2009 Get Your Business Up and Running Challenge

[mommy4ever]

Ok... I'm here. I have a small business that I run(other than the day care that I want to eventually phase out). But what I do has been very very seasonal.





I love Christmas and all the gaiety, however as a business, it's limiting.

I've started working on some custom style pendants. I'll be able to tie the 2 together some for craft sales, as I'll do Christmas ones too. I'll be able to get a booth at the farmers market I wanted to 2 years ago but couldn't because i couldn't use power. But the pendants can carry me year round. The pendants also tie into hair bows for little girls. It might seem abstract, but it works. It gives me a variety of items to create, and a more varied customer base...

I'm hoping to slow down my daycare and phase out in 2 years. DD5 will be nearly 8 and settled in school, and in grade 3. So as we settle into the new budget, I'll see what I *need* to make, and see if I can build it.

I have supplies coming, I got great prices on some, but looking to get even better prices. The overhead overall is quite low, I can work from home, and when dd is at school full time, and the daycare phased out, I can dedicate several hours daily to product development and stocking.

So for now, it's perfecting technique, creating the artwork I need for the pendants. I have some fantastic ideas, so it's all floating in my head.

I need to take notes. I need to decide the minimum we'll need me to make to not go backwards.

I don't need to put put much in terms of funds. The embroidery, I do most of my digitizing and graphics, if i spend $50 a year, I'd be surprised right now. I have enough fabrics and thread for quite awhile.

The pendants do cost more, but am sourcing for great wholesale prices. So it'll reduce.

My website? Well, it's cheap. I have it set up as a reseller, so that those costs are covered by those who are hosting sites with me. If I pay $20 out of pocket for the year, I'd be surprised.

I'm going to get some samples and pictures done and secure my booth for the winter at the farmers market.

sorry rambling....

[Debbie-cat]

Spent this morning making sachets and lip balms. I am playing with the flavours of the balms, so right now I've got a rum/vanilla balm that needs a little tweaking, but has promise.

Oooooh, that sounds great! You are really expanding aren't you which I think will really benefit you in the end. Still waiting for pics of your booth!

[Debbie-cat]

Ok... I'm here. I have a small business that I run(other than the day care that I want to eventually phase out). But what I do has been very very seasonal.





I love Christmas and all the gaiety, however as a business, it's limiting.

I've started working on some custom style pendants. I'll be able to tie the 2 together some for craft sales, as I'll do Christmas ones too. I'll be able to get a booth at the farmers market I wanted to 2 years ago but couldn't because i couldn't use power. But the pendants can carry me year round. The pendants also tie into hair bows for little girls. It might seem abstract, but it works. It gives me a variety of items to create, and a more varied customer base...

I'm hoping to slow down my daycare and phase out in 2 years. DD5 will be nearly 8 and settled in school, and in grade 3. So as we settle into the new budget, I'll see what I *need* to make, and see if I can build it.

I have supplies coming, I got great prices on some, but looking to get even better prices. The overhead overall is quite low, I can work from home, and when dd is at school full time, and the daycare phased out, I can dedicate several hours daily to product development and stocking.

So for now, it's perfecting technique, creating the artwork I need for the pendants. I have some fantastic ideas, so it's all floating in my head.

I need to take notes. I need to decide the minimum we'll need me to make to not go backwards.

I don't need to put put much in terms of funds. The embroidery, I do most of my digitizing and graphics, if i spend $50 a year, I'd be surprised right now. I have enough fabrics and thread for quite awhile.

The pendants do cost more, but am sourcing for great wholesale prices. So it'll reduce.

My website? Well, it's cheap. I have it set up as a reseller, so that those costs are covered by those who are hosting sites with me. If I pay $20 out of pocket for the year, I'd be surprised.

I'm going to get some samples and pictures done and secure my booth for the winter at the farmers market.

sorry rambling....

Those are adorable! I can see how you could make a great business out of them. I think you are a really successful path.

[madhen]

Oooooh, that sounds great! You are really expanding aren't you which I think will really benefit you in the end. Still waiting for pics of your booth!

I didn't make it out there today, but I'm going out tomorrow, and I'll take pics then.

[madhen]

It is a little bare still. I want to put some felted purses on the one wall with the caps, and I'd like to have some more bath products out there, but it is definitely shaping up!!

The hen is a present from my sister. She got it for me just after I opened my virtual store in 2004. Nice to finally have a "home" for it.

[Debbie-cat]

Donna....it looks awesome! I love how you have hung the scarves...I think it is a great idea..... I love the hen....it is perfect. I love the rug...perfect and with the tablecloth and material backing .... all great! You have a terrific start... a few more bath products will definitely fill up the table but I think you really have a great booth! It is alot bigger than I imagined. Good for you and I hope you have a great selling weekend!

[Labontet]

I have an appointment on Monday morning with the principal of a military (JROTC) academy in my hometown to talk to them about putting hems into the pants of the 9th graders that will be starting in August when school starts. The number of kids is approx. 150 and each will have 2 pair of pants each. I normally charge $10.00 for an unlined pair of pants to be hemmed. I guess we will haggle on the price when I get there. Either way, if I get the job and do adequately, it most likely will be a yearly job when school starts each year. There will also be items that would need to be altered during the year on other uniform items.
Wish me luck on my meeting with the principal. Hopefully I will get the extra work.

[Debbie-cat]

Good luck Labontet! That would be a great contract to get.

[madhen]

That's great, Labontet!! I'll keep my fingers crossed for you! Be sure to let us know how it went!

[madhen]

Thanks, Debbie,

I really do appreciate the input, so feel free to let me know if you think it needs something. I'm not used to doing permanent displays!! I have some of my soap and the lip balm to add to the table tomorrow, but the purses won't be ready for about a month. (Taking my first class in them next Sat. ) So I'm trying to come up with something I can do to fill up that side of the booth until then!

[madhen]

Doing some last minute tags and such, feeding all the critters, then off to the craft fair. It is only about 1/2 an hour from my house, so I am hoping to take a break this afternoon, as it goes from 10a to 6p, and I am going to be there by 9:30a. If I do, I'll be checking FV, of course! If not, I'll try to get some pics and post them tonight.

[savvy_sniper]

Madhen,

Did you get your business cards redone yet? I ask because I thought I would let you know that you can buy microperforated sheets of business card stock at office supply stores and print your own at home on your computer.

Mine came out great and I get lots of compliments. I print only as many as I need, can customize for different scenarios, changed address when I moved, etc. You could also punch holes in the corner of the cards add a ribbon or string and add to your items.

Just my two cents!

Mary

[Debbie-cat]

Good luck mahen! Have fun and can't wait for the pics tonight.

[madhen]

Thanks, Mary! I actually just had them done at OfficeMax for a reasonable price. I just dumped my printer a few months ago, and I haven't gotten around to getting a new one yet, but that is good to know about the perforated cards. I might just ask OM to print my cards on that next time, and avoid the "cut" charges. I can't complain though, really, as they printed 5 jobs for me yesterday, including another 100 cards, 100 hang tags, some letters, some labels, etc, and the whole bill was under $40.

[madhen]

I took this pic last week, but forgot to post it. The little metal things are cake testers. I made up cards for them, but haven't printed them out yet.