THE HISTORY OF OUR COMPANY

 

Hello to all of you who have chanced upon Plan-B Productions, my name is Robin Hoffstatter, and this is how it all began.

Approximately five or six years ago, our house was starting to look pretty sharp. The kitchen was tiny, but adorable, the only eyesore was the water cooler bottle. We had gone to the trouble of getting a special stand for the cooler, and having it painted to the color of our kitchen. The bottom part of the container was a mauve color and very expensive, but like I said the house was really shaping up. The only thing out of place was the water bottle. I was on a mission to find a cooler cover to hide the ugly bottle. We traveled to many craft and home shows to find one. Having no luck in finding one, I decided to borrow my Mothers sewing machine and attempt to make one myself.

My husband Bear suggested taking a paper bag and using it to measure a pattern for my project. Knowing almost nothing about sewing I attempted to measure and make my first few cooler covers. Thank goodness I became a better sewer! I took some to work and sold a few and then started to sell my cooler covers at craft shows. Many people loved the idea of the cooler cover, but didn’t own a water cooler. About a year later one of the girls at work needed an Aqua Tote, and loved cow patterns. I had no idea how to even begin to make an Aqua Tote (by the way Bear had been telling me for over a year to make these) and I told Bear and my friend at work that there are a million bottle holders out there and no one would want mine due to the cost. She convinced me that no one had cow pattern Aqua Totes!! I went home and started to measure the water bottles and figure out how to make my Aqua Totes. I ended up using a roll of masking tape as the pattern for the circle on the bottom of my Aqua Tote.

From the time I started to make my first cooler we started to look for sewing machines. I really wanted one that would embroider; so I could make personalized gifts and catchy sayings, for wall hangings to decorate your house. Needless to say, the machine I finally picked out was not easy enough for me to figure out the embroidery settings – hence the name "Plan-B Productions". Of course the way my whole life has gone, I could just as easily named the company Serendipity Rules, or many other twists and turns of fate along the way. Simply, Plan-B seemed most appropriate!! So many times in my life, I have spent so much time and energy at one project, idea, or goal plan, to find something amazingly wonderful either right in front of me, or down a path that I had no intention of ever taking!!

The most wonderful thing about my life and directions I have taken, is that I am always surprised and astounded about the results!!

I have made many Aqua Totes, and try to find different patterns to please many people. As I was making a cherub angel Aqua Tote for someone, I was looking at how beautiful the picture of the angel was. I took one of my embroidery hoops and put it around the angel face and thought of making my Angel Hoops. These are decorative hoops that go onto a wall with the picture of a cherub angel on it.

Bear needed an eyeglass case to hang around His neck. I figured out how to make this case for him, for the days he leaves his pockets at home. I went to work the next day telling one of my friends what I learned to make, thinking it was a really dumb idea. She said what a great idea!! Go figure! She said it would be absolutely perfect for the days She went to the beach to carry her lipstick and keys, it’s also good for rollerblading days. There is another product I would have never thought of.

The next product is The Simple Solution. This is one has the best story. I came into work one morning and asked my friend Verna, what they had done after work the night before. She told me that Her and Her husband Dave, had gone to dinner at one of our mutual favorite restaurants. I said, "If I had known where you guys were going for dinner, we would have met you there". She said that they never know where they are going to go for dinner until they get into the car. I then told Verna, that all we ever do is argue about where to go for dinner! Between the two of us we figured out a solution. Verna, suggested the beads of some kind with numbers on them, because I was thinking of slips of paper. In the shower the next day I thought about mass producing them, and it grew from that point on. It was the constant "Where do you want to go? I don’t know where do you want to go?" that has finally ended!! The packaging of the Chinese take out box container makes it a very cute, and unique gift for the person who has everything.

Now I get to tell you about my favorite project! This is the one I love the most! I have finally found my "Quan" or my purpose in life. My friend Leslie was expecting her first child last year. I was planning to bring the usual baby gifts to her baby shower. Something like some practical odds and ends that Leslie and baby Glen would be able to use such as sleepers diapers etc. I saw a pillow quilt advertised on a shopping channel. I ordered one for her baby shower, and thought what a great idea. Something that would be useful now and would grow with Glen, through the years.

Something that would be able to travel along with Glen, when He went for short or long trips. I have always wanted to learn how to quilt and now was my chance. I looked at the quilt I had bought, and said "I can do that" not really knowing if I could or not. I bought some material and got to work figuring out exactly what to do. I made two practice quilts for my granddaughters, just to see if I could make one or not. The next day I was so excited with my newfound talent, I was sharing it with one of the girls I work with. She matter-of–fact-ly said, "That’s great, my neighbor just had a baby, I need one for her!" I was off and running again!!! Only this time it was the best thing I think I have ever made. The first week I received six orders and was on my way. I am constantly saying to myself, now who would have thought? Or, If someone had told me this several years ago, I would have laughed!!

In August of 2003, I found a recipe for a cream to heal and sooth dry rough cracked skin.  It took me several months until I finally remembered to find all of the ingredients I needed at the store to make it.  I tried it one night and could not believe my softer smoother feet, that just yesterday were so rough, and cracked, and dry.  I gave some to my friends to try also.  Everyone loved it so much, that I decided to put some fragrances in the mix.  After that, I found containers, and am now in the process of making the world a softer smoother place.  Some people even use the product for a leave-in hair conditioner, and some Men like the product for after shave lotion.  There is no alcohol in Body Budder, so it does not burn your face.  I mix the ingredients in my kitchen, and make sure that it is whipped to perfection.   Hope you love this soothing cream, as much as I do!!!