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Anne Marie Blackman of MyUglyChristmasSweater.com on how she took the growing trend to a new level
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But I digress our next guest he can't miss our second right -- over here and -- black men wearing.
Well the -- is Christmas whether -- ever seen and that's a compliment.
And I take that as a compliment thank you very much thanks for having me you are around an author of a rock -- ugly Christmas letter which is a book obviously.
-- -- -- -- -- But first let's talk about how you decide to go into business with this idea of an ugly Christmas whether and I used to have won an actor I moved it where -- might find it again and resell it yeah -- up.
-- -- -- -- Ago my children were in high school finishing up school giving way to go to college and I was looking for something to sell during the Christmas season to make some extra money to help pay for their college so I.
Did some research on the Internet and what was trending that had to do with the word Christmas and I and -- -- a lot of different things and the biggest trend that I found was the term ugly Christmas sweater and I'm with the sort of party so I did I had one this is how this thing I business about five years ago accounts -- you one of the -- others have so I don't.
Did some research -- I found that there are actually knew nothing about it and so I did research and found that there -- contest for the most ugly sweater as a what I did was -- But regular sweaters.
Like the -- have on and I embellished them and we sold them on eBay and they sold quickly so I am have grown the business over the years and now I have a website with.
Over six million page views so far this holidays just this holiday season.
-- CNN six million in Haiti as many businesses have been very envious India and even try.
I work very hard I -- -- -- one of those things that just yet you found that the right thing to get into any did it.
As best you can and it just works for you.
So I would say yes I'm lucky that it was such growing trend that I.
And I got into it because I researched what was a growing branded grew into some -- that I thought would ground -- I spent a lot of time on the marketing number that's sweaters and sharing the pictures on social media -- which I'm really led to the buck because the pictures are so.
Funny funny can't have any Jared and I thought that that would be it would be great to see people in the sweaters and -- just.
How many -- and all of the box.
-- sends -- about myself but the thousands of sweaters a year on that website.
And about how much -- that way because us and author I don't get my numbers -- later but it's doing really well and -- some major stores and it is getting some great feedback.
-- doesn't say thank you very much is really very -- uninspired by your AM -- very covering a very modest about it.
-- Christmas is your prime season obviously right but -- -- season continue around here.
I'm actually gonna take a couple weeks off after Christmas and them relax and then I start up where it again because I have to get all the inventory ready and are ready to go by November -- weeks this -- -- by the normal sweaters and who analysis I do most of them on myself.
So -- right yes so why did this for example put this on a sweater and I do have some people that work for me now doing some peace work.
But I do may be 90% of the work on the sweaters and the website is -- -- Angela how to get it.
So a lot of this has some glue -- some selling and a lot of the things are hand sewn onto the sweaters and -- and show us here on.
But your sleeves and assault on the waistline that's so this is a great way to make a sort of -- that doesn't fit because -- -- -- too short for me and bang in line dating them it.
Adds a little better on yeah it's a -- of that I have -- problem.
Every hour and an -- -- you could just cut it it's.
Sun -- custom designs I did some custom designs and did primarily due in the off season and I'm not so busy and those.
For example sometimes I amassed to put somebody's face on a sweater with us Santa -- -- a little suit.
And that kind of thing I can do in the Susan what's your price point -- -- -- -- some like this one has ranged from.
About thirty at 35 dollars up 250.
-- the thirtieth anyway -- is really reasonable right now I mean I would paid at a second.
I had a good -- Christmas and a participate.
As opposed you know.
Doing myself -- -- a lot of a Christmas sweaters from the eighty's and ninety's that I dead and heading -- and I find them.
I am fundamentally -- shops and the number different sources.
And so I find them and process the measure them get them on the website and so a lot of those -- from under 35 dollars and you know that -- some women who rarely Christmas but I don't think there I think.
Yeah and you know I have I am a woman of a certain age and I have some -- my closet -- which is okay it's okay -- think they're cute and I think that people.
If somebody has Christmas what is in the closet and they go to an -- Christmas -- a party that's the type of personal ads stuff to the -- to make it.
Ugly attack here because they think this -- -- -- to begin with.
And -- so I think that that's why they have.
This Christmas what a party is appealing to everybody has young people would just where those -- -- -- -- -- and tacky and people the baby boomers.
We'll tell us any attack usually attack Mandela ornament ornaments and lights and whatnot so now you keep it on your profits are you.
And -- a charity.
-- I just.
I do send some sweaters to some troops and a couple times a year I couple.
And -- and it's -- and -- -- to a couple different groups of US troops overseas every year.
And I sponsor a couple parties that -- have charitable.
Proceeds from Edison doesn't inherited -- very best stand then it's yeah it's you know it's great with the for the troops that you know when I -- package of each morning at 3040 sweaters to the -- at a picture back of them are wearing this one is going to be in Afghanistan president and and the buck.
How has provided us the tonight look for there -- -- on my website ends of that charity -- and it's just that loud that they don't charities grade and and to do anything with charity events really nice to see that some enjoys.
Something -- did so it's neck and tech of course -- -- -- so tell us a little bit about your book.
Yes -- -- ugly Christmas sweater is a book I wrote with Brian Clark Howard and it is.
Has 200 full color pictures of people Iraq and Iran -- Christmas sweaters with.
I'll accompanied by funny captions and so it's.
And then my customer photos and then some pictures that Brian and I -- And those people what those firefighters and policeman and then as realtors and babies and young Reynolds and the probably.
Where in the Christmas -- -- -- -- book to during the holidays to put it out if you Christmas decorations.
-- and have a great gift book.
And a fun to have yeah I'm just completely -- the chat right now because I have a feeling.
Is someone is Anna.
Yes I have an ugly Christmas whether answering some of these.
My -- -- in an AM.
I got mine in.
Secondhand store.
And it had bats now to it some -- Graham wash it and I want to -- -- and blood everywhere so that -- even better because Adam.
Spoiled -- leading -- you have a good attitude so yeah.
Thank you so much for coming on and sharing the very timely story angle thanks and -- you have an ugly Christmas -- party.
And -- -- Eleanor of Miami Christmas letter dot com and author of Iraq here ugly Christmas whether things coming hon excellent.
-- Christmas and may Christmas everybody we'll see.
