I had the chance to interview Kathy Elkins, one of the owners of WEBS, who is also a long time Namaste retailer.  Married duo Steve & Kathy Elkins own WEBS together and the couple are as charming as they are dynamic.  I personally found getting to know Kathy and WEBS to be educational, super fun and interesting…. enjoy

Namaste (Kelly):  When did you open the doors for your store?

Kathy:  WEBS – America’s Yarn Store was founded in 1974 by Barbara Elkins (Steve’s mom) & a partner in the basement of Barbara’s home.

Namaste:  What did you all previously do before opening the store?

Kathy:  Before owning WEBS, Barbara was a stay -at-home Mom and has a degree in Library Science.  Steve & I took over from Barbara & Steve’s dad Art in 2002.  Prior to that Steve was Director of On-Premise Sales for Pepsi and Kathy was Director of Marketing for Tommy Hilfiger Footwear.

Namaste:  What inspired you and Steve to take the company over?  How did it all come about?

Kathy:  Steve’s parents had asked us a couple of times in the late 90’s if we were interested in joining the business but we were living in Boston, had both just gotten our MBA’s and had jobs we loved.  We couldn’t imagine leaving Boston and moving to Western Mass (which is rural-ish).  In Fall of 2001 Steve’s parents told us they had an interested buyer for the business and they were going to sell, unless we had any interest in taking it over.  At this point, we were living in CT, I was at home with our 2 sons who were just babies and Steve was working a million hours for Pepsi.  Suddenly, owning a yarn store in Western Mass sounded like a great idea.  I was convinced pretty easily, Steve took a little work but in early 2002 we made the move and have never looked back.  I would also say that on a more subconscious  level, both Steve & believe that the events of 9/11 also influenced our decision.

Namaste:  Can you tell us a bit about what made you start your own business, and what your business is all about, in general?

Kathy:  Barbara is a life-long weaver and fibercrafter.  She founded WEBS to feed her need for yarn.  WEBS started out focused on weaving.  Barbara & her partner taught students how to weave and allowed them to rent their looms and take them home.  After a few years, the Elkins’ wanted their basement back, Barbara’s partner had moved on and she found a small, below-street-level space in downtown Amherst, MA.  That space was quickly outgrown and Barbara & Art bought a Victorian House in downtown Amherst and moved the business there.  By this time they had added knitting yarns to the mix, had been aggressively buying mill end weaving yarns, began sourcing their own weaving yarns and started mail order.  In 1992, they moved the business to Northampton to the location we are currently in.

Namaste:  What is your favorite thing about your store?

Kathy:  Our favorite thing about our store is definitely out customers.  We are so lucky to have a wonderful community of knitters, crocheters, weavers and spinners.  Many live locally but many travel to us – sometimes several times per year, others might just make a single pilgrimage.

Namaste:  That’s neat!  Where do some of your customers travel from?

Kathy:  They come from all over the country & Canada.  We have customers from Europe visit too. My favorite is the flight attendant based in Detroit, who used her miles to fly herself & her mom to Hartford (our closest airport) to shop for the day and then flew home!

Another time we had a woman from out in the Midwest visit with her “show” cat.  They were suppose to fly to either Switzerland or Sweden for some big competition but the cat’s papers weren’t in order and they weren’t able to go, so she and the cat came to WEBS!  The cat was gorgeous!

Namaste:  What is your favorite Namaste piece?

Kathy:  The Monroe Bag.  I have 3!

Namaste:  That’s quite a collection!  Which colors do you have and what makes this your favorite Namaste bag?

Kathy:  I own it in Lime Green, Black & Red.  I love the shape, I love the pockets and overall functionality, I love how nicely it sits on my shoulder.  I love the length to height ratio for traveling (fits nicely under the seat in front of me).  It’s perfect for knitting but I often use it as my briefcase for work – I carried the Lime Green one all summer.

Namaste:  Why were you attracted to the Namaste line?

Kathy:  The Namaste line has a wonderful fashion sense but is still functional.  The products are very well constructed but they are also very affordable.

Namaste:  How does the Namaste product line fit in overall with WEBS products?

Kathy:  Namaste is a perfect fit for our store.  We carry other higher end bags which are also lovely, but Namaste is one of our most popular brands.

Namaste:  Who are most of your customers?

Kathy:  We have a very broad customer based though it’s predominantly female.  Our customers are passionate about their fiber pursuits whether they are novices or experts.

Namaste:  What would you say is the key to the success of WEBS?

Kathy:  We offer a great selection of products, we provide exceptional customer service and we value each of customers.

Namaste:  If you have a motto, what is it?

Kathy:  It’s all about the customer!

Namaste:  Good motto- and one to stick by!  Can you tell me about some “lessons learned” from an experienced businesswoman such as yourself?

Kathy:

• Pay attention to your customers and listen to them.  Casual conversations can often yield info about things you are doing well and not well, without the customer really realizing they are giving you such valuable feedback.
• Surround yourself with the best people – no matter how good you are, you can’t know everything or do everything yourself.  Get the best people possible, empower them to do what they do best.
• Mistakes are going to happen – what sets the good companies apart from the rest is how they deal with and correct the mistakes.
• And personally for me – reminding myself that life is about balance. Fortunately,  our two boys help keep me in check in that department.  This becomes more and more important to me with each passing year.  I love what I do but I’ll miss a deadline rather than miss a hockey game, baseball game, band concert or play that one of the boys is participating in.

Namaste:  What are the roles that you and Steve play in the company?

Kathy:  Steve is the Ops/Finance guy – he oversees shipping, receiving, physical plant and the finances.  I oversee the shop, Valley Yarns & design and all of the marketing & advertising.  I also handle HR but only because I lost the coin toss on that one!

Namaste:  Can you tell us more about the WEBS team and what a day at WEBS is like?

Kathy:  We have an awesome, eclectic group that works here.  A combination of full & part-time folks, a good mix of females & males, 60% or so are fiberartists of one form or another and most are very overeducated due to the fact we have 5 colleges/universities within a 20 minute radius of the shop.  We have students working part-time, college grads in their first real job, stay at home moms back in the workforce and retirees looking for a few hours a week to do something and be able to buy yarn!

Most days here are pretty frenetic – the store is almost always busy and the shipping & customer service departments are as well.  There’s always some show and tell of projects each morning before we open.  At least once a month on Fridays we have a special “themed” lunch or Free Lunch Friday.  We’ve had chili cook-offs, pie contests, etc.  We love food and we’re a competitive group!

Namaste:  Fun sounds like it’s part of your recipe- something we believe strongly in at Namaste.  Love it!

Kathy:  We do like to have fun!  Our Office Manager has instituted a yearly “Field Day” each fall.  This is her baby and if you don’t attend, you must deal with her wrath!  We do all the silly games but with a yarn twist when possible – this year rather than the egg race (egg on a spoon) we used beads from our Bead Store.  We do a “yarn-put” toss using a huge cone of yarn.  It’s silly and fun – a big cook-out afterwards.

Lessons learned by Kathy are some inspiring words and certainly ones to remember.  It’s my opinion that Kathy should write a book with this title!  There you go Kathy, as if you haven’t got enough on your plate .  It was really great to get to know Kathy and the team at WEBS.  Next time you’re in their neck of the woods, stop by, you won’t be disappointed!

Namaste…

What to do with this fabric???  Put it in our own Hermosa bag of course!  We originally got this idea from our very closest friends who are new moms, and then many of our customers began telling us the same.  Many have been using the Hermosa as a diaper bag with overwhelming responses and requests from them to make it even more mom-friendly.  I was recently told by a knitter that her gift was the hit of the baby shower.  She said she loves her Hermosa and thought her best friend would too- she was right!

We thought- will the crafters like this?  I think so- it makes me smile every time I look at it .  The Hermosa will be available soon in eggplant, peacock, red, and black with the coordinating Lola fabric interior.

This next product we’d like to introduce is mommy specific; it’s our belief that many knitters are mommys too.  You might ask- Will we continue to make crafting/knitting specific products?  Absolutely.  Namaste aims to provide functional, stylish products to meet specific needs of a niche audience.  Our crafters have very specific needs, as do our moms, so we’ll continue to make specific accessories for both groups and maybe more.

Introducing:  Mommy on the Move (M.O.M)

M.O.M changing pads have the Lola print on one side and the buttery vegan leather on the opposite side.  The changing pad features extra cushion for your little one’s head and fold-up velcro closure.  This is where you get to pick your color to go with your bag and changing pads are available with red, eggplant, peacock, lime, hollywood pink, or black backings.  The wipes case is frosted clear, PVC-free recyclable plastic that will go with just about anything.  We call the wipes case a “space case” because we’ve found that it can serve many functions other than a wipes case.  I use it as a portable office and store my post-its, pens, highlighters, mini stapler, paperclips, etc.  My sister uses hers for an on the go makeup case and my friend stores her crochet hooks, DPNs, and other small crafting notions for her crafting on the go.  It’s a great little space…

Next up for 2011 is the Namaste Circular Case in light pink!  We continue to donate 10% of all proceeds from the sale of light pink Namaste products to the Breast Cancer Research Foundation and thought this would be a great way to increase our donation to this worthy cause.

And last but certainly not least..  I’m SOOOO excited to share this with you- the Bitty bag!!!  It was so much fun to test- we instantly knew we had to make this bag.  Dawn and I fell in love at first sight and the rest of the team agreed.

The Bitty bag features a rear exterior zipper pocket for easy access to your cell phone, keys, etc.  The interior lining is clear coated canvas with our newest signature “Lola” print.  The bag has an adjustable strap, strong magnetic closures, and the interior features 1 zipper pocket, 2 open top pockets, and 2 elastics on either end.  The elastics are multi-purpose; they can be used to store a sippy cup or small bottle or water bottle upright, to keep a skein of yarn in its place, or for a securing your Buddy case.

These products will all be available for sale in January 2011.  We anticipate that our first shipment will arrive by January 15th, hopefully sooner and we’re keeping our fingers crossed .  We have lots of new products in the pipeline and will continue to make progress towards final products to share with our Namaste family.  We want to thank everyone who has contacted us through the many channels available these days.  Without your support, feedback, questions, and answers, we wouldn’t be able to be Namaste.  For this, we thank you and look forward to all that 2011 brings.

Namaste & don’t forget to smell the roses.

]]> http://blog.namasteinc.com/2010/12/24/namaste-happy-new-year/feed/ 3 http://blog.namasteinc.com/2010/11/30/retailer-feature-jimmy-beans-wool/ http://blog.namasteinc.com/2010/11/30/retailer-feature-jimmy-beans-wool/#comments Tue, 30 Nov 2010 21:52:29 +0000 namasteinc http://blog.namasteinc.com/?p=362 Jimmy Beans Wool is a fantastic retail location that fully stocks the Namaste line of products in Reno, NV.  Laura Zander, owner of Jimmy Beans Wool, took the time to let us get to know the people behind JBW.  I found the interview with Laura to be insightful and entertaining and just loved getting to know Laura and the story of Jimmy Beans Wool.  Introducing, Laura Zander and Jimmy Beans Wool ..

Namaste (Kelly): When did you open the doors for your store?

Laura (JBW):  Our doors first opened in 2002.

Namaste:  What encouraged you to open up a knitting store?

Laura:  In 2002, after 2 years of marriage and a life-changing move from San Francisco to Truckee, CA, my husband Doug and I emptied our savings account and I opened Jimmy Beans Wool. We had both had worked as software engineers during the early dot com era, but when the bottom started to fall, we opted to turn our Tahoe vacation home into our permanent one. I had learned to knit just 6 months prior and was obsessed. While trying to figure out how to make a living in our new hometown of 14,000 people, I secured a job creating a website for a nearby hand-dyed yarn company, Lorna’s Laces. Lorna acted as my first advisor and supported my need to combine my newfound passion for knitting with my passion for creating a market-leading business. She then introduced me to my future mentor Diane Soucy of Knitting Pure and Simple fame, a brilliant Truckee resident that had created a successful knitting pattern business… Together, Lorna and Diane convinced me that I could turn my passion into a business!

Namaste:  Wow!  Going from freelance software engineer to yarn shop owner is quite a fun twist.  Can you tell us a bit more about how that all came to be?

Laura:  Once we moved to Truckee, I started doing freelance software – I started “Castlepeak Solutions” – and ended up doing the website for Lorna’s Laces and an espresso cart maker as well. I traded my work on the website for yarn and a got a great deal on an espresso cart (hence the “beans” in Jimmy Beans Wool). Freelance software in a small town wasn’t enough to pay the bills, so Lorna convinced me to open the shop. The “trigger pulling” moment was probably meeting Diane Soucy from Knitting Pure and Simple. That relationship is what really convinced me that I could do this. In fact, I was a pretty new knitter when I first opened and it wasn’t uncommon for me to call Diane 2 or 3 times a day, asking for knitting advice: ”so….I have a customer here that wants to know how to do a 3 needle bind off? Can you explain that to me over the phone?”

Those were the days!

As for Doug, he’s still is a software engineer. He’s responsible for creating every single thing you see on our website, as well as all of our internal systems: pos, inventory, etc.!).

Namaste:  That’s great.  We still remember the beginning days of Namaste when my garage was our warehouse!  Do you have a physical location in addition to your online store?

Laura:  Yes! The first location was a 500 square foot space in downtown Truckee’s train station that served as a combination yarn/coffee shop. It only took about 6 months before we had to get rid of the espresso cart and couches to make more room for yarn! When we outgrew the space in Truckee, we opened a second shop in Reno in July 2004. As the business continued to grow it made more sense to have just one location and we closed the Truckee shop in March 2007.

Namaste:  What is your favorite thing about your store?

Laura:  I love yarn. I love our customers and our vendors. But the thing I love most about this business is the family that has been created as result. There are more than 20 of us working at the shop now and I never could have imagined that we would all become so close. It truly warms my heart to know that all of the girls have become friends – and spend time together outside of the shop.

Namaste:  This is so sweet, and I totally understand what you’re saying.  We feel so grateful at Namaste that we can come to work with our friends and family every day- and we make sure to make time for fun!  Can you tell me a bit more about the dynamics of your “work family”?

Laura:  Everyone on staff  (and there are 20+ of us now!) has a great work ethic and the uncanny ability to keep a positive energy going even when stress levels are at maximum. There can often be heard the melodious vocals of Sandy as she pulls orders and spontaneous dance parties have been know to occur. Every couple of weeks the girls organize a theme day such as “Flash Dance Friday” and “Socks With Sandals Day” which always result in some crazy outfits and amused looks from our in-store customers. Just about everyone has become a frozen yogurt addict and afternoon pick-me-ups (if needed… or not) usually involve a quick run over to Honey Treat Yogurt just a few doors down from the shop.  In addition, the girls try to get together outside of work and have a knit night, rotating between each others’ houses. When I say that our team is a family, I mean it. We truly are.

Namaste:  What is your favorite Namaste piece? Why were you attracted to the line?

Laura:  My personal favorite is…wait, do we have to pick just one?  We love ALL of your products!  If pressed to choose, I’d say the “Oh Snap” bags. I absolutely love to have things organized, and these make the task so much easier.

Oh Snap! (set of 3, charcoal gray)

We were attracted to this line because the products were practical and straight forward in design and yet the colors ranged from playful to classic!

Namaste:  How does the Namaste product line fit in overall with your store?

Laura:  The Namaste product line is fresh and fun.  We love it for the sleek designs that are so well thought out.  Namaste products really complement this craft as they offer chic, yet very practical products.

Namaste:  Who are most of your customers?

Laura:  People like you and me.

Our customers are young adults, men, moms, grandmas and some grandpas too!  Our customers are also business people who love to knit and crochet to relax, those who knit to give to their family and community and those who knit for the sheer joy of it!  There are probably many more that I am forgetting to mention!

Namaste:  What lesson has opening JBW taught you?

Laura:  I’ve learned it is important to follow your instincts in all aspect of business (and life!): whether it’s buying inventory, treating customers/co-workers with respect, or creating a business based on the vision you have (of the way every other business out there should be run).

Namaste:  If you have a motto, what is it?

Laura:  JBW, your local yarn shop…online.

We don’t want to be the biggest yarn shop out there; we want to be the best.  To put it simply, we are trying to do more than just sell yarn. We are trying to develop relationships that will last a lifetime.

Namaste:  This is a really nice statement.  Can you elaborate?

Laura:   We really strive to treat our customers the way we would want to be treated as a customer. Our goal is to give customers the feeling that they are shopping at their LYS no matter where they are. A huge part of that is providing superior customer service, lightning fast shipping 7 days a week, and making as much knitting and crocheting information available on our website. Another important part of building lasting relationships is just listening , whether it be a suggestion for making the website more user friendly, ensuring an order goes Priority shipping instead of UPS or the lastest updates on the grandbabies. It really is attention to detail and going that extra step that customers appreciate. We are also commited to giving back to the knitting community with programs such as our Beans For Brains Scholarship, Landscape Collection Pattern Contest and Knit for Charity Scarves.

Namaste:  Sounds like the ingredients for success to me!

I’d like to thank Laura and team at Jimmy Beans Wool for chatting with us, and letting everyone get to know them better.  After interviewing several successful businesswomen in the needle arts community for this blog, I am beginning to notice some common characteristics among them.

1.  Most of the business owners I’ve interviewed didn’t start off doing this.

2.  Guiding principles are less business oriented and more people oriented.

3.  Feedback and relationships with the customers and employees is extremely valuable.

4.  Don’t forget the fun!

That’s my 2 cents for today.  Once again, thanks a million to Laura and the fun folks at Jimmy Beans Wool.  We appreciate you.

Namaste,

Kelly & the gang

Mama Toni loves to pose for the camera, and here she is sporting the black Hip Holster, in front of many a Hermosa…..We’re having a great time here!

Namaste….

Hip Mountain Mama

Hip Mountain Mama is a small family business founded in 2008 by Suzy Hawbaker.  HMM is a web-only store that strives to offer the best Hip and Natural Products for Babies, Kids, and Mamas.  Suzy at HMM has been a prominent retailer of Namaste products for the past 2 years.

After the birth of her first daughter, Suzy began searching out organic and natural products and parenting techniques to connect closely with her strong passion for living naturally.  Suzy’s commitment to preserving the Earth, raising her children in a conscious and natural way, and promoting other small family businesses are the keys to her success and that of Hip Mountain Mama.

As a stay at home mom of two daughters, Suzy spent a lot of time online searching for (and helping others find) the hippest products. She discovered that there were many natural toy and baby websites but that there was an opportunity to start a store that sold the best natural products for babies, kids, and women.  Namaste and Hip Mountain Mama have shared a serendipitous junction since the beginning of HMM in 2008.  We share Suzy’s vision of creating a product for that is animal-friendly, 100% vegan, and PVC-free.  Our like-mindedness has been the foundation for a fantastic relationship over the years.

Recently, Suzy was willing to answer some questions about her story as a Namaste retailer, and what being a Hip Mountain Mama is all about…..

Kelly (Namaste): When did you open the doors for your store?

Suzy (Hip Mountain Mama): We opened our shop to the public on August 1st 2008.

Namaste: What did you previously do before opening your store?

Suzy:  Before starting Hip Mountain Mama I was a stay at home Mama and my husband was a loan officer at a bank.

Namaste: Can you tell us a bit about what made you start your own business, and what your business is all about, in general?

Suzy:  I started the business 2 years ago as a way to work from home and help out with the family income.  My little part time job turned into a family business and we are so grateful my husband and I are both able to work for Hip Mountain Mama.  Hip Mountain Mama is a fun shop where women can come to find a variety of fun and unique products for them and their little ones.  We have a lot of products that are hand made, one of a kind, made with natural materials, and from small family businesses.

Namaste: What is your favorite thing about your store?

Suzy:  My favorite thing is my customers.  I love meeting new people and corresponding with like-minded folks on line.

Namaste: What is your favorite Namaste piece?

Suzy:  The needle binder…it gets used a lot and is such a great way to organize my knitting needles and notions.

Namaste: Why were you attracted to the line?

Suzy:  I LOVE knitting!  Namaste bags offer a cute and hip way to carry and organize your knitting stuff.  I also love that Namaste is a small family business!

Namaste: Can you tell me a bit more about who is involved in running your business and what everyone’s role is?

Suzy:  Hip Mountain Mama is run solely by my husband, Andy, and I.  Andy primarily takes care of marketing, packaging, and web site stuff and I take care of customer service, product research, and our blogs.  Of course there is so much more that goes into it and we just do what needs to be done given the time we have.  We have a 6 year old and 3 year old, so we also spend a lot of time hanging with the kids and they help us with the day to day duties of the business.

Namaste: How does the Namaste product line fit in overall with your store?

Suzy:  We offer a variety of hip products for women.  We wanted to make sure to include a knitting and crafting section in the shop because we are so passionate about crafting.  Namaste bags are not only great for knitters, but are very popular with our new mom customers as well as tons of non knitting women who just want a cute and functional bag.

Namaste: From a “Mama” perspective, what’s your favorite Namaste product to tote your kid stuff in?

Suzy:  My all time favorite bag is the Newport.  I really like the size of it.  I am also really excited about the new Messenger Bag and this is a great bag for Moms (in fact my friend just purchased a Messenger Bag to be used as a diaper bag and she is loving it)!  I do have to say that any of the Namaste Bags are perfect for Moms…there are so many pockets which works great for organizing all your Mommy stuff…toys, snacks, diapers, etc.!

Namaste: Who are most of your customers?

Suzy:  Really they are all over the board.  We have teenagers on up to Grandma’s ordering from us.

Namaste: What would you say is the key to the success of HMM?

Suzy:  The key is really listening to our customers and staying true to our vision.  When our customers asked for more eco friendly women’s clothing, we listened and just added several new clothing items.  By listening to our customers we are really allowing them to really help us shape what the store looks like and this is a lot of fun.  By staying true to our vision and carrying items from small companies our customers know that they are not only supporting us, but also other small businesses around the world….and this feels good.

Namaste: How does a Hip Mountain Mama spend her days?

Suzy:  A typical week day for me looks like this…take my 6 year old to her Nature School, take the dog for a walk, meditate, hop on the computer, have lunch, hang out with my 3 year old and finish up work, pick up my 6 year old, hang with the girls outside, dinner, bed time.  I know it’s not very exciting, but we do enjoy sneaking in hikes each week and trips up to the mountains.  This summer we did a lot of camping, going to festivals, and taking day trips to awesome places.

Namaste:  If you have a motto, what is it?

Suzy:  “A Natural Attitude at any Altitude”

Basically we want people to understand that it’s all about the attitude, not the altitude.  Whether you live in the mountains, at sea level, or anywhere in between you can be a Hip Mountain Mama.  It’s an attitude of taking life as it comes, enjoying nature and natural products, living simply, and having a blast.

Wow, thank you Suzy for you message and your interview.  One especially compelling statement that sums up the philosophy and guiding principles for HMM include the following:

“We are the parents of two beautiful children and we believe it is our duty to raise our children in a safe, healthy, natural, and environmentally conscious way. To us Hip Mountain Mama is not just a business but a way of life and our little way of making the world a better place for our children and for future generations.”Family values, functional products, having fun, and showing love to our Mother Earth.  Thank you for spreading your vision Suzy, and thanks for letting us all get to know you just a bit more.  We at Namaste aim to have even more “mommy” and “earth-friendly” products in the future; and we share your vision that we should all do our part to love our earth and have fun while doing it!  Namaste….

Since we (Namaste) started doing business with owner Sheri Berger at The Loopy Ewe a few years ago, we instantly connected with her and her crew with regards to our shared commitment to customer service, creatively growing our businesses, and smiling while we do it.  We’ve truly enjoyed these past few years of working together and look forward to what’s to come.  We asked Sheri the following questions to learn a bit more about the background and inspiration for The Loopy Ewe.

The Loopy Ewe Interview

Kelly (Namaste): When did you open the doors for your store?

Sheri (The Loopy Ewe): August 1, 2006. We’re celebrating our fourth anniversary this summer!

Namaste: What did you previously do before opening your store?

Sheri: I was a remedial reading teacher for three years (before my husband and I had kids) and then I was a scrapbooking consultant for 15 years. The Loopy Ewe was just going to be a small side business for fun, because I really liked my scrapbooking job. However, it grew quickly and I soon retired from scrapbooking to put all of my focus on the shop! (It was a good decision. I love having this shop.)

Namaste: What do you think sets you apart from other (knitting) stores?

Sheri: I think there are a lot of great knitting stores out there, and all of us are working hard to keep our businesses going and growing in this economy. No doubt we all stand out in different ways. I can tell you what is important to us at The Loopy Ewe – we focus on providing excellent customer service, getting orders shipped quickly, and bringing in new products and re-stocks every week to keep things fresh. And we really love our customers!

Namaste: What is your favorite Namaste piece? Why were you attracted to the line?

Sheri: My personal favorite is the Hermosa bag. I have one in black and one in red. I love the size and shape, and in addition to using it for knitting, it’s also the perfect carry-on bag when I travel.

I was first attracted to the line because it was such a top quality product at such reasonable prices. One of my customers from Italy told me that when she carries her Namaste bag, all of the Italians ask her where she bought it. (And you know, Italy has really good leather!) I also love how Namaste is constantly updating colors and coming up with new products. They are great at listening to input from shops and knitters, and their customer service is amazing.

Namaste Hermosa bag in black

Namaste: How does the Namaste product line fit in overall with your store?

Sheri: It’s our biggest bag line. We have a big piece of furniture that my husband made, just for storing all of our Namaste products. It works well and customers know just where to head, when they’re ready for a new Namaste bag or accessory.

Front of the Namaste product showcase at The Loopy Ewe.

Namaste stock at The Loopy Ewe- a skilled craftsman's work indeed!

Namaste: What do most of your customers look for when they come into (the store)?

Overwhelmingly beautiful!

Namaste: What encouraged you to open up a knitting store?

Sheri: Knitting was something that my daughter and I enjoyed doing together, when she was in her early teens. When we moved from “fun fur scarves” to socks (because one can never have too many socks), we couldn’t find much variety in sock yarns at our local shops. That led to a lot of research, and then eventually led to us opening up an online shop that specialized in just sock yarns. Within a year, we had moved to a brick and mortar location and expanded way past sock yarns. It has been a lot of work, but we’re having a ball!

One of the factors that links Namaste with The Loopy Ewe is that we both built our business with and around our families. At Namaste, Mama Toni (Dawn & Clint’s mother and my mother-in law) is our warehouse manager and has been with us from the start.  Joe (my brother) manages packing and shipping as well as a host of “front of the office” tasks. Papa John (Toni’s husband) does our accounting and bookkeeping. Clint does all of our photography whether it’s abroad in Istanbul or on the streets of LA.  We’ve also “adopted” Nancy as our own, and she’s responsible for secretarial tasks.  Dawn and I (jokingly referred to as “chief” and “bosslady”) run the show, so to speak. Within the past 6 years, we’ve formed an unbreakable bond of family and friendship that goes hand in hand with our creative process for new products. We’re not businesswomen by trade, we see ourselves as regular people who were willing to take a journey towards something we believe in.  Within the Namaste workplace, positive thinking, positive energy, fun, and fur (our dogs), are all invaluable factors to the overall success of our business.

Joe, Mama Toni & Nancy (& our fur friends) at the most recent Namaste party.

The Loopy Ewe has also been a family effort from the start. Everyone in the Berger family is able to contribute their individual skills into this project. Sheri’s husband helps with the graphics and photography, while her son puts his skills of web design to use. Sheri’s daughter is in charge of stocking up products for inventory, while Sheri focuses on keeping the business up and running. With a contribution from the entire family, the company has come to be a very well known and well respected business in the crafting community.

The Berger Family

Additionally, the staff at The Loopy Ewe are lovingly referred to as: The Elves. Sheri told us that there are 10 gals who work there, all part-time, so that they can still keep up with mom-responsibilities and keep their schedules flexible.  She started with one gal (who was actually her assistant in my scrapbooking business, before Loopy) and then she just kept adding in more people as they grew. One day, early on, one of her customers was in shopping and he commented on “those Loopy elves, scurrying around, packing orders”. Well, the name Loopy Elves just stuck, and they’ve been calling them the Elves for the past 3 years now.  All of their customers call them that, too! (And then ask if they can BE a Loopy Elf.)  Please make sure to stock up on the best quality of sock yarn and Namaste accessories at Loopy Ewe’s online shop at www.theloopyewe.com.

The Loopy Elves

The Loopy Ewe & Namaste both believe in doing business with a smile.  Sheri and the Namaste team agree that “Life’s too short not to enjoy the simple joys of each day”.  We both believe in using our platforms to do good and to help others.  To Sheri & the gang, thanks for being a bright ray of light in our days since your family came into ours.  Namaste.

For Breast Cancer Awareness

Coming in October, Namaste lovers and those who just love will be able to purchase our Oh Snap! pouches in light pink in support of Breast Cancer Awareness month.  The Oh Snap! pouches are available in a set of 3 (small, medium, large) and a set of 2 (XL,XXL).  10% of all proceeds from sales of light pink Oh Snap! pouches will be donated to The Breast Cancer Research Foundation: www.bcrfcure.org/
Contact us by phone or email to preorder yours at: www.namasteinc.com

Get yours before they’re gone!

Statistics prove that a woman will die from breast cancer every 13 minutes, on average, in the U.S. alone.  Let’s all unite to be a part of the solution together.  Namaste…

The cake had 4 horses on it, 1 to represent each of her babies at home: JJ, Jessie, Hollywood & Ducky.

Before she got to work yesterday, the team was quick to decorate the offices and warehouse into a rip roarin’ hoedown just how she likes it.  All the dogs got bandanas, special cake, and clearly some special treatment (see Bella on the lunchroom table).

She likes to dress up, and LOVES pictures of herself .

56 years young!  Dawn poses for a photo with our birthday girl.

Lola says “yes” to being spoon fed some vanilla frosting!

Here’s M.T. as she’s about to blow out the candles- sparklers no less!

Is that a bling horseshoe necklace?  You guys are too much .

She did it!  Now for her favorite part- eating the cake!  And boy, does she love her sweets.  Sometimes I’ll bring in a batch of cookies and she can eat 12 before lunch…..  Who knows where it all goes.

Yesterday, I couldn’t be at the party so they sent the party to me.  I thought I could do the same for our blog readers.  When looking at these photos I felt like I was there laughing with them.  So, here’s your slice of party on a fantastic Thursday.

Happy Birthday M.T.  We love you.

Namaste..

Writer, illustrator, and photographer Franklin Habit is the author of \”It Itches: A Stash of Knitting Cartoons\”(Interweave Press, 2008) and proprietor of The Panopticon (www.the-panopticon.blogspot.com), one of the most popular knitting blogs on Internet.  On an average day, upwards of 2,500 readers worldwide drop in for a mix of essays, cartoons, and the continuing adventures of Dolores the Sheep.

Franklin’s other publishing experience in the fiber world includes contributions to Yarn Market News, Interweave Knits, Interweave Crochet, PieceWork, Cast On: A Podcast for Knitters, Twist Collective, and a regular column on historic knitting patterns for Knitty.com.

These days, when he’s not teaching at shops and festivals nationwide, Franklin knits and spins in Chicago, Illinois, sharing a small city apartment with an Ashford spinning wheel and colony of sock yarn that multiplies alarmingly whenever his back is turned.

The Urban line currently includes the Hip Holster and the Messenger bag, both made of a luggage quality nylon canvas material, which is extremely durable as well as made of vegan materials.  The ideas encompassing the Urban products are organization, unisex appeal, and rugged materials made to withstand real use.

We at Namaste had always wanted to design and make products that men could use and enjoy, but were never confident that there was a big enough demand for them.  Besides that, we weren’t sure what most guys really want in a bag or accessory.  Cue Franklin…

Dawn & I were thrilled to meet Franklin in the flesh just a few years ago at an industry tradeshow.  Franklin has a very personal, open way about him and as a result we were instantly excited when our creative juices began co-mingling into what eventually became the inspiration for the newest collection, the Urban line.  Franklin willingly explained his ideal product to us, and we held onto every word from this creative genius in the  industry.  We created a sample for it, sent it to Franklin for review and the rest is Hip Holster History.

Recently, Franklin took the time to answer some questions regarding the process of how the Hip Holster came to be, from his perspective.  We also threw in some other questions while we had the experts attention

Namaste: We’re super excited to let people in on the “process” of creating the Hip Holster from your perspective. Can you offer any thoughts on this for example how it went from your end and what your initial thoughts were?

Franklin: I was amazed at how much the prototype holster fit my description of my ideal project bag. I’d been looking (without success) for something small that would hook onto my belt, and that wouldn’t in any way resemble a purse.

Sure enough, the prototype had was small enough to be portable but just large enough to hold a surprising amount – at different times I’ve had entire shawls-in-progress stuffed into it. And the detailing was spot-on: tailored, quiet, with hardware that wasn’t glitzy. I loved it. The only change I could think to recommend was adding snaps to the belt loop.

Namaste: The product you helped us to create is what we call the Hip Holster. Inquiring minds want to know, “What’s in Franklin’s holster?”

Franklin: On any given day, the contents of the main pouch will change. Usually, it’s a project with a looming deadline. That could be socks, a shawl, or maybe a sleeve, plus the associated charts. In the small pocket, without fail, I keep a tape measure, a crochet hook, a small bag of stitch markers and a pencil – plus a couple of mini chocolate bars if the deadline is really close.

Namaste: Do you prefer to carry your Hip Holster with the strap attachment or the belt attachment?

Franklin: Definitely the belt. It keeps my hands free and also makes it possible for me to run for the bus or subway unencumbered by shoulder straps. (I live in Chicago, and take public transit all the time.)

Namaste: If you were to change anything about it, would you? What are your thoughts about the color options?

Franklin: I specifically suggested that the bag be done in quiet colors, and that’s why I’m so grateful that Namaste listened and produced the prototype in basic black with a gray lining. I wanted something simple and versatile that wouldn’t draw attention to itself, and this is perfect.

The shoulder strap isn’t an option I expect to use much, but it’s smart to put it there for those who might prefer it.

Namaste: Do you think that crafty men want more accessories and bags for their stuff? What are “must-haves” or “no ways” when it comes to storing or toting your projects and personal items?

Franklin: If the number of threads on (for example) Ravelry.com about the difficulty of finding men’s project bags are any indication, yes – men want more choice than they’ve had in the past.

I can’t speak for all men, of course – our opinions are as varied as women’s. But I think I can safely say these are true for a lot of us:

No Way.

- Pink, anywhere
- Printed with kittycats, inside or out
- Styled like a purse or handbag
- Styled like grandma’s beach tote
- Printed or embroidered with slogans like YARN SLUT! or I LUV 2 KNIT!

Must Haves.

- Tailored exterior
- Solid construction
- Quiet fabrics and sleek, unfussy details
- Enough pockets/sections to allow for organization

On the whole, when it comes to function, I don’t think we’re any different in our desires from women who knit or crochet: make it functional, make it comfortable, make it handsome – the sort of thing Namaste has always done!

One of the themes that emerged during our communication with Franklin is one that we like to take with us wherever we go: it’s the journey that matters.  At Namaste, we like to take the time to enjoy the subtle things- we take our time without rushing through the process to get to the product.  We listen and we learn, we modify and change, and we make sure that the final product is something we all love.  Franklin, we’d like to personally thank you for being a voice for the many, for opening yourself up to creative investigation, and for making the process such a joy.  Namaste.

By request, an additional photo of the Hip Holster is found below:

Belt attachment feature of Hip Holster

Our new tradeshow booth was a breeze to assemble, thanks to the help of the Namaste team.  Here’s Mama Toni and I glad to be finished setting up the booth.  We’re ready for our first day at the show.

And here’s Joe

As the weekend went on, we asked some TNNA attendees if they would be so kind as to let us photograph them with their Namaste gear in action.  Here is our friend from The Yarn Patch, we spotted her walking around the tradeshow floor with her Hollywood Pink Zuma.  She wears it well, thanks for stopping by and saying hi!

Then we spotted a Lime Wallet and a Lime Monroe flitting by and we grabbed them!  Well, they came willingly

And here’s Vicky from Loopy Yarns in Chicago, she’s sporting her brand her Hip Holster in black that she got when they were sold exclusively at the Sample-It event at TNNA.  We sold 100 pieces of the black Hip Holsters at the sale on Friday night and we’ll have these in stock in August.  Glad to see you’re enjoying yours Vicky!

Steven Berg & crew from Yarn Garage & StevenBe are always so much fun to see:).  Steven and I had fun hamming it up with the popular Monroe bag, and showing off our new patterns for a small accessory pouch.  We call the print “Lola” because it’s got tiny little hedgehogs on it, which remind us of the face of our little dog Lola, and it comes in either the pink or the green color scheme.  Complete photography for the “Lola pouch” will be coming soon.  Thanks for delighting our senses with all of your fantastic sweaters Steven, keep up the amazing work.

And here are some new customers with their Peacock Hip Holster and Peacock Monroe.  Thanks for coming over and it was nice to meet!And we always LOVE to see our Ravelry family.  Mary Heather is sporting her charcoal Zuma and Jess has her Peacock Zuma.

And here’s our show display of the newest products to the Namaste line, the Urban Collection.  This is a unisex line including the Messenger bag and Hip Holster.  Both are made in a luggage grade material that is PVC free and animal friendly.  The Messenger bag is laptop tested and the Hip Holster has an optional belt attachment or shoulder strap.  We’d like to thank Franklin Habit for his input in the development and testing of the Hip Holster.  Thank you Franklin!!  These new Namaste products will be available in August and we’re accepting pre-orders for these now.

We’re all back at Namaste headquarters again and it’s been busy; “all hands on deck”, as we like to say.  We just got another shipment of Monroe bags, Oh Snap! pouches, and the new Lola pouches into stock.  The weather is getting warm here in Southern CA and we’re ready for summer .

Namaste..

Kelly