Babies talking about money.  What could be cuter?

Babies at Blue Q are coming fast these days. Our family just keeps on growing and growing. We must employ a lot of fertile women here. We just welcomed another one yesterday!

We are a week and a half from Black Friday and I don’t know about you, but my list of people to buy for this year has grown. But has my stash of money? Well, let’s just say the stock market didn’t help things in that department. Shopping may require some creativity this year. Regardless, it’s time for me to start chopping away at those Christmas lists people!  Blue Q is here for you. Take a peek at the site. I am sure you will find just what you need for that new Mother on your list, or your Auntie Doris or good friend Jimmy.

Happy Shopping Season!

It’s the end of an era.

Trevor walked upstairs last week holding the only 3 remaining Flat Cats and handed them over to Mitch.  There they were.  The last three. 

In case you didn’t know, Blue Q began it’s life with this “two-dimensional cardboard kitty that was marketed as the”Perfect Pet”. 

Let’s take a quick history tour here, shall we?

20 (give or take) years ago in Boston, Mitch spied this Cannon ad in a magazine.   

He thought it was pretty cool, ripped it out, glued it to some corragated cardboard and stuck it on his desk.  At that time he and his brother Seth had already rented a space to start some sort of lighting company.  Seth was working in high tech.  Mitch was manning the fort, coming up with ideas.  When people walked into the joint, they’d comment on this standup feline…how cool it was….someone thought it was real…..commented enough on it….Mitch brought the idea to Seth.  Seth said, Sure.

Mitch contacted Cannon.  Cannon contacted the photographer, Manny Denner, and Manny said, “Sure, I have outtakes.”  Mitch went down to New York to look at those outtakes, got mugged, and then picked out the perfect photo.

They sourced out a printer, a die cutter, priced out making 10,000.

Seth said – hey, if we’re gonna make 10,000, let’s just make sure there’s SOME interest.  SOMEwhere.

Mitch called out to Copley Fair (still a loyal and loving customer) to see if they would have any interest.  Sure.  They would.  I mean, they need to see the end result, but then sure.  They would.

They told Mitch about the New York Gift Show - maybe he’d want to show these cardboard cats there.  Mitch and Seth did.   They rented a booth at the show and filled it with cats.  Flat ones.  They didn’t know anything about Sales Reps – how to get the word out.  But they started collecting cards.  One Sales Rep said, “You know what?  I can get this thing into the window at Bloomingdales.”

And he did.

(Picture this Bloomingdale’s window filled with Flat Cats.  Because in 1988, it was.)

And hell, once you’re in the window of Bloomie’s, you’re pretty much starting a business here.

There’s so much more to the story – like how the Nash’s dad pretty much named the Flat Cat (saying, and I’m paraphrasing here) that the only good cats are flat ones – and how Seth quit his high tech job 3-4 weeks after the Bloomingdales Window thing – and then how the Instant Infant was the next cardboard wonder in line……

But for now, we say adieu.  Adieu, little kitty.  Adieu.

I feel that I have to thank you for all the things that you have done for me in these last weeks of my pregnancy to keep me sane and as comfortable as possible. 

Thanks for putting up with all my moods, baby news, ultrasound pictures and appointments.  Since this is my 2nd child one may think that I may not get this much help or attention this time around.   Wrong – I am spoiled once again.  Maybe that is why I decided to have another baby so soon.   I am joking!!!  Come on now!  But you really do know how to make a pregnant women want to work right up until she is in labor.  Maybe that is your motivation.  hmmmmm
I am convinced that this is the greatest office to work in whether or not you are expecting, but when you are expecting – it’s even more delightful.  When I am on maternity leave I will miss someone offering to get me a glass of water.  Thank you, Jenny and Mindy for keeping me well hydrated.
Thanks Jenny, for bringing my lunch to the upstairs fridge every morning, and saying that I look pretty.  She’s so sweet.
Thanks to Serge who brings down my lunch bag at the end of the day for me. 
Thanks to Jess for offering to bring anything that is upstairs, down to me and for always checking in with me on how I am doing. 
Thanks to Mindy and Tracy who are constantly picking things up off the floor that I have dropped.  Paper clips, stacks of paper, my ruler, pens.  You name it, I drop it lately.  Thank you girls for that.  My back thanks you too.  Mindy even cleaned up coffee that I spilled on the floor the other day.   Can I take her home with me for a while?    Also, these girls will hold down the Customer Service Fort like champs when I am absent….. again.  Love you, girls!
Thanks to all the Blue Q mothers who have passed along maternity clothes. I have had a wonderful selection of clothing to keep me styling.
Thank you Mitch for splitting many avocados with me, making me little salads to go with my lunch, offering to bring me snacks, juice, and  iced coffee.  AND for asking me how I am but then realizing that maybe I have been asked that 100 times already and just saying, “Never mind.  You look nice today.” 
Seth has offered to have my lunch brought to my desk.  I have never taken him up on that offer.  I do need to move from this chair at some point in the day.  Sitting in one spot isn’t good for me either, so let’s not get too carried away.  And I am definitely not saying that pregnant women aren’t capable of all these daily activities because I know they are, BUT when your back is aching, you feel as big as a house, your hip is popping out of its joint, you are cranky, sleep deprived, and anxious that you may go into labor at any given moment……….a cold drink brought to your desk and a “How are you doing today?  You look great!” maybe just the thing you need to keep you going. 
I have also been spoiled in other ways around here and can’t possible list everything that everyone has done.  They have all done their part.  They say it’s takes a village to raise a child, but here it truly takes the Blue Q Family to get this Mama to her day of delivery. 

So before you send me home early today for a nap, just know that you have hearts of gold and I am truly thankful and blessed to work with you.   I knew that before, but you confirm that every day for me over and over and over. 

Sorry to gush.  It must be all the hormones. 
         Much love and thanks,
         Mama Nic & Baby

(This may be my last post for a while……….stay tuned for baby news)

Meryl Hooker named Blue Q Sales Rep of the Year for 2009
(psst:  if you don’t know what the heck a Rep is, see ***Paragraph 5)

 The announcement was made in Booth #1509 at the New York International Gift Fair on Sunday, January 31st.   Upon receiving this recognition she thanked  “the baby Jesus, KISS, Blue Q and all of my fabulous customers.  Now that I have this sales thing down, I’m moving on to world peace!”  In attendance were Seth and Mitch Nash – the owners of Blue Q.

Refreshment platters of cheese, nuts and dried fruits were accompanied by red wine.  Also on hand for the festivities were Blue Q Sales Department honchos Jen Cummings and Paul Boulais. 

Ms. Hooker was not seen wearing velvet or taffeta, though she was spotted sporting the quite fully glittered and equine worthy 1st Prize ribbon.

A monetary award was presented – and not refused.  “Hey, I might not get that world peace thing figured out on the first attempt,’” quipped Hooker.

***Paragraph 5:
Since Art Star and Handyman can’t do it all ourselves, Blue Q enlists the services of Sales Reps all over the country (and Canada, too) to show our products to store owners, buyers and merchandisers at gift stores, grocery stores, etc.  Their voices are part of the Blue Q choir.  Meryl Hooker belts out loud and clear in the mid-Atlantic area.

A resident of Washington DC, she also covers Maryland, Delaware and Virginia  for Blue Q as well as other (less notable) lines.  Though a full time sales rockstar, she occassionally moonlights as a garden gnome.

Her favorite flower is the daisy.

Visit her blog - Road Rage – to keep in touch with all that she’s got goin’ on.

So, what’s a poor girl in love to do?  Our amazingly talented and lovely Nichole, in Customer Service here at Blue Q, asked…and then received:

Dear EQX Master,

I am writing to you out of desperation and a last ditch effort to attain Rusted Root tickets for Valentine’s Day.  I know you are giving away the tickets in the morning if you win the battle of the eq sexes, but I have not been successful enough to get on and play.  If you have a few moments, I would truly appreciate you reading my story and letting me know if there are any tickets out in the universe that I may purchase at a fair price.   I am not asking for a handout, just hear me out……………

I listen to EQX in the morning on my long,  boring commute to work and enjoy the music and listening to Jeff.  Thanks for being so great and making my drive more enjoyable.   Enough kissing up.   I heard it announced early this week that Rusted Root was playing at the Snow Barn on V-day and was thrilled! 

Now, I am a mother of a 16 month old boy and am also expecting another baby, work fulltime, and juggle a busy schedule as most people these days do…. BUT, I must find a way to get a sitter, scrape up the money and energy for a night out with my wonderful husband! He is a fantastic guy and this would be a great thing for him and for us.   I arranged a sitter, checked the bank account and went online to get tickets to my dismay they  were all sold out!  No, this can’t be!!!! 

You see, one of our 1st dates was seeing a Rusted Root concert about 8 years ago and to surprise him with concert tickets and a night out would be the perfect Valentine’s Day situation.  We don’t’ get out too much lately but I must find a way to make this work.  We both love Rusted Root so much that in the delivery room while I was in hard labor,  my husband put on a Rusted Root CD as encouragement and inspiration  for me.  (sorry if that is TMI, but I had to through that in there)

Another thing that is that at work we have been listening to Rusted Root Radio on Sonos System  (put on by another employee) and it seems yet another sign pointing to how much we need to go to this show.  The songs bring back wonderful memories for me and thought it couldn’t hurt to write to you.   I tried online to buy tix,  I called the Snow Barn and am running out of options.  If there is anything you can do to help me out I would be eternally grateful! 

Thanks for your time.  And on a side note,  I work for a really cool company called Blue Q and would be happy to send bribes to you for helping me.

Nichole

(So, guess what?  Nichole got 2 free tickets.  From Nichole:  (The amazingly thoughtful) manager of the nightclub, the Snow Barn at Mount Snow called and told me that he is putting Bryan and my name on the guest list for the show and he is not charging us for them! 

Email from the Manager:  Nichole, just wanted to give you an email confirmation of my valentines present to you and your husband…..Your name will be on the guest list for Rusted Root at the snowbarn on Sunday, February 14th….I’ll see you at the show!)