February 5, 2012

Cherrywood Capital Group Successfully Divested Two of Its Investments

Fountain Pens from Kennon Home Accessories

Phase I of our secret project and my third quarter goals are both going really well, even though I'm spending an inordinate amount of time on the manuscript for my next book, which is a guide to calculating intrinsic value of stocks, bonds, real estate, and other assets. Everything Merging Under the Kennon & Company Brand Remember the $31,000 we spent on the paid search advertising pilot program last September?  Yeah, part of that involved testing various keywords to determine if we were … [Read more...]

My Verdict on the Truefitt and Hill Shaving Sets and Shaving Product Line

Grafton Cologne from Truefitt and Hill

We are expanding our shaving section at Kennon Home Accessories and one of the things I've been testing is the Truefitt & Hill line of shaving creams, shaving lotions, aftershave, colognes, and other products. It is toward the higher end of the price point when it comes to luxury shaving sets for men (a bottle of aftershave, shaving cream, cologne, and shaving oil would retail for $202.00) but after using it, I don't think I could ever go back to the products I used for most of my … [Read more...]

A Brief Flirtation with a Cinnabon Franchise

Joshua Kennon reading the Cinnabon franchise disclosure document

I mentioned yesterday in the article on Dairy Queen franchise owners that after graduating from college, Aaron and I had looked into putting capital to work by opening several franchises in the town where we grew up.  We thought it would be a good place to invest the money we were earning from our other businesses without having to be involved on a day-to-day basis.  In other cases, we thought it might be a good way to structure companies so that our immediate family members could make an … [Read more...]

Rainbow Pancakes

I came across these rainbow pancakes when reading the blogs and thought it was a really cool idea.  Of course, the fact that it reminds me of either a Christian Bible Camp or a gay pride parade is funny.  I like a little dichotomy in my breakfast.

I happened to be sitting at the dining room table, a cup of coffee in one hand, writing out plans for potentially launching a mutual fund this year (this time around, it's a Parker Duofold rollerball in an amber check pattern from the recent shipment of fine writing instruments we received at Kennon Home Accessories and its retail store, Kennon & Company).  As I was mulling over some ideas in my head, I was reading the blogs, which is my customary morning routine that began back in the … [Read more...]

David Oscarson Releases New Pen Series

David Oscarson Consider the Liles Black Pen

Sweet!  David Oscarson released the next installment of his pen series called Consider the Lilies.  They were inspired by Luke 12:27 when Christ said, "Consider the lilies, how they grow. They toil not, neither do they spin; yet I say unto you, Even Solomon in all his glory was not arrayed like one of these.” Here's the company's official statement on the pens: Marking our Tenth Anniversary, the Lily Collection speaks of our gratitude for all that is virtuous, beautiful and pure. In a … [Read more...]

We Sold a $700 Watch Case to the United Arab Emirates

Triple Burl Wood 9 Pillow Watch Case

When you own businesses, certain orders just make you happy. Of course, you appreciate every one, no matter how small. From time to time, however, there is something about a particular piece of business that just makes you smile. We actually do respectable global business through many of our online businesses. Surprisingly, quite a bit comes from The United Arab Emirates, specifically areas such as Abu Dhabi. Apparently, we just sold a $700 watch to a professional soccer star and are … [Read more...]

Aurora Talentum Classic Fountain Pen

Aurora Talentum Classic Fountain Pen in Black with Gold Trim

Lately, I've been writing with a black and gold fountain pen from Aurora. It came as part of the inventory expansion we did at Kennon Home Accessories to launch the pen business this winter, and I've got to say, I've never written with anything like it. Truth be told, despite it being only $325 retail, it feels far more durable and enjoyable than some of the $850 or $1,200 pens I own. Quantity: … [Read more...]