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Mad Moo Musings....the bovine blog!
Monday 8th March 2010
Well "Hello" to 2010.
It's been a long time since our last update...Autumn became Winter, which has in turn become Spring.. Christmas was thrown in between too!
Mad Moo has attended three events so far this year - two at our regular monthly haunt, Duck Pond Market in Ruislip, and a newer regular quarterly one, at Bentley Priory run by Katy and Andrew, Delapole Events.
We are currently updating our events calendar for 2010 and trying to fill as many weekends as possible through the year.
We are looking for people to become independent sales agents this year so watch this space.
We would like to thank all of our customers both old and new for their support during 2009, and look forward to your continued custom in the new year.
Gotta dash now but will be adding a few more comments a little later....
Saturday 19th September
Mad Moo Toys will be at one of our regular monthly events tomorrow, Sunday 20th September.
The Great Barn, Bury Street, Ruislip is the venue for the Ruislip Duck Pond Market from 10 a.m until 3 p.m
The markets slogan is 'Interesting. Local. Ethical", and currently attracts over 80 stalls!
Why not pop along and view Mad Moo's wares?
Ruislip Duck Pond Market The Great Barn Manor Farm Site Bury Street Ruislip HA4 7SU
For full details take a look at The Duck Pond Market website:
http://www.duckpondmarket.co.uk/duckpondmarket.co.uk/Ruislip_DPM.html
Tuesday 15th September
Where to begin, where to begin?
Mad Moo Toys have been extremely busy over the last week or so.
Last Sunday Mad Moo Toys (Mad Moo Toys = the hubby and me) attended The Brentford Festival 2009 at Boston Manor Park (see below).
The sun shone, the band played, food was eaten, and laughter was heard aplenty. Pencil this one in for next year if you can - we will be there as a family if not in Mad Moo guise.
Monday, was a days rest - well as restful as it can be with the little Mad Ones.
Tuesday followed with a couple of successful hours at a local authority.
Wednesday was a busy day for Mr. Mad Moo with stock collection in the morning followed by an interview in the afternoon for a job that he desperately would like to have. The school run was followed by a run up the M1 to prepare for a two day event in The Centre at Milton Keynes.
This was to be our first BIG event - well it was BIG for MMT! Mr. Mad Moo finally returned home a little after 11.00.
Thursday dawned very early for Mr. Mad Moo who hit an accident only 20 odd miles short of his destination. A few anxious phone calls ensured that everyone was made aware that we were on our way just in case it was a bad one. Thankfully it seems that nobody was hurt and Mr. MM made it with time to spare in order to complete table dressing and pricing ready for what we hoped would be a busy and successful couple of days.
Both days were late night opening and Mr MM was a little tired when he finally made it back home on Friday night. We would like to thank all of you people who made it such a happy experience for us - our neighbouring stallholders, those who took a card or had a chat or purchased some of our wares - it truly was a pleasure to meet you all.
On Saturday we visited a new market for Mad Moo Toys in Berkhamsted. This had been recommended to us by a couple of our fellow stall holders from The Duck Pond Markets, and we did not know what to expect. Well Mad Moo Toys would like to report that this market has the same feel to it as that of The Duck Pond Markets. It is set in a lovely location, it's easily accessible, and the people involved, from Claire the organiser, through to the cafe and the town hall staff are welcoming and a pleasure to be around.
We hope that this becomes Regular Event No. 3, and a big thank you to all of our new customers. You can view a full list of market dates from The Great Markets website, http://www.greatmarkets.vpweb.co.uk/.
Last but not least we attended our final event of a very long but very successful and encouraging week at The Harrow Duck Pond Market. We snuck into the spot normally held for our friends at Daisy Chain Baby, who were off at some little event called The Thames Festival - I know we've never heard of it either :-) (Just kidding DCB and so glad that you had a storming weekend!).
IT WAS CHILLY! We thought that this would deter people from venturing out but it seemed a little busier than last time?!? Caron Pook who runs The Duck Ponds (ably assisted by a number of friends and family I might add), really has been putting a lot of time and effort into getting this one off of the ground. We hope that it continues to evolve and grow as it deserves to. Thanks to all of you who shared a conversation, and to those of you who purchased from us.
Thursday 3rd September
Just a quick update to tell you that Mad Moo Toys will be attending The Brentford Festival at Boston Manor Park this Sunday 6th September from 12.00. Entry is FREE. Please pop along as its looking like it is going to be a good day.
Click here for travel information.
The Festival is a major community event, and provides a great day out for the residents of the surrounding boroughs.
The following is taken direct from the Festival website, http://www.brentfordfestival.org.uk:
"Entertainment is provided by musical bands, dancers, dog show, traditional children’s fair, inflatable slides, land train, urban farm and other activities, such as, climbing wall and quad bikes. The exact content and mix varies from year to year. Visit our Festival 2009 page for details of what is happening this year.
There is usually a variety of refreshment stalls and areas which, traditionally, includes bars, café, tea garden, caterers: Thai, Sri Lankan, Burgers, German Sausage. Visit our Catering page or our Festival 2009 page for more detailed information.
Many community and support groups, institutions, voluntary organisations, charities and businesses attend each year and Stalls include: art, crafts, clothes, cakes, bric-a-brac, jewellery and many more.
Sporting activities continue through the afternoon and the event is attended by football, rugby, tennis, and canoeing clubs. We are supported each year by the Brentford Football Club, Spartans Football Club and Boston Manor Tennis Club.
Last, but certainly not least, Grade I Listed Boston Manor House is open to the public throughout the afternoon. Visit the stateroom and the dining room, where William IV and Queen Adelaide were entertained by the Clitherow family in 1834."
Wednesday 2nd September
Over the bank holiday weekend, Mad Moo Toys attended the 5th Harrow in Leaf Annual Horticultural Show, at Headstone Manor in Harrow, along with our friends and fellow small business Daisy Chain Baby. We really did not know what to expect, as although we are familiar with the site being stallholders with Harrow Duck Pond Market, this would be our first time at this show. We were just praying for fine weather as there is nothing quite as demoralising as standing under a gazebo in the cold or even worse the rain! Our prayers were not to be realised as the weather decided that it would be cloudy with a chilly wind! This had the effect of negating the amount of people attending the first day of the event. However we were told that the Monday is normally a much better day by previous attendees! So with heavy hearts and a little bit of hope we packed up and headed home.
We were in two minds whether to make the trip the following day, but we agreed that even if we were able to give out a few promotional flyers then that would be a plus. The weather decided to bless us with sunshine. We already sensed a better day when we spied people queuing ready for opening time. And so it turned out to be a very good day. People came out in good numbers, the place had a buzz, and there were smiles all round!
But what about the event itself? Well, there were a couple of tents displaying the wares of those taking part in the competitions, you know various best in show vegetables, flowers, art work, honey etc. Talking of honey I put my name down for a Bee Keeping taster course! Along with the show tents, there was a band, Morris Dancers (they were fun!), various childrens rides, a hot food and home baked cake stall, jewellery stalls, local nature and charity stalls, and last but not least a stall from Daisy Chain Baby, to name but a few.
Will we be there next year? Yes we hope so. This used to be the local Harrow Show and was a very big event indeed. The organisers, we have been told are hoping to build it back up to it's former glories, and we wish them all the best!!
Tuesday 18th August 2009
Well it's been a long time since our last post.
To be cont. as soon as I come back downstairs!!
Thursday 6th August 2009
Sounds like the rest of the family will be visiting a local car museum later on today. I have taken a look and I reckon that they will have a good time.
The London Motor Museum is just up the road. I didn't even realise that it was there. Then again ask me for local directions and I would not have a clue - have only lived here for 10 years!
Here is a link to the main site
http://www.londonmotormuseum.co.uk/
but for better "look" here is a video link:
http://current.com/items/76372562_elos-car-collection.htm
I will be trying to complete the mini makeover of the website...oh joy!!
Will get some feedback later on their return!!!!
Tuesday 4th August 2009
On Sunday we will be at Duck Ponds Harrow Market which takes place every second Sunday of each month (well that's the plan but please double check here to be sure!), at Harrow Museum, Headstone Manor.
This will be only the third market to be held at this new venue. The second event, although a little down on the number of stalls due to the holiday season, seemed to attract greater numbers of shoppers. A lot of effort is being put in to raise awareness of the event and we are hoping that Harrow follows in the same successful vein as that of it's sister markets held in Ruislip.
Harrow Duck Pond's ethos is the same as that of the other Duck Ponds - to be lively, eclectic, unique and to combine farmers market stalls with a selection of local artists and crafters, live local musicians and other interesting stalls.
It's a lovely venue with a relaxed vibe. Come along and say hello and pick up one of our bargains!
Duck Pond Market Harrow
Sunday 9th August 2009 10.00 a.m to 3.00 p.m
Harrow Museum Headstone Manor Pinner View Harrow HA62 6PX
http://www.duckpondmarket.co.uk/duckpondmarket.co.uk/NEW_Harrow_DPM.html
Monday 3rd August 2009
Today Mad Moo has been looking at suppliers of long, handled cotton bags. It seems that the majority of suppliers are pitching around the same price point. So I have sent off for a few quotes to see what we get back.
On the back of the "bag search" we decided to think up a few designs, with the winning one as follows:
Drop us a line or two at contact@madmootoys.com and tell us what you think - be honest, we are big boys and girls!!
Saturday 1st August 2009
The M40 was a scary place to be today.
We were caught in the torrential downpour on the way back from The Bicester & Finmere Show..
Driving conditions were hazardous to say the least. Seemed like the rain was hitting us head on, which, added to the surface spray from other vehicles, severely hampered visibility.
I know that there are more important things to be banging on about but I do not believe that motorways should be able to accumulate enough surface water to border on creating an aquaplane scenario.
A few times I gripped the wheel expecting a "lift off" that never came. Maybe it was the heavy weight of the stock in the back that kept us pinned to the road?
Really do not wish to visit those conditions again.
Friday 31st July 2009
We visited Ruislip Lido yesterday to take a ride on the small gauge railway there. We all had a great time, tooting our loudest just like Thomas. We took a family return for £7.00 around to the sandy side. We had an ice-cream and a play on the swings and roundabout, then took the return train back to our starting point. Great fun indeed!
Talking trains, Mad Moo Toys will shortly be adding a whole load of extra train sets and related items to our site.
All are compatible with other leading systems, are high quality , but more importantly offer fantastic value,
Toot Toot!!
Thursday 30th July 2009
I'ts late Wednesday night...well early Thursday morning really.
"What on earth are you doing at 12.30 in the morning typing away on the computer?", you may ask.
Mmmm, a good question really.
I have been looking for events for the next week, month, especially around Christmas.
Mad Moo Toys does really well when people can take a look, pick up, and feel the toys.
So we need to get out there and spread the word.
I have been giving the website a mini makeover. Have made everything bigger, and cleaner - more white space, and less colours.
The website should be doing a lot better but I know that Rome wasn't built in a day and that things will take time.
We ran an ad on Facebook over the weekend, and took a sale. I like the way that you can target your audience - it seems powerful, and a lot less random than a Google ad. Not that I am "dissing" Google, I will go back at some point to Adwords but feel that I need to give FB a go.
The regular Duck Pond Markets continue to go really well - we really do appreciate your custom there. Harrow looks like it's going to be a slow burner but I really do believe that it will be a success as well. Caron really does a grand job. Am just wondering if she is going to expand here mini market empire?
Talking of the Duckponds. The fresh Humous pitta wraps are sensational by the way! |
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