Psst, wanna know a secret?

When we closed Clippo down, it was with great sadness, but a whole lot of future plans too. I had planned a series of videos teaching everyone how to make products just like we did. But you know what happened?

Life.

As expected, I needed a lot more time with my kids. When I re-dedicated that time to them, we all had a much happier time. Since last February, so much has happened! We had pajama days, we took day trips, we did crafts and learned new things. We spent great time together, and I'm so happy for the business decision that was made.

I also sent my kids back to school this September (Story is full time and Mason is now at preschool ever ymorning for a couple of hours.) I started making new plans, plotting more fun business ventures, and that includes a new plan for Clippo.

In the early New Year, watch for a brand new Clippo to be born!

If you've always wanted to make your own awesome products just like ours, you're in luck. We're about to make that happen for you.

Thanks for stickin' around, everyone!

End of an era

Thanks to our incredible customers and amazing fans, our website stock has now been completely cleared out. You have no idea how exciting (and yes, sorta sad, too) this is for me. I've got space back that has been occupied by all manner of Clippo paraphernalia for five years! Gone are the Clippo banners, postcards, labels and packages. Gone are the bins of materials and products. Gone are the late, late nights of filling orders and planning product lines. I'm excited to start my new journey, but feeling nostalgic about leaving this one behind.

While I clear out some random extras, I'll be posting some pre-made packages for really cheap over on Facebook. So if you happened to miss out on something and want to pick up the very last Clippos for next to nothing, pop on over. 

My new goal with Clippo is to support other small businesses. I own a social media consulting business, too (I've been helping others with their social media campaigns for over a year now), so I've got a lot of knowledge to share with all of you. I had a few inquiries to buy the business (and one hilarious request to buy just my domain to redirect all hits to another hair clip company to boost their page rank, ha!), but I've decided that if I can't turn the company over to someone with the same business morals as we have, then I can't turn it over at all. I've always said we choose people over profit and will always do so.

This blog will be a place where I can offer free help. If you're wondering how to begin, I can help. If you have specific questions about wholesaling products, ask me. 

I'll be posting tutorials here, too. Specifically for the hair clip and accessories fans, I'll share where you can find the raw materials to make products and teach you how to make your own. If there's another company's product you'd like to make, I can tell you where their supplies are from, too, so you can make your own.

It's my turn to give back now, so don't be shy. You supported Clippo for five years, and I'll be eternally grateful.

So long, but not goodbye,

The Power of Voice

In my other life as a social media consultant, I run "primer" sessions that help businesses understand the power of platforms like Twitter, Facebook and blogging for building a business. It doesn't have to cost a lot (as is noted by my friend Julie Cole of Mabel's Labels in this National Post article) to make a huge impact on sales. Social media MADE Clippo. It was through the support of the women on a web board of which I'm a member who catapulted Clippo into stores across Canada. It was Twitter and Facebook that built our fans and friends. But how did this happen when, really, there were a billion other similar companies on the market?

Voice.

Your voice is everything to you and whatever it is you're "selling" to the world: a product, service, or blog, it's all sales. You can have the best product in the world, but if your voice isn't clearly defined (or let's face it, if it's unsavoury), you'll lose in the end. You need to know who you are, and what you stand for in order to communicate this to the world.

Building a brand, be it a company or personal one means knowing who you are, and what your values are. It means standing up for what you believe in, and maintaining your integrity. The voice of Clippo is consistent across all platforms -- here, on Facebook and Twitter, even in person: what you read is what you get. When you meet me in person, I am exactly as I seem to be online. This is my voice, and as a small business I have given my company that voice. If I question something in text or say something in an email, I will happily do the same face-to-face. This is my voice.

Yep, I'm opinionated. 

Yep, I stand firmly in my beliefs. 

Yep, I don't shy away from confrontation when required.

But I am also an honest business owner, and I'm supportive and generous. I'm willing to share with you the life behind the business, and these are all things that have made Clippo what it is today.

And this is why I've been so thankful for all the wonderful emails many of you have sent me during our clearance sale. To know we've touched your lives is incredible to me. To know that you'll stick around because you like what I have to say means more than I can tell you.

Finding your true voice is the key to success, I'm sure of it. People want to buy from a voice they love. Be that voice.

Made in Canada Matters

As we close the doors on this phase of Clippo, we look forward to new projects and adventures with all of you. We hope you will stick around and check on the blog every now and again, and we hope you tweet us, too. Let's face it... Clippo's my third baby and I'm not likely to give either of my kids up, so it's not likely I'll wander too far from the business, either. What I can tell you is that I am really excited about spending time with my kids and focusing on new things.

One such project is my passion for all things Canadian. The reality of a business like this is that the competition is stiff. Our products aren't rocket science - anyone can make them. The charm of Clippo is that we offer handmade goods that are made well and are unique ideas. All it takes is a little time, a glue gun, sewing machine, and some raw materials. I've decided that over the coming months, we'll be doing tutorials on the products, teaching you all how to make them just like we did. And I'll even be sharing my top-secret vendors for the raw materials. For many you don't have to buy THAT much material, so making your own stuff is really just a few moments of time!

I will also be addressing the craft industry as a whole over the coming year. There will be a book, that I vow.

What started as a craft I made in my spare time turned into a successful business for me, and it gave me the unique opportunity to look into the retail world in a way most people will never have the chance to do. Did you know that stores generally make 100% profit on things they sell? Did you know that most juvenile products are represented by sales people who sell directly to the stores, and that those sales people take another percentage (often 10% or more)? And that distributors take even more? I'm going to open the world to you so that if you're considering a business like this, I can help you navigate the waters. And I encourage you to ask questions! I can help you.

And here's where my true passion comes in: Never once did we outsource the manufacture of our products to another country. Many other accessories companies are selling you products using the line, "Designed in Canada". Do you know what that means? Quite often that means the owner sits down at their computer and chooses selections for styles from any number of Chinese manufacturer websites. For pennies. And then tells you that they are "designing" in Canada and glosses over the "Made in China" part. 


Hair clips can be bought for less than 5 cents from Chinese manufacturers and are then sold to you for $4+ per pair (more often closer to $8/ pair). There are Canadian manufacturers who would happily make these, so why aren't they being hired? Because they cost too much. Why aren't local people being hired? Because they cost too much. The bottom line is that outsourcing to China means huge profit margins. (stay tuned and we'll post some of the vendors from China so you can see what we're talking about) Wouldn't you at least like to know whether you're buying an imported good or a handmade in Canada good?

Are the factories where those products are being made treating employees fairly? Are the materials safe? Are they using child labour? You don't know, and chances are, neither do the companies selling you those products. It's up to us as consumers to ASK. I'm the first to admit that I buy things at the dollar stores, but at least I know what I'm buying. And I'm paying dollar store prices.


We paid $10/hr to start for our products to be made. Our longest-time staffer made closer to $12 (or more, actually) per hour for making what are essentially craft items. We think it was well worth the money to know that our manufacturing was done in a safe environment, giving work to Canadians who wanted or needed it. 

Made in Canada matters.

We hope you think so, too.

But wait, there's more!

So long, and thanks for all the fish SALE!

Due to a death in the family, our sale has been a wee bit delayed, but we're good to go now!

Sale prices are marked and it's while supplies last!

Run!

www.clippo.ca 

Long time comin'

There are a number of you who've known this was coming for a few months now, and for some this may come as a surprise. To you all, I thank you for your incredible support of this business. It has been an absolute joy starting and growing Clippo for the past five years. What started as a craft I made in my spare time turned into a huge full-time success all because of the amazing people I've worked with and had as customers. I'm lucky to have you all.

The time has come to put Clippo on a shelf and focus on other things. 

Remember when I wrote this post? I still mean every word. So many changes have happened to Clippo since that post. You proved to me that it was the right decision by supporting the company beyond my imagination. To think we'd be more successful without selling through retailers still blows my mind. I thank you all for sticking with us, and bringing your friends along, too.

My children are now five years old and two years old, and I miss the days when I could drop everything for a trip to the zoo. I miss the times when my evenings were spent hanging out with my husband watching movies. Clippo has been all-consuming  for a long time now, and it's time for me to take a break and spend some quality time with my family. I also miss my storage space. ;) When I decided to leave the traditional workforce, I didn't have to bring home an income. I started the company for fun... but the fun became a whole lot more work than I ever dreamed possible in such a short time. And five years later, I am so proud of how far we've come.

Growing a home-based business  has been the most exciting adventure I've undertaken to date. As someone who never dreamed of becoming an entrepreneur, it's been such a phenomenal personal growth experience. I've learned more about sourcing materials, product development, accounting for small business, website development, marketing, public relations, competition (and competitors... hoo boy, that's a blog post in the works!); I could go on forever with the absolutely incredible things I've learned these past five years. 


I've been lucky enough to meet the people behind the companies I respect most, like Admiral Road and Mabel's Labels and Name Your Tune CDs, and call them friends. Because of my job, I've met customers, online acquaintances, celebrities and made friends with them all, and it's just been so much fun! This hasn't been an easy decision, to say the least. Many people call me "Clippo" and it has become a part of my identity.

Of all my lessons in business, the most important thing I've realised is that Spider-Man's Uncle Ben was right:  With great power comes great responsibility. (Spider-Man, 2002) I've got a big job here at home raising my peeps and I'm lucky to be able to not have to work. So instead of choosing to do so, I'm choosing to be with my kids for just a little while longer. It won't be forever; goodness knows they grow so fast they'll both be in school full-time soon enough. And when that time comes I'll need something new to challenge me again and fill my days. 


But for now I'm choosing my family as my only priority.

Remember that success isn't always related to money.
Remember that family comes first.
Remember that time is fleeting and we cannot rewind these years.
Remember that it isn't the money spent that matters, it's the time spent that they'll remember.

These are the things I'm telling myself as I sell off our current stock and head back to the couch with my husband and off to play with my kids.

Starting January 30th, 2012, there will be a HUGE blowout sale over at Clippo.ca, while supplies last. Enjoy!

I can still be found on Twitter and on my personal blog, too.

Thank you. All of you. I hope to see you soon.

So long, and thanks for all the fish.