Our Turn to Be the Customer!

For forever at LILL HQ we've had a monthly potluck lunch tradition where those with birthdays in the month choose a food theme and everyone contributes something to a potluck meal. It is something everyone looks forward to each month. In fact we like potlucks so much it was a major factor in the design of the office lunchroom layout - including the massive 6' x 20' island. We just had to make sure we had enough room for everyone's treats each month...

About a month ago we added to this tradition by including a handbag design party for staff as part of the potluck. Now, each month during the potluck we draw names of a few styles staff can choose from to design. Then everyone pairs up to take turns being the stylist and the customer to help each other design and place an order. My hope in adding this was that the staff who primarily works at headquarters vs. in the field directly with customers would get a sense of what it was like to be at a party or to work as a Store Stylist or as a LILL on Location Rep. My goal is to use the staff bag parties to help us make better decisions about fabrics, styles, selling processes etc to improve our overall customer experience - and the big bonus - each staff member would be treated to a new LILL product each month.

What I didn't fully count on was how much fun it would be to change hats and just be the customer for a change. I'd forgotten how much fun it is to mix and match fabrics for myself - I'd become accustomed to the instant gratification of the ready-made and hadn't actually designed one for myself in a while, and especially not a party setting. By the time I was done selecting the combination for my Hadley bag, I was giddy with excitement and couldn't wait to see how my bag and those of other staff I helped design would turn out. I could see the same excitement on the faces of the rest of the staff. The wait was over last Friday when we got everyone back together to ohh and ahh over the finished products. I must say we created some really beautiful bags that fit each person to a tee. It was the quintessential LILL experience. It gave everyone who participated a renewed appreciation for the LILL products and experience as the customer sees it. I definitely think it accomplished the goal and more. Check out the photo of some of our staff with the bags they designed...

We had our second potluck bag party yesterday - this month's bag choices were special occasion bags. Erinn was the big winner as almost everyone designed that style. In a few weeks we'll present everyone's finished products. There were so many fun combinations, I can't wait to see them completed! I just love being the customer!

Happy Designing!
Jen Velarde

How do you use today's technology?

I went to a holiday party this weekend where the conversation turned to how long we have been out of college and how much technology has changed how we live today. When I graduated in 1995, I had never sent an email, the internet was no where on my radar screen and all of my training for work in the world of interior design had been done with pencil in hand vs. on a CAD system. We have been talking about this at LILL lately as well and while I have since emersed myself into technology and it runs most of our operations today - I didn't "grow up" with it like those 10-15 years or so younger than me.

Technology for me is something I have to think about versus something that is ingrained in my daily routine. I have dabbled in blogging, lightly use facebook and have yet to personally twitter. I keep my blackberry close at hand most of the time, primarily for email. I just started to understand the purpose of texting - and actually really like it. All this is great, but it is December, 2009. And, so, you might say I am pretty far behind the times in terms of keeping pace with some of my more technologically savvy customers. I feel the technology gap each time we discuss ways to reach this portion of our demographic. With all of the options that social media provides it can be a bit overwhelming to decipher which methods are the best tools to stay in touch. I find myself probing anyone who seems "totally connected" for their ideas and what they are doing now to communicate to friends, find out about events, promotions and products etc.

One idea we recently tried that was successful for us was working with Groupon - a collective buying program - where we adverstised a special purchase opportunity to their mailing list. It generated a huge amount of buzz for us in the first two markets we tried - Chicago and KC. Since we participated, I am on the daily deal email list and it is one of my new favorite ways to find out about different businesses and specials around my city. (We are the deal of the day in the Boston market tomorrow - 12/15 - so if you missed an opportunity to get in on the deal earlier, you can join in the Boston deal as coupons are valid at any of our stores www.groupon.com/boston )

That is one example of a great new tool - there are many more out there that I am looking to learn about. So I am asking - where do you go to find out about new concepts, cool experiences, great sales, etc? Send me your ideas. Leave your comments here - for each one I get, I'll put your name in a drawing for one of my favorite bags of the season - Grace in Chateau de Lill.

Or - come tell us your thoughts in person - if you are currently attending a large midwestern university and will be in Chicago over the holidays, we will be hosting a focus group on Thursday, Jan 7th from 1pm to 4pm at our Chicago boutique at 904 W. Armitage in Lincoln Park. If you are interested in participating, please complete this questionnaire below no later than Wednesday, Dec 16th. https://app.e2ma.net/app2/survey/27318/16426/0f8892001a/

(If you are selected, you will be notified by Monday, Dec. 21st. Focus group participants will receive an 1154 LILL Design a Bag Kit in return for their participation in the focus group session).

Jen Velarde

Bridal Contest - Winners!

We are excited to announce the winners of LILL’s Bridal Contest for 2008!
So many stories and photos were sent in and we here at the LILL HQ had a wonderful time getting to know all you LILL Girls out there a little better. We were delighted to see how LILL helped make your wedding day special.

1st Place Winner of the $100 LILL Gift Certificate – Angie W.!

2nd Place Winner of the $75 LILL Gift Certificate – Melissa K.!

3rd Place Winner of the $50LILL Gift Certificate – Nikole J.!

Thanks again to our brides who submitted their stories and photos and thanks for making LILL a part of your big day.
Congrats to the winners and have fun creating your next LILL Bag!


-Lilly S.

LILL Bridal Contest!

2008 was an exciting year for many of our LILL Girls because they had a very special day to celebrate, their wedding! We received a great response to our Bridal Contest and are so excited to share their stories with you.

Here are the top picks from our contest entry submissions, vote for your favorite! The lucky winner will receive a LILL gift certificate for $100! 2nd and 3rd place winners win a prize too!

Enjoy the entries and have a great time voting for your favorite! You have until January 16th to vote! The winners will be announced on January 19th!

Entry #1
Laura S.

Mary" was a perfect way for me and my maids to match the big day's color scheme, while offering room for our own creativity on the reverse side. Cute and functional, our "Marys" held all our party-primping necessities!

Entry #2

Angie W.

I designed handbags for all four of my bridesmaids. I visited LILL the previous year when I was visiting a friend in Boston. I fell in love with all of the bags! So, the following year when I got married, I knew that a purse for my bridesmaids was the perfect gift. The purses were made in my wedding colors, which were pink and green. Attached is a photo with the girls and their bags. Thanks!!

Entry #3
Lindsey M.

I just loved my LILL bag that my husband had made for me. He gave it to me the week before our June 21st wedding and I was so surprised. I had made 6 of them for each one of my bridesmaids, and was bummed that I had not got myself one as well. Unfortunately we did not get a picture of us all with our bags! But they all loved them!
Thanks so much for having great choices to choose from!

Entry #4
Carrie O.

LILL bags were the PERFECT gifts for my EIGHT bridesmaids. I surprised them each with a custom bag I designed to compliment their unique personalities. They were all so excited and I continue to get compliments whenever I see them. Thanks, LILL!

Entry #5
Jennifer W.
I had ordered coordinating LILL bags for myself, my mom and my wedding party prior to my Las Vegas wedding. I was getting ready to walk down the aisle and I realized my 30 year old flower girl had left her basket in the room. We dumped out the contents of her brand new LILL bag and filled it with rose petals. In a moment of panic, the LILL bag saved the day!

Entry #6
Rebekah S
For my August 30th wedding, I custom made five Liz style purses for my bridesmaids and groomslady! I also made myself a custom Grace style purse! They made great gifts!

Entry #7
Anne B.

My bridesmaids and I are all obsessed with purses, especially custom-designed purses, so it was an easy decision of what to get them for attendant presents – LILL Bags of course! And they were useful for the day’s festivities and functional and fun for other nights out!

Entry #8
Sara L.
I customized clutches for each of my bridesmaids to wear on my wedding day. Unfortunately, I don't have the photo from my wedding, but we did take a pic the night before when I presented the bags to each of them. Enjoy!

Entry #9
Jamie T.
I wanted something personal yet practical to give my bridesmaids, these bags were perfect! I had a special hand in creating their gift and they have something they'll actually use.

Entry #10
Melissa K.

I am a purse fanatic!! I have a purse for every occasion, season and holiday. When my sister moved to Boston and found 1154 LILL on Newberry street she new it was my dream store. I have 2 Lill purses and they are my favorites by far! So when I became engaged it was a no brainer that the girls in the wedding party would carry purses instead of flowers and LILL was the first place I thought of. It was so much fun picking out all the fabrics for the girls with my sister. When they opened them it made me smile to see how happy they were and how touched they were that I personalized them!
LILL really helped to make my wedding wonderful and memorable.

Entry #11
Nikole J.
For my bachelorette party, I chose Chicago as the destination for all of my bridesmaids to unite from their cross-continental locations. we went to the LILL boutique and designed GRACE Bags for the wedding. They were a HUGE hit! Not only did designing these bags unite my college and high school friends with my family - but they also served as a fabulous accessory piece, and a popular conversation topic the day of the wedding!
Thank you so much for adding to my wedding day festivities. I will always be grateful to 1154 LILL!

Thanks so much for sharing your stories LILL Girls and congrats on your Special Day! Perhaps we will hear from you again when you are ready for a diaper bag?

Best wishes to you all.

-Lilly S.

Emily's Pick of the Week - Bridal Inspiration!

Hey LILL Fans!
This week, I thought I’d spotlight a LILL bride. Many ladies choose to design a special LILL item for each of their bridal attendants. You can make an appointment with one of our bridal consultants to discuss your style and fabric choices. Also, you can enjoy a 10% bridal discount if you order 5 or more of the same or similar style bags. It’s a super creative and unique gift. You can choose different fabrics to suit each girls’ personality. Whenever your girls use their LILL bag, they will think of you and your wedding!

Spotlight on Jeana M. from PA. Jeana designed 5 GRACE’s for her each of her bridesmaids and a DREA for her maid of honor. For GRACE, you get to choose the exterior, ruffle, interior and interior pocket.

Take a look at the darling combinations that Jeana came up with.

For the first GRACE, Jeana chose the versatile Malabar Paisley fabric with a dainty chocolate brown and tan design atop a cream background. The external ruffle contains the shiny Dark Roast Sateen. The interior boasts the enchanting Mystic Mahogany and the secret pocket has the Dark Roast Sateen again.

The next GRACE has some great pops of color! The exterior has the bright and sunny Yellow Stone fabric (one of my personal favorites!). The ruffle is a cool contrast in the fuchsia Rosita fabric. The interior is truly eye catching with the psychedelic Day Tripper. The interior pocket has a bright burst of Rosita.

The next GRACE is perfect for the “pink lady” in your circle of friends. The exterior is covered with the tweedy Strawberries ‘n Cream fabric. The ruffle stands out in the pink Rhubarb Weave. The interior is adorable with the pink, yellow, green and cream paisley Kashmir fabric. The secret pocket is the pink Rhubarb Weave.

The fourth GRACE has the mod blue Aqua Beads on the exterior. A Red Basketweave ruffle delivers an interesting contrast with the Aqua Beads exterior. The interior is covered with the dainty cherry blossoms of Hanky Panky. The secret pocket has a pop of Red Basketweave.

The last GRACE boasts the very popular black and cream Flocked Floral. This fabric has velvety black flowers on a cream backdrop. The ruffle matches in Black Shantung. The interior flows with the red and cream flowers of Turning Tulips. The interior pocket shines in Ebony Sateen.

The DREA bag that Jeana designed for her maid of honor is a reversible bag! The exterior is covered in a classy black, white and pink design of the Vanity Fair fabric. The external stripe is in the bright pink of Bubble Gum Linen. The interior is in the whimsical black and white Ink Swirls (another one of my favorites!). The secret pocket and the strap have the pink Bubble Gum Linen.

I would like to thank Jeana M. for choosing to make LILL a part of her special day.

Remember, LILL Bags are also great to carry if you are attending a wedding. Finally, something to spice up that little black dress.

For all you brides out there, be sure to enter our Bridal Contest!

-Emily

Celebrating a Special Day with LILL

At LILL we are fortunate to meet so many brides who choose to celebrate their upcoming wedding day with us. Whether they host a party for their bridesmaids to design their own LILL Bag as a gift or present their ‘maids with custom LILL Bags designed by them, LILL Brides always seem to manage to add a special touch to their day.

We continue to be amazed and inspired by the creations we see from LILL brides. More importantly, we love their stories.

Lindsey G. from Dublin, OH sent us a photo of her and her bridesmaids from her wedding day and was excited to share her story with us.

Photo taken by Dolce Studios

"I saw an article a couple of years ago in Fitness magazine about designing your own personal gym bag. I thought the concept was so fun that I book marked the website on 'my favorites'. Last year while I was brainstorming for that perfect 'unique' bridesmaids gift I came across the LILL website again and found exactly what I was looking for. After researching more info I learned how there was a LILL rep in the Columbus area for handbag parties. I contacted her immediately and decided to have a party for all my bridesmaids. They all designed their own purses and I was able to give them their own unique creations at the rehearsal dinner. We had such a great time and now everyone has a special memento from my wedding!"
Lindsey G.

Get to know Lindsey a little more:

Favoritestyle? ANDI
Wedding Date: June 30, 2007
Most memorable part of your wedding day:
It was so much fun to see all of the ideas, hard work, and planning come together. Our main goal was for everyone to have a great time….we knew our goal had been met when the DJ announced that it was time for the last song and everyone booed! Having everyone that we love and care about all together in one place to help us celebrate was the best!

Thanks so much for sharing your story, Lindsey!

If you are a bride looking for a special way to celebrate or a maid-of-honor looking for a unique outing, you can book a party with LILL!
-Lilly S.