Lovesac Official Company Blog

Opening Stores in a Recession!?

It’s a great time to grow (believe it or not).  While the recession has hit us along with everyone else, LoveSac has still been doing okay, mostly due to the incredible reception of Sactionals which are becoming increasingly popular for media rooms everywhere.   With screaming deals on great locations in malls across the country, we are doing our best to gobble a few of them up.  (RIGHT: THE NEW LENOX LOVESAC AWAITS A STOREFRONT SIGN - ICING ON THE CAKE)  We’ll open 7 stores over the next 2 months: Atlanta, Buford, Minneapolis, New Jersey, LA, Delaware, Baltimore.  In fact, the first two are now already open!   I go to every store opening and work with the team to personally set up the store.  I love being out on the front lines, meeting the team and also the customers.  I even got to make the first sale at Lenox, one of the best malls in the U.S.  That store is gonna rock.  (LEFT: THE ENTIRE GEORGIA STAFF, FOR BOTH STORES, LED BY THE FEARLESS KATIE WHO IS RELOCATING FROM WISCONSIN TO TAKE ON HOTLANTA) 

As I always say, the coolest thing about LoveSac is the people.   Not only our amazing Sac’rs: Alex, Brian, Katie, Torin, and Jesann who worked for days (and nights) just to git ‘er done, but also the Sac fans like Mr. Zach Neuman who travelled all the way down from North Carolina just to say HI and be a part of the newest LoveSac embodiment!  Little did he know he’d find himself on the wall of the store – three times!  Check out this little vid….    

CHECK OUT THESE PICS OF THE LENOX STORE:

On Saturday we opened up at the Mall of Georgia, in Buford, just outside of Atlanta, and two days before that at Lenox – which is THE mall in the Atlanta market.   Store openings are one of the most exciting things that we get to do, but also one of the hardest things that we do.  Even opening up a tiny store, like the one at Lenox (which will be the smallest store in our chain) is just brutal!   Weeks of planning, ordering and coordination happens at LoveSac HQ long before my crew goes out to do the actual work.  Then, it inevitably takes at least 4 straight days (all of them 20+ hours of work each day) to set it up and make it look “LoveSac.”   In the middle of it, another Sac fan, Daniel Devore stumbled in to find me hanging shelves on the wall.  He’s been a Sac owner for years and just came by to see about joining the team.  Check him out….

HERE ARE A COUPLE OF EARLY PICS OUT OF THE MALL OF GEORGIA LOVESAC STORE: 

Having opened stores since 2001, I have to say, this is the best team we’ve ever had at LoveSac and these openings have gone more smoothly (and more inexpensively) than ever.  I really think we are building a smart business these days and it is really due to our great people, from Alex and Doreen at HQ, to my merchandisers in training, Torin, Jesann, and Brian.  

While out at a local favorite, Manuel's Tavern, for dinner we ran into a local Atlanta celebrity!  Chip Caray, the voice of the Atlanta Braves, is a 3rd generation announcer.  Alex, being the BIGGEST Braves fan that is not a resident of Atlanta, was pretty stokedd.  Chip was a good guy. He needs a LoveSac though.

Keep an eye on my schedule at LoveSac.com.  Come out and say HI because when you find me out on the road (as I personally hang all of that art on the walls at each location) and say, “Shawny D., show me the money,” I hook you up with a $25 LoveSac gift card.  This week (end of July) I'll be in Minneapolis (Minnetonka) for the Ridgedale opening Wed-Sat. Next week I'll be in Jersey for the Bridgewater Commons opening, August 4 - 7, with more to follow. Hope to see you at a new LoveSac store, near you.

 

-- Shawny D. 

SICK New LoveSac Offices

Okay, so it’s not new.  It’s actually the same old office, but we actually finally moved in!  Two plus years in the same place and I feel like we never really unpacked…until now. 

WELCOME TO THE NEW LOVESAC H.Q. OFFICES

I’m not sure if any of you have ever felt this way at home or at work, but its like we were all in such a hurry to get to work that we just threw some furniture down, plugged stuff in, and started typing.  Wires strewn everywhere.  Boxes on the floor piling up with “stuff.”  Last week I noticed that our full-size office copier/printer/fax was actually straddling the space between a desk and some weird table – just “functional.”  Bare walls, or worse, crap taped to the walls everywhere, crooked, out of order—just functional—barely. 

(ONE OF MY ONLY SHOTS OF THE OFFICE “BEFORE” CROWDED BY PEOPLE WEARING FUNNY HATS AT OUR BABY SHOWER FOR LUCKY)

 

Well, those days are finally over.  And it is not like last week was convenient or anything.  In fact, it was probably the most inconvenient time that it could have possibly been.  We are about to open 7 new stores in 60 days!  We are in final sampling to launch about 20 new products this fall!  And we are in talks with numerous new investors interested in helping us grow our business.  CRAZY, CRAZY times.

 

WE DID HIRE PAINTERS OFF OF CRAIGSLIST.  WORKED ALL WEEKEND.  THIS DUDE PASSED OUT AND SLEPT UNTIL NOON ON MONDAY JUST LIKE THAT – FULLY WORKING OFFICE, WITH PEOPLE ALL AROUND HIM.  SEE THE CHAOS WE WERE LIVING IN!?  NASTY CARPET, EH!?

 

 

 

But somehow, between many late, late nights and early, early mornings…making for long, long days, we transformed the office from what it was, to the Sac H.Q. that it always should have been.  And all this on a shoestring budget!  We built our own desks, made our own furniture (of course), and did most of the work ourselves.  Check it out!  Please COMMENT and let me know what you think.  Like it or hate it, I LOVE to hear from you.

THE ENTRY, LOOKING OUT: CURRENT SEASONAL (TATTOO, FOR NOW) COVERS ON DISPLAY. (SAME PLACE YOU SAW THAT PAINTER PASSED OUT, BEFORE)

 

THE ENTRY, LOOKING IN: THAT IS OUR BOARD OF HISTORY.  LAYERS OF 8 YEARS’ STUFF STAPLED, TAPED, TACKED UP THERE, FRAMED IN BLACK.  TABLE ON THE LEFT WHERE WE WILL CONTROL ALL THE MUSIC TO ALL THE STORES LIVE, FROM H.Q.

 

ENTRY, LOOKING IN: CHECK OUT THESE SICK CUSTOM ORDER MIXED SACTIONALS COVER-SETS.  PLEATHER “FORD” COMBINED WITH STUFF SO NEW ITS NOT EVEN ON THE SWATCH YET!

“WEB CORNER”:  HERE SITS MIKE AND SAMBIR, THE WEB CREW, ON ONE OF OUR (MANY) CUSTOM BUILT DESKS.  THESE ARE  ¾” THICK 8’ LONG PLY-WOOD “SLABS” MIXED, A 4X4 CUT TO SIZE ATTACHED WITH A LAG BOLT, AND SOME STUFF FROM IKEA.  WE BUILT THEM OURSELVES.  FUNCTIONAL WITH LOTS STORAGE & SURFACE AREA. 

 

ACCOUNTING CENTRAL:  MORE SLABS.  DAVE & SPENCER (PRODUCT DESIGNERS) REALLY OUT-DID THEMSELVES WITH THESE DESKS.  BUILT-IN PLUG STRIPS, HIDDEN CORDS, SHELVES, HANGING ACCESSORIES, CORK-BOARDS…ALL CUSTOM.

 

NANCY AND MY OFFICE:  WE ARE BIG ON COOPERATION AT LOVESAC, AND EVEN BIGGER ON GATHERING.  OUR  OFFICE DOUBLES AS MEETING ROOM.  THE WINDOWS ARE OUR WHITE-BOARDS—ALWAYS CAKED WITH LISTS & PLANS.

 

CFO’S OFFICE BEFORE:  (HEE HEE)

 

 

 

CFO’S OFFICE: AFTER (NOW)

THE ROCKSTAR ROOM (CONFERENCE ROOM): BEFORE

 

THE ROCKSTAR ROOM: AFTER (NOW). NOTICE THE SO-NEW-THEY’RE-NOT-EVEN-ON-THE-CUSTOM-SWATCHES CHENILLE COVERS.  MURDERED-OUT LOVESAC NEON SIGN STUCK TO THE WALL.  MURDERED OUT CHANDELIER FOR LIGHT.  THE WALLS ARE 100% CHALK-BOARD PAINT & THE WALL BEHIND THE SHOT IS BLANK – JUST WAITING FOR SOME INTENSE BRAINSTORMING….UP THE WALLS.  STACKS OF VINTAGE GUITAR AMPS FOR FRONT TABLE – TO HOLD THE CHALK & ERASERS (NOT SHOWN).

 

BIT OF LOVESAC TRIVIA: THE GUITAR HANGING ON THE RIGHT IS A LEGEND.  THE AMERICAN BUILT FENDER STRATOCASTER, SUNBURST.  IT IS THIS GUITAR’S SUNBURST DESIGN THAT INSPIRED THE COLORS FOR THE ORIGINAL LOVESAC LOG0. 

 

THE NEW LOVESAC H.Q.  IT’S GOT SOUL AGAIN.  IT’S GOOD TO BE HOME.

 

-- Shawny D.

 

 

Pigs Fly? Yes, Swine Flu (from the Bus Blog)

LoveSac  took its store-within-a-store concept south of the border as part of a deal with Sears Mexico and from the moment we arrived we knew Mexico was ready for the Sac.  Our mission: open 30 locations across Mexico in two weeks.  Mission accomplished? Nope – not even close.  But it was a big moment in the life of LoveSac and when the dust settled we had lots to be proud of.   Check it out…

On Tuesday April 14^th Andy, Damian, Adam and Alex landed in Mexico City to begin the roll-out - we had a sweet view of the city and mountains (clearly visible on left) from our hotel.  We would start work at the warehouse on Wednesday so we were free to enjoy a dinner outside, review the plan and – understanding that we’re LoveSac – head out on the town with our friends Francisco, Alejandro and Bert Jan.  We burned it down at Club Solid until the wee smalls then headed home for a few hours of sleep.  On the trip home Andy decided that he wanted to capture every moment of the journey.  Have a look at his photos of Mexico City, at night, shot from a Jetta traveling at 100 km/h (about 60 mph).  It’s almost as if you’re there!

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Mexico City has 20 Million people – it is massive.  It is not possible to get anywhere in a short amount of time.  Riding through the streets of Mexico City is an experience – the crazier your driver the safer you feel.  Only the strong survive so everyone drives aggressively and the result is we only saw one accident in two weeks.   Viva Mexico!

Step one for the roll-out was to stage the product that would be used in the 30 store displays.  We needed to cover 500 bases, 700 sides, fluff 120 Sacs and assemble 30 rocker frames, divide up the inventory for each store and then ship everything out.  That’s maybe two hours worth of work – or perhaps a little more.  Arriving at the first Sears warehouse we walked past shotgun-wielding security guards, were frisked and then handed giant signs to wear around our necks which indicated we were visitors.  To be fair, this is the process for everyone.  Security at the warehouses is no joke which prompted Adam to point out warehouses in the US have no security and we should make a plan to rob them.  It’s a fair point but we're not investing in ski masks just yet.  Adam also believes everyone should have a passport handy just in case you need to flee the country.  The bottom-line is that if you have criminal thoughts please contact Adam and he can help you craft a plan and an escape.  At the end of Day 1 we had all the bases covered and 30 Rockers frames built - not too shabby. 

On Day 2 we moved to Sears’ second warehouse where most of our product lived and the Sac fluffing frenzy took place.  When we were finished we had a sea of Sacs.  Andy handed out responsibilities to the warehouse team, Damian and Adam worked with a team organizing the product and Alex was pounding on his Blackberry because that’s all Alex does.  Sometimes he yells in to his Blackberry to mix things up. 

Friday morning Alex decided he wanted to pound on his Blackberry while wearing a uniform so he flew home to spend the weekend at Army, promising to return to with two new bodies.

 

The Sears Mexico warehouse team (pictured at left) were up to the challenges Andy handed out.  In fact, Andy went about running this mission with reckless abandon, giving no thought to his own physical well-being.  Inevitably, it wasn't long before he suffered a life-threatening injury which imperiled the entire roll-out.  The posted image of Andy's injury isn't for the weak, it shows in bloody-detail the dangers of failing to adhere to basic safety principles such as not cutting toward yourself with a box cutter.  It was a needless tragedy and it is LoveSac's hope that further accidents can be avoided.  Luckily a crack medical team was on hand to administer first-aid and Andy survived his brush with death.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Staging the product for 30 stores is a labor-intensive process but over the first three days we made significant progress:

  

 

But the pallets started to take shape:

 

 

 

 

 

 

It took more than two hours (closer to four days) but we had the display product ready to go – except for the covers and art that was tied up in customs.  No problemo, full speed ahead.  We modified the plan to set up the displays with available product and then return to put covers on and hang art.  How simple is that?

And now for an Intermission...

 

 

Chinese Automotive Superiority Ch.1

Words cannot describe the thousands of picture-worthy moments which so make me love my visits to China.  With no time to travel or play on these work trips, I still find myself constantly entertained just looking out the window.  I share with you the first collection from my own amateur photography of one of my favorite subjects. I fear it have vanished into the future within just months or years from now the way China is steaming onward. Enjoy....

 PICKUP TRUCK

WIDE LOAD

 

 

BOX TRUCK

 

DEALERSHIP

 

AIRPORT SHUTTLE

 

 

HANDICAPPED VAN

 

STREET RACERS

 

GAS TANKER

 

LOGGING TRUCK

 

REFRIGERATED TRAILER

 

TOW TRUCK

 

COP CAR

 

FIRE TRUCK

 

MOVING TRUCK

 

ARMORED CAR

 

 

GARBAGE TRUCK

 

CEMENT TRUCK

 

CATERING TRUCK

 

TOUR BUS 

 

CHICK MAGNET

 

 

MINI MINY VAN

 

MOTOR DRAWN CARRAIGE

 

MOBILE HOME

 

 

CAR POOL

 

S.U.V.

 

3RD ROW SEATING

 

CHINESE TIE DOWN

 

SELF LEVELING SUSPENSION

 

NOT GOOD

ONE TON TRIKE

 

SOCCER MOM

 

STATION WAGON

 

STRETCH LIMO

 

FLAT BED

 

TRICYCLE

 

TRIPLE -A    (AAA)

 

Catch ya on the flip side.

--Shawny D.

Jackie Chan Round 2

So I had dinner again tonight with my everybody's favorite Asian, (and hopefully biz partner) Jackie Chan in Beijing tonight.  Hopefully he can help me make the right connections to roll out LoveSac in China and help us take care of a 1/4 of the world in one fell swoop on our way to total global furniture domination.

I swung by his new place in Beijing after.  It is an amazingly cool mansion apartment with a view.  It is still under final construction, awaiting the interior designer but he has Sacs throughout.  Last fall Jackie was filming his new movie, "The Spy Next Door," in Albuquerque New Mexico.   They filmed part of it in a mall and they wanted a LoveSac storefront on the set.  Jackie ended up napping in a BigOne, and just had to have one, so his entourage followed him into our Cottonwood Mall store in Albuquerque where a LoveSac rising star, Mr. Any Morales hooked him up with Sacs for his pad here in Beijing. [ABOVE: Andy, his family & the NM LoveSac crew with Jackie on Sactionals.]  Jackie is going to have a sick Sactionals pit set up in his entertainment room, and Sacs in 3 or 4 rooms throughout the place!  It will definately be the pimpest place in the Eastern Hemisphere, no doubt.

Who knows where the partnership will take us.  We are certainly dealing with the heaviest of hitters her in China.  We've got big plans but I'll keep em under wraps for now.  I feel very lucky for this opportunity.  Yes, mom, I got you a personalized Jackie autograph.

Y'ALL DON'T FORGET TO SHARE A COMMENT ON MY "SEXIST" BLOG BELOW!!! - win something!

-- Shawny D.

[ABOVE: Just a taste of the grandeur to come.  Jackie got a personal fluffing lesson from the ChiefSac himself....that kinda came out wrong, yeah!?]

Virgins Shouldn't Sell Out

Last night I had the opportunity to attend the grand closing party of the Virgin Megastore in Times Square, NYC.  This marks the end of an era--both for the music business, and in my mind, for Virgin as well.  Virgin's SOUL is music, just as LoveSac's soul is the Sac.  Although we will likely sell 10 times the Sactionals than we have sold or will sell Sacs, we will never abandon the Sac.  It is our namesake--it is our soul.  [RIGHT: Scott McDonough (my former biz partner), Tiffany, Me, Alex & Sarah Rhodeen attended the Virgin finale on March 26th in Manhattan.]

I am sure that much thought and consideration went into the decision to sell the Megastore business.  Knowing what I know of the organization (excluding Richard) I am sure it is just a financial consideration, no doubt.  In fact, this segment from an article in the NY Times summarizes it nicely:

It has remained “very, very profitable” by shifting its merchandise toward apparel and electronics, including iPods, he said, adding that those two categories accounted for about 25 percent of sales during the holiday shopping season. (Simon Wright, Virgin MegaStore's CEO)

But the chain’s owners, two big New York-based real estate development companies, saw greater potential in leasing the prime space to Forever 21.

The Virgin chain, once part of Sir Richard Branson’s business empire, has been owned since 2007 by the Related Companies and Vornado Realty Trust. It comprised 11 stores when it was acquired, but now will be down to just five, two of them in California. Virgin closed other stores late last year. (visit: http://www.nytimes.com/2009/01/15/nyregion/15virgin.html to read the entire article)

It is obviously the new Real Estate Group's perogotive to do whatever they like with the business they bought.  My argument is that Virgin should have never sold the Megastore (especially not the Times Square one) in the first place.  The real estate behind them clearly had value, which could have been realized sub-leasing under-par locations to any other concept, but as the article above states, the store itself was very profitable.  Virgin should have taken less money (the ongoing profits from the store), kept its soul and continued to focus on its other businesses.

I'm sad to see Virgin Mega NYC close its doors - just watch any movie that shows Times Square...Virgin Mega WAS Times Square.  But what do I know about building a mega-brand...I'm just the Rebel Millionaire.  Last I checked, the Rebel Billionaire is doing just fine. 

-- Shawny D.

[ABOVE: Me, Simon Wright & Lori Levin.  All ex-Virgins.  Simon, CEO of Virgin Mega was a board member at LoveSac for 3 years.  Thanks for everything Simon!]

How LOVESAC Goes Green...

Ryan Johnson is my business partner, and LoveSac's CFO.    Being that Ryan handles all the money for LoveSac, he is generally has pretty serious business to attend to.  The Easter Bunny pictured to the right is not Ryan.  It is, in fact, Ryan's hi-jacker.  He's sitting in Ryan's office.  Nice place, right!? We'll call this pic the "Before" pic.  Ryan wasn't at work today.  You see, it's St. Patrick's Day and Ryan claims to be Irish or something, which apparently gives him the right to take the day off and go be "Irish." (as if we all don't know what that means).  So in the great tradition begun by the ongoing Lauren vs. Mike Office Prank Battle (see previous posts), and in trying to keep pace with the marketing agenda of every other company in America, we decided to help you go green!!!   Check out this video... 

A big thanks to Lauren, Liz, Davey, Spencer, Ben, Mary Tashia, Tiffany, and the rest of the crew who pitched in to do this right.  Like I always say: If you're gonna do something, might as well go all the way. A HUGE thanks to Susan, who also sits in the corner & has to live with it too.

Yes, those are custom painted Sactionals in the corner.

Yes, that is new wall-to-wall astro-turf fake lawn.

Yes, his computer still works.

Yes, the paint was (mostly) dry.

Yes, there is an editor of a magazine visiting the office tomorrow to do an interview....should be good.

 

Yes, the girls took the edge off with a mini-keg of Heineken (NOT to be consumed in the office, of course). 

Yes, I think Ryan might actually be part Irish.

Yes, some work actually did get done this day besides just this prank. (Thanks finance team).

Yes, in person it is even better. It is not just green--it OOZES green out the door, thru the windows.  Ugh.

No, Dave did not split his pants this time, participating in this event.

This is the door that Ryan found, early the next morning, when he arrived at the office, as usual, before anybody else.  As he walked across the room, toward his office, he probably chuckled, thinking, "Ha, ha, they put some St. Pattie's Day decorations in my office"...

So please comment and tell Ryan what you think!

So THANK YOU, Ryan, for giving LoveSac H.Q. an excuse to finally, GO TOTALLY GREEN!   I feel more American (and Irish) than ever.

Happy St. Patrick's Day. NEVER stop rockin' the Sac.

--Shawny D.

  

This guy "GETS" LoveSac Value

(sent to me recently by a customer)

Dear Shawn,

 

I just bought a LoveSac - a SuperSac - IT IS FANTASTIC. I wanted to write you an email, as everyone is amazed that we bought one. I am known for being frugal; very frugal. I was hypermiling years ago (when gas was under $2 a gallon), I maintain a body mass index of 18.5 to save money on groceries, and wear multiple layers of clothes when flying to avoid the new luggage surcharge. I personally do not see myself as cheap, what I look for is value for money - paying twice as much for groceries and getting diabetes does not fly with me, but spending $700 on something so comfortable, that I can share with my fiancé and really unwind is worth every cent.

 

It will not be too long before we return to Jeremy (in Natick - he is by far the nicest employee in the whole mall) to purchase a sectional. My biggest fear about investing in furniture is as young adults we are likely to move around before buying our own abode. What fits in this apartment might not in our next - one look on craigslist demonstrates that many people waste thousands of dollars because of this. This is not a risk with your sectional, I know I can spend good money today and not worry about having to throw it out in a year when we move.

Do keep up the good work, and as you roll out with new products Jeremy will see me back at your store (unless he has been promoted by then).

 

Cheers,

ABOVE: Jeremy, Natick Manager 

Iain

 

THIS JUST IN (MARCH 17, FROM IAIN VIA EMAIL):

- just to update you we did go back to Jeremy and buy the sactional. The more I thought about it, the more I realized that it is the only way to go with furniture. I think we have had it for 2 weeks now, and it is FANTASTIC. Can't wait to get a big place, and buy more pieces!!!

Keep up the good work - really do love your products.

Iain

 

THEN, today my biz partner, Nancy, sent around a great article about how real "Value" is the new "big thing" in business today, and our Retail Director, Alex, asked the crew (via email) how LoveSac offers "value."  A good response, by Dan, in Salt Lake City...

 

Our product has a lot of the same value as hybrid cars in the sense that in some cases it is more expensive than some of our customers would have gone with but much cheaper in the long run. Our lifetime guarantee ensures this you will never have to buy another sofa ever if you so choose. Some of The most common reasons people replace furniture are because they are moving, our furniture is extremely easy to move with, the furniture gets old and worn out looking, our cover can easily be replaced, and probably more common than anything people get bored with the same old couch everyday, if you get new covers and switch the setup it would seem as though you spend thousands and bought an all new living room set for a fraction of that cost. my favorite question that people ask me is how are we doing in this current state? I always answer we are doing great let me show you exactly why and I'll lead into a sactional demo. the story about coffee with McDonalds and Starbucks made me laugh because you should never just forget the experience to get value. Lovesac is like Starbucks coffee served at McDonalds prices with an experience that tops either of them and rivals that of your favorite local coffee house one more like you see in the TV show "Friends" and we offer free refills.  [Dan, shown extreme left, above.]

Dan Bostelman

Gateway Manager

 

 

WHAT CAN I SAY?  I AGREE. SMART CUSTOMER.  SMART MANAGERS.

 

--Shawny D.

Jackie Chan Loves the LoveSac

So I'm in Hong Kong today meeting with Jackie Chan at the tail end of a product development trip around China to visit our factories.  It turns out that Jackie Chan is a big fan of the Sac having fallen asleep in a LoveSac a few months while filiming his new movie The Spy Next Door, in Albuquerque, New Mexico.   [RIGHT: SHAWNY D. & JACKIE CHAN & DAVE UNDERWOOD AT J.C. OFFICES IN HONG KONG]

We actually built a "LoveSac Store" for the set of the movie, where a scene was shot in a shopping mall.  Jackie took a break in a LoveSac "BigOne," and the rest is history.  Jackie went into our Albuquerque store at the Cottonwood Mall and bought a bunch of Sactionals and Sacs for his place in Beijing.  Jackie's got a 13,000 square-foot apartment to fill, so Sactionals should be good for him.

Dave, my biz partner of 10 years and current Director of Product Development at LoveSac got to hang with Jackie for a while.  We talked about LoveSac, and business....maybe I'll share more another time.  I'd have to say, however, that the highlight of the meeting was Dave PUKING IN JACKIE CHAN'S BATHROOM -- TWICE!  I guess his pork chop noodles + Mrs. Fields Cookies for lunch in the mall at Mong Kok didn't do him right.  He was bent over so hard he busted out of his jeans.  No joke.

While Dave was blowin' chunks in the bathroom, me and Jackie were makin' plans.  I don't think Jackie knew, but his secretaries probably heard him.  Don't know what to say, really.  Davey--you usually handle your noodles so well!  You know, I've been coming to China since I was 5 years old.  1982, 1986, 1990, 1991, 1996, 1999...and 2 or 3 times a year ever since for LoveSac business.  I learned fluent Mandarin while on a mission for 2 years in Taiwan, and then worked in Shanghai for one year as a Management Training Consultant in the year 2000 while Dave ran a very fledgling LoveSac back home in Utah.  Sometimes I feel like I'm part Chinese, so I must say, it was pretty darn cool to meet Jackie who IS the biggest star in all of Asia (half the world), hands down.    [ABOVE: ME with the pink fan, ON A PERFORMING TOUR AROUND ASIA, 1986]. 

So the craziness that is LoveSac goes on.  What's next?  Well, tomorrow, Dave and I take a train from Hong Kong to the border town of Shen Zhen, China.  We're visiting more of our factories that make LoveSac stuff before we hop the long flight home to NYC.  Then it is on to Las Vegas in the LoveSac Bus for the Bar & Nightclub show, and also to finish merchandising the Las Vegas (Henderson Galleria) LoveSac Store.  Should be a good time.

DON'T FORGET TO SEND ME YOUR EFFING CUTE PICTURES OF PEOPLE OR PETS ON LOVESACS.  (See my previous blog post).  You can win some serious LoveSac shwag....FOR FREE!!!  Even the runners-up get stuff.  I've only received a few pics so far, so your chances are pretty darn good.  Send them to [email protected].  We'll post em and vote on em next week.

Rockin' the Sac from the far east....

-- Shawny D.

WINNERS 08 Merch Contests

I am pleased to announce the big winners from 2008's Merchandising Contests at LoveSac!  

WHITE GLOVE CONTEST RESULTS...

1st place: SOUTH HILLS LOVESAC STORE, 990 points

2nd place: KING OF PRUSSIA LOVESAC STORE, 977 points

3rd place (4-way tie): TYLER GALLERIA (CA), STONEBRIAR (TX), GARDEN STATE PLAZA (NJ), and LAYTON (UT) with 975 points!!!

Store Manager, Torin Hoole, and the staff of LoveSac South Hills, winners of THE WHITE GLOVE CONTEST!  (Yes, that guy -- to the right).  With 990 points of a possible 1000, South Hills just nailed it when it comes to merchandising.  Hats off fo the entire staff.  They win the $$$.  Here is the breakdown...

It is simple.  I, Shawny D., will be visiting each and every LoveSac store in the country beginning on November 4 thru December 22.  The first thing I will do upon arrival is to give your store 1000 FREE POINTS.  I will subtract from there.  Every color, Cover, POP, poster, crooked poster, dusty shelf, scuffed wall, out of place product, poorly fluffed Sac, too-empty Sac, too-full Sac, wobbly Sactionals arm, worn-looking Cover, Corner-Cover-Horns showing Sactionals Piece, burnt out light, cluttered cash-wrap, poor layout choice, etc, etc, that I find in your store, I will deduct one point.  The store that scores the highest with the highest pointsYou will not be deducted for anything that is truly out of your control, as long as you are aware of the problem, and as long as you are making the effort  to get it fixed.  The store that scores the highest wins.  Here is what the winning store will win:

1. Store Manager wins $600 cash bonus
2. Assistant Manager wins $400 cash bonus
3. Every other staff member wins $100 cash bonus

 MERCH-BOOK-SMARTS CONTEST

 

1st place: JEREMY CORASH (LoveSac Natick, MA.  Shown right--he clearly learned from the best)

2nd place:  ANDRES MORALES (LoveSac Albuquerqu, NM)

*Only 2 entries!!!  Let this be a lesson to you all.  But I must say, both were extremely thorough.  I had to count twice. 

CONTEST RULES

This one requires an eye for detail, but anyone can win!  The contest is simple: Review the full-size color photos of Mayfair, “the perfect LoveSac Store.”  (see the photos of this store in the following link): http://lovesac.typepad.com/shawndnelson/2008/10/new-lovesac-look-new-lovesac-direction.html I have made a list of 10 (there may be more) very specific things that are “wrong” with the layout or details portrayed in these photos as per the instructions within “The Showroom” section of this Merchandising Bible.  The Sac’r (Mananger or not) who can discover and point out these 10 or more “problems” with the “perfect” merchandising shown, as well as explain what the correct answer or detail is (based on the information in the Merch Bible) will receive a $350 cash bonus plus a set of matched LoveSac monogrammed custom luggage, by O’Gio (a value of over $500).

Check out the big brain on Jeremy, and all the flaws he found in my handiwork...

1. The placement of the U-drink in the Home Theatre is incorrect. It should be placed on the back of the sectional instead of on the side.

2. There should be soda sacs on the City Sacs in the Home Theatre.

3. The swatch is on the wrong side of the U-Cube in the Home Theatre. N/A

4. This one's a little picky, but the angle of the "pea pod" pillowsac is incorrect in the loft. It should be angled into the loft instead of facing straight out.

5. There should be soda sacs on the big one in the loft.

6. The throw pillows are in backwards order in the Media Room - they are ordered right to left instead of left to right.

7. The lamp in the Media Room is facing the wrong direction (not sure if this matters) - it should be parrallel with the U-Cube.  N/A

8. Again, the direction of the lamp is wrong in the Living room by the deep sofa. ?  N/A

9. In the living room the swatch should be not be on the U-table, it should be on the ottoman.  N/A

10. The squat in the livingroom should be Eskimo instead of Espresso.

11. The ottoman in the livingroom should be centered on the far end (towards the back of the store) of the deep sofa, not centered on the middle of the deep sofa.

12. They are missing their stanchion ouside of the store!

13. The u-cube is missing from the custom order pod.

14. The custom order swatches are in the wrong order.

15. The swatches on the cashwrap are missing.

16. The Sactional Covers in the  Stock Furniture Standing Unit should be Eskimo, not Red Velvish.

Thanks to ALL of you for working so hard in 2008 to make your LoveSac stores look HOT!  It was by far the most successful Front Line tour I have ever had.  Dig into those Merch Bibles if you haven't.  Those of you who won, congratulations--your money and prizes are on the way.

--Shawny D.