Today the shop is closing until mid to late summer. Thought I should fill you in on what’s happening so you’re not too confused.

Why are you closing? We are closing to give us time to adequately market our manufactured items that are arriving mid-late July. We are looking forward to placing our focus solely on getting those items here and then ultimately in your hands.

Why are you discontinuing the handmade goods, indefinitely? It has always been our goal to have a small, boutique handmade line. We still hope to do that. However, we have been spending so much time {and money} in our effort to get you handmade items, that we haven’t been able to focus on properly marketing our new manufactured items that are arriving soon. Handmade items take a lot of time, as I am sure you all know, so we felt it would be best to use that time over the next couple months to focus on our huge investment that we have made on our manufactured items. Again, we hope to reintroduce handmade in the future, but for now our manufactured goods are first and foremost. When we feel we have gotten a footing with those goods, and if it seems profitable and reasonable for us to do, we will bring handmade back.

What about the inventory you currently have? We currently have a handful of already made items in our inventory. After the shop closes tonight, we’ll reassess our inventory and probably do a couple pop up sales on FB to help liquidate the inventory, so stay tuned!

Can you tell us more about the manufactured items? Yes! We will have four styles for adults and two styles for kids in an amazing high end fabric blend: cotton, modal and spandex blend. The sizes will be 2, 4, 6, 8, 10 for kids and XS-2XL for adults. The fit of the hoodies will be more true to size, with the adult breakdown looking like this:

XS {fits sizes 0-2}, Small {fits sizes 4-6}, Medium {fits sizes 6-8}, Large {fits sizes 10-12}, XL {fits sizes 14-16}, 2XL {fits sizes 18-20}

The weight of the fabric is medium weight, with a longer torso than our American Apparel counterparts, longer arms with cuffs that can either go over your hands or fold up for normal fit. The idea with this season is perfect our hoodie’s fit by creating a comfortable, but classy hoodie, one that can either be worn out to dinner or to lounge around the house. We are striving to make the hoodie more versatile for you. Because of our use of the coveted modal weave, the hoodie for adults will run around $80, $60 for kids.

Why did it take so long to get the manufactured goods? We have never manufactured before. Ever. When I signed a contract with my manufacturer, we both were under the impression that what I had to reproduce had already been through the development stage. Unfortunately, what I had was a concept, that had not been developed into patterns, fabric weave, color and size breakdowns, etc. This is what the “development” stage entails. Immediately following the development stage is the “production” stage. Production stage is when the fabric is milled, the items cut and sewn, and then finally, shipped. The production stage is when most people join up with manufacturers and it takes roughly 3 months {which is the turnaround I initially expected}.  A normal development process takes anywhere from 3-6 months and it is what most designers work on for the next season during the current season’s production time period of their products. I was unfamiliar of this process and did not realize what development of a product entailed, so I entered into this agreement, unbeknownst to the manufacturer, with no proper development to hand over to them. Thankfully, Ana and Kelly are amazing, and have held my hand through the entire process. Our development stage finished late March, after 6 months of intense, daily work. I am happy to say we are now in production! Whoohoo! We are almost there, but this is why this process has been so drawn out.

Will I be able to use my 50% off coupon when the shop reopens? YES, YES, DOUBLE YES!!! Finally we will be able to use those coupons you received last summer during the Save Evy’s Tree campaign. Here’s how it will work: those coupons will be good for a three day period when we reopen in late July. The shop will be open EXCLUSIVELY for the Save Evy’s Tree people ONLY, and you will be able to buy whatever you want, using the 50% off coupon code, for those three days. Again, to thank you for your patience, the store will only be open to you coupon holders ONLY. Everything that you purchase will be preorder, with a couple week turnaround time, but to thank you for your patience, you will get first pick of everything that comes out. This is crucial, as we have a limited amount of items coming this first order, for example, I believe we only have about 45 XL coming in one style.

 I think I may have lost my 50% off coupon, what should I do? At this point, nothing. We will send the coupon code out via email to all the people who purchased during the save Evy’s Tree campaign. If you don’t receive it then, we will have you contact us directly so we can get you the code.

What if I don’t have a 50% off coupon? You most likely don’t have a 50% off coupon code because you didn’t purchase a hoodie during the Save Evy’s Tree campaign we ran last summer. But don’t worry!!! After the 3 day exclusive event for the Save Evy’s Tree people, we will have a preorder sale with a hefty discount code for you to use at that time.

When will we be able to see pictures of the manufactured goods? We are in the process of ordering samples to photograph mid June, so hopefully the end of June.

Where will the manufactured goods be sold?  The manufactured goods will be sold on our website and boutiques throughout America and even internationally. Have a boutique near you that you would like to see carry Evy’s Tree? Email us their contact, we’ll send them some info in beginning July. wholesale@evystree.com

What’s next for Evy’s Tree? Only God knows! I am following His lead daily. At this point, we will see how well these Fall items sell, and if they do good, we will manufacture a spring 2014 line! WOW, so exciting!

I hope this clears up some questions? I want to personally thank everyone of you who have helped me stay afloat over the last year. This has been some ride, for sure!!! I am blown away daily by your love and support of Evy’s Tree. It’s so crazy that me, a person who really isn’t a super stylish person, is in the fashion business. Thank you for making this little thing that God dropped into my lap four years ago, a big thing that has become a great job. I love you all.

Approving size samples a week ago. These are just embellishment and size samples, NOT actually colors or details

xoxo

Well, it’s almost time, and we are so excited! Our manufactured goods are coming mid summer and we are MORE than ready to step into this new phase of our lives.

In order to properly market and promote our new items, we are going to be closing the handmade line of our business indefinitely. As we’ve always said, it is our hope to have a very small boutique handmade line, but we need to get our footing with our new manufactured goods first. So…..

Our shop will go into sale mode on Friday, May 3…all our handmade items will be discounted and most of the Spring items will be available via preorder {a 2-3 week turnaround}. Our shop will close on May 15 and will remain closed until our mass produced goods arrive this summer.

This is such an exciting time for Evy’s Tree and we are so thankful for all your love and support. We look forward to sharing more info with you regarding all our new items very soon.

Big hugs and happy shopping!

xoxo

Ok everyone, close your eyes, and let’s shut out all other distractions at the moment. While your eyes are closed, can you think of your favorite brick and mortar store near you? Perhaps a swanky little boutique that is super fun to shop at and everyone in your town loves and adores? You got a place in your mind? GOOD! Hold that thought….

Now here’s a little back story about Evy’s Tree:

The goal has always been to sell in boutiques. In the beginning, I was leery of selling in boutiques as our profit margins were extremely low and not good enough to make it in the wholesale market. However, after a couple years of sales under our belt, and now in the process of manufacturing our own items, we feel comfortable with selling wholesale and being able to stand behind our products. Not to mention, we feel we have perfected our wholesale prices a little and have come up with a profit margin that benefits everyone.

So are you still holding that boutique in your mind?!? 

Good, here’s what I need from you. I am in the process of hiring some sales reps, but there’s nothing better than a verbal recommendation from someone who loves our product, SO…can you do one of two things:

1. Comment on this blog post {or email us at wholesale@evystree.com} with the name of the boutique you love that you’d like to see carry Evy’s Tree. We will contact them with wholesale info.

OR

2. Take one of your hoodies {or your phone with our website on it} into the shop and tell them you’d love to see them carry our brand and give them our info.

Here’s where this gets fun. If the boutique places an order on your recommendation, then you get a $50 credit to the shop…for each store that places an order. So if you tell three stores and all three place an order, you get $150 credit. Sound fair?!?

How do you start? Take our wholesale look book into your favorite shop. Haven’t seen the look book? Take a peek!

And be sure to tell them how much you love Evy’s Tree!!

Thank you friends for being the wheels that have gotten this ship off the ground! Love you all! xoxo

Well, now that I vented in today’s earlier post, I thought it would be a good time to tell you about something exciting that happened over here!! I am so pleased to announce, that after a VERY LONG TIME coming, we hired a new shipping manager over here at Evy’s Tree. Everyone, meet Nicole, here with her family….

You can also hear Nicole talk in our Meet Evy’s Tree video {HERE}. I first met Nicole over a year ago when our oldest boys were in Preschool together. She was so kind to us, we had just moved here and she invited us right away to her son’s birthday party, which was so touching! We weren’t able to go, but she was the first mom at our new school that had given me her number, and it felt so good to connect with someone and make a new friend. Over time, Nicole and I got closer and she found out about Evy’s Tree. I think it’s safe to say she LOVED it right away. Her first hoodie was a pink polka dot Brilla I had left over in inventory that had something wrong it with it.

 She wore that puppy proudly everywhere she went, even to the beach.

Her second favorite item is the Black Lacey Zip Up that her husband bought for her, and her third favorite item is the Diana Wrap…she looks great in all of them, and I’m so thankful that she loves Evy’s Tree as much as she does.

Anyway, about a couple months ago or so, I finally hit a point of realizing that I could not do it all. My shipping stretched out longer than I would have liked, my email returning was a NIGHTMARE, and I just couldn’t spend time doing what I needed to do thanks to very little time. Nicole kept telling me that she would help if I needed it. It sounded like a great idea but to be honest, I didn’t know if Evy’s Tree could afford someone else at this time and I thought of training someone was very overwhelming. Finally, I broke down and said Yes.

PROBABLY THE BEST DECISION I’VE MADE IN A LONG TIME!!

Nicole is amazing at organizing orders, getting things shipped out right away {I’m sure many of you have noticed it!}, and returning emails promptly and politely. I am so thankful for her help. Plus the studio is always clean thanks to her! What a God send! She also answers some facebook email and responds to questions on there from time to time as well.

If you need any help regarding an order, Nicole will be the one to help you. If you have any questions, don’t hesitate to contact her. Her email is Nicole@evystree.com.

Can you all give a big welcome to Nicole!!

oxox

Well, I’ve been a huge blog fail lately. So sorry friends. I still have to finish up my house goals from last year for you, which includes blogging about Jake’s room and introducing our 2013 goals. I also hired a new shipping manager, and I need to make a formal announcement and introduction about her. I have a little to do list of blogging posts to complete but to be honest, I just haven’t had the time to do them. Lately I’ve been spending my time pouring over financial numbers and monthly promotions calendars. boo. I love this blog. I really do. And when I don’t have time to do what I want to do with it, it stinks, you know?

Anyway, I want to be honest here for a second…

Side note regarding honesty: Recently a blogging conference called Blissdom was held in Texas {someday it would be way cool to attend!} and I noticed that many of the tweets and blog posts of bloggers attending the conference were centered around honesty and how important it is to have on your blog. Well, that made me feel awesome as I think you all know how honest I am on this blogio…. ha. Hooray for doing something right over here!!

ANYWAY….

I just wanted to let you know where I am at at the moment. Remember this post? Well, to be honest {there’s that word again, ha}, I’m still there. Some things lately have really made me stop and say, “Ok God, what’s going on here?” More honesty: I’ve gotten really angry a time or two this past couple of months. Angry at God {Lord, forgive me}, at my family, at life…but most of all AT MYSELF. Ever been there? I’m not the proudest of these feelings, but there it is.

The above picture was taken yesterday, as I was on my way to discuss Evy’s Tree’s monthly budget with my financial advisors. Yes, I have a group of people who I ask to review my budget and help me “trim the fat” so I can make Evy’s Tree successful. Some of them are local, some are out of town, but I usually call or touch base with all of them monthly, some weekly.

Let me say this, if you have a home business, find smart people around you who can help guide you financially, because balancing a budget and turning a profit is NOT EASY. That’s a freebie for you. ha. 

ANYWAY…so as I was getting dressed to leave I pulled on whatever random thing I could find {because you know, thats how I roll…no planned outfits over here, unfortunately} and as I was walking out the door, heading to this meeting regarding Evy’s Tree finances, I realized that I had pulled on one of the first Evy’s Tree hoodies I ever made. The original Brilla, to be exact. And it made me think. About where we’ve been and how far we’ve come. And about where we are going. And hopefully how far we will get.

Here’s the thing…I have my doubts. Conflicted emotions to be exact. I’m not sure about a lot of things in life, and one of them is Evy’s Tree. Don’t let that scare you. Some of my biggest and best decisions in life were things I wasn’t sure about, so usually that means {at least for me} that I’m on the right track. Usually it means I stepped out on faith and doing what I’m supposed to be doing. Stepping out on faith is uncertain, you know. But regardless, I have to say that I do feel most of the time that I am walking a tightrope and balancing Evy’s Tree in my hands as I walk between high rises like the man does in this documentary. All the while believing with all my heart that the Lord is holding His hands under me to keep me safe. Ever been there? If so, then you know that sometimes that tight rope act gets exhausting. Like I wonder if anyone is still out there, exhausting. Does Evy’s Tree still really mean something to everyone, or is it just me? Am I wasting my time trying to sell these things??

Or here’s a real worry of mine: maybe I’m supposed to just be a Pastor’s wife, not a business woman. Believe it or not, I feel a lot of guilt over that one. Crazy I know. But I look at some of you beautiful pastor’s wives and think, why can’t I be like that?!? Maybe I’m supposed to be just throwing myself into a ministry of some kind, not focusing so much on a business. If I didn’t have Evy’s Tree, I’d be able to focus on ministry with my husband a bit more, travel with him sometimes, do what other pastor’s wives do so well, whatever that may be.

But in the end, my sales {and my gut} always prove that this is worth forging ahead. In the end, I remember why I am doing this: for my family, for my kids and for our future. I realize that business may be my calling…especially when I get emails from you all telling me how much you love our products, or when I see the expression of excitement on your faces when you try a hoodie on for the first time and see how cute it is on…. Or when my husband is speaking at some of your churches and you sweet ladies approach him, with tears in your eyes and tell him how much this blog/business is a ministry to you. These are all things that make me realize…I need to keep going. It is worth it. 

I guess my point in this post follows a theme I have been screaming from the roof tops for many years now: DON’T GIVE UP. Even when you want to. Because the reality is WE HAVE SO MUCH TO BE THANKFUL FOR, even during those uncertain times. And truthfully, I think at some point, things break. Even if it’s just for a moment, and God allows you to see the sun through the clouds. Maybe things don’t always work out as you planned, but at some point you will be able to lift your head and say, I see what the Apostle Paul meant when he penned, “And we know all things work together for good who love God and who are called according to his purpose.” {Romans 8:28}. Or when Matthew wrote, “Seek ye first the kingdom of God and all these things will be added unto you.” {Matthew 6:33}.

Are you going through an uncertain time? Keep on keeping on friends. We’re going to make it. All of us. Despite our conflicting emotions about things in life. Love you all!

xoxo

There is a HUGE event going on over in the shop.

Ever since the beginning of Evy’s Tree, the Simple and Mrs Darcy Brooches have been good friends. A couple of views of them together over the years:

Mrs Darcy’s brooches are so fun, whimsical and unique and they go so well with our Simples. We felt it was a perfect item to kick the spring season off with. I hope you take advantage of our sale this week…everyone needs a Simple Hoodie {and a Mrs Darcy brooch!!}.

The sale will last while supplies last, but no later than April 1. Don’t want a Simple, but have your eye on something else in the shop? Free shipping with code SIMPLESALE. To shop click HERE. 

xoxo

Oh boy, there is LOTS going on over here. Thought I would try to put it all in one place so you guys didn’t get overwhelmed on facebook, twitter or email.

Which, by the way, I’m still trying to figure out. I’ve been posting once an hour over on Facebook because I’m still uncertain that things are actually being seen. It seems to be working as my stats have gone up a ton, but not sure about how annoying it is to you all. Feel free to comment on that one if you’d like. ha.

Anyway, like I said, a lot going on over here…

First, have you seen the giveaway going on for this DARLING Waldorf Doll? I’ve teamed up with some super talented Waldorf ladies…I’m thinking you’ll love it. Please head over and enter HERE. You could win this amazing prize that is worth nearly $200!!

We have a couple doll hoodies left in the shop that I could ship out today and you could have {hopefully, if the USPS is on time} by Easter. Click HERE to purchase. Oh, you can also purchase the doll hoodie with a mini hoodie and save $11, although those won’t be ready by Easter. Click HERE to purchase those.

We’re opening the studio up for walk ins tomorrow, Tuesday, March 26 from 10AM -2PM. If you would like to come and get some discounted prices on hoodies, please email me with your full name and where you are from {amy@evystree.com}, and we’ll get you info. Please note that most items will be preorder, but if you are willing to come back and pick them up, you won’t have to pay shipping.

We are still DESPERATELY trying to get rid of our sale items. I realize we are mainly down to small sizes, but I want to emphasis what great baby shower gifts these make. The nice thing about the size 2 is it is very versatile, I’ve seen under one year olds wear them with their sleeves rolled up and the plus side about it is that they will last a long time!! All our sale items are 25% off with code GOTTOGO {that comes to a little over $27 for all the kids hoodies. WOW}. Click HERE to shop…this item is up for grabs as well, as captured so well by Leigh Ann Wheeler Photography. I love this one.

This week we are going to have a HUGE Simple Hoodie event. Please stay tuned for more info posted later today. I don’t think you are going to want to miss this. It involves Mrs Darcy Brooches too. Yippee!

And last but not least…about a year ago I started a Handmade Business with Evy’s Tree series. I have a couple more posts I’d like to add to it in the next couple months, but I was wondering if anyone has any questions regarding handmade {or even now manufactured} business, how to work from home, balancing home and work, etc. Not that I do any of that well, but I do know what it is like to look at other home businesses and wonder how they operate, so I’m more than willing to tell you if you’re interested. Feel free to either email me your question if you want it anonymous or comment with one. Hope that helps you out. If you want to read the two posts I currently have in the series, click HERE.

Ok, I think that’s it for now. Thanks for reading. See you later today with more info about the Simple Hoodie event!! xoxo

How’d you like a $100 credit to our shop? Well, we’ve got an easy way…do you have friends? You do?? AWESOME!! Do you have friends who have never bought from Evy’s Tree? Even more awesome!! Here’s what you need to do…

Every day I’ll post a picture up on our facebook page/instagram page/twitter account to share with your friends. Here’s where you get credit:

ENCOURAGE THEM TO BUY SOMETHING…. and then tell them to write your name in the notes to seller when they buy. THEY MUST WRITE YOUR NAME OR YOU WILL NOT GET CREDIT.

So your picture sharing on facebook may sound like this:

“Have you liked Evy’s Tree yet? GO BUY SOMETHING and make sure to mention me in the notes to seller so I can win a $100 to their shop!”

or your Instagram picture sharing may sound like this:

“Have you purchased something from @evystree yet? GO BUY SOMETHING and be sure to mention my name in the notes to seller so I can win a $100 to their shop! #evystree” **Be sure to hashtag evystree on all instagram photos!

**So here’s the thing, you don’t really have to share the photo to win, you can tell your friends in person, or call your best friend in another state…either way, if a friend makes a purchase and puts your name down, it counts. Make sense?

We will keep a running list of all the names that come in and the name with the most referrals at the end of the month will get a $100 credit to the shop. Not bad for a little PR, huh? We’ll try this for the month of March and if it works and we generate enough interest, then we’ll keep it going every month.

So let’s get started, yes? Tonight the Sophie is going live in the shop {HERE}, so the photo I’m going to put up on the facebook wall and on Instagram is this one:

Can you share it? Thank you friends! Big hugs and good luck! xoxo