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I’m not exactly sure where this post is going…so bare with me (is that the correct way to spell ‘bare’?).

Running a lifestyle brand / business…I think it’s sorta like the desire to buy a sailboat, or the thought of walking away from everything to escape to the tropics to bartend like Tom Cruise in Cocktail. There’s a sense of romanticism, escapism and the grass is greener attitude.

I know what it is definitely like…juggling. Or walking a tight rope. It’s a fine line between living the lifestyle and the behind the scenes stress and worrisome nights. Juggling escapism with realism. The stress and worries are part of launching and running a small business. It is NOT easy. There’s no such thing as an overnight success (I’m not including the high-tech Twiiter & Youtube worlds here). It takes time, passion and patience.

There was a time in a previous life that I had a day job with my own little office. It might as well have been a prison cell. Luckily the desk didn’t have drawers so there was nowhere for me to hide a gun (okay, that’s a little extreme). There was no sense of freedom or creativity.

Entrepreneurship is the exact opposite. You’re free to do whatever you want and be as creative as you’d like. You don’t have to be tied down 9 to 5, Monday thru Friday on someone else’s watch. However, there are still long hours. it could be a Sunday night when most are getting ready for another crappy week. It could be Labor Day Monday when others are depressed their three day weekend is over. But it is on your own time. That’s the pay off.

Snoloha continues to slowly grow. I’ll be picking up the pace with retailers throughout this winter, so that’ll be good. One of my biggest challenges online is that this is a completely made up word and brand…so nobody is searching for “Snoloha”. Sure they are searching for clothing, but I’m not selling the clothing…I’m selling the lifestyle. It’s an interesting challenge. Seth Godin has a great post about this exact scenario that really hit home for me.

What’s so powerful about this brand, as I keep preaching, is my customers. Just this week (and this is a partial list):
I’ve had more photos sent in, including this sweet guitar pic from Jimmy Pirate; a customer in Minnesota sending me a pair of vintage snowshoes to use in my tradeshow booth; repeat business from one of my best customers using her 20% off discount after participating in the Top Ten feedback; another person inquiring about advice on how they could go about doing what they love versus what they are currently doing; yet another telling me he looks to Snoloha for inspiration as he starts his own business; great feedback on Twitter & Facebook; and finally, anytime I see Snoloha Europe in my inbox I can’t hep but feel proud.

So yes, it’s hard and stressful work running a lifesytle brand. But it’s living the lifestyle and escaping on my paddleboard, soon the sailboat, and this winter my snowboard…along with the customer connection that makes it all worth it.

Today, it’s nose to the grind working on the catalog. This weekend, depending on the weather, will be rigging the sailboat and living the lifestyle.

The balancing act continues.

Thanks for the continued support! More appreciated that you can ever know.

Wow! September is right around the corner. What happened to summer? Luckily, September is one of the best months here in northern Michigan. The beaches are not as busy, the water is warm and there should be plenty of good sailing days!

It’s also getting to be that time that I put my “retail hat” back on. I started 2009 off by deciding to put more emphasis on growing the brand online and evolving the product line. Thanks to all your help, I’ve managed to gather valuable feedback on favorite designs and products. The brand has continued to slowly grow and connect with folks all over the world. I’m happy with this type of “organic” growth. I sound like a broken record, but it’s that connection that people have with Snoloha that will allow it to continue growing and to become a long term, sustainable brand.

Looking out on the horizon is Surf Expo in January. This is where manufacturers and retailers in the surf, skate, water sports, swim and resort industries from across the U.S., Caribbean, Central and South America and around the world converge on Orlando for three days in the middle of winter.

This will be Snoloha’s first major tradeshow. Nervous? Yes. Excited? You bet.

Over the next couple of months I’ll be designing the tradeshow booth, catalogs, lining up appointments and looking to grow the brand with a bigger retail emphasis.

Orlando in January will be a nice break from a northern Michigan winter. We’ll be bringing a little “Sno” to the “loha” setting of Surf Expo.

I’ll keep you posted as the booth, catalog and other various plans come together.

And remember, if you’re a Facebook user, check out the Snoloha Fan page. And for all of you Twitter peeps…here you go.

I was very happy to see a certain trend as these lists came in…the Snoloha Logo, the SnoFlake Palm Tree and the Definition T were the most popular designs. This is a good thing since the brand pretty much hinges on those three elements.

Here’s the Snoloha Flickr link if you haven’t seen all the designs yet.

So, the Top Ten (not including the Snoloha Logo, SnoFlake Palm Tree and Definition T) looks like this, in no particular order:

Boards


Palm Tree Chair Lift

Board Shop

Sail the Arctic

Contrast

Beach Sign

Palms

Bar T

Snoloha Island

Cafe

Bluebird (okay, so there are eleven)

If you feel like killing some time (who doesn’t enjoy killing time online)…check out the Snoloha Design gallery in Flickr, pick your favorite 10 designs, and let me know what they are.

What’s in it for you? How about a 20% off code for your next Snoloha purchase?! I’ll send ya the code in exchange for your Top Ten List.

Have fun, and thanks!

It’s the “End of Summer / Going Back to School / A Good Reason to Have a Sale” Sale.

ALL guys and gals t-shirts are only $15.00.

G’head…start shopping and get ‘em while they last.

This is from my good buddy Seattle Dave, and I thought I needed to share.

“A couple of days ago I went to the post office. I hate going to the post office, even a short line is long! I always feel a bit violated by how long it takes to mail something. I am rarely pleased when I leave the post office. This day was no exception.

As I climbed into my truck shaking my head about how much time was wasted, I looked to my left and saw a lady crying in her car. While I was a bit annoyed by my visit, I certainly wasn’t about to cry! As I cautiously spied on this poor woman, I saw that she was indeed crying. I saw the tears rolling down her cheeks as she was laughing her head off!! She was bawling hysterically. She was quaking and convulsing with laughter.

It was great.

Whatever was in her letter was magic. I started laughing myself as I drove away. This moment was a day-changer. I felt a closeness and true love for this crazy lady. Her joy was contagious and I have never left the post office feeling better.

This moment struck me as significant in that it highlighted the possibility of joy in any moment. Happy, funny, strange, moments that bring a smile to your face ARE day-changers.

The beauty in this is that: you can think them any time you choose!! You CAN manifest joy by simply thinking joyful things. This is awesome!! Do this!! Find a couple of your best, bad moments and smile a bit. You will certainly change your day and it is very likely that you will change others as well!! Have fun, be kind, appreciate, smile, laugh and smile more. Enjoy all of it. -Dave”

It’s been sometime since I picked a winner for the Snapshots & Scenery contest. Well, it’s time to get back on track. If you want a chance to win…there are several ways to share your photos:

1. Visit the Snoloha Community. Create a profile. Upload photos.
2. Visit the Snoloha Facebook Page. Become a fan. Upload photos.
3. Send them to me via email.
4. Use a shot of you in your Snoloha gear as a profile pic on one of your social networks (Facebook, Twitter, Myspace, etc)! And make sure you let me know about it.

Here’s the Snoloha Flickr link.

Also check out the Snapshots & Scenery posts on the blog for further info, previous winners and all kind of fun pics that have been sent in and posted.

That’s right, FREE shipping.

Buy anything and I’ll pick up the shipping tab (it’s cheaper than picking up a bar tab). I’ll run this through the week, so…

G’head and start shopping.

That’s right, I’ve actually had a handful of “Sno” thoughts the past couple of weeks. That’s the beauty of Snoloha and the lifestyle it represents. It’s enjoying and appreciating all the seasons that Mother Nature throws at us. And it’s enjoying the associated activities with each passing season, while looking forward to what the next season will bring.

Stand Up Paddle Boarding is such a great way to enjoy the water. And I find myself, while out there, actually thinking about snowboarding this winter. Crazy?! Perhaps. I think it has more to do with the parallels of the two activities…escaping by yourself with your board. It’s quiet. It’s peaceful. It therapeutic.

The same thing happened this morning after purchasing some Burton gear. I couldn’t help but think about the winter. In fact as I type this, I have three snowboards leaning on the wall next to me. Yet later this afternoon I’ll probably throw the SUP board on the Jeep and head down to the beach.

This is a good example and great reminder to myself of how the Sholoha brand was born and what is stands for. I’m a little spoiled because Traverse City is one of the most beautiful and amazing places to call home. So it’s easy to take advantage of the lifestyle. For others, it’s not as convenient…but that’s where Snoloha helps people “escape” to that place they’d rather be…they’re “somewhere between the islands and the arctic”.

If reality isn’t allowing you the Snoloha lifestyle at the moment…turn to escapism! It’s Okay to Escape. Go ahead. Close your eyes. Throw on a Snoloha t-shirt. Fill up a Snoloha coffe mug. Think about your favorite place “somewhere between the islands and the arctic.” That place where there are no worries, where you can relax, where you feel energized, where you smile and simply enjoy life.

Go ahead. Escape.

It’s true. How many people really need another t-shirt? I sure don’t!

I decided to check out the big sidewalk sale in downtown Traverse City this morning, as well as visit a local Snoloha retailer, Boyne Country Sports. While pretty much loitering, talking to the staff and not offering any real help (sorry Brian), I noticed the Burton tent going up (as in Burton Snowboards).

Okay, I’ll take a look.

I ended up with a new Burton t-shirt and a sweet zip hoodie. Do you know how many Snoloha t-shirts and hoodies I already have?

But I couldn’t resist. I wanted both.

So NO, people don’t need another t-shirt…but wanting one is an entirely different story.

Go ahead, start shopping…you know you want to.