Oh happy DAAY!!!

I am really REALLY looking forward to spring. Its exciting to see the tulips starting to come out and my monkeys show more interest in the outdoors. I am slowing coming out of my winter funk. I have so much catching up to do because I know that as soon as it really starts to warm up, we will be spending from dawn until dusk outside. Spring also means festival season. I am starting to sign bundleboo up for shows. Apple blossom festival is one of our favorite shows...May 2-3 at Jim Barnette Park in Winchester VA. Earth Day festival is April 25th in Shepherdstown WV... If you have a festival in the VA tristate area that you think we'd fit in at please let me know...I really enjoy doing them.

6 more weeks...CPSIA will not put us out of business!

So were are finally almost done with winter... 6 weeks will go by quickly. I hear its going to be in the mid 50's this weekend. That sounds like beach weather compared to how it feels today.

I know that we've not updated the bundleboo site since November. We are in the middle of some product and design transitions...compiled with what was pending with CPSIA... did I mention that we have a 1 year break with all of this drama?? ..Probably

Anyway, those sweet mamas that are doing reviews for us... please feel free to go ahead, we are not going out of business and we are grateful for any words that might keep us IN business. I told Lisa... (the hubby of this business relationship..lol) that I am WAAAAAY to darn resourceful to let anything get in our way. I have gotten us this far...no way will I let us fail now. A few vendors are still requesting GCC's (general conformity certificates) simply because its good business practice to know that the products you are selling are safe for children...go figure. SAFETY?!?!?!?! Go play in the street kids! For good form, I will still be doing GCC's and giving them to vendors who request them. I have obtained all component third party tests...from our manufacturers. IE: cotton sheeting, tread, prints, dyes... have all been tested and passed with NO traceable lead or phalates!! Until we are absolutely required by law to do SKU third party testing on each and every completed product... we feel that this is sufficient enough proof that our product meets lead and phalate requirements.

We may be clearing out old inventory and starting fresh...as the new Bundleboo sample have arrived and we LOVE THEM!!!!!!! As requested however we will still keep a few of the old designs and fabrics. ANY suggestions on what colors should stay and what should go?? Our thoughts are...
Natural, Black, wine,chocolate
Stay
Pink,Navy,Jade,sage
Go
what do you think?

"Wonder of wonder, miracles of miracles!!!"

EEEEEEEEEEEEEeeeeeeeee wooohooo... someone in congress has a heart!!!!!! I got this in my box today :)

Government Regulation Flexiblilty

I really need your help interpreting this... here .... I'm still not sure what kind of exceptions the government is going to make for small business that will be detrimentally impacted after this CPSIA law goes into effect FEB 10... I really want to hear your take on this please.

Bundleboo in a fashion show!!!

I just found this clip on YouTube by accident. We were vendors at this Expo in DC... I'm excited someone took a video of our carriers in this show:) And of course everyone else in the show :)

SOOOO STRESSED OUT!!! What will we do????

TBW Statement Opposing the Consumer Product Safety Commission Improvement Act

There is little more important than keeping children safe. However, The Babywearer is gravely concerned about the impact of the pending Consumer Product Safety Commission Improvement Act. We believe that if this Act is enforced, there will be serious economic consequences on the child/baby product industry, and specifically to manufacturers of baby carriers. The Act would require ALL manufacturers - including small business owners who sew their products by hand and artisans who sell to help support their art - to submit each piece of their product for cost-prohibitive government-approved testing. Each component - buttons, threads, fabrics, padding, etc. would need to be tested independently for lead content. The cost and extent of this lead testing would be impossible for any small business to afford. Thousands of small businesses will be forced to close. Consumers will have fewer products to choose from. In the baby carrier world, the only products that will remain will be ones those that are manufactured en masse - and are widely considered inferior to those made in smaller quantities.The date that CPSIA is set to be enforced has already earned a nickname by many experts: "National Bankruptcy Day." Please write to your Senators and Congressperson and express your concern about the CPSIA. More information:

Petition: http://www.ipetitions.com/petition/e...SIA/index.html

About the bill: http://www.cpsc.gov/ABOUT/Cpsia/legislation.html

Read more about what's being dubbed National Bankruptcy Day here:http://nationalbankruptcyday.com/

Oh my...you all know by now that as it stands little Bundleboo is struggling because of the standing economy... I believe in us and know that with more blood, sweat and tears we can become something substantial. We have more in our plans than just personal gain...but to get there we have to get out of the red first. This bill will make it impossible for us.

Don't get me wrong I am all about safety...and Bundleboo has it in our sights to get formal testing done on our carriers. However as a small WHAM business we have to do things in small strides in order to keep our heads above water. This will bury us... Bundleboo will no longer exist. And many other small child product business will also fail... this will effect anyone producing children's products...including that WAHM selling her beautiful handmade chidrens goodies on ETSY.

What is your take???... will you help by writing your congressman and speaking up for the little people...small businesses run this country.

Scrapblog fun!!!

I am trying to figure out what the new website will look like... this is kind of what I am feeling... what do you think??? Suggestions?

WE FINALLY DID IT!!!!!!! ...Bundleboo flashback :)

Our patent finally published...Bundleboo is officially our intellectual baby! I want to say that ANYTHING is possible if you work hard enough and you have the courage to go for it.

(Grace in the front...Katy-Ro in the back...hands free for the two other toddlers I was chasing :)

I want to share this story with you as I believe it may inspire others who haven't yet built the "go for it" courage. It all started with an idea... Bundleboo was born almost 2 years ago out of my mothers kitchen. I had a love for babywearing and my wrap was a definite carrier of choice...of course two years ago babywearing had not gained the popularity that it has today...so the public feedback as I carried my daughter was daunting. The mass amounts of comments included..."wow, that's really neat but I would be so afraid of my baby falling out" "that looks so comfortable...but I'm afraid I wouldn't do it right." Now, having done this awhile its easy for me to say that its truly a safe, comfortable and practical way to carry your child... but trying to convince an already nervous new mom that this simple piece of cloth is not as scary as it looks it a tough task.

(development of the twin carrier "tandem bundleboo"...now patented also :)...do you think there would be a real need for this carrier?)

I had just left my job to stay home with my babies...we were desperate for income so I started making wraps out of my kitchen...nothing special...just your traditional wrap carriers. My mother suggested that I do something totally unique...something that will make my carriers stand out from the rest. So we put our heads together and brainstormed... my mom suggested a pleated pouch style pocket that could go under the baby's butt...I took her idea to the drawing board... Realizing that the pocket would still not be enough to ensure "peace of mind" I thought what if there was an actual seat... A defined place for the baby to sit that would be ideal... so I took my scissors and cut two leg holes into the fabric... I put Katy into it...and immediately felt a sensation that this was the best move for my carriers. With in a week my sister in law helped me create a prototype... and was wearing it publicly. I still received the same reactions until I pointed out the seat...and all of a sudden I was making sales. I changed up the wrapping techniques to simplify the wearing process...and fell in love with the concept.

Business started out gradually (keep in mind that up until this point I had NO business experience)...and within the first few months I had gotten the hang of making the bundleboo. (bundleboo-BTW came from the two words ..."wrap baby") out of my kitchen....my mother taught me how to sew just to make these carriers...so at first it took me 6 hours to make 1 carrier. (Now 2 years later...it takes me a little over 1 hour from start to finish...if I can fit it into my schedule between house work 3 kids and breastfeedings...lol...I have Lucy in a Bundleboo now...nursing while I'm working on the sewing machine :) Anyway, after a few months it was suggested to me by many people that I secure this idea with a patent. WHAT? How do I do that? So I started researching the patent process online. I spent hours and hours and HOURS, trying to figure this all out. I made many phone calls to patent agents all over the US looking for advice. Finally the solution was...I needed to hire someone to help me. FYI, the average patent from start to finish can cost someone up to $15,000.00 ... we were barely making ends meet... at the time I was selling Mary Kay and I started nannying for a dear friend (now my business partner) there was no way we could ever afford to pay for a patent... and my Bundleboo sales... were barely helping my husband with the bills. Feeling an obligation to my family and to my heart... I started to write letters to 30 local patent attorneys telling my story... and asking for help. One angel responded back... Juan Marquez from ReedSmith in Fairfax scooped me up and agreed to do it at zero cost...including the patent and filing fees. WHOA!!! What a turn around...from almost feeling defeated.

2 years later, I have a full line of Bundleboo carriers and a US patent to my name. Whoohoo! We are so proud to have gotten this far and I believe that good things happen to good people. On a down note, the economy is taking a HUGE toll on the company right now... and we are praying for a break that gets us through this tough time. Lisa..my saint business partner is hanging tough and her family is investing more fiscally than I can into keeping the company alive. I believe in us... and I hope that others will as well. Support your WAHM businesses!

Great Kids Expo ~ Chantilly VA 2008

I wanted to post these for Drea who did the photography for our banner...I know the "B" in Bundleboo is really dark...it shows up much better in person :) Thanks Drea! Nice job!

We are still trying to get the hang of shows, displaying our carriers and organizing the booth. Moby was right around the corner and stole our thunder...lol. The girl who reps for Moby in NOVA is super sweet... she seems to really enjoy her job and I love picking her market savvy brain :) We didn't do well at this show like we hoped... but I put out my home made "babylegs" $6.00 a pair... I called them "BooLees" legwarmers... and they were a huge hit :)

The traffic at the show was really really slow and we were right next to the front door... bad idea in the end I think we could have been better off somewhere in the middle. I think that Moby had a leg up simply because of price and my Moby friend kept putting her darn carriers on everyone... of course if you rip the darn baby Bjorn off of them and put a wrap in its place...they will be sold in an instant... why didn't I think of that?!?!?!?! UGH! I don't do well with direct sales... I try not to be in your face... ANY SUGGESTIONS FOR NEXT TIME????

Sneak Peek!!!!

Introducing a new breed of Bundleboo.... get the feel, look and quality of a "german" wrap carrier... at much more affordable prices. The great bonus is that these wraps are sooooooo soft right out of the packaging that you don't have to wait until they break in to really enjoy them!!!!!

What do you think I should name them?

Bundleboo SALE! ~ Review offer!

November Specials: Classic Bundleboo 3 Color Choices Wine, Natural and Navy Regular Price: $69.00

Now on Sale for $49.00

NEW Fabric! Signature Bundleboo - Chocolate Lollipop Regular Price $89.00:

Now on Sale for: $69.00

We are doing a sale to help those who are interested in purchasing a Bundleboo but cannot afford one at full price (we understand that the economy sucks right now :). We are doing our very best to work prices down as low as we can...we hope that you will find that this helps you in making a decision.

Also, the new chocolate lollipop, Lime dot, Wine and Natural Bundleboo's feature the new wider and re-enforced seat...we have received great feedback from it.

ATTN BLOGGERS!!!!

If you are willing to do a review on the new Bundleboo we will offer you one Bundleboo at wholesale cost...that is 1/2 off the original price AND a 15% discount to your readers!!!!!!

Chocolate Lollipop love

New Signature Bundleboo's are in!!!

Please don't call the SPCA or CPS on me... I swear this is not abuse...LOL...Max does look like a raggamuffin today :)

They will be listed on the site soon...if you must have now please feel free to email me with your order request.

New Signature coming this week...NEED YOUR HELP :)

We had such a busy weekend... Great Kids Expo hosted a consumer show in Chantilly VA tons of fun...met a lot of new mommies!(...as soon as I find my darn camera I will post pics of our booth.) We got to use our new banner...hopefully we can afford the other two soon :)

The above swatch is of the new chocolate lollipop design to pair with chocolate side panels. Really super cute, I hope it does as well as the DAMASK bundleboo.

I really need your feed back on this...Lisa and I are considering cutting the classics out of our wholesale line and offering only the new bundleboo designs and signature line (for stores). This will allow us to offer our direct customers a classic (basic) bundleboo at a DEEPLY discounted rate. As consumers...(be reasonable) what would be your price cutt offs...and what do you think Classic Bundleboo should be listed at?

I have added a poll in the upper left row...thank you so much!

Picture love!

All I can say is woooow...thank you Drea!

New Product Idea

Hopefully we will be adding this to our Bundleboo line soon... I wanted to get every one's take on it. These are pictures of a prototype I whipped up a few months ago. Its a full coverage burp cloth that snaps in place and the other side will be a child smock/apron made from wipe able material...cute or silly? My husband makes fun of it...I would really love your honest CC so that I'm not wasting my time getting out :)

New Bundleboo!!!

Here is your sneak peak of the new bundleboo design and print. Kicking toddler and attack cat, I was still able to get her up in under 1 minute..lol :)

More Pics by Danielle!!

What a hot mama! Thanks Danielle you are awesome!!!

Bundleboo Pics by Danielle

Mommy Danielle sent us some great photos of her beautiful baby girl in her Natural Classic Bundleboo. Danielle runs a blog space called "new mommy rant" where she reviews new parent products. We are grateful to Danielle for such positive words...and the pictures are so remarkable we will be using them in our new website...coming soon! Thank you Danielle!!!

"Urban Edgy"

I am really thankful for Drea from touched photography for introducing me to the new image of Bundleboo. I have been struggling for the last 1.5 years on how exactly I want my product to come across on media and web. I sent her a Bundleboo sometime ago for review and then another to say thanks for her time. I love her work so much that I asked her to take a few shots of the Damask Bundleboo that I gifted her to see what she could do with it...sure enough she never ceases to amaze me with her talents.