My first show, and Smucci is presented beautifully with a heartfelt display incorporating furnishings from my home, up lights from Lowe's, and the wise counsel of Kent Illenden at SFC Graphics. Kent's design and encouragement led to the sophisticated display described in this photo. And with Sue Hague Rogers whispering in my ear, I can't go wrong. Kent and Sue have been invaluable in steering the Smucci ship.
The Detroit Kennel Club hosted the 102nd annual All Breed Dog Show for 2 days, Feb 28 & Mar 1, 2009, welcoming 20,000 visitors and 2,000 dogs. Parker Fields of Traverse City was in charge of vendor set up, and walked me through the frightening process! I drove my F150 and pulled my matching 18 foot V-nosed enclosed snowmobile/ATV/or whatever is fun and has wheels trailer with expert help from my friend, Justin Martin of Toledo, loaded with Smucci inventory and my entire Smucci display on Friday night, a mere 12 hours prior to the event. Everything was set into place, and all my vision, inspired design, and hard work over the past 6 months was left behind at Cobo Hall in Detroit as I returned home to get a good night's sleep. Before I left, I wrapped the entire display and all of my product in 150 yards of aqua tulle in the hope that everything would survive the night without me...and be there in the morning when I returned. It was late, Cobo was dark, and I was the last vendor to leave. I gasped as I took this photo with my cell phone. It was gorgeous, and it was also everything I owned. All of Smucci confined to a 10 x 12 foot space.
Over the next 2 days, Smucci was well received which translated to respectable sales generating a lot of interest. Visitors couldn't believe that I enjoyed using power tools, thanks to the well stocked workshop provided for Smucci use by my sister and her husband, Carol and Paul Walker of Ottawa Lake, Michigan, and that I hand make all of my pet beds. When they realized that I had created the fabrics sewn into cushions for my beds, by picking leaves from my ginkgo tree and collecting feathers from my Macaws and making these images become real on commercial fabric...they stood quietly looking at me with their mouths open. When they closely examined the quality of my seamstress's work, Leigh Bodie of Sylvania, Ohio, they were even more amazed. I was delighted, although not prepared for the overwhelmingly positive response. I expect nothing less of me than the best I can offer for our domesticated pets, and insist on quality. For Smucci, excellence is the norm.
My son, Jamie, captured many moments over the 2 day event, and his inspiration is reflected in the following photos...
The Smucci Matisse Bed, en route to Cobo, and enjoyed as intended, hugging our pets as they sleep, free from worry or stress of any kind, like the sentiment protrayed by Henri Matisse in his colorful painting of a "Woman Sleeping on the Corner of a Table."
Westies racing wildly...it's what they do best
Westies being incredibly cute. And just how do they know, to tug at our hearts so?!!
Smucci customers demanding anything Smucci...now!
My secret wish is to have a retail shop. When I create my pet beds, in addition to serving the fundamental needs of our domesticated pets combined with the requirement of beauty for our homes, I think about how my product could be displayed. I love the image of beds towering large to small towards the ceiling, stacked endlessly on top of one another, creating a breathtaking and architectural
element not seen before. Or at least not seen in the pet bed industry. Oh well, I will keep dreaming and working on it.
The Smucciettes...Kelley Debora Walker, Amy Lynn Walker, and Carolyn Suzanne Kahn eating ice cream and helping with sales. The Smuciettes are incredibly indespensible, and have been die hard fans and extraordinary contributors to the big Smucci dream!
WHAT IS THIS ADORABLE DOG?! LOOKING SMUCCI FABULOUS IN THE LARGE GREEN GINKGO BED WRAPPED IN MAC-TAC; SMUCCI FABRIC IMAGES TRANSFERRED TO FLOOR GRAPHIC QUALITY PAPER, OFFERRED BY SFC GRAPHICS IN TOLEDO, OHIO. FOR MORE AMAZING INFORMATION ON SFC, CHECK OUT www.sfc.com.
LOOK FOR SMUCCI IN COLUMBUS, MARCH 27-29, AT THE COLUMBUS PET EXPO. VISIT www.columbuspetexpo.com FOR DETAILS.
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