If you would have told me three years ago that in one year I’d be entering into talks with someone about launching a company and that three years we would be celebrating our one year birthday of that company I would have laughed at you! Belly laughed. But that is exactly what happened. I went all in, body mind and soul with someone I had never met in the flesh and launched a company. It was one of the best leaps I’ve ever taken.
Today is Good Loops birthday. I have no idea where this year went. It feels like yesterday Jennifer, in South Africa clicked the button to make the website go live. I’d love to say that I was standing on the other side of the pond in the USA staring at the computer holding my breath but I wasn’t. I was sleeping. You see, at that point what was new for everyone else was something Jennifer and I had been working towards for a year. She knew me and knew that if it was 3am for me it wouldn’t matter, I’d be awake staring at the computer, holding my breath and waiting… no praying for just one order to come through. So she didn’t tell me exactly when she was going to push the button. Instead I woke up to a slew of orders! And then the panic set in. Good Lord what had I done!?
The first box of yarn for Good Loops that arrived in the USA!
Full steam ahead for Jennifer and I. We hit the ground running, as they say. And it hasn’t stopped for us all year. We attended two trade shows, The Crochet Guild of America Conference in Manchester New Hampshire and Vogue Knitting Live in NYC. Who does that? Who launches a company and then takes to the road so soon as virtually an unknown brand? These girls. Fearless, almost.
Myself, Mariel and Jennifer at the CGOA Conference in Manchester.
We have had so much help along the way. So many designers have taken a chance with us and have worked with us to create so many beautiful things. We cannot thank them enough, truly. Betty McKnit, Emma from Pippin Poppycock, Once Upon A Cheerio, Bonnie Barker of Bonnie Bay Crochet, Juanita Muir, Maxine Sutherland, Carle Dehning and Jessie Rayot all designed or reimagined their designs for Good Loops in our first year. It was also the launch of my first design too! That was a crazy adventure.
My cousin Ame and myself having lunch in Manchester.
Jennifer and I have also had tons of support from our family. My cousin Ame traveled to Manchester to help us work and Jennifer’s aunt traveled there as well to assist. For NYC Jennifer’s mother flew all the way from South Africa to help us and Bonnie Barker trained north from Maryland. My Aunt Jean Ann has been a constant supporter of us and always the overly enthusiastic fountain of encouragement.
Jennifer, Yvette, Myself, Bonnie, and Mami Jane (Jennifer’s mother) at Vogue Knitting Live in NYC.
It is amazing to me, still even after experiencing it how we are just… family. Jennifer and I had never met in the flesh until Manchester. We’d been working together for a year and a half at that point. Jennifer plunked right in with Ame and myself. There was never a moment of awkwardness. We were sisters it seemed, always had been. In NYC when I finally was able to meet Jennifer’s mother again, it was just as if it had always been. Jennifer, Bonnie and myself were squished into a hotel room… just three sisters in love and there was Mami… being the mother hen… running after us, checking on us, making sure we were all okay. Shoving food and drink at us. Family doesn’t always mean blood. I gained two sisters and a mom this year. That is what it feels like.
Myself, Chandi (of Expression Fiber Arts) and Jennifer at Vogue Knitting Live in NYC.
I’m rambling, there is so much to say and yet my brain cannot properly put together everything that I want to say. I am so grateful. So very grateful. One year. I still cannot wrap my head around it. A whole year. I am so thankful for everyone who has helped us along the way. Our family, our friends, the designers, all of you who purchased yarn from us, my Patrons who constantly hold me up but most of all Jennifer for taking a chance on someone she’d never met and placing so much trust in that person. It was a massive dream, one that seemed way over our heads at the start. God knew what he was doing.
Jennifer and myself in NYC.
This next year isn’t going to slow down for us. We will be in Dallas for the DFW Fiber Festival and then in July we will be in New Orleans for the Crochet Guild of America Conference. I do hope we get to meet more of you all at those events. I admit, getting to meet you guys face to face is a highlight of this job! But for our birthday, we’re giving you all a little gift. If you visit the Good Loops website you’ll see that this weekend everything in the store is 10% off! We wanted to do something special for you all as a thank you. After all, if it weren’t for all of you we wouldn’t be here right now! So, Happy Birthday Good Loops! You’re one today! Well done you.
xoxox
-Stephanie