Well, it’s that time again…time to introduce a new line and as always, the week leading up to it we have some fun giveaways to go with it. But this time around, we are going to do things just a *tad* differently. I don’t think you will mind.

Here’s the deal: Evy’s Tree has come a VERY long way from where we first started. We have grown leaps and bounds, but have found ourselves in a bit of an interesting spot…we are too big to do things small and are too small to do things big. We are teetering on the edge of really growing and its a strange place to be. The truth of the matter is, if I want to make this a solid business where I’m not doing ALL THE WORK {key words here. I could run this business for the rest of my life and do everything myself, but my lifespan would probably be very short, ha}…we still have a VERY long ways to go until we can truly say this business is worth it’s time {or my time} in money. What does that mean in plain English? It means that if I don’t get a broader audience of NEW customers, then running Evy’s Tree the way I am doing may not be worth it in the end.

Recently I sold a Women’s Conference and I had several beautiful people come up to me say things like, “Oh my goodness, you’re famous!” or “I feel like I’m meeting a celebrity!” or “If only my business could be like yours!”.

*Hanging my head in embarrassment*

Can I be honest {yes, you all know I can be, hehe}? These statements make me SO VERY UNCOMFORTABLE. While I am honored that you feel and think so highly of me, I shrink inwardly in shame knowing what it’s REALLY like. Evy’s Tree has grown, yes, I will not downplay that, but please, NEVER mistake a massive amount of exposure to actual sales. EVER.

I once saw this beautiful coat on a European Royal. A British friend of mine showed it to me. It was featured in one of the big name gossip magazines and the coat was GORGEOUS. My friend started telling me the history about the coat. A mutual friend of hers from University designed it and owned a company making said coat and many others. She had her own website, shopping cart, wholesale lines with big companies…but in the end she had to close her doors because her output did not equal her input, or more simply: there were just not enough purchases. Which meant she could not continue to grow the business and make enough money to survive. So the coat company went under…despite the fact that a Royal had worn one.

What’s my point?  I have to grow this business to the place that it makes me the money I need to make it worth my while. I don’t want you to panic, I am NOT closing the doors on Evy’s Tree, but after I heard those statements from those precious ladies at the women’s conference…it caused me to evaluate it all; and I wanted you to know how it really is over here.

It’s not that exciting. 

I am still working my tooshie off, staying up way too late, and brainstorming at all hours of the day. I am still trying to make this work. Period.

What it really boils down to this is: how many hoodies do YOU really need? I know, I know, I have my Evy’s Tree die hards out there who buy every one and for that I am eternally grateful, but the majority of us only need a handful before we’ve reached our yearly limit. So that means I need more customers {on top of my faithful ones} to make Evy’s Tree work. That’s really the bottom line. I need more people to buy, and then tell others to buy. I need to broaden my nets, as it were.

So here’s what I need for YOU to do. I need to for you to SHARE, SHARE, SHARE. And it starts right now, with the Spring line. Can you help me blow this thing up? Here’s where I need the MOST help

1. Facebook: My #1 referrer is facebook. Most of my customers find me there. However, ever since Facebook has switched up their format and started letting you see the MOST popular posts instead of ALL the posts, I have lost a lot of business. It seems like not every one sees what I post, even though I post constantly {to point of being annoying, ha}. I have heard that if you, as the reader, like a post that I write that it shows up more, so can you make it habit to like as many of my posts as possible from here on out? You don’t even have to read it! ha. Just like it so everyone can see it. Or a comment would be great too. {hint, hint }

2. Blog: This one is simple and obvious. Can you follow my blog? If you do, you will make sure to not miss a beat. If you don’t know how to follow this blog, please click HERE.

3. Twitter: Are you following me on Twitter? It seems Twitter has stayed the same while Facebook vacillates between one design and another. So…follow me on twitter please? It might be the only way for you get immediate updates from me if facebook goes belly up someday. ha.

4. Pinterest/Instragram: are you following me on Pinterest? How about on Instagram {evystree}? Let’s be honest…the more repins I get of Evy’s Tree items, the more word gets out there. Can you help? Follow me and repin Evy’s Tree!!

So here’s what we are going to do this season. I am hosting a $250 gift certificate giveaway this week. YIKES! I’m sure you all could do a lot of damage in the store with that puppy. On top of that, I will have two runners up: One $100 gift certificate and one $50 gift certificate.

So how does this work? Starting today, I am going to have to join each one of my social networks and tell me that you did. {If you already have, then great! Just tell me } Today is my blog…follow my blog {Instructions to do so HERE} and tell me you do = 1 comment.

If you want some extra entries, hop over to my facebook page and share this picture on facebook,

then comment under the picture that you did. You can share as many times as you would like and comment as many times as you like. Those comments will be tallied up at the end of every day and totaled with these blog comments. Each day there will be a new picture for you to share.

So to recap:

Join each social network blogged about today through Friday and comment on the corresponding blog post that you did: 1 point

Share the photo of the day on Facebook as many times as you like and comment each time you do: unlimited points

Make sense?!? Hopefully, sorry that’s so long!

So previews…well, like I said we’re doing things a tad differently. This season I am only going to show you a *few* items that will be listed on Tuesday, March 13. You will have to join us on Monday, March 12 to see the full line up. At that point the shop will be loaded and ready to go…even though you won’t be able to purchase, you will be able to see everything that will be available for purchase on Tuesday. Sound fair??

So today we are just going to recap a couple of the ones I previewed last week, the first one was the Chevron picture above. You can read more about that one HERE.

And lastly, did you see the Brilla Mini Dress on facebook?? No? Well, here it is! I will have just a handful of these Brilla Mini Dresses in several colors. I think you will love it. The only bummer it comes in one size only…it will fit sizes 4-8. Boo. Will have to put a complaint out to American Apparel on that one. I do have a friend who is a size 10/12 and she says it fits her, but I have yet to see it on her so I will keep you posted on that one.

This one has the signature Brilla flower and a ruffled hood. It’s really fun. 

So again…to get your entry in for today, do you follow this blog? Yes? Great! Comment that you do. No? Just click HERE to do so then come back and tell me you have.

And don’t forget to pin it! Happy Spring everyone!!

xoxo

So today was another day of designing in the studio. All those ideas that have been swirling around in my head for a while are now coming together. It is fun to see things in your mind become reality.

I cannot, however, take credit for this one. My assistant {even though she lives in Stockton, she will always be an assistant to me, ha} Sarah, texted me the other day and said, “Why not do a hoodie based off the whole Chevron print craze?” I immediately texted her back… “I LOVE it!!”

Although I can’t say I have gone beserk over the pattern myself, I do admire it and find it very fun, whimsical, classic and funky, all wrapped up in one. I especially like the color element. For a person who decorates mainly in white, I find color intriguing and exciting, shocking I know.

So I needed some inspiration…Pinterest to the rescue!! You can see my inspiration board HERE. Overall, I really loved the prints where the colors bled into each other and weren’t perfectly symmetrical, but almost seemed to carry from one color to the next. I knew I didn’t want our Chevron to really LOOK like a Chevron. I wanted it curve and glide, but still prominent colors and shape. So here’s what I came up with….

A red brown pullover from AA called “Truffle” with its hood cut off. The colors are perfect Spring colors, bright and vibrant.

The stripes are a bit crooked and off…my way of “bleeding” the colors

And the edges tuck nicely under the armpit

And the cuffs along with two inches of the sleeves have been cut off and scrunchy pink fabric is added. The sleeves are supposed to look bunched up on your wrists. So much fun!

Huge surprise for me as this one is a little out of my character, but I had a blast making this one! I do plan on offering in other hoodie colors…any requests?

Oh…and ever wonder what my studio looks like after a day of “creating”?

WOW!!

Oh, and that metal thing isn’t a walker…its a chair Brandon brought me to replace the one that broke the other day. It’s not staying long, don’t worry. ha.

Big hugs everyone, and don’t forget to pin this one!! xoxo

Yes, please!!

 I’ve had several requests for matching Brilla sets at the discounted price of $145 {normal price is $160}, so I decided to offer them in the shop. You can choose any in stock Brilla you would like for this set, as long as we have material to make it. Just put the name of the Brilla you want all three items to be in the notes to seller on paypal payment page. Please allow at least 3 weeks for your items to ship. Turnaround time is approximate.

I hope this is something all of you would enjoy! Click HERE to order.

xoxo