Poems to Share is a pack of cards featuring poems by Australian poets of all generations. Included are lines of verse along with activities to explore the poems for more enjoyment. There are 40 colourful cards to choose from. They can be read silently or explored by using the activities on each card.

The cards could be used at home, work, schools, training or universities.

We have plans to create a similar set using the poems and artwork of school children. We are always interested in contributions from others. If you have and ideas please contact Gillian at Corban & Blair or Johanna at The Red Room Company www.redroomcompany.org

Drive looks at the best way to motivate ourselves and others. We are hooked on the notion that it is all about the carrot and stick- this seems to be far from the truth. “The secret to high performance and satisfaction- at work, at school and at home- is the deeply human need to direct our own lives, to learn and create new things, and to do better by ourselves and our world.”

In Drive, Pink examines the three elements of true motivation- autonomy, mastery and purpose. He offers smart and surprising techniques for putting these into action.

A few years ago Pink also wrote the fabulously successful A Whole New Mind which had a huge influence how we developed business and product strategies at Corban & Blair. We are big fans.

The Life in Style trade show this year has many gorgeous things.

We are showcasing new life style ranges, our Poems to Share cards-a collaboration with the Red Room Company (www.redroomcompany.org/).

Along with items for kids and of course albums, journals and stylish frames. The photos below are taken with my iphone not the best quality but will give an idea of our stand.

Kids Ranges

Life Style Ranges

The family- Amanda, Adam ( Melbourne) Helena (HongKong)

Wall of frames

I ask myself this question every time we launch new products.

There is tendency for some independent retailers to ignore the fact they have made appointments. Are they rude and disrespectful, are they unaware of what sellers do to support them, do they not consider everyone has time, cost and personal issues. Do they not know how to manage their appointment books?

This trend among them (it happens to all companies and all around Australia) is not professional. It is sloppy, disrespectful and indicates that in a business relationship they likely to be ’flakey’. Buyers and sellers have a partnership -they are in it together. They need to work together on initiatives that keep costs down and revenue up.

I think this is a serious issue. Professionalism at all levels of the economic chain is important, especially among small businesses who need as much support as they can get.

The difference between our successful and established retailers is huge. They understand about doing business, they know it is a partnership and relationships matter and working together gets better results.

It would be wise for those who cannot manage their appointment books to look around and note what makes a successful retailer. Among many other things it is respect and understanding the value of trusted business relationships.

This week has been stressful as we put the finishing touches to our new collection, all because we missed the flow on effect of some changes (always for the better) but with implications we did not think through quickly enough.

Flora range- cushions, purses, napkins, journal in a bag

For example- we changed the supplier of our new printed textile (it looks far better) but the  fabric was not quite the same weight and when gluedto a board to make an album our regular glue did not work. Experimentation with other glues has fixed it but we have lost time and used up lots of nervous energy. With our large Zoo cushions for children, we wanted a firm cushion inner. Therefore the inner needs to be a down, but down has a very different requirement for customs. This was only discovered as the product was to be freighted on the eve of Chinese New Year (an extremely busy time in China with everyone on deadlines before the holidays.) We needed to change a price of an item. This means a rigorous audit of all master files as one mistake leads to confusion & so it goes on.

When you are in a creative business where ideas evolve, the process of ensuring you capture the implications of all changes are crucial for productivity.

Rain range- cushions, purses, napkins, fabric basket

We are into continuous improvement aiming never to make the same mistake twice. We have red alerts to ensure we learn and remember within the production process. But this is after the event.

We are interested to hear of any suggestions or techniques that could keep us more alert and focused and ahead of the process.

If you have any we would love to hear from you.

On a recent trip to Hong Kong & China to check on products we have made here, Amanda and I were yet again astounded by the size and scale of China. Checking samples with the production manager

This becomes obvious in the hours spent getting from place to place, exhaustion and lots of road and train travel. It is nothing to drive 2 hours through fast heavy traffic to go to a meeting and spend another 2 hours going in another direction to a half hour meeting etc. . . . .  Stressful at times especially the traffic density but always interesting. There is so much to see and learn from this energetic nation.

Visiting the Guangzhou fabric Market to select fabric to print on

This season we changed from one supplier to another mid production. This was a big risk (it may have even been a bigger risk not to). Fortunately we decided to do this with the support of our Chinese business associate who managers our production in China. So far this decision seems to have been the right one.

View from the roof of the new factory where we are having our lifestyle products made

When reflecting on the challenges of manufacturing in China (or else where for that matter) it comes down to good relationships, trust, honesty, fairness, transparency, clear communication and having something in the transaction for everyone.

We are very grateful for the 3 major relationships with have developed in Hong Kong and China. We could not even attempt to work in this part of the world without the mutual understanding that has developed working with people who all share in the outcome.

When you hold one of these frames in your hands the differences to other frames is obvious. The construction is solid, the design is unique and the colour ranges are on trend.

What you can’t see is that they are made in New Zealand, from plantation timber and are certified Carbon Neutral by the Carbon Reduction Institute

This means the carbon created in every step of the manufacture and transportation of each frame has been offset by carbon credits and paid for by us. We do not pass this cost onto our customers; it comes directly off our bottom line.

Why?

Well, quite simply we believe businesses, especially those involved in manufacturing, are some of the highest contributors to carbon emissions. We decided to take a stand and play a part in helping to achieve reduced carbon emissions. Even the little carbon generated in the manufacture of our frames can make a big difference.

Also, when a customer is deliberating over which frame to purchase, making them aware of the zero emission features of our frames makes the decision much easier for them.

It is important we think through the implications of all our purchasing choices as there are always many options to consider.

When you have a moment and want to be inspired visit http://www.ted.com/ to listen to short talks of about 10-12 minutes by remarkable people for FREE.

I occasionally dip into these when I want a different perspective on life and work.

I spent an afternoon this week listening to TED speakers on a range of subjects. One of these was recommended to my by Suzi Dafnis of the Australian Business Women’s Network and was presented by Elizabeth Gilbert, author of the best selling novel Eat, Pray, Love. It was about creativity – cultivating it and respecting it.

If you are interested in creativity and want to be entertained you will enjoy it.

The past 18 months have been difficult- sales have been ‘softish’, colleagues & friends have gone out of business, while others have been slow to make the adjustments necessary to keep up in changed circumstances. This made for a challenging work environment.

In order to keep up we have reached higher, kept positive, taken risks, invested in new ways to do things as well as new products and processes. Thank goodness we have lots of passion, energy and commitment.

I recently heard a quote from Li Cunxin- Mao’s Last Dancer, who when asked, how he managed the extraordinary journey of his life  (international ballet dancer, defector from China, best selling author, a movie made about his life by one of Australia’s most respected directors, stock broker and father of a profoundly deaf child while supporting his Australian and Chinese families) said if you want to be above the ordinary and stand out it is only possible by pushing just that bit further, it is about vision, will, effort, emotion, commitment and discipline – the road to success is hard and always painful- but worth it.

At Corban & Blair this is what we try to do. Thankfully we do not put sand bags on our legs then jump up stairs for 2 years to strengthen our leg muscles as Li Cunxin did- although sometimes it feels like it.

Good luck – as there is never much comfort or rest when you run a business.

It is the end of the working year (for many of us) at last. Seasons greetings to all.

Corban & Blair wish you a relaxing break and an exciting 2010.

Corban & Blair celebrating