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Labor Day Weekend. The last hoorah of the summer. In an attempt to actually live, and take part in this Snoloha lifestyle, (and separate myself from my computer, my notebook, my planning, etc., and thanks to my good pal Jimmy) I will be enjoying the Holiday weekend as well. We will be aboard The Illusion for the next couple of nights resting in the harbors of Charlevoix and Boyne City for the Red Fox Regatta. Really though, it’s not all play. The way I look at it, I’ll be wearing and promoting Snoloha and I’ll bring along a camera to capture some Snapshots & Scenery. Hey, business is all about networking and relationships…right?

So that’s what I’ll be doing this weekend – Networking with a group of like-minded individuals and building strategic business alliances and relationships…how do you like that for some corporate sounding BS? Okay, okay, so I’ll be on a boat sailing, talking about college football that kicks off, grilling burgers dockside, and enjoying an ice-cold adult beverage.

Here’s a little Buffett for you:

“You need a holiday
take a holiday
find a far off wonderland
where you might regain command
of your life today

Take a holiday
you need a holiday
grab a pack and hit the trail
take a sail
and wind up in some moonlight bay

You’re caught up in the Internet
you think it’s such a great asset
but you’re wrong, wrong, wrong
All that fiber optic gear
still cannot take away the fear
like an island song

Disregard confession
Stop trying to make impressions
on your corporate climb
it might come as quite a shock
but you can’t really own that rock
it’s just a waste of time”

And here’s a little Red Fox Regatta snapshot:

Yes, I am still on this subject. I can’t help it, it is very exciting. I spoke with my customer yesterday regarding their Snoloha gear and how I am going to have to implement international shipping on the website. I did a little research on the area they live in and wanted to share it here:

This is the Brighton Seafront, located on the south coast of England on the English Channel, and is one of the largest and most famous seaside resorts in the United Kingdom.

A little more perspective on Brighton’s location:

I am currently inside the Lansing Center exhibiting Snoloha to potential new retailers at the MRA (Midwest Reps Association) Summer Market. I am smack dab in the middle of some very large brands. Directly across from me is REEF, Smith, and DaKine. Next to me on one side is Body Glove, and on the other side is Under Armour. Intimidating? To say the least. These are major players with millions of dollars in marketing budgets. Here I am, this small start up with my 10 feet of booth space and hand-painted driftwood. But ya know what? It looks pretty sweet.

It is very, very easy to get wrapped up in wondering, “how am I going to compete?”. The reality is, I’m not really competing with any of them. They have already told their story, built their brand, and created successful businesses. The reality is, my competition is myself and my ability to tell (or market) the Snoloha story and lifestyle so that it resonates and connects with people.

Hearing stories from new customers, such as the one in the post below, helps keep this reality in check. It’s what helps keep the drive and passion moving forward. There will always be naysayers and other brands out there, but as long as I remain focused and true to the Snoloha brand and to those that connect with it, then that’s all that matters.

I recently had an email exchange with a new Snoloha customer that I wanted to share.

She and her husband were first introduced to the brand at The Sportsman Shop in Glen Arbor while they were on a camping trip. He bought 2 shirts (the serene green SnoSurf and the Chocolate Snoloha, I believe) and he loves wearing them. He’s from England and she’s from Michigan. They live in England and are visiting her parents near Grand Rapids for the summer. She contacted me regarding another shirt for her husband. Their home is a seaside town called Brighton – “very trendy, surfy, cool” and he is “dying to get back and show off his Snoloha gear”.

How cool is that? A new Snoloha family member who lives in a “trendy, surfy, cool” town in England.

It’s an amazing feeling to step back and realize that there are people wearing Snoloha in Florida, Hawaii, Alaska, Massachusetts, California, and now England. It’s tremendously rewarding and exciting to know that people from around the country and the world can connect and relate to the brand and what I’m trying to create.

Thank you, for the support.

This is pretty cool from Seth’s Blog:

On a deserted beach on a small island near the equator, there’s a barrel and some ziploc bags. This post office has been here for more than a hundred years. It was built by whalers who needed a way to get letters home to England. The idea was that the last stop you would make on your way home was to the post office. You’d pick up whatever letters were there and bring them back to England.

I received the Surf Expo LAUNCH finalist logo today that I wanted to share. You’ll see it used throughout the site and marketing materials moving forward.

The Snapshots & Scenery gallery is building, and as a result the monthly contest is getting more difficult to choose a winner. Over the past couple of days, there have been a number of great photos uploaded. I wanted to share a handful of them here:

Thanks, Rob, for risking your life for a Snoloha photo. First there’s the fire photo, then there’s the skydiving. I think Rob is going for the bravest Snoloha photo award.

Robert from Hawaii sent this in. Cruising around Mauna Kea State Park on his motorcycle, with a Snoloha sticker on the fender…I love it!

Ah yes, the dog days of summer on West Grand Traverse Bay…thanks Kim.

Okay, I’ve been holding off writing about this…until now. Many of you have heard about the Surf Expo LAUNCH contest. For those that haven’t, LAUNCH recognizes the hot new surf, skate, and lifestyle brands on the market.

Well, Snoloha made it as a finalist, but ultimately did not win. The judges applauded me on my marketing presentation and savvy and love the SnoFlake Palm Tree logo, and they think with a bit more development that Snoloha would be a big hit. That is some great feedback from a panel of judges made up of retailers from across the country.

I was quite deflated when I first got the news. I felt as though I let down those around me who have been so supportive. Of course I received nothing but positive comments from everyone. I’ve said time and again how difficult this process of starting a business really is. And I’ve said time and again that having support is a tremendous help.

I’m grateful for it.

So what’s next? “By the inch is a cinch. By the yard is hard”.

Continuing to build the brand and the company in a scalable (how’s that for a buzz word?) fashion where I can be sure to give the proper attention to details and to customers. This would be “by the inch”, I guess.

Now, let’s suppose Surf Expo happened. As exciting as it would be, and as effective as it would be, perhaps I’m not quite ready yet. I mean Snoloha isn’t even a year-old yet! I guess that would be, “by the yard”.

Yes, it’s as cliché as they come, but maybe things really do happen for a reason.

I am absolutely proud of being a finalist in the contest. The judges validate that I’m on the right track.

And I am absolutely grateful for all the support. The feedback from all of you validate I’m on the right track.

Enjoy the day~

Okay, it’s that time to make some room for the new products that will be available soon. There are a number of items we need to unload that will not be carried over this Fall & Winter. Check ‘em out…and spread the word!