Debbie Barrett, Ladies Luncheon and relay for life Jacksonville

I've been on Spring Break this week down in Florida with my family. Only problem with running your own business is your never really off. So it's work, work, work and hopefully have some play time when you can.

Mike brought back the two bra's we promised Debbie from China. She's is the mother of the woman that started the petition for VS to carry bras for women that have been through breast cancer. Well Debbie and Allana had another meeting last week and still no commitment from VS. Debbie and Allana were nice enough to talk about Cheryl's bras at the meeting but still no commitment. We packaged up Debbie's bras and mailed them, she should have received them today. I cant tell you how good it felt to send out the first bras with the Cheryl's tag and logo on them. Once we get some feedback, we will be sure to pass it along!

On Thursday this week, I had the honor to speak at a Ladies Luncheon here in Central Florida. It was my first speaking engagement. I talked about why we started this company, how my husbands connections in China has made this possible, and all about my sister Cheryl, her life, her love and her family. There were woman who had breast cancer, and others knew women that have had breast cancer. One of the things that touched me the most was the look of hope and encouragement from these ladies. Some of them hugged me and told me how great it was that someone was finally doing something for them, to help get back some of the things that cancer had taken from them. These are all amazing beautiful women that have gone through so much and something as simple as a comfortable,beautiful bra has been denied to them for so long. I wish I had them now! Mike did bring back 3 dozen samples in three colors,but just not enough to do what we have planned! We are still on track for our August roll out!

We had planned to visit with the Jacksonville Florida Relay for Life while we were here but just could not fit it in our schedule. We did manage to call and exchange emails and have donated one custom fit bra and a personal phone call of love and encouragement from me to the highest bidder from the silent auction. We have asked for a photo of the winner and will be sure to add her to our Social Media Marketing as soon as the event takes place.

While I was writing my speech this week I remembered something my sister left as her outgoing voicemail on her phone. "Have a great day....I plan on it". Such a simple statement that expresses even more her outlook on life. She was an amazing woman and sister. So for now.....I hope all of you have a great day.....I plan on it!

Adrienne

Week 9.....Time to Place an order, China and Cheryl never stops showingme she is with me.....

It's been 9 weeks now we have been writing this blog. In the last two months our readership has grown to over 1000 people! That just amazes me and I love each and everyone of you, thank you so very much for keeping up with us and showing interest in our company.

Well Mike is back from China and down in Florida. He has two sons and his parents down there so he splits his time between Missouri and Florida. This Sunday starts my spring break, so I will be headed down also. Can't wait to see them all and have a week away from school! It's time this girl had some time off!

China went really well. Mike did a great job for us as always. Like he said in his entry, we are changing all the metal clips to stainless steel, have re-designed two of the styles to make them even more comfortable and on the larger sizes we are making the straps wider to eliminate the strap from cutting in to the shoulder area. All positive changes and won't affect our selling price at all.

Now we need your help! We are working up our first order. This will be an inventory order. We don't want to miss helping anyone. So if you could please, either email your size to info@cherylsbras.com or even easier just comment your size on this blog. It would be a huge help to us in the beginning.

One of the drawbacks of having to split time in two places is, that Mike and I sometime spend certain holidays apart. I'm not talking major holidays like Christmas and Thanksgiving. This past weekend was St. Patrick's day. Not a huge holiday but a fun one when your an adult. I have great friends and they never let me stay home and just miss my husband. They took me out to a small town near our home for a few drinks and a night of fun. While out walking the local shops we ran into a woman one of my friends knew. Started talking to her and it turns out she is also a Breast Cancer survivor! We chatted, exchanged our stories and hugs of support. I gave her one of my cards with our website on it and she promised to keep in touch. In her store I saw the below pictured plate! Every time I tell Mike that I love him he always answers with "Love you More", he explained that he doesn't mean more than I love him, he means more then any man before him. You know I believe him. He's an amazing husband, puts up with me when at times nobody else does. Later that same evening we were having dinner, we started talking about Mike and China. A gentlemen at a close table overheard us. He was also in the garment industry, had traveled to China and was interested in Mike's work. We talked for a few minutes exchanged cards and he may be able to help us along our Journey! It's these types of meetings and events that assure me Cheryl is always with me and directing on this path I have chosen. I miss her so very much and I'm so proud to be carrying on in her Name and love.

Please help us by sending us your bra sizes! That it for this week!

Remember what Cheryl always says....make the most of your dash....

I love you all,

Adrienne

Week 8 Part 2.....note from the Husband and no I haven't eaten dog....

That's the question I get the most when someone finds out I come to China so much..."Have you ever eaten dog?". Answer is no.....I have been places where it is severed and until this trip it's not talked about very much. Always been told its only done by the older Chinese people. Seems its making a comeback. I was told by two different people in their 30's that I have to try it, it's "very delicious". So next trip I promised to give it a try! Have to stay tuned to see if it happens I Guess...

Any way back to Cheryl's business. The factory was great just what I was hoping to find. Family owned and operated. Factory full of Aunts, Uncles and Cousins. Everybody was happy and just working away. Which means good product and consistent labor force for us. Both very important!

Like I said in part 1, other then how to get my wife's bra off fast I don't have much experience in Bras. A woman by the name of Candy has worked for us for years and she agreed to help me with the meeting and be my translator. She was a huge help! With the help of Mr. Knee (pictured below with no glasses) and the Factory designer that had no English name (also below but with glasses) we have made a few structural changes to two styles that will make them even more comfortable! Switched all the hardware from plated steel to stainless steel stopping any chance of rust and increasing the durability of the latching system. I had to do this without the Bosses approval but I figured I was now In Charge of Asian Production so....the change is made! Lol

The trip for Cheryl's was a huge success, with a little bit of luck we will be ready for the August Survivor Show! Have to wait now for another set of revised samples. Send over the art work for the packaging and then wait for those proofs.....work up our first order by Size! Ugh if anybody knows how many A,B,C and D's we will need please feel free to comment!

Speaking of Comments....Adrienne loves interacting with all of you.....I guarantee she would reply back to almost all comments!

It's getting early and as usual I haven't slept but I wanted to get this out while it was fresh in my wind. That wraps up the China news. I have a few more days on this trip but that's all hardware stuff...

Thanks for reading and putting up with my guest host blogging....until next trip.....Later....Mike

Week 8 Note from the husband and yeah I'm in China Part 1

First sorry this is late posting....I loose all track of what day it is when I am over here. Been in China since Tuesday.

It's not often that a husband gets to make his wife's dream a reality. She has wanted to do this Company in her sisters name and memory since I met her three years ago. I'm a hardware guy, been making hardware in China for almost 12 years. Once she had her designs completed I started looking and asking around for a good Bra factory. I got very lucky very fast and found a good factory. Adrienne has invested her own money on Logo designs, trade shows, company registration, supplies and a very small Marketing Plan. All this she got done while still holding her teaching job. No body works harder then my Adrienne. She is an amazing woman and I'm lucky to have her in my life.

Well after a 5 hr car ride today over bumpy highways, back roads and what could best be described as a dirt road with small sections of concrete we arrived in the city called "China's Underwear City". We have checked in to our Very Chinese Hotel and will visit the factory in the morning. I know all this sounds very glamorous. Let me tell you it's anything but.....I stay in local hotels, eat in local restaurants, eat where the factory people eat, long days of waiting....long car rides and impossible scheduling. It's not a job just anybody could do....

Dinner tonight was standard fair...weird seafood, unusual vegetables and soup. Tonight I did have a first! Seaweed and Beef testicle Soup! I was told that it was just beef but once I bit in to the "meatball". I knew it wasn't standard beef....it went right back into the greenish broth and I claimed to be "full"! My dad started bringing me over here roughly 12 years ago...wouldn't let me use a fork and told me you eat whatever they put on the table! For almost 6 years it was trial by fire....dropping food, making a mess till I finally got the hang of the chopsticks! And I can't even start to explain what all I have eaten! Had one bad reaction with hives and a rash all over my body and one bad bad case of stomach cramps! Till finally after six years he handed me a fork on one trip and said "Ok you've passed....eat only what you like". Now I get to turn things down like testicle soup!

Now the hotel....no English Tv out here. You normally only get that where tourist might be...and the beds? Box spring only! No mattress....so it a Taco Night I call it...you fold the comforter over like a taco and sleep on top of it and cover with two bath towels! Good thing is that I am so tired tonight I don't expect to have a problem with my 3-4 hrs I normally get a night when I am in China.

Well I've rambled on long enough...will. Update again tomorrow when I get to the hotel and share lots of pics from the days meeting.

Now Adrienne always sends off with "love you all" and I promises she means that but from me
let's just say....Until tomorrow......Mike

Week 7...Stress,Tattoos and China

Week 7

Things have been a bit tough this week, nothing with the company or my work.  More personal…..stress and issues with my family.  I don’t want to burden all of you with my problems, this is supposed to be about our journey to start and grow this Cheryl’s Bras.  But then again it’s our personal and emotional baggage that makes us who and what we are.

 

I have mentioned before that I am a Teacher in a school system in Missouri.  I work with children with behavioral issues.  Our family is packing up this summer and moving south to Florida.  My husband has children and parents back in Florida and ever since we have been together, he has traveled back and forth between Florida and Missouri.  It’s hard being apart so much.   After this first year of our marriage we are going to Florida so that our family can all be together.  It’s going to be hard to pick up and start over again, but I know he loves me and will do what he can to make sure we are all happy.

I finally got my third tattoo completed this past weekend.  I got my son’s name that passed away on my side with two angel wings and a halo.  I got the work done at B2B tattoo in Wright City.

 

Next week Mike leaves for China.  He’s going to be visiting our factory and making sure all the final details are worked out and finally get production started.  We are hoping for an August Roll out like I mentioned before at the Survivors Conference in Nashville.  He is going to be guest Tweeting and Blogging for me while he is gone.  So be ready for pics from China!  Should be fun, he is very entertaining!

 

That’s it this week…..tears all dried…..emotions back in check…..and please make the most of your Dash!

I love all of you……Adrienne