Wednesday, July 7, 2010
Friday, June 25, 2010
Feature Friday - Brooke
I’m so pleased to finally introduce Brooke, from Flourish Bath & Body. I absolutely love her stuff and I know that you all will too! As soon as I saw Brooke’s shop on Etsy, I instantly knew that I HAD to feature her on my blog!
Introduction - Tell us about yourself.
My name is Brooke and I just turned 29 (yesterday- ugh!). I live in Baltimore with my husband and Flourish is my full-time job.
Besides crafting, what else do you do? What are your other interests?
Besides crafting, I love to cook- I used to cook in restaurants, so you could I'm pretty comfortable in the kitchen! I'm also very into working on my house- we bought it last fall and it's a bit of a fixer-upper- so there are a lot of projects we've got going on. Lately I've discovered gardening (now that I finally have a yard), which I'm really enjoying. Basically I'm very domestic!
In your opinion, what sets you apart from the rest?
From the very beginning I had the goal of creating a product line that raised the bar for handmade bath & body products. I wanted to show people that just because it's "handmade", doesn't mean it has to look "homemade". I've always been a beauty product junkie and beautiful packaging and unique fragrances are what would catch my eye when shopping. So I put a lot of effort into professional-looking and attractive packaging. I think my fragrances are one of my biggest selling points- original blends that you can't get anywhere else. I'm so picky about fragrance and I don't add a new scent to my line unless it makes my eyes roll back into my head when I smell it!
My name is Brooke and I just turned 29 (yesterday- ugh!). I live in Baltimore with my husband and Flourish is my full-time job.
Besides crafting, what else do you do? What are your other interests?
Besides crafting, I love to cook- I used to cook in restaurants, so you could I'm pretty comfortable in the kitchen! I'm also very into working on my house- we bought it last fall and it's a bit of a fixer-upper- so there are a lot of projects we've got going on. Lately I've discovered gardening (now that I finally have a yard), which I'm really enjoying. Basically I'm very domestic!
In your opinion, what sets you apart from the rest?From the very beginning I had the goal of creating a product line that raised the bar for handmade bath & body products. I wanted to show people that just because it's "handmade", doesn't mean it has to look "homemade". I've always been a beauty product junkie and beautiful packaging and unique fragrances are what would catch my eye when shopping. So I put a lot of effort into professional-looking and attractive packaging. I think my fragrances are one of my biggest selling points- original blends that you can't get anywhere else. I'm so picky about fragrance and I don't add a new scent to my line unless it makes my eyes roll back into my head when I smell it!
What is your favorite item in your Etsy shop?
My sugar scrub cubes. The formula was almost a year in the making and it felt so great to finally perfect them. And, in my humble opinion, they're really awesome!
What is the most exciting thing that has happened since you've started?
Being chosen as the Featured Seller! It was just an amazing thing to have happen, and I'm so grateful to have been chosen. I found out about it six weeks in advance- on the day we finished packing our things up in boxes to move into our new house! It was a stressful 6 weeks- the room at the new house that I was planning on using as a workshop needed to be totally renovated before I could set up- so I had to get that done in about 6 days (ripping up carpet, putting down new floors, painting, putting in shelves). Whew! Then it was on to ordering supplies and stocking up on product. I worked non-stop for the weeks leading up to the feature- and then for the month following, trying to get all the orders filled and convos responded to. The whole thing was just insane, I got no sleep for weeks at a time- but I wouldn't trade it for anything.
What is the worst thing that has happened since you've started?
Being chosen as the Featured Seller! I learned a valuable lesson about getting in over your head and knowing when to say no. I thought I was prepared, but the volume of sales was just unbelievable- coming in in a steady stream. I was selling out of things and then getting a half a dozen convos immediately from people wanting to buy those things. I didn't want to let people down, so instead of telling people "sorry, I'm sold out of those for now- I'll have more in stock next month" and concentrating on getting orders filled- I was trying to fit in production as well, and placing all kinds of rush orders for supplies that I ran out of. Everybody needed everything by Christmas (I was featured at the beginning of December) which added tremendous pressure. And unfortunately some of my international orders did not make it in time, and I had some unhappy customers as a result. I greatly regret disappointing those customers- and it's a mistake I vowed never to make again.
My sugar scrub cubes. The formula was almost a year in the making and it felt so great to finally perfect them. And, in my humble opinion, they're really awesome!
What is the most exciting thing that has happened since you've started?
Being chosen as the Featured Seller! It was just an amazing thing to have happen, and I'm so grateful to have been chosen. I found out about it six weeks in advance- on the day we finished packing our things up in boxes to move into our new house! It was a stressful 6 weeks- the room at the new house that I was planning on using as a workshop needed to be totally renovated before I could set up- so I had to get that done in about 6 days (ripping up carpet, putting down new floors, painting, putting in shelves). Whew! Then it was on to ordering supplies and stocking up on product. I worked non-stop for the weeks leading up to the feature- and then for the month following, trying to get all the orders filled and convos responded to. The whole thing was just insane, I got no sleep for weeks at a time- but I wouldn't trade it for anything.
What is the worst thing that has happened since you've started?
Being chosen as the Featured Seller! I learned a valuable lesson about getting in over your head and knowing when to say no. I thought I was prepared, but the volume of sales was just unbelievable- coming in in a steady stream. I was selling out of things and then getting a half a dozen convos immediately from people wanting to buy those things. I didn't want to let people down, so instead of telling people "sorry, I'm sold out of those for now- I'll have more in stock next month" and concentrating on getting orders filled- I was trying to fit in production as well, and placing all kinds of rush orders for supplies that I ran out of. Everybody needed everything by Christmas (I was featured at the beginning of December) which added tremendous pressure. And unfortunately some of my international orders did not make it in time, and I had some unhappy customers as a result. I greatly regret disappointing those customers- and it's a mistake I vowed never to make again.
Do you sell in any shops locally?
Everyone asks me that- I'm actually not yet! I have been growing my wholesale base very organically and slowly- all of my wholesale customers are people who found me on Etsy and contacted me. I need to get out there and actually solicit some new accounts, but I'm so shy in person! I don't do craft shows either, for the same reason. I'm way more comfortable dealing with people over the internet!
What advice would you give someone new to Etsy?
First of all- ask your self seriously: "do I want to have a hobby or a business?" Business is not for everyone- some people may find that worrying about promotion and advertising and SEO and on and on and on sucks the enjoyment out of what they do- and there's nothing wrong with that. If you create things that you love, and selling them is just a nice little bonus- then just make what you love and enjoy it!
If you DO want to have a business- then know that you'll have to approach things a little differently. Take a critical look at your PRODUCT first- is it well made, is it interesting, is there a market for it, are there 100 other people already selling this product- if so- does yours stand out from the rest or blend in? What makes your product unique and special? This can be tough to do with things that you pour your heart and soul into- but it's important. No one else is going to tell you- "the reason you are not selling things is because your product looks exactly like every other one out there" or "the quality doesn't seem to be very good" - people will tell you "improve your photos!" or "do more promoting!" Those things are important, but the product itself is primary.
Assuming you have an awesome product that you just know people are going to love- then you need to focus on presenting it in the best possible way- it's all about the photos! I won't get into details, because there's been so much written on the subject already. Suffice to say- photos are incredibly important. You can get tons of ideas for how to photograph your products by looking at how similar items are photographed for catalogs or magazine features. Those people know what they are doing!
And finally- if you really believe in what you are doing, be patient and don't be discouraged if you are not an immediate success. It takes time, and things build slowly, under the surface. I started my shop in February of 2009. In May, I was considering giving up- I'd had some sales but things just didn't seem to be progressing the way I'd wanted them to. It seemed like the goal of doing this full-time and being able to support myself was not in my reach. I told myself- "if things haven't improved by the end of the summer, I will re-evaluate and consider moving on." In August I got my first wholesale order (a big one!) and got a few blog mentions that brought a bunch of traffic to my shop. Things started to pick up. Then they exploded. Sales were great through the fall. In December I was the Featured Seller.And things have been steady since. It's so funny to me that just one year ago, I was considering giving up. You just never know what's going to happen.
Contact Info:
Etsy
Facebook
Flickr
Wednesday, June 23, 2010
Tuesday, June 22, 2010
I'm Addicted...
to cupcakes! I’ve been trying to think of ways that I could use more props in my photos. I’ve been making tons of cupcake cards lately and I figured, what would be a better prop to use with a cupcake card than a real cupcake?
So I went down the street on my lunch break to “Cupcakes”. For those of you who don’t live in and around Vancouver, BC, Cupcakes is a shop that sells the most adorable (and not to mention, delicious!) cupcakes. They’ve opened multiple locations over the past 5 years. They even have a show on TV called “Cupcake Girls”. I just LOVE their shops!
I picked up a 12 package of mini-cupcakes and 1 regular-size. It was just my luck that the icing on my full size cupcake got squashed by the box but that’s ok. It’ll still be yummy. I couldn’t use it in my photos though.
Here are some photos that I took of one of my cupcake cards last night. I practically inhaled all of the mini cupcakes after my little photo shoot…with my boyfriend’s help of course! :P
About this card:
Currently, my favourite thing to do on cupcake cards is to put glitter over the icing part. It just kicks it up a notch. This card uses some Stampin up DSP and a couple of the in colors that are still available until the end of this month. Bermuda Bay will be discontinued starting July 1st, and Melon Mambo is being integrated into the core colors.
Thanks for stopping by today. Be sure to come back tomorrow for Wordless Wednesday!
So I went down the street on my lunch break to “Cupcakes”. For those of you who don’t live in and around Vancouver, BC, Cupcakes is a shop that sells the most adorable (and not to mention, delicious!) cupcakes. They’ve opened multiple locations over the past 5 years. They even have a show on TV called “Cupcake Girls”. I just LOVE their shops!
I picked up a 12 package of mini-cupcakes and 1 regular-size. It was just my luck that the icing on my full size cupcake got squashed by the box but that’s ok. It’ll still be yummy. I couldn’t use it in my photos though.
Here are some photos that I took of one of my cupcake cards last night. I practically inhaled all of the mini cupcakes after my little photo shoot…with my boyfriend’s help of course! :P
About this card:
Currently, my favourite thing to do on cupcake cards is to put glitter over the icing part. It just kicks it up a notch. This card uses some Stampin up DSP and a couple of the in colors that are still available until the end of this month. Bermuda Bay will be discontinued starting July 1st, and Melon Mambo is being integrated into the core colors.
Thanks for stopping by today. Be sure to come back tomorrow for Wordless Wednesday!
Wednesday, June 16, 2010
Friday, June 11, 2010
Feature Friday - Kristen
Happy Friday everyone! I'm so excited to present the following feature! Kristen makes beautiful personalized pet bowls and other etched art. Her work is truly one of a kind!
I’m a southern girl, born and raised in Arkansas. In college I earned a degree in Art with a emphasis in Graphic Design. Art is one of my biggest passions. I love being creative and making all sorts of things. I currently have two Etsy shops – LuckyPups and Kristenalane.
Currently my favorite item in my LuckyPups shop is my pink personalized dog bowl. It’s my newest item. If Koda was a girl I would definitely etch on for him!
Blog:
Luckypups on Twitter:
Facebook:
Twitter:
Email: kristenalane@centurytel.net
Introduction - Tell us about yourself.
I’m a southern girl, born and raised in Arkansas. In college I earned a degree in Art with a emphasis in Graphic Design. Art is one of my biggest passions. I love being creative and making all sorts of things. I currently have two Etsy shops – LuckyPups and Kristenalane. Being outdoors is something I really enjoy and that is evident in a lot of my artwork. Koda is my cream Pomeranian and he has inspired a lot of the items found in my LuckyPups shop.
Besides crafting, what else do you do? What are your other interests?
I have a wide array of interests! I love everything outdoors from the beach to camping to canoeing and everything in between. I also love going to concerts, photography, shopping and spending time with my family.
What is your favorite item in your Etsy shop?
Currently my favorite item in my LuckyPups shop is my pink personalized dog bowl. It’s my newest item. If Koda was a girl I would definitely etch on for him! What are 5 things that you could never do without?
1. Family 2. Friends 3.Koda 4.Cellphone 5. Laptop
If you had one wish, what would it be?
My wish would be to support myself by selling things I create.
Do you sell in any shops locally?
I currently do not sell in any local shops. That is my next project! So hopefully I will soon!
What advice would you give someone new to Etsy?
I would tell them to have patience. It takes time getting your shop set up and waiting for that first sale. Don’t give up!
Contact Info for Kristen:
Luckypups Etsy:
Blog:
Luckypups on Twitter:
Facebook:
Twitter:
Email: kristenalane@centurytel.net
Thursday, June 10, 2010
Bright Circle Circus
Happy Thursday! It seems like this week has just flown by! I’m starting to get more organized. I photographed a few of my new cards last night. I’m trying out creative ways to utilize props. I always flip through card magazines and admire how the cards are photographed. I would love to work for a card magazine :)
Here is one of my new cards. I also listed it on Etsy this morning. I used the Circle Circus stamp set. This is a fun and diverse stamp set. It’s great to make cards for any and all occasions. You could even change the colors and make a nice Christmas card. The colors I used are: Melon Mambo, Tempting Turquoise, Perfect Plum and Certainly Celery.
I used birthday candles as a prop; scattered around the card. I just love how this turned out!
Have a great day! “See” you all tomorrow for Feature Friday!
Wednesday, June 9, 2010
Friday, June 4, 2010
Feature Friday - Sarah
For today's Feature Friday, I'd like to introduce Sarah, owner of Joyfully Sewn Designs. When I first saw Sarah's shop on Etsy, I knew I just had to feature her on my blog!
Introduction - Tell us about yourself:
My name is Sarah. I live in SW Missouri with my parents and my younger sister. I was homeschooled all of my life, and have always enjoyed crafts. My sewing skills were taught to me by a good friend who was teaching her daughter to sew and by my Grandma. Grandma sewed a lot of dresses for my sister and I as we were growing up. She seems to always be sewing things for other people, and I've learned the joy not only of sewing, but also of blessing others with my sewing skills from her.
My name is Sarah. I live in SW Missouri with my parents and my younger sister. I was homeschooled all of my life, and have always enjoyed crafts. My sewing skills were taught to me by a good friend who was teaching her daughter to sew and by my Grandma. Grandma sewed a lot of dresses for my sister and I as we were growing up. She seems to always be sewing things for other people, and I've learned the joy not only of sewing, but also of blessing others with my sewing skills from her.
How did you get started?
I've been doing custom sewing for families in our area (and a few long distance customers) for the past 10 years. I stared out just sewing a few things for friends, but soon most of my spare time was spent sewing things for others. Last fall I decided to branch out and try selling online. I really had no idea what I was doing, but it's been a fun adventure so far. :)
I've been doing custom sewing for families in our area (and a few long distance customers) for the past 10 years. I stared out just sewing a few things for friends, but soon most of my spare time was spent sewing things for others. Last fall I decided to branch out and try selling online. I really had no idea what I was doing, but it's been a fun adventure so far. :)
Besides crafting, what else do you do? What are your other interests?
When I'm not sewing, I love cooking and baking, spending time with my family, and reading. I enjoy spending time out in God's beautiful creation, and I love spending time with children.
What is the most exciting thing that has happened since you've started?
Probably the most fun thing that's happened since I started my Etsy shop was the lady who discovered my shop by finding one of my business cards in the book return bin at the library where she works! She got on my site and ordered a skirt for her daughter right away!
Probably the most fun thing that's happened since I started my Etsy shop was the lady who discovered my shop by finding one of my business cards in the book return bin at the library where she works! She got on my site and ordered a skirt for her daughter right away!
Do you sell in any shops locally?
I don't sell in any local shops at the moment, but I am continuing to sew for my local customers - I guess I'm more of a personal seamstress.
I don't sell in any local shops at the moment, but I am continuing to sew for my local customers - I guess I'm more of a personal seamstress.
Etsy Shop:
Wednesday, June 2, 2010
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