Man, I really seem to be on a review bender, eh? Well, if it helps you in your business, then I'm happy to be the guinea pig!
Ever since I started Julip Bags back in August 2007, I've only ever used usps.com or PayPal's shipping tools, primarily because they were free and convenient. PayPal has the added benefit of automatically importing the buyer's information...all you have to do is click the "Print a shipping label" button at the bottom of the sale info screen. It even automatically sends an e-mail to the buyer that their purchase is on the way with a customized message! Super-fabulous! So why in the world was I interested in paying for a shipping service?!? Check in after the jump for my reasons why!
Thursday, November 19, 2009
Sunday, November 8, 2009
"f"
I enjoy the "f" word, so much so that I use it as many times as I can in a day....I'm working on several designs at once, both sewing and knitting and this "f" word has moved from "favorite" word to "THE word!!!!!!". But I'm headed to the "other" side for inspiration...which means, I'm headed to the East side of MI next week for some knitting/sewing inspiration and some eastside Mason Jar moonshine... I will either triumph or will be found in an eastside gutter in a bunch of felted wool topped with Amy Butler...discuss......
Wednesday, October 14, 2009
Strike A Pose
When I hear the phrase strike a pose, I instantly think of Vogue! Well, my friends, RoseKnits made the pages of what's new in knitting in the Vogue Knitting Holiday edition! This is following an earlier release of the Knit Simple Holiday edition where RoseKnits made the Knits and That section!
Press, in itself, is exciting. Press from people you don't know, double exciting. Press in a nationally published knitting magazine by people you don't know: priceless! It is a great honor and I am humbled by their recognition! The people at the magazine are super nice and encouraging and I will be forever grateful for the kudos.
Amby and I are working hard at Julip Bags and RoseKnits to bring you guys great, new, affordable holiday items! Please check out our shops when considering your holiday shopping!
Press, in itself, is exciting. Press from people you don't know, double exciting. Press in a nationally published knitting magazine by people you don't know: priceless! It is a great honor and I am humbled by their recognition! The people at the magazine are super nice and encouraging and I will be forever grateful for the kudos.
Amby and I are working hard at Julip Bags and RoseKnits to bring you guys great, new, affordable holiday items! Please check out our shops when considering your holiday shopping!
Saturday, October 3, 2009
Review: "Craft Inc. Business Planner"
Finally, after much impatient waiting, I got my hands on the new "Craft Inc. Business Planner: The Ultimate Organizer for Turning Your Crafts Into Cash." I absolutely adore the original Craft Inc. and HIGHLY recommend it to anyone with a crafty business, whether it be full- or part-time. There is a lot of inspiration, advice, and motivation packed into that book, and I treasure my copy dearly.
The pros: this workbook will help you put pen-to-paper things that you really should have written down somewhere, such as your Creative Mission, your Open-for-Business Checklist, budget breakdowns, Marketing Campaign Worksheets, and even places to list contact info for blogs, magazines, and other advertising venues to consider. There are three heavy-duty pockets in the back for tucking snippets, samples, and receipts (think of a bride's wedding-planning binder).
I think my favorite thing about this planner is that it really helps you put down in black-and-white the core elements of a BUSINESS PLAN...something that sounds really scary and big, but is truly essential to anyone taking their business seriously. If you were to go through and fill out all the exercises and worksheets in this planner you will have (HAPPY DAY!) already completed most of your business plan, you'd just need to organize it into a single document form.
This planner, when completed and with the included professionals' advice, can also function as an AWESOME motivational tool...when you're feeling down because you haven't made a sale in days, or you're feeling overwhelmed, or not quite sure why you got into this in the first place...whip this bad boy out and hear your inner indiepreneur roar!
The cons: to say that I was surprised that this book includes additional blank worksheets to photocopy would be an understatement. Yes, call me a snob if you like, but I really think this book would have been finished off perfectly with a cd-rom or pdf-download link of all the pertinent worksheets. Even if I had to pay an extra dollar for it, it would have been worth it, since I now have to head to Kinkos to make copies of the worksheets within. In a market where similar "For-Dummies" books all have included cd-roms, I really feel this is an inexcusable omission.
I think the organization of the book could have been a wee bit better...as I was cruising along in it I was surprised to see that the author had her section about trade shows (something many indiepreneurs will never tackle) before a section on craft shows (the first big step for many crafters). Not to say that the trade show section isn't necessary...but it's a HUGE step that would probably have fit better later in the "progression" of advice. Additionally there is a section about your product line that (IMO) sticks out like a sore thumb. The entire book is very focused on BUSINESS advice about your craft BUSINESS, and then suddenly there is a tangent about sketching out the items you intend to sell. Yes, the worksheets about calculating the costs vs. wholesale vs. retail are helpful, but to have several blank pages of places to sketch designs out didn't quite fit.
I also feel like the book came to a screeching halt after the sections on trade and craft shows...an additional section on expanding your indie-empire could have been helpful...maybe a tool to help evaluate after a year?
Overall rating? Probably a B...the tools within this book are invaluable and approachable to a start-up business, and will be a wonderful resource to fall back on once it's completed. The lack of a cd-rom for the forms and lack of focus on the business AFTER the start-up is also a negative for me. Overall, though, I would definitely recommend this workbook for anyone STARTING a new business, or anyone who needs a little help refocusing on their crafty bottom-line.
(Cross-posted to Russell Yarn)
First off, it's hardcover and spiral-bound, so I'm already happy. Second, it's very much an interactive workbook...whereas the first Craft Inc. was more of a read-only resource, this one is PACKED with areas to jot notes, worksheets, lists, etc. I WILL say that this is NOT a how-to book by any means, and really should be partnered with the original Craft, Inc. to get the full effect. And by that, I mean that they have sections on budgeting, craft shows, trade shows, etc, but they don't go into the details that the original Craft, Inc. did.
The pros: this workbook will help you put pen-to-paper things that you really should have written down somewhere, such as your Creative Mission, your Open-for-Business Checklist, budget breakdowns, Marketing Campaign Worksheets, and even places to list contact info for blogs, magazines, and other advertising venues to consider. There are three heavy-duty pockets in the back for tucking snippets, samples, and receipts (think of a bride's wedding-planning binder).
I think my favorite thing about this planner is that it really helps you put down in black-and-white the core elements of a BUSINESS PLAN...something that sounds really scary and big, but is truly essential to anyone taking their business seriously. If you were to go through and fill out all the exercises and worksheets in this planner you will have (HAPPY DAY!) already completed most of your business plan, you'd just need to organize it into a single document form.
This planner, when completed and with the included professionals' advice, can also function as an AWESOME motivational tool...when you're feeling down because you haven't made a sale in days, or you're feeling overwhelmed, or not quite sure why you got into this in the first place...whip this bad boy out and hear your inner indiepreneur roar!
I think the organization of the book could have been a wee bit better...as I was cruising along in it I was surprised to see that the author had her section about trade shows (something many indiepreneurs will never tackle) before a section on craft shows (the first big step for many crafters). Not to say that the trade show section isn't necessary...but it's a HUGE step that would probably have fit better later in the "progression" of advice. Additionally there is a section about your product line that (IMO) sticks out like a sore thumb. The entire book is very focused on BUSINESS advice about your craft BUSINESS, and then suddenly there is a tangent about sketching out the items you intend to sell. Yes, the worksheets about calculating the costs vs. wholesale vs. retail are helpful, but to have several blank pages of places to sketch designs out didn't quite fit.
I also feel like the book came to a screeching halt after the sections on trade and craft shows...an additional section on expanding your indie-empire could have been helpful...maybe a tool to help evaluate after a year?
Overall rating? Probably a B...the tools within this book are invaluable and approachable to a start-up business, and will be a wonderful resource to fall back on once it's completed. The lack of a cd-rom for the forms and lack of focus on the business AFTER the start-up is also a negative for me. Overall, though, I would definitely recommend this workbook for anyone STARTING a new business, or anyone who needs a little help refocusing on their crafty bottom-line.
(Cross-posted to Russell Yarn)
Monday, September 28, 2009
New Virtual Lab!!
Howdy all! Just wanted to let you know that Etsy has asked me to host another Virtual Lab, "Bigger Than a Breadbox: Photography for Medium to Large Objects" on Wednesday, September 30th, at 8pm EST, as part of their "Prep Your Shop for the Holiday Rush" series. Yay!
To participate, make sure you have an Etsy ID (which is quick and easy to register for!), click on this link, click on the Classroom on the left-hand side of the screen, and then click on any empty square (seat) once inside.
Now, I will be the first one to admit that this is probably totally biased on my part, but I am really loving these Virtual Labs (and I don't mean just the ones I'm hosting)...they're a great forum for brainstorming, new ideas, new leads, and new links! If you have a chance to check one out, definitely go for it but be warned: they fill up FAST. And once they're filled up, you have to hope someone leaves the chat to leave a space for you to skip into. The more popular labs fill up 10-15 minutes before the scheduled start time.
ETA: The notes for the Virtual Lab can be found here!!!
To participate, make sure you have an Etsy ID (which is quick and easy to register for!), click on this link, click on the Classroom on the left-hand side of the screen, and then click on any empty square (seat) once inside.
Now, I will be the first one to admit that this is probably totally biased on my part, but I am really loving these Virtual Labs (and I don't mean just the ones I'm hosting)...they're a great forum for brainstorming, new ideas, new leads, and new links! If you have a chance to check one out, definitely go for it but be warned: they fill up FAST. And once they're filled up, you have to hope someone leaves the chat to leave a space for you to skip into. The more popular labs fill up 10-15 minutes before the scheduled start time.
ETA: The notes for the Virtual Lab can be found here!!!
Friday, September 25, 2009
Soundtrack for a Business
So I've had several people lately ask me what kind of music I listen to while I'm working. In no particular order, the most common things you'll find me cranking up while making bags are:
1. Anything by Muse. Perfect for settling into an energetic afternoon of fabric-chopping.
2. Anything by Nine Inch Nails, but especially the Broken album. I'm a NIN fan from back in the day, and now I find I still love Trent Reznor because he gets my procrastinating butt in gear. Or when I'm in a hurry and need a more, um, upbeat tempo to work to, "Wish" is especially good for this. Ask me sometime about how I was introduced to NIN, it's a funny story (now).
3. The Bubblegum Oldies channel on Pandora. A nice happy all-day groove. A great day is when "Palisades Park" comes up in the rotation.
4. The Michael Jackson channel on AOL radio. Being able to sing along (badly) to almost every song is a definite plus.
5. Anything that falls under the category "Classic Rock." My hands-down favorite genre.
6. Classical music, especially Tchaikovsky and Mozart. Very good talk-me-down-off-the-ledge-I've-got-a-huge-wholesale-order-to-finish-today music.
So what do YOU listen to while you're working, crafting, or chilling?
1. Anything by Muse. Perfect for settling into an energetic afternoon of fabric-chopping.
2. Anything by Nine Inch Nails, but especially the Broken album. I'm a NIN fan from back in the day, and now I find I still love Trent Reznor because he gets my procrastinating butt in gear. Or when I'm in a hurry and need a more, um, upbeat tempo to work to, "Wish" is especially good for this. Ask me sometime about how I was introduced to NIN, it's a funny story (now).
3. The Bubblegum Oldies channel on Pandora. A nice happy all-day groove. A great day is when "Palisades Park" comes up in the rotation.
4. The Michael Jackson channel on AOL radio. Being able to sing along (badly) to almost every song is a definite plus.
5. Anything that falls under the category "Classic Rock." My hands-down favorite genre.
6. Classical music, especially Tchaikovsky and Mozart. Very good talk-me-down-off-the-ledge-I've-got-a-huge-wholesale-order-to-finish-today music.
So what do YOU listen to while you're working, crafting, or chilling?
Monday, September 21, 2009
Quit Your Day Job!
Yay! Julip Bags has been featured as the Quit Your Day Job story of the week on Etsy! Check it out for (funky) pictures of me, read about my love affair with my Crackberry, and other solid business advice!
I'll be hosting a live video chat in Etsy's Virtual Labs on Wednesday at 5pm EST (US), please stop by to see me and say hi!!!
I'll be hosting a live video chat in Etsy's Virtual Labs on Wednesday at 5pm EST (US), please stop by to see me and say hi!!!
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