My So-Called Digital Life

The Launch of Visual Search

I don't know how many of you have checked out www.like.com, but honestly, you should head right over there. For years, people have been discussing and testing the idea of visual search technology. A search technology that would be more than just text links and descriptions. Like.com has done it one better by matching pics with "like" products that can be found and bought online. And how do you cleverly launch that...well hook people up with the products similar to what the celebrities are wearing!

And you can submit to their database, you products, which in turn, finesse their technology when more people use it. I submitted www.snazzygirl.com to see what would happen. And considering some of the products that the celebrities are wearing are actually available on snazzygirl.com, it should be a no-brainer.

There are other visual search engines...sort of, like pricecanada.com, shoptoit.ca, shop.com, shopping.com and others, but this one takes it up a notch by letting people see ahead what they would like to shop for and then using search in a very creative way, to solve the problem. All visually.

Flashgurl rocks

I've been in this business so long and i've worked with so many designers that I've honestly lost count. When I first started in digital media, putting sites together for large clients or working in large ad agencies, i had to deal with designers who worked only in the print realm and didn't understand the constraints of colors, size, etc. They were sometimes unbelieveably difficult to deal with and prevented a quick and professional result.

I have to say that I was never as fortunate as to have worked with graphic designer extraordinaire, Julia Bales. I met her toiling away in the digital media department a large ad agency and she had already accumulated an exceptional portfolio. I asked her to take a look at designing an ecommerce site, Snazzygirl.com. We talked concepts and super, super-quickly, she had some amazing mock-ups ready to go. From there it was fast and simple to get the site up and running.

Since then she has done all our print ads, web ads, stationary, business cards, post cards, posters, logos, you name it. All, with the speed and finesse of a pro. She's also designing our pet site Snazzypets.com which looks awesome and she's creating a custom logo for it. She has a such a fine eye for design and a complete understanding of cross-media branding - its quite exceptional.

I kneel at your feet Julia, you da bomb.

c

Foxy girls at the Surf Expo

There are a lot of things i’m thankful for. The basics: food, water, high-speed. But last year was a great year for me as I had my ecommerce site snazzygirl.com up and running for its first full year. There were tonnes of snags, problems, confusions, mistakes, issues, complaints…as there always is when starting a new business (they don’t tell you that in those ‘how-to’ books, by the way). Despite it all, Snazzygirl has surpassed what i expected…so i’m lucky for that…but what i’m really thankfull for is all the great designers and people i’ve met along the way. Some of those people are Jen and Suzie from Foxy Originals based in Toronto, Canada. They came to the Surf Expo in Orlando and I met them for dinner…we had an amazing time and of course, plotted the world domination of aluminum jewelry. They one of my great assets on the site…and they’ve been amazing to deal with. So no rant today, just praise!

Transition From Dribbling Baby to Infant to Child

Today I was completely overwhelmed. So much so that I felt it was difficult to do work. Paralyzed in the thought of how much work I really had to do.

What perplexed me the most my ecommerce site Snazzygirl.com. Its over a year old, something that was a “capitalist” idea with dreams of grandeur, so long ago, has finally found a place to stand. It is no longer the quivering, begging, whining infant of last year - it can now walk on its own and soon, almost talk.

Its the shift from idea, to working idea, to good working idea to full fledged (do i put even more money and time into this and make it a real business ) idea. I need to talk the site to an inventory situation and i’ve talked to several fulfilment houses about it and I’ve decided on one in Tennessee. This will solve my shipping problems which are too huge to even mention, cut my costs (by investing money upfront) and well, give the site the professional service stature it needs and deserves.

But i have to say, its scary. that next step. Its like…this is it, there is no turning back. There are so many things to consider that i need the fulfilment house sales guy on the phone today for 2 hours just to go over the details and the costs. The funny thing was, I had ideas for him for his software, to make things better, that they haven’t considered…which they are going to now implement. should i get a discount or what?

This is not a small move and I worry about the transition for the designers. Even though there are over 60, its a family, its a personal relationship and I’m not sure how they will react to consignment, though most large sites are doing so. The site is certainly pulling in the hits and getting the press.

Stay tuned…i’m sure there will be much more to come.

After the Christmas Rush

It’s been crazy online this year. I started Snazzygirl.com in December
2004 to see how I could organically grow an ecommerce company, make it
as professional as I could, and get the word out with very little
money.

Well, it’s taken me a bit by surprise how crazy well its been doing
since July. It runs out of Toronto, Canada for now and my
friend/associate Elise is doing an amazing job doing all the
fulfillment.

I find it such an emotional thing and I have to say it’s a bit of a
relief that sales have slowed after the holiday rush. It gives you
perspective on what to do next and on the importance of the site
itself.