What's in place

• blocks for the first three prints (reproductions) are out being printed; proofing is done, now just waiting for the packages to arrive
• packaging is designed, and enough components are in stock (mounting sheets, stiffening backboards, printed labels, sleeves) for the first six catalogue items
• English side of the website is pretty much ready to go. (The planned 'Events' section will have to wait until later). As far as I can tell, the order form is working properly (although it could use more testing ...)
• computer program for handling incoming orders, printing invoices (both paper and .pdf) and packing lists, etc. is up and running. The system will handle orders over the net, mail or phone, domestic or foreign, in either language, both retail and wholesale. [screen 1 | screen 2]
• designer contract is drafted, and seems to have general approval from the entire stable of designers [.pdf file]
• sample packages have been taken to the post office, shipping rates confirmed, and the web site updated with the info
• first flyer (Spring 2006 New Publications) is ready for printing at Kinko's (colour one side, B&W one side), and will go out with my next newsletter [front | back]

What needs to be done before I can go live

• get those print packages in hand, to confirm that I actually do have saleable prints!
• finalize the designer contract, and get two of them signed, for Hilo Bay and Aspen Grove

What follows

• get busy on the carving for Hilo Bay
• get the blocks for Aspen Grove from Mike, and get some proofing started
• talk to my accountant (he's still crazy busy with tax season) about how to organize the bookkeeping in such a way that I can keep this separate from my regular stuff
• details on cartouches, carver/printer ID, etc. have to be sorted out before Hilo Bay or Aspen Grove is finished. (that stuff doesn't affect the small reproduction prints; they just get the Mokuhankan embossed seal)
• get downtown and start knocking on some doors, to see if I can't get some prints placed in shops (although honestly speaking, that is going to be one tough sell I think ...)
• make some decisions on the next group of prints ...
• get the Japanese side of the website built!
• try and get the 'Live Event' idea up and running ...
• create the semi-private 'back-end' section of the website, where carvers/printers/designers can logon to check how sales are going, what royalties have accumulated, etc.
• add to the order form a capability for regular customers to logon with their Mokuhankan ID, so the order form details will be filled in automatically ... (as the thing grows, regular/repeat clients would get special offers, discounts, etc.)
• once things do actually seem to be working, get busy on publicity, with a mailing to a few hundred of my media contacts here in Tokyo (but not until (1) Hilo Bay and Aspen Grove are in hand, and (2) the Japanese website is in place ...)

And meanwhile, back at the ranch, work continues on the Scroll Project tracing; I start printing the second issue in the Small Print Collection tomorrow; the spring issue of the Hyakunin Issho newsletter has to be laid out ready for the printer; a new 'Story a Week' goes on line tomorrow (it's already written of course, but the next one isn't ready ...); the first Progress Report for the scroll project has to get out of here within the next week or so, or I don't get paid next month; then on April 1st it's my turn to become the 'block leader' of our community association for the year, and the first festival is one week later ...

That's where we're at, gentlemen!