I’ve had a wonderful day thus far. I read a partial chapter in the book “Influence.” I worked out. I ate a healthy lunch. I planned my trip to a soap conference in June. I researched a retail sales management group. And, I did a bunch of other miscellaneous things in between, like pay bills, review credit cards and meet with Amber to go over new product plans. But, by far my favorite thing about today was my visit to Otion.
As we work out the logistics for a second store, with rent being at a premium in Seattle, Erik (store manager) is culling the line of products we can carry in the Seattle store. This is a precaution. Our Bellingham location is big, with over 1000 square feet of retail space and a classroom and testing lab upstairs. That might be hard to find in Seattle for the rent we can pay. So Erik is working through the entire product list and designating products as A, B or C Tier based on the last four years of sales data.
While I was at Otion, one of my favorite customers stopped by (Kim from Aromatica Tea & Soaps, up in Chilliwack, BC). We caught up and lamented the rising cost of Palm Oil and scratched our heads about a suitable replacement for it. We didn’t come up with anything.
By far the most delightful thing about the Otion store visit was the displays! They have a “Relax” themed display with bath fizzies, salts and scrubs to encourage bath time and romance for the upcoming Day of Love. Certainly, giving a foot scrub to a certain someone in your life would be romantic and kind, wouldn’t it?
Erik designed a nautical themed display around the Milky Way Sailboat mold. He used a dropper to drop in the color on these ships. It’s very good detail work that just requires patience and a little bit of time.
Sarah at Otion decided that the Skull Mold would be perfect for Valentine’s Day. I was skeptical but with Fuscia Labcolor in Clear Soap and White Soap, plus a little glitter, this traditionally ghoulish soap does look positively radiant for the season.
Great job Otionites. The creativity is and attention to detail is awesome.
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A-M,
May would be great… I should definitely be able to make it over the pass. I am going to email you directly – I have something else to run by you. π
SJ
Hi SJ – I would love to do a Seattle get together. What a great idea!
We’ll have to plan for that next – maybe in May when the weather starts getting just a wee bit better! =)
A-M,
Just wanted to drop and quick note and thank you for having Nicole follow-up. She called me this morning… thank you!!
Sounds like I will have to the package of goodies tomorrow… hmmm when to start playing… hubby wants me to finish the kitchen cabinet choices. I will just have to squeeze in some soapy fun!
Hope you are having a blast in Seattle. Have you thought about doing a get together in Seattle like you are doing in Portland?
SJ
Hi Nahia –
I’m betting it was the i-90 weather problems we’ve been having all week? I suspect that your package was routed that way? But, just in case, I’ll have Adrienne or Nicole work with Fed Ex to hopefully resolve this first thing Monday.
I’m sorry that you had to be without your products over the weekend. That totally bites. But, we’ll get to the bottom of it on Monday and hopefully get it all sorted out so you’re not without your Bramble Berry goodies for much longer. =)
A-M
AM,
Sorry to say but FedEx called and said our weather was too bad? to deliver to. I all but laughed because I was driving on clear roads all day in Pullman and all the way to my house (mile out of Pullman on a paved road). We haven’t had any snow fall in a couple of days and our weather was in the 40s. I asked where he was coming out of and he said Lewiston, ID… I watched the news and the roads weren’t closed to Lewiston… hmmm. (Sadly, the road has been closed to Lewiston a lot during the past two weeks.) Maybe, the driver just didn’t want to drive up on Friday. So, on Monday I am suppose to meet them at the Kinkos in Pullman for my delivery. I was thoroughly amused by this since we are suppose to be in the 40s all weekend and the snow on the roads is currently gone. I couldn’t really understand why the driver couldn’t drive the mile to my house from Kinkos.
I am thinking this is the Bramble Berry box, but it could be some flooring samples. I also wonder if the Bramble Berry shipment made it over the Pass with all of the closures it had this week.
Okay, sorry for the long post about my shipping problem. I hope you are having a fabulous time in Seattle!! π
Nahia, the mold will be in stock again in about a week. I’m sorry it was out of stock. =( I hope the rest of your stuff arrived safe and sound though?
Janiece (and Sarah), the conference is not in Arizona or Chicago. I’m waiting for the conference to announce it before I kiss’n’tell but I can promise you that it’s definitely in a WARM place and it’s someplace I’ve not gotten to go before. =)
And, Janiece, that was a delicious pun! =)
Shades of Grey, when you’re in town next, let me know! Hopefully our schedules will work out.
Meeting you, let alone having coffee and donuts, would just make my year! If we fly to Seattle instead of Vancouver (still shopping for affordable airfare), I can persuade dh to make a stop in Bellingham, and I will definitely let you know. π
Love scrub?!?!?! Fun!!! I want to make some!!! Recipe??
Jeannie
Oh, what soap conference are you attending? I’m looking forward to the ISOCAN in Chicago but would love to go to more.
The skull soaps are the perfect Valentine’s gift for your ghoulfriend. Okay, okay, you ALL were thinking it and someone had to say it. π
All those Otion creations look fantastic! I would like to be nosey and ask if that soap conference in June is in Phoenix??
AM,
Bummer on the Sun & Moon Mold… Do you know when that will be back in stock? This may sound silly, but I think my hubby will LOVE soap from that mold. He is so picky on soap molds. π I can’t wait to experiment with the Party Star Mold. I also wanted the Heart one, but that was out of stock. Next order…
NC, Your order shipped out yesterday so it should get to you today. Nice choice on the Party Stars Mold! That is such a cute mold … It looks like the Guest Sun & Moon Mold was out of stock so it’s not in the box (sorry). Just wanted to warn you ahead of time. =)
Love the skulls! Excellent choice!
AM,
Can’t wait to see what I get in my box!! I am still keeping my fingers crossed that the package arrives today, so I can play this weekend. Hmmm, that will mess up my hubby’s plans as he wants me to pick out flooring, paint, etc. Well, I can fit them both in!!
Otions is Seattle! That thought takes me to a happy place! I’ve been dreaming of making it up to Bellingham but having a store in my town, oh my!
Nahia, have fun playing with your box o’ goodies from BB. I picked all the samples this month and designed fun blends for them so it will either be Baby Rose, Dragonsblood, Cybilla Romance or Texas Bluebonnet. I hope one of those sounds appealing to you? ! =)
Shades of Grey, if you make it up to Bellingham, make sure to tell me when you’re coming so I can stop by the store and we can grab coffee and a donut at the donut place across the street. =)
And Ms. Soapy Love, I can’t WAIT for you to visit. I am almost done finalizing our fun soaping intensive weekend in terms of teachers and class descriptions so it will be officially announced pretty soon.
Oh fun…I know people who’d buy a skull soap for Valentine’s Day (me, for one!).
We rarely get to Bellingham anymore, alas. Growing up in Vancouver, my parents used to take us to Bellingham every so often to gorge ourselves at this place called, I think, The Royal Fork. Oh the memories. :> Otion is at the top of my list of places to try to visit when we’re on the West Coast in the future.
I can’t wait to check out Otion myself this summer!! Sounds like a soaper’s heaven!
Sounds like a great day! I love the creations made by the “Otionites.” Creative, passion, and thinking outside the box… awesome!!
Every time you talk about Otion in Bellingham, I realize I need to make it a priority to make a trip up when I am in Seattle one of these days. Maybe, a mom and daughter fun day…
I should be receiving a package from Bramble Berry tomorrow or Monday and I can’t wait to play!! (I always get giddy to see what the sample will be…)
The conference looks amazing and is even in my neck of the woods!! I wish I could go, unfortunately it is too close to my final surgery for me to be able to make reservations like that – maybe next year!