Hi folks,

Late summer is still here. No sign of leaf color change yet. As the temperature is dipping down to 50 degrees at night the chill air brings ripe delicious apples that crunch when you bite into them. The pumpkins are ready for picking and the buds on the mums are about to bloom. The birds seem less active now and many of them have left the Northeast and headed south for the warmer weather.

What charms are hot this past week? Customers are buying Halloween charms like the Pumpkin (C317S), Spider (C308S), Linked Spider (C800S), Skull (C314S) Apple, (330S) and the Maple leaf (C108S). Also showing strong continued sales this week in sports are Football and Cheer Leading charms like: the Football Player (C241S), The Flat football (C247S) The Small Football (C266S), The Helmet (C325S), The Cheerleader (C080S), The Megaphone (C274), and the Cheer Leading Pendant (C240S).

Watch faces are picking up sales. Many of the sale items like H157T in two tone and H04B in Brass. The new connecting watch component M90 in silver, gold, and brass is very cool. If put onto any 12 mm watch face it instantly converts the watch into a bracelet watch. This is a great little trick. The two sold out watch face styles: H04S and H58S will be back in stock very soon. Some items just pick up sales unexpectedly like these two stock items did.

Customers are busy! Parents and children are adjusting to the new school schedules and sports commitments. Professional crafter’s are preparing for fall and Holiday shows. Rush orders seem to be the new normal. The shorter days blur together with less sunlight. Preparation for the holidays seems right around the corner.

I am working on a few new charm designs currently for sports fans. Sayings that are engraved in our plain sterling plated heart (C911S). Some of the sayings customers prefer are “Run” for Cross Country, “Swim” for Swim Teams and “Dive” for the Diving teams. So these ideas should be coming soon.

Well that’s all for now.

Stay warm.

Nancy

The storm is over and Labor Day brings a hint of cold weather in the morning air. Here in New England a new season approaches. It is both frightening and exciting. Memories of last years repeated school closings and eight feet of snow hover in the minds of all who survived the winter of 2011.

Children and parents are exchanging notes from the first week back to school. New bus schedules need to be met, new classrooms and teachers found. Books and school supplies need purchasing and homework completed. Yes, the dog days of summer are over.

The new fall sports season is underway. Team sports moms, coaches, captains and teachers are stocking up on football, soccer and cheer leading beads and charms. School fundraisers are starting and a charm necklace, bracelet, or pin, is an excellent choice to cement school spirit.

Halloween is only a little over a month away. Given that scenario some of our scary charms and beads are begin to sell like the skulls, pumpkins, cats, and spiders.

Religious schools are back in session too. Some celebrations that use the charms, pendants and beads are: Bat Mitzvah’s, Bar Mitzvahs, Confirmation classes and Religious retreats.

Our new “Pandora” like screw chain is amazing (J900S). Each end is a lobster claw. One end screws off for the bead to slide on. No beads can get lost with this seven and a half inch chain. Of course the silver finish matches all of our charms, beads, and our new bead hangers too.

The new pewter bead hanger (B950P) has a jump ring built into the bead. The charm fits underneath the bead threaded through the jump ring loop. Once the charm is on the loop you push the loop back up into the bead and it snaps into place securing the charm. Existing “Pandora” beads also fit onto this chain. Our entire line of charms now fit onto this chain using this new technology.

Today is a typical New England late summer day. Tiny white clouds spec the sky and the heat is not oppressive. The Canadian Geese scream their goodbyes and head out towards the warmer weather as they remind us to enjoy these last few days of fine summer weather.

Nancy

“Hurricane Notice”

Dear Customers,

This is a quick note post Hurricane Irene.

Early Saturday morning, August 27, 2011 CL&P (Connecticut Power and Light) auto dialed customers that power could stop for a day or more. If the power outages are longer they promise to work swiftly to restore power. As predicted many companies and residences are still powerless here in the Northeast.

Watch Us has power and is planning to be back on a normal shipping schedule by late today or tomorrow morning. Please be patient with us as we resume our normal business schedule.

Thank you for your continued support. Best regards, Nancy & Sam