GROWTH AND A NEW PERSPECTIVE

I’ve been a bad blogger lately. Mostly because I’ve been holding off on a few post ideas until my new blog is ready. (Holy awesomess, cant wait to share the new design AND get to WordPress).

This week was a crazy week. Last weekend we took the plunge and completely redid my studio. I cant even begin to express what that did for me, my brand and my creativity. I now work in a space that is totally ELP. We got rid of every piece of furniture, a few doors, added shelving, bought some antique Craigslist goodness, painted every square inch, added hardwood floors, DIY’d our hearts out AND planned a trip to an awesome local flea market for treasures this weekend. Would you even believe we found a silver pineapple to adorn the letterpress table? Awesomesauce. I know you want to see photos, but you’ll just have to wait! So many exciting posts ready for the new blog.

Wednesday, I had a great conversation with Whitney English about the stationery industry, the inner workings of wholesale relationships and the National Stationery Show. (Photos above are booths at the NSS from Pink Loves Brown and Whitney English). That conversation was fabulous and sent my head a-spinning. ELP continues to change and grow, but I’m feeling very good about some new directions we’re about to head in. More details to come when its all ready to share.

The thought of the National Stationery Show really made me stop and think. I’d planned to exhibit in 2011 – but Whitney said something to me that I think I will always remember... "Just be there. Get out there and have a presence." I spend so much time trying to perfect things (there’s that dang word again…) She encouraged me to take the leap and exhibit at THIS YEAR’S National Stationery Show. I spent the next twelve hours on the phone with the NSS, adding up AMEX and Delta rewards points, rallying my Mom and best friend, Taylor, to get ready for a NYC trip in 10 weeks. And yesterday I found out, the NSS booths I was looking at… are sold out.

Well.

MOVING ON! While it was an incredible idea and something I totally would have made happen – it wasn’t meant to be quite yet. What that whirlwind twelve hours did for me was lit a spark under me to really delve into the world of wholesale. And take an interesting look at my business model and my true goals for Emily Ley Paper. Have I got it all figured out yet? Not quite. But the wheels are spinning and I’ve been fortunate enough to be mentored by some of the best of the best. The benefit of having a brand that I’m proud of and a “mission statement” that never changes – is that I can have something to measure these big ideas and hard-big-picture questions against. Does this fit ELP and my commitment to authenticity and top-notch quality? Is this idea for a refined focus for my collection and an expansion into more options right for a brand dedicated to classic Southern design?

Blogging is like therapy. I figure things out when I write. And right now, after writing and re-reading that last paragraph, I am thankful for a few things:

1) I’m thankful to have mentors who are generous, encouraging and most of all – HONEST.
2) I’m thankful that I dedicated the time, money and HEART to developing a brand representative of ME.
3) I’m thankful that I have a mission statement for ELP – that is never changing – something solid and strong that is the foundation upon which every decision is made.

Food for thought. Happy weekend!