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CANDICE THOMPSON |
Sometimes there is an intern or a messenger, but often when you own a small company you, designer or owner or chairman of the board, are the messenger. And today, that was me. Many, many hats. Sometimes it feels like a yellow hardhat is the only one I don’t don regularly.
I delivered some samples of Shiny Mama to Dance Magazine and their sister publications, in the hopes that they find this new product we are retailing on our site as exciting as I do. We have not paid for advertising yet, unless as a form of sponsorship for a school or competition, and decisions about can we afford to advertise or can we afford to not advertise are often the subject of discussions between me and my business partner and our press rep. At the moment, we try to make sure our products get seen by editorial desks and we have been lucky thus far to have found our way into the dance press that way. We have to keep up the underground word of mouth constantly as well and try to harness cross-marketing opportunities as they come or are thought up. Ever read The Tipping Point? Mavens, we welcome you (contact me, let’s chat!).
Often, I get frustrated about all these little tasks that add up when I do the time equals money equation. I wonder at what point it will make sense to hire an administrative assistant to help out. It is difficult to justify paying someone else at this phase of our growth but there is also that nagging thought ,”What innovative things could I be doing if I wasn’t doing a million little tasks?”
Many people have mentioned this is where interns come in, but at the moment, I have not found the right fit for that job. Ideally that job is for someone who is not overqualified but looking for the experience and extremely competent. Luckily, I have found a lovely person for late summer/fall but in the meantime, I am the go-to girl, the catchall position, the sometime superwoman. I am sure I am just scratching the surface of this topic for any business owners or company/school directors. It can be daunting, but when it is your baby……… good thing I inherited a face for hats:-)!
{Photo of my me and my grandpa in matching hats during an AZ Christmas vacation.}
