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Location: Cambridge, MA
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A Tiny Peek into the Future of the Economy
the East Coast children's better apparel buyer's show was this past Sunday through Tuesday. Buyers from around the country, but mostly East Coast, and a lot of Chicago, show up to walk the aisles and buy for August delivery. Everyone expected a dour show that would be a ghost town. Some notes from the show:
show was well-attended, didn't really see a difference in foot traffic between this show and past ones. Spirits in general were high, or more aptly put, normal. I wrote more orders at this show than any one previous (out of 5) Orders were deep (some of my customers doubled their previous orders with me) and broad. Lot of returning customers (who have already paid for spring delivery with no drama) and picked up some new customers. Traffic in stores is "good," could be better, but long time store customers are shopping out of loyalty. A New England sales rep with whom I am friendly brought over 2 friends, a Dallas/Atlanta rep and a FL rep and both picked me up. It's hard enough to get reps in a good economy let alone a bad one! Everyone I talked with was optimistic about the future. no pessimism at all. These are principally small, Main Street specialty boutiques and small (4 to 15 location) department stores. I did not see Neiman's, Bloomingdales, etc. walking the aisles. The new booth design was a hit. My NY rep point blank said my past booths sucked, on Thursday, show set up is Saturday. Had some old cubicle frames lying around so welded those up and make a rack out of 3/4 inch square tube and then buzzed it all, hung some Urban Dino-inspired black fabric on the walls. Labor unions: they are evil. I wanted the top frame and corner pole removed from the booth. a 10 minute job to move the light bar and remove 4 allen head bolts. Total cost: $300 to remove the frame and $300 for the electrician to move the light bar. Great that Labor is sucking the blood out of Entrepreneurs. I declined but will be bringing a 4.5mm allen key with me next show. Some pics.      
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Tru6 Restoration & Design Last edited by Shaun 84 Targa; 03-12-2009 at 05:24 AM.. |
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03-12-2009, 05:01 AM
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Bandwidth AbUser
Join Date: Nov 2001
Location: SoCal
Posts: 29,522
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Good to hear that the retail clothing industry still has a pulse. Good luck...get lots of orders.
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Jim R. |
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03-12-2009, 05:17 AM
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Back in the saddle again
Join Date: Oct 2001
Location: Central TX west of Houston
Posts: 55,927
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Cool stuff, I like your Speedster shirt and the '41 Iron Beast (that looks like a pic that I've seen on the board).
Cool logo too. What's the last word?
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Steve '08 Boxster RS60 Spyder #0099/1960 - never named a car before, but this is Charlotte. '88 targa  SOLD 2004 - gone but not forgotten
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03-12-2009, 05:24 AM
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Location: Cambridge, MA
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Thanks Steve. Line is Little Traveler.
That truck is from a picture taken by Steve Carlton and then stylized by deanp. Speedster will be available in men's sizes soon. I love our logo. One of the few times I get something right. 
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Tru6 Restoration & Design |
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03-12-2009, 05:33 AM
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Location: New York, NY USA
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The unions that work trade shows are nothing about worker rights or job protection. Just old style shake-down racketeers. There has got to be venues without these thugs.
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03-12-2009, 05:33 AM
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Friend of Warren
Join Date: Oct 2000
Location: Lincoln, NE
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Shaun, congratulations on business picking up!
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Kurt V No more Porsches, but a revolving number of motorcycles. |
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03-12-2009, 05:41 AM
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Bollweevil
Join Date: Dec 2003
Location: Fulshear, Texanistan
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I attended trade shows and conventions all over the country for 20 years. Never found a venue without the union requirement. Absolute extortion and was physically threatened a couple of times for doing a few things for myself. Shaun, if you ever go to McCormick Center in Chicago, better hide your allen wrench and not let anyone see you using it... Also, great looking clothes line you've developed.
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Jack 74 911 Coupe 2.7L - K21 Option - S suspension |
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03-12-2009, 05:46 AM
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Quote:
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'87 924S (Sold) |
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03-12-2009, 06:08 AM
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Quote:
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1979 911SC "Frankencab" Dave |
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03-12-2009, 06:14 AM
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Quote:
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Tru6 Restoration & Design |
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03-12-2009, 06:19 AM
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Double Trouble
Join Date: Nov 2002
Location: North of Pittsburgh
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03-12-2009, 07:04 AM
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<insert witty title here>
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Hey Shaun, I've always wondered about your logo - what's the inspiration behind it? Did you draw it yourself?
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Current: 1987 911 cabrio Past: 1972 911t 3.0, 1986 911, 1983 944, 1999 Boxster |
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03-12-2009, 07:13 AM
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it's based on the British passport actually. I created it in Illustrator. One of those things where it just happened having a friend's passport on-hand and 4 hours later. the text in the suitcase is Latin for No Boundaries.
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Tru6 Restoration & Design |
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03-12-2009, 07:21 AM
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Band.
Join Date: Dec 2003
Location: Denver, CO
Posts: 13,322
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Looks great, Shaun!
PS if the union guys see you removing the light bar yourself, it's hell to pay. 
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1983 SC Coupe 1963 BMW R60/2 1972 Triumph Tiger 1995 Triumph Daytona SuperIII |
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03-12-2009, 07:32 AM
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GAFB
Join Date: Dec 1999
Location: Raleigh, NC, USA
Posts: 7,842
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Shaun - this is really great news. Congratulations, sounds like you got a payoff this week on all the angst and agony.
Put me down for a 2XL of every men's shirt you do...
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Several BMWs |
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03-12-2009, 08:41 AM
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Great job Shaun. Not to sound pessimistic but maybe the gain in business has more to do with your hard work, quality, etc. than the economy. Let's hope it's a little of both! Sorry I missed you last night, feeling a bit better today, actually worked. I'll give you a call soon.
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O2 In Sully We Believe |
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03-12-2009, 09:01 AM
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Student of the obvious
Join Date: May 2000
Location: Phoenix
Posts: 7,714
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Shaun - the clothes look great. Sounds like the show was a success.
Do you have brochures with the dino stuff? The Arizona Museum of Natural History stocks a bunch of t-shirts. We go often and I'd be happy to drop off printed material to their gift shop buyer.
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Lee |
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03-12-2009, 09:08 AM
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'87 924S (Sold) |
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03-12-2009, 11:15 AM
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Canadian Member
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Looks great Shaun, proud of you! Great job and Good Luck.
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03-12-2009, 11:27 AM
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Location: The state of ME.
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Outstanding quality will always have a market.
Let me know when you go public Shaun.
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Du must schwein haben '67 901/05 rebuilt 2.2 Bultaco Metralla 62 "XDina" '68 BMW R69S |
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03-12-2009, 02:52 PM
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