THE CHILL RANGE

We designed our Chill Range because we were mindful of all those who run the London Marathon and train all during the winter. This year I find myself in those very same shoes as I have a place to run in the Paris Marathon which is on 11 April, two weeks before London. It will be my fourth marathon and yet I’d forgotten the commitment involved. It would be fair to say that my training has started off slowly – I’m blaming the freakish weather we’ve had this month. By there is no time for excuses and I need to get my head down and start training properly. My current favourite winter running outfit is the following:
• Swift long sleeve tee in marine
• Chill jacket in sea
• Chill pants
• Chill headband
I’ve been running on some days this month when it’s been below freezing but it never ceases to amaze me how quickly your body warms up when running. It’s an easy mistake to put on too many layers which then spend the majority of the run tied around my waist. On some of those freezing cold mornings I really haven’t felt like leaving my nice warm house but I just repeat the Thoosa motto which is that you’ll always feel better after a run. So far, so true.

www.thoosa.com

INTRODUCING BAILEY

Bailey came home on Friday 13, February 2009 and our lives changed forever. Admittedly I’m biased but she’s a really lovely dog (albeit a bit over-excitable). She’s got a great deal of energy which is exactly what we were looking for because we wanted a dog who could come running. She’s more of a sprinter at the moment but is getting used to a longer run at a more steady pace. She seems to love it and it certainly does the job of tiring her out.

Here’s Bailey in a nutshell:

PET HATE: the vacuum cleaner
FAVORITE FOOD: cheese
OBSESSION: the door bell (it sends her crazy!) and running after tennis balls
FAVOURITE PASTIME: chasing squirrels, swimming
NAUGHTIEST DEED: eating the sheepskin rug
FAVORITE TV SHOW: the Dog Whisperer
FASTEST MEAL CONSUMED: any soft toy!
FAVOURITE TOY: squeaky squirrel

www.thoosa.com

2010 THOOSA BROCHURE

We finally got the new brochure sent out to most of our customers today. The rest will be posted by the weekend. I won’t bore you with the details but we had an envelope crisis that took a bit of time to resolve. This is our third brochure and in my view they keep getting better as we learn more about the best way to present our products.

Once again we did the photo shoot in New Zealand which is where my parents and sister live so it ties in nicely with a family holiday. The photographer Sandii McDonald is a very old friend of mine and is exceptionally talented. It’s always a pleasure to work with her. She has a quiet, confident air and the knack of capturing exactly how I want the brand to come across to our customers.

That said, there’s a lot of work that goes into getting the right photos. I always do a lot of work to find the right locations. This time I wanted different settings for our three ranges to give each one a unique feel. After some exploring, which included being hustled by a cow (seriously!), I found what we were looking for.

Finding the models is another aspect to getting the shoot right. I’m always on the look out for natural women who do actually run. We contacted a few running clubs asking if anyone would be interested in modelling for us and Ellen and Katie got in touch. They have different looks but we loved both of them. Neither of them had any modelling experience but each brought a great energy to the shoot. We had a great day and I’m delighted with the results. You can order a copy from the website.

www.thoosa.com

NEW WEBSITE

Our new website went live last night and I am over the moon with it. Talented web-designer Mark (http://www.spotdesign.co.uk/) has exceeded all my expectations and I can’t thank him enough (not least because I know how hard he’s worked on a tight timetable).

With the growing number of styles and colours we needed a website that our customers can navigate easily. I really like the fact that it’s now possible to shop by range and by colour. There’s still some work to do as we make it better and add more information but I’m really delighted with it. What a great way to start the year!

www.thoosa.com

THE NEW COLLECTION

After nine months of preparation the new collection goes online tomorrow. I feel excited and nervous at the same time. I hope everyone loves it as much as I do. There’s so much that goes into producing a new collection - the design, the fabric, sampling, testing, manufacturing and shipping. Then there’s the new brochure and website. All of this is made possible by a small but dedicated team of talented people working towards the same end – to provide functional and stylish running wear for women who want to look and feel great. The new collection represents a new chapter for Thoosa and there’s much to do!

I managed a run today despite the freezing conditions here in London. I don’t think I’ve ever worn so many layers – Swift long sleeve tee, Chill hoody (the mitten cuffs worked a treat), Chill jacket, Chill pants and Chill headband! I always warm up when I get going but with the dog it can be a bit stop/ start. Unlike me, Bailey loves the cold weather – she is from Nova Scotia after all!

THOOSA'S 5 BEST winter warming essential oils

· Black pepper

This warm and spicy essential oil helps to increase warmth of the body and mind, relieving sore muscles and joints, boost the immune and digestive system, stimulate the kidneys and disperse bruising by increasing circulation to the skin.

· Eucalyptus

Eucalyptus has a clear, sharp, fresh and very distinctive smell. It helps to clear the mind and focus concentration.

· Ginger

This warming essential oil is often used for digestive problems and treating colds and flu.

· Marjoram

This oil has a warm, slightly spicy smell. This oil has value when used for asthma and other respiratory complaints and has a calming action on emotions.

· Tea Tree

No house should be without this essential oil, as it is one of the most powerful immune system stimulants. It is great to clean wounds and also relieves muscle aches and pains.

The above information is taken from the website www.essentialoils.co.za.