Happy Holidays!
Posted by: debidbee on: December 8, 2009
Happy Holidays!
It’s so hard to believe that it is almost the end of 2009! Just yesterday we were all grilling out and eating summer watermelon and corn on the cob, (my favorite)! It just reminds us all that we need to make the most of every day or they will slip away from us! We hope that you all enjoyed the Thanksgiving holiday. I had the opportunity to visit with my 4 grown children and about 75 other relatives at an annual family reunion in Iowa. Lots of food, visiting, hugs, and laughter; isn’t that what it is all about?
At Expo International, Inc., we are updating our website to make it easier for you to navigate; so watch for changes, positive changes! One new feature already in place is that you can now purchase cut yardage at a nominal upcharge. We are listening to our customers and trying to make the necessary changes to move ahead successfully.
As we look back over this challenging year, we realize that color has become so important to all of us. We are selling record amounts of trims and tassels in bright colors like fuchsia and lime. We are also seeing a new resurgence in sequin appliqués and trims. It proves that during a recession, we are all looking for happy colors and sparkles to lift our spirits! Now that things are improving, share the joy of color with your customers!
Please watch for many new items from Expo over the next few weeks. We have recently added many new exciting trims, tassels, tiebacks and feather brooches. Showing many of them for the first time in Highpoint, NC at Showtime was really exciting. Customers are excited about new products. Let’s face it, you never walk into our booth and ask us what’s old!
Soon we will be carrying webbing and rick rack!
We look forward to our company Christmas party in a couple of weeks and will celebrate the family of Expo. We have faced many challenges and changes in the company, but we remain diligent to provide the best quality products at the most competitive prices for you. So when we sit down to our holiday feast in the office we will think of our loyal customers and thank you all from the bottom of our hearts for the continued success of Expo International, Inc.
Embellish Your World,
Debi
BaZooples are Here!!!
Posted by: debidbee on: September 11, 2009
BaZooples are Here!!!
We are so excited to announce that our newest product line, “BaZooples”, has arrived! This is a collection of licensed characters that we have had manufactured as iron-on embroidered appliqués.
We are especially proud of these beautiful appliqués- they show unbelievable details and bright vibrant colors. Check out Lester the Lion’s fur, Elsie the Elephant’s hair, and the tiny antennae of the Flutterbugs! You will be so impressed! Don’t miss reading the special Character backgrounds that the designer, Vicki Schreiner, has provided. When talking to her on the phone, she will joke about Gertrude the Giraffe giving her bad looks about getting her work done…at least I think she is joking!
This line is of course geared towards juvenile and baby clothing, home dec, scrapbooking and gifts, but they are fun and happy for any age!
The program of packaged BaZooples includes 77 skus of appliqués and 3 project books. The entire program fits in a professionally spaced
2 1/2’ pegged area. Please refer to packaged BaZooples.
BaZooples are also available unpackaged as well for those of you in manufacturing or bulk sales. Please refer to unpackaged BaZooples.
As mentioned above, there are 3 different project books available for sale as well. The titles include:
14 Easy Baby Layette Projects
12 Easy Nursery Décor Projects
13 Easy Baby Memories Projects
All of the projects are either constructed with existing items or come complete with patterns and instructions.
We debuted this collection at the International Quilt Market in Pittsburgh last spring. We were a little ahead of ourselves…but we couldn’t keep this secret! We hope that you will take the time to review these items and join us in this exciting BaZoople world!
Embellish Your World
Debi
Liven up with Color!!!
Posted by: debidbee on: September 4, 2009
Last weekend, my daughter Alyssa, called to ask if I could help her with ideas for a college speech that was due on Monday. It was supposed to be about a personal item that best describes her. Immediately I thought of the new handbag she picked up in Houston. She has always been very colorful, outgoing and full of life.
It made me think of the colors in our trim line that are the most popular now, during this dreary recession.
Although most people are drawn to the comfortable, safe colors of nature such as greens, blues, browns and black; we are curiously drawn to the colors at the end of the rainbow. Why not surround ourselves with splashes of bright colors? For those of you that know me, I am usually wearing browns, greens, blues or black. Recently I have worked my way out of that comfort zone and now find myself wearing red, gold and orange. YIKES! I am even sporting a color laden scarf around my neck these days. There is nothing wrong with a basic palette of neutrals and earthtones, but for fun, rev it up with color!
We have so many wonderful trims in the basic earthtones and these are still considered to be the staple colors in any wardrobe or home décor, but let’s show our optimism in the changing economy and global issues by tossing orange pillows trimmed with fiber trim onto a leather sofa or carry a fuchsia handbag with flashy appliqués!
The best selling earthtones in our product line are: Brown, Black, Cinnamon, Sage, Cranberry, Cocoa and Chocolate. Actually our bright line is often doing even better- fuchsia, lime, orange, turquoise and purple. Share this love of color with your customers and make sure that you don’t miss out on sales with a drab palette.
Type in the search box the colors that you are looking for and you will be amazed at the array of trims represented.
Let’s all be guided by the power of color! Sing, Dance and Celebrate color!
Embellish your world,
Debi
Where’s Debi?
Posted by: debidbee on: July 22, 2009
Where did Debi go? How rude of me to send out the first blog and then disappear from cyberspace!
I am sorry, just too many hats, not enough time. I do vow to do better, actually my passion is writing and I am teased all the time for talking too much; so no excuses!
At Expo we are busy bringing in new product for you, our customers. Let’s face it…no one ever asks us, “What’s Old?”. We all want to know, “What’s New?”
Since my first and last blog entry, we have visited China on a new product hunt, have attended several trade shows, I have had minor surgery and the recovery that goes with it and we have launched a new program of iron-on embroidered appliqués called BAZOOPLES!
Bazooples are licensed characters that are just too adorable to explain…you need to see them. Very soon, we will have them on our website. But for now…here is a teaser…
If you are attending the CHA show in Orlando next week, please stop by our booth, #1300 and say hello! We will dress you up with a complimentary flutterbug from the Bazooples collection and show you all the new trims and embellishments from Expo International, Inc.
We are excited to move forward into a more favorable economy with new products, new colors and a fantastic optimistic attitude. Why not, we have the best customers in the industry!
Embellish your world,
Debi
Welcome to Expo’s Blog
Posted by: debidbee on: April 23, 2009
Welcome to the Expo International, Inc. blog, “Embellish Your World.”
My name is Debi and I will visit with you frequently, sharing new products, new color ways, new trends and creative ways to use our existing products! I have been with Expo International, Inc. for 7 years working with new product development, marketing, advertising, creative development and sales. I am sure that over the years, I have had the opportunity to meet many of you. I hope that through this blog and future shows, I will meet more of you and we will build a creative and rewarding relationship!
Before my career started with Expo, I worked in my parents’ craft store and observed retail at a very basic and human level. In the retail world, I was responsible for ordering merchandise, setting up displays, teaching classes, designing projects, conducting off site presentations to large groups and special order bridal and floral work.
During my retail years, I was also a successful published author of craft books magazine craft patterns, and manufacturer instruction sheets. My passion is the creative side of this industry; I am definitely very right brained! But, I love the challenge of marketing and product selection as well.
On a personal note, I have 4 grown children (well almost grown – college and older) and 2 silly orange cats. The cats, Colby and Lance love Expo trims…another story for another day!
This blog is set up to be a spur of the moment conversation from my desk, home or hotel room. I want to be able to share new ideas and exciting thoughts when they pop up, not on a schedule. So please bear with me as I learn about blogging. I am so excited to have a rapport with you!
So until I visit with you again,
“Embellish your world!”
Debi
