This site has a plethora of useful information from drafting a business plan to locating local mentors who can offer advice. There are links on this site to another great organization called "Score." Check out the template gallery.

VistaPrint.com
This site is a great place for inexpensive promotional materials. I've ordered business cards, postcards and t-shirts. The quality is great and customer service is readily available.

The Flip
I just ordered this mini camcorder after reading a very favorable review in today's New York Times Magazine.
I will use this to upload knitting tips and helpful instructions to the Daisy's Bags Google Group which I use to communicate with the LODB and maybe I'll finally put something together to submit to Donnie Deutsch's Big Idea or Oprah...

DB Update

I recently learned that I'm not able to simply file a DBA Business Certificate (Doing Business As) for Daisy's Bags because I am not Daisy and there is a specific prohibition about using a proper name that is not mine. Rather than changing the entity name, I have decided to form an LLC or limited liability company. Although it is much more expensive to do so, I think it is a better decision, given my recent media exposure.

I continue to revise and revamp the website, much to the chagrin of my web mistress who is quite patient with me, and for that I am grateful. I'd love feedback on the site so please check it out. While the previous color scheme of grape/purple and lime greens is my favorite color combination, I'm aiming for a more earthy color scheme, in keeping with my overall eco-green theme.

I am hosting my 2nd orientation meeting for new freelance knitters this afternoon. I'm really not sure who will show up this time. The responses were much more noncommittal than with the previous group so I'm not exactly sure what to expect. I'm hopeful that the group will be as productive and talented as my current roster of LODB (Ladies of Daisy's Bags-see previous post). While I have had a few who are no longer able to continue with DB (other time commitments, difficulty knitting with plarn), overall, the LODB seem to be excited about completing their bags and eager to take on new orders.

Business Plan and Press Kit are in the works. My college roommate, a former Marketing Director for major women's fashion magazines here in New York, will be guiding me through the process. I hope to use the Business Plan to obtain financial backing, apply for grants and organize the corporate structure. The Press Kit will be sent to media, fashion sites and retail businesses, as well as to solicit partnerships with grocery store chains and other places where plastic bags can be collected for upcycling.

I'll close with a photo of one of my first Shannon bags graciously given to me by friends at Sprig, where DB will be featured in late June. I'm thinking of using it for the revised home page because I love it so much.

The Ladies of Daisy's Bags

I've officially entered the next phase in the evolution of Daisy's Bags. As a result of the phenomenal press I received two weeks ago, I am happy to report that I have too many orders for me to personally fill. I put out a request for freelance knitters on a local Yahoo Group for knitters and another called Some of the Girls (SOTG) early in the week. I invited them over for coffee and bagels at my place yesterday morning to get them on board. (Was supposed to be out of town for an emergency trip to Miami for work but am not going until Tuesday now so the meeting was really last minute and I appreciate the Ladies agreeing to meet.) I really didn't know what to expect in terms of a response but was pleasantly surprised to meet a lovely mix of six ladies of various ages, all very excited about the mission and ready to knit for some spare cash.

We spent a few hours together, signing the Freelance Agreement (since the techniques are not unique, it was important that I protect Daisy's Bags as much as possible), going over my vision for the business, (I want the freelancers to see this as a fun opportunity and not a labor intensive task) and sharing the patterns for the three styles I've developed. Everyone left with strips of plarn to complete their first order.

Having a competent group helping restock the inventory will be a great help by freeing me up to work on the marketing and business end of legitimizing the company. I have a number of options that I want to explore while I have some momentum coming off of the great press and Earth Day (Week).

Last week I also prepared and filed my Business Certificate with the County Clerk's Office to set up my Doing Business As (DBA). Presentation of the document at a bank will allow me to open a bank account and credit card in the Daisy's Bags name. I have to figure out how best to set up payments on the website. Should I use paypal or set up "add to cart" buttons with a "checkout" to complete the order? Suggestions please!

Thanks to everyone who is checking out the blog. I do actually have a few more bags left in the inventory and in a few weeks, after the Ladies of DB have completed the orders, we will work to replenish the stock for the website and for retail stores in the Manhattan/Brooklyn area. Ask your favorite store to carry Daisy's Bags wherever you live!

Good Day New York

This week has been amazing. Thanks to the Daily News article and NY1 mention on Monday, I received an email from Fox 5's morning show, Good Day New York and scheduled a 4- minute live appearance for Friday morning.

While I was totally nervous about doing a live show, I was utterly thrilled at the request and amazed and encouraged by the responses I had received earlier in the week from the newspaper/online article.

On Thursday morning around 11 AM, I received a call from the show's producer, who suggested that we tape an interview in lieu of the live appearance. She asked if Jodi Applegate and crew could film the interview at my office. I checked in with my office's PR Department and got approval from Kaplan, Inc.

Jodi, et al, arrived around 12:45PM, set up around my cubicle and began filming right away so as to finish taping within my lunch hour. It was such a relief to know that if I misspoke or stuttered or had a "wardrobe malfunction", all would be deleted through the editing process. After we completed the office portion of the interview, we filmed a few extra shots of me knitting on the subway. This was especially interesting because, as is the norm, people came right up to me right away to ask what I was making. Now, I did have a news personality and a camera on me so perhaps that added to the interest but I swear, fellow riders were not coached at all-completely unsolicited!



Because of this awesome week of publicity, I currently have only 1 more bag left in my inventory! If anyone knows of a way to mass produce my bags in an eco-friendly way (no overseas Asian factories), please let me know!

Thanks to my great friend Carter Evans, who was kind enough to TIVO my appearance and then upload it to YouTube. Carter is a freelance reporter and anchor for My 9 News (WWOR), CBS Newspath and CNN.

The Daily News

I've been delinquent with my blogging lately because I have had a few things brewing but wasn't sure they would pan out and I didn't want to jinx myself by informing my audience (my husband and sisters) prematurely.

This morning I awoke with red, irritated, swollen eyes and a dry, closed throat due to seasonal allergies. I made the mistake of walking the dog early yesterday morning and have been paying for it ever since. So after making the decision to sleep off the Benadryl-induced buzz, I turned on the TV to NY1, our morning ritual, to see how the weather would play out for the rest of the week.

Pat Kiernan was off today so Kristen Shaughnessy took me through the day's events and wrapped up with my favorite segment, entitled "In the Papers" where the host holds up the area newspapers and reads the headlines. To my surprise, Kristen highlighted an article entitled "She bags fun design idea that's boon for the Earth." I was interviewed for the piece by the author, Kathleen Lucadamo, via telephone and later photographed by Tanya Braganti last week but wasn't sure which day it would appear. (Note: The online version of the article is titled "Designer turns discarded plastic bags into fancy handbags"; hard copy version appears on page 22-not sure why the titles are different?)

It's only 12:33PM and Daisy's Bags has had 184 first time visitors and 284 page loads! While writing this blog, I received an email from a TV producer at Fuji TV who would like to film me creating a Daisy's Bag. Fuji TV appears to be one of the largest TV networks in Japan!

I owe all of this awesome media exposure to a work friend, Krystal Bowden, who was kind enough to show her boyfriend, a Daily News employee, my Facebook page. When I first started this venture, I had no idea whether anyone would look at my website, this blog or my Facebook page. As a result of today's events and Krystal's kind words, I vow to be a better blogger and to take you along with me in this journey!

Meet Daisy

This is Daisy, the namesake of my Plastic Bag Empire. We love her.

On my subway commute to work this morning, I was knitting a Daisy's Bag when a young woman tapped me on the shoulder to ask what it was I was doing. This sort of thing happens pretty regularly and has become a cheap way for me to spread the word and pass out promotional postcards to fellow straphangers (are we still using that term since the subway cars no longer have straps?) . It hasn't turned into any sales yet but I'm hoping that one of these times, Oprah or Donny Deutsch will be riding the #1 train alongside me.

So here's my dilemma-I sent Alexa Ray Joel a message on myspace and can see that she read it but has not responded. Do I send her a bag anyway? My problem is that they are so extremely time consuming to design and create that it's hard for me to part with gifting 2 bags (approx. $140!) to anyone unless it helps promote the company. I realize that I have to take some risks to get this moving but...

I will be putting together my promotional mailing this weekend so I apologize in advance for bombarding everyone with emails, messages, and now snail mail. Please pass the postcard on to others!

Blogging...

Admittedly, my motivation for starting this blog is to vent my frustrations and hopefully share my good fortune while I attempt to turn my Plastic Bag Empire (hereinafter referred to as "PBE") into a viable business. Thank you for joining me in this process...

After I finished knitting/sewing up my first tote bag (pictured left) in August 2007, I took it with me to a doctor's appointment. While I waited for my turn with the white coats, no less than 8 women asked me where I purchased such a cute summer bag. I explained the process and the medium (PLARN: plastic yarn) and allowed them to fondle the material. The ladies were astounded by the bag's strength and durability but more impressed by my ingenuity and green-thinking attitude. I walked away thinking maybe there's something to this...

So it's nearly April 2008 and I have commissioned a logo (that I totally love!); engaged a designer and developer to set up my website; ordered postcards for a mass mailing prior to Earth Day (April 22); emailed every green organization on the internet to post my products; and collected and knitted up a decent inventory of bags in three distinct styles.

Fortunately, I am surrounded by extremely supportive family, friends and colleagues all over the country who have collected plastic bags and carted them to the office via subway!/mailed them to my home, offered advice on marketing, spread the word to media outlets (www.sprig.com) will feature Daisy's Bags in June!) and have purchased bags. Thank you so much to everyone for all of the support.

Next on my list:
1. Prepare and send postcard mailing to friends, family and green-related retail stores;
2. Troll the internet for green events;
3. Gift bags to Katie Lee and Alexa Ray Joel (my good friend Matthew Friedman has graciously written a letter of introduction requesting that they return the favor by sending a photo of them with my bags!
3. Knit, knit, knit