A Dress For Success
Loads to catch up on, but I want to get back in the swing of things by telling you how our dress performed on my trip to the Outdoor Retailer trade show in Utah last week. Basically it killed. Here’s why:
1. Packing was a breeze. I didn’t have to spend time obsessing over what to pack because I had a uniform that could take me from the show to meetings with reps to post-show socializing without having to change. My dress, 2 thin merino sweaters and some tights and I was ready to go.
2. Unpacking was even easier. I hung up the dress in the bathroom while I showered and no one had any idea it was stuffed in my backpack about 20 minutes before I left for the airport Wednesday and didn’t see a hanger until Thursday morning when it was time to get ready.
3. POCKETS! This was my first big trade show and my first face to face meeting with some suppliers I’ve been trying to meet for a while now. I wanted to look like a pro and didn’t want to be fumbling for my cards or searching for my notebook or pen in the depths of my bag. Each go-to item got its dedicated pocket and never got a second thought. Take a look…
Above: That pen is enormous. Objects not drawn to scale.
4. It’s a conversation starter. A lady complimented me on my dress and told me it looks like the perfect travel dress, something she and her colleagues are always looking for. Turns out she’s a rep for a supplier I’m interested in but can’t meet the minimums for. She ended up inviting me to their booth and showing me a range of spot-on fabrics they run for other companies. I can potentially hop on these orders to avoid the high minimums. Win-win!
I’ve said before the right clothes can embolden you and though I’ve felt pretty great wearing the dress for a few months now I finally had my WOW moment with it at Outdoor Retailer. Because it performed so well for me I was free to tackle the show with confidence and ease–and maybe even pick up a new supplier.
Delivering this kind of empowerment to you, our community of Makers, is exactly why I created The Willary. There have been some big obstacles in the past few months, but with a little more time and some powerful lessons learned I’m moving toward the goal of launching this year. 2015 is the year of The Willary!
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