Bug a Lug Baby

So we've been very busy over the past 6 months, which is easy to see by all the new products on our website. Our much anticipated Soother Savers were set to launch in September, but then, thanks to a comedy of errors, we were able to start shipping them in November, and we are still sorting out a few glitches, however, they are moving along and we have had RAVE reviews!!

All the while, we were behind the scenes securing our two new exclusive headband ribbon designs! These designs will only be available to Bugalug customers! We are so proud of our two new lines, All Girl and Darling Debut. We were able to take these new lines to LA to the Boom Boom Room and we were excited to see which ones the stars picked. I was surprised (perhaps only because I'm a mom of two boys) that the All Girl Pink Polka Dots was the #1 pick, followed by the All Girl Flutterflies (not surprised), All Girl Flowers and then the Darling Debut designs followed. I found that most of the Darling Debut headbands were picked for moms or "older" girls, where the All Girl were a hit with the little ones. But overall, they loved them both.

We also launched our new Pony Loops this month and what a hit they have been! Our online sales have doubled with the launch of these and again, the reviews have been amazing! People love the price, the designs, the selection and the overall simple, yet adorable idea! These Pony Loops are truly one-of-a-kind and another Bugalug innovation. They are on sale for another day or two so I recommend you try one for yourself and let us know what you think! Mom's, these are great for you too, if you are a pony tail wearing girl like myself. :)

Lastly, we have a new barrette line that will launch next week. You all know we don't do embellishments as we want to keep our barrettes as safe as possible, so we found a great alternative! Something to add a little bling to your baby. Keep your eyes out for these. My son has been bugging me for a Transformer line, but i can't imagine there is much of a market for them. LOL!

Valentines is fast approaching and we are all geared up for this girly occasion. We will be launching our Valentines collection this week. Heart ribbon barrettes, Greeting cards and Pony Loops! Please check back later this week, or join our newsletter for more info.

I hope this New Year has started out very positive for each of you and I look forward to sharing 2009 with you and your girls.

All the Best,

Sundi

I always wondered what it would be like to be a celebrity and have people gush over you and get excited about meeting you. I mean really, these are people just like us, so why do we get so excited about them?

Well, I've had my first celebrity experience. I met a woman the other day and we got to talking about our kids and staying home and such. I mentioned how grateful I was to have my business as a means of being challenged, something for me, and in reality, an escape! She asked what I did and I told her I was the owner of Bugalug. We'll you think I had just told her I was really Katie Holmes! She started giggling and saying how excited she was to meet me. How proud she was of me and all of my accomplishments and how much she LOVES our products! I was a little flabbergasted to say the least! I mean really, it's just little ol me. The girl with a husband, 2 kids, a messy house and an empty fridge. Really, why would anyone get excited over that?!

I did an interview with the Calgary herald today and I kept saying "we." (i.e. we started out under a different name, we decided to pursue the US market, etc.) Finally the interviewer asked me who we was and I laughed and said it's really just me, but I've had so much help and support over the last two years, I feel like it should be "we." She laughed a bit too. But really, I find it hard to take the gushing and to just say "me", when there are so many other people involved in my business. So in this blog, I'd like to introduce you to the rest of "me." The people that have helped make Bugalug such a huge success, the "we" team.

First I have to tell you a bit about Erica. She is almost literally my right arm! I hired her a year ago and she has been such a huge help in every aspect of my business, including inspiring me and motivating me to make Bugalug the best it can be. I guess she's kind of like my agent! :)
Then of course, there are the 14+ moms/woman who make all these fabulous products for me, without them there could be no Bugalug!
I have also recently hired my sister in-law to do research and design for me and I truly believe that because of this decision, Bugalug will be taken to new heights.
I also have to thank my parents for their support and encouragement and Lee Ann and Malory for their countless hours helping me to keep it all together.
Finally, my Husband and my boys, for shushing when I'm on the phone and for listening to me when I've hit a wall...and for coming up with some crazy ideas, which make me think I'm not so crazy after all.
Last but not least (when did this turn into a thank you speech!?) I'd like to thank all of the people who love and support Bugalug as much as I do! Keep the ideas coming, the suggestions flowing and the referrals coming! We love you for it!

So really, I'm just little ol me, it's the rest of "me" that makes "me" special. :)

All the best to all of you,

Sundi

Thanks to your support, we were able to claim the prize for the Prairies Regional Mom Entrepreneur award from Savvy Mom!!! Thank you so much for your support!

In order to celebrate, we are going to have a Saleabration! Please use the code winner at checkout to save 25%! Any orders over $25 will still receive the free birthday headband as well!

Thank you again for all of your support and we look forward to doing it all again next year! :)

A HUGE congratulations to the other winners:

"The winner of the 2008 SavvyMom Mom Entrepreneur of the Year award is Martha Scully, founder and CEO of CanadianSitter.ca, founder and CEO of http://online.savvymom.ca/t?r=1246&c=1480810&l=30832&ctl=1ED8E25:54C533CB8138A8795D1A756A57E1DC5DABC4E1E6DC708244& and http://online.savvymom.ca/t?r=1246&c=1480810&l=30832&ctl=1ED8E26:54C533CB8138A8795D1A756A57E1DC5DABC4E1E6DC708244&, online childcare directories for parents and caregivers. As a new mom, Martha struggled to find suitable babysitters (sound familiar?)...and since necessity is the mother of invention, she was inspired to create a better way for families and caregivers to come together..."

"The winner in the Atlantic region is April MacKinnon who owns and operates a lovely online store, Nurtured Products for Parenting in Dartmouth, NS. In Ontario, we’re clapping our hands for Laura Berg from baby and toddler sign language company My Smart Hands in Toronto. For the Prairies region, we’re celebrating children’s hair accessories company Bug a Lug from Calgary. And way out west for BC and Territories, we’re congratulating online publisher, yoyomama.ca from Vancouver. Learn more about our regional winners in the winners’ showcase at http://online.savvymom.ca/t?r=1246&c=1480810&l=30832&ctl=1ED8E2E:54C533CB8138A8795D1A756A57E1DC5DABC4E1E6DC708244&. They each have a great story to share about their success as mom entrepreneurs."

CONGRATS GUYS!!

Well, tomorrow we will all know who the winner of the Savvy Mom Entrepeneur of the year is!

Be sure to watch Canada AM or our website to see if we have won. If Bugalug is lucky enough to claim a prize, we will have a Saleabration on Wednesday! Check here for more details.

Thanks again for all your support.

Sundi

Labels: contest, Savvy Mom, winner

Labels: birthday, September, what's new

Hi Everyone,

So thank you to Health Canada, Snugglebug Baby bows and Ladybugs and Lullabies, we have a consensus that clips - including ours, fall under the category of Jewellery - NOT TOYS. This is great news for everyone who manufactures and buys clips - any clips! :) Due to safety concerns, we are still looking for an alternative to making really small clips, but we are looking for an alternative, so if anyone has any great ideas we'd love to hear it.

Thank you to everyone who has worked hard with Health Canada to make safe products for our kids. Really, it's us as mom's and business owners that have the ultimate responsibility, not a governing body, to keep our kids safe. I'm very proud of our industry as it is obvious that most companies are very concerned with your child's safety.

Have a great day!!

Sundi