I'm sometimes asked what I charge (for the t-shirts, baby creepers and bibs I make) and why I charge what I charge. As is the case with any business, I'm in business to make money. I make money by charging a price that covers the cost of goods used to produce what I'm selling, such as the t-shirt (creeper, bib, etc), the ink, bags, and tags, plus the cost of actual production and a little bit for my time and effort. Of course I have to be reasonable, but I can't operate at a loss or my business won't stay in business. No business survives much less thrives by "giving it away".
Some prices are negotiable, such as when I buy t-shirts in a large enough volume that my vendor passes along savings to me, which I can then pass on to my customer. But since that's not always the case, some customers have a hard time understanding why they can buy a t-shirt from one printer for $6.00 where I might charge $16.00
To understand the difference in price, you also need to understand the difference in production - was the shirt done by screen printing or digital direct-to-garment printing? What is the content and weight of the shirt? Is it tagged or tagless, mens, women's or unisex? Organic cotton or a cotton/poly blend? And then of course, there's where the shirt is made. If it's made in China, Vietman, India or Bangladash to name a few, it's very likely going carry a significantly lower price from a shirt made in America. And just who is making your shirt? A large print shop that produces banners, signs, packaging, hats, t-shirts, tote bags in volume? Or an independent business owner that's considerably smaller in size and sales than one of the large chain printers.
So many factors go into determining the price tag on the items you buy, that there's not always a simple answer to "why do you charge more than printer XYZ"?
Aside from all the items above, there is also this; QUALITY. To me, quality is about the commitment of care and concern I put into every piece I make. I'm a big believer in autographing my work with excellence. I think this quote by William A. Foster pretty accurately sums it up; “Quality is never an accident; it is always the result of high intention, sincere effort, intelligent direction and skillful execution; it represents the wise choice of many alternatives.”
As a small business, I believe that I cannot and should not be all things to all people. I frequently turn business away because of this belief. But that also means that the business I do, is the best business I do, and I'm proud to do it.
When you give or wear an item of decorated apparel from La Petite Pilot or my new line INKRAGEOUS, you have the satisfaction of knowing it was made with my personal commitment to quality and care. And there's nothing cheap about that.
Lori
"There is hardly anything in the world that some man cannot make a little worse and sell a little cheaper, and the people who consider price only are this man's lawful prey." ~ John Ruskin
Showing posts with label baby clothes. Show all posts
Showing posts with label baby clothes. Show all posts
Wednesday, November 9, 2011
Monday, December 6, 2010
Back in the saddle again
Okay yes I admit, it's been a long time since I've posted to the blog, I'm either just busy or perhaps it's been a bit of laziness, I can't decide which. I'm going to try and post at least once a week, I'm one of those people who needs a deadline to motivate me.
It's been crazy busy here at La Petite Pilot as we wrap up our year. We've added more designs, more clients, and more outlets where our items are sold this year, (including our first International pilot shop in Madrid Spain). We've also upgraded our printing process thanks to a September purchase of an AnaJet Sprint direct-to-garment printer which you can see in action here; (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ltqgLsWHR0s&feature=related). While the AnaJet's a big investment, it's also a BIG improvement in our production process and the amount of time needed to process an order. An order that once took me 6 days to process can now be completed in 6 hours - or less!
Of course with new technology came learning a new computer program; for me that is Adobe Photoshop Elements 9, and while I'm not ready to proclaim myself an expert just yet, I'm comfortable saying I'm headed in the right direction.
Continuing to change with the needs of our clients, we've also decided to make a change in our choice of fabric used for the baby bodysuits or creepers we use. From day one we've been printing to a 65% poly/35% cotton blend using inks specifically for polyester, but that's not without its challenges. Thanks to a last minute client's request for T-shirts in addition to baby creepers, we're pleased to say we're making the move to an all cotton inventory. Starting in 2011, our baby creepers will be 100% pre-shrunk cotton! Not only do these garments have a soft feel to them, but cotton tends to be more breathable.
As the year draws to a close, it's important to recognize and give thanks to those who've contributed to our success;
A very special thank you to the most supportive spouse a woman could ever ask for; my husband Keith. For his long hours of helping set up the new printer, to helping me keep my cool when frustration set in, Keith's not just my partner, he's my biggest cheerleader and we just happen to be celebrating our 5th wedding anniversary later this week. I couldn't have married a better man!
To my National Distributor, Tom Rubin and the team at AeroPhoenix for their continued support of our products; Thank you for believing in La Petite Pilot and for getting the word out.
To our independent clients in Colorado and Arizona; your support makes the long hours worthwhile. We will continue to endeavor to earn your respect and keep your business.
It's been an amazing year for Chez Lamb LLC and La Petite Pilot. We've met some incredible people along our journey, and we've learned a lot. Here's to even greater successes and blessings in the coming year.
From all of us here at La Petite Pilot,
We wish you every blessing and happiness. Merry Christmas!
Lori
It's been crazy busy here at La Petite Pilot as we wrap up our year. We've added more designs, more clients, and more outlets where our items are sold this year, (including our first International pilot shop in Madrid Spain). We've also upgraded our printing process thanks to a September purchase of an AnaJet Sprint direct-to-garment printer which you can see in action here; (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ltqgLsWHR0s&feature=related). While the AnaJet's a big investment, it's also a BIG improvement in our production process and the amount of time needed to process an order. An order that once took me 6 days to process can now be completed in 6 hours - or less!
Of course with new technology came learning a new computer program; for me that is Adobe Photoshop Elements 9, and while I'm not ready to proclaim myself an expert just yet, I'm comfortable saying I'm headed in the right direction.
Continuing to change with the needs of our clients, we've also decided to make a change in our choice of fabric used for the baby bodysuits or creepers we use. From day one we've been printing to a 65% poly/35% cotton blend using inks specifically for polyester, but that's not without its challenges. Thanks to a last minute client's request for T-shirts in addition to baby creepers, we're pleased to say we're making the move to an all cotton inventory. Starting in 2011, our baby creepers will be 100% pre-shrunk cotton! Not only do these garments have a soft feel to them, but cotton tends to be more breathable.
As the year draws to a close, it's important to recognize and give thanks to those who've contributed to our success;
A very special thank you to the most supportive spouse a woman could ever ask for; my husband Keith. For his long hours of helping set up the new printer, to helping me keep my cool when frustration set in, Keith's not just my partner, he's my biggest cheerleader and we just happen to be celebrating our 5th wedding anniversary later this week. I couldn't have married a better man!
To my National Distributor, Tom Rubin and the team at AeroPhoenix for their continued support of our products; Thank you for believing in La Petite Pilot and for getting the word out.
To our independent clients in Colorado and Arizona; your support makes the long hours worthwhile. We will continue to endeavor to earn your respect and keep your business.
It's been an amazing year for Chez Lamb LLC and La Petite Pilot. We've met some incredible people along our journey, and we've learned a lot. Here's to even greater successes and blessings in the coming year.
From all of us here at La Petite Pilot,
We wish you every blessing and happiness. Merry Christmas!
Lori
Friday, August 13, 2010
Off my feet with time on my hands
Late last month I had occasion to spend a big block of time just sitting around. I had some long anticipated foot surgery that kept me off my feet just long enough for me to get bored ... which lead to a creative spurt. When you're sitting at home and your darling husband's waiting on you hand and foot (no pun intended) and daytime tv is leaving a lot to be desired, what's a girl to do but come up with some new designs for baby bodysuits and toddler t's?
Two of my newest designs "Crawl, Walk, Fly" and "I'm All About Airplanes" have recently been added to the La Petite Pilot family. In fact, one dozen baby bodysuits and two dozen toddler t's were delivered earlier this week to The Bamboo Airstrip, the delightful pilot shop located at Centennial Airport (KAPA) in Colorado.
Both designs are pictured below and are available in baby bodysuits (sizes 0-3 months, 3-6 months, and 6-12 months) or toddler t's (sizes 2T, 3T, 4T and 5T by special order). In addition to these two designs, La Petite Pilot continues to offer both baby bodysuits and toddler t's in "Just Plane Cute", "Daddy's Little Co-Pilot", and "When I grow up I'm gonna fly Helicopters just like my daddy".
Even though I promote La Petite Pilot as a purveyor of aviation-themed decorated apparel, aviation isn't all I do.
I recently made a baby body suit as a baby shower gift for an expectant mom in our family that said; "I didn't do it. No one saw me do it. I wanna talk to my grandma."
If you're looking for something special for a special someone in your life, drop me a line and lets talk about what La Petite Pilot can do for you.
Thanks for stopping by,
Lori
Two of my newest designs "Crawl, Walk, Fly" and "I'm All About Airplanes" have recently been added to the La Petite Pilot family. In fact, one dozen baby bodysuits and two dozen toddler t's were delivered earlier this week to The Bamboo Airstrip, the delightful pilot shop located at Centennial Airport (KAPA) in Colorado.
Both designs are pictured below and are available in baby bodysuits (sizes 0-3 months, 3-6 months, and 6-12 months) or toddler t's (sizes 2T, 3T, 4T and 5T by special order). In addition to these two designs, La Petite Pilot continues to offer both baby bodysuits and toddler t's in "Just Plane Cute", "Daddy's Little Co-Pilot", and "When I grow up I'm gonna fly Helicopters just like my daddy".
Even though I promote La Petite Pilot as a purveyor of aviation-themed decorated apparel, aviation isn't all I do.
I recently made a baby body suit as a baby shower gift for an expectant mom in our family that said; "I didn't do it. No one saw me do it. I wanna talk to my grandma."
If you're looking for something special for a special someone in your life, drop me a line and lets talk about what La Petite Pilot can do for you.
Thanks for stopping by,
Lori
Tuesday, December 1, 2009
Celebrating the holidays and going international
La Petite Pilot received very good news from our national distributor AeroPhoenix last week;
In just the few short months that La Petite Pilot has been in business, we've seen our business double thanks to word-of-mouth advertising and handing out the occasional business card here and there. Looking forward, we'll be establishing a website and webstore where existing customers and hopefully future customers will be able to see examples of my work and place special orders.
Recently I was asked if all I do are aviation-themed baby bodysuits (onesies)? The answer is a loud and clear "NO" ... I'd be delighted to do items for infants, toddlers, school-age children all the way up to and including your great grandpa's Happy 100th Birthday t-shirt!
Looking for t-shirts to mark a Family Reunion? I can do that. T-shirts for your daughter's Sweet 16 birthday party? I can do that? Just adopted a St Bernard named Rosie and you wanna wear her picture on your t-shirt? I can do that too! And I can do it all the way up to a size 4X!!
I've been fortunate to do a good bit of traveling with my airline pilot husband. And I'll admit it, I'm one of those travelers who loves to dawdle in the airport gift shops before my flight. I can't tell you how much I'm looking forward to the day I walk into an airport in say London or Paris or Tokyo and see my work being sold there! I honestly believe that day is just around the corner!
With just 22 days till Christmas, I'm getting the last of my shopping finished and plan to have everything wrapped and the gifts I need to ship out the door by the 15th. That brings me to what I hope you dear readers will find helpful; some gift suggestions for those "hard to buy for" gift recipients;
Gourmet dipping oils ... a favorite of mine to give and receive, these beautiful to look at and delish to dip into oils are easy to find in most gourmet or high-end grocery stores, or at stores like Home Goods. Add a loaf of fresh baked French bread and you've just turned a simple meal into a regal repast!
Personal journals ... as a writer, I like nothing better than starting a new journal, and I wouldn't dream of using a plain spiral bound notebook! Journals come in all sizes with covers of velvet, felt, even wood! Personally, I like soft covers and single ruled lines, but there's something for everyone if you just take a little time to look around.
Coffee's, tea's and cocoa's ... it's hard to beat a good cup of coffee, tea or cocoa (along with a good book or a favorite magazine) and today, there is no shortage of gourmet coffee's, tea's and cocoa's available at very attractive prices at stores such as Cost Plus or even your local Starbuck's. Pick out a pretty cup and saucer, or a mug and slip in your selected coffee, tea or cocoa and you've got a gift that's sure to please!
Travel charging valet ... are there 3 electronic devices your favorite traveling man can't live without on any given day? Keep 'em charged and ready to go with the Portable Charging Valet from the good folks at The Sharper Image.
There are some wonderful companies, both on-line and brick & mortar with goodies both big and small that would be appreciated and adored by even the pickiest person ... and you don't have to break into your childrens' piggy banks to afford any of the items I've suggested here.
I hope your Christmas is merry and bright, I hope your Christmas wishes all come true, and above all, may you keep the spirit of Christmas alive in your heart all the year through!
Merry Christmas!
Lori
Our baby bodysuits (onesies) are now available in Madrid Spain ... Ole!
In just the few short months that La Petite Pilot has been in business, we've seen our business double thanks to word-of-mouth advertising and handing out the occasional business card here and there. Looking forward, we'll be establishing a website and webstore where existing customers and hopefully future customers will be able to see examples of my work and place special orders.
Recently I was asked if all I do are aviation-themed baby bodysuits (onesies)? The answer is a loud and clear "NO" ... I'd be delighted to do items for infants, toddlers, school-age children all the way up to and including your great grandpa's Happy 100th Birthday t-shirt!
Looking for t-shirts to mark a Family Reunion? I can do that. T-shirts for your daughter's Sweet 16 birthday party? I can do that? Just adopted a St Bernard named Rosie and you wanna wear her picture on your t-shirt? I can do that too! And I can do it all the way up to a size 4X!!
I've been fortunate to do a good bit of traveling with my airline pilot husband. And I'll admit it, I'm one of those travelers who loves to dawdle in the airport gift shops before my flight. I can't tell you how much I'm looking forward to the day I walk into an airport in say London or Paris or Tokyo and see my work being sold there! I honestly believe that day is just around the corner!
With just 22 days till Christmas, I'm getting the last of my shopping finished and plan to have everything wrapped and the gifts I need to ship out the door by the 15th. That brings me to what I hope you dear readers will find helpful; some gift suggestions for those "hard to buy for" gift recipients;
Gourmet dipping oils ... a favorite of mine to give and receive, these beautiful to look at and delish to dip into oils are easy to find in most gourmet or high-end grocery stores, or at stores like Home Goods. Add a loaf of fresh baked French bread and you've just turned a simple meal into a regal repast!
Personal journals ... as a writer, I like nothing better than starting a new journal, and I wouldn't dream of using a plain spiral bound notebook! Journals come in all sizes with covers of velvet, felt, even wood! Personally, I like soft covers and single ruled lines, but there's something for everyone if you just take a little time to look around.
Coffee's, tea's and cocoa's ... it's hard to beat a good cup of coffee, tea or cocoa (along with a good book or a favorite magazine) and today, there is no shortage of gourmet coffee's, tea's and cocoa's available at very attractive prices at stores such as Cost Plus or even your local Starbuck's. Pick out a pretty cup and saucer, or a mug and slip in your selected coffee, tea or cocoa and you've got a gift that's sure to please!
Travel charging valet ... are there 3 electronic devices your favorite traveling man can't live without on any given day? Keep 'em charged and ready to go with the Portable Charging Valet from the good folks at The Sharper Image.
There are some wonderful companies, both on-line and brick & mortar with goodies both big and small that would be appreciated and adored by even the pickiest person ... and you don't have to break into your childrens' piggy banks to afford any of the items I've suggested here.
I hope your Christmas is merry and bright, I hope your Christmas wishes all come true, and above all, may you keep the spirit of Christmas alive in your heart all the year through!
Merry Christmas!
Lori
Saturday, October 3, 2009
Busy as a Bee
It's been an incredibly busy week here at La Petite Pilot with not one but TWO orders from my national distributor AeroPhoenix. It looks like my baby bodysuits "Just Plane Cute", Daddy's Little Co-Pilot" and When I Grow Up, I'm Gonna Fly Helicopters Just Like My Daddy" are gaining in popularity and sales. La Petite Pilot is also pleased to introduce a Christmas baby bodysuit featuring a cute little teddy bear in a bright red airplane called the "HoHo 1" .
"Girls Can Do Anything" features famed aviatrix Amelia Earhart, while "I'm All About Airplanes" sports three of my own personal favorite: the Boeing Stearman (oh how I love that plane!).
Special orders give me the opportunity to go a little wild with creativity, so I always welcome the opportunity as well as the business. With the holidays just around the corner, it's not too early to start thinking about the gift recipients on YOUR holiday list.
Now's the time to let your imagination soar ... t-shirts, baby bodysuits, bibs, sweatshirts ... you name it, La Petite Pilot can make it fabulous!
Lori Lamb
I also had occasion to design some childrens t-shirts, including these two designs;
"Girls Can Do Anything" features famed aviatrix Amelia Earhart, while "I'm All About Airplanes" sports three of my own personal favorite: the Boeing Stearman (oh how I love that plane!).
Special orders give me the opportunity to go a little wild with creativity, so I always welcome the opportunity as well as the business. With the holidays just around the corner, it's not too early to start thinking about the gift recipients on YOUR holiday list.
Now's the time to let your imagination soar ... t-shirts, baby bodysuits, bibs, sweatshirts ... you name it, La Petite Pilot can make it fabulous!
Lori Lamb
Friday, September 18, 2009
It's a fabulous Friday and business is good
It's looks like it's going to be a fabulous Friday, and it begins with a new order from my national supplier AeroPhoenix for another half gross of my aviation themed baby bodysuits (think onesie).
I'm pleased my baby items are selling, but I'm surprised that the one I thought would sell the best (I Belive I Can Fly ... nope, just gas) really hasn't been the best seller. That slot is held, and firmly at that, by a little block airplane, and the words - Just Plane Cute - a unisex design top seller!
On top of this second order from AeroPhoenix, I've also been commissioned by two friends to make baby bodysuits and toddler t's for them to give as gifts. Little by little La Petite Pilot is growing, and no one's more surprised or pleased than me.
If you have a new baby joining your family, or if you know of someone who does, my designs are not limited to aviation themes, and I'm always honored to fill special orders.
Have a wonderful weekend!
Lori
I'm pleased my baby items are selling, but I'm surprised that the one I thought would sell the best (I Belive I Can Fly ... nope, just gas) really hasn't been the best seller. That slot is held, and firmly at that, by a little block airplane, and the words - Just Plane Cute - a unisex design top seller!
On top of this second order from AeroPhoenix, I've also been commissioned by two friends to make baby bodysuits and toddler t's for them to give as gifts. Little by little La Petite Pilot is growing, and no one's more surprised or pleased than me.
If you have a new baby joining your family, or if you know of someone who does, my designs are not limited to aviation themes, and I'm always honored to fill special orders.
Have a wonderful weekend!
Lori
Monday, August 17, 2009
So far ... so good
Tom Rubin over at AeroPhoenix, the marketing whiz who's responsible for my baby bodysuits being available to pilot shops nationwide, sent me an email late last week saying the line is selling well. "Well" to Tom means his customers are taking notice and ordering a few to see how they move in their particular pilot shop. But when is "well" - well enough?
Below are a few of my other designs. These are just 3 of the t's I've designed for the Deer Valley Airport's pilot shop. - Lori
Personally, now that I'm in the game, I'll feel like La Petite Pilot is a success when I walk into a major airport such as Phoenix Sky Harbor or Newark's Liberty International, and see my baby bodysuits on display. That said, the fact that a national distributor has picked up my babywear certainly isn't small beans, and I'm duly grateful that Mr. Rubin has given me a chance. But now that I've had a bite of the apple ... I want more. I want Tom's next call to say my babywear is "flying (pun intended) off the shelves".
I had a lovely luncheon this past Sunday with two members of the Pilot Wives Club (http://www.pilotwivesclub.com/) during which both ladies said they'd looked for a website for La Petite Pilot. So far, this blog is my only outing on the internet, though I know that the best bet for getting my babywear seen (and bought) is a website. Until I get there, and I'm not quite ready, this blog will continue to be the only web presence for La Petite Pilot. So far ... so good.
Below are a few of my other designs. These are just 3 of the t's I've designed for the Deer Valley Airport's pilot shop. - Lori
Saturday, August 1, 2009
Welcome!
Welcome to La Petite Pilot, the home of aviation themed decorated apparel including baby bodysuits (think onesies) and t-shirts (adult/children/infant).
La Petite Pilot began as a kitchen-table hobby with the single intention of making t-shirts for my airline pilot husband. Well you know how it goes, first a friend sees as wants one, then another friend sees and wants one, then the nice man who owned the pilot shop at Deer Valley Airport (DVT) here in Phoenix saw them and thought they might sell in his shop. That lead to me making a couple dozen t's for adults plus a few kid-friendly ones and a half dozen onesies (Gerber's) all with aviation-themed verbiage and graphics.
I admit it was a shock to learn Mike Hosa over at DVT even wanted to see my designs, after all, it wasn't meant to be a business ... just a time filler for a sometimes lonely pilots wife. Now here I was agonizing over designs and colors and wondering if anyone would really buy them.
A year later, here I sit, having been picked up by a leading national distributor of aviation-related goods; AeroPhoenix, who supplies pilot shops at more than 200 airports across the United States. Yesterday, I delivered my first order for AeroPhoenix; a gross of baby bodysuits (think onesies) under my label; La Petite Pilot.
This blog is my lead in to what I hope will eventually become my website. Check back often for photos of my work, news on where my baby bodysuits are available for purchase, and news in general.
I hope you enjoy my work as much as I've enjoyed producing it! - Lori
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