Facebook Friday Winner for July 10th is.....

And the Winner of the Facebook Friday of the Week is...

Last week we gave away our new waterbottle coozie! I appreciate that cold water is as important to you guys as it is to me! If only the Europeans got it! :-)

And the lucky winner is: Cori Elmer – see her comment below!

Congrats Cori! Email me at mandy@swaggergifts.com and I will hook you up with your gift! You have until next Friday July 17th to claim your prize!

For this week’s Facebook Friday contest, we are giving away our 9 x 12 Cutting Board with Scalloped Handles! All you have to do to get yourself entered is hop on over to this post on facebook, become a fan of Swagger on FB, and leave a comment before next Friday July 17th!

Good Luck!

A Week in the Life of a Gift Shop Owner - Day 2

It is currently 12:01 am and I am dead tired! I know - waaaaah - right?:) I'm up late b/c I was drinking wine with my friends after market so I guess I shouldn't complain. But all work and no play makes Mandy a very dull girl - right? I went to Georgia Tech in Atlanta and I still have a lot of friends (and family) who live here, so I try to see as many as I can when I'm in town. I even stay with two of my sorority sisters when I come for market (Go Alpha Xi:))! It makes it so much more fun to come to market - I get to hang out with people that I love but only get to see maybe twice a year! So on top of working our butt off during the day, our social calender is pretty full too! Yes - I do love my life!:)

Okay - enought about that! How was market - you ask? FAN-FREAKING-TASTIC! I'll be honest, I was a little nervous before coming that the vendors weren't going to have developed that much cool new stuff - with the "economy" and all, but I am HAPPY to say that they did the exact opposite! I think all the vendors got off their butts and put their teams to work - harder than ever before! The design teams must have been working some SERIOUS overtime because the patterns and fabrics and colors and designs are awesome! Do I sound excited?!!!! I was thinking that maybe I am so excited because I didn't expect much, but honestly I am excited because the stuff is fabulous! Don't worry you will see soon enough!

The hardest part of my job these last two days have been practicing self control! I want everything to come RIGHT NOW, but I can't, so it has been really hard! Not sure if you guys know this, but when store owners go to market they usually buy for the next 6 months following that market and any major holiday that is about 1 year away. So, for example, this market we are buying for July thru December and Easter. In January, we purchase Jan - June and Christmas. So when I see stuff that looks very "Swagger Like", I "date out" the invoices so I get a certain percentage in July, a certain percentage in August, etc, etc.

Today our meetings started again at 9 - then 10, 11:30, 2, 4, and 6! A man on the marta train asked me what my favorite thing I found today was - and I actually said, "I can't remember what I bought but I remember they were all my favorite!":) And that basically sums up Day Two! I since went through all my invoices and "remembered" that we purchased luggage, tote bags, lots of new baby stuff, cool new inspirational jewelry, some of the funniest cocktail napkins I have ever seen, a bunch of tiaras and tutus, and so much more!

Tomorrow I promise to take some pictures so you guys can visually see what it is like to be at market! 7.1 million square feet of a bunch of gift stores! Sound cool? And maybe a little overwhelming? It is both - and I LOVE it! :)
Good night - I need some sleep!
Mandy

ps - and now since it is technically Friday I am going to post our Facebook Friday of the week and the winner from last week! If you don't know what I'm talking about check it out here!

A Week in the Life of a Gift Shop Owner - Day 1

Hi Everyone! It is market time again! Twice a year we pack up our most comfortable shoes and head down to Atlanta to see the newest stuff on the market! We love this part of our job (of course - we ARE professionals shoppers:)) but it is also VERY stressful! What should I get? How much of it should I buy? Will my customers like it?

Usually, I write about what lines I found, but I thought you might like more of a "behind the scenes" version this time!

Preparation for market starts a couple weeks before we arrive. I go through all the statistics in our Point of Sale System to see what categories are selling the best. Purses? Jewelry? Bath and Body? I think I can tell by gut feeling and visually looking at the merchandise (or lack there of because it soldout) in the store, but sometimes I am surprised by what the actual numbers tell me. It is so great to have a computer system to back up my gut feeling or kick me in the butt to tell me I am wrong and keep me from buying stuff that I love and that you guys don't!:)

Then I look at the HUGE market book to see all the new stuff that is coming out! I also buy In Style, Vogue, Oprah, etc to make sure I am up on all the newest trends!

Finally, I make appointments with the vendor representatives for our most important product lines, so we can work with the sales person who covers our area. I think it is always better to work with someone who knows you, your store, and the town you are located in, so they aren't pushing a bunch of stuff that is totally wrong! That just wastes my time and theirs - and with over 7.1 million square feet to cover - we certaintly don't have time for that!

A typical market day starts around 7 am for us (my mother Jill and I have been coming to market together for the last 5 years) when the alarm clock goes off! I know this doesn't sound like such an early time, but when you have been up till 11 or 12 o'clock review orders, answering emails, and writing blogs:) it comes very quickly! Also, being on your feet all day making important business decisions is tiring both physically and mentally. My husband thinks it is just a big shopping trip - which it is, I guess - but I'm NOT shopping for MYSELF so it is WAY more stressful!:) I have to make sure that all of you are going to like what I pick out!

First appointment is always at 9 am. Today we had appointments at 9 am, 11 am, 2 pm, 4 pm, and 6 pm. Very long day! AND we were late for each appointment because we spent so much time buying stuff at our 9 am appointment!:) But it was WELL worth it and I think you guys are going to LOVE the new personalized stuff that we have coming in the next week or so - TOTALLY blew my mind and I think it will do the same for you! Very exciting stuff happening and I can't wait to share it all with you!

Next we went to dinner with the rep from VERA BRADLEY. I know, I know - I'm not the biggest fan of quilted fabric (which is surprising since I was raised in the south:)) but she had some very intersting things to show us. Now those of you who know me are probably going to be shocked that I am even entertaining the idea b/c of all the nasty things I have said about the bags in the past, but who knows - stranger things have happened - AND I do like some of the newer products. What do you guys think of Vera Bradley? Have you ever seen her stationery? Do you like it? Do you have any other favorite pieces? I can't guarantee you will be seeing it at Swagger anytime soon - but I would love to hear your opinion! You never know...... I like to keep you on your toes and I want to provide my customers with the products they love!

Finally got home around 9, finished checking my email, and writing this blog - it is now past 11!DAY 1 is complete and I am SOOOO tired I can barely keep my eyes open. I'm going to bed!
Peace out,
Mandy

ps - I almost forgot - one of the coolest things that happened today was that Scout Bags by Bungalow (one of Swagger's and your favorite items - seriously we can't keep the stuff in!) asked us to give our opinion on the new patterns and styles for next year! We get to help with the product selection! They are asking some of their best customers for opinions - and we made the cut - yeah! We are VERY excited about it!!! You know I am always good for an opinion!:)

Facebook Friday Winner for June 3rd is.....

And the Winner of the Facebook Friday of the Week is...

Last week we gave away our Set of 4 All Purpose Wine Glasses!

I laughed out loud several times while reading the comments! I love that you guys like wine and monograms as much as I do! Good thing we let customers pick a number at random for the winner of the FB contest or I wouldn’t have been able to choose!

And the lucky winner is: Ali McGee – see her comment below!

Congrats Ali! Email me at mandy@swaggergifts.com and I will hook you up with your gift! You have until next Friday July 10th to claim your prize!

For this week’s Facebook Friday contest, we are giving away our brand new Water Bottle Coozie!
All you have to do to get yourself entered is hop on over to this post on facebook, become a fan of Swagger on FB, and leave a comment before next Friday July 10th!

Good Luck!

Facebook Friday Winner for June 26th is.....

And the Winner of the Facebook Friday of the Week is........
Last week we gave away our Set of Two 16oz Tervis Tumblers!
And the lucky winner is:Rachel Ellerson – see her comment below! Congrats Rachel!

Everyone is going to be so jealous! Email me at mandy@swaggergifts.com and I will hook you up with your gift! You have until next Friday July 3rd to claim your prize!

For this week’s Facebook Friday contest, we are giving away Set of 4 All Purpose Wine Glasses! All you have to do to get yourself entered is hop on over to this post on facebook , become a fan of Swagger on FB, and leave a comment before next Friday July 3rd!

Good Luck, The Girls at Swagger

Facebook Friday Winner for June 26th is.....

And the Winner of the Facebook Friday of the Week is........
Last week we gave away our Striped Tote! Lots of bag ladys our there!

And the lucky winner is:Arlene Haynie – see her comment below! Congrats Arlene!

Email me at mandy@swaggergifts.com and I will hook you up with your gift! You have until next Friday June 26th to claim your prize!

For this week’s Facebook Friday contest, we are giving away 16 oz Tervis Tumblers!

All you have to do to get yourself entered is hop on over to this post on facebook , become a fan of Swagger on FB, and leave a comment before next Friday June 26th! Good Luck

Mandy is back from Zurich....

for a couple weeks to attend Market! She will be in the store THIS THURSDAY June 18th from 10 - 7 pm and would love to see everybody! She is even enticing everyone with Swiss Chocolate that she is bringing back just for this event! We will stay open an hour later so hopefully people who have to work late can still come by! We will uncork the wine around 5-ish:)! See you soon!

Facebook Friday Winner for June 12th is.....

And the Winner of the Facebook Friday of the Week is........
Last week we gave away our Can Cooler! You guys are as passionate about cold drinks as I am!
And the lucky winner is: Jenny Oldham – see her comment below!

Congrats Jenny! Email me at mandy@swaggergifts.com and I will hook you up with your gift! You have until next Friday June 19th to claim your prize!

For this week’s Facebook Friday contest, we are giving away another brand new item our Monogrammed Sporty Striped Tote! Also, see this post for a special offer with this tote bag through June 17th!

All you have to do to get yourself entered is hop on over to this post on facebook , become a fan of Swagger on FB, and leave a comment before next Friday June 19th! Good Luck!

Summer is Here and we have a Special Offer for YOU!

Check out our Special Offer good from Today until June 17th at 5 pm (EST)

At the pool or an outdoor show, you will love this tote and towel combo! Coordinate colors to create a preppy, sporty, or classic look!

Buy a New Sporty Stripe Tote ($39)

and get 30% off a Beach Towel (regular price $28)

Total for the combo is only $59

Personalization and Font MUST be the same on both items!

(i.e. same initials or name and same font (like curlz))

We can not give the discount for different personalization - sorry!

Enter Discount Code: OFFER1309 at check out to receive your discount!

Here's to looking well coordinated on the beach!

Facebook Friday Winner for June 5th is.....

And the Winner of the Facebook Friday of the Week is........

Last week we gave away our Party Bucket! The comments were priceless! I was surprised at how many “Smiths” we had!

And the lucky winner is: Helen Bass – see her comment below!
Congrats Helen! Email me at mandy@swaggergifts.com and I will hook you up with your gift! You have until next Friday June 12th to claim your prize!

For this week’s Facebook Friday contest, we are giving away another brand new item our Can Coolers! Boo to hot drinks I say! I know I have a few coozies but none with my monogram. Looks like this is my next purchase!:) But you can get one free! All you have to do to get yourself entered is hop on over to this post on facebook , become a fan of Swagger on FB, and leave a comment before next Friday June 12th!

Good Luck!