Showing posts with label online business. Show all posts
Showing posts with label online business. Show all posts

10/05/2021

The Story of Me and My Business

The Story of Me and My Business
The Beginning


In a galaxy.... far far away .......  

Not really, lol.

 I started crafting at a young age with my grandmother, trying to show me how to knit. It didn't compute well as I expected it to grow faster. 

When I was 10 we moved house and rented an area that also had quite few things belonging to the owners.

I found a little booklet with detailed step by step pictures of crochet stitches. I tried it and bit by bit taught myself and from that moment on I was hooked.

I would make dolls blankets once I got hold of any wool, which wasn't often.

I would pick up the crochet occasionally but it finally became useful when I had children

I made many things for my home, especially after I got a knitting machine  I learned to design basic patterns to make clothes for the children,  jumpers for us and as gifts too.

Life got busier with a growing family and it was set aside.

Crochet was picked up occasionally from time to time but mostly lay untouched until grandchildren began to appear. 

Time to move Forward

But then the universe in its wisdom decided I wasn't doing what I should be doing and gave me shove.

3 illnesses all at once for just over 2 years was a really effective way of doing just that. I have to say it was very efficient otherwise it might have dragged on for a few years.

I have never been one to sit and do nothing and there is only so much meditation you can do. So out came the trusty hooks and yarn. I began to crochet blankets.

But as I improved I wanted variation and commenced making hats, scarves and fingerless mitts.

Of course the few items grew into piles and kept growing.

Once I recovered I had a brilliants idea, I could sell online. It would be simple to do. Right?  I have to say here, that I actually thought I would open an online shop and that was it, job done.

Starting that first online shop

I had absolutely no idea what I was doing or had let myself in for.


Just the initial set up was a challenge. I learned that I needed decent photos, not just one, but from every angle, as well as descriptions etc.

I did it, though it took a long while. The whole thing was a very steep learning curve and the more I learnt, the more I realised that I needed to know.

BUT .... once that first sale came in, I was hooked!! 

The general consensus was that it took about 4 years to make a reasonable profit. I have to say that it was about right. Not bad though considering I knew absolutely nothing about online selling when I started. 

I had never even looked at any social media platforms, they were a mystery too. I had resisted being on them but now I had no choice. 

I loved selling online and no longer wanted it as a hobby, I wanted a business!

Turning it into a business

I wanted a business but designing and creating crocheted accessories took too long too, I needed to change to something I could make more of, instead of something that took a few days. 

I did miniature paintings and really enjoyed those, sold quite a few. Then I tried needle felting, which was very satisfying and enjoyable. I made pictures and turned them into useful items like needlecases and pincushions.
It still wasn't what I was looking for though. I wanted something I could personalise, to make it totally unique for each person with a variety of designs to choose from.
Then I found Word Art.
It was new then and the pictures were very basic but it fired my imagination. I wanted to make something similar but make the pictures come alive, to give the idea of movement. 
It was certainly a challenge

Finding the right tools

I played around with it, having fun and learning. I liked it but I wanted to create better pictures. Pictures that were more life-like.
I spent months looking for the right software, not too complicated but good enough to create what I envisioned. I finally found the one I wanted and set to work.

I kept practicing, drawing new styles and pictures.

Then I realised that I needed more software for the finishing of the pictures. They would need editing. Making the right size, leaving a margin in case they were framed. Also being able to move words about so the right ones were larger and more prominent and the less important were clearly visible but smaller. 

I found the right software and had to learn how to use it for what I wanted. It was frustrating and fun all at once. Bit by bit I was getting where I wanted to be.

Word Art was born!

And so word art came into being about 7 years ago.

My first ones were very basic and I tested the waters with those. I made a few sales but hadn't gained the skills yet to alter the words without it being obvious. The price was lower while I worked this out but I didn't do many orders. I wasn't really advertising them much, afraid to put them out there in case it was a failure.

Gradually the pictures were getting better and I was building a basic collection.

A few became a dozen and kept growing, until I had a reasonable sized basic collection. I added a few to my Not On The High Street shop, then a few more. I kept practising but still they took many hours to create, it was all so new. I wanted each one to be perfect.

Very slowly, orders began to come in. It was exciting and scary too. 

The first  Christmas I did 30 in the November and nearly the same amount in the December despite a cut off point. Considering each one took most of a day, more if alterations were needed, that was a lot. By the Christmas I was exhausted and ready to drop.

At the same time, it was exhilarating and fun.

Another shove from the Universe

I got better, the order volumes grew, my business was doing nicely. I thought about leaving my job but it seemed too much like tempting fate.
Then, I lost my job, I was made redundant. I didn't get much money despite working there for over 20 years. The new boss had gradually whittled all the hours down, most just left. However, it was convenient for me but I knew my time there was limited.

When redundancy was mentioned I jumped at it because at least I would get something.

I considered getting another job but decided I would give myself 8 months to make it earn enough to at least equal my lost wage.

It was VERY hard work

Now I was working very long hours to make this into a business that paid me. I got up early, went to bed later and later. Designed new pictures, opened another shop, this time on Etsy and created a website.

The time passed in a blur. But before my deadline, it was a business that made the amount of profit I needed. In fact over time it surpassed my expectations.

At busy times, like Christmas, sleep became optional. 3-4 hours became the norm. Every single one took hours from start to finish, not as many as at the start but I wanted each one to be perfect.

I still love it but have cut back on it over the last few years as I spend time with grandchildren more.

I treasured the time with them and would not have given up the time for anything or anybody. 

Moving On

Now I needed something else, especially as the retirement age had moved on by 6 years. I wanted something new to learn, to stretch my brain to its limits. That would in time earn me money to replace lost income from limiting the word art. But what?
A chance remark about being an influencer due to the amount of my social media followers, set me off on a new path.

Time to learn and grow

I researched influencers as at that time I hadn't heard of them. Then I kept coming across affiliate marketing. Turned out that it was much the same thing, though I am pretty sure the influencers wouldn't say so. 
Plus affiliate marketing is harder as we do research, write about products we believe in or find solutions for problems that people need solving. A plus is that I love writing blogs. Finding things to write about is never a problem as I have several websites to fill.

I love new challenges and this is a major new challenge. It fits well with my lifestyle now, keeping up with family as we spread out. My work can be done anywhere and word art posting is planned to suit around my many days away each month.

Keep learning and growing

During the Pandemic, I couldn't travel because of the Lockdowns and restricted times but I learnt a lot more and did get more done on my websites. So it is all coming along nicely.

Continuing to build

I would probably be much further along if I stuck to one website for affiliate marketing but of course I couldn't. A new idea would come along and set me off on a new tangent. But that's okay, it keeps life interesting.
There was one topic that I really wanted to talk about but it took me a while, as its kind of about the life journey, including mine and the things we learn, to grow as a person and spiritually. It's sharing all I have learnt through the years and continue to learn. It's HERE if you are interested in self help and growing into your best life.

It has taken a lot of hard work over the years, building social media and learning all I needed for each stage of my journey. However now it is a valued asset.

Now I know that learning never ends, that hopefully I will always seek new challenges and that life is more interesting when you are curious and have a thirst for knowledge.

I have also learned that change is good, you are never too old to start something new and that behaving like a kid, at times, is good for you too!!

I love my life and I am really happy, probably 98% of the time. The other 2% of possibly not, is because I am after all human and life happens.Lol.


15/01/2021

Starting your Business, Basics

Starting Your Business Basics


Let me say upfront, that I am not an expert by any stretch of the imagination. Having said that, I have been selling online for over 10 years now. I love the freedom it gives me and has given me for years.

I made the leap to working fulltime for myself when I got made redundant. I gave myself 8 months, from May when I became redundant to January. 

I told myself that if it wasn't earning me a decent wage by then I would get another job. That's a great incentive, especially in the winter, when it's wonderful to not have to go out in the cold, the rain, snow and whatever else winter throws at us.

This is literally the basic bare bones to get you started. Which is still more than I had when I started. If I can do it, so can you!

How to get started!

Nowadays the internet is a big part of our lives and most of us are fairly internet savvy.
I knew nothing and had to learn it from the ground up. I hadn't even been on any social media sites at that point, so it was a big learning curve.

It was easiest to start on a selling platform for me. It is a good way to get started. It wasn't a thing then but now, many start on Facebook and some sell only on Facebook. Whether you sell on there or not, it is a good idea to have a business page anyway.

A shop


Wherever you sell from, you need good detailed descriptions and good quality photographs. 
WHY?
Because that is the only way your customer will get to know what it is like before buying. Photos show them and the description obviously describes it in more detail. This is what will sell your goods.

You will be charged a small amount to list each item and generally the listing will last for 3 months.
A shop or a website or both

Any selling platform now tends to have clear set up instructions and videos to show you step by step.
You will learn to tag your items with terms that people search for and including such words in your description and Title. This is called SEO or Search Engine Optimisation. 

My Shops: Etsy & NOTHS

A website

You can build your own website which is easy enough to do. I know because I managed it several years back. I had it up and running in less than a week just spending a little time here and there when I could.
Many of the platforms that host websites will have a free basic starter site you can sign up for. 
Many crafters I knew just stayed with the free version, especially if they linked it back to their shop for selling.

My Website

Social Media

If you want to have your own business selling goods or services, you need people to find you. That is where social media comes in.
You get business pages on each platform, all free, and start to build each one. Logo, business name a little bit about you and a link to your shop or website. You can usually only add one link. 

That is where a website is useful as you can add a button for any shops or social media.

Which Ones!

The main and important social media platforms are probably ones you use all the time; Facebook, Twitter, Instagram and Pinterest. 
There are others but don't overload yourself at the start as you need to use them regularly and interact with others to gain followers. 
The more followers you have, the more people that will get to see what you have to offer as your followers comment and share your posts. 

What else?


If you are making goods, keep making. In quiet times, yes there will always be times where you sell less than other times. Design new products, get on social media and get busy gaining followers. The more you do towards building those followers the more your business and goods will get seen.

TAX: Get registered with your local tax office. Even if you don't make much at first, it is very important to ensure your business is legitimate. I have heard about people being caught and fined because tax offices look online for those that haven't registered.

Yes there are a lot of new businesses springing up and there were lots before the Pandemic brought more. So is it overcrowded? 

With 4.6 BILLION people using the internet worldwide as of November 2020 (more now) I don't think we need to worry too much. 
The Internet is a growing business market, so get in there and get started.


Now is the time! A ditty!


         


Time to take the leap?

Most people are fed with working for someone else and having their working hours dictated by someone else. 
You know what they say about a J.O.B.? Just Over Broke!

I'm not interested in watching Television, so the evening is a great time for me to work. My daytime hours are decided by family and what else I have to do. 
In normal times I travel to stay with family at least 3 times a month, then my working hours change accordingly.
Yes it's hard work but it's for YOU!


-------------------------------------------
I hope you enjoyed this post on the basics of starting a business. 
Sometimes basics are all you need. It can be very easy to get caught up in research on what to do and never actually make the start.
When I began over 10 years ago, I had no idea what online selling entailed. I decided and went for it, built it up alongside a job, home and family. 
I LOVE every minute of it!!

-----------------------------------------------------------
Thank you for visiting, hope you enjoyed the post.
Questions and comments welcome.


06/01/2021

5 Must Do's when business is slow


Pandemic makes it different!


This year, of course, is likely to be different, with so many lockdowns and restrictions in many places around the world. The Covid-19 virus keeps mutating and new versions springing up that are more infectious causing more problems around the world.
Many new businesses have sprung up, necessity being the mother of invention, there are some fabulous new ideas out there now.

My local Post Office is always busy in the run up to Christmas but this year it was even more so. They usually have January to recover, but not this time. Yesterday they reported that there hadn't been any slow down, they are still very busy. 
That is good for me and other locals especially as it means our Post Office won't get shut down like so many in recent years.
It is good for all the online sellers as it keeps them busy.








In normal times!

Traditionally January and February are slow for crafters.
Why?
Christmas has gone, winter drags on, many people are spent out. 
Those are some of the reasons. It's the way I always thought when I designed and crocheted accessories. It was the general consensus, everyone agreed and had sales to get stuff moving.
There often seemed to be a lull in the summer too once the children finished school. Though I think this has changed more now with most people using their phones for so much online activity. 

Sales are good right?

Not really. They are great to move the last few items of a line you no longer intend to make for one reason or another. Or to get rid of surplus supplies.
Early on in my crafting business, I would have a sale every time business went slow. It did produce sales but I wasn't making very much at all, covering costs and a tiny amount for my time.
If you only want a hobby, that is fine. If you want a long term business, it just doesn't work.

The answer!

The answer was surprisingly simple.
I was saying on a forum that I only seemed to sell when I had a sale. 
A long term, well established seller just responded with: Don't have sales. She pointed out that if you have them regularly, people will just wait for the next one rather than pay full price.

It was a light bulb moment, such an obvious truth.
I needed to sit out slow times and find other things to do, that would help my business.

What you can do!

1). Get your accounts up to date.

 It's very easy to let them slide, especially when you are busy. It becomes a habit to continually think, 'I will do that tomorrow or next week'. The result is usually a massive job as you panic at the last minute.
How do I know? I still do it every year. Maybe this year ...........

2). Clear out your workspace. 

Whether it's a craft room, the spare room, half of another room, it needs sorting out and tidying up. It's also a good thing to do when inspiration does a runner.
Why?
If it's because it's quiet, it will make life easier when you get busy again. If it's departed inspiration it will help revitalise it. 
I rarely finished tidying my space because I would come across half finished things abandoned for something more exciting. Or scraps with drawings of ideas I had had. Sometimes it would be some yarn or a particular colour that would set me off and just like that the inspiration was back full force.

3). Grow your social media accounts! 

When you are busy, this is something that doesn't get as much attention. I found I would do the basics necessary and when extra busy, social media was dropped in favour of getting the orders out. 

It is important to prioritise.
With time on your hands though, rather than bewailing the lack of orders on social media, decide to grow it.

How?

Interact with people, comment on and share their posts/tweets. If they follow you, then follow them back, as long as their timeline/newsfeed doesn't have anything you don't like in it. Spend half an hour or so twice a day doing this and you will increase your followers. 
I found Twitter was my best social media platform for generating orders so I spent more time growing that one and it paid off in spades. I now have 29.3k followers and that makes a big difference in encouraging sales.

4). Try different crafts. 

It's not only fun but you could end up with new products to sell. At the very least you could end up with a new hobby you find enjoyable and relaxing. If you are a crafter, there are invariably other crafts you have looked at and thought you would like to have a go at 'when you have time'.


5). New Ideas

If not trying new crafts then play around with ideas for new products or designs. Just having the time to play with it can have amazing results and its fun too. 
If you are anything like me, I would often jot things down, odd words, drawings etc in a notebook or on various scraps of paper to hand at the time, you will have some notes on ideas to try. 
Get them all out, decipher them and play around, have fun and come up with new ideas. 
Nothing like new products in an online shop to bring people back.

A bit of rhyme for you!

The pandemic had me rhyming again
I think it helped to keep me sane.
Once I start I go into rhyming mode
I seem to hit the mother lode.
My brain just rhymes whatever I see
once more the verses are part of me.

This one is to tell you to get to work
this is definitely not the time to shirk.
Millions and billions are looking to buy
Get yourself out there, don't be shy.
Get out the trumpet, blow your horn
don't hide away, looking forlorn.
This is great time to sell online
arrange your goods, so they look fine.
Help people find what they need
and know you're doing a good deed!


Another day I will add several of the new ditties/verses I have done over the last few months.

I know many of you seemed to like the rhymes.

It became something I did.It feels good to get back into blogging again.

----------------------------------------------------------------------

Hope you enjoyed the post, if you did please share. If you didn't share it with someone you aren't keen on, lol.