Internal Debate at Milkface

Every now and then, we at milkface are asked if we carry nursing covers. We don't. We apologize and we cater to any other needs that shopper might have. One day the logical follow up question was asked, "Why not?"

The issue was raised internally and we had a different opinion from each staffer. Some were passionate supporters, claiming that they allow self conscious mothers the tool necessary to breastfeed in public. Others had passions as strong that stated breastfeeding is natural and normal and shouldn't be hidden and doing so suggests it is something that should be hidden. Great arguments were made on both sides and personal experiences were shared - experiences that were enlightening and made the issue less black and white for all of us.

In the end we decided that we would continue to not carry products manufactured with the explicit intent of shielding the act of nursing from others. We would be more proactive in educating milkface visitors that the discretion and privacy some of them seek can be achieved using the tools they already have - breastfeeding clothing and some carrier styles.

We believe that a milkface shopping experience is made an incredible one by virtue of the informational resources that our staffers are and the counsel that they can provide. Each a parent. All babywearers. All mothers experienced with breastfeeding. Twins. Cesarean sections, VBAC experiences. Post partum issues. We, collectively, have experienced them all and are generous to share our experiences. For milkface shoppers or during staff meeting discussions, our experiences set us apart. Visit a store today and see how we can help you.

Mr. Milkface Reports: Babywearing for Dads

I spend a couple days in each of our stores each week. More and more I see dads coming in (most often with moms) and looking into this "babywearing thing". Some are bored and want to leave quikly. Some are thrifty and can't see the value in a carrier (odd that they have no problem pushing a $700 stroller that only carries a diaper bag while mom carries the baby in her arms). But there are those who have a genuine interest in babywearing.

It's great to see dads trying on slings, mei tais, and soft structured carriers in our store. With an incredible selection of styles, fabrics, colours, prints and organics, we have something for everyone. Personally, I think it's cool when dad chooses the pink Ergo because that what his new little princess would look good in.

Even more encouraging is that we're seeing it more and more on the street. Dads are pround to be seen with their babies. Even more, they're proud to be seen as physically attached and involved with their children via a carrier.

Go dads! Have a Happy Father's Day later this month.

We've been away too long.

It has been a really long time since our last post. We werepreparing for the opening of the new store and since then a lot has happened. We have been active in other arenas keeping you up to date and hope that you've been following us on Twitter (milkfacedotcom), YouTube (milkfacedotcom) and our regular, twice-a-month e-newsletters.

We'll be making a greater effort to be more regular with our blog, hoping for a posting at least once a week. We'll be doing some new segments and reviving past favourites like our "He Said, She Said" segment where Milkface owners, and spouses, Andy and Britt Pegan give their respective views on various topics. We're always looking for your input as well. We are here to answer your questions and provide content that is of interest to you and other moms like you.

That's all for now. See you soon.

Opportunity for Local Photographer or Artist

We are looking to showcase a local Ottawa family / baby / pregnancy photographer or artist in our new Milkface Nursingwear store at 1167 Bank street, scheduled for a grand opening in mid March 2009. We are offering wall space throughout our store for 5-8 quality, framed pieces that showcase the bond between mother and child. In addition we allow, of course, you to post business cards or marketing brochures to attract new business.

We have run this programme in our Westboro location for two years and have had incredible feedback from our customers and our two showcased photographers claim that it is a great passive source of new business - one claiming 50% of her business is generated from interested Milface customers.

We invite creativity and offer no restrictive guidelines for your pieces with the exception that the subject of all pieces be family friendly.

Please send JPG samples of your work for consideration by February 15, 2009. We will shortlist 4 artists by staff vote and will ask our newsletter readers to select the winner based on popular vote. The voting will begin with a mailout to email subscribers on February 18, 2009 with votes being tallied February 21, 2009. Anyone can join our email newsletter by simply joining from the lower right corner of the www.milkface.com hompage. Make sure your supporters have joined before The February 18 sendout.

The winner will provide display materials ready for wall display and business card / brochure display holders by March 10, 2009 and maintain the supply of business cards and/or brochures.

Thanks and good luck.

Send submissions to andy@milkface.com
Questions? Call Andy on cell at 762-7444

Who Could Use A Helping Hand Right Now?

We have too much stock. After an incredible Boxing Week Sale we continue to have a number of items that we just don't have the space to display to try to sell. It is time to give it away.

We are looking for organizations or groups that would benefit from the receipt of brand new, first quality nursing fashions and an assortment of nursing bras.

The recipient organization(s) should be involved in the promotion of breastfeeding, have a financial need for the items, and be able to disseminate the donated goods to those in need at no charge to the recipient mothers.

We have about 75 articles in various sizes (but mostly larges and smalls) and would like to send it out to no more than 3 groups/organizations. These items have a retail value of over $6000.

If you represent or know of such an organization, please let us know how they would benefit from this donation. We will select recipients on January 16, 2009 and hope to get the items out right away.

How can we help you help others?

Pimp My Biz Diary - Submission #9

It's been about 45 days since we were announced winners of the "Pimp My Biz" contest. We have yet to speak to anyone about concrete plans on how to apply our winnings. A general meeting occurred but no specifics. Waiting....

Metro News was our first contact. Ian came to the milkspace - the training, drop-in and breastfeeding lounge above the milkface store, for a meeting and discussion on what Metro was going to do for us. I came in with a few prejudices about print media advertising having come from the real estate profession and did not expect much from the meeting or this element of the prize package. Ian blew me away and changed my views and made me anxious to put our plans in place. Again, this part of the prize was on hold until we had secured a new location for milkface's second Ottawa store but I was ready to go.

Ian mentioned that he knew of us already. He uses the street parking near our store often and passes by on occasion. He has even been in the store - not as a customer but as someone interested in what was going on in the cute little store with the pink door. He had been playing with marketing ideas for our store too. He never shared then or introduced himself as a marketing rep but, being the creative guy that he is, he was playing "what if I worked with them" and came up with some ideas. His ideas, now exposed to the light of day and our receptive ears, are exciting and impactful. Expectations are high on my end and practicing patience is difficult when I feel this way.

In he end we plan to lay low for the remainder of the year and revisit in January. We are given homework to determine, and document our typical customer and her attributes. Like many things at milkface this already exists but has never been put to paper. Britt and I take 5 minutes and put it down, add some material on business philosophy, business mandate and past marketing examples in an email package and send it off. He's impressed. We show that we know what we want. Now his brain is put to work to develop the campaign to make it happen.

More to come....

PimpMyBiz Contest - Submission #8

The intent of our first meeting was to be more ceremonial than practical. A meet and greet with the contest sponsors was, in theory, a great idea but never came to fruition as the schedules of too many people never seemed to align. In lieu of this meeting, Mark from Newcap Radio - the parent company of LIVE 88.5 - called us in to discuss what we had won, how they would facilitate our receipt and use of the winnings and gave a brief overview of radio marketing. The meeting was fascinating - well to be fair it would have probably been boring to the majority of the world but as a guy who records, so as not to miss a TV show about advertising (ad persuasion), and who has a direct impact and benefit in how the prize is used I was rapt.

Mark knew his stuff and came across as highly confident and competent - a combination that is essential in the sales game. The "short" meeting lasted 90 minutes. I could only imagine how long we would have been their if we had met with the other marketing execs from the other prize sponsors. In the end Britt and I came away with a better understanding of what we had won and how we would be allowed to apply it to our future goals.

Our intention at this point was to hold the radio and print advertising until our expected opening of a second Milkface store in Ottawa (stay tuned on that one) sometime in Q2 2009. We were ready to put into immediate use the vehicle wrap and web media portions of the prize. Mark was on board with these intentions and concurred that our plan was the best use of the prize. Unfortunately nothing happens fast when so many people are involved.

More to come...