THE SEMESTER BLOOMED
Janele, Maria, and Bella were down in Charleston last weekend for our Spring shoot. One of the many great things they are doing!
It's been a few weeks since I've been able to update. Things in the loft were very busy and I wasn't leading the team smoothly yet.
We've rearranged things. Interns will take turns in location scouting and doing shoots in the streets of New York. This new thing is making the intern to manager ratio reasonable. When we have six or less interns in the physical office, I can take my time with each one delegating, get to know them on a personal level, and actually eat lunch. We are all thriving more!
RECENT WINS
We had a stronger month in February for sure over January, even when we took the numbers out from the BOGO event. We're analyzing what it is that makes a good month. We're trying a variety of things, so we'll know after we see how the rest of the spring goes.
Smaller tariff bills! We changed freight routes to make sure we're being billed correctly. Now, we're being invoiced with Nepal as the country of origin instead of the United Emirates. Along with itemizing non-dutiable expenses, the tariffs are not a giant anymore. What a relief! Back in September, I was dismayed because I was calculating we'd need an extra $10K in sales each month just to cover the tariffs. That pressure was intense…
Monday was for a miracle. The team in Nepal sent me a box of fit samples and dresses for our photo shoot. It was in Dubai on Saturday, and the status was “On Hold”. The fit samples were most needed because our intern Steph is going to Madrid over her spring break, and she's doing a shoot! But if this box didn't move by Tuesday, Madrid would be cancelled. Then I tracked it late that night and it showed it was in Germany. The next morning, it was in New York! We got it!
The interns have been celebrating with me in these things. I think all these breakthroughs have been helping our morale.
Our photographer friend Grace Copeland visited our loft. I love this shot of us working together!
MEANWHILE IN NEPAL...
Things in New York are much more in order, so I keep thinking about Nepal. As I learn of some challenges over there, I'm aware that a visit from me soon would be very good. I'm hoping to sit down this Saturday and look at some details. Perhaps I can go after the Spring semester ends!
Thank you for allowing me to do this ministry.
Love, Katie
