lessons aren't always free

We tried our luck at the Knoxville craft show this weekend. Clearly we were unaware of the audience and the products they favor. Crowd favorites were denium shirts with lace accents and coffee cups turned into night lights, so I'm sure it goes without saying that our signs weren't selling like hot cakes. Even though we didn't even make enough money to pay for our booth, we had a lot of fun, learned lots and did some networking. I mean yeah, it was an $80 lesson, but life goes on and so will the little sign business.

Our booth at the craft show.

Matt helping us celebrate our first and last sale (I don't think Justin is as excited).

Still having fun regardless.

Here's your sign

Here are a few of our favorite items that we will have available at the craft show this weekend. Don't forget we can customize a sign just for you all for the low price of $12 (why do I feel like a pushy time share salesman right now?). And we promise to have a better selection of items in the future. But for now, just enjoy the sign overload.


Having a baby?  We can help!

Feeling a little festive?  No problem.

Still believe in the Vols?  We've got you covered.

getting off the ground (this FRIDAY)

The previous plan for designing a website has been tossed for probably obvious reasons to you, but not so obvious to these blondes.  While calling around for quotes, one guy said, in his ever so techy voice, "so, basically what you're wanting is roughly going to be around three or four..." (at this point I'm thinking he's talking hundreds, so I'm trying to decide how to break the news that I'm not interested without sounding like I'm on food stamps)... and then he proceeds to say "thousand."  Yeah, we've got a thing or two to learn in this world of business.  Clearly, we've been sheltered, which we're grateful for by the way.  

Since the website is a no-go, we will continue selling our products on our etsy account (tiffanyandtraci.etsy.com).  In an effort to launch our business and hopefully get our name and etsy website in the hands of the right people, we will make our first debut at the Knoxville Expo Craft Show on Clinton Highway this weekend (Fri. 12-7, Sat 10-7, Sun 10-4).  Thanks to our friend Beth Farrow for telling us about it and to Mrs. Stinnett who had mercy on our little business and gave us an awesome deal on the booth.     

Here are a few pictures of us preparing for the show.  We have been painting, planning, and decorating these signs during every waking hour (which includes while in the hospital waiting for our niece to be born).  We had to subcontract a handy man for our shelves (thanks Dan)

 


   

starting from the ground

So, how did these two girls with the same crazy idea meet?  Well, as it turns out, we both came out of the same womb.  We are sisters who eventually became best friends and who have always shared the interest of writing and painting.  We have unashamedly wasted our parent's money by drawing our names and practicing fonts through most college classes.  We have isolated ourselves at many family functions to practice our latest bubble letters and signatures.  So, as we think about our future, we find ourselves wishing we could paint and write for all of our days to come.  And we might just do that...


Our store's name was created to fit the personality of the store, unique and personalized.  Louzianne's (pronounced Lou-See-Anne's) hopefully makes it obvious we have deep, southern Louisiana roots.  Traci Louise and Tiffany Ann are our names so you can see how LOUziANNe's is the perfect fit for two Cajun owners.


For the time being, our business will remain small, mostly internet-based, launching it right out of Tiffany's spare bedroom.  We will take orders through our Etsy account and through our website. We also have plans of selling our products at local high school football games and craft shows in the area. In time, we will understand our customer's demands, and have a better direction of how to approach step two, whatever that may be. For now, visit our website and blog often to view our latest creations.