The new home for "The Vintage Foodie" is up and running. It's a bit of a work in progress, but just like a new home, it'll take a little bit to settle in. For all those following this blog, please be sure to head over to www.thevintagefoodie.net and follow this blog at its new location.
It has been a pleasure writing to you all here...thank you all SO much for reading!
Cheers,
Nina
Thursday, May 3, 2012
Scratch That...
I just heard from the Science Center! It was finals time, so things got a little backed up. Apparently my results were sent to me in the mail two days ago...so hopefully I'll get them today or tomorrow. Excited, a little nervous, yet very hopeful that the results are positive in nature. If only he would've given me a little nugget, a small hint, something, so I can start making plans to move forward.
OK, what can I do now so I don't stalk the postman?
OK, what can I do now so I don't stalk the postman?
Making the Switch
I've decided it's time. Time to make the switch...the switch from one blog host to another. For now, I'll still post on this site, but soon (hopefully in the next day or so) www.thevintagefoodie.net will be landing in a different place. If you are currently following "The Vintage Foodie" on Blogger, be sure to stay tuned so you can follow me at my new home.
PS - Still no word from the Science Center. I placed a call and here I sit. I've been paging through Entrepreneur Magazine to help pass the time and have found some interesting ideas that seem to be helping me tweak my marketing plan for the upcoming big consult on Tuesday. I'm totally open to your suggestions as well. Any input, especially related to the still obscure, Twitter, would be much appreciated.
PS - Still no word from the Science Center. I placed a call and here I sit. I've been paging through Entrepreneur Magazine to help pass the time and have found some interesting ideas that seem to be helping me tweak my marketing plan for the upcoming big consult on Tuesday. I'm totally open to your suggestions as well. Any input, especially related to the still obscure, Twitter, would be much appreciated.
Tuesday, May 1, 2012
Basking in the Afterglow
So this is what freedom feels like. One year ago yesterday was my last day at my old job. One year ago today I started out on my new career path. I was ready to write, finish my novel, dedicate more time to "The Pampered Paramour," have more time for foodie research and pursue something, anything, other than the road I had been on for the past 6 years. I knew that not many people had this type of opportunity, and you could bet your bottom dollar I wasn't going to let this one slip away.
I was fortunate in so many ways - I had (and still do) a loving and supportive husband, a column in Vintage Life Magazine and the hopes for something better than an overbearing, manipulative boss who thought the best way to incentivize her sales employees was to consistently cut commissions, while the CEO was bragging about his brand new Escalade to everyone in the small company. Without being too spiteful, I have to say, her hair was just about as bad as her conniving, ill-developed business sense. After 6 peaceful weeks of writing and exploring the finer things in life, I had the opportunity to go back to work, on my terms, as a contractor. Without getting into too many details, my unscrupulous former company decided to tell countless lies about me, engage me in legal banter that forced me to hire an attorney to defend my right to work, and then, just after they had to cut a rather hefty settlement check to the government, "someone" sent an anonymous letter stating that I was unprofessional and had multiple sex blogs. Well, I've got news for the one signed, "Concerned," you helped propel "The Pampered Paramour" into more sales with that one...so, again, almost one year later, I say, "Thank you...whoever you are."
After my trip down memory lane, I am happy to say, that on my one year anniversary of freedom from a tyrannical company, I was actually able to check off every item on my "To Do List," which included emailing the Science Center for a status on Product X's testing. Hopefully I'll hear something, at some point. In the meantime, I'm just reveling in the afterglow of what was perhaps the best decision I've ever made. Follow your dreams, people, and never give up on them or yourself. They're worth it...and so are you!
And now off to continue the creation of the best marketing plan the world has ever seen! Muahahaha!!
I was fortunate in so many ways - I had (and still do) a loving and supportive husband, a column in Vintage Life Magazine and the hopes for something better than an overbearing, manipulative boss who thought the best way to incentivize her sales employees was to consistently cut commissions, while the CEO was bragging about his brand new Escalade to everyone in the small company. Without being too spiteful, I have to say, her hair was just about as bad as her conniving, ill-developed business sense. After 6 peaceful weeks of writing and exploring the finer things in life, I had the opportunity to go back to work, on my terms, as a contractor. Without getting into too many details, my unscrupulous former company decided to tell countless lies about me, engage me in legal banter that forced me to hire an attorney to defend my right to work, and then, just after they had to cut a rather hefty settlement check to the government, "someone" sent an anonymous letter stating that I was unprofessional and had multiple sex blogs. Well, I've got news for the one signed, "Concerned," you helped propel "The Pampered Paramour" into more sales with that one...so, again, almost one year later, I say, "Thank you...whoever you are."
After my trip down memory lane, I am happy to say, that on my one year anniversary of freedom from a tyrannical company, I was actually able to check off every item on my "To Do List," which included emailing the Science Center for a status on Product X's testing. Hopefully I'll hear something, at some point. In the meantime, I'm just reveling in the afterglow of what was perhaps the best decision I've ever made. Follow your dreams, people, and never give up on them or yourself. They're worth it...and so are you!
And now off to continue the creation of the best marketing plan the world has ever seen! Muahahaha!!
Sunday, April 29, 2012
So Close, Yet So Far
It seems that this year has been slathered with all kinds of ridiculous illnesses for me. I dodged the worst of a cold after our trip to Mexico in January, but then promptly got a nasty sinus infection. A couple of weeks after recovering from that, I got a raging cold and now, as I lay here typing this, I'm recovering from a fall down the stairs paired with some sort of stomach flu. I suppose now I get it, I'm overworked and under slept...and one shouldn't wear socks on the carpeted stairs - that's a disaster waiting to happen.
Anyway, an update is in store. So, first things first. As of Friday, I haven't heard back from the Science Center, but as of Saturday, some very great progress was made. I'm going to digress for just a moment, but I promise, things will all tie together. As some of you know, I've written a novel. The genre is Weird Western, with a dash of Paranormal, a pinch of Science Fiction, a hint of Romance, and a handful of Historical Fiction. After a small stream of rejection letters, a request for more from an agent (only to be shot down) and a few publishers who asked to read more after I shortened things up by 20,000 - 40,000 words, I've decided to self publish on Nook(R) and Kindle. My book is now registered with the Library of Congress and I have commissioned an amazing artist by the name of Anthony Salazar to do my cover art. He has sent me over mock-ups that captured the essence of my novel, but didn't give too much away...and I would've been thrilled with them as the final product, but Anthony and I met yesterday and he has more in store.
(And this is the part where things tie together.)
As we talked about all things art, from Picasso to Pollock, we got to talking about my new product line. I explained that I was looking for a central image, something that I could use to brand my product, but I wasn't quite sure what I wanted it to be. (I really couldn't have been more vague, as usual.) I swore him to secrecy and then shared with him the name of the upcoming line and explained its significance. He asked me if I knew of Alphonse Mucha and if I liked his style. Coincidentally, I have two tapestries of Mucha's work in my house - so that answered his question and I knew exactly where he was going...and I loved it. I immediately asked if I could commission him to design the brand image that would soon be on bottles, boxes and bags, shipped across the country an over the seas. Fortunately, he accepted!
So, once that's done, my other designer can add the font and we can figure out the label shape, etc. It feels good to be so close to checking off what is one of the most important elements of starting a brand...so close, yet still so far. All I can do now is wait, wait with bated breath.
Anyway, an update is in store. So, first things first. As of Friday, I haven't heard back from the Science Center, but as of Saturday, some very great progress was made. I'm going to digress for just a moment, but I promise, things will all tie together. As some of you know, I've written a novel. The genre is Weird Western, with a dash of Paranormal, a pinch of Science Fiction, a hint of Romance, and a handful of Historical Fiction. After a small stream of rejection letters, a request for more from an agent (only to be shot down) and a few publishers who asked to read more after I shortened things up by 20,000 - 40,000 words, I've decided to self publish on Nook(R) and Kindle. My book is now registered with the Library of Congress and I have commissioned an amazing artist by the name of Anthony Salazar to do my cover art. He has sent me over mock-ups that captured the essence of my novel, but didn't give too much away...and I would've been thrilled with them as the final product, but Anthony and I met yesterday and he has more in store.
(And this is the part where things tie together.)
As we talked about all things art, from Picasso to Pollock, we got to talking about my new product line. I explained that I was looking for a central image, something that I could use to brand my product, but I wasn't quite sure what I wanted it to be. (I really couldn't have been more vague, as usual.) I swore him to secrecy and then shared with him the name of the upcoming line and explained its significance. He asked me if I knew of Alphonse Mucha and if I liked his style. Coincidentally, I have two tapestries of Mucha's work in my house - so that answered his question and I knew exactly where he was going...and I loved it. I immediately asked if I could commission him to design the brand image that would soon be on bottles, boxes and bags, shipped across the country an over the seas. Fortunately, he accepted!
So, once that's done, my other designer can add the font and we can figure out the label shape, etc. It feels good to be so close to checking off what is one of the most important elements of starting a brand...so close, yet still so far. All I can do now is wait, wait with bated breath.
Thursday, April 26, 2012
When Life Gets in the Way
Inevitably people are going to differ. Some will differ so vehemently they will fight with all they have to defend their side.
My arguments usually begin by way of discussion...that discussion is usually misinterpreted by someone and then it becomes an all out argument...and I'm just not the type of gal to back down, especially because I go into these conversations with righteous intentions.
Honestly, there's usually no right or wrong, just differences of opinion...or, more specifically, a difference of opinion pertaining to the relevance of the other's opinion. Lots of opinions here.
Anyway...life got in the way today. The last thing I want to think about are all the happy little bits of my new project. Maybe this is the Universe's way of saying I need to step away and regroup before I can move forward. So, with my current recipe at the Science Center, this argument couldn't have come at a better time. I could probably work more on my business & marketing plans, but my brain just isn't focussing on that right now. I guess there's a reason for everything. Time to pause.
My arguments usually begin by way of discussion...that discussion is usually misinterpreted by someone and then it becomes an all out argument...and I'm just not the type of gal to back down, especially because I go into these conversations with righteous intentions.
Honestly, there's usually no right or wrong, just differences of opinion...or, more specifically, a difference of opinion pertaining to the relevance of the other's opinion. Lots of opinions here.
Anyway...life got in the way today. The last thing I want to think about are all the happy little bits of my new project. Maybe this is the Universe's way of saying I need to step away and regroup before I can move forward. So, with my current recipe at the Science Center, this argument couldn't have come at a better time. I could probably work more on my business & marketing plans, but my brain just isn't focussing on that right now. I guess there's a reason for everything. Time to pause.
Wednesday, April 25, 2012
Second Guessing
I woke this morning and faced the day I had been anticipating for almost a week. Today I set out to get started on label creation for Product X. I was nervous and excited, I knew this meeting would end with something, which was better than the nothing I already had.
Fortunately for me, my designer is also my friend, so what was to be a business meeting, turned into two girls chatting about life and love, people we liked and people we thought were assholes, all over a Peruvian lunch. When we returned to her office we started to chat about the grand visions I was having for this new line. I went in with little more than a product name and an outline in my mind as to what the label could look like, but I was certain that if anyone could help me brand this product line and make it something people would want on their shelves, it was her.
After my usual long-winded explanation of things, I showed her a picture of the bottles I was considering. The men I had consulted liked one bottle and the women liked the other, so once again, I was at a loss. That's when she said, "You can't be all things to all people. That's the way to become nothing to no one." And she was absolutely right. If I keep getting caught up in these mental tug-o-wars I'll never be able to make a decision. I had to go with my gut. She suggested that I start by thinking of the places where I'd like to see Product X on the shelves and work from there. Then she profoundly added, "Aren't women usually the ones who do the shopping?" Bingo! I happily set my mind on the bottle I originally liked and we continued to talk about fonts and die cut labels, we even planned a field trip together to go taste wines and talk more about the design side of things.
So, as I sit here recording Step 5 (or so) out of a million, I realized that I have been completely over-thinking things. Even though there is a science to marketing and product placement, it isn't rocket science and since I have a product that I believe in, one I can proudly stand behind, I need to start trusting my gut and my business experience. I haven't come this far, from simple home cook to vintage foodie columnist, by being timid. I trusted myself when I started out on this adventure, and look where it took me! I do the best I can at everything I do. Sure, sometimes hold my breath as I watch things unfold, but in the end, I know I have what it takes to succeed...I've already succeeded!
Fortunately for me, my designer is also my friend, so what was to be a business meeting, turned into two girls chatting about life and love, people we liked and people we thought were assholes, all over a Peruvian lunch. When we returned to her office we started to chat about the grand visions I was having for this new line. I went in with little more than a product name and an outline in my mind as to what the label could look like, but I was certain that if anyone could help me brand this product line and make it something people would want on their shelves, it was her.
After my usual long-winded explanation of things, I showed her a picture of the bottles I was considering. The men I had consulted liked one bottle and the women liked the other, so once again, I was at a loss. That's when she said, "You can't be all things to all people. That's the way to become nothing to no one." And she was absolutely right. If I keep getting caught up in these mental tug-o-wars I'll never be able to make a decision. I had to go with my gut. She suggested that I start by thinking of the places where I'd like to see Product X on the shelves and work from there. Then she profoundly added, "Aren't women usually the ones who do the shopping?" Bingo! I happily set my mind on the bottle I originally liked and we continued to talk about fonts and die cut labels, we even planned a field trip together to go taste wines and talk more about the design side of things.
So, as I sit here recording Step 5 (or so) out of a million, I realized that I have been completely over-thinking things. Even though there is a science to marketing and product placement, it isn't rocket science and since I have a product that I believe in, one I can proudly stand behind, I need to start trusting my gut and my business experience. I haven't come this far, from simple home cook to vintage foodie columnist, by being timid. I trusted myself when I started out on this adventure, and look where it took me! I do the best I can at everything I do. Sure, sometimes hold my breath as I watch things unfold, but in the end, I know I have what it takes to succeed...I've already succeeded!
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