Debbie shared that she has a Vandor Lucy in the car cookie jar. The cookie jar she uses for everyday is the Watering Can
and during the holidays, Santa's Retweet, both made by Sakura from her designs. We also talked about holiday and advertising cookie jars.
My wish list included: Valentine's Day, St. Patrick's Day, a patriotic/Fourth of July jar and Thanksgiving.
At the mention of a Fourth of July jar, she said, "I have some designs that would work for that." We agreed that the trend of holiday decorating is up.
She asked, "Are my salt and pepper shakers collected like the cookie jars are?" I told her, yes! I also mentioned several of her designs I thought would
make wonderful cookie jars, like Greta the Garden Angel, the Project Kids and Miss Kitty.
During the interview she took notes of my ideas and suggestions, listening attentively. She said that she would take these ideas to the next meeting with
Sakura, who produces her cookie jars. Sakura has produced 16 lines of her dinnerware and usually makes two to three cookie jars for each line.
When asked about her favorite cookie jar design, Debbie replied, "I love the nested Teacup jar, it reminds me of Alice in Wonderland."
Debbie is content with not producing her own products. She and her talented staff do the design and graphic work, and then present those ideas to the licensees.
Once the design is sold, the licensee produces the products and markets them. Sakura sends Debbie a sample and she makes any changes if needed, trying to only
make changes one time. She doesn't really have much to do with selecting what products are made. The buyer's selection determines what you see in the stores.
The designs usually retire in an average of one to three years as the market demands.
She's also in the developmental stages of working with Disney on a Mickey Mouse design.
What exciting news that is! Imagine, Mickey Mouse drawn with Debbie's special artist touch.
Debbie's focus is on her current designs; she is most excited about those. She doesn't seem to rest on her laurels or take time to look back. She says, "I enjoy what
I'm doing and hope to do it for many more years and I can't imagine doing anything else. Doing something you love, doesn't even feel like you're working.
I strive to stay connected with what other women enjoy, collect and respond to".
Debbie says about herself, I am an ordinary woman with no special skills and feel that anybody could do what I have done in making a hobby into a
successful business. We should all be so ordinary I remember thinking! She is a woman of great warmth who laughs easily and often. Poised and seemly
self-assured, she exhibits no sign of ego. Her employees seem diligent without looking stressed and the atmosphere in the office is both relaxed and productive.
She says, "I respect deadlines and listen to the ideas of those around me". I also feel that she values her employees and thinks that by pooling all the talent at Mumm's
The Word, it can only enhance the designs created there. With these key ingredients in place, it's no wonder that Mumm's The Word has been so successful since its
inception in 1986.
Next page More on Mumm Page 1, 2,
3 , 4 ,
