Going on CNBC's Squawk Box
Yesterday morning before my television show, I was interviewed by Squawk Box, CNBC's pre-market news and talk program. They wanted to know how I am feeling about the state of the economy. I told them that I am an optimist and that I feel good things will begin to happen. We, at MSLO, have a strong understanding of what people can live without and what people cannot live without. We know that the consumer wants high quality at the best value and, as a company, that is what we strive to offer. To find out more, please have a look at this video clip.
This was a great interview! It's nice to see people getting excited again about mundane things like cooking and there pets. It's long overdue!
Posted by: Kari | April 15th, 2009 at 7:52 am
MARTHA---Thanks for your optimistic message! We all need to lighten up a bit, keep the faith as you are doing, & find hope in even the smallest events. I truly think the worst is behind us! All the Best, Jonathan Brown
Posted by: Jonathan Brown | April 15th, 2009 at 7:54 am
--You are fantastic, Martha! MSLO provides high quality svcs. & products. Thank you--
Posted by: Mina in northwestern Vt. | April 15th, 2009 at 9:05 am
Hi Martha,
Great interview and I think everyone needs your kind of bright optimism. I’m an optimist too and I know it’s the only way to think because it keeps those little kinks we experience from time to time from turning into big knots. I look at you as the leader in the home, the pioneer of living and because you keep such good tabs on what we the viewers, readers and consumers want and need, (I have answered many of your poll questions), I feel you are always doing the right thing at the right time. People think about their homes in a different way because of you and I would say now more than ever they need to hold onto that good feeling. You are the perfect one to make sure that happens! Trish
Posted by: Trish | April 15th, 2009 at 9:59 am
Martha...i think you are so right. And, i think it's good for everyone to get back to basics and i don't mean this in a boring way. It's wonderful to create a lovely home, garden and delicious foods. Timeless pleasures. I was in Washington State recently and the shops were filled with consumers...the buying is on the upswing.
Posted by: Sherey | April 15th, 2009 at 10:09 am
Quality over Quantity! Excellent interview (you rebel) and with one of my favorite anchors. Carl Quintanilla is so handsome and seems like a great guy.
Posted by: Clara | April 15th, 2009 at 11:22 am
Martha, it's so fantastic to hear positive words from a person with the ability to spread advice and hope to so many people so easily. While much of the day-to-day evolution of this economic downturn are out of our hands, much of what we do every day can and will be reflected for better or for worse, depending on how we choose to invest our money and efforts. This is what I appreciate so much about what you and your friends at MSLO do every day: you remind your followers that a richer life is self-wrought and an optimistic outlook will help in riding through the storm.
Posted by: Michael | April 15th, 2009 at 11:31 am
I had stopped my subscription just because we had too many magazines and life got more over-scheduled with two kids. We needed a break. I still bought issues from the newsstand here and there. But i am going re-commit because in all these years the content of the magazine is still something of value and encouragement to learn. So I am going to get subscriptions for myself, my mother, my teacher and several of my friends.
I want to thank the MSLO team for all these years of great useful content in all the media there are ( mags, web, blog, twitter, radio, product design , partnerships with vendors such as Macy, Michaels, etc... )
I want to thank Martha for being strong in trying times, even in the very unfair circumstances. She rose above and did it responsibily, for sharing her family ( her mom, her daughter ), her staff ( writing books with Sarah Carey ), for helping us learn more about health with her Body + Soul, teaching to care for our animals with Marc. For her vision of important projects such as Martha Stewart Center for Living. The tv show are of great pleasure to watch her bring so much to my home - it teaches me and an inspires me all the time. Her content on the web helps for research and cross reference.
I wish infinite success to her and her company.
Ivy
Posted by: Ivy Arce | April 15th, 2009 at 12:32 pm
Our country's economic state does make us kind of go back to the basics and stay at home more. Do I mind? Not one least little bit! I have always chosen a slower and quiet, laid-back lifestyle. To me, it's ALWAYS been about home! I've always felt that my home was my haven from the world (and what it dishes out from time to time). My person, in addition, requires time to clear the cobwebs that everyday responsibilities can create [Meyers-Briggs>>ISFJ!]. An inherent trait of mine that I find amusing is that if I maintain order around me in times of chaos, I can deal. If there's chaos around me IN a time of chaos - well, I gotta' get myself together...
Even before the economic downturn, Martha, I think we all have wanted more bang for our buck, and your product lines have remained consistent in that realm. It's like you said, too, in this interview, where a simple kitchen gadget can be THE answer to a kitchen/cooking need as we're staying home more and spending more time in the kitchen...not much money spent, and the need is met. Your positive outlook does give us hope, and in the meantime, we (I!) will continue to tune in everyday and get yet more tips that are new to me, get lost in your magazine and wonderful books, twitter with you in camraderie, share mutual admiration for you with friends, annnd... Basically, I'm not going anywhere!
Now, if I could juuust master this disinterest of mine in cooking (as I beat myself up)... [BIGGG sigh!]
=^..^=
(The following helps to validate me a little and make me feel better):
"If you wish to make anything grow, you must understand it in a very real sense. "Green fingers" are a fact, and a mystery only to the unpracticed. But green fingers are the extensions of a verdant heart."--Russell Page
(MY HEART IS VERDANT!)
Posted by: Cindy Bricker | April 15th, 2009 at 12:48 pm
That is one of many things I love about you Martha! Being optimistic and thinking about
other people.
Have you ever made dandilion and violet jelly
before?
I found a couple of recipes on blogs of the mentioned jellies. I loved seeing the process of the violet jelly turn from a blue/green color to violet color.
I think I will go check out your website and
see if I can find some other recipes for them.
I would like to find more suggestions on their use. What kinds of foods to serve them with.
God Bless You and Yours and Your Company!!!
Posted by: Flassie | April 15th, 2009 at 2:09 pm
Awesome interview. I was glad to see your upbeat viewpoint and you did a fantastic job with on the spot questions..Very interesting conversation, thanks for posting to your blog.
Diane
Posted by: Diane Roumeliotis | April 15th, 2009 at 2:55 pm
Hi Martha, Kudos to you for this fantastic interview on CNBC Squawk Box! As usual, you were more than optimistic! You really got right down to the brass tax with your optimistic comments concerning the future for all of us. As one of us, consumers, you bring much hope that things are improving and will continue to do so. Martha, I don't know how I ever got along before you came into our lives and I thank you once again for all that you do for all of us. We need more people with positive outlooks like you and President Obama. Thank you from the bottom of my heart, Jan
Posted by: Jan Erickson | April 15th, 2009 at 3:08 pm
Hi Martha,
maybe, just maybe it will put a little smile on your face, that even somebody, who´s not a citizen of the USA and lives in "old" Europe actualy totally agrees with you and the things you´ve said in that interview!
The strange thing is, that while even here in Germany the situation is soon the same as in the USA and some of our biggest and most famous companis (like Opel) suffer from it very bad, I, as a small part of the economy, actually feel better at the moment, compared to 3 or 4 years back, when I was focused on other things, when I for example spent my money without that big thoughts about for what I spent it.
Now I focus on the basics, it first started when I became unemployed some years ago and never left me, even as I started to work again, because I loved to do these things.
It was exactly as you said in the interwiev: I improved my skill in cooking by searching mags and the net for recipes and cooking supplies, re-developed all the housekeeping knowledge with the help of messega boards, books and mags as wll and actaully even started over again all the crafts my granny once teached me.
First it started, because I needed to, to save money and then, because I had the time to do it and at last I began to like it. With quite good results, I have to say: for example I learned how to make soap by hand only from the internet and now I´m able to sell the bars with some profit, that helps us through this time as well. And in the last month we spent our money on things, that were higher in quality, but did not spnt that much for many different things. We focused on what we realy want and need.
Lucky me, I have work again, ok, but this need and love to do things for the home by myself and thinking more about my expenses still remains and I cannot think of it ending anymore.
The new media, and in this I agree with you again, is essential, and I believe, for "young" crafters like me even more, because of the fast way to get informations, the unbelievable huge amount of oppurtunities, knowledgebases, blogs, boards, shops of course and so on... And its a great thing for people who are ineterested in our products as well. You´ll never get this big public attention, when you only show your ideas and stuff on local markets and workshops (no need to tell YOU abut that
).
So, you see, it seems to be the same here, and so I´m feeling the same way about how it will keep going like you said as well.
Thanks a lot for sharing your opinion with us.
*sorry for my sometimes strange english*
Cheers
Mone
Posted by: Mone | April 15th, 2009 at 4:11 pm
Martha, I'm with you. We all have to be optimistic and wait for better times. Good luck everybody!
Posted by: Ivory Pearl Interiors | April 15th, 2009 at 6:46 pm
What a smart person ! Thank You for understanding the real consumer. I really do enjoy MS products.
Posted by: David Jones | April 16th, 2009 at 7:24 am
I admire your optimism. I do wish everyone shares your vision in reshaping America and gaining back consumer confidence.
Thanks for posting
Posted by: Norbie K. Las Vegas | April 16th, 2009 at 10:16 pm
Hi Martha,
You was very positive on CNBC's Squawk Box. Your positive attitude combined with President Obama's positive attitude is helping America's faith in our financial future. We need more public figures to jump on the bandwagon.
Thank you!
Gloria
Posted by: Gloria Brown, Winterport | April 17th, 2009 at 8:16 am
oh Martha I couldn't agree more and appreciate how clearly and optimistically you expressed what is going on right now. I grew up with a grandmother who knit, sewed, hooked rugs, baked, etc which was an anomoly in my suburban neighborhood--- yet today there is more interest than ever in learning and celebrating the art of these domestic pleasures--
Posted by: Elizabeth MacCrellish | April 17th, 2009 at 8:22 pm