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One of Snoloha’s retailers, Boyne Country Sports, is teaming up with One Warm Coat for the 2nd Annual Coat Drive.

The coat drive runs from November 1st thru December 15th, 2009. They will be accepting clean and slightly worn winter coats or jackets and also gloves, mittens and scarves. Any of you Michiganders out there, be sure to visit the closest BCS store to donate.

For the rest of you, please visit One Warm Coat to find out where & how you can donate.

Their mission is simple: “Our goal is to provide any person in need with a warm coat, free of charge.”

This one is from Mike Michalowicz over at Toilet Paper Entrepreneur (pick up his book, it’s worth the read):

“When we wait to take action until we have all of the facts, very often we end up doing nothing at all.”

Isn’t that the truth?! It’s easy to fall into this thought process of wanting to know everything before acting. The problem is, you never end up acting, rather just discussing, pondering, wondering, worrying, evaluating and estimating. Most times (if not all times) just go with your gut…which always reminds me of a favorite Buffett song, “Cowboy in the Jungle” (yes, most things in my life always come back around to Buffett or a Seinfeld quote. Pathetic, I know):

“With no plans for the future
He still seems in control
From a bronco ride to a ten foot tide
He just had to learn to roll.

Roll with the punches
Play all of his hunches
Made the best of whatever came his way
What he lacked in ambition
He made up with intuition
Plowing straight ahead come what may.”

G’head…ACT. Start that company, take that vacation, call in sick (or call in gone!), do whatever it is that you want to do and your gut is telling you to do, but “paralysis by analysis” is holding you back. Do I need to offer more Buffett? Okay:

“Live a lie and you will live to regret it
That’s what livin’ is to me”

-

Every once in a while I go back and read older blog posts. It’s a great reminder, or snapshot, of what was happening at the time.

Currently, we are in the middle of BIG, HUGE, GINORMOUS changes for the Snoloha brand. Okay, maybe I’m being a little too dramatic, but there are very exciting changes on the horizon. Change, I believe, is good. Being safe and stagnant is way too risky. However, with planned change comes that dreaded word that I still am not use to…’patience’. None of these changes can happen over night, and like most entrepreneurs once you have an idea in your head you want to act on it asap.

I decided to search for the word ‘patience’ in the blog search box over on the left and thought I’d share / recycle this post from May of 2007:

Those that have been with us since the beginning know that Snoloha.com launched in November of 2006. Our official retail launch was this past February at Boyne Country Sports in Novi, Michigan.

We are now at 16 retailers (possibly 17 anyday now) ranging from Novi, east to Grand Rapids, then north along the Lake Michigan coast to Petoskey. Our goal is to continue growth here in Michigan and beyond, including the Great Lakes basin, New England on down the Atlantic Coast, then we want to “head west young man” to Texas, Colorado, and of course California.

We are learning our “voice” and our place in the market. I am learning patience and how to find “moments of escape”, which usually consists of walks to the downtown coffee shop, or getting lost in the woods with the Customer Service Manager / Shipping & Recieving Supervisor, Bailey, which happens to be my Lab. She’s not very good at either of her jobs. I think it’s because she can’t speak in English and she lack opposable thumbs.

With the continued support of you, our customers and retailers, the road ahead looks promising, but far from smooth. I knew coming into this that starting a business would not be a smooth ride. It’s more like a “dangerous curves ahead” ride, with steep cliffs on either side, limited visibility, and no power steering. However, it is also very, very exciting, motivating, and fulfilling.

So a big “THANKS” to everyone for your feedback, your business, and for supporting the Snoloha lifestyle thus far!

Gotta go now, there are retail orders to fulfill and Bailey seems to think that laying in the sun and barking at pedestrians walking by is more important…I really need to have that performance review with her!

There’s a new selection of Snoloha winter hats to help keep your noggin’ warm this winter, while still looking like the fashionista you are (uh, is that a word? And if it is, it’s probably not the right word for all you dudes out there).

Either way, the new hats are pretty cool. I particularly like the sailor beanie because it fits my odd shaped melon. I also like the new Striped Campus Jeep Caps that have been very well received early on.

Lastly, if you pre-ordered any Jeep Caps (especially the grey ones) and have not yet heard from me, shoot me a note and I’ll send you the link where you can order. I think I contacted everyone, but I have been known to be forgetful every now and then.

After some clean up and upgrades “under the hood”, the Barefoot & Exposed Blog is back baby! As much as I realize tools such as Facebook and Twitter are important to business and brands in this interconnected online world we live in…blogging (in my opinion) is still the most important communication tool, at least for Snoloha.

Maybe it’s a selfish personal fulfillment kinda thing where I feel better having the ability to vent in more than 140 characters. But I don’t think so.

The blog allows for a more intimate look at what’s happening in the world of Snoloha, after all that’s what the goal was when we first started blogging back in the fall of 2006.

So…what IS happening?

Joe the Designer has come up with what I think is a SWEET new branding look for all Snoloha’s bidness materials (biz cards, letterhead, packaging, catalog, etc.). I will unveil this soon.

What this also means is that my Web Guy (who still remains nameless on this blog…I’m not sure why) will be updating the site so it complements the new branding materials. Included in the new look will be a new homepage which will highlight Snoloha International.

Speaking of Snoloha International…Oliver is making some big strides across the pond. Our rep in Spain is hitting the road to sell the brand, he continues conversations with potential new reps, distribution into Germany is in conversation and as he put it “things here are hectic, which is quite good.” I will be talking with Oliver at the end of the week with more updates.

Be sure to check out all the new Snoloha winter hats now available. Perfect timing for the holiday shopping season! Also, the Microfleece Zip Hoodie is a MUST have. This thing is extremely soft and comfortable. Buy one for yourself, or as a gift.

And finally, the current promos:

• First, all short sleeve T’s (guys & gals) are still $15.00. They will most likely stay at that price in order to make room for all the new gear that is currently in the works. Again, sizes are getting limited so snatch ‘em up while you can.
• Second, the guys long sleeve GOGGLES design (a personal favorite) is still available for only $18.00.
• Third, buy a pair of Lounge Pants (guys or gals) and get a free Snoloha coffee mug or pint glass. Shoot me a note after your purchase with which beverage holding device you prefer. Also, I cannot be held responsible for any lack of productivity that will most likely result after wearing said garment…especailly when paired with a Snoloha beverage holding device. You were warned. Prepare to lounge.

As always, thanks for supporting and living the Snoloha Lifestyle.

And, don’t forget to follow Snoloha (Rod..that’s me) on Twitter, or become a Fan on Facebook. Go ahead, it makes me feel good to have Twitter followers and Facebook Fans.

That’s all for now. There’s more, but I’ll spare you all the gory details…for now.

A few Snoloha shots captured while sailing somewhere between Puerto Rico & St. Thomas…

Hey, it’s Captain “Chicken” Dan wearing his Definition T at the helm.

Look, there’s Ryan acting all Zoolander like in his Palm Tree Chair Lift T.

Look closely, Ryan is sportin’ a Snoloha visor.

Keepin’ a cold one cold is hard work in the Caribbean heat.

Be sure to check out all the new Snoloha winter hats now available. Perfect timing for the holiday shopping season! Also, the Microfleece Zip Hoodie is a MUST have. This thing is extremely soft and comfortable. Buy one for yourself, or as a gift.