Covid Blessings - Better Together

Now that I have my North American Distributor set up, I have more time, and bandwidth, to think of where I want to go next.... International!  But in order to do this, I have to register all of my products for all of the different Countries.  I decide to go to Europe first, since I can cover so much ground with just an EU certification.

The first thing I do is get on the phone with some of my fellow Manufacturing friends and ask them what International Distributors they work with - and how it is going.  Now, this is a very important subject... the ASK.  First of all, if you are not one to do for others and help OTHERS out - then they will not be motivated to help YOU out.  ie:  give you their contacts!  I have learned a long time ago that I am only as good as my reputation.  I pride myself as being a giver, a team player, and reliable.  If you refer me to someone - I am not going to embarrass you.

On the other hand - you also have to have the guts to ASK for things.  As women, many times, I find that we have a hard time asking for help.  We are worried the other might be offended. Now, in some cases this is true - but if you are someone who is forthright with your own contacts, information, and help - people are EXCITED to pay you back in the same way.

So here goes.... I ask MY contacts, for THEIR International contacts, and within a couple of weeks I am having meetings with International Distributors.  And by early Summer I have distributors for Luxembourg, Sweden, Belgium, Hungary, and the UK!  I am going INTERNATIONAL!

At the same time, I was blessed with an EIDL loan, which I would have NEVER gotten from SBA without Covid.  When in business you usually have to have records for at least two years before you can even apply for a loan or a business credit card.  At this point, I have been open just short of two years.  So going International was only going to be in my year FOUR plan.  But the EIDL Loan sped things up for me.  And if you have never done this before, not only is it extremely time consuming  - but for my little line it is costing me about $30,000!  Again, no way without the loan.

So, I begin the process of registering all of my products.... Which brings me to the question - how am I going to keep up with this???  It was April, the entire world is still shut down, and I do not think that my little manufacturer in Southern California can keep up.  Plus, he has already given me several problems since I am still "too small" to worry about.

So - again!  I call my contacts, ask about good manufacturers, interview - and decide to set up shop on the East Coast.  Since my new goals are to go International - East Coast seems to make much for sense to me.  It will cut my shipping times by about 5 days and hundreds of dollars per shipment.

In addition, this manufacturer is far more advanced than my So CAL manufacturer, is more open to my ideas, and likes the list of new products I would like to launch in the coming year!

Done and DONE!

Then I get a call from one of my Resort Clients in the midwest:

Client: I am allowed to be open, but am still not allowed to perform body treatments for my clients.  I need to find some way to make up the revenue and still offer our clients a unique experience.  Is there some way you can come up with something for them to take to their room to enjoy?

I asked her to give me two weeks and she agreed.

I looked around my warehouse to see what I could think of.  Ok... She needs an answer now - what can I turn around quickly?I had some cool WELL boxes left over from a PR promotion I did last year.  In these small boxes I can include a Body Polish, Bath Soak, and Body Cream so that they can perform their own little CBD ritual up in the room.  PLUS - this particular resort is famous for their giant bath tubs - so it goes perfectly!  But I still felt like it needed a little something extra to make it a full EXPERIENCE.

I remembered a really nice lady I had met a few times at trade shows.  She owns a huge Tea Company.  And I know I can make a really good CBD Tea with the right ingredients.  Who knows???  But I couldn't even remember her name -  so I googled it, along with the Company phone number.  I decided to call her up right then...

Shelley (made up name) - Hello?

Me: Hi - can I talk to Shelley?

Shelley: This is she - how can I help you?

What the heck?  This is a huge company?  What the hell is she doing answering the phone?

Me: Uh... yes... My name is.....Met you a long time ago........And I am putting together a specialty box for my client.  I was wondering what you thought about partnering up? I would like to make a Cranberry Hibiscus Tea, send you some CBD, and maybe you can make a batch. Then we can include it in the box and it could be a cool promotion for both of us!

Shelley: Ok.

Me: What?

Shelley:  Yeah sounds good.

Me: What?

Shelley: But just go ahead and put your own label on it.  No worries.  Do you need me to send you tins for the tea too?

Me:  (what in the hell was happening????  Does she have any questions?????). Um no.  I have containers.  But.... Shelley.... um.....are you sure?  Don't you want to put your logo on it so that I can promote your tea company?

Shelley: Hannah. I am literally answering the phones myself.  There is no one here but me.  I cannot even think about doing anything extra right now. But just send me an email with the amount of tea you want to purchase, and your company info.  I will get it made for you next week, and get you covered under our insurance.

Me:Ok great.... thank you!

Two weeks later... Introducing The Bliss Box!

Since everyone started drinking the tea from the Bliss Box, and since everyone is so stressed over the pandemic - the tea has gone GANG BUSTERS.  Shelley and I have made several more batches, and it is now being sold in several spas and resorts across the Country!

Last Story...  During all of the MYRIADS of Zoom presentations I took part in- I met Joni - the owner of Lightstim - a highly respected LED handheld device Company.  They have been around a long time and are sold all over the world.  Just months before I was gifted their brand new product - the Pain Belt, which goes around your lower back, or can go across your shoulders.  When I met Joni in the background of this zoom call - I told her that I thought the belt would work great with my CBD oils to help calm the pain and inflammation even more.  She loved it!  We immediately created protocols for spas and consumers to use and to this day I get people calling me because LIGHTSTIM told them they should use my products with their devices!

So I say to you again - OPEN THE DOOR!  Just keep giving!  Ask for help.  Then give some more.  It is amazing what people will do for you, or how easy it is to partner with others when you are open and flexible!

None of this would have been possible if there was no Covid.

Which forced the Business Loans.Which forced the extra time at home, enabling me to get creative.Which forced us to all Zoom Call together.

Which gave me the time to register my products and move all of my Manufacturing and Fulfillment Operations to the East Cost.

Which allowed me meet other business owners I would have never met and done business with EVER!

On a personal note.... It was becoming time for Mia to graduate - but there was no way a ceremony was going to happen. But an amazing thing DID happen, instead.  Someone locally started a Facebook page:  Adopt a Grad.  Complete strangers, or even Facebook Friends, would adopt your graduating child and shower them with gifts.  It took on a whole new life, and day after day Mia would come home with gifts (which they would usually deliver through Drive Thru at the Starbucks she worked at).  People were leaving packages on our doorstep for her - it was all really beautiful.

Then one day the Ventura Chamber of Commerce called and asked if they could put on a drive-by parade for her!  She was the only kid in town they adopted.  What a wonderful display of local love as they all trailed by the house, delivering gifts and well wishes!

And when it came time for graduation day - the city really pulled through and put on the best event they could - while still following Social Distancing.  It was actually really cool!  It took place at the top of the hill in front of City Hall.  We would drive up to the curb, Mia got out and walked past FOUR different picture backgrounds. The teachers all lined up and clapped and cheered for each grad, and the whole thing aired live on Facebook so all the family and friends from all over could see.

Only one car per graduate could go through.  So of course.... I rented a 10 passenger van for us! we decorated it and all cheered the whole way.  The best part is - we didn't have to sit in the sun, on the field, for three hours for the whole ceremony.  We got to sit comfortably in the air conditioned van, on her graduation day, which turned out to be the HOTTEST DAY OF THE YEAR!

And that is what we call .... Covid Blessings.