A Look Back

• December 2010: We completed our first shorebird carvings in a rented Saco workshop
• January-May 2011: We added new products to our line and traveled all over Maine to find retailers who would sell our birds. We only found 5 out of hundreds of rejections, but we did not give up.
• June-July 2011: We bought a 10X10 tent and participated in four arts and crafts shows. We made our own website. We spent more money on set up, jury fees, and booth fees for the shows than we made.
• August-September 2011: We went to Portland and set up a table on the sidewalk when the cruise ships docked nearby. We sold one ornament in three full days. Still, we did not give up. We participated in the Oxford County Fair, where we demonstrated our process, educated the public, and sold our products for a week straight. We finally tasted a bit of success after 10 months of hard work.
• October 2011: David installed shelving, a wood stove, and a work bench in a used work trailer. No more paying rent for workshop space or for the gas to get there! Sales began to pick up at our retailers, especially at Lisa Marie’s Made in Maine (Portland, Bath) with the arrival of the Leaf-peepers. Bekah had an unexpected trip to the hospital, and due to a high insurance deductible, had to pay out of pocket for a large percentage of the bill. Even so, we did not give up.
• November-December 2011: Sales doubled at our retailers during the Christmas Season. Bekah resigned from her full time job. David had to put in many long hours at his full time job to make ends meet. We had to work hard to keep up with demand.
• January-March 2012: We made improvements on the website, added more products to our line, and gathered new wood from various sources. There were hardly any sales during this part of the winter. Bekah got a part time job and started her own tutoring business on the side. Funding for David’s full time position ran out mid-winter. This motivated us even more to reach for our dream of being full time with Tote Road within the year.

We are working on lots of new ideas and are excited to see where Tote Road goes from here! Thanks for your support!