Getting personal

So I know that I originally intended for this blog to be about my business, but to be honest, what fun is that for all my readers?? I feel that it is now time to start getting personal. I have a lot to say and need somewhere to say it! For starters you should know more about me, so here it is in a brief nutshell!

John and I have been married for over three years now. We got married exactly 8 months after meeting--we began dating the same day we officially met! He is the love of my life! We have three children, the oldest being from a prior relationship, not that it really matters! Dominic is now 7 years old, Drake is 2 and a half, and my little princess Zoey Anastasia will be turning 1 year old on August 8th! I stay at home with the kids and John works full time, although it doesn't feel like it's full time! His shifts are 12 hours long, 4 days on 4 days off and rotating between 7am-7pm and 7pm-7am.

Well, I have to get some more housework done, but don't worry! I'll be back tomorrow! :)

Blog Award

I received the One Lovely Blog Award from Diane Miller of The Shutterbug Eye Photography! She takes incredible photos, my favorites being of sunsets! These photos make for beautiful art in homes and offices anywhere! I am still in the process of figuring out how to put photos in my posts, so my apologies!! I will update this as I figure it out! LOL

Here are the rules for this award:

1. Accept the award, post in your blog together with the name of the person or people who gave it to you an a link to their blog.
2. Pass the award to other 15 blogs that you have newly discovered.
3. Contact the bloggers you award to let them know that they were chosen.
   

I gratefully accept such a wonderful award, and I will be passing it on to the following 15 people!
1. The Shopping Kiwi- http://shoppingkiwi.blogspot.com/
2. SimaG Jewelry- http://simagjewelry.blogspot.com/
3. Lamp Essentials- http://fragrancelampekits.blogspot.com/
4. Kikay Designs- http://kikaydesigns.blogspot.com/
5. PeanutsCreations Handmade Crochet- http://peanutscreations.blogspot.com/
6. Sanourra Designs- http://sanourradesigns.blogspot.com/
7. Jacqueline's Crafty Creations- http://jacquelinescraftycreations.blogspot.com/
8. Miss Val's Creations- http://missvalscreations.blogspot.com/
9. The L. Bryan- http://wowhinstyle.blogspot.com/
10. Heart Handmade- http://www.hearthandmadeblog.com/
11. Babygirl Boutique- http://babygirlboutique.blogspot.com/
12. All Animal Prints- http://www.allanimalprints.com/
13. Delightful Divas in Business-http://delightfuldivasinbusiness.blogspot.com/
14. Twice Babies Mom- http://momoftwicebabies.blogspot.com/
15. Gigi and Lulu- http://gigiandlulu.blogspot.com/

The Future

I have so much to do! I have new prints for the baby to toddler bibs coming, like orange flames, zebra print, and 'glam tattoo' (so adorable!). Once I get a good inventory of those set up, I will be adding a lot more things to my studio! The special needs/adult bibs will be next out! I am going to have a variety of fun prints for those, with everything from Elvis and OU to scrolls and animal prints! After those are made, my pocketed burp cloths will be the next group! Those will be about 7 inches wide and 18 inches long, with a 3 inch pocket on one side to catch the mess. I am still in the works about exactly how I want those to look, but I promise they will be adorable! I have recently decided to create newborn bibs, too! These will also be with snaps, and adjustable to two sizes! The reason that these are going to be a while in the making is that I don't have a newborn in the house anymore! ;) My brother-in-law and his wife are expecting in October, so I will have a model then! LOL And of course, I am still wanting to get some new photos up, but with three kids in the house and it being summer time, it's hard to get them to cooperate!

The future of Heart N Sew Designs looks great! By Thanksgiving, I will have at least 50 Baby-to-Toddler Bibs in stock, as well as at least 50 Adult Bibs, 50 Newborn Bibs, and 50 Burp Cloths! So as you can see, I am going to be busy busy busy!

Well, my boys are awake, so I'm off to do breakfast and some school work with them! Can't let their little brains take a vacation! :)

Advertising on this blog!

I am in the ongoing process of improving my blog, and promoting as much as possible! I follow back all of my followers! After some consideration, I have decided to offer some advertising options! Beginning with the simplest, we can link swap for free! What is this? You will have a link under my "Be Sure To Visit" section! This will be permanent, and all I am asking for is a link to my studio on your blog/site! The next option is a banner ad, beginning at $1.00 for 30 days, and so on from there! You can have a permanent banner ad for $5.00 as well!

**GET A FREE BANNER AD PERMANENTLY** Interested?? Thought you would be! :) If you would like to have a FREE banner ad permanently on my blog, just put my banner up on your site! See how this works?? Cross promotion--what a wonderful thing! ;)

For purchasing information, see the "Advertise Here" section on the right!

Send me an email to heart_and_sew_designs@yahoo.com to let me know what you'd like to do!

Ironing

I went ahead and ordered 250 business cards from vistaprint.com. I only had to pay the shipping, so it was a good deal! I have been trying to iron out all the twists, turns, and wrinkles in my business! First order of business, establish an inventory! Ideally I am planning on keeping at least 50 items ready to ship. Now to find the time for that! :o) I hope that in the next 30 days my business becomes more settled and structured! I am also trying to come up with more creative ways to promote myself here locally! Well, sorry for this post being short and not so "*s*t*u*n*n*i*n*g*"! I will make up for it when I don't have a baby on my lap! :)

Attitude Attracts...

While still pondering over productive waiting, I remembered another aspect to a successful business! Attitude! Your attitude will attract people (note: I did not just say 'customers', I said 'people')! Why attract people instead of strictly customers? Well, first of all anyone can tell if they are viewed solely on their purchasing habits, or as a whole person! No one wants to be seen as only a number in the sales receipt books! Did your last customer mention how hectic her day was with her children? Reach out and talk! Ask what they have all been up to since the last time you were in touch! Keeping an upbeat and carefree type attitude with people makes you more attractive to them! (In the personality sense...we're aren't talking about getting a date! LOL). Return messages promptly, comment on their blogs/twitters. Always greet them in a cheerful manner! For example, you may have read my blog about the Shopping Kiwi. Why do I promote that blog? For starters, from the very first time I contacted Mesha she was pleasant to work with! Always a cheerful greeting in her replies, and never once came across as though I was bothering her or taking up too much of her time. When communicating via writing (emails, chat, blog, etc) you need to be careful that when it is being read the readers can feel your joy, passion, and humor! Re-read what you are writing--does it come across as cheerful? Are you portraying an interest in the reader? Imagine you as the recipient. Would you smile reading it, or would you wonder if the sender is irritated or harsh? Be personable--especially in writing! You want to come across as being a friend. You want to be an available outlet for people outside of just your business!

Let me give you a "real life" example! I live in a small town. On Main Street there is a Chinese buffet that we all go to. Sure the restaurant is a bit small, but we love it! A few years ago, a large Chinese buffet franchise came to town. They have a bigger selection, bigger seating area and more staff. The prices are basically the same. So why is it they are never full of customers come lunch hour?? I'll tell you. They have the worst service! They never smile when they see you come in, they don't refill your drinks, or come to the table to ask if there is anything they can get you, and overall the staff is just grumpy and unavailable! Back to the smaller restaurant...They know you. They know that if I go in alone, I'm going to ask for two buffets to go. They know how many kids we have, and that my oldest son lives out of state with his father (comes home at Christmas and summers...sucks, I know!). They've seen my pregnant with all of my children, and have seen them grow! They know that during my pregnancy I crave Chinese food and will make my food to order even if I get there close to closing time. All the servers come to check on you, you never are left with a half-filled drink, they are always excited to see you! Even the kitchen staff smiles and greets everyone when out refilling the buffets! They stop and talk to the kids, give the little ones suckers after their meal! When they thank you at the cash register, they mean it, and they really do look forward to your return. People in town will wait for a table at this restaurant, even though we all know the larger one is always open! In fact, the place on Main Street won an award for the Top 100 Restaurants of 2008! How do you think they got that award?? Their attitude attracts happy customers! My family came to visit this last Christmas for the time (they live out of state). When we took them all to the Chinese place on Main, they were so impressed! And not by the size, or decor, or infinite rows of selection...it was the employees and their quality of food!

So if you sell quality products, make sure you match it with a quality attitude! Happy selling! (No, really! "HAPPY" selling! LOL)

By the way, that restaurant is The New Young China Buffet on Main Street, in Weatherford, Oklahoma! If you are ever passing through Oklahoma on I-40, take exit 82 (if traveling west), and exit 82-A Main Street (if traveling east)! Open from 11am-9pm! You will love it! :0)

Productive Waiting

Once you've got your shops/studios/listings up online, and you've advertised your little heart out, then comes waiting. It has to be productive waiting though! Continue on the social networks, keep your name fresh in people's minds! As tempting as it is to sit by the computer and constantly check back for "number of views", don't. It will drain you faster than you know! Instead, keep your blog updated, and get out of the house to spread word of your business locally! Make a flier, hand out business cards--meet people! People are your buyers, not usernames online! ;o) Spend some time stretching your creative mind! Can you make your item with different features? Can you create something that you can sell with it, such as in a set?

Another, possibly even overlooked activity to do while waiting for the sales to come in, is to read other people's blogs and follow them! Establish a relationship outside of just pitching sales at them all day! Get to know their writing, the interests...trust me, this will later come in handy! When "JaneDoBlogger" mentions she is planning an upcoming birthday party for her twins, you can wish her luck in planning, a "Happy Birthday" to the little ones, and subtly bring up the idea of one of your items making a perfect gift for the kids! And of course, since you've been following her blogs, you'll know to suggest the Spongebob print for Johnny and Tinkerbell for Jenny! See how this works? You aren't just blindly posting ads all over the web! You are genuinely seeking out PEOPLE, not just nameless/faceless internet users! In addition, they will appreciate your approach and therefor remember you....and your store, when they are in need of something that you sell! Want another bonus to following?? You can get ideas from these new relationships! For example you have only been selling your item in fall colors....after reading other blogs, you notice that summer colors seem to be the most popular trend...do see where I'm going here?? Sell what people like, not just you and your relatives!

Now back to that mention of flyers...what to say on them? Well, for starters, select one item to feature. Make that your headline...Follow that up with some bullet-style features/points about the item! Don't list too much--just enough to get their attention! Play with bold type, fonts, and sizes. Don't use a font that is difficult to read quickly! Keep some space at the bottom so you can make tear-away tags with your business name and phone/website on it! You might want to print them out on colored paper as well to make them more visible. Where do you post them?? Laundry mats, convenience stores, colleges...anywhere that will let you really! Be creative with where you post flyers--you want high traffic areas, ideally in places where your target market will be!

Business cards...if you can't afford to buy them professionally made, make them yourself! Time consuming, yes, but it has a nice effect! What to do with them? Hand them to every person you exchange money with...at the store, at the movies, at the bank. Ask to leave a couple here and there (movie rental stores, gas stations...anywhere you see other business cards!). Send 2 or 3 with every order you ship. Include one in Christmas cards, birthday cards, etc! Hand them out at the park while your kids play with the other kids. Use them to introduce yourself!

As you can see, although waiting is seemingly endless and maybe unnerving to some, as long as you make it productive, it will pass! If you want your business to be your only source of income, you have to want it enough to work for it! Yes, work. I know you thought owning your own business would be fun and exciting and dare I suggest, easy? But what you come to see very quickly, is that rather than just being the cashier at the local dollar store, you have just signed up to be: owner, bookkeeper, design team, investor, manufacturer, marketing department, salesman, customer service department, and packaging/shipping....all in one--one, being...YOU! :o) Sounds harsh, I know...but it will get easier (note: I did not say simpler, just easier!). You will get the hang of your marketing techniques, finding what works and what doesn't. You will figure out how all this online information of owning your home business applies to you. You will find your groove, and make that money!

Keep all of your information up to date, and always be productively waiting for the sales!