Celebrating 1000 Facebook Likes
Many thanks to Susan Shanoff who baked us chocolate cupcakes to celebrate our milestone of 1000 likes on Facebook today. They were delicious, Susan!
And we are grateful to you too: our customers, friends, relatives, craftspeople, vendors and neighbors. It's exciting to see our Vermont furniture community grow through social media as we learn how to connect with the people who share our passions.
If you haven't already found us on Facebook, jump over and have a look! Heather B and Kendall are working hard to make our page beautiful and fill it with all kinds of information and photos you might find valuable. It's not just about furniture, although we do occasionally showcase new products and discount coupons there. But Heather and Kendall are also talking about all things Vermont: travel events, summer festivals, local wines and cheeses, farmers markets and more. Come and join the conversation!
Earth Day Challenge: Get Green Office Certified
Earth Day is just one week away, on Sunday Aprill 22, 2012. At Vermont Woods Studios we're encouraging our customers, craftspeople, vendors and friends to Green-up their Workplaces by instituting earth-friendly office policies like going paperless, recycling, using compact fluorescent lightbulbs, buying Energy Star rated equipment and so on.
You can celebrate Earth Day by virtually attending our Green-up Your Workplace Challenge on Facebook. It's just a click of your mouse and we'll plant a tree for each person who "attends" the event.
So here's today's Earth-friendly tip: get your office "green certified". It's easy- nothing too official but I think it's worth doing, if just for the insight you'll get as you think through your answers to the certification questions.
The process was developed by GreenLine Paper Company. There are 24 questions on your office energy use, building construction, office supplies, waste reduction/recycling and transportation, which will determine your score. It only takes 5 minutes to complete and it's a great (and Free) way to show the world that you are making an effort to be sustainable and environmentally conscientious. Check it out and let us know how you score!
Earth Day Challenge: Bring Your Co-Workers to “Picnic For The Planet”
OK, I know (if you don't work at Vermont Woods Studios) people don't count down to Earth Day like they do for say… Christmas, so I'll just go ahead and remind you that Earth Day is less than 2 weeks away. It's on April 22 this year.
Did you know that?
After 40 years of Earth Days coming and going, are you beginning to wonder if it really means anything anymore? If any real positive change ever comes out of Earth Day? Well, here's you chance to pitch in and make the world a little greener, better place on Earth Day 2012.
The first thing you can do (very EASY) is make just 2 clicks and join our Green-up Your Workplace Challenge on Facebook. This is a virtual event we've set up so we can share ideas with you about how to help make your workplace greener.
Next, check out The Nature Conservancy's Picnic for the Planet. All over the world, TNC is sponsoring picnics to celebrate delicious, local, organically grown food. For example, in Vermont we're having a picnic in Burlington's City Hall Park where local chefs, restaurants and farmers will come and whip up their ideas of the perfect Vermont springtime picnic. We'll have live music, exhibits and activities too.
Last year, there were more than 600 picnics in 61 countries on Earth Day. This year TNC is trying to break the Guinness Book of World Records for the largest picnic event in a 24-hour time frame. You can help! Host a picnic in your workplace. Then tell us about it on Facebook and keep Earth Day alive and going strong!
Earth Day 2012 “Green-Up Your Workplace Challenge”
If you had to give your workplace a grade for "greenliness" what would it be? Most people I've talked to say they at least have recycling containers at work. For paper that is. Not many have recycling for cans or plastic though. Not many have consistently emphasized programs for energy efficiency either (with a focus on turning computers and equipment off at night, turning lights out when not in use, replacing old incandescent bulbs with high-efficiency ones, etc.)
Come on now. It's 2012. We've had 42 Earth Days come and go since the first one in 1970. What seems to be the problem? Don't settle for a "D" on your report card.
At Vermont Woods Studios we're trying to help make this year's Earth Day (April 22, 2012) a little more successful in the workplace. Manjula and Dennis cooked up a "Green Up Your Workplace Challenge". It's a virtual Facebook event and we're asking you to attend. You can do so by liking us on our Facebook and then attending the "Green Up Your Workplace" event (a Facebook page where we'll post photos, links, stories, tips and advice for how to get an A in 'greenliness" for your workplace).
Give it a try! Our goal is to get 400 people to attend the "Green Up Your Workplace Challenge" between now and Earth Day and we're going to plant a tree for each person who attends. How about giving us a hand?
Our Favorite Furniture
We've only got Kendall for a few more days before he ditches us at Vermont Woods Studios and goes back to college after a nice long winter break. That's pretty sad because he's been cranking out the website work these last few weeks– stuff that none of the rest of us (except Manjula, of course) know how to do.
Anyway, Kendall's becoming a Facebook genie and he's set up a "Staff Picks" tab. This week he's featuring Shannon's favorite furniture, the Modern American Dining Set. It's a beautiful solid cherry table and benches– very simple but very elegant too.
Here it is all dressed up by our favorite set designer, Erica Ell. If you love it as much as Shannon does, fan us on Facebook and get an extra 5% off.
Watch Us on ABC World News with Diane Sawyer TONIGHT
UPDATE as of 7PM, Nov 30
I am really sorry if, like us, you were watching for a segment on our Made in America Christmas Challenge tonight. We weren't there 
I just asked the producer what happened and she explained that time constraints prevented our segment from being aired on schedule. I guess this is not unusual as the news is never predictable. Anyway, Christine assured me that our segment is still in the works and will be aired in the near future. She will let me know when that is and I'll post it here and on our facebook.
Don't forget to tune in (or set your DVR) to ABC World News with Diane Sawyer at 6:30pm EST TONIGHT to see our crazy Christmas Shopping Challenge in patriotic Vernon, Vermont. All your favorite American-made shopping stalwarts will be featured from the Town Hall, the Firestation, the Vernon elementary school, the Portside Tavern, Malhana Farm and Vermont Woods Studios Furniture (home of 100% American made, wood furniture).
Check out what the Brattleboro Reformer had to say about us and watch the previews on ABC.
Here's the premsie: Americans will spend, on average $700 per person on Christmas and holiday gifts this year. If we allocated just $64 of that to American made gifts, we would generate 200,000 jobs, nation-wide. So the question is: Are you IN?
If you're IN, then get counted by joining us at our Made in America Holiday Shopping virtual Facebook event (it's just a mouse click– you don't have to actually show up anywhere). Thanks for joining us and be sure to share (on our Facebook) any cool things you find in your shopping adventures!
Vermont Furniture: Throwing Our Hat in the AmEx-Facebook Big Break Ring
If you have a small business and you're looking to expand, check out the American Express-Facebook Big Break Contest for a chance to win $20,000 to use in growing your business.
It's a long shot, I know. There are already some 200,000 Facebook fans (many of which will compete I suppose) but it only takes a few minutes to fill out the entry form and who knows? Maybe you'll win.
They are picking 5 winners who will all receive the $20K prize as well as a trip to Facebook headquarters for a business make-over.
Here are the 3 questions you need to answer to compete (responses are limited to 150 words each):
- Tell us about your business. What makes it fun to come to work
- How do you see Facebook impacting your business?
- How could a big break help your biz and your customers?
For us, I figured these are all questions we need to understand at Vermont Woods Studios anyway, so why not think them through and throw our hat in the ring? Join us!
Like Vermont Furniture on Facebook – Win Ken’s Cutting Board
I know some raffles are a pain to enter, but this one is super EASY. Just 2 clicks:
First click to get to our Vermont Woods Studios Facebook page
Then click the LIKE button.
Now you're entered to win one of Ken's handmade cutting boards. They're getting pretty popular actually and we're hoping to give away or sell enough to keep Ken out of trouble… haha! The boards are made of natural native and exotic hardwood scraps from Ken's shop.
Depending on what he has on hand, you can expect to see a colorful assortment of natural Maple, Cherry, Oak, Walnut, Purple Heart, Padauk, Fir and Mahogany.
A customer remarked the other day that she could not possibly use one for a cutting board because she didn't want to mark it up. She decided to use it as a cheese board instead. Ken was so happy.
Kendall Brings Facebook to Vermont Woods Studios
Thank goodness for our brilliant children, who put their parents to shame in the technology arena (and most others). Our son, Kendall has created a Fabulous Facebook Fan Page for Vermont Woods Studios.
Kendall wanted to provide a way for customers and others interested in green furniture, rainforest conservation, wildlife protection and sustainable forestry to connect and share new ideas.
Check it out and let Kendall know how we can use it to help you and your family make informed choices about purchasing sustainable furniture and other wood products.
Thanks Kendall for all your help with our family business. You are awesome!!
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