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It’s been nearly a week since I’ve updated the blog. I know, Snoloha is a Slacker-Friendly (remember to keep voting) company…but this is ridiculous.

There’s a reason for the slacking, though. I’ve been busy moving. We’re still in beautiful Traverse City, Michigan (12989 Sunset Drive). In fact, the new Snoloha HQ is in a pretty sweet location. We are now smack dab between Cedar Lake just a couple blocks to the north and West Grand Traverse Bay a couple blocks to the East. There are also two marinas, two tiki bars, Bay Breeze Yacht Charters & Sailing School, the Grand Traverse Yacht Club, a sandy beach and a great party store all within walking distance (trouble).

Luckily we are heading into winter so these surrounding temptations will be going into hibernation. However, this all sounds like the making of a very slacker-friendly Spring & Summer 2009.

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Many of you have probably already noticed the various online social networking opportunities with Snoloha, such as over there on the right…yep, those banners for Myspace, Facebook and Twitter.

You can also find them on the Community link and at the bottom of the homepage. Go ahead, don’t be afraid to click. I love getting friend requests, and being followed on Twitter…it makes me feel good. And if those aren’t enough, check us out on Meet the Phlockers and LinkedIn.

Wow! Throw in a cell phone, email, fax, snail mail and a beeper (I should wear a beeper) and it makes you realize why escaping to a far off island or getting lost in the woods is such a welcoming thought.

Just kidding about the beeper, by the way.

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Finally, Snoloha Banners are available for your website, blog, Myspace page…or wherever you’d like. Just visit the banners page, choose between 3 standard sizes, copy and paste the code…and then BAM!, you now have a Snoloha banner.

Here’s how the 468 x 60 banner looks:

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Thanks for all the votes thus far. Check it out, Snoloha’s Popularity Meter is ON FIRE!

Voting continues through October, and remember, you can vote once per day.

If you believe in change, then Snoloha is your candidate.

I’m talking about change from the everyday brutal grind of florescent lights and gray cubicle walls, skating out early because it’s just so damn nice outside, booking that vacation that’s been on the back-burner, throwing on a little Donovan Frankenreiter, simply smiling and enjoying the day…I could go on and on, but I think you’re picking up what I’m laying down.

If you feel like a little change is needed, then do what I do…have yourself a “Snoloha moment.”

I’m Rod Call, and I approve this message.

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When I decided to utilize a blog as part of this website, my goal was to use it as a way to communicate about Snoloha and everything that happens with this brand (good and bad). There’s been plenty of good, and a few disappointments shared. I describe the process of launching and growing this brand as a roller-coaster ride; lots of ups and downs.

The past couple months have been exceptionally interesting. So much so that I have taken a deep breath and big step back to look at the overall big picture.

What separates Snoloha from other brands is the melding of lifestyles, climates and activities into one word, one brand, one image. It’s not strictly surf or snow. It’s not strictly tropical or winter. It’s all of it. All rolled into one concept at the same time.

I realized a couple months back that I began losing a little focus on this concept. I started falling into the mindset of becoming “everything to everyone”. As a result designs started to reflect specific lifestyles rather than the melding. It’s easy to begin wandering down that path. It’s easy to want to grow this brand as fast as possible and to do it with trendy designs. I’m sure Joe (the talented dude behind many of these designs) was more than a bit irritated when I decided to pull a handful of designs and “refocus”.

The other factor that separates Snoloha from the others is the sheer connection and emotional tie that I have learned folks have with this brand. THIS, I have not lost sight of. This is what keeps the brand growing. This really has become “your brand”. And that is how I intend to continue the growth.

You’ll notice new designs and news directions in the coming months. You’ll notice an extremely focused approach to communicate with you and to build this brand organically.

As always, thanks for the continued support.

Here’s a new Joe design…

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The 50% off sale has been great. Some of the gear that is not moving forward in the Snoloha line has really been depleted. This week there will be a handful of pieces that are going back to normal price, as they are continuing to be a part of the Snoloha selection. I’m hoping to have all the pricing up-to-date by Friday. So take advantage of 50% off everything (except Lil’ Ones) for a couple more days.

Also, please remember to continue voting for Snoloha for Most Slacker-Friendly business, http://www.startupnation.com/homebased100/contestant/868/index.php. If we win again…well, I’ll have to think of something.

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I stumbled across a previous post that I wanted to revisit, because I think it’s important:

Marci Alboher, of the New York Times, has an interesting read/interview titled, “Why Leisure Matters in a Busy World”

How do you define Leisure?
Leisure has many different definitions — some involving time, some relating to an activity being done, some relating to state of mind.

My favorite quote from the interview…

“Wouldn’t it be great if we didn’t define ourselves by our work? It should be just as valid to define ourselves by our leisure.”

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StartupNation is holding their Home-Based 100 competition again. Snoloha was the 2007 “Most Slacker-Friendly” winner, and I have entered the contest again for the same category.

If you’d like to vote for Snoloha (and I’d sure appreciate your vote), simply visit this link, http://www.startupnation.com/homebased100/contestant/868/index.php

Thanks for the support!

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It’s hard to believe that Snoloha is in it’s 2nd year. Some days it feels like it’s older, others I step back and realize how young it still is. As I’ve written and said many times, launching this brand and starting this company is hard work. It’s a roller-coaster ride of emotions, failures and successes. And as I’ve written before, the most rewarding feeling is knowing the connection that this brand has with people.

Just recently, within the span of the last 10 days or so, I’ve had some great moments of realizing this connection and wanted to share a few of them: First, there was the Snoloha tattoo sent in from Kimber. Next, was a phone call from a customer that wanted to buy MORE gear, in addition to the gear she had purchased at an event earlier in the summer (gotta love repeat business). That call was followed up with one from north of the border in Canada (I have yet to implement international shipping). The next day a Snoloha package left for London, Ontario. A mid-western ski resort contacted me about becoming a Snoloha dealer. A potential new rep called before the weekend. A mini-van pulled up in front of the house as I was checking the mail asking if this was the Snoloha house…and then left with new Snoloha gear for her daughter-in-law. There was the Snoloha mention on Transworld Business and on SurfExpo.com, plus the great article in NM3 this month.

Starting and building a business and a brand takes a ton of hard work and a great amount of passion. And days like the ones I’ve mentioned are so satisfying…it’s really difficult to put into words that feeling. So thank you, for all the continued support!

By the way, the 50% off sale has been great. A good amount of gear has been cleared out. So stay tuned for cool new designs and models coming real soon.

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A nice mention from Transworld Business regarding Snoloha’s expansion into Europe. Transworld Business is the premier resource for boardsports news and information, the same company that brings you Transworld Surf and Transworld Snowboarding.

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