Suzanne Carillo

Well it used to be that I would go out of my way to make a really big Easter dinner and hide all kinds of chocolate goodies around the house.  This year, I’ve been so busy with Bisous, prep for shows and PDQ that I simply didn’t do it.  Any of it.  Kind of sad really. Thankfully, Robert remembered and bought one of those great little Lindt bunnies and I spent about 10 minutes this morning looking everywhere for the little guy.  Nothing like some good chocolate bunny tail to make you forget that you don’t have time to enjoy all the things you used to do before your business became so all encompassing.

Another reason there was no special Easter supper is because I am expecting a girlfriend from out of town tomorrow who will be helping me with the consumer show we are exhibiting at on Saturday. So, as is with every time someone comes to visit, you realize all the "stuff" you’ve let slide in the house and you’re running around like crazy cleaning and doing things you’ve put off for years. I finally got some photos up in frames that I’ve had since we moved here, 8 months ago. I guess it’s good that I have people come and visit every once in a while.  Gets the chores done!

We will actually be gone from Wednesday through till Sunday for this show in Ottawa, so no orders will ship during that time. 

I am still waiting for delivery of PDQ. I have lost hope that I will be able to ship orders prior to leaving for Ottawa.  I am sure that Canada Customs does not work tomorrow, Easter Monday, although it is not a statutory holiday in Canada and most everything else will be open. Tuesday delivery does not leave enough time for collating kits and shipping before we leave on Wednesday morning.  So, I’m just going to take a deep breath, eat some more chocolate, not stress anymore about the shipment and just thank heavens that my own honey-bunny didn’t forget to hook me up today with something we all need more of….chocolate, I mean love, of course!

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Well a big hug goes out to all the people of Paris Ontario and the GTA for showing up for the 3rd annual Canadian Scrapbook Expo this Friday night and Saturday. It was lots of fun!

Although the weather was horrible on Friday, rain and cold, and we got lost on the way to the show…(not the first time)  we still managed to have a great show and meet some wonderful people.

Some comments…

I can see where the #1 need in the industry is still good ideas since I noticed that many people stayed 15 minutes or longer in our booth just soaking up all the projects and ideas that we had on display. Someone asked me if we sold idea books and I said "what for? you can get all our ideas online for free!"  I’m a firm believer in supplying the consumer with inspiration and a little tug creatively to get them going. One thing people need to remember, it’s supposed to be fun! Do what you want, don’t get bogged down with other people’s ideas about what is "in" and what isn’t. It’s your album or page, make it your own. In the end it’ll be you and your family looking at the album, not the trendy magazines.

I got several great ideas by just talking to people and getting their take on what they’ve done with my products or how they would have finished a page. What a breath of fresh air to have someone willing to share their ideas openly….so unlike most Trade Shows I have attended where the competition is so fierce people get sweaty if you even walk near their booths let alone inside if you’re not a buyer. 

One sad thing I realized at the show was that so many retailers are still not carrying the Bisous products around the area where I live. Many consumers complained that they were unable to buy them at their local stores. Hopefully some of the retailers I met at the show will remedy this as there is an obvious demand that is not yet being met.

I may be reconsidering at some time in the future the possibility of teaching again. Many students that I had in my class years before kept telling me how much they enjoyed it and one lady even said she’d made the exact same pages I’d taught in my class for 4 other grandchildren!  The same pages 4 times! Now she must be able to make those pages in her sleep. : P So, we’ll see if in the future I may be able to squeeze some teaching time back in.  Just the fact that all those students went out of their way to come and see me and let me know how much they missed the classes really made my day.

Other than that it was a great show and I am looking forward to the next one in a mere 2 weeks in Ottawa…yikes!  Hope to see you there!

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