Use Coupon Code: sandrafriend to get $8 discount off your belt! I just updated the site with so many designs never shown on the web site!

There are so many, many more to choose from! These are cute, I love a WHITE background belt, nothing cooler, just look at all the stylish golfers who wear them! There are literally hundreds of styles to choose from. This is sort of like a sample sale, so there is often only one of each, so hurry now and go get them while they are there. Just finished uploading today! www.olivergreenonline.com Thing is, every belt looks great on, and too many people take selecting a belt to seriously as it is only a small strip of color added to your outfit! Not a big deal at all, and like I said, they all look great!

 Think of Morgenthal Frederics as spectacles for the fashion-obsessed. Optician-cum-optical impresario Richard Morgenthal bought the store—a freestanding Madison Avenue shop then called Frederics–precisely because of his own serious regard for eyewear. After making the purchase back in 1986, he’s turned the brand into a small empire. Under the optician’s domain: four Manhattan shops (a large store at the Time Warner Center, as well as two Madison Avenue shops and another in Soho), one on Long Island (at Americana Manhasset) and a Beantown location (at LouisBoston). The looks of his frames vary from minimalist oval rimless shapes to more conspicuous circular styles, all of which bear names like “Eros,” “Nymph” and “Astaire.” Each of the David Rockwell-designed boutiques are equally high concept, with lampshades made from the same materials as the glasses. Those looking for an actual eye exam, however, will have to rely on one of the staff referrals or hit the Soho location on Saturdays and Sundays. — Caroline Callahan

Alain Mikli sunglasses, with their colorful and creative frames and gradient tinted lenses, are an amazingly fresh way to express your creative side. With bold new colors like magenta and turquoise in sharp non-aerodynamic frames that put art and fashion above practicality. Alain Mikli eyewear are one of the only brands with designs on the frames instead of plain bold colors.

I need to tell you, if a man showed up at my door with plaid pants on, I just might consider marriage. Notice, I said might. But to me, there is nothing hotter than a confident man in plaid pants. Note, these are golfing pants, but I prefer to see a man wearing them for every day wear with some flops and a snug tee shirt, all day long… I threw in a couple eye candy pics, I forgot about these in my favorite men post!

Bryan Greenberg from How to Make It- I like him...

Jessica

Skull Cuffs, $170, Not Cheap, But Certainly Cool… “Nantucket Cuffs”

http://www.jessicacushman.com/mm5/merchant.mvc?Screen=SFNT&Store_Code=JKC

Maltese Cross, $185

Bird Cuff Bracelet, $110

Clutch, $137

Today was absolutely a day of eating mixed with productivity in terms of building my belt business. I finally got around to getting on paper my skeleton business plan. With that many discussions were had in terms of ideas and lots of thinking. Thanks to Diane and John, we came up with some pretty interesting scenarios. As I drove home from Greenwich, I felt inundated with thoughts, possible plans and food for fodder. I have saturated a small market within Fairfield and Westchester counties, as well as national orders from my web site. The brand is well known locally and trusted. I have lots of repeat and loyal clients and that always makes me feel good. Developing and creating a quality product has made me proud. Having a demand that I cannot possibly meet, frustrating. At every show I am met with comments like, why don’t you have more men’s, more larges, more smalls, any kids? I always have the same reply, I am one woman with a sewing machine and limited time, I focus on what I sell the most of, size medium. My medium belt fits a wide range of sizes. Women sized 2 to 10/12, which is most of the population which wishes to accentuate their waist. I will be in my fifth year as of March 2011 and I am faced with the reality that I do need to grow. I reach such a small population of craft show attendees in upscale areas, and participate in boutique shows in various locations, giving back to charitable organizations. Within this smaller specialized market I do rather well for one girl with a sewing machine. One year I managed to live off it, doing it full time, lots of shows and lots of sewing. With my limitations in making them myself and participating in shows, and the economy, I have secured other work for a safety net which takes me away from a company I know could produce a fine living, if grown into other retail markets.

I am recognizing that I have some wealthy target markets and a middle class affordable market as well. Due to the variety of fabrics, my customers also range from ages 10 to 85! That is a huge demographic! People are driven to specific fabrics, colors and widths, all a personal decision and my ability to reach and attract such a large audience is a huge accomplishment. My clients are fanatical and buy more than one belt most of the time, and I have never had a return in 5 years of business! I also have only had two exchanges, and that was only because they thought one fabric might be better suited once they walked the show and thought about it. Every store I have approached has bought, and If only I had the time to manage those relationships, re-orders would have occurred. I have had interest in re-orders, but find my time so limited that I cannot fulfill them.  I am always too busy selling them outright to make more money for my hard work in making them. Much attention to detail goes in every belt, and the quality is unmatched in any other fabric D Ring Belt out there! My customers wash them, wear them daily and beat them up and they last years! They also stay tightly fastened due to the extensive experimentation with d ring, fabric and webbing weight combinations. They are soft yet hearty and sturdy. Any oliver green customer will tell you, they love their belt, wear it all the time and consistently get compliments on them. They are comfortable due to the design and practicality (they work and keep your pants up) are loved by equestrians and golfers alike due to the fact that they can’t feel them on, light weight, and they don’t have to keep retightening, all the while adding significant style to their appearance.

Why am I writing this blog post? To remind myself, that I have a great product, brand recognition and a true ability to grow as the demand is there. Sometimes it just helps to get something out so that you understand things a little better. This is no different than a note to someone about something, this is a note to myself. To not give up, to pursue growth and put a great product out there to a much wider audience. To not be deterred and to have total confidence due to experience. I have been in front of my customer for 5 years now, in person, listening to them ooing and ahhing and telling me how much they love my belts, and how excited they are that the “belt lady” is here- that they’ve waited all year to see me and buy more. They all know I have a web site, but they love the selection, seeing the mind blowing display and the interaction with me. People also buy you when they buy your products. I also need to remind myself that so many people say, OMG, you need to be in Cape Cod, Nantucket, pro shops, tack shops, cool stores like Fred Segal and Kitson! I love it when a husband of a customer gets so into talking to me about my company and the business aspect of it. They love to talk about the business itself and compliment my product. My favorite is when people say, I cannot believe you haven’t been bought out by a bigger company! I say, “What is there to buy, me and my sewing machine?!!” Perception is everything, and the product reeks of big company quality. I was also approached by a large fashion company professional who now manufactures riding apparel who was interested in putting her label on my product! That was a great compliment. I was also approached by an event company in LA who puts together exclusive private gift show events for the major awards shows, the one in particular that they wanted my product in was the 2011 Academy Awards Gift Bag Red Carpet style event. They found me and extended the invitation! I have even had other vendors try to copy my product and fail miserably in the quality department! So, again, this is a note to self, you are recognized, you are putting out a quality sought after product, NOW GROW. With that being said, I will be putting together a business plan and seeking investment! I just put it out into the world, universe, hear me loud and clear, the world is ready for oliver green!

Happy Thanksgiving Everyone!

Today I woke up texting with my friend Bob Sliter, who is coming into town from LA to do some retail work for one of his companies, Windsor Fashions, he is some executive checking some things out. It was 5 am, he was at LAX, and I was in bed with my pug, Roxie, who just didn’t want to get up! So she made me want to stay in bed too. When she is against my back when I lay on my right side, she feels like a furry growth. When I lay on my left side, she is against my belly and I feel pregnant. She clings to me like a little spider monkey and therefore makes my body a magnet to my bed!

I also stayed up late, due to drinking an electrolyte drink too late, while sewing, which made it difficult to fall asleep right away. I turned on my DVR to watch the latest Mad Men and I cannot believe Don Draper is marrying Megan! Totally nuts, and Peggy, what is up with Peggy and Don? That show is unbelieveably great.

Then I watched the latest LA Ink, and I keep looking at Ruthless‘ hair cut! And if you click Ruthless’ name, you will see that she got her first tattoo in Bridgeport CT! I had no idea, until I posted this and read about her, CRAZY! I digress, oh and when Kat and Ruthless smile, they have these holes in their cheeks,where they obviously had their dimples pierced at one point, think before you peirce your face! Although, I do love eyebrow piercings with tiny hoops. I think that looks sort of cute.

Ruthless, Tattoo Artist, LA Ink

My Girl at CVS with the Funky Fresh Hair

So hard to see because her hair is darker, but she has this cool sort of layered thing going on that I just got rid of, but I need to rethink something here. I don’t want a “hair do” but more style. Hilarious that I asked her if I could take a pic!! She was a good sport! Anyway, Christine Simonelli, (Moda Salon Norwalk), if you are out there, and reading this, could you please take note to self, Sandra wants an update to her haircut!! Thank you.

I am tired today, but hopelessly emphatically excited about my belts! I cannot take it! I love that they come in 3 widths! I love wearing all of the widths, and felt this am that even though I was sporting an old school rugby, navy and orange striped shirt with a long sleeved white tee underneath, I put on my skinny brown zebra belt and just about passed out from the cool that I saw! The three fabrics, my shirt, my black down vest, and my belt! I was thinking, how can someone NOT be a BELT PERSON!? Belts make the world a more interesting place! I think my belt fascination began in the 80s when everyone was wearing the studded, punk rock belts, which are now a classic! But here is my pic, try not to pass out from the sheer magnitude of BAD A$$ness!

Tons of Links to Great Ambianic Sites since I have been a hardcore crafter since like I was a baby! Making things, editing things, and making them my own. I cannot imagine a life without actually making or creating something. I would DIE! I would be so bored!!! I need to be inspired by the world and it manifests itself in so many facets. These blogs for whatever reason, spoke to me. I liked the art behind them, the way they look, the things they say and make. If only all the world felt compelled to make things and make things happen! What a more productive and interesting place it would be! How can people do NOTHING? I don’t understand that. Go to work, go home, do nothing, make nothing, write nothing, etc. Don’t things move you to create?

http://www.etsy.com/shop/PrairieBlossoms

http://abeautifulmess.typepad.com/

http://papersparrow.typepad.com/papersparrow/

http://violetbellasworld.blogspot.com/

http://www.etsy.com/shop/darlingtonia

http://randomnessisessential.blogspot.com/

http://teacupsandbubblebaths.blogspot.com/

http://kindovermatter.blogspot.com/

http://www.etsy.com/shop/botanicalbird

http://www.etsy.com/shop/papersquid

http://www.etsy.com/shop/agirlandherbrush

http://www.thecraftfiend.blogspot.com/

http://illustratedink.blogspot.com/

http://www.bonboncharms.com/

http://planetogie.com/

http://www.feedyoursoulart.blogspot.com/

http://www.etsy.com/shop/aprilfoss

For some reason today, I am thinking about the 1970s icon, THE OWL! My mom had this cool and huge owl link necklace, and I got one in a consignment shop recently. I thought I could wear it on a black turtle neck, but I think I wore it on a white tee shirt and then it broke. I have to fix it:

So then I got to thinking, an owl tee shirt would be pretty fun, and I found this one on http://www.zazzle.com/1970s_owl_tshirt-235284543206288985

I think this is a cute tee shirt!

I found this too: A little and cute owl ring:

Owls are interesting, chunky, fat and cute creatures, aren’t they? I feel like I am writing for sesame street right now, but I can’t get overly deep about the decorative items of the 1970s that featured owls. It just isn’t possible. Owls are sort of like pugs, wide set eyes, square in stature, and fluffy. I guess that is why I probably find them to be relevant.

                                     I bet this funky fresh lady wore owls, and served a glass of milk out of this:

and had them strategically placed through out her home!   Cause you know this lady “was on it!“ (click link for surprise jam)