CL Family Spotlight: All My Lovin'
This week's CL Family Spotlight is on All My Lovin', a business that got started with one gift and the discovery of a hidden talent.
Tell us a little more about All My Lovin' ...
It all started around eight or nine years ago when I was given a sewing machine for my birthday. I didn't think much of it, as I had never sewn before. I started out slow, by making things I needed, like baby bibs and curtains. After I started sewing for friends, I realized, "Hm, maybe this is something I could do!"
What do you like to do when you aren't busy making your products?
When I'm not sewing, I spend most of my time with my two young boys, ages 7 and 6. We go hiking, play miniature golf, ride bikes, etc. I have a love affair with books and coffee, and I have a reputation to get overly competitive with card and board games.
Tell us a little more about your creative process...
As much as I wish I could just sit down and come up with a new product or design (and believe me, I have tried!) inspiration usually hits me out of nowhere. I'll be drinking wine with a friend, browsing Pinterest, reading a book, or even dreaming, when I'll have this Aha! moment, like, "why haven't I thought of doing this before?" After that, it's just about how to make my vision become a product. And quite often, they are too difficult or not cost effective, and the idea gets scrapped, as was the case with the table runners I used to make.
How has being a part of our CL Family helped your business grow?
I cannot express enough gratitude for the CL family. When I first considered joining, I was hesitant because of the annual fee and whether or not I could create enough inventory. I soon realized, though, that CL is more than just another retail store. Unlike some of the other local stores I've experienced, CL gives constant feedback on what is selling and what is not, through both the portal and through the friendly staff. They taught me the importance of packaging, how to create bar codes and professional looking labels, and even given me some new ideas for products and pillow designs. I feel comfortable coming to them with questions about any topic, and they never made me feel like I was a bother. Joining the CL family was one of the best decisions I have made in my business career.
What would you say is your favorite product and why?
I think probably my favorite product would have to be my Hometown Love Pillow, which is a silhouette of Ohio in grey felt with a scarlet heart over the city of Columbus. It was the first pillow design I ever had, many years ago, and I feel a certain nostalgia for it. I've had many designs since then, ranging from the Script Ohio Pillow to the "OH" and "IO" pillows, but I always come back to this original design when I need inspiration, or even just to remember how and why I got into this business.
Shop All My Lovin' online here: http://bit.ly/2nJjVId
