After months of product development and trade shows and production/shipping issues, it is just thrilling to see the final products in stores.  We spotted some great retail placement with Shell Rummel, Tracy Porter and Izak this past month.

It's working...that is a statement I heard from one of my artists this week!  I couldn't agree more.  In licensing, we all know it is a long and tortuous road at its best.  Some days are great, some are okay and some are just downright ugly and depressing.  Let's be honest, we try to survive in a market where in most cases we work for free a majority of the time.  How can that not get you down sometimes.  To hear the words it's working though does make you feel that hard work can persevere in the end.

Collaboration...Another word I have heard this week.  The specific quote is that we want to work collaboratively with creative people.  Now that is what I like to hear from licensees.  We want to work collaboratively as well.  We are not divas! (I can say that as a general rule as most of my artists and designers are women) The bottom line is we want to create great products with great partners.  If we are working together and not sending submissions into the abyss, we all will be much more successful.  We won't waste our time and can spend energy creating designs that will ultimately sell. 

I couldn't help but laugh the other day at my daughter, Addison.  We have a new Nanny, Katie, that loves to draw.  They both sit at the table after school and have art time.  I really thought it was a collaborative effort where they both created art together...So I come downstairs the other day and Addison is sitting at the table telling Katie what to draw and what colors to use, and how her hair should be, etc.  I made a mental note that I should really try to work with Addison on being so bossy, and then I couldn't help but think that is how I must sound when I tell my artists; just change up those colors, add a new color way, move this around, it needs something more I don't know what, but something.   And then I made a mental note to work on me being so bossy.  :-)

I am really excited about Jewel Branding in 2013 and felt the week of Thanksgiving is the perfect time to say thanks to all of the amazingly talented artists, brands and designers that I get to work with.  I am so lucky to have such a great group of people that make this agency so much fun to be a part of.  We will have our 5 year anniversary in 2013 and I simply cannot believe how fast the time has gone and how many exciting products we have in the market as a result of the positive relationships we have built with our licensees.   It truly is an honor to be a part of such a creative group of people in a dynamic industry.

I hope everyone has a wonderful Thanksgiving with their friends and families!

I was thrilled to be able to attend Brand Licensing Europe for the first time and was definitely impressed!  The show was extremely busy and there were a lot of exhibitors; so many more than I had anticipated.  I was able to meet in person with Nel Whatmore and her assistant Helen Wrightson, which was invaluable in planning for future licensing opportunities.  I also met Dominique for the first time, which was so wonderful, after speaking on the phone for several months.  It is so nice to put faces to voices.

I also met with potential licensees for Jessie Steele and existing licensees for Izak.  In addition I met with 2 new artists who I will be working with and I can't wait to share the details once everything is signed! 

And I am excited to announce, Jewel Branding will also be exhibiting at Brand Licensing Europe 2013. We are looking forward to expanding our footprint of contacts into Europe.