Craft manufacturers

Met this morning with a potential new crafting group, like all the groups that I have been in contact with, they find themselves in the same situation of not creating a sustainable market place.

After pondering about this and why is it that craft projects don't do any pre work before setting up led me to one answer - these projects are always well nearly always started our of a passion to make the lives of those less fortunate better.

What seems to be forgotton is that at the end of day, they are manufacturers and they need to earn a living, so once the romantic illusion is put into a box especially when not enough comes in, the reality sets in that it needs to make money to survive.

This is also why when these projects are set up no thought goes into what the market is after and what the project can deliver on the needs of the market.

More and more Tangerine is playing a role of assessing the needs and finding manufacturers and giving them specific briefs on what to make.

Slowly and surely a fully fledge marketing agency is being formed that is starting to offer a full service offering from designing their logos to creating products for them to produce.

Tangerine's campaign

Finally our email campaign is going out, 3 months later than I proposed but I suppose better late than never.

Well this will be the first of many, I think by creating a database of potential clients allows us to start building a name for ourselves, and building a reputation about the company we are.

My next action to complete for the web is the newsletter which will be finished Friday and will go live I would say about a week later latest.

After that is to update the products take off the products that have been sold and replace with new photos.

I suppose eventually having a web site becomes a full time job, I need to find out how we can update it ourselves.

Well I'm waffling, good night I'm having a early one tonight

Tangerine's Journery

I've just come back from dinner with a very old friend of mine that I havn't seen for a very long time.

It was so good and felt so good giving her the journey of Tangerine, and it made me think that maybe it was a good time to reflect on why I set up Tangerine with Gordon.

I suppose it makes sense to go right back, after I walked out on Jacques with R13.00 in my pocket, I was at the lowest of lowest, personally I never though I had the strength to make it through the next hour never mind the next day. But I had to think of my daughter and knowing how unsettled this must have made her, internally made it all worse.

But as they say the show must go on, one hour became one day, became one month, became two years and here we are now.

I will never forget the pain of walking away, I will never forget the pain of realising how much hurt he put onto my daughter, I will never forget the internal humilation of getting to the lowest possible place within yourself.

I don't use these memories to drive me, I think that would drive me crazy, I use these memories as lesson, lessons never to be learnt again. Lessons that have opened up my world to looking for only positive initatives and changes that I can bring upon myself and other.

Yes Tangerine's journey has been an intense one, but the journey has been a positive one, each day I meet or bump into people who just reiterate this.

Tangerine Marketing

A world of opportunities are sitting for our picking, the hard work of putting this business together is now finally starting to pay of.

I have finally got my head around being open to making the money needed to fulfill on all the goals and dreams that I have personally and for the business. Thank goodness for my friend and business partner - Gordon, he is such an inspiration most times - he is constantly pusing me to grow as an individual.

I see everytime I overcome a situation, he opens up more to me and shares and trusts me more with his thinking about business.

So its time now to look at each one from a financial viability and strategic opportunity to Tangerine for now and future business opportunities.

John Wesley Centre

Today it felt so good to spend time with the women at the John Wesley Centre in Etwatwa, the last few weeks just put so much pressure on all of us to deliver, that I believe we all lost a bit of why we are doing what were doing. Yes, we know the more money we make the better the lives of many - but what going out to the centre just brought home, was the level of love and commitment to fellow people just really lifted my spirits.

Hopefully this is the last time in my life I try so hard to please everybody, its time that I finally got it into this head of mine that its not all about me and how I think, but its about having fun, and enjoying what were about and spreading this load amongst us all.

I truly thank God for brining these beautiful women into my life, who through all that life has thrown at them just see the brightness of the dawn of every and each new day. THANK YOU

Developments in Tangerine

This week, basically because I have really been sick as made me homeward bound, and due to the fact I haven't had much energy its has made me become very internally focused. Obviously this has made me take a long hard look at where we are and where we need to go.



At the same time, remaining clear in my thoughts of what we have achieved to date, and I think I need to just mention our achievements to date.



Firstly we entered a market that we knew nothing about, we have already reached the capacity of the small South African retail market, gosh I had no idea how small this market really is.



Secondly, our name is pretty much known locally and I know not everybody likes us, but we have secured a position quickly.



Now though comes the time to enter new markets, like virgin territory, it just takes a big shove to jump and get going, well that's where I am now, the universe is shoving me whether I like it or not and I am jumping.



Lastly we have really figured out how most operators operate and to be quite honestly its the one's you expect the most have let us down, but I suppose that is how life is in general.



So now I am feeling strong and ready to go roaring out again in the next chapter, I go out with an insight that I did not have before. As Merle said you will only receive wealth when you are ready to handle it, each chapter is a new learning working towards being ready for that achievement.

Africa's time is here

Today I had traces of the me I know not this sick person who is driving me crazy, today I realised how the doors that started Tangerine are now closing and I see new doors opening.

What the show has taught me or showed to me is that I am confident enough to now start creating a Tangerine range of products, that is developed and produced under the Tangerine brand.

A range of products that promotes the African tribal nation not just in South Africa but accros the total southern africa, especially leading up to the 2010 socceer world cup that is being held in South Africa.

Last week South Africa launch Africa's time is here, I think all South Africans should rise and take advantage of this great opportunity

Making a difference

I have started doing the visulazation tools that John Kehoe preaches, and it has made me realise that life is not about how much money you make, it is about what you do with the money you make.

Everyone of us has a choice in our lives about how we live, do we live for ourselves only and our own worth, or do we live to make a difference no matter how small.

Tonight I watched a TV programme on our local SABC 3, in which we spoke about bone marrow and I like many who I am sure believed to donate your marrow was a very painful experience, only to find out that there is nothing to it.

I wonder how many people will rise to the occassion, and of those that do rise I wonder what kind of people they are.

I am going to rise to the occassion, I have learnt that life is the most precious thing to have, to do deeds for others is the most rewarding aspect of life.

I live my life the way I want other people to see me, a very powerful thing to do and that is the words of Ghandi.

I vow to use the money I make to make a difference in the lives of others, no matter how big or small.

Links to the past

Last week was definately a week of making contact with people I have not spoken to or been in contact for a very long time, the amazing thing about the three people who have come back into my life, when speaking with them it felt like they had never left my life.

Also I have learnt a valuable lesson about myself this week, every time I get sick which is never often, but when I do I am man down, it is because of the unbalance lifestyle I live. It is an ongoing growth of neglect and the only way balance gets back into my life is by making me sick.

So the lesson finaly learnt no matter how I am tempted to give to much to one aspect of my life over the other, no more because in the long run I will achieve better quicker properly.

There is a saying in the bible about where you sew your seeds, well that is what the lesson is all about, every time I push for these quick fixes guess what eventually I end up putting in more work in the long term than I needed originally.

The more confident I get about myself, Tangerine and the women I am working with, the more sure I am of standing my ground and not just accepting what is put to me.

So this week, now that I am no longer going to Durban (just to sick)I am going to take everything that is around me and work through everything personal, business, emotional and anything else that comes out of this period.

Getting back to normal

I am slowly getting my life back to normal, this show really took it out of me, in more ways than one. I think I just put so much pressure on myself to deliver and to finally start showing a return on Gordon's investment in to the Tangerine dream.

But after the two meetings I had today, I look closely at myself and realised it is not so much about Gordon but working through this abandment issue I have about people in my life, and how I usually start pushing people to eventually walk away from me.

Every time I am at a point in my life when it should turn I pressuraise myself into believing that I have to deliver more than what is expected, and when that dosen't happen because it can never happen I believe that the people I have let down will walk away. This is the first time I have finally realise and seen myself in the situation.

Actually it is a breath of light that I am so aware of this and it has made me make a decision to just slow down my pace and to spend some quality time documenting all the projects that are around me and to put actions against them all with time lines and targets, financially and emotionally.

Yesterday was also an unbelievable day I bumped into Darren a guy that I use to work with, somebody who I called a friend and due to circumstances which i can't even remember we havn't spoken in nearly 10 years, and the amazing thing was, was this it felt like yesterday, it really blew me away.

I honstly end the day truely believing in my success as a human being and feeling so proud of the person I am becoming and knowing deep within me the journery of Tangerine is still a long and very enjoyable one that will bring great achievements to all who I come into contact with

Show a thing of the past

Well I can't believe that the show is over, and a whole week of my life feels like it just never existed, but I KNOW it did, I got really sick. My body telling me to take care of itself - I promised myself a few days of in Durban next week, but I just don't want to loose the momentum formed at the show.

So what happened at the One of a Kind, firstly our stand was amazing, I felt though that the international buyers weren't researched enough to cover the needs of the majority of crafters at the show. The buyers and contacts that I did meet look very promising.

Other lesson learnt is only attend the show with new stock, buyers and customers are looking for new stuff.

I am also thinking that maybe we should be looking a sponsoring an award versus taking stock to the show.

Show up and going

First day of the One of a Kind behind me now I can concentrate on the show, no real hiccups and in general most things ran quite smoothly.

Not as much sales as I imagined but I positive about tomorrow - lots of good interest shown in the stand and the products that we are marketing.

Next few days are going to be a bit of a blur for me, but already just the few contacts will make it all worthwhile.

Until tomorrow and when the show is finished I will only being doing for small entries to keep everybody abreast of what is happening.

Finally Here

Well the stand is up, the products are on the shelves, everything is in place with only one hiccup our tags never arrived, but we have made a plan.

I have been informed that the new web site is up trying to get into it but cant.

All of this means one thing we are ready to enter into the market place and we ready for the market place.

I know this is short and sweet but I am extremelly tired, so ready for my bed and for the day tomorrow.

Petrol to keep us going

Today I experienced the thought and feeling of what happens when you can't get the resource you need to be able to function in the normality of life.

After going to at least 20 petrol stations with my car on empty to I thought how was I suppose to move on without petrol.

Presently South Africa is gripped with yet another strike, this one as the potential to cause a real problem for every South African but the biggest fear is how our officials who need to save lives and catch the criminals function.

By 2pm today there was just no more petrol left in any of the petrol stations.

So I hope that by Monday we could be in a bit of a situation as the people who never got to put petrol in their cars will be in no position to move, and those who have petrol like me will have a few days maximum.

So come on guys I know we need to get decent livings but not at the expense of everybody else.

Back on track

Nearly fell back into a mindset of not being able to achieve this, not having enough faith, and as I was falling into this I could see myself doing it - first time ever, bless Philip that he felt he needed to tell me to take it easy and I had already figured it out.

So I took myself out of the situation came home to work, couldn't get a signal to send emails, couldn't get my phone charged so it made me just focus and get back on track, the moment I felt at peace and fired up again guess what everything worked again.

One of the most stressful things I believe a new business undertakes is moving from the small micro business to a professional looking and thinking business, I think this move is really miss understood and I am so glad that I am aware of this, has this will help me in helping the many different groups that are showing themselves to me right now.

So back to being the driver again tomorrow, I thank the Lord for surrounding me with the most beautiful people, and yes unfortunately there are always one or two that fall away but in general a team that is there to see this all happen

Every day is a new opportunity

Today my day started of with chaos, and I found myself thinking that I wouldn't make it through the day, I snapped at a member of our team and I suppose had a slight panic attack of what is coming our way.

Once I had managed to sort myself out and calm down I realised it wasn't as hectic as I thought. I realised how amazing it is that already we are so busy, yes were not making the money we need yet to be sustainable but every month its just getting better and better.

Driving by from Johannesburg today, the stand designer phoned to give me a final budget, only double what he had initially quoted us, have you ever had that feeling when you are going to jump of the cliff, you know the rope is going to hold you, but the fear inside you overwhelms you, well that's how I felt.

So I slowed my thinking down looking at all the positives and negatives and realised that the only negatives were based on our present cash flow, the positives are that the market place will recognise us as the professional business we want to be known as - so it was agreed to do, must admit did need to bounce this one of my partners both of them - God and Gordon. Just need to get his message first though before I picked up the phone to call Gordon - yes he gave me the message as soon as I spoke to people around me.

So yes the rope saved me when I jumped of the cliff today, it will be an amazing success in more ways than my wildest dreams can imagine.

So before saying goodnight, Tangerine Marketing is in the Star newspaper tomorrow, reporter interviewed me over the phone, I am feeling a bit insecure of how I came across I just get so passionate about what I am doing and why.