The Back Page – Little Monkeys

Whew, what a day!  Injured fellas (emphasis on the multiple there), thunderstorms, skate parties at school for big boys, cameras & computers that refuse to cooperate and, very importantly, a new Little Monkeys release.  Makes me tired just thinking about it all.   The excitement of this release, though, is enough to banish all the rest until tomorrow at least, so let’s get started! 

Our new color set is sure to set the mood for summer fun.  Actually, it can’t help but do that since…that’s the name.  haha, I know.  Introducing -

This set just makes you want to throw on a swim suit and some flip flops.  Who cares about raging thunderstorms anyway?  It’s time for Summer fun!!  This set is available in the Starter System, Master System, Sleeves w/Inserts and Inserts options.  Get it today in the Little Monkeys Shop!

Next up for this month is something I’m really excited about – our new store more dies Magnetic Mini Set!  It includes two sleeves with magnetic inserts to store your metal dies right with your stamps!  I’m so excited to be able to keep my dies with their corresponding stamps.  My Nestabilities are so easy to grab and use now with the new magnetic sheets.  My camera/computer didn’t cooperate so pics will take another day or so to get posted, but the mini sets are now available in the shop.  The full sheets are magnetic and backed with cardboard so they are extra sturdy and easy to use.

Also new in the Little Monkeys Shop is the opportunity to purchase the boxes as a stand alone item.  We’ve been hearing from those of you wanting to use the boxes to store your magazine, idea books, even copics!  However, that’s hard to do when all your boxes are filled with stamps, right?  So, you asked and we listened!  I can’t wait to see your pics of all the things you’re storing in the boxes.  I’ve started keeping my current mags, SU catalog and idea books in a ‘store more everything’ box and even my boys have gotten in the swing using boxes to keep their nighttime reading books handy and organized.  Who’d have thought they’d be just right for them, too?!?!

I want to call attention to another change on the website and that’s for the Starter System – this system has been modified to remove the sample cling sheet and reduce the price from $28.99 down to $24.49.  There still is a sample cling sheet available for purchase separately for those wanting to try it out.  This will help be sure you’re getting just want you want/need and not including extras you don’t.

Finally, as you move around the site and shop, you’ll notice changes starting to pop up everywhere.  From a new logo to new labels, changes are in the works!  So excited to see these changes coming through to you, keeping things moving forward.  Awesome!

For those of you that are receiving this full release, I have your information and they are going out.  Fun mail days heading your way!

This is all really fun and exciting with LOTS and LOTS of information, so please let me know if you have any questions or if I’ve missed something.  Come, play & be a little monkey!

An apology & a completely fresh start

I will start by saying that I am truly appreciative of every one of you, for our relationships formed, and for each and every order received.  However, there are those of you for which I have not lived up to your (or my) expectations and I am very sorry for any problems you have had with me and/or my customer service in the past.  You already know about our Little Monkeys disaster last summer, but the problems were deeper than that and, on the personal side, I had to make some very tough decisions.  (Since I know enquiring minds want to know – the problems were not within the home, but did, in turn, cause problems within the home – just saying that home life is good and getting better.)  Now that those decisions have been dealt with and worked through, I feel that I am finally coming through to the good side of life again and that makes ALL the difference.

Having hope again and a fresh outlook means that I am also able and ready to focus on repairing my relationship with you.  As part of starting anew, I lost almost all of my past messages.  So, I am going to ask for now that you please send me a message at susan@storemorestamps.com and I will work with you on the best remedy for our problems.  I will respond to any messages received within 24 hours.  We can talk by phone, but please send a message by email first so I can do any research and be ready with information to talk.  I am in the process of rebuilding my contact lists and there are a lot of changes going on to make improvements and needed updates as well.  However, I do not want to wait until everything is “just right” to start working with you.

I am anxious and excited to be making a fresh start.  There will be changes coming to the website and a new look overall.  Adding help where needed is the biggest change.  And the biggest is that I am no longer handling shipping.  I am working with a new girl (I still call anyone my own age or younger a girl!) to process orders.  I will handle any problems or questions, but not involved on the processing side at all.  We have a set inventory and shipping schedule.  If your item is out of stock or will be delayed, you will know it up front.  Also, all shipping will go out on Thursdays and Mondays.  This will ensure that all orders are processed and shipped within a timely manner on a schedule you can rely on.  If your order needs special attention, please send a message to orders@storemorestamps.com.

Thank you for everything.  I look forward to hearing from you.  I also will post this on Splitcoast Stampers but please share with anyone you think needs to know and also let me know if it also should be posted elsewhere.  I am facing things head on so want to be sure the word is out!  Stay tuned for changes – I will keep you updated!

All my best,

Susan

No other way to put it.  There was a horrible disaster with our materials and after looking over everything, it was clear we would never be able to use any of the products in inventory.  To have this happen after already having problems this spring with my broken hand and the switch to the new shopping system, everything fell apart.  Or, rather, I fell apart.  I truly feel awful that I wasn’t able to keep you posted about the problems.  I didn’t tell anybody, though, not even my family and close friends.  Just couldn’t take it.  Even Tia, who was starting to help with shipping and might have been the saving grace if we could have faced this together, had to leave town to deal with both of her parents falling ill. A downward spiral of epic proportions.

Everything I had went into trying to recover – both from a business and a personal perspective – while putting on a smiling front for those around me and it was slow going.  I have scrounged every penny to be able to order new materials and am now finally making progress again.

I would like to thank a certain customer and her brother-in-law for the confirmation I was needing to keep moving and, as our boys say, “suck it up, princess.”

All outstanding orders will be shipped no later than Friday, 9/11/09.  It will most likely be earlier than that, but I don’t want to over-commit and cause more dissatisfaction.  Also, since it’s easy to want to please everyone and end up sidetracked, I’m just going to say up front that I will not work on any follow-up until everything has shipped and orders delivered.  At that time, I will see where things stand and will know better what my next steps should be.

I’ve felt like a part of me was missing through this difficult time so I’m ready to get it back, and ready to fight hard to move ahead with the other projects & next steps planned for Little Monkeys months ago.  New color sets are waiting for their release (will be Oct 15th!), new product ideas, etc.  I’m really looking forward to moving forward.  I hope that you are, too.

“Failure is not falling down, but refusing to get up.” — Chinese Proverb

Just wanted to be sure to post this everywhere – the shipping function for the Little Monkeys Shop isn’t working like it should, soooo, it’s free shipping for all orders until further notice!  Free is always a good thing, right?