Years ago, when Rose Mille was in San Jose, (1998-2002) there seemed to always be this growing pile of mish-mush, wonderful leftover bits and bobs, random odds and ends of ribbons, threads, buttons etc. So we started making collections out of them. We put them in clear topped boxes by color and theme, and also lengths of ribbons in "bits-bags". No two were alike never to be exactly repeated again.
These boxed kits we lovingly called "Rose Mille Starter Kits". Each box was filled with everything and anything that we could fit into them; ribbons, glitter, fabrics, buttons, snippets of pretty papers, sheet music, millinery flowers and even wooden spools of vintage thread.
Very early on while still in California, we launched a "Ribbon of the Month Club". It was wonderful but very hard to keep going without the benefit of the internet, we had to rely on walk-ins and snail mail advertising, which proved to be very costly.
Later, in Stillwater we started putting a few collections together that were the same. But this time we used old See's candy boxes that had come with us from the Bay Area. The only problem was that since the tops were not clear, it was hard to keep them from being rummaged through in the shop.
{This could be another post, shortly after I opened Rose Mille in 1998 I was fortunate enough to purchase inventory from an old fashioned "Notions" store in Palo Alto called "Irma Schwabel", named after the proprietress. Yup, this is worth it's own post. Who had sorted her thread in old See's Candy boxes. But I digress.}
In our earliest advertising campaigns, we used vintage images tailored to our events. We found vintage post-cards so charming and fitting our look, so we used them for our semi-annual sale and soiree.
Each time layering the new post card over the previous years card, with just enough peaking through so, in case anyone ever looked closely, they could see the progression.
In 2011 we wanted a cleaner less cluttered look so we stopped layering and put more work into re-designing the cards even more.
We were also creating our "Frame Cards" to use in displaying our jewelry and winding ribbons and trims on. Everyone wanted the cards, so we decided to sell them. This led to making other kinds of cards like our "Vintage French post cards", and our Christmas cards for sale.
Before there was a Rose Mille, I was making custom hats and bridal veils under the name "Michelle Rose Designs". Some of my hats were to big and some too tall for the average hat box, so I found a manufacturer who would make custom ones for me. Over the years this manufacturer has made many custom boxes for me, including the band boxes for our new collection.
The internet, and later blogging, has made it much easier to connect with like minded people and makes it possible for designers and shop keepers to sell items that would normally get damaged in a physical shop.
This time, with technology in our favor, we pulled everything together and launched "Cachette du Mois". Named after those wonderful French Cachette boxes that we carry. The ones that are shaped like strawberries, logs, mushrooms and even fish.
This past December, we launched "Cachette du Mois", starting with January and includes:
Twelve custom post-cards.
A custom band box.
Unique bits and bobbles to covet or use in your special projects.
Finally it's working. Thank you everyone for "getting it". Right now I am choosing the ingredients for our April box. The Post-card and box are all ready in stock. We have also designed the box and post-card for May and June. I can't wait to show you.
For more information and to purchase our latest kit or a subscription click here.
xo
mi
