MelissaBeth Gets a Facelift.... that's the website not the designer!

If you haven't already noticed MelissaBeth.com got a facelift!

We feel 10 years younger already!!

Our new website isn't just about looking good (although our new website is v. pretty!) - now when you shop its WAY easier to find what you are looking for.

Check out our list of cool new features that make shopping online a breeze!

1) Sort by size or sort by color

If you are like me than you know what you want, so just click on the top right sort by laptop size by or color section and you can easily see a list of items that fit your criteria.

2) Refer a Friend

When you refer a friend to our website (and they make a purchase) we send you a free gift certificate for $25.00! Who knew making money was this easy!

3) Product Views

Want to see every angle of our products? Just click on our alternate views to check out additional views.

4) Retailers Section

Want to check out a bag in person? Check out our new retailers section which helps you find a store closest to you. You can even view the stores on google maps.

5) Featured product section

Like to be the in the know? Now with our specialized feature product section and easy access to our newsletter you can be the first to know the latest deals at Melissa Beth

Design Inspiration + Ice Cream

Mention the word ice cream and my ears perk up!

Well, how convenient that on a quest for some design inspiration Ben and Jerry's sponsored an article with resources to help inspire designers.

My two loves: designing + ice cream

Check out the link below for some great resources to give your creativity a jump start.

If that doesn't work - eat some ice cream!

http://mashable.com/2010/06/24/design-inspiration-resources/

BisBuzz: Tip of the week "Get an Intern"

Businesses need interns and college grads, you need internships.

This recent article on CNN Living highlights the importance for job seekers to have an internship.

Benefits for potential interns:

Besides getting a foot in the door with a potential employer and looking good on a résumé, internships have other advantages:

• The opportunity to "test drive" a career (Would I be happier in marketing or advertising? Am I more comfortable working with patients or in a lab?)

• Chances to network

• Establishing relationships with mentors

• Possible college credit or certification

• An introduction to the field's culture and etiquette (Are clients addressed by their first name? Are jeans appropriate for Casual Friday?)

• Accumulating new skills

• Gaining a "real world" perspective on an occupation (How much overtime do employees really work? How much time is spent behind a desk versus in the field?)

Check out the article which talks about other benefits for employers.

Interested in an internship at Melissa Beth? We are currently looking for marketing/PR interns and graphic designers. You do not need to be located in Toronto.

Dear Mom-Preneurs & Prego-Preneurs.. help!

Dear Mom-Preneurs, while I have always been a big fan of mom entrepreneurs (and all female entrepreneurs for that matter) I can finally say that I have a new fondness for mom-preneurs.

Since I (Melissa Beth) will be the newest addition to the club this October!! So moms you will have to teach me the ropes of juggling baby and bis! I will need the nitty gritty and your BEST tips/advice.

Help me find the best mom-preneur blogs, mommy blogs and prego blogs.

Send us a line (sales@melissabeth.com) or comment below on the best sites to visit!!

I am going to need all the help I can get.

So for now I am just a prego-preneur. If that is not already coined term than it should be!

(You heard it here first!)

So to show my LOVE for mom-preneurs and so you will accept me with my open arms into your clubs, I am marking down all of our diaper bags 50% off or more!

Get your diaper bag while quantities last.

BisBuzz: Tip of the week "Increase Your Newsletter Subscribers"

One of my goals for the year is to increase our newsletter subscribers. MelissaBeth.com sends out quarterly newsletters with special deals, new product info and upcoming events. Currently have about 3000+ subscribers. I would LOVE to double this number by the end of 2010.

I found a great article about ways to increase newsletter subscribers. Don't go back to the website and judge me yet- I haven't quite put these into effect yet. But I will! It is a work in progress. And, if you are reading this and you haven't signed up for our newsletter- SIGN UP NOW!!! Please!

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5 Tips to Increase Email Newsletter Subscribers by Online Marketing Inside Out

Here is a brief synopsis of the article... but the article goes into more detail about how to bring these ideas to life.

1. Run a Contest

2. Offer Coupons/Discounts

3. Ask at Checkout

4. Use a Pop-Up Window on the homepage

5. Promote it on ALL of your communications

BisBuzz: Tip of the week "Just Do It"

Sometimes I find I can get overwhelmed with all the tasks the week or day may hold for me.

Or sometimes a challenging large project can leave me wondering- how am I going to do that?

However, after close to 6 years in business. I have learned you have to just do it. Nike had it right when they created this slogan. You have to make the time, make a list (so you don't get caught up with distractions, like writing this blog LOL) and just do it. The rest will fall into place.

So my advice this week is just grab life by the horns and JUST DO IT.

The Decline of MacWorld

Last week I went to MacWorld to visit some customers and see what is new and cool in the Apple World. However, I couldn't help but notice the MASSIVE decrease in size, vendors and overall excitement about MacWorld! It was a bit lame. The only thing that stayed the same was that there was a about a 1:100 female to male ratio.

Has CES taken over MacWorld? Is the era of the trade show changing?

Check out this great article in Digital Trends about the decline and MacWorld's future.

"Is MacWorld Dead?"

BisBuzz: Tip of the week

Small business owners:

My tip to you, is "when you can - pay by credit card!"

Charge it! It may not seem like an obvious choice, but credit cards offer many benefits for small businesses

1) If you do not get your goods/products/services you ordered from a company

Maybe they went bankrupt THIS RECENTLY HAPPENED TO ME!, or they just failed to ship you the goods or your products just arrived damaged. If the company will not fix your problem you can file a chargeback and in most cases you will win.

2) You get an extra 30 days on paying your credit card bill

3) You may get points for air miles or travel. Why not get a free trip somewhere when you spend money?!

4) You will have an extremely accurate record of your expenses

5) Build business credit.

"A small business credit card provides a newly established business the opportunity to build business credit. This will be useful in the future as your business grows and you need capital in the form of credit lines or loans". Although you may not need a line of credit or a loan, you may need it one day in the future and building your credit can help you in the future when you grow your business.

However, make sure you pay your credit card bill on time, as credit card fees can be extremely costly!

When life gives you lemons...

No one said that was life was fair. This saying would drive me growing up!

But it is true, life isn't fair and I truly believe it is what WE do with "life" that shapes us and can make a real difference.

Lemonaid Crutches, is an amazing , inspirational example of someone who has triumphed over tragedy by being creative. Lemonaid Crutches makes designer crutches, yes you read this correctly, DESIGNER CRUTCHES!

So when you are down and out, you can still have a sense of self and style!

What's even better, is they are designed to even make you feel good on the inside!

50% of all of their profits go to support Step with Hope, a foundation which is dedicated to helping people cope with profound loss.

Check it out, the founders' story is inspiring.

Hang out with people that inspire YOU

MBD's been hard at work at Bryant Park Holiday Shops!

Its been really great- except for the days with freezing rain!

We love interacting with our customers (yes thats you!) and meeting new vendors.

We get a lot of inspiration and ideas from conversations that we have with you.

So stop by and tell us your thoughts!!

Angela, of Om Aroma and Savor the Success is one of my new fav friends at Bryant Park. Her luxury skin care line is super fab and she has a business dedicated to women entrepreneurs.

She is quite amazing. She has a two month old and still manages to run 2 very successful businesses

This week- she gave me a shout out on her vlog.

Check it out.

Melissa Beth Pop Up Shop in New York

On a mission to conquer the boring bag world, Melissa Beth has a great pop-up shop this holiday season in New York City.

Stop by Bryant Park, K13 (40th in between 5th and 6th), from November 6th- January 3rd and check out our latest designs (some of which are not even on the website yet)!!

Bryant Park has a magical shopping market, FREE skating rink and 40 foot christmas tree that will make your holiday season and shopping magical!

What's the WagJag?

What's the Wagjag and why should Canadians get excited?!

WagJag.com is a fun, exciting, and lucrative place that offers you and your friends amazing deals on the coolest events, restaurants, fashion finds, activities and adventures. We can offer major deals because we assemble a group of buyers - bulk buying power! - and only activate the deal if enough people join in before the clock stops ticking. If you buy something from WagJag.com, and I think you are going to find the deals very compelling, you will not be charged until enough people buy it.

WagJag.com is meant to be fun and to be shared with others – friends, family and colleagues – after all, you can only get the deal if enough people sign up, so it makes sense to spread the news.

The site will be launching sometime over the next few weeks. In the meantime, I invite you to sign up to become a WagJagger at www.wagjag.com so you will receive email alerts about offers in your city. Simply enter your email address, choose your city, click submit and confirm by clicking on the link in the email you will receive. You can also join the facebook and follow them on twitter.

Share the site with your friends - trust me, they will thank someone for showing it to them...so, you might as well take the credit!

Who knows... you may even see a Melissa Beth deal on wagjag.com!!

Aromachology's Custom Fragrances

Just when you think that everything brilliant has already been discovered, another brand pops into the limelight and you can't help but think- that's brilliant! Aromachology, which means the psychology of scent, has finally answered woman's quest for customization with their new custom fragrances. I popped into their exclusive pop-up shop at the Four Seasons in Toronto, and was super impressed with my custom blend. This new scent is definitely giving my Burberry brit some competition. There are 5 base scents (which double as stand alone fragrances) and you pick characteristics you are, or want to embody, to be mixed into your fragrance on the spot.

I am "Totally Edible Gourmand" mixed with "inspiring", "focused" and "cheerful". I would have ordered some "patience" but it wasn't on the menu.

Toronto gals- you should definitely stop in. Need an extra incentive? You literally have the best star gazing spot in the city during the Toronto Film Fest. I am going back Monday to stock up on gifts and possibly stalk some celebs! The Toronto store is open until September 19th. Can't make it? Don't worry- You can find them at Henri Bendels on 5th Ave in NYC this October.

mmmm... I am literally still smelling myself.. Yum!

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Delicious Designs

In an effort to improve my photoshop skills and help out my super talented cousin.  I designed her new business cards.

Batterfingers, a Toronto based company, makes delicious and unique baked goods.   Specialities include rugelach, cupcakes, personalized cakes, cookies and custom holiday baskets.

Julia (owner and founder) also hosts kids programs.  So if you have kiddies in TO who love to cook or you are craving some deliciousness this summer see her details below (in this beautifully designed b-card). 

  

Do women do better in a recession?

Female managers just might have an edge in a rotten economy, says the author of a new book. Here's why, and how men and women can learn from each other's strengths.

NEW YORK (Fortune) by Anne Fisher -- There's one sure-fire way to start a heated argument, whether around the water cooler or at a dinner party: Just say something that suggests women manage very differently from their male peers. Then stand back and watch the fireworks.  

Controversial or not, it's clear that women are doing something differently: Of the roughly 6 million Americans who have lost their jobs since the recession started in December of 2007, 80% are men, the Bureau of Labor Statistics reports. No doubt, a big part of the reason is that men tend to dominate in the cyclical businesses which have been decimated by the downturn, including manufacturing, construction, engineering and finance. Female-dominated fields like nursing and education have been less hard-hit, at least so far. 

To read more of this article click here..

Gimme 5.. ways to get inspired

Five Easy Ways to Stay (or Get) Inspired.

1.  Hang out with people who are energized and are excited about what they do.  Trust me-their enthusiasm will rub off on you.    You may even find you can share ideas and help each other.

2.  Draw upon nature for inspiration in your designs, colors and patterns.  You will be amazed at what you see if you just take a closer look.   

3. Make a plan.   Maybe its been a while since you made a plan for yourself.  Write down your goals and what you would like to achieve.  You will naturally be inclined to achieve your goals if you put them down on paper and hold yourself accountable.

4.  Travel.   You don't have to go far- but if you can, do it.      You will naturally be inspired by the people, culture and landscape.   One of our new neoprene laptop sleeve prints (which will fit 10.2" netbooks, available this August) was inspired from this window in India.

5.  Review.  It's time to look at your accomplishments and praise yourself.    It's easy to push yourself down sometimes, so now its time to be your very own cheerleader and pull yourself up.  If you can see how far you have come and what you have achieved it will motivate you to keep moving forward. 

Should you jump in?

Several people I know have recently decided to start to their own business and have been asking me the same question:  

Should I start a business? 

How do I know if I am making the right decision?

Well I will start by saying starting a business is tough stuff and it can be even tougher in today's world.

One of my passions is business and I LOVE fellow entrepreneurs.   So I will share my thoughts and on whether you should leap into entrepreneurship.

When I started my business I had a plan, although it was simple and I had a very small capital investment I still decided to jump into the water.  I would either sink or swim.  The beginning was definitely a scary and exciting time. Sometimes I still feel like I may drown.   For the past five years I have been swimming along.  I have faced many waves (sometimes they felt like Tsunami's banging at my door) and I have managed to keep moving forward.  

Don't give up when times are tough.. just sit back, revise and get excited.  If you aren't excited about your business- trust me, no one else is going to be! 

I am still extremely passionate about eliminating all the "blah" laptop bags in the world. Melissa Beth Designs has moved on to take on drab make up cases, travel bags and laptop sleeves as well!   

My advice to new entrepreneurs and/or business owners is as follows:

Try to love the bad days as much as you love the good.  

Be creative   - it will help you problem solve and market your business

Don't get caught up in the day to day grind

Toot your own horn once in a while- it may be a while before anyone else does

Have a plan.  You wouldn't jump in the water without knowing how to swim.  

 

So, are you still on the fence of whether you should take the plunge into the unknown?

Here are five simple ways to know if you are truly ready for the challenge.

1) All you think about is your business idea.  

2)  You have bounced your idea around to mentors and friends.   AND even when you get the "sure that's a great idea" with undertones of  you'll never make it!- it just fuels you to go for it anyway.

3) You have a business plan AND you are ready to change your plan and adapt.   My advice to all new business owners is that no matter how knowledgeable you are, you cannot possibly foresee every problem.  You have to be open to learn, adapt and go with the flow.

4) You have enough knowledge about the industry that when you jump in the water you at least know the temperature.  You also have enough capital to create a website, marketing materials and  products.

5) You are committed, passionate and creative.  I think these are the 3 fundamental attributes that a lot of entrepreneurs have in common.    

Good luck and keep us posted!  

Sushi Anyone?

If you like sushi as much as I do... (mmm.. is it too early in the morning to order some spicy tuna rolls?), you may be interested to learn how Chef Nobu built his sushi Empire. He survived "fire and bankruptcy on the route the culinary independence".

Click on the highlighted link below for the full article.

By Nobu Matsuhisa, as told to Maggie Overfelt

CNN: Money  How Chef Nobu built his sushi empire

Women Rock

Today I came across a great article about how female entrepreneurs are taking over the world.. 

I am not surprised! 

Women are so amazing at multi-tasking.    

Check out the article "Women Entrepreneurs, The Next Wave of Leaders".   

It is from one of my favorite new blogs- The Toilet Paper Entrepreneur.