ThePlanetMom.com

Ponyta #077

Christoph Niemann's The Boys and the Subway captures childhood hobbies.  The Bliss.  The Smugness.  The Complete Devotion to knowing all things (insert Obsession here).

Just when I think Pokemon is done in this household, it makes a triumphant return.  I lost track how many Pokemon-themed birthday parties we threw.  Or how many NYC Pokemon Center pilgrimages we made.  My mother-in-law once questioned why I would use my valuable brain space to know over 200 Pokemon character names.  But when your children are talking, trading, drawing, playing Pokemon, that becomes your world, too.  Transporting me to a mortgage-free time, when an entire summer afternoon could be spent daydreaming.

Quitters never win

This summer, my son said he wanted to be on the swim team at our local pool.   I was thrilled because swimming is such great exercise, and this is a sport he has never really been involved in, other than taking swim lessons.  As usual, my younger son went along for the ride.  I was a bit concerned that they wouldn't be able to handle it, so I asked the lifeguard how many laps they'd have to swim in a meet.  She said, "As long as the older one can swim two laps, and the younger one can swim one lap, they'll be fine."   My older son heard this, and said, "Sign me up!"    $360 later, my sons were officially swim team members!

The first day of practice, the kids were expected to swim about 15 laps over 90 minutes.   My older son hopped out of the pool after lap 4, claiming the water was too cold.  My younger son, who had expressed no interest in the swim team, hung in there and finished the practice, exclaiming, "It was torture, but it was good!"   In subsequent days, my older son again found the water too cold and finally admitted, "I just don't like swimming that much.  Besides, I thought we only had to swim 2 laps to be on the team."   When I suggested that "swim practice" would last about 4 minutes if that were the only swimming requirement, he shrugged his shoulders.  Then, he said he wanted to quit.

This was a dilemma for me and my husband.  While I certainly didn't want to fight with my son to get back in the water after the first few laps of every practice, I also didn't want to let him think that it was OK to quit something he'd committed himself to.  My husband suggested that I make my son do some kind of school work while we waited for my younger son to finish practices.  I wasn't quite comfortable with that solution.  I never quite anything, except for guitar lessons when I was 11, and it still kind of bothers me to this day.  I decided that my son would have to stick it out, even if it meant my having to bribe him to get back in the pool during every practice.  Today, we ordered team bathing suits, and his enthusiasm returned somewhat.  That, and a new pair of goggles seemed to make it more palatable.  Today, he finished 60% of the practice!  Of course, the fact that practice was cut short because of a thunderstorm could have something to do with it.

Our first foray into GIVEAWAYS

During Summer 2007, we decided to try a giveaway. 

For the uninitiated, an online giveaway includes a review of your business on another Web site.  Readers are then invited to submit their entry, usually via an email or post to that site's administrator, to win a free goodie.  In our case, a Planet Mom Tshirt of their choice.

In my former life in marketing, I knew that sweepstakes generate a ton of interest, but often doesn't translate to sales.  By law, no purchase is necessary to enter a sweepstakes.  But we decided to give it a go anyway, via Shannon of Rocks in my Dryer.

I had stumbled across Shannon online because she was the mastermind behind Works For Me Wednesdays and already had an impressive fan base.  At Shannon's suggestion, entrants had to post their favorite line from our offerings, resulting in visitors EXPLORING OUR SITE, then offering valuable feedback.

Here's the original post.  Followed by 260 comments!  All those moms weighing in on their favorite Planet Mom lines - we were floored.  And thrilled.

After awarding the winner a World's Best Mom when my kids are in school tee, we looked at our numbers:  Our daily traffic increased by 300% - and, more impressively, on an August weekday!  And our August 2007 vs. August 2006 sales?  DOUBLED.

Since then, we've offered giveaways on a handful of other sites, always trying to reach a different audience.  Others that brought us traffic and sales included An Island Life and Baristanet.  Plus, each of these sites still send us readers.

Good luck promoting your business through online giveaways and let us know how you fare!

What's your line?

As of tonight, we're offering two new lines at PlanetMomTshirts.com.   We brainstormed about new lines for days.  We considered doing a line about blogging, going green, and having crushes as a married woman.  We may revisit the first two ideas soon, but our feeling was that very few married women would wear a tee with a line about having a crush.  Of course, that doesn't mean it isn't a reality.  Eileen and I both talked about how many women we know admit to having innocent--yet, entertaining!--crushes on men in their communities.  In some cases, they've never even met the object of their desire.   And, these women aren't about to risk it all for a school-girl type crush.  But, just because we're married, doesn't mean we can't enjoy the view, right?

I digress.  Back to the new lines.  We finally decided to offer a line that would appeal to all of those moms who work outside the home, while also striking a cord with stay-at-home moms.  Here's what we came up with:  "a Happy Hour is when I get time to myself."  Many moms with careers say they miss having any time to themselves.  They go from their jobs to their families and back again.  They're not hitting the bars for Happy Hour, even on a Friday.  They're running home to see and care for their kids.  We thought stay-at-home moms would also appreciate this line because with everything we do for our children, plus volunteer work and caring for our homes, we rarely have time to relax.  Again, we're not going to Happy Hour come 5:00.  We're making dinner and doing homework.

Which brings me to our next new line.  We've long wanted to have a line about.... shall I say, "helping" our kids with their homework.  One of our readers reminded us of this long-overdue idea (Thank you, Karen B!) And here's what we came up with:  "Wink if you do your kid's homework."   Sure, there are those of you saying, "Tsk, tsk."  But, I suspect there are many more of you saying, "So, I'm not the only one?!"  I actually think they should revise report cards to include a grade for moms.  I mean, I think I deserve an "A", especially in my social studies work.  But, alas, we are always underappreciated.

The Bronx Zoo's Butterfly Gardenis absolutely magical

Maybe it's the amount of rain we've had lately, but the trees, bushes, grasses and flowers that line the Zoo paths are more delightfully overgrown than I've ever remembered them.  Huge canopies of foliage keeping the street noise out and the shared discoveries intimate ("Look!  We almost walked right past...the lion's up!").

We were there to get a sneak peek at the brand new Madagascar exhibit before it opened to the public. 

Even more thrilling (from BronxZoo.com):  "The Wildlife Conservation Society worked with the Malagasy government to establish the protected areas of Masoala and Makira. WCS now co-manages these areas. The parks together span 1.6 million acres and provide a safe haven for half of Madagascar’s species, including rare and endangered animals found nowhere else on Earth."

Then we enjoyed all of our favorite Bronx Zoo places.  This and this and this, too.  Oh, and much more.  Go as soon as you can and then treat yourself to something on Arthur Avenue afterwards.

Room with a view

As the school year was winding down, I was incredibly busy in my role as "Room Mom" for my kids' classes.   As we Room Moms were hosting end-of-year parties, supervising Field Days and organizing teachers' gifts, while also trying to nail down our own kids' own summer plans, I was struck by how happy I was that I had volunteered in this capacity.   In the beginning of the year, a friend of mine who was a Room Mom last year warned me that I would completely regret my decision.  But, I dare say that I got much more out of the experience than the teachers or kids did (wait... that didn't come out quite right, but you know what I mean.)

Being a Room Mom gave me time in the classroom that other moms didn't have.  I had the opportunity to see my kids in the school setting-- see how the interacted with other kids and with their teachers.  I also got a sense of what the kids were like, so when my sons developed friendships, I had a little background on their new friend.  (And, quite honestly, I could also hopefully steer them away from kids who weren't well behaved!)  Being in the classroom also helped me develop closer relationships with their teachers.   It made me feel more comfortable about approaching them with any concerns I might have.   And, I think my kids actually enjoyed having me there!  They had both asked for me to volunteer as a Room Mom, and I know my days are numbered as far as being asked my kids to be a part of their lives!

I really do recommend that parents get involved in their childrens' schools as much as they can.  I realize having an office job, especially one with a commute, may limit the possibilities.  But, there are always one or two opportunities to help out at the school throughout the year.  In one of my son's classes, parents were invited to come speak to the class about their careers.  And, yes, of course, I did a little presentation about Planet Mom.  Where else could I find such a captive audience?!

You Go Girls!

Elise and I spent a good part of yesterday brainstorming another line - it will debut next week - and a new line is always preceded by an Internet stroll.  Visiting parenting sites and blogs usually, but also checking out who's gone all ambitious and up and started an online business.

Who would have thought that three years into Web retailing, we're considered vets, but we are, and that's fine by us.  Don't be calling us old in real life, but thrilled to have a thriving online business this long, especially given the economy.

So yesterday, after scanning some message boards, I came across a site that was started by friends who had met in college, like us, and decided to do apparel, too.  Baby Fish Mouth's offerings are inspired, and, as a devoted Spinal Tap fan, I'm partial to this.

Mostly, I'm giving huge props to their packaging.  Lavish.  We know what goes into an effort like that and we applaud them.  Gift wrapping is time consuming and low margin, but it sure makes your stuff look pretty.

No one has ever called me shy, so I sent off an email to founders Danielle and Cindy and wished them luck.  The more who make it, the better for all of us.

You haven't lived until...

...you've driven to and from LaGuardia Airport.  Preferably crossing at least five bridges in the process.   And successfully navigating short term parking, including finding your car exactly where you remembered parking it.

While there, hung at the Midwest gate with Philip Seymour Hoffman and his family.  A relaxed scene:  kids having fun on the seats while he read, then telling them to stick by their mom while he stood in line at one of the airport stores.  Scruffy in a relaxed, genius actor way, with baseball cap.

Planet Mom at Witchy Poo

You can now buy Planet Mom at Witchy Poo, located at 28 Center Street in Wilton, CT!

Zappos Rocks

Today I shouted at the zappos customer service rep, "I LOVE ZAPPOS!"  Really loud.  And she laughed, because she must hear it all the time.  Why?  I had ordered a strapless Calvin Klein number and Guess shoes for a party this Saturday and zappos delivered it in 2 days even though I paid nothing for ground shipping.  But that's not why.  It's Thursday, it's dinnertime, that Calvin Klein dress is too big and I still need an outfit so I head back to zappos and find this and, wowza, these!  And in my excitement, put through the order and forget to check overnight shipping.  So I call and the rep says she'll get the stuff to me tomorrow and not charge me.  Say WHAT??!!  Then it was the aforementioned proclamation of love, and too many thank yous, and I am beyond, just thrilled, to get that delivery tomorrow.