A Quick Update

Just to let everyone know that we will be accepting new sales reps starting February 1, 2011. Mark your calendars!!!

CHRISTMAS ORDER CUT OFF

The last day for Christmas orders is December 4th. If you are placing an order that does not require a uniform, you can order as late as December 4th and still receive your order by December 24th. If you are sending in a uniform we must receive it by December 4th. If you are mailing your uniform USPS priority mail, we suggest doing so no later than Wednesday December 1st, if you are sending it USPS express mail, we suggest mailing no later than Thursday, December 2nd.
Happy Holidays Everyone!

Sales Rep Sign Up Cut off for 2010

Because we want to make sure that each person that signs up as Sales Representative for our company is truly set up for success, and gets all the one on one time she needs to get her business up and running, we are going to be closing new rep sign ups one week from today for the remainder of 2010. As the holidays approach, the studio just gets busier and busier, and the hectic pace of November and December, is just too crazy a time to welcome new members to our team.
So if you've talked with us already about becoming a rep, or would like to, please do it now! Sales rep kits can be purchased here. Just email us first to make sure we are accepting new sales reps in your area. The sales rep program is not ending, we will re-open in January for new sales rep sign up.
Thanks so much,
the Hero On My Arm Team

Fall 2010 Updates

Hello Everyone!

Long time, no talk. We've been very busy here at the Hero On My Arm Studios. We have a HUGE website update in the works- new styles, new pictures, new lining fabrics, new options, new promotions- it will all be up and running sometime in October.

Just a quick note here to say that if you don't already follow us on Twitter and Facebook, you should! They are both a bit more interactive than the blog, so if you are interested in what's up with Hero On My Arm day to day, that's the best place to find out:

on Twitter: www.twitter.com/heroonmyarm

on Facebook: www.facebook.com/heroonmyarm

New Styles Sneak Peak...

the {Julia}

the {Eleanor}

the {Louisa}

the {Michelle}

Exciting New Things...

...are coming.

New purse styles,

New options,

New camo patterns,

and more...

Hope everyone is enjoying their summer!

Order Updates and Back to School

The order status page has been updated as of today, July 10th, 2010.

And in other news, are you ready for back to school???

If not, it's okay, you still have time! Order your custom made Hero On My Arm backpack now, so you'll have it when school starts!
Backpacks are available for ordering on the website HERE.

Backpacks come with real padded backpack straps (in four great color choices), 6 pockets, made from your own uniform top (or we can supply one). These are great for children of all ages (kindergarten to college) and make great diaper bags for moms, too. Order yours today!!!

July 4, 1776

The unanimous Declaration of the thirteen united States of America,

When in the Course of human events, it becomes necessary for one people to dissolve the political bands which have connected them with another, and to assume among the powers of the earth, the separate and equal station to which the Laws of Nature and of Nature's God entitle them, a decent respect to the opinions of mankind requires that they should declare the causes which impel them to the separation.

We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable Rights, that among these are Life, Liberty and the pursuit of Happiness.--That to secure these rights, Governments are instituted among Men, deriving their just powers from the consent of the governed, --That whenever any Form of Government becomes destructive of these ends, it is the Right of the People to alter or to abolish it, and to institute new Government, laying its foundation on such principles and organizing its powers in such form, as to them shall seem most likely to effect their Safety and Happiness. Prudence, indeed, will dictate that Governments long established should not be changed for light and transient causes; and accordingly all experience hath shewn, that mankind are more disposed to suffer, while evils are sufferable, than to right themselves by abolishing the forms to which they are accustomed. But when a long train of abuses and usurpations, pursuing invariably the same Object evinces a design to reduce them under absolute Despotism, it is their right, it is their duty, to throw off such Government, and to provide new Guards for their future security.--Such has been the patient sufferance of these Colonies; and such is now the necessity which constrains them to alter their former Systems of Government. The history of the present King of Great Britain is a history of repeated injuries and usurpations, all having in direct object the establishment of an absolute Tyranny over these States. To prove this, let Facts be submitted to a candid world.

He has refused his Assent to Laws, the most wholesome and necessary for the public good. 

He has forbidden his Governors to pass Laws of immediate and pressing importance, unless suspended in their operation till his Assent should be obtained; and when so suspended, he has utterly neglected to attend to them. 

He has refused to pass other Laws for the accommodation of large districts of people, unless those people would relinquish the right of Representation in the Legislature, a right inestimable to them and formidable to tyrants only. 

He has called together legislative bodies at places unusual, uncomfortable, and distant from the depository of their public Records, for the sole purpose of fatiguing them into compliance with his measures. 

He has dissolved Representative Houses repeatedly, for opposing with manly firmness his invasions on the rights of the people. 

He has refused for a long time, after such dissolutions, to cause others to be elected; whereby the Legislative powers, incapable of Annihilation, have returned to the People at large for their exercise; the State remaining in the mean time exposed to all the dangers of invasion from without, and convulsions within. 

He has endeavoured to prevent the population of these States; for that purpose obstructing the Laws for Naturalization of Foreigners; refusing to pass others to encourage their migrations hither, and raising the conditions of new Appropriations of Lands. 

He has obstructed the Administration of Justice, by refusing his Assent to Laws for establishing Judiciary powers. 

He has made Judges dependent on his Will alone, for the tenure of their offices, and the amount and payment of their salaries. 

He has erected a multitude of New Offices, and sent hither swarms of Officers to harrass our people, and eat out their substance. 

He has kept among us, in times of peace, Standing Armies without the Consent of our legislatures. 

He has affected to render the Military independent of and superior to the Civil power. 

He has combined with others to subject us to a jurisdiction foreign to our constitution, and unacknowledged by our laws; giving his Assent to their Acts of pretended Legislation: 

For Quartering large bodies of armed troops among us: 

For protecting them, by a mock Trial, from punishment for any Murders which they should commit on the Inhabitants of these States: 

For cutting off our Trade with all parts of the world: 

For imposing Taxes on us without our Consent: 

For depriving us in many cases, of the benefits of Trial by Jury: 

For transporting us beyond Seas to be tried for pretended offences 

For abolishing the free System of English Laws in a neighbouring Province, establishing therein an Arbitrary government, and enlarging its Boundaries so as to render it at once an example and fit instrument for introducing the same absolute rule into these Colonies: 

For taking away our Charters, abolishing our most valuable Laws, and altering fundamentally the Forms of our Governments: 

For suspending our own Legislatures, and declaring themselves invested with power to legislate for us in all cases whatsoever. 

He has abdicated Government here, by declaring us out of his Protection and waging War against us. 

He has plundered our seas, ravaged our Coasts, burnt our towns, and destroyed the lives of our people. 

He is at this time transporting large Armies of foreign Mercenaries to compleat the works of death, desolation and tyranny, already begun with circumstances of Cruelty & perfidy scarcely paralleled in the most barbarous ages, and totally unworthy the Head of a civilized nation. 

He has constrained our fellow Citizens taken Captive on the high Seas to bear Arms against their Country, to become the executioners of their friends and Brethren, or to fall themselves by their Hands. 

He has excited domestic insurrections amongst us, and has endeavoured to bring on the inhabitants of our frontiers, the merciless Indian Savages, whose known rule of warfare, is an undistinguished destruction of all ages, sexes and conditions.

In every stage of these Oppressions We have Petitioned for Redress in the most humble terms: Our repeated Petitions have been answered only by repeated injury. A Prince whose character is thus marked by every act which may define a Tyrant, is unfit to be the ruler of a free people.

Nor have We been wanting in attentions to our Brittish brethren. We have warned them from time to time of attempts by their legislature to extend an unwarrantable jurisdiction over us. We have reminded them of the circumstances of our emigration and settlement here. We have appealed to their native justice and magnanimity, and we have conjured them by the ties of our common kindred to disavow these usurpations, which, would inevitably interrupt our connections and correspondence. They too have been deaf to the voice of justice and of consanguinity. We must, therefore, acquiesce in the necessity, which denounces our Separation, and hold them, as we hold the rest of mankind, Enemies in War, in Peace Friends.

We, therefore, the Representatives of the united States of America, in General Congress, Assembled, appealing to the Supreme Judge of the world for the rectitude of our intentions, do, in the Name, and by Authority of the good People of these Colonies, solemnly publish and declare, That these United Colonies are, and of Right ought to be Free and Independent States; that they are Absolved from all Allegiance to the British Crown, and that all political connection between them and the State of Great Britain, is and ought to be totally dissolved; and that as Free and Independent States, they have full Power to levy War, conclude Peace, contract Alliances, establish Commerce, and to do all other Acts and Things which Independent States may of right do. And for the support of this Declaration, with a firm reliance on the protection of divine Providence, we mutually pledge to each other our Lives, our Fortunes and our sacred Honor.

Independence Day

Hero On My Arm wishes you all a safe and happy 4th of July holiday!

Join Us This Weekend!

Hero On My Arm will be at the following locations this weekend:

June 5th

Camp Dodge PX

Johnston, Iowa (Des Moines)

10 am to 5 pm

June 4th and 5th

Fort Richardson/Elmendorf Joint PX/BX

Anchorage, Alaska

9 am to 7 pm

If you are in the area be sure and stop by, say hi, shop and order your very own Hero On My Arm custom bag!

2010 Hero On My Arm Sales Representative Information *Updated*

Starting now, May 29th, 2010 Sales Representative Kits are again available for purchase here! The new rep kits will ship starting July 1st. Please read through the following frequently asked questions before contacting us or purchasing a rep kit.

What's in the sales rep kit?
The sales rep kit is $100 and requires one uniform top. If you do not have a top to send in, you may purchase one from us. The sales rep kit includes:

SUPPLIES:
a PDF detailed Sales Rep Training Manual
a picture book with Fabric Swatch Samples, Font Samples and purse options
10 catalogs
20 party invitations
5 Hero On My Arm pens
INTERNET TOOLS/GRAPHICS:
your own personal email (yourname@heroonmyarm.com)
your own personalized business card template with custom logo
your own personal clickable signature tag
your own personal url for the website (heroonmyarm.com/yourname)
your own personalized PDF order form

your own personalized PDF virtual party invitation

access to the Hero On My Arm Sales Rep Discussion board
your contact information listed on the website
PRODUCTS:
your own custom created Hero On My Arm bag, in your choice of our most popular styles

*Abigail, Caroline, Margaret, or Jacqueline*
keychain
checkbook cover
ID/credit card holder

As a sales rep, you also receive 20% of your own personal purchases.

Hey, why did the price go up?

Only because you receive 2 shipments, your starter kit and your custom bag. The kit only went up by the cost of shipping.

What does a sales rep do?

This is what is commonly referred to as direct sales. You act as a salesperson for the company and receive a commission for all of your sales. Unlike other direct sales opportunities there is no down line, no sales quotas, and NO pressure to recruit others. As military spouses the key component to our program is flexibility. Our sales reps work in a variety of ways- hosting in home parties, attending local events, luncheons, craft fairs, partnering with local brick and mortar stores, through social networking, email, online, etc.

How much money can I make?

You earn a percentage of each sale you make. How much you earn directly corelates to how much you work.

What is the starter trunk? Do I have to buy that too?
The starter trunk is available for purchase here. It is $125 and you do not receive your sales rep discount on this purchase. It is a sampling of our 4 most popular bag styles and a large wallet. You are required to send in the uniforms to create your trunk (3 tops, 2 pants). If you already own one of the bags in the sample trunk, you may substitute another bag style for the one(s) you already own. You are NOT required to purchase the starter trunk, it is merely a helpful selling tool.

What if there is already a sales rep in my area?
Some areas can support more than one sales rep, while others can not. Contact us to learn about other options, like becoming a virtual sales rep.

What are virtual sales reps?

A virtual sales rep is someone without a physical territory (usually because there is already a sales rep in her area). They work mainly online, promoting the business on websites, blogs, message boards, social networking sites, through email and over the phone. They may also from time to time help out other reps at local events, and are at the top of the waiting list should any regular sales reps leave their area.

Why did it take so long?
Some of you have been waiting for several months to hear about the sales rep program, we do understand. But we also wanted to make sure that we are able to set each sales rep up for success and that the program is running smoothly and efficiently, and that takes time. (Oh, and Seneca just had a baby- that took some time, too, lol)

What happens when I purchase a sales rep kit?

After you make your purchase, you'll receive a welcome email from us. In it will be directions for sending in your uniform top and a questionnaire for how you'd like your custom bag created. You mail in your uniform to us. You'll also receive a second email questionnaire that allows us to create all of your personalized items for your rep kit. If you are ordering BEFORE July 1st, you do nothing else but wait (sorry). On July 1st, you'll receive a shipping confirmation for your rep kit. If you order after July 1st, rep kits will ship within 2 weeks of your purchase. In both cases, you will also receive your custom bag 6-8 weeks after we receive your uniform.

If the rep kits aren't available until July 1st, why should I sign up now?

Ordering early lets us get started on your custom Hero On My Arm bag sooner, which means you'll receive it sooner after your rep kit arrives. Also, since we haven't been accepting new sales reps in awhile ordering now gives us a chance to see how many new people will be joining the team and better prepare.

I already emailed you about becoming a sales rep, but didn't receive a reply.

If you haven't received an email from us by Tuesday, June 1st, please send us another email.

What if you didn't answer my question?

Ask us! contactus@heroonmyarm.com

If you are looking for...

...Order Updates, we have moved them to the website. This will be one page, that is just continually updated. This will be more efficient than all the multiple blog posts. Just one place to look and one list, to check on your order. We'll have it up and running by tomorrow evening (5/30), but we'll give you the link now:

http://heroonmyarm.com/pages/orderstatus.htm

Thanks and hope you all are enjoying a wonderful holiday weekend!

Newsletter!

Our old newsletter sign up was full! So we have a new one, you can sign up below (and also on the website). If you were signed up on the old mailing list you do NOT need to sign up again, you are still on the list!

Sign up for our Email Newsletter

For Email Marketing you can trust

New Pictures!

So its been WAY too long since we added pictures to the photo gallery!  Sorry about that.  Visit it here:

http://www.flickr.com/photos/heroonmyarm/sets/

And you can see over 350 new bag pictures we just added!

Wonder what the new NWUs look like as a purse?

Or want to see more Margaret bags?

New Jacquelines?

New flight suit bags?

More Coast Guard bags?

Claudias?

Police Uniform bags?

Elizabeth bags?

Bags made with dress uniforms?

Improved features, like picture pockets?

Fun fabric bags?

Bags made from things other than uniforms- like school sweatshirts?

School Backpacks?

Hugs bears?

Pretty much, a little bit of everything!  Plus in case you were wondering what JD's diaper bag looks like- here it is:

There won't be another order update this Monday- We are going to start posting them on Fridays, with the next one May 28th.

For Those Inquiring About Becoming a Sales Rep

First, we are so honored and humbled that so many of you have (and continue to) inquired about becoming a sales representative for Hero On My Arm. With Seneca on maternity leave, there will be no additions to our sales rep team at least until she returns (June/July). Those of you that have emailed us, we will let you know as soon as we are accepting new reps.

Thanks so much!

Our Newest Addition!

Meet James David!

(but you can just call him JD)

He was born on May 1, at 9:06 pm, weighing 8 pounds, 7 ounces, and 20 1/4 inches long.

Blog Updates

Today is Friday, April 30th, 2010. We will post one more massive update with everyone's order status as of this morning. From now on, we'll continue with these all inclusive updates every FRIDAY. In between (Saturday- Thursday), we will post only:

Bags shipped

Uniforms received

Hopefully this will make it even easier for you to track the progress of your order. Many of the bags that are still "in production" will be shipping out today, Saturday or Monday, but we will not move them to the shipped list until they have actually left the studio. If you need your bag by a certain date, feel free to email us and let us know the date you need the bag in hand, and we will do our best to accomodate, however we cannot guarantee it.

Please understand that due to the custom nature of bags, delays are sometimes unavoidable- we are all working as hard as we can to get your order to you as quickly as possible, while still upholding the quality standards and attention to detail that we believe each order deserves.

Thanks again for your understanding!

A Few Friendly Reminders...

If you don't see your name on the lists we're publishing, just let us know, chances are, I just missed it when I was typing!

If you sent your uniform Parcel Post, understand it can take 2+ weeks to arrive.

Please pay attention to the uniform TYPE that you select when ordering accessories. The uniform types are:

We are getting a lot of orders in where the camo types do not match, and this takes time to double check and can delay your order. Example: Customer places a purse order indicating they will send in their own uniform, and also order several accessories in BDU (name tapes, wallet, checkbook). When the uniform arrives, its an ABU uniform, not a BDU. Please make sure you are using the correct common abbreviation.

You do not need to purchase the USABLE POCKETS option for your bag UNLESS the pockets on the uniform are SEWN SHUT and you'd like them reopened to be able to use them. If the pockets on the uniform you send in are usuable, they will automatically be usable on your bag as well.

Don't forget the lining color, and ribbon color when you order (these are the most commonly left off items). If you choose ribbon ties, you still need to select the size and color ribbon you'd like.

At this time, we simply can NOT accomodate any new RUSH requests. Please do not include them AFTER you order either (i.e. a note with your uniform that you need your bag completed in 3 weeks). We are very sorry, and if we could, we would, but its just impossible at this time!

And lastly, thank you, thank you, thank you, for your patience. We are all working non stop both to answer all your emails and phone calls and on the production side to complete orders as quickly as possible!

Upcoming Updates...

Anyone checking on the status of their order should receive that information by TUESDAY, APRIL 6th.

Anyone inquiring about becoming a sales rep should receive that information (which I will also post here) by THURSDAY, APRIL 8th.

Orders are currently taking the full 6-8 weeks, but we are, as always, still OPEN for business, even though we haven't been posting much here.

Hope everyone had a happy Easter and is enjoying a pleasant springtime!

Thanks!

The 2010 Sales Rep Information

Here goes!  Please read all the way through, there's lots of info.

The first open sign up for sales reps is January 15th, 2010 through February 1st, 2010.  During this time, anyone that has already contacted us and been approved to become a sales rep may purchase their sales rep kit here.  If you are interested in becoming a sales rep, but haven't spoken to us, just email us to make sure that we are accepting sales reps in your area.  If you purchase a sales rep kit during this time, it will ship the first week of February.

From February 1st, 2010 though the February 28th, 2010, we will NOT be accepting any new sales reps.

Starting March 1st and through October 1st, sales rep kits will be available for purchase on the website, and will ship within 2 weeks of your purchase.

During the holiday season (October through December 31st, 2010) we will again close new rep sign up and no new rep kits will be available until the new year.

Now, let's answer some questions!

What's in the sales rep kit?

The sales rep kit is $90.  It includes:

SUPPLIES:

Sales Rep Training Manual

Fabric Swatch Samples

Keychain Font Samples

20 generic business cards

10 catalogs

25 order forms

20 party invitations

INTERNET TOOLS/GRAPHICS:

your own personal email (yourname@heroonmyarm.com)

your own personalized business card template with custom logo

your own personal clickable signature tag

your own personal url for the website (heroonmyarm.com/yourname)

access to the Hero On My Arm Sales Rep Discussion board 

PRODUCTS:

1 Hero On My Arm bag (ACU Grace, BDU/DCU Michelle or ABU/NWU/MARPAT Anna bag)

small wristlet

large make up bag

keychain

checkbook cover

ID/credit card holder

As a sales rep, you also receive 20% of your own personal purchases.

What is happening during the month of February, when you aren't accepting any new sales reps? (This is important for our current sales reps, too!)

February will be spent working one on one with all of our current and newly signed up sales reps, developing individual business plans, updating items for our current reps (like swatches), and going through each part of the rep program resources, so that they are fully understood and utilized.

What is the starter trunk?  Do I have to buy that too?

The starter trunk is available for purchase here.  It is $100 and you do not receive your sales rep discount on this purchase.  It is a sampling of our 4 most popular bag styles.  You are required to send in the uniforms to create your trunk (3 tops, 2 pants).  If you already own one of the bags in the sample trunk, you may substitute another bag style for the one(s) you already own.  You are NOT required to purchase the starter trunk.  Sample trunks are made available for our sales reps to borrow, however this must done in advance, and most sales reps do find that having their own trunk is the most convenient option.

What if there is already a sales rep in my area?

Some areas can support more than one sales rep, while others can not.  Contact us to learn about other options, like becoming a virtual sales rep.

Why did it take so long?

Some of you have been waiting for several months to hear about the sales rep program for the new year, we do understand.  But we also wanted to make sure that we are able to set each sales rep up for success and that the program is running smoothly and efficiently, and that takes time.