Sole to Sole Blog by Kassie Rempel, Owner/Founder of SimplySoles
Welcome to Sole to Sole…which is what exactly? Well, in internet
lingo, it's a blog. That word sounds so nasty. It reminds me of a
bad cold. (For all who are interested, I just checked online and the
term originates from the idea that it's a web log…weblog…blog…I
follow, but it's still unpleasant sounding.) Let's just call it a
forum. A cyberspace, meeting place hosted by me that is meant to educate and engage. So
please read along, and post your comments whenever the feeling
strikes you.
Will Someone Help Me Please!
I just got a new computer from Dell. I'm a COMPLETE GEEK when it comes to school supplies. I was the kid who had her new TrapperKeeper (remember those?) in July. It wasn't about going back to school. It was about the new notebooks, pencil pouches, and pocket dividers. So upon getting a new computer, I was estatic. Couldn't wait! Felt like a kid again in the school supply aisles of HarrisTeeter. But Dell is seriously driving me drink. I have spent 6 of the last 10 hours on the phone with technical support. I want to pull out all my hair, holler at the top of my lungs, hit something really hard, cry, spit, scream, kick, punch, and strangle one of my kids stuffed animals. This is a good time to have kids toys around. Now if only I could get some good technical support.
I've recovered from my bumps, bruises and embarrassments (see last week's posting) and have now settled into a steady stream of stress. A new catalog is in the mail and with every new season comes the anxiety of not knowing how it will be received. Will our customers like the new layout? Will they like the collection? Do my concerted efforts to run a business with sound social and environmental morals truly make a positive impact on my staff, my customers, the industry?
After 8 seasons, and 4 years, I am certain that time doesn't ease the apprehension, but at least there's some relief with knowing its certainty. Does my worry keep me up at night? Sure. But it also gives me lots to look forward to in the morning. It's the same as with my kids. I worry about them all the time, but that's just part of the package.
I'm just back from New York City where I joined my fabulous PR agent on a round of media appointments. As fun as it sounds meeting with editors from Lucky, InStyle,Allure, More and others, it's equally exhausting. I have a cadre of fresh bumps and bruises from hauling around a suitcase full of shoes, including a nasty one from scurrying to catch an earlier train only to entertain the window passengers with my skirt flying up from running atop a steam-blowing grate (think less Marilyn Monroe and more America's Funniest Videos). Aside from other occasional embarrassments (like calling the Accessories Director at Instyle Laura instead of Meggan), it was indeed fun seeing how the best fashion magazines operate, and an honor to have a few minutes of their time. And despite my scratches, scrapes, and blunders, I'd do it again in a heartbeat (but next time, I'm wearing pants).
We're expanding...and I don't mean I'm pregnant again
For those of you who aren't family and therefore aren't familiar with the mandatory vow of lifelong secrecy for fear of excommunication from the circle of trust (all stemming from a painful prior breach of a friend's trust) I wanted to share some exciting news. I figure if you are reading this - you are friend vs. foe so I invite you into the circle.
Our exciting news is that I just signed a lease and so SimplySoles will be not just moving headquarters, it will be opening its first bricks-and-mortar store. If you want to follow along with pictures and the whole she-bang, become a fan on Facebook.
And to Cathy from Austin, TX who commented about my parenthood posting, I'm right there with you, standing alongside in the Starbucks line. I'd send you an email if I could figure out how.
I just returned from a fabulous visit with the family, and oddly confess that I couldn't wait to get back to my computer to write about how much I adore the Bingo by Bettye Muller. Of course it looked fabulous in patriotic shades of red, white and blue, but I had no idea just how cute they were with jeans. The thing is that they look great with white, with denim, and they are probably the most comfortable pair of heels I own (if 1½ inches qualifies). I had been saving them to wear for the 4th (yes - I'm one of those who hordes things in her closets despite knowing full well what Erma Bombeck's infamous poem reads). So I wore them first on the 4th and I'm almost embarrassed to say I've worn then three days since...and it's only the 8th. So despite not winning any games of Bingo while vacationing at the beach (it was a kids event but my mom and I really wanted to win), I guess I can take pride in knowing I was a Bingo winner of a different sort.
We've made it. Or technically my fabulous PR agent Darlene Fiske (with The Fiske Group) made it. I know you've been waiting and we've heard your outcries - we, SimplySoles, (ok I have a page too because I'm a recent convert but confessed addict) are now on Facebook. Find us, befriend us, SuperPoke us. We promise we'll be a good friend who'll always tell you if those shoes really don't go with that outfit.
I must apologize in advance if this posting offends anyone. I just happen to think it hilarious. My son - who's almost 2.5 - loves shoes. He comes by it naturally of course. He also love my lingerie drawer. Given that's he's in the potty-training phase, he thinks underwear is fascinating (I confess my underwear is really not all that interesting or intricate but to anyone just learning to wear it). So yesterday, as I'm getting ready for work, he bounces in with one of my bras. He wanted to know if mommy needed her "boobie socks." With that creative mind, I just need to enlist his help in describing shoes for the catalog.
This is a SHOUT-OUT to all those full-time moms who take care of their precious seedlings day-in-and-day out. It's probably the most rewarding job, but surely the most exhausting. I just took care of my two loving kids over the weekend, all weekend, all 48 hours, alone. It sounds pathetic I know. It is pathetic. But it was exhausting. Keeping up with a 2 1/2 year old high-octane little boy and a very precocious 9 month-old little girl is hard work. I'm equally fulfilled and exhausted. But I have another shameless confession, I secretly looking forward to Silvia (our wonderful nanny) showing up at 8am tomorrow morning so I can go back to working with shoes. I sound heartless. It's not that. My kids (and husband) are my life. I just happen to love my 9-5 job.
Sex is back, as in Sex and the City - and I'm annoyed because I haven't seen it yet. My plans fell through for a girlfriends night out and now I'm three days out, and haven't gone to the theater to frolic over the phenom footwear undoubtedly up for Best Supporting Actress in a Comedy. And the winner is? I don't know but I imagine that Manolo Blahnik is a lead contender.
After much anticipation, and admittedly much delay, today we finally rolled out our beefed-up, spruced-up, suped-up website. It may not look much different to the average eye, but you'd be surprised how much effort goes into such little change.
But it's actually not little change. Amongst other cool features like sliding product previews, we've added product review capabilities which I've been working to do for over a year now. So I'm celebrating! And everytime I read a review, it's like getting a a pat on the back or a lollyipop at the bank. It gives me warm fuzzies. It doesn't matter what the review says (within reason of course). It just makes me happy that our customers are starting to communicate with one another. It's like going to cheerleading camp (which is embarassingly the only camp I've ever been to). We may not all be cheering for the same team (or shoe in this case), we're all bonding over the same subject. And who doesn't like bonding over shoes?
I may destroy all perceived sense of "coolness" with this admission, but I'm a huge Harry Potter fan. In fact, I'm watching The Order of the Phoenix now, and have read every book twice (once when it came out and again just before the next edition was due to be released). Since I'm pulling back the curtain, here goes the rest of it: in addition to Harry Potter, I love sci-fi, the Lord of the Rings trilogy, white chocolate mochas, classic R&B music, all gummy candies, ballet and ballroom dancing, buttery chardonnays, and of course the obvious...shoes.
After a long week of working on an exciting catalog and website-redesign, and after a 4 hour bike ride with the family, I'm relaxing TV-side, watching Harry, drinking wine, enjoying a lovely weekend at home.
We have lots of exciting news to announce in the near future. But for the time being, all I can say is to check back soon, which I hope you do.
I just responded to a friend's request to join Facebook and now I've got the bug - the Facebook bug. I have NO time (I'm writing this as my hubby and children sleep if that's any indication), but here I am posting on people's walls. I think I need to put down the computer and go to bed. Seriously. I have a problem.
We had a SimplySoles event last week and I'm just feeling back to normal. It was at my house, so we spent a few days getting ready, and a few days undoing the damage (furniture arranging, cleaning the dishes, etc.) that was done. From what I heard, people loved the intimate affair. My mom and dad happened to be in town so the intimate affair turned into a family affair. I'd have pictures to share if my mom could figure out her digital camera (she's gifted with gab and remiss with gadgets). All-in-all though it was a fabulous event, and is inspiration for opening up a store front. If you have any opinions on the matter please share them. I seem to change my mind everyday.
I type this with worn and tattered, bruised and battered, fragile and frail fingers. Through 3.5 years of sending out the catalog, boxing up, and shipping out shoes, our single day shipping record was 127 shoes. Today - we beat that milestone by over 100 pairs. Crazy isn't it? Our previous record was 127 pairs boxed up and shipped out in one day. Today - we shipped out 250 pairs. It's not because we doubled our staff (which would have been nice.) It's actually because the Lillybees arrived late Friday evening, and the weekend was spent getting them ready for shipment on Monday. To put things in perspective, in the last 2.5 days we went through 15 rolls of packing tape.
So the staff and I are celebrating receiving our first shipment of Lillybees, boxing them all up, and reaching a shipping milestone that may not be surpassed in the near future. We're eating homemade cupcakes (courtesy of Paul "Rocky" Walker...I've taken to calling him Rocky because of his prowess boxing skills...as in cardboard boxing skills) and drinking champagne (courtesy of my husband who doesn't know I "borrowed" a bottle from his collection). Maybe we can get some mariachi music playing and we'll celebrate Cinco de Mayo too. Ole!
We're having our first SimplySoles party in 3 years. To keep it comfortably intimate, I limited it to 50 people and those slots were filled within a few hours. Now I'm not sure what to do. This is apropos Kassie. Unlike the Greek prophetess, Cassandra, I'm usually a 100% wrong when it comes to foretelling the future (like interest in coming to a SimplySoles party at my house). I find it rather humorous that I share a name with someone known for predicting the future when I'm so clearly inept. Buy hey, I'm really good at picking out great styles for the season, and I think that's a skill I'd rather have anyhow.
I feel that an apology is necessary - which is kind of silly because I don't really know who I'm apologizing to. Funny. I just feel like I've dropped the ball with my blog recently. For those who are following along, the photoshoot went well thanks for the good-fortune of a good hair day.
So I don't have the paparazzi to blame for my absence. It's something more personal - more real and less glamorous. My best friend left town for the West Coast and this week the reality of her absence is paralyzing.
I am the type who has few friends. I have many acquaintances, but don't have the capacity to have many good friends. I have a husband, 2 kids, and a demanding business. They are my priority. But the few friends that I have, well they are held near and dear to my heart. We have close and meaningful relationships. And this friend, the one that just moved, aside from my mom, she is the closest woman to me.
It's funny because she's Indian, and I'm extremely fair-skinned, but yet we look great in the same colors. We'd borrow sweaters, dresses and lipsticks. Those are the little things that I miss that were part of the fun of living in the same town. I know we'll always have our friendship. Now if I could just get my hands on a shade of Underplay by Mac, maybe, just maybe, I'd feel like she's not so far away.
I have my wonderful family in town (just a small but LOUD sampling) and an opportunity just came up that I couldn't pass up. It's to be featured in an article for DC Modern Luxury magazine. I am a subscriber, so naturally I'm honored. However. The timing couldn't be worse. As soon as my mom, sisters (and 3 boys arrive), I have to hand over my 2 kids (my wonderful nanny is having scheduled surgery this week) and say I have to run. I did. I had to get my hair blown-out for a photo shoot tomorrow. Pathetic excuse to be so rude isn't it. But if you saw my hair, you'd agree it's entirely justified. The problem is - it doesn't look any better. I blame the hair, not the stylist. I had an unplanned, unapproved hair chop a few months back and I'm still recovering. I'm growing it out and it's as painful for me to endure as it is for my stylist and family to watch.
We were just on the news. (OK - it's was really our shoes that were featured, but we're excited all the same.) The lovely Ylan McClintock talked up our website and the new lillybee line.
Today - March 20 - is the first day of Spring. Yesterday was 70 degrees in Washington DC. Today it's 45. Not really the direction in temperature I was hoping for, but if it's officially "spring" I feel justified in wearing my new spring sandals. I may look stupid, but I WILL look cute.
Did anyone else happen to come upon this article on how global warming could spur the movement of pythons into North America? We're not just talking about your average python (if there is such a thing). We're talking giant Burmese pythons. Just thinking about it gave me the shivers. (Seriously it did). If you ever needed a catalyst for "going green" or at least doing your fair share of recycling, I think this is it.
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