It's friday morning and it's been a crazy busy week here. The marketing, brand, design and purchasing teams have been working hard on the final preparations for the launch of the Autumn Winter collection. In August it will go live. For the Autumn Winter season we also have a few new categories that we are launching in to, more details will follow when we can share this.

Meanwhile, Vanessa and I have been making progress on the SS 09 collections (for the maternity line and for the non maternity ready to wear line). It is double the work we usually face as there are now two collections. But also double the fun. Making decisions on designs, colours and fabrics is one of the most exciting parts of this business. Before going in to this business I had absolutely no idea how technical design is. Vanessa has been a fantastic mentor and I have thoroughly enjoyed learning.

Our launch in to Canada looks imminent, it is now solely dependent on all internal and external systems doing the job. Sounds easy, but it probably is the most complicated project (technically) we have done ever. Far more complex than our launch in to the US. I will spare you the details but there are quite a few people here who have gotten grey hairs in the process but the end is in sight and then finally our Canadian customers can have a seamless local service. We are very excited about it here and we are very grateful to the team.

The next few weeks are busy with the finalisation of the SS 09 collections followed by shoots and international travel. Vanessa and I try to keep the travel to a minimum as we miss our children and they miss us. In August we will be in LA for an exciting event which we will let you know about when we can.

All is well here at Isabella Oliver, exciting times as always.

Have a nice weekend, Baukjen and Vanessa