Update from a far Aug 30, 2008

Hello all, I must apologize for not keeping up with posting. As part of the Army Reserves I have been deployed to Iraq in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom. I am due back in the states in November.

To update everyone on the studio, well where do I begin! For starts, we are still operating and have a small loyal customer base. We are not without our challenges though. Having been removed so far from the company and transitioning my duties to my family members I recognize several mistakes I have made. I have rushed to open the door underfunded and with low cash flow. As you know, this is detrimental to young companies. I fell into the trap with my own blindness. The second mistake I have made is not emphasizing marketing. I have not executed an advertising campaign and now must do so with a small budget. I have several projects in the works yet I am stalled due to lack of resources. I have attempted to secure funding from the SBA without success and find my debt to income ratio high and personal credit too low to be able to secure traditional financing to further growth. Even though we accept credit card sales we do not average enough for a merchant loan. We are a small family business and do not rate for a large quick return for angel or venture capital. Does anyone else have any other suggestions I could try? I fear if I do not raise capital within the next two months that when I return I will not be able to sustain and keep the doors open. Any support or guidance would be appreciated. Enough for the drama.

We have recently received 100 molds and another pouring table. This will add to our 2400 molds in current stock. We are launching new project bundles with paint brushes, pallets, water cups, tip sheets, free gifts and a parent partnership lesson for kids. We are also excited to be offering our catalog online in the fist quarter of 2009 for ordering an planning your event. We will also have a few other gold nuggets on the site so stay tuned to ceramicnotions.com for the upcoming changes.

Are you ready for the holiday season? We have a large array of Christmas and Halloween products to include 6 inch to 36 inch Christmas Trees, large Jack-O-lanterns and several ornate candy dishes. Just contact us to find out more!

Founder and CEO
RJR