We're Ending Our Emails.

To be sure you do not miss any news, sales or coupons, FRIEND us on Facebook or SUBSCRIBE to this blog, and receive a $10 coupon code via email. 



As of February 28, we will no longer use email to send news or information.  Everything is shifting to our Facebook profile and the Car Seat Poncho Blog.



If you're already a friend or a subscriber, feel free to send this news far and wide.  Share it on Facebook, post it on your own blog, your birth board, your online community or your moms group.  Heck, make copies of this post and hand it out at your child's preschool.  Everyone's welcome -- let's all be friends!



New subscribers should leave a comment to this post (below) with your email address in "NAME" at "MAILSERVICE" dot COM.  Your coupon code will be sent to that address.



FINE PRINT:  Coupon codes valid for new purchases of in-stock merchandise, and expire at 11:59 pm EST on 3/31/11.  US delivery addresses only.  One coupon per email address and delivery address.  Cannot be combined with any other promotion or coupon code.

Our 5% Apology: SAVE5

Our server has been glitching for the past few days, catching many of you in an endless loop of timed-outs and error messages.  Darn it, I hate when technology bites me in the... foot. 



The store is back up and running, but in a shameless plea to not lose your sale, enter SAVE5 at checkout and take 5% off your total purchase. 



This coupon is good until SUNDAY, OCTOBER 31.  Thank you for your patience!

AUGUST Coupon Code: 25% Off (but only for first 8 customers)

It's hot as the dickens now, but make sure you're ready to keep your baby safe and warm -- without a hassle.



Be one of the FIRST 8 to enter coupon code AUGUST and save 25% off your ponchos and accessories!

DETAILS:

1. Offer valid on total purchases of any Car Seat Poncho merchandise. Limit one user per customer per mailing address. Can not be included with any other promotion or coupon. Shipping and handling charges apply. For non-US purchases, custom fees and duties may apply.

2.  For questions, please email donna@hbarryboollc.com

Save $10 (First 3 Customers Only)

Quick post to tell you that the first 3 customers who enter coupon code FIRST3 during checkout will save $10!

What's Coming Up At Car Seat Poncho?

Another sample sale --  several one-of-a-kind or last-of-its-color-ever ponchos that have never been seen outside of H Barry Boo LLC corporate offices.



And possibly (if time allows) hot pink hats with leopard or paisley trim.  Those might be coupon code specials, or gifts with purchase.



Who says the season is over?  There's plenty of cold weather ahead!

More Stories of Attempted Poncho Sewing

This week we got some more emails from moms who tried to make their own ponchos.  One Nebraska mom with three kids sent us a picture and told us her story:

It's not near as good as a real Car Seat Poncho since mine doesn't have a hood. I made it w/ a hood and it ate my child's head so it had to come off, lol. Then I had to tighten up the hole for the head so it stayed on, it was quite the comical sewing day! It's just 2 layers of fleece I got sewed together in every which way. It's definitely NOT reversible either. It's a better option than a coat for small babies, but mine isn't so good b/c it has no hat and Olivia will not keep hats on right now!

Another mom sent this:

I made DD a few last year and only one that turned out halfway decent. It was "okay" but it was only one layer and the hat was separate and no zipper (I can't do zippers). She outgrew it and I was going to make another this year, but I'm seriously reconsidering because I still have not perfected it and by the time I buy all the fabric....sheesh... Making just one took about an hour...2 hours counting the hat. It wasn't warm enough. And I don't want to mess with it this year.

Thanks to all the moms who came clean about their home sewing experiences.  If you have one you'd like to share (and get a $10 coupon as consolation), post with a picture to this thread. Thanks!

TRUE-LIFE TALE: Turning A Bad Poncho Into A Good Poncho

Angela posted to one of our threads on Car-Seat.Org, about trying to make a Car Seat Poncho for her son:

I attempted to make my own car seat poncho and it was a huge disaster. I bought a bunch of fleece fabric and went to town. I thought I could make a lined poncho but there was so much fabric that my sewing machine needle wouldn't even go through it all. It took me hours to complete and it looked a mess. I didn't even attempt a zipper! I wasn't sure how to finish the neckline so it looks pretty bad..and the hood is falling off. Then when I put it on my son, it just hung really weird. I'd like to get a REAL Car Seat Poncho because I know it will be made much better!

We sent Angela a $10 coupon to make up for the cost of the wasted fabric (although we couldn't compensate her for the wasted time!).  This way she can purchase the Car Seat Poncho for her son and put the whole home-sewing experience behind her.

Believe me, I've been in Angela's shoes!  It's easy enough to make a basic poncho: cut a hole in a blanket or piece of fleece.  I tried that, but when it came time to fasten the harness, I had to move the front of the poncho out of the way -- up to his neck, across his shoulder, or over his head.  Around that age, he wasn't crazy about being strapped in anyway, so that annoyed him even more.  A basic poncho was still not solving the problem of warmth, safety AND convenience for both mommy and baby.

I hacked and stitched my way through half a dozen prototypes before I hit upon the patent-pending design that's easy for moms to use without hassling the baby.  And the Car Seat Poncho is made by professional seamstresses, whose work is supervised and inspected by the same people who make clothes for Pea in the Pod and Motherhood Maternity.  Moms send emails all the time raving about the beautiful workmanship, saying, "It is worth every penny and so much nicer than anything I could have made myself!"

Brandy, is that you?

I've heard from about half of my dear followers, with the email addresses they'd like me to use for their 50% coupon (remember the July 9th post?). I'm still hoping to hear from seven of you, before Sunday, 7/26 (for some, I've taken a guess from the store customer list):

1. brandy calhoun (perhaps aka "brandylynn01"?)
2. Alan
3. Megan
4. Karen ("karenc"?)
5. Jen Smith
6. Muriel ("melgroff"?)
7. Amber ("raisingkain"?)

Send to me at DONNA at HBARRYBOOLLC dotty com. Thanks again for your time.

OK... A Small Glitch

Dear, Dear Followers:

Thank you so much for signing on so quickly! I assumed, though, that when members subscribed their emails would be listed from my blog dashboard, and that I could then email each of you individually with your coupon codes.

I was wrong. No email addresses listed, and in retrospect it makes perfect sense. That sound you hear is that of my palm slapping my forehead.

So I need you, dear subscribers, to do me one more solid and email me with the email address where you would like to receive your coupon. I'm so sorry for the inconvenience, and I promise I will study the mechanics of this thing more closely.

Thanks so much,
Donna

Blog Day Kick-Off: 50% OFF SALE!

Tuesday, July 28th, 2009 will be the official launch date of the Car Seat Poncho Blog. In this blog, I plan to share what's going on "behind the scenes," like:

• Factory visits
• Photo shoots
• Important safety news
• New styles and color/fabric choices
• Safety-community events, like KIDZ or LifeSavers.
• And of course, upcoming sales and coupons!

To start things off, I'm having a Crazy One-Day Sale on Tuesday, July 28th. Become a subscriber to the Car Seat Poncho Blog BEFORE midnight, Sunday, July 26th and receive a unique, one-time use coupon code for 50% off your purchases on the 28th.

Let's get started! Sign up today, by clicking on "SUBSCRIBE TO" at the end of this post or on the FOLLOWERS icon immediately to your right (in the light green area). Be sure to forward this to other safety-minded friends and colleagues (see the little ENVELOPE with an arrow?).

Feel free to post about this to your birth boards and other forums, too. Heck, do you think we can hit 100 subscribers by the 28th?