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CANDICE THOMPSON |
A few months ago, I started writing more frequent blogs with the intention of leading you all on a daily journey with me as I work on and grow LOLAstretch. But the stress and pace of the last few months has made that near impossible. We have had a huge growth in sales in the last year and some manufacturing delays as well as shipping debacles to boot, so in my oft frenzied state, it has been hard to distill moments lately.
I am, however, at a crossroads with the company and I must make some very pivotal decisions about the future. As I try to decipher which direction to take it, I have decided that the most important thing I can do right now is gather information from people in business, big and small, who have more experience and expertise to offer.
I have been lucky to have encountered many small business owners in NYC in the last few years, but few have been as generous and knowledgable as Joel and Barbie Christoph of Yogabela.
I met them when I sold them an industrial sewing machine for their workroom back in December. I had just made a full switch to a manufacturer and had not really ever figured out quite how to get it calibrated. As delays with my current manufacturer have persisted, I began the search last month for alternative ways to see to it that my customers receive their orders on time. And when you are a small company without the heavy hand of leverage, that can be a tall order. And it has been.
So, in addition to contacting large factories, such as the one I currently use, I decided to get in touch with anyone and everyone I know who produces in a smaller workroom. I was lucky enough to be able to pick the brains of Joel and Barbie, two of the collaborative designers and makers of Yogabela, on Saturday afternoon. They produce high quality yoga wear in Long Island City in a sunny workroom atmosphere which grants them greater control over their product and inherent problems/delays. It is a rather compact space and the atmosphere of the place is more like that of a design room than a factory. That being said, it is a huge endeavor– just to employ 3 sewers requires large consistent sales numbers, and comes with a great deal of responsibility. Not to mention it requires so much creativity and passion, not just for the product but for the overall operations and systems of production.
Joel and Barbie showed me around their space and explained how they operate. The knives for cutting, ordering/storing fabrics, storage for stock etc. In addition, Joel was kind enough to explain how he operated when the company was smaller and through each period of growth. He detailed similar experiences of delays and shipping problems they had before they started self-producing. Boxes of goods disappearing en route, products arriving in incorrect sizes or colors. I got a very clear idea of the pros and cons between using an existing factory and starting your own, there being long lists for both options.
Here is a photo of one of my favorite items they make, a short short with ruffle around the leg. They are so cute and flattering and are perfect for that bikram yoga class or hanging out at the pier on an obscenely warm day such as today.
The meeting left me with these great shorts in hand and a lot on my mind. The one thing I hear quite consistently is the warning tale of companies that grow too fast. So for now, it is keeping up with my customers for today and more research for tomorrow. The pros and cons lists have been started.
Many, many thanks to Yogabela. Click here to see check out these adorable shorties and more!
And many, many thanks to my customers who continue to enjoy LOLAstretch through this period of growth and change!
xo
Candice
