Editing The Pen Addict 338/transcript (section)

== Cortex Episode Mention ==


'''Brad Dowdy:''' Yep. And thank you for listening to Cortex episode number 333. No, but thank you. I like, I, you know how I always appreciate your input and I'm getting it live here on the show. We didn't talk about any of this stuff beforehand. But that's not all, Myke. So once I started spewing this list, I started kind of freaking out a little bit because I still have one, two, three, three more main things and then two more main things after that. The next three are kind of knock related. Yep. We're working on a knock adjacent project. That's actually getting pretty close. That might be a 2019 thing.

'''Myke Hurley:''' What does that mean for as much as you like? This is something you and Jeff are working on together.

'''Brad Dowdy:''' Yeah. Yeah. I mean, it's no secret that we've always wanted to make larger bags like backpacks and other things like that. So we've been working on not necessarily a backpack design, but more, more outside of station, the stationary world carry gear. That would be separate from knock. So we've been working on that and that's pretty far along.

'''Myke Hurley:''' Is that separate? Like seed is separate or like a new company?

'''Brad Dowdy:''' No, like a new company. Okay. That makes sense. Like it would not. Yeah. It would not be related, but it would still be just me and Jeff. Right. So, you know, we always have lots. We have so many designs we want to make and just like creative stuff. And like the next topic on my list, we are, we have a new case design that Jeff just finished up that we're about to submit and new paper designs in the works. So, you know, we always want to keep making stuff. Like we make stuff because we enjoy it. We don't make stuff because, oh, we have to launch five items in 2019. Right. We make stuff that we like to make and we think are fun. So, we submitted a new paper design, a new notebook style that we wanted to make just last week, actually, for the coming year. And our printer shot us down. And we're super disappointed because this was a reasonably simple request. So, the printer we've been using for like the past, how long has it been in business? Six years, I guess. We've used the same printer for like five years of that time. And then our printer got bought out. And a bunch of the people we work at went and worked at this new print shop. Well, the new print shop isn't as fun to work with as the other, as the old print shop. Even though it's some of the same people, they don't have the same control that they used to do. So, they've kind of told us to go pound sand on some of our recent requests. And it's really ticked us off. So, we're looking for a new printer at the moment. Not that this is a, I mean, like this printer can make all of our basic stuff, you know, like all our note cards and stuff. That's not hard. But the things I'm asking for are super reasonable for a printer to make. And they're just, they're jamming us right now. They just don't want to deal with us. We're small potatoes. Where the other place was, it was huge and big, but it was more, had a mom and pop feel. This is more business-y, corporate-y feel. And they're like, eh, no. We'll keep making the pamphlets and brochures and whatever. So, we'll see how that goes. Because this paper design I want to make, I love it. I want it to happen. So, I'm going to see if I can execute it. But we're basically at square one outside of the design. So, the not shipping department move has gone extremely well.

'''Myke Hurley:''' Yep. So, this is the shipment and fulfillment going from the little workshop that you guys had to your home. Yep.

'''Brad Dowdy:''' Yep. I'm very happy with this. Okay. Even though it's more on my plate. Because these are the, I like doing like the tedious, I don't know why. I like making widgets, right? I'm good at making widgets. I'm very efficient. I'm very thorough. I'm very detail-oriented. I can go in, get it, get it done. Not that Jeff wasn't, but he's not. Okay. Jeff is super creative. So, since that's been off his plate, hey, we got a new pen case design. Hey, look at all the graphic changes he's put up on Instagram.

'''Myke Hurley:''' His time was being filled up by something he could do, but didn't want to do.

'''Brad Dowdy:''' Right? Yes. Yeah. Yes. So, now we're actually have a better synergy, Myke.

'''Myke Hurley:''' I've been enjoying the Nock Instagram recently, by the way. It has been very good. So, now I know why.

'''Brad Dowdy:''' So, we're like both super happy because now I don't have to ask him about shipping and he doesn't have to deal with my questions about shipping. You know, I can just do it because that's what I like to do. And I don't have to ask him about graphics and designs and photography because he just does it and that's what he does well. So, we have a good thing going with that. So, I'm hoping that will allow us to be, I don't know, maybe a little more out there in 2019 just as far as like promotion and marketing and getting the word out more. Not because everything is going well. It just, you know, like always with, you know, your baby, you want to keep growing, right? So, we want to keep Nock on the cutting edge of stationary design. So, we'll keep going with that. So, that brings us to where it's not going to be in 2019 as far as pin shows goes. That's on the table. I got to figure that out. I want, I said all year last year I wanted to have a schedule and stick to it as much as I could. And it just doesn't work out that way with our schedules. I don't know that it's going to work out this way either. So, we'll hit our five or six shows that the schedule works out to us attending. You know, obviously Atlanta is going to happen no matter what. DC is probably certainly going to happen no matter what. I'm assuming Baltimore right now. I'm assuming Dallas. I'd like to go back to San Francisco. Then you got Chicago, Raleigh, all these other things. So, that's to be determined. And, Myke, we have a little project of our own for next year to bring you over for the Atlanta Pen Show. And we always do something extra for that. And we don't have firm plans for that right now. We've talked about some things. So, to recap, there's lots of things going on. There's lots of things going on. And I'm sure I forgot something. And this is good stuff. It's like, so, I'm saying all this, Myke, to tell you I need more notebooks.

'''Brad Dowdy:''' Each project needs a notebook, Myke. Oh, oh, oh. Each project needs a notebook. Does it? No, no, I don't know. I'm just playing around. But, yeah.

'''Myke Hurley:''' I don't think that that's in line with your current system.

'''Brad Dowdy:''' Yeah, I don't think so either. So, but I have to sort all this stuff out. And, like, I totally didn't intend to write all this in the show notes. I was like, what are we going to talk about today? I've got a few topics. And then, well, I've got all these things I'm working on. And then I started typing. And it didn't stop. And finally, I just had to make myself stop. Because there's probably other stuff. Who knows what. But, like, that's, all those things are up in the air, like, on the same day a lot of times. You know, so it's fun trying to figure that out. It's stressful. But, like, no complaints. I'm in a really good spot. And I just want all these things to, you know, to put my stamp on it and do a good job and have fun and, you know, keep doing this. Oh, by the way, we have a podcast to do and a blog to write and, you know, advertisers to handle and all that stuff. Don't forget about all those things. But, yeah, lots of things. Lots of good stuff going on.

'''Brad Dowdy:''' Bigger and better than ever in 2019. And more projects, more fun, more good times. Right, Myke?

'''Myke Hurley:''' Obviously.