View From the Rail - How the Host Keeps it Stylish on Race Day

Updated September 2020

For those who've enjoyed tailgating along the rail at national horse races or local ones like the My Lady's Manor here in Maryland, the spreads are known as much for their attention to style details as for the racing itself. When the day begins with mimosas, salmon, and home-made blueberry scones, you know there’s a fun day ahead!

Whether it's My Lady's Manor, Preakness Stakes, or the Kentucky Derby, the challenge is how to create a unique and enjoyable setting for guests, with all the beautiful spreads on display? Here are a few simple ideas that can go a long way, based on our two decades of race outings. It's about how to add a creative flair that makes it fun for everyone. We’ve spent many years taking in race days, since our kids were young, and we started by trekking our food and drinks around in backpacks and coolers from the muddy parking areas, all the way up to the grassy hillsides to watch the finish. It didn’t matter if it was the full picnic blanket action, or the big tailgate, the style was part of the planning.

Even in those early years, we were fortunate to be connected with friends who always included special ceramic pieces as part of our decor. (A precursor to the launch of Red & Rugged perhaps?!) There’s no need for formal glassware that all looks the same, and the standard red solo cup won't fly here!  You can serve up your best sparkling or Cabernet in a hand-crafted ceramic tumbler that adds a personal touch.  One of the best things about ceramics is that no two pieces are alike, each one has a texture and finish to call their own.

Preparing a stylish race day celebration:

If you’re attending the live event, include a basket of binoculars as a thoughtful touch, so all your guests get a close-up view of the finish line. 

Offer a variety of ceramic cups, let each person select one at the start of the day. What a fun way to treat your guests and give them a personal gift that lasts. It’s something we look forward to, and you can bet we have all our ceramic cups from years gone by.

The younger generations know cool when they see it… Whether you're 25 years old or 55 years young, cool ceramic tumblers make the selfie.

Small cutting boards are easy to pack, great for serving small bites, and to use for slicing. Perfect for adding to your backpack or the picnic basket, a small cutting board is a handy option to have on race day as different food options are served throughout the day. Slice the bacon and veggies for Bloody Mary’s, followed by the cheese when crackers and breadsticks are served. (Engrave an initial on the boards for a surprise take-home gift to commemorate the day.)

As far as centerpieces go, a ceramic vase filled with a fresh flower bouquet is all you need. Gorgeous! And easy!

As you gear up to enjoy the time-honored traditions of horse race season and the parties that follow, there's no need to be overly formal to host a classy event. Be original, and surprise your guests with things they’ll hold on to, and remember, for years to come.

How to Nail the Transition From Hobby to Business Workshop

When the saw is buzzing and the dust is flying, life is good for the tool man in his workshop. The adrenaline is high and there’s a great sense of satisfaction. But things change, and your perspective is different when you make the decision to move from casual hobby to the deliverable of a quality business product.

In our workshop, I watched the progression first hand, as my “rugged” half, Kevin, began to notice the need to alter his work space. He moved from streamlining the process, to ergonomic safety, to improved organization. Once he started making hand-crafted gift boxes on a weekly basis, it became clear how important it is to have an efficient workflow. At one point, he had set up the tools and process on one side of the work space, only to realize the layout really lent itself to increased efficiency on the other side. So, guess what? He had to unplug and move all the tools to the other side, and set everything back up again to make it work.

Seasonal changes also brought shifts in workspace lighting. As winter approached, darkness came earlier and we lost the natural daylight effect which meant more lights had to be added. Then heating the work space also became a priority.

Next, ergonomics entered the scene. Standing for hours meant the need for floor pads to help cushion the impact on the lower back and knees. Off we went to the internet to place another order!

Finally, once the tools and processes were in place, then organization of parts was necessary to stay on top of inventory and remain efficient.

Remember, all this planning and organizing is time away from making a product, an important lesson to hammer home. Careful thought to the layout of your workshop, and a little extra planning upfront on your punch list, will go a long way in saving your business time and money, and improving the health of those building it. 

Clink Outside the Box

Updated April 30, 2024

Centerpieces and seasonings, treats and treasures, and an elegant serving tray are a few of the ways your gift box recipients keep their favorite items organized and on beautiful display. Between sipping, toasting, and pouring, artisan gifts are meant to be enjoyed.

Handwoven towels and textured ceramic tumblers make a stylish addition to the kitchen or bar. What about handcrafted mugs, porcelain cups, or espresso cups for breakfast in bed? A custom box makes a special place to keep your favorite recipe books. As a beautiful centerpiece, your handcrafted box will spark fresh conversation around the table with friends and family. Whether you work from home or at the office, a custom gift box adds style to your writing papers and pens.

These artisan gifts are here to elevate and celebrate your lifestyle.

Gone In A Flash - Five Tips For Making the Most of Your Photo Shoot

Updated June 16, 2021

“It needs more zhushing,” were her first words to us when our photographer looked at our gift box. We stared down at our beautiful box and realized she was right. Get plumping! The idea of a photo shoot seems so simple, but in reality, it requires planning.   

Time is money, and planning your photo shoot will save a lot of both and create tools for your marketing channels. A lack of planning can mean missed opportunities, maybe missed purchases, because you don’t have the pictures you need when a potential buyer comes calling. The opportunity cost of waiting until next time – especially in a major buying season (holiday, weddings, etc.) - can be painful.  

Here are 5 Tips to Help You Get Focused on a Great Photo Session: 

Are professional pictures really necessary? Absolutely, yes. Give yourself every competitive advantage. With the average website visitor staying less time than it takes for a few sips of coffee, your images need to attract and keep visitors on your site or social media channels. Give them every reason to stay and purchase, or at least engage. Free yourself from worrying about the lighting and angles; let the pro do it. And a good photographer (hat tip to @whitneywassonphoto) will offer the bonus of product positioning ideas based on their years of experience. This doesn’t mean every photo needs to be taken by a professional. We take many more photos ourselves; however, we have a core of professional photos available, especially for our website.

Make a list of each picture you need. Think ahead about how many photos you’ll need to be posting weekly/daily and across all the platforms (newsletter, email, website, social channels). It may seem simple to come up with the list now, but things get busy quickly when the photographer arrives, and you’re trying to make the most of your time together.  If you don’t have your list ready, it’s easy to start jumping around and miss key shots. Write down a brief description of each photo, list the different colors and arrangements of those items as separate photos. You may sell one combination of products, but having pictures of two or three combinations will give you different ways of showing off some of your favorite pieces: large groupings, small ones for variety, mood, flavor. And you can spread that variety across multiple channels to promote the same end product in unique ways. Options and ideas, that’s the name of the game. 

Plan the order of pictures. When you start moving individual items in and out of pictures, a session can get unorganized in a hurry. Think about whether individual items will be in multiple shots in the same background? Different backgrounds? Don’t waste time getting the same pieces in and out at different times in the shoot. Have a logical order based on which items are being used the most, and in which groupings. Keep the pieces handy, switch the backgrounds, or add a complementary element for a different occasion. Same piece, different purpose with the addition of a bow or seasonal accent.

Seasonal vs. non-seasonal? Without planning, you can miss the obvious, like the fact that three different buying seasons may occur in the next five months (August through December). Consider what you’ll be selling in the months ahead. If possible, take pictures in the different style settings, with a range of backgrounds and accessories, colors, etc. (Yes, that means pulling accessories/decorations packed away in storage.) Otherwise, you may realize too late that you need the same items but in a holiday styling a few weeks later.

Remember Individual items. What about individual pictures of products to add variety across social platforms and your emails?  Different shot styles for the Individual items you want to highlight allow more content options that ultimately link back to product pages. If you don’t take individual item pictures, your photos may start to repeat quickly.

These are a few of our lessons learned the hard way. With a few years under our belt now, we appreciate the importance of being prepared. While we still learn something new each session, we share these tips through the lens of our business in the hopes that it helps yours.  

Total Eclipse of the Art

We often get asked about the stories that have connected us to different artists. So with this in mind, we're making an effort to start sharing more of the background, behind the art, on how the plan all comes together. And sometimes, it’s with no plan at all... 

Shortly after 1:00PM on August 21, 2017, hundreds of people walked outside of the NY Now show to get a glimpse of the pending eclipse.  We had no idea that this random sidewalk stop was where we would discover a new piece for a future Red & Rugged gift box. 

We were not one of the lucky ones to have found eclipse glasses, and despite reports to the contrary, none of the 7-Eleven stores we popped into that weekend had any in stock. We were fortunate to stand beside a friendly guy, whose name we didn't get, but I do remember his tie-dye shirt! He was happy to share his glasses and talk shop as the clock ticked forward and the eclipse appeared between the clouds. Standing on the other side of this nice gentleman was a woman in the same situation as us. She also had no glasses and was trying to glance up without causing the permanent eye damage all the media had warned against. We began passing the glasses between the four of us, grateful to be outside enjoying the gorgeous weather. 

During the course of our brief gathering, the woman handed us a sample of a multi-colored woolen coffee sleeve. It was interesting and colorful, however, it was August, so hot coffee and wool accessories weren’t top of mind yet. We had more immediate needs. I tucked it in my bag, thanked our sidewalk partners, and we went our separate ways. 

Now, months later, we've hunted down the woolen sleeve, made by Faribault Woolen Mill Co., it turns out. We've been testing it, and playing with different colors as we plan our next gift box. Had it not been for this random historic moment, and a chance meeting in the middle of a west Manhattan sidewalk, we likely never would have discovered this artisan accessory.

This experience taught us that new ideas and creative energy can come from unexpected places. You just have to be open and present to win.   

Stroll over and check out our current line of hand-crafted gift boxes now. The colorful woolen to-go cup sleeves are included in our Now or Latte gift box.
 

Our random sidewalk moment, passing the glasses

Small Towns, Big Finds

Chicken Sam, that was his name, perched in the front window at the Brandon Artists Guild Gallery.  Sam is a two-foot tall chicken with blue stars and a bright red tail, and he was surveying the action on main street.  He's the type of art work that makes the gallery one of my favorite day trips from Lake George, New York. The gallery features whimsical pieces and beautiful art work. You never know what’s waiting for you at the crossroads of Routes 7 and 73 in Vermont. 

We trek to the Adirondack Mountains each year and have found great character in communities knit close together, in the rural country of Vermont. The town of Brandon, which touts a population “hovering around 4000,” is worthy of exploration for artisan treasure seekers. It sits on a fabulous stretch of road if you love small town charm, hidden gems, and fantastic scenery along the way.

Inside the Artists Guild Gallery you’ll find a variety of collections, representing different mediums, for those who enjoy beautiful craftsmanship. On this visit, we admired smoothed stone miniature figures in a range of sizes and colors, and ceramics, my favorite being a coffee mug that looked like it was dripping in sky blue glaze. A unique wooden angel, aptly named, “Ready to Fly,” was another piece that went home with us that day. 

Around the corner, you’ll discover a large fabric shop (I’m not into sewing, but I always stop here) and book store, located conveniently near the deli with a porch to watch locals move about town. Save room for sweets at Cafe Provence which attracts regulars to their gourmet bakery at the river bend. It is charming, with folding orange tables and chairs, and flowers decorating the doorstep. The bakery is well known for its “Cowboy Cookie,” need I say more? As you stroll between Provence and the Artists Guild, it’s easy to see why Brandon is the self-proclaimed “Art and Soul” of Vermont. 

An added benefit of traveling this region is its proximity to other small towns sprinkled together, making it easy for a full day of exploration.  The main street of Vergennes is on the north end of Route 7, and the more established town of Middlebury, Vermont is an easy 16 miles up Route 7, between Brandon and Vergennes.  Among the many restaurants, galleries and shops in Middlebury is the addition of the Edgewater Gallery, with a focus on artisan pieces for the home, downstairs. And it’s just two blocks from Otter Creek Bakery and their raspberry oatmeal squares!

There is something special about the winding, open roads of Vermont. A short ferry ride across Lake Champlain delivers you into these small towns filled with creative energy, offering a charm and inspiration that lures me back every year.

Chicken Sam!

Timelines to Saw Teeth, Three Key Points in Launch Prep

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Shipping, not sexy, but boy does it force you look at your launch timelines. If you're launching the deliverable of a physical product, specifically one with multiple pieces, then we've learned a few things that might assist you.  

The first thing we realized is how all the pieces hinge together as you wade through the process. Sounds logical, but it’s amazing the degree to which so many different business decisions tie together, like adding lengths to your rope as you float further from the dock. We looked at inventory and different artists’ timelines, talked about the size of boxes, operational flow, and, then everyone’s favorite, shipping (a beast in and of itself). Do we build a website with professional photos – or use our iPhone? Each time you add a puzzle piece, you extend your timeline. This process was almost nine months in advance planning and we wanted more time.

Next, we had to acknowledge that our gift experience is all about working with customers who appreciate unique artistic pieces, and is a conscious choice to go with quality elements that don’t come off an assembly line. We settled into the fact that speed cannot be the priority focus for our market since we’re delivering a custom combination of artists' work. Ours has to be a customer focus on those who get excited about beautiful, hand-crafted items, and agree to plan ahead. 

Third, to arrive at a decision on packaging this content, we had to commit to the box. Nothing happens before a box size, which then relates to what goes in it. You see where this is going?!  We're full circle, back at shipping. The box design itself involves a discussion around not wasting wood, and the teeth on a saw blade. Crazy, right? Yes, more teeth mean less sanding – which saves time on each box.  This matters because of the cost of wood, the tools required, and the time it takes to package each box. 

All this is to share a sliver of our experience with you in pre-planning.  Inventory, shipping, content, and whatever physical elements your business involves, means you cannot underestimate the need to plan months ahead and document the process. If this…then that. You may be amazed at how your plan, and lead time, expands. Be ready. And I haven’t even mentioned building the website yet.  

Check out our hand-crafted gift boxes to see how it all came together. 

A live action shot of those saw teeth mentioned above

Hit the Switch, Let's Get This Party Started!

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That’s what it’s felt like for a long time…us fumbling around in the dark as we searched for the switch, hit the lights and launched this gig. Now here we are, a husband and wife team, starting a new custom gifting experience.

We arrived at this place because we both really enjoy having a creative element in our lives, and it's time for a change (Can anyone else relate to that?!)!  Over the years we’ve visited many small artsy towns and attended plenty of big art shows, a favorite being the American Craft Council,  where we've met folks who are wicked talented. We’ve got a long history of hunting down cool artistic pieces. We love the artists’ work and we recognize we have no gift for throwing pottery or forging metal ourselves.  What we are betting on is our passion for the launch and build and creating beauty from a pile of lumber. As you might guess, this combination has led to many dinner conversations, early morning coffee “what if” discussions, walks around the neighborhood, and drive time talks about what’s next?

Finally, we decided we’d talked enough (we aren’t getting any younger in this process!) and we took the crazy step to start. One can only research and talk for so long before the world – and life – pass you by. Time to put a stake in the ground and our passions to work and hit the “go” button.
 
We hope you’ll join us on this journey. You can check out more details on who we are in About Us.  Feel free to reach out, follow us on Instagram (@red.rugged) share feedback, and suggest artists we should be considering on the Artists page. This blog will focus on the business side of our efforts and the creative opportunities – and challenges - we face.

If you haven’t already, it’s time for your first look at these hand-crafted gift boxes and artisan pieces!
 

A scene below from one of our many days talking about launching a business...