Calendar Update

There have been some hold ups with the printer with regards layout and difficulty in opening some files so the designer has re-sent them. Apparently they are "nearly there now" with regards completed proof so I'll be rugby tackling the Postman to the ground this week to quickly proof check, sign off and return the draft to the printer rapido! It's all gone a bit slow with regards orders - very few in so far, but hopefully they will pick up once I've taken delivery as I'll be shoving them down everyone's throat left, right and centre until the end of December!

The Poster is ready on the boys website for people to download, print off and stick in Post Office windows, School's, CF Centres and anywhere else you think they will attract attention and gain sales.

I've taken the on-line payment system off the Order page as I am aware that Paypal do take a % and I couldn't work out how to set it up anyway! However, once I take delivery of the calendars I'll be putting some on ebay, but upping the price slightly to cover ebay charges, if people would prefer to pay that way.

The CF Calendar 2008

Below is the complete CF Calendar for 2008 as it will be on completion for perusal. The designer is putting it all on to disc to send to the Printer tomorrow and I'll be waiting a proof copy in anticipation! Once that's signed and approved then we can get the ball rolling to print 2000 copies and then the selling begins! Fingers crossed for a rapid turn around on printing and then I can start publicising them more as I know we only have 2 clear months of calendar selling at full price ahead.
I hope you are all as happy with the final version as I am and thank you to all those who sent me pictures and an extra special thank you to Prospect Distributors in London for sponsoring the calendar and also for their generosity in providing bubble wrap, brown packing paper and a slight over ordering of 36 rolls of packing tape which will come in rather useful for the bondage sessions!! ;-)

CF Calendar 2008 - Order Form

The Order Form is now set up on the boys website for anyone wanting to get orders in now via post. However, the on line ordering system isn't set up properly yet as I don't have the link to Paypal created on my new e-mail address yet. That's hopefully something that will be done within the next couple of days, but you can still request an Invoice and I'll keep it pending until I can send one.
The Poster should be on there within the next couple of days aswell and I'd be grateful if people could pass them round and stick them where they'll get seen.
I have a press release waiting to be sent to anyone who would like to help publicise the calendar with their local newspaper, thanks to Gemma Foy, and I'll put a separate topic up within the next few weeks once people start receiving their calendars.
Calendar should hopefully be ready within 2 - 3 weeks so that gives people time to suss out how many they need.
Bear with me initially though as last year I had orders for over 500 before I'd even received them - gives me a good idea of how many we are going to sell.
I hope you will all be as pleased with the final version - this year's is different yet again with excellent content and attracting colour.
Thank you all for your help and support - together we will make a difference.

www.thebarnesboys.org.uk


I'll try and keep people updated weekly on how sales are going on this Blog - my target still remains at £10,000 proceeds and I'd be delighted to achieve that this year. If we sell the initial 2000 calendars to be printed we'll well exceed that. Now the hard work begins on publicising it.

Final Cover Proof

February Proof - First Draft

Printing

All is speeding up now towards us having a calendar to sell - very exciting! We have reached the designer's layout target of 108 pictures - 9 per page. Today I've received a draft copy of February to pick the background colours and it's looking great - might Blog that later, but be aware it's not the final version, just a sample for now.
Once the calendar is finished the Poster and Order Form will be on the boys website to download and we can start taking orders.
Last year I had orders for over 500 before I'd even received them so you won't be surprised to learn I was rushed off my feet for the first week or two trying to get them out to people. Don't panic if you feel your calendar is a bit slow on delivery if you send in an order before they are ready - I'll be doing my utmost to make sure they are all out within 2 weeks of receipt of them. I'll be a one woman packing machine again!!
Dragging the slideshow to the top again to show you all the final pictures:

Make an on-line slide show at www.OneTrueMedia.com

First Cover Proof

First draft cover proof has arrived. There are a few pictures missing to be added and about 4 new one's also, but we're nearly there!!!

Cover Proof

The cover proof will be ready today and once it's been approved I'll put a copy on here for everyone to see. Hopefully the Poster will be done at the same time so I'll also add links and hope that maybe people who have contributed a picture will put some posters up locally to generate more sales for us. It's getting to the exciting stage now!!

Another Update

The calendar design is almost complete now. The designer is working on the cover and the wording and, fingers crossed, we should be ready to send the final version to print within the next week or so. Don't want to delay it much longer as it can take 2 - 3 weeks to print and get them to me and we'll be into November. The Order Form and Poster should be ready once the calendar is ready so people can start ordering and helping me to promote them. I'll try and get an on-line link created aswell and would be really grateful for any help in promoting them.
Am keeping my fingers and everything else crossed that this year we can achieve the £10,000 target I've been after - you have to have some sort of a goal!!
We have 104 pictures at the moment and have space for just 4 more with the design created so it's not too late to add a photo if you are quick!
Thank you all for your help this year and I'm so sorry it all turned a bit confusing - sometimes I wonder why I do it and then I look at my son's and I learn of another life lost to CF and I remember why - the hassle is only temporary - life is far more precious.