Radio Silence

I'm so sorry for the radio silence.  I didn't realize until today it's been more than two weeks since I last posted!  Happy Thanksgiving, I hope you're all doing well.

The truth is that while I've had some activity on eBay, I've been out of the shopping loop for a while.  I'm a really fickle creature, and there's a lot going on right now at work and in my life that is sucking my attention away from the business.

Most importantly, though, I've discovered that my 2.5 year old son's behavior has improved ten fold since I stopped fully dedicating myself to being a shoe broker on evenings and weekends.  Despite the fact that a lot of what I do can be done from home, my being constantly glued to the computer was taking a toll on him.  He was acting out, throwing tantrums, being clingy, and just generally an unhappy kid.

Slowly but surely, he's getting back to his normal, happy self - with the occasional temper tantrum (he is two, after all!).  Somehow I'm going to have to find a way to be more balanced in my interests.

In other news, I went shopping on Black Friday and was sorely disappointed.  Not a good deal in sight on the kind of stuff I like.  In other, other news, my main eBay account might seem empty but my "secret" account is in full swing!  I've got a bunch of very cute ladies' shoes there in a size 7.5 - most of them never worn.  A friend of mine is having knee surgery, and I'm giving her a hand in selling her awesome high heel collection.  Just look for the Naughty Monkey and you will find the secret account!

O-M-G I So Totally LOVE My New Shoes! *Giggle*

Today I want to talk about the duality of me.  And shoes, of course.

I got a pair of new shoes in the mail this morning.  I saw them at Neiman Marcus a few weeks back and ignored every piece of advice I've ever given you guys by buying them on the spot at FULL PRICE.  They didn't have my size so one of the sales associates had them special ordered for me. I didn't even use a coupon,online code, NOTHIN'.  The shoes are high-heeled, cutout oxfords in a style I never, EVER would have imagined myself liking.  Just goes to show what they say about love is true - it is blind and it knows no bounds.

I rarely buy things for myself on my shopping excursions but this time I just couldn't help it.  The thing I want to talk about, though, is how much I've been daydreaming about these shoes as I waited.  And how excited I was when I got them.  And how I'm never taking them off again.

Here's the thing.  I've been a lot more in touch with my "girly" side lately.  Up until recently I suppressed that part of myself and something about the last few months has made that side come back with a vengeance.  I'm gossipping with my girlfriends in the office, talking about movie stars and crushes, getting my eyebrows waxed... all the things that I would roll my eyes at in my head while I was in "austere, kick-ass, all-business" mode.  As torn as I feel about my newly resurfaced girliness, I'm having a great time right now and while I'm a tiny bit ashamed of my girliness nothing's going to stop me from getting a huge kick out of wearing my awesome new shoes to work on Monday. 

These shoes represent the fact that I'm complex.  I can be totally no nonesense and totally "girly" in one conversation.  I can giggle while I look authoritative.  And I can get as excited about a new pair of shoes as I do about getting praise from my bosses at work.  This is who I am.  And God damn it, I LOVE MYSELF.

PS: So what do you think of my shoes??  Aren't they totally HOT?

My New Distribution Strategy

San Juan del Sur, Nicaragua

I think I've probably mentioned on here before how I'm originally from Nicaragua.  I lived there most of my life, though I went to the American school until the age of 18, and then took off for college in California.  My family is pretty priviledged by Nicaragua standards, although we've probably be upper middle class in the US - if that.

One of the privilidges that the upper class Nicaraguan ladies enjoy is coming shopping in the US.  Nicaraguan shopping leaves a LOT to be desired of.  You can't get designer brands and even a simple pair of Nine West pumps from a few seasons ago can run you upwards of $150 if purchased there.  I don't have a ton of friends in Nicaragua anymore, but my mom is there and my sister still has a lot of friends there as well.  Well, my sister is so likeable she has a lot of friends EVERYWHERE, but I will try to stick to the point.

With my sister's help (she has an MBA with a concentration in marketing) I have been tapping into the Nicaraguan market.  Not only can I get the designer items my clients can't get there, I can also get them for cheaper than they would expect to pay on one of their US shopping trips.  My last three clients have all been from Nicaragua, and through word of mouth my special projects continue to roll in.

For those of you wondering why my eBay store looks so threadbare, now you know why!  My countrymen and women have been keeping me busy!!  Although... this is super top secret but my alter ego eBay seller ID just got a big load of awesome shoes that I'm helping a friend sell.  If you're a 7.5, watch out!  I'm probably going to try to sell you some shoes!!

War of the Shoes

Here's an old school type of post for you.

Behold two shoes.  Both are Christian Louboutin.  Both New In Box.  One is a size 36.5 and the other a 38.5.  One is white, and a sandal, and therefore painfully out of season.  It's also a small size, which is harder to sell.  The other is purple - a fall/winter color - but it's a wedge, and Louboutin wedges don't sell as well because as I've said before, people who pay a ton of money for shoes usually want other people to know they've paid a ton of money for shoes.  The red soles are a clear indication that said lot of money has been made, and wedges and flats make it harder for people to see the red soles.

They're roughly the same price and I'm relisting them both at the same time (tonight).  Which one do you think will sell first??  Winner gets $10 "store credit" for my shopping services.

Christian Louboutin White Joli Noeud 36.5

Louboutin Lady Lynch Zeppa Size 38.5

A Plug - and More Pics of My Clients!

This smashing model is my longtime friend and one of my favorite clients, Rosa.  She's wearing a pair of pants I got for her, and looking HOT doing it.  But that's not all.  Not only does Rosa look like a rock star, she's also an incredibly smart businesswoman AND she has an amazing political analysis blog called "Rosa's Reality Check" that you all need to check out.

At the risk of going off topic, I have to admit I don't really care for politics, particularly since it frustrates me that politics in this country are SO partisan.  Most people don't vote for issues, they vote for parties.  What I like about Rosa's blog is that she uses her knowledge of constitutional law to dissect the political system as opposed to parties or candidates - and she rails against BOTH sides. :)  She's also a powerful and entertaining writer, so all in all, a must read!

As for me, I've got a new segementation strategy that I've been dying to tell you guys about.  Watch for a new post about this in the next couple of days!