Baby Products Mommy Blog: New Orleans and Mardi Gras

Ok, well almost Mardi Gras. Our buying group has an annual conference called the BBC (Building Business Conference) This is the most valuable industry event I attend each year.

I have blogged about it before but in case you missed it. Here is my take on what our goal is for this meeting. We as independent retailers have an opportunity to discuss industry issues with who we feel are the key manufactures in our industry. This is an invitation only event. NINFRA is very selective with whom is invited to attend.

We spend a day and a 1/2 in meetings discussing ways to build our business together, how to deal with new regulation in our industry, and even speed dating (where each retailer gets 10 minutes to sit down with each manufacture) This time in invaluable. We discuss the good and the bad. We look for ways to create greater profit and benefit on both ends.

After the meetings we have social events. We eat dinner and talk for hours on end. This is where the most important part comes in-relationship building.

It makes such a difference when I need to call a company if I have met them, had dinner with them, shared stories and social time. Relationships are KEY in any industry. This is how we build ours.

One afternoon we had beignets at Cafe Du Monde

JoJo is holding Stella and Karla is holding Ozzie (right?)

In the next row is Judy Frances (Kids Stuff Super Store), Sara (Baby's 1st Furniture/Jacob's fiance), me, and Yvette Muller (Baby's 1st Furniture)

After our snack JoJo and I walked the streets looking for goodies to take home to the kiddo's

Doug, JoJo, and me at one of our dinners

Judy and Karla from Kids Stuff Super Store in Nebraska and South Dakota

and now add in Dad (Gene)

Love this girl!!!

This is the FAB 4. JoJo, April (Goores), Yvette (Baby's 1st Furniture), and Judy (Kids Stuff Super Store)

Are these ladies not just beautiful. Beauty, Brains, and Power. There is a wealth of knowledge here!

Here is another fab 4...

Doug, Gene (Kids Stuff Super Store), Kenny (Goores), Dave (Tots to Teen)

Not as much beauty but a think tank that will transcend the hours of night...you know you can save the universe with these guys ideas...especially if you catch them around 2:00am...

To bad we are missing Larry in this picture!

Anne, Sara, Jacob, and Yvette. These are the amazing people that run Baby's 1st Furniture in Houston...except we are missing Larry again???? Where is he!!!

Now those of you that know these 4 women you know that they LOVE their "Words with Friends" so much so that they even have special matching PJ's... If you have a Words with Friends Login...you should tell them...they play all the time. Just don't forget to turn you phone on silent when you go to bed!!!

(Can I just tell you how awkward it was getting this photo)

On our last night Rafael (executive director of NINFRA) arranged for the conference attendees to have a private party on Bourbon Street catered by an AMAZINGLY talented and award winning chef. Before we headed to the party dad and mom took me down Bourbon Street to Pat O Brain's to get a hurricane. YUMMY!!! but watch out it will kick you in the booty.

It was funny walking down Bourbon Street I just had no idea. As we walked a song that I sing to my kids quickly began to play in my head "Oh be careful little eye's what you see" It wasn't quite Mardi Gras time but there was still plenty to see.

Krystal, Me, and Kelly

Love these girls from New Baby Products.

Our party was on the 2nd story and we had a wonderful balcony overlooking all the Bourbon Street festivities.

Me, Karla, and Stella (?)

Jacob and me...Love the boa's..

Jacob and his sweety-Sara...love this girl. She fits right in with us. We are going to their wedding in the Dominican Republic in June -SO EXCITED!!!

Me and my sweet mama

The twins had a ball crawling in and out of the windows...they should have shown some of the guys how to do it safely...several heads were bumped.

Dave Penning (Tots to Teen) and ME!! Dave cracks me UP!!!

Ilan (Albee Baby) and me again...

I have never seen so many photo's of myself...What was I thinking???
This is right before Ilan kicked the stool out from under me while I was griping about Price Matching...LOL!!!! That's my story and I am sticking to it!