Labels: hair bows and clips, home-based business, Sparkle and Charm Boutique
Have any of you started up your own home-based buess? If so, what was your approach? What wa your product? How successful has your business been?I have to say, despite the enormous amount of work involved with trying to get my Sparkle & Charm Boutique off the ground, I'm really having a lot of fun with it!
Here's my checklist (randomly organized):
- Decide on products to sell. (Done- sort of. I keep adding things as I come up with new ideas.)
- Pay for web hosting. (Done.)
- Secure a URL. (Done.)
- Pay for online store web design. (Still working on that.)
- Advertise. (I'm doing word-of-mouth advertising at the moment until I get a website in place.)
- Purchase materials to create the product. (I've been stockpiling for a while. Thank goodness for Michael's 40% off coupons!)
- Arrange for method of shipping. (Done- I've had the postal service ship me Priority boxes of various sizes and I've set up an online account with them. I'm going to purchase a small scale to weigh my packages at home.)
- Figure out pretty packaging technique. (Work in progress. I'm starting to like clear cellophane and ribbon, as well as personalized tags.)
- Figure out billing method. (Done- I'm using a business PayPal account and so far so good.)
- Find time to make my creations within deadlines. (Right now this happens after the kids are in bed. I no longer get 8 hours of sleep.)
Now, all of this is evolving and changing over time as I learn what works and what doesn't. I'm trying to keep things simple (no business plan, no expensive marketing campaign, no hard sales, etc.). I'm simply trying to turn my creative outlet into a small side business.
I don't expect that I'll be able to stay at home and do just this on a full-time basis anytime soon, but maybe some day. For now, I'm just enjoying seeing a labor of love made from my own two hands being packed up pretty and sent off to a little girl. I love hearing how much joy my hair bows or tutus are bringing these little ones!
This is turning out to be an exciting and fun venture!!
By the way, if you've promoted my Sparkle & Charm Boutique on your blog since 9 May, please leave me a comment here with a link to that plug so that I can enter your name in my drawing for a $10 gift certificate to be used on any one of my products. I'd really like to choose a winner this week!
Last August I posted a "Name that business" contest to help generate ideas for the home-based business that I want to start. I even gave away a prize, despite the fact that I never did select a business name.
Well, I've chosen a business name and I've secured a URL and found a web hosting site. Now all I need is a blog design done. I'm hoping to use Susie at Bluebird Blog Designs but I haven't heard back from her yet and I'm not sure how long I can wait. Can anyone recommend other web designers out there? I need to find someone affordable. I can't afford the $300+ prices that some charge.
So, what is my business name, you ask? Well, I'm about to tell all. I wish I had a cute button to show you for my new name, but I can't seem to get creative enough to design one myself. I know for my business site I'd like to use the colors pink, green apple, and white so I suppose I'd like a button with my name in those colors. Anyone care to create me a button?
Okay, my business name will be
I've been inspired by my blogging friend, Barb over at A Chelsea Morning, who posted some of her adorable burp clothes for sale even before she launched her online store A Chelsea Morning's Little Shoppe.
I'd like to get my feet wet, and hopefully raise some money to put towards the cost of my website design, by posting some of my products for sale on this blog.
Labels: home-based business
You know, two months ago I had a "Name that Business" contest and all your suggestions got my creative juices flowing and I came up with a name. Nope, I can't reveal it yet because I'm worried if I do someone might be tempted to snatch the name and use it themselves before I can get a website and logo designed (I know, I'm paranoid).But here's the problem I'm having. I'm searching out there for an inexpensive but nice web-hosting and web design for my business (I can't spend a lot of money on this because I don't have a lot of money to spend) and I'm feeling a bit overwhelmed with choices. Most of these choices are way out of my price range!
So, I thought that perhaps I could appeal to all of you out there to help me find an inexpensive, reliable web host and, even more important, maybe one of my creative and talented readers could cut me a deal on a pretty & whimsical web design for my jewelry business. I can't pay you much but I could make you a nice jewelry set and I would sing your praises from the rooftops to anyone who would listen and prominently advertise your web design company on my website.
Any takers? Leave me a comment or feel free to email me. If you're emailing me, I don't want your email getting lost in the pile-o-spam that I get each day so just put "Web Design Idea" in the subject line of your message.
Thanks for your help! You all are wonderful!
By the way, don't miss my Fall, Y'all bloggy giveaway for a chance to win a pretty, beaded bookmark!
Labels: Blog Design, bloggity goodness, home-based business
Lani over at The Wooden Porch has just launch her new personalized notecard business. Go check out her new business, Just Being Notesy! If you make a purchase as a result, let her know that I sent you! :)
Labels: bloggity goodness, home-based business
This past Saturday I attended my first bead show. Have you ever been to one? Oronzo told me about it and surprised me in offering to come. Initially, I think he wanted to attend to help keep my spending in line and he did that, sort of, but not as well as he thought he would.
This bead show was amazing. There were about 104 vendors present from all over the United States. There were glass beads, semi-precious stones, sterling silver findings and intricate clasps, wire wrap, and so much more for sale! They even had 3 artists showing how they made their own glass lamp beads. I spent about 30 minutes just watching that!
I spent far too much money, even with Oronzo there. In the end, he got caught up with the excitement and made his own purchases (Tiger Eye, red dyed coral, onyx, and hematite strands) so that I could design some jewelry for his mom and sisters as gifts.
The other fun part of attending this beading extravaganza was seeing all the different business names listed in the guide booklet. Some of the names that caught my eye were:
- BeadAbundant
- Beadfuddled
- Crystal Myths, Inc.
- From the Heart — Janet Farris
- Glasscapes
- I Fancy That!
- Jujee Beads
- Mother Beads, Inc.
- Natural Touch
- Shipwrecked Glass Art
- Some Enchanted Beading
- Wear Original Wonders
- Whole Lotta Whimsy
- Wild Things Beads
Remember my Name that Business contest where I couldn't decide on a name even after all the suggestions you kind bloggers offered? Well, I think I've settled on a name. I'm not quite ready to disclose it yet because I need to go purchase the website name and create a logo design, but soon I will share that with you!Going to this bead store has really inspired me again!
I'm curious, are any of you bloggers out there jewelry designers? Do you have a website where you sell your designs? If so, please leave me your link in my comments section. I'd love to see your work and maybe others would too!
Labels: can't stop beading, home-based business
Oy Veh! I know I said I'd have a business name picked out yesterday but I'm having a tough time deciding on one! I've gotten so many fantastic suggestions from many of you. Thanks so much!
I've been checking each of these suggestions to see if the URL is already being used. Many of them are, but quite a few aren't. I just can't decide yet, I'm sorry! This is harder than I expected. Maybe I'm overthinking this, but I can't help myself.
I still want to do a giveaway though, so I used Random Integer Generator to select a winner from those of you who left comments with name suggestions.
And the winner is...
Commenter #45- penguinsandladybugs over at All Rolled Into One! What's neat is that her kids were joining in the fun trying to come up with name suggestions. How cute is that?
penguinsandladybugs, just email me to let me know if you'd rather have me ship the bracelet/earring set or a bookmark of your choice.
As for the rest of you, please feel free to offer more suggestions. I promise to post when I finally decide on a name. If it's one that was suggested, that person will still win one of my products!
Oh, and even though I haven't officially kicked off my new business, I'm still open for business if you're interested. :)
Labels: bloggity goodness, giveaways, home-based business
I think Snuggle Bug is working on getting his 2 year molars in. He's been saying "mouth hurt" and sticking his fingers in his mouth. He's also been running low grade fevers off and on. Considering he'll be turning 3 in December, I'd say it's about time these molars come in!It's been a while since we've had to witness Snuggle Bug in pain due to teething and these last 3 nights have been tough. He wakes up frequently throughout the night, crying out in pain. We go in and try to comfort him the best we can, but it's not easy.
Last night I picked up my 28 lb. little boy and paced the wooden floors of his room with him in my arms as he snuggled up against my chest and whimpered in pain. I did the bounce-sway-shhhh-shhhh-shhh walk with him for several minutes, just like I used to do when he was teething as a baby, until he had fell back to sleep in my arms.
I hate to see him in pain like this and I'm not sure what's the best brand of medicine out there for his age to help sooth his teething pain. Any suggestions? Maybe I should call our pediatrician and ask.
Oh, by the way, I just want to say that I'm loving all the business names that many of you have come up with! I'm checking them all out to see which URLs have already been taken and which ones are still available. Unfortunately, many of the clever ones are already taken so keep those suggestions coming!I'll announce on Saturday the name I've chosen for my new home-based jewelry business.
Thanks so much for all your help!
Labels: home-based business, Snuggle Bug, toddler
Okay my fellow bloggers (and non-bloggers), I need your help! This would be a good time for you lurkers to delurk. :)
I'm preparing to start up a home-based jewelry business. Well, maybe it's more than just a jewelry business. I'll be attempting to sell beaded and wire-wrapped jewelry that I've created (the bracelet you see above is one that I made). I'll also be selling embellished bookmarks, hairclips, and other odds and ends.
I'm having trouble thinking of a cleaver name. I don't want to use my IRL name or even Overwhelmed With Joy. I want something totally separate and distinct. I want a name that's creative and catchy but also concise.
So, here's where you come in (I hope)! I'd like you all to help me come up with a name for my business. In return, I'm offering to give away one of my products to the person who comes up with the name I end up using. I'll even give the winner a choice.
The winner can choose either this sparkling bracelet and earring set (made with Swarovski crystals)
or
one of my embellished bookmarks, like the styles you see below (you pick the color and style you like best and I'll custom make it for you).
All you have to do to enter this "contest" is leave me a business name suggestion in the comment section of this post. That's it!
Of course, if you're feeling generous and would be willing to help me spread the word, you could grab the "Name that business" button from the top of this post and use it in a post on your blog, but that's certainly optional.
I'm leaving the comments open until end of day on Friday, 17 August. As long as there's a business name that I like (which I'm confident there will be) I'll select a business name on Saturday, 18 August and announce the winner that day.
So, can you help me? I sure hope so!
Just a side note: The pictures that you see on this post were taken by my beloved husband, Oronzo. Isn't he a fantastic photographer?! I just love the work he does!
Labels: bloggity goodness, giveaways, home-based business
So, it's back to the drawing board. What other legitmate home-based businesses are out there...that don't involve food? Please, share your thoughts and ideas, and if you can include website links or phone numbers, I'd sure appreciate it!Labels: family, home-based business, leap of faith, working mommy
I have some news to share and some questions to ask of you.
The news: Ornozo has been offered a job in Nebraska, the state where most of my side of the family lives. Unfortunately, the salary they offered him was less than he'd hoped. Decent, but not quite enough for us to exist on his salary alone if we hope to have me stay home with Snuggle Bug and then adopt a second child.
The questions: Have any of you started a home-based business? If so, what type of business is that? How did you get started? Were there state regulations involved to get started? I know there are a lot of scams out there but I'm clueless as to what home-based businesses might be legitimate.
I have tossed around the idea of trying to start up a small, home-based bakery (cookies, muffins, cakes). I'm doing research on how I would make this happen.
Here's something you could help me with, I need a name for my bakery. I want it to start with either A, B, or C to keep it towards the top of the Yellow Pages should I decide to advertise. Any ideas?
One last question: How much would you pay for a couple of prettily decorated cookies packaged with nice ribbon and a gift tag. Be honest.
At some point, if I really try to make a go of a home-based business, I need to figure out pricing.
Well, there you have it. We're trying to decide whether or not Oronzo should take this position, which would offer more financial stabiliy than Oronzo's contract work does at the moment, but which would generate so many uncertainties in other areas of our lives.
Labels: family, home-based business, leap of faith, Oronzo, working mommy
