Ok...so I've managed to let almost two years go by without posting to my blog! I am so sorry! Life has definitely been crazy in a good way since my last post. The biggest change being I got married on New Year's Eve 2010! And with that marriage has come more changes.
I left my position last week with my sister's business and will now be working with my husband full-time. He is a tax preparer and has decided after several years of working for someone else, it was time to have his own office/business. So after meeting me and realizing that I brought the marketing/encouragement/business knowledge he didn't seem to have to the table, he took the leap and we will officially open our business next week! Check us out on facebook at www.facebook.com/wellspringtaxservice if you are looking for fast, reliable tax preparation! We work with clients nationwide!
So with these changes, I have found myself getting back in to some of my old habits...such as jewelry designing and putting my marketing skills back to use! I hope to get this blog back up and going a little more than I have in the past and also hope to help handmade businesses, such as yours, with business marketing reviews. I'll share more details about this later, but when I offered them before I was overwhelmed with helping create/design new marketing materials for handmade businesses!
For now you are up to date and I promise, I'm back and will be posting more often! Thanks and have a very blessed and wonderful new year!
Showing posts with label etsy. Show all posts
Showing posts with label etsy. Show all posts
12.29.2011
2.23.2010
WOW...Long Time...No Posts! Will you forgive me?! :-)
I can't believe I haven't posted a blog since September of '09. My apologies to all of you who are followers. I never intended for the delay in posts to my blog, but a lot has happened the past few months...all of which has been good, but has kept me away from writing! If you don't mind, I'll share a little of it with you and bring you up to date and share some thoughts about the direction of my blog! :-)
At the end of September, my sister and brother-in-law approached me about coming back to work for them. Their new business venture (one year old at the time) had taken off more than they expected and they found the need to hire help. With having worked for my sister in previous years with her business (resume writing) and learning/knowing the new business venture from evenings of helping out when I could, I was their first choice when it came to thinking about hiring an employee again! It happened at a great time for me because the current position I was in was becoming a headache for me and I wasn't enjoying the work anymore. So when they called and asked if I was interested, I immediately said yes and found a new job doing what I enjoy doing....being creative, helping others, assisting businesses with marketing products/ideas and more!! And being able to do that with family on a daily basis makes it even better!! :-)
I continue to have my jewelry business and it is doing really well for me. I did two celebrity gift opportunities last year and as a result, received another call a few weeks ago to provide 26 pieces of jewelry for the 2010 Oscar Nominees/Presenters who will be staying at the Four Seasons in Beverly Hills during Oscar Week in a couple of weeks! My online store continues to do well for me and I enjoy the business as much as I ever have!!
The focus of my blog has always been about helping handmade businesses with marketing/advertising ideas. That will continue, but not on this blog. I will be closing down this blog in a few weeks. I encourage you to follow me at http://zonezmarketing.blogspot.com/. I want to continue that focus...providing more of a general marketing/advertising direction for all business types. With my current position with our family company, we work with small businesses every day on creating marketing materials, promotional products and much more and we are constantly staying current with trends and ideas that are the latest in helping your business stand out in a crowd.
I hope that you still continue to follow me on my new blog and share it with others as a tool to help grow and find new ideas and ways to promote your business, whether big or small! :-) I appreciate you reading and following and hope my posts have been a help in some small way over the past few months. Stay tuned for more to come and a new look to our blog in the next few days/weeks ahead!
I would love your feedback/thoughts on the new changes and let me know if you have any questions or suggestions about topics you would like to see covered here!
Many blessings and best of luck to each of you with your business endeavors!
Dawn
At the end of September, my sister and brother-in-law approached me about coming back to work for them. Their new business venture (one year old at the time) had taken off more than they expected and they found the need to hire help. With having worked for my sister in previous years with her business (resume writing) and learning/knowing the new business venture from evenings of helping out when I could, I was their first choice when it came to thinking about hiring an employee again! It happened at a great time for me because the current position I was in was becoming a headache for me and I wasn't enjoying the work anymore. So when they called and asked if I was interested, I immediately said yes and found a new job doing what I enjoy doing....being creative, helping others, assisting businesses with marketing products/ideas and more!! And being able to do that with family on a daily basis makes it even better!! :-)
I continue to have my jewelry business and it is doing really well for me. I did two celebrity gift opportunities last year and as a result, received another call a few weeks ago to provide 26 pieces of jewelry for the 2010 Oscar Nominees/Presenters who will be staying at the Four Seasons in Beverly Hills during Oscar Week in a couple of weeks! My online store continues to do well for me and I enjoy the business as much as I ever have!!
The focus of my blog has always been about helping handmade businesses with marketing/advertising ideas. That will continue, but not on this blog. I will be closing down this blog in a few weeks. I encourage you to follow me at http://zonezmarketing.blogspot.com/. I want to continue that focus...providing more of a general marketing/advertising direction for all business types. With my current position with our family company, we work with small businesses every day on creating marketing materials, promotional products and much more and we are constantly staying current with trends and ideas that are the latest in helping your business stand out in a crowd.
I hope that you still continue to follow me on my new blog and share it with others as a tool to help grow and find new ideas and ways to promote your business, whether big or small! :-) I appreciate you reading and following and hope my posts have been a help in some small way over the past few months. Stay tuned for more to come and a new look to our blog in the next few days/weeks ahead!
I would love your feedback/thoughts on the new changes and let me know if you have any questions or suggestions about topics you would like to see covered here!
Many blessings and best of luck to each of you with your business endeavors!
Dawn
9.25.2009
Getting Ready for the Holiday Rush!!
The Holidays are rapidly approaching! For those of us in the handmade world, there's no time to waste! We need to make sure that we are ready for the upcoming rush of buyers who will start shopping with us via our on-line stores or visiting us at a local craft/art shows!
Below are a few tips that I try to do in starting my planning for the upcoming holiday rush. I thought I would pass this info along to you so that you can start your planning as well!
1. Sit down and think about what products you want to offer, especially those in the holiday line (if you offer themed products). If you've offered holiday themed items before and found them to go over well with your customers, be sure to offer those again. Also, be sure to create new holiday items for those who are return customers looking for something new!! Spend time on designing and creating these items...the extra time and attention to details in these items will be important to buyers since many of these items will be given as gifts to friends and family over the next few months!!
2. As always, market and advertise your business!! You can't wait until the middle of November or first part of December and try to get your business noticed for the holiday season. I am already getting requests and orders from people who are starting their buying early to help spread the cost of the holidays out and not get hit real hard with all the buying! START NOW with your holiday advertising and products! I bet if you take a look around at the big retailers, the Christmas sections are already starting to appear!! ;-)
3. If you don't offer gift certificates or gift cards, consider offering these! You can quickly make your own! I have found this to be a great addition to my store since some customers were having a hard time picking just the right jewelry out for their friends and family. The gift certificates allow them to give a gift, but allow the receiver to get something they want!
4. Make sure your store is stocked and ready with a big variety of items. More choices is always best this time of year!! Also, assure your customers that you can work with them to create the best gift and assure them that you can meet deadlines, etc., that they might have or need. Be flexible, patient and understanding of your customers. It will go a long way during the holiday season!! Also be sure to have plenty of shipping supplies on hand. Running out and delaying the shipping process during this time won't be good for your business.
5. Relax, have fun and try not to get overwhelmed and lose the spirit of the holidays! We know it is can be a difficult time of the year trying to keep up with everything and meeting customer demands. It is a stressful time for our customers as well in trying to find the perfect gift. Offering good customer service will no doubt win you a repeat customer.
The items listed above are just a small list of things you can do to get ready for the rush of holiday shoppers that are about to hit us! Getting prepared early will be a good gift to yourself!
Until next time...Blessings! ~ Dawn
9.03.2009
Give To Get...Have You Considered It?
Yesterday, I was given the opportunity to provide 65 earring gift packs to be put in the celebrity gift bags for the world premiere of Tyler Perry's new movie "I Can Do Bad All By Myself," which will be in New York City next week. In case you aren't familiar with Tyler Perry's movies, he writes and produces his own material based off the character of Madea (who Tyler himself usually plays!). "Diary of A Mad Black Woman" is probably the best recognized movie he's created!
When I got the email from the PR agency handling the event and got their request, I was overwhelmed with excitement, but then overwhelmed with the task as I have had less than 48 hours to design, create and package all these gifts to ship in time to NY for the event!
In talking with some friends and colleagues, their immediate response is "how much are you getting paid for that?" And when I tell them nothing, they all but yell at me! But I'm completely content with it! Here's why...
I am getting the opportunity to put my jewelry in the hands of celebrities and some potentially amazing customers for a very small investment. I am also getting the opportunity to say that I've had my jewelry included in celebrity gift bags for a world premiere movie event. Both of these opportunities for some businesses will never happen or would cost businesses thousands of dollars! So why wouldn't I take this amazing opportunity and have fun with it and promote my business?! I'd be stupid if I didn't!
So if the chance to give your handmade goods ever comes up, take the opportunity!! Whether it is on a local scale for a charity auction or on a bigger scale like for a movie premier...take it! You don't have to do it all the time, but it does make for some great PR and usually only costs you a few dollars and some business cards!
Give a little to Get a little...consider it for some great PR for your business!!
Until next time....Blessings!! ~ Dawn
7.23.2009
Know Your Market!!!
For those of us who have on-line stores, sometimes trying to get them noticed is a full-time job it seems! But when the hard work we put in to our stores pays off with sales and gets us noticed (whether the attention is good or bad), it's then we realize why we do what we do and why we continue to create beautiful handmade items!!
Lately, I've received some feedback from the redesign of my store logo and new tag line for my business. If you would like to see my new logo, you can visit www.shadesjewelry.etsy.com. It's nothing special, rather plain as some have put it, but I like it! It clearly represents my store and what I do.
But the tagline I have added (stylish-unique-affordable) is what is causing some to raise their eyebrows at me in the big internet world! Not that first time it has happened and I'm sure it won't be the last. Some are saying that I'm not being fair to the creative world in offering my jewelry at such low prices and that I shouldn't have the word "affordable" in my tag line. When I receive these comments I simply back and laugh. Having had my business for 6 years now, I must be doing something right to continue to receive sales and interest in my jewelry!!
It is then that I proceed to share why I sell my jewelry at the prices that I do. A lot of my business comes from my off-line promotional work. I have several repeat customers that are friends and family and they like my affordable line of jewelry that I offer. They like being able to get something handmade and that is one of a kind, but without breaking the bank.
The area in which I live is one of the poorest areas in the country. We have lost hundreds of jobs and what most make in this area who work full time is well under the poverty level believe it or not! And since I have no major plans to quit my job and do jewelry designing full time, I feel that I can offer my jewelry at lower prices to recoup my cost and put a few cents in the bank afterwards! I realize that many in the handmade world are creating their items to supplement their incomes and to live off the profits. I commend those who do this!! But I'm not one of them.
Jewelry is a competitve market these days. And I take nothing away from the many who create it and sell it for much more than I do. Only YOU can know your market and what you can get out of your jewelry. If you can sell your bracelets for $20-$50, then I encourage you to do so. But my market won't pay that for my jewelry!!
In closing this article, I want to encourage you to know your market. Ask your customers why they shop with you. Is it price, quality, customer service, a combination of all these?! Once you know your market, you can advertise your business more effective to them and begin to stand out in a crowd. Then you can stand firmly on your response to those who may want to critcize or claim you are hurting your particular handmade items by advertising them as "affordable!"
And in return, figure out why a person markets themselves as they do...especially before you criticize them or get upset at them for pricing their work as they do. All of us who create handmade items have a different agenda in mind with our stores. Let's all celebrate those differences and do what we can to support the handmade idea in general!
Until next time...Blessings! ~ Dawn
Lately, I've received some feedback from the redesign of my store logo and new tag line for my business. If you would like to see my new logo, you can visit www.shadesjewelry.etsy.com. It's nothing special, rather plain as some have put it, but I like it! It clearly represents my store and what I do.
But the tagline I have added (stylish-unique-affordable) is what is causing some to raise their eyebrows at me in the big internet world! Not that first time it has happened and I'm sure it won't be the last. Some are saying that I'm not being fair to the creative world in offering my jewelry at such low prices and that I shouldn't have the word "affordable" in my tag line. When I receive these comments I simply back and laugh. Having had my business for 6 years now, I must be doing something right to continue to receive sales and interest in my jewelry!!
It is then that I proceed to share why I sell my jewelry at the prices that I do. A lot of my business comes from my off-line promotional work. I have several repeat customers that are friends and family and they like my affordable line of jewelry that I offer. They like being able to get something handmade and that is one of a kind, but without breaking the bank.
The area in which I live is one of the poorest areas in the country. We have lost hundreds of jobs and what most make in this area who work full time is well under the poverty level believe it or not! And since I have no major plans to quit my job and do jewelry designing full time, I feel that I can offer my jewelry at lower prices to recoup my cost and put a few cents in the bank afterwards! I realize that many in the handmade world are creating their items to supplement their incomes and to live off the profits. I commend those who do this!! But I'm not one of them.
Jewelry is a competitve market these days. And I take nothing away from the many who create it and sell it for much more than I do. Only YOU can know your market and what you can get out of your jewelry. If you can sell your bracelets for $20-$50, then I encourage you to do so. But my market won't pay that for my jewelry!!
In closing this article, I want to encourage you to know your market. Ask your customers why they shop with you. Is it price, quality, customer service, a combination of all these?! Once you know your market, you can advertise your business more effective to them and begin to stand out in a crowd. Then you can stand firmly on your response to those who may want to critcize or claim you are hurting your particular handmade items by advertising them as "affordable!"
And in return, figure out why a person markets themselves as they do...especially before you criticize them or get upset at them for pricing their work as they do. All of us who create handmade items have a different agenda in mind with our stores. Let's all celebrate those differences and do what we can to support the handmade idea in general!
Until next time...Blessings! ~ Dawn
7.21.2009
Leave a Comment Today and Win!
Decided to have a little fun today with my blog! Anyone who reads through my blog and leaves a comment today (7/21/09) on any article, will be registered to win 3 pairs of earrings!
Just a little break from all the writing and a way to say thanks for reading and looking through my articles and leaving me some feedback!
Blessings, Dawn
Just a little break from all the writing and a way to say thanks for reading and looking through my articles and leaving me some feedback!
Blessings, Dawn
7.08.2009
New Store? Try Multi-Shop Advertisements!
We all remember when we first opened our on-line store. We feverishly created new merchandise, posted the items, then waited for the buyers to come. But when the buyers were slow in coming we realized that we needed to advertise our business.
So we did our homework, found the best advertising we could, and then realized that the best advertising wasn't in our budget. With only a little money in our pockets for advertising we quickly realized that getting a nice size, high traffic ad was going to be a little harder than we thought.
For some business owners, finding out that you don't have the extra money to compete with effective ads can be discouraging. But it doesn't have to be. Have you ever considered talking with some other store owners to see if they would be willing to do a multi-shop advertisement with you? A multi-shop ad lisiting is a creative way for small business owners to compete and land highly visible ads in this big advertising world without breaking the bank!
To start this process, browse the ArtFire and Etsy stores. Make a list of 3 or 4 stores who offer products different than what you offer. Then, talk with the store owners and find out about their business and if they would be willing to do some shared advertising. You will probably find that most store owners are open to this type of business venture and will gladly listen to your ideas. Getting a nice, large size ad on sites with lots of traffic (without breaking the bank) can prove to be beneficial in advertising your business.
Once you have decided on doing a multi-shop ad, remember to keep the development of the ad simple and easy to read. Every store involved must be clearly represented and given an equal chance of being seen. Ads that are cluttered or hard to read could discourage readers, making your ad uneffective.
Multi-shop ads are becoming a highly effective and easy way for handmade businesses to reach new customers. Network and find some new business owner friends and start your advertising adventures together. Supporting each other and succeeding together will be a fun adventure on the road of being a handmade business owner.
Until next time..Blessings! ~ Dawn
So we did our homework, found the best advertising we could, and then realized that the best advertising wasn't in our budget. With only a little money in our pockets for advertising we quickly realized that getting a nice size, high traffic ad was going to be a little harder than we thought.
For some business owners, finding out that you don't have the extra money to compete with effective ads can be discouraging. But it doesn't have to be. Have you ever considered talking with some other store owners to see if they would be willing to do a multi-shop advertisement with you? A multi-shop ad lisiting is a creative way for small business owners to compete and land highly visible ads in this big advertising world without breaking the bank!
To start this process, browse the ArtFire and Etsy stores. Make a list of 3 or 4 stores who offer products different than what you offer. Then, talk with the store owners and find out about their business and if they would be willing to do some shared advertising. You will probably find that most store owners are open to this type of business venture and will gladly listen to your ideas. Getting a nice, large size ad on sites with lots of traffic (without breaking the bank) can prove to be beneficial in advertising your business.
Once you have decided on doing a multi-shop ad, remember to keep the development of the ad simple and easy to read. Every store involved must be clearly represented and given an equal chance of being seen. Ads that are cluttered or hard to read could discourage readers, making your ad uneffective.
Multi-shop ads are becoming a highly effective and easy way for handmade businesses to reach new customers. Network and find some new business owner friends and start your advertising adventures together. Supporting each other and succeeding together will be a fun adventure on the road of being a handmade business owner.
Until next time..Blessings! ~ Dawn
6.24.2009
I'm Back...
After a few weeks of writing for www.handmadenews.org, I have decided to step down from that position and get back to what I enjoy...and that is helping other small business owners and crafters with their businesses.
I was asked by the President of ArtFire to write and share my insights with their website and I was happy to do that. However after I got started I realized that I know longer wanted to be involved with their great project and that I wanted to get back to what I enjoyed. I encourage all of you to check out www.handmadenews.org and read the articles. There is lots of great information on a vareity of topics and I'm sure that will continue!
Over the next few weeks I am hoping to get my new Etsy group up and running, which is for several states in and around Ohio. With this group, we hope to get craft business owners together to share insights in to running a business and have a chance to talk face to face with other owners in small round table discussions. These meetings may also have a guest speaker on various topics important to business owners and crafters. This project is very early in its development, but I'm truly excited about it and hope that it can bring together the craft world to share ideas, thoughts and help small business owners grow their business more.
Any thoughts, ideas or comments you might have are always welcomed and appreciated! If there are topics or questions you would like to see covered on this blog, just email me at shadesjewelry@aol.com and share them with me.
Thanks for sticking with the blog and I look foward to reconnecting with you all again!
Blessings, Dawn
I was asked by the President of ArtFire to write and share my insights with their website and I was happy to do that. However after I got started I realized that I know longer wanted to be involved with their great project and that I wanted to get back to what I enjoyed. I encourage all of you to check out www.handmadenews.org and read the articles. There is lots of great information on a vareity of topics and I'm sure that will continue!
Over the next few weeks I am hoping to get my new Etsy group up and running, which is for several states in and around Ohio. With this group, we hope to get craft business owners together to share insights in to running a business and have a chance to talk face to face with other owners in small round table discussions. These meetings may also have a guest speaker on various topics important to business owners and crafters. This project is very early in its development, but I'm truly excited about it and hope that it can bring together the craft world to share ideas, thoughts and help small business owners grow their business more.
Any thoughts, ideas or comments you might have are always welcomed and appreciated! If there are topics or questions you would like to see covered on this blog, just email me at shadesjewelry@aol.com and share them with me.
Thanks for sticking with the blog and I look foward to reconnecting with you all again!
Blessings, Dawn
6.08.2009
Find Your Niche...Then Market
My new article has been published at www.handmadenews.org!
Please check it out....http://www.handmadenews.org/article/index.php?id=1347
Feel free to leave comments, suggestions, and vote for my articles if you find them helpful! As writers we need your feedback! ;-)
Thanks and have a great week!
Until next time...Blessings! ~ Dawn
Please check it out....http://www.handmadenews.org/article/index.php?id=1347
Feel free to leave comments, suggestions, and vote for my articles if you find them helpful! As writers we need your feedback! ;-)
Thanks and have a great week!
Until next time...Blessings! ~ Dawn
6.02.2009
Teaching As A Marketing Strategy
New Article on Handmadenews.org! In this article I share with you how teaching a class on your craft is a great way to market your business! Enjoy!
http://www.handmadenews.org/article/index.php?id=889
Please leave feedback or comments on articles! We appreciate it. You can also vote for the articles if you like or dislike them! As writers, we need your feedback!
Thanks, Dawn
http://www.handmadenews.org/article/index.php?id=889
Please leave feedback or comments on articles! We appreciate it. You can also vote for the articles if you like or dislike them! As writers, we need your feedback!
Thanks, Dawn
5.19.2009
Add Products Often...
Hi Friends...
I have a new article on www.handmadenews.org. Here is the link.... http://www.handmadenews.org/article/index.php?id=893
Seriously, check out this site if you have a handmade business. There are tons of articles on various topics that will certainly benefit your business greatly. There are also advertisers starting to appear on the site that I'm sure you'll also want to check out. Maybe you might want to advertise your business there?! There is a link for that on the site so check it out!! And even if you don't have a handmade business, check it out anyway! Maybe something will help you with your business or turn you on to a new place to shop! ;-)
Thanks for reading and until next time...Blessings!!!! ~ Dawn
I have a new article on www.handmadenews.org. Here is the link.... http://www.handmadenews.org/article/index.php?id=893
Seriously, check out this site if you have a handmade business. There are tons of articles on various topics that will certainly benefit your business greatly. There are also advertisers starting to appear on the site that I'm sure you'll also want to check out. Maybe you might want to advertise your business there?! There is a link for that on the site so check it out!! And even if you don't have a handmade business, check it out anyway! Maybe something will help you with your business or turn you on to a new place to shop! ;-)
Thanks for reading and until next time...Blessings!!!! ~ Dawn
5.13.2009
Effective Advertising Strategies Article
New Article at www.handmadenews.org! Please check it out, leave comments and vote for me! I'd certainly appreciate it. I have new articles going up there almost every other day and will be doing a feature article real soon!
Today's article is on Effective Advertising Strategies for your handmade business! Here is the link....http://www.handmadenews.org/article/index.php?id=737
Also be sure to check out the advertisers as well! That's what keeps our site going!
Thanks and many blessings! Dawn
Today's article is on Effective Advertising Strategies for your handmade business! Here is the link....http://www.handmadenews.org/article/index.php?id=737
Also be sure to check out the advertisers as well! That's what keeps our site going!
Thanks and many blessings! Dawn
5.08.2009
New Article on Handmade News
A new article has been posted at handmadenews.org. Hope you will check it out and tell your fellow craft friends about it as well!!
http://www.handmadenews.org/article/index.php?id=738
http://www.handmadenews.org/article/index.php?id=738
5.07.2009
Follow Here or Follow There!
Little did I know when I started sharing information about marketing, advertising and promotions for handmade businesses via this blog that it would lead to other ventures, but it has! I'm now a columnist for another site (read on!), I'm starting a street team on Etsy to get store owners together to have face to face discussion about their handmade businesses and the list goes on!
While still fairly new to Twitter (and still not sure if I like it or not), I've met some interesting people along the way and have gained almost 400 followers in just the three weeks I've been on there. One person whom I met via Twitter suggested I venture over to http://www.handmadenews.org and check out the site and see if I would be interested in becoming one of their columnists in their marketing section. I went and checked out the application and decided I'd apply, but thinking the entire time, there are more qualified people out there and I'm probably waisting my time on this, but I'll try it. I had to update my resume (thank goodness sister is a Certified Professional Resume Writer for over 20 years) which I did, supply a writing sample and answer several other questions. I hit send and thought, ok, end of that, move on and forget about it.
Well, that wasn't the case. A few short days later, I woke up to an email from one of the sites VP's saying that I had been selected as a columnist for the site. I honestly thought it was a joke, but it was true. I was pleasantly surprised and humbled that I'd been chosen among the hundreds of applications I know they received.
I appreciate each and everyone one of you who follows me on this blog. I will continue to post links to this blog which will be for the articles I am writing for Handmade News. The articles for that site will be on marketing, advertising, promotions as well, so nothing will change!
And if there are topics, questions or things you would like to see articles on, please don't hesitate to contact me anytime. I'd love to hear from you! Email me at shadesjewelry@aol.com or leave a comment here!
Again, thanks and I look forward to more handmade business blogs with you!
As always, Blessings!! ~ Dawn
4.29.2009
Pricing Your Creations - Do What Is Best for You
This is a subject that hits different nerves in each of us who have our own handmade businesses. And this question is the one I get asked the most about. How do you determine your prices?
My on-line business is different for me than for most. When I decided to turn my hobby in to a business, one of the first things I determined was it was a hobby for me, something I did on the side after my full-time job. It was then and still is today this same way. I don't ever plan on making it my soul source of income. I don't want to have to rely on my selling of jewelry to survive. Don't get me wrong, I'm not saying it is wrong to live off your handmade business!! For those of you who can, I applaude you. This is simply a decision I chose to make for my business! I see my business as a way to support my beading/jewelry making habit and to also give back to a couple charities that I support.
In pricing my items, one of the biggest contributors to my price is the market/region in which I live. I live in the foothills of the Appalachian Mountains and the county in which I live (Athens Co., Ohio) is the poorest in the state. Several of my customers (even though my business is on-line) live and work in this area. In knowing this, I decided to create jewelry with quality materials, that is stylish, trendy and affordable for everyone.
Many find it hard to believe that I produce the jewelry that I do and price it as I do. I have several tell me that I don't charge enough, that I make it difficult for other jewelry designers to get more for their items that are comparable in design/materials, and the list goes on. But on the flip side of those comments, I receive feedback from my customers that is completely opposite; "what a great deal for such quality," "love buying from you because I get something that is one of a kind and is well made but doesn't cost a fortune!"
When I get the criticism, I immediately tell them why I do this and that it is my goal to provide quality that is affordable. Jewelry for many is a "luxury" and I want everyone to be able to afford it, no matter what! People are looking for good deals, especially in today's market and I am doing what I can to reach out to those who want to "splurge" on themselves, but still have a little money in their pocket!
Does that make someone else's creations not worthy of the price they charge? Absolutely not!! We are designers/creators/artists in many different formats and we create items that you can't find in "big box stores." We use our hands and our home studios to create items that are personal to us that we want to become personal to those who purchase them. And because of this, I encourage all of you to be able to justify why you charge what you charge when someone decides to criticize or question it.
So to answer the question, "what should I charge," I will answer it this way. Do what works for you. If you are doing this full-time and making a living off of it, then make sure you are covering the cost of your materials, your time, etc. If not, and you simply want to pay for your hobby, then price according to that. It is different for each of us and I believe there is no easy answer to this question unfortunately, other than do what is best for your business and stand firm that your creations are personal, unique and deserving of the price you are asking, no matter how high or how low!
Now, go create and have fun! Until next time...Blessings! ~ Dawn
4.13.2009
Leaving Your Mark on Various On-Line Sites
I've noticed through Google Analytics that lately, several hits to my Etsy store have come from the Relay for Life website. Your probably wondering why, so let me explain a little.
I donate a portion of my sales to the American Cancer Society. I don't really advertise that I do this, I just quietly give back. I decided to do this when I started my business because cancer has affected too many in my family and also too many friends and I felt it was important to give back, much like I give to my church. I've been blessed and I pass it on. While it's not a lot, it is something and every little bit helps towards finding a cure for this terrible disease.
I've participated in Relay for Life, been a team captain and more for the past few years as well. I posted probably two years ago on the Relay for Life site about creating a Cancer Awareness bracelet that our team was selling to help raise funds. And since that time, I still get hits from that post to my website and now on my Etsy store. I had no clue that sharing that idea would lead to exposure for my site. That certainly wasn't my intent when I posted the idea on that site!
Posting to various websites, leaving blog comments, etc., can lead to more exposure for your business. While I thought my personal post on this forum board was just sharing a fundraising idea for our Relay team, its turned out to be a lead for my store and I still get several requests from people wanting to purchase these bracelets or have special orders of these bracelets in certain cancer awareness colors.
Keep in mind when you are posting blog comments, responding on message/forum boards, using the forums section on Etsy or any other type of on-line media outlet, you are leaving your mark and therefore, you are probably going to be driving traffic to your store.
Make sure that when you do this, your posts are relevant, pleasant, and make the reader maybe want to find out more about you and you store as well. Don't ever leave rude comments or post something negative about a competitor on these types of posts either. That just makes your business look bad.
Next time you go to post, give it a couple of minutes of time and put some thought in to you. You never know what it might lead to! :-)
Until next time...Blessings! ~ Dawn
I donate a portion of my sales to the American Cancer Society. I don't really advertise that I do this, I just quietly give back. I decided to do this when I started my business because cancer has affected too many in my family and also too many friends and I felt it was important to give back, much like I give to my church. I've been blessed and I pass it on. While it's not a lot, it is something and every little bit helps towards finding a cure for this terrible disease.
I've participated in Relay for Life, been a team captain and more for the past few years as well. I posted probably two years ago on the Relay for Life site about creating a Cancer Awareness bracelet that our team was selling to help raise funds. And since that time, I still get hits from that post to my website and now on my Etsy store. I had no clue that sharing that idea would lead to exposure for my site. That certainly wasn't my intent when I posted the idea on that site!
Posting to various websites, leaving blog comments, etc., can lead to more exposure for your business. While I thought my personal post on this forum board was just sharing a fundraising idea for our Relay team, its turned out to be a lead for my store and I still get several requests from people wanting to purchase these bracelets or have special orders of these bracelets in certain cancer awareness colors.
Keep in mind when you are posting blog comments, responding on message/forum boards, using the forums section on Etsy or any other type of on-line media outlet, you are leaving your mark and therefore, you are probably going to be driving traffic to your store.
Make sure that when you do this, your posts are relevant, pleasant, and make the reader maybe want to find out more about you and you store as well. Don't ever leave rude comments or post something negative about a competitor on these types of posts either. That just makes your business look bad.
Next time you go to post, give it a couple of minutes of time and put some thought in to you. You never know what it might lead to! :-)
Until next time...Blessings! ~ Dawn
4.02.2009
First Facebook, Now Twitter!
Social networking is certainly on the rise! I must admit that it took me a long time to finally jump on the Facebook bandwagon for several reasons. But now that I have, I'm glad. The personal side of it has allowed me to reconnect and stay in touch with so many family members and friends.
But, the business side of it has been great as well. Adding my store link to my personal page introduced my business to about 90+ people who had no clue that I designed jewelry and owned my own business. They have emailed me about it, checked out my site, joined my mailing list and better yet, have made purchases! It has also introduced me to some new friends and "fans" on my business Facebook page that I also created.
If you haven't take the leap yet in to the social networking scene, I would encourage you to give it a try. It doesn't require a lot of your time (ok, it could if you let it, but don't!), its very easy to use and it can introduce you and your business to an even bigger audience!
Have fun with it and enjoy spreading the word about your business with the social networking site that are available! If you already do Facebook or Twitter, share your success stories with a comment below and also share your site! I'm always looking for new sites and friends! ;-)
Until next time....Blessings! ~ Dawn
PS...the link to my facebook page is on the left side of the blog page and if you would like to "follow" me on twitter, that site is: http://twitter.com/shadesjewelry
But, the business side of it has been great as well. Adding my store link to my personal page introduced my business to about 90+ people who had no clue that I designed jewelry and owned my own business. They have emailed me about it, checked out my site, joined my mailing list and better yet, have made purchases! It has also introduced me to some new friends and "fans" on my business Facebook page that I also created.
If you haven't take the leap yet in to the social networking scene, I would encourage you to give it a try. It doesn't require a lot of your time (ok, it could if you let it, but don't!), its very easy to use and it can introduce you and your business to an even bigger audience!
Have fun with it and enjoy spreading the word about your business with the social networking site that are available! If you already do Facebook or Twitter, share your success stories with a comment below and also share your site! I'm always looking for new sites and friends! ;-)
Until next time....Blessings! ~ Dawn
PS...the link to my facebook page is on the left side of the blog page and if you would like to "follow" me on twitter, that site is: http://twitter.com/shadesjewelry
3.25.2009
Is your Signature Line Set-Up?
It is one of the easiest things we can do to send out a "free" advertisement for our business, but I bet there are many out there who don't use this easy to use function on their email! How many of you currently have your "signature" line set-up so that every time you send out an email, your name and business name and website appear at the bottom of those notes?
If you don't have this feature set-up on your email, I want you to stop reading this blog and go set it up! You are missing out on a great opportunity to share your business with your family, friends, co-workers and more!
Have you ever forwarded an email, whether it be something funny, serious or thoughtful? Ever notice how those continue to just be forwarded with most of the content from each email still there? Think how many times your "signature" could be seen if you do this.
Now, I'm not encouraging you all to go out and start forwarding everything that comes in to your email box just so you can get this information out there! We all know how we feel about too much of this type of stuff. :-) But, in the event that you do pass something "good" along to your email list, make sure your signature is on there in case someone you sent it to gets the urge to forward it!!
My signature line is rather simple and I will admit that I change it from time to time to keep it interesting and different and to pique interest! Here is my current signature line...
Dawn Rhodes, Owner
SHADES
Stylish-Trendy-Affordable Jewelry
http://shadesjewelry.etsy.com
The Joyful Bride
Making Wedding Planning a Joyful Experience!
http://thejoyfulbride.etsy.com
That's my current signature line that goes out on every email that I send out...whether it be personal or professional...it goes out! Now I encourage all of you to go and make sure that your signature lines are set-up and actively going out on all your emails...you never know whose reading or shopping!!
Until next time....Blessings! ~ Dawn
PS...yes, I did take on another business venture with "The Joyful Bride." :-) I handle all the marketing/advertising and day-to-day operations for this new business. Great, new product. I also have a wedding coordinator background and do that work some with my "day" job! We have a new blog for that business as well http://thejoyfulbride.blogspot.com. Thanks for checking it out!
If you don't have this feature set-up on your email, I want you to stop reading this blog and go set it up! You are missing out on a great opportunity to share your business with your family, friends, co-workers and more!
Have you ever forwarded an email, whether it be something funny, serious or thoughtful? Ever notice how those continue to just be forwarded with most of the content from each email still there? Think how many times your "signature" could be seen if you do this.
Now, I'm not encouraging you all to go out and start forwarding everything that comes in to your email box just so you can get this information out there! We all know how we feel about too much of this type of stuff. :-) But, in the event that you do pass something "good" along to your email list, make sure your signature is on there in case someone you sent it to gets the urge to forward it!!
My signature line is rather simple and I will admit that I change it from time to time to keep it interesting and different and to pique interest! Here is my current signature line...
Dawn Rhodes, Owner
SHADES
Stylish-Trendy-Affordable Jewelry
http://shadesjewelry.etsy.com
The Joyful Bride
Making Wedding Planning a Joyful Experience!
http://thejoyfulbride.etsy.com
That's my current signature line that goes out on every email that I send out...whether it be personal or professional...it goes out! Now I encourage all of you to go and make sure that your signature lines are set-up and actively going out on all your emails...you never know whose reading or shopping!!
Until next time....Blessings! ~ Dawn
PS...yes, I did take on another business venture with "The Joyful Bride." :-) I handle all the marketing/advertising and day-to-day operations for this new business. Great, new product. I also have a wedding coordinator background and do that work some with my "day" job! We have a new blog for that business as well http://thejoyfulbride.blogspot.com. Thanks for checking it out!
3.11.2009
I did it...I joined Facebook! Free Marketing!
I took the plunge and joined Facebook last week. I hadn't joined before now for several reasons, but after getting 8 invites to join from friends and family in one week, I said that's it, and joined.
I'm not addicted to it like my 19 & 15 year old nephews are, but it is interesting and I have reconnected with lots of friends and family from all over the country so that has been cool!
What's also been neat is that I added a link to my Etsy store and my Etsy mini is also on my box page and since adding these, I've noticed on my analytics that I've received several clicks to my store from my facebook link! So I have added yet another fairly easy marketing tool for my business by having this page. :-) Not bad!
While I can't say I've gained a sale from it yet, I have however exposed my shop to all of my friends on there (90+ as of today) and given my store another audience to promote to. Many of these people were unaware that I did jewelry or even had a store. Much like a mailing list, this keeps your name and products in front of your family and friends and whenever they are looking for jewelry or a gift, they will hopefully remember me and check out the store!
You can also set up a business page on Facebook, but I haven't explored that option yet. Right now, I'm content with what I have on there and don't want to get too bogged down with more and more things to keep up with. :-)
So if you haven't joined, consider it! And if you have, make sure you have your store mini or website link on your site! It's free promotion and that is always good!
Until next time....Blessings! ~ Dawn
PS...you can add me as a friend on Facebook if you want....there is a link to my profile on the left hand side of this blog! :-)
3.09.2009
Putting Your Small Business on my Resume?
If you watch the news at all these days we all hear the same things, job cuts, recession/depression, and the list goes on. It's hard not to know someone these days who isn't looking for a job. My sister, a 20+ year certified professional resume writer is probably one of the few people these days who has seen an increase in her business. Revisions to old resumes, people who have never needed a resume because they've been working 25+ years are now needing one and the list goes on. It's really quite sad at times and my heart goes out to those going through this.
I have had people ask me personally and I've also seen this topic in various forums about should I or shouldn't I use my small business on my resume. My answer to that (and also my sister's answer) is most definitely YES!!!!
As we all know, running a small business like we do is not easy. For most of us, we are the only employee and we are left to run every aspect of the business. We are the owner, designer, marketer, accountant and much more.
Using this information on your resume, even if its unrelated to a job you might be applying for, can tell your potential employer a lot of about you. It can show creativity, diversity, a wide spectrum of experience (marketing, advertising, customer service) and much more. It can also be used as a conversation starter during an interview. It could lead to a lot of different and good things.
So to those who might be looking for a new job go ahead and put your small business on your resume. Show a potential employer that you bring more to the table with your small business experience than most would! Set yourself apart and stand out in a huge crowd these days when it comes to applying for a job!
Until next time--Blessings! ~ Dawn
I have had people ask me personally and I've also seen this topic in various forums about should I or shouldn't I use my small business on my resume. My answer to that (and also my sister's answer) is most definitely YES!!!!
As we all know, running a small business like we do is not easy. For most of us, we are the only employee and we are left to run every aspect of the business. We are the owner, designer, marketer, accountant and much more.
Using this information on your resume, even if its unrelated to a job you might be applying for, can tell your potential employer a lot of about you. It can show creativity, diversity, a wide spectrum of experience (marketing, advertising, customer service) and much more. It can also be used as a conversation starter during an interview. It could lead to a lot of different and good things.
So to those who might be looking for a new job go ahead and put your small business on your resume. Show a potential employer that you bring more to the table with your small business experience than most would! Set yourself apart and stand out in a huge crowd these days when it comes to applying for a job!
Until next time--Blessings! ~ Dawn
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