On Saturday 6th February 2010 myself and Daddy Moo put away our wellies, dusted of our posh voices (we live i the heart of the Dorset countryside you see) and set of to the Big Smoke.  What were we doing i hear you cry! Why we were off to The Open Call at Liberty.

We arrived at 10:30am and the que ... well it was already quite long! Ekkkkk!!! We spent much of the time trying to stay warm and chatting to two lovely ladies. A South African from Scotland who made handbags and an american who loved in London who designed stationary.  An eclectic mix I'd say!  Our many forms of entertainment included making up random stories to strangers about why we were all queing around Liberty.  My favourite being that we were there for the 75% off February Sale!

 

So why were we there? I had a collection of handmade fabric party bags and a few pre-fills, and a portfolio of pictures, news clippings and awards. I must admit I was rather pleased with it! My aim ... to show these to the gift section at Liberty and fingers crossed get some feedback and if I was REALLY lucky even have them being sold in Liberty.

There was also a film crew there from Maverick making a documentary for the BBC and also Theo Paphitis.  Now this was the highlight of my day .. I wore a bright red coat ... to ensure that I was caught visably on camera.  Now to demonstate the length of the que it was decided that Theo would walk from one end to the other .. but for some reason he had to walk pat me two or three times.  On the third time he smiled and said "aren't you glad its not colder" ...... and I replied by standing their with the hugest grin plastered over my face ... I couldn't speak but the little voice in my head was saying "SAY SOMETHING YOU IDIOT" by which time he had gone. Argh ... possibly my big chance... or possibly my first encounter with a great but not the last!!!!  A little part of me ished I'd had more balls and just shoved a Charlie Moo's business card in his hand!! I'd love to have seen his face as he'd glanced down and saw my cheeky cow smiling back at him!!

 

 

At 2pm - a total of 3.5 hours after we started queing ... we made it to the back door ... whoop whoop we cried!! We were handed a clipborad and a form to fill in about being filmed. so exciting till I noticed we were at the bottom of a very very very long staircase .. EEKKKK.  Luckily this stage didnt take very long and by 2:45pm we had had our photos taken registered, had a complimentary glass of orange juice and had lined up in the gifts que!! At this point Daddy Moo decide to tell me he wouldn't be coming with me he would stand and earwig but the pitch was up to me.  I have to admit at this point I felt so sick ....

 

When she called my name I really was about to faint ... but I guess the best person who can pitch about my bags is me! So I st down gave them the samples talked through my portfolio told them about how Charlie Moo's started, how I funded it, about the Awards I had won and what I saw for the future.  They both sat listening intently and asked a few questions and I inturn asked them a few.  The loved the product they loved my portfolio they thought I showed great entreprenurial flair, but that my bags were aimed at too young an audience.  They gave me few leads and suggestions of who to pitch too next. 

 

Although they said no .. I had an amazing day, amazing feedback, and got to spend all day with Daddy Moo and no mini moo's! What a rarity!  So day after how am I feeling?? Filled with such positive and exciting ideas for the future! Yay go me!!