I think, probably, my best soap conversation starter has got to be my license plate. I'm proud of myself for snagging "SoapGrl" when I had the chance, because, well, people ask about it. A lot. I have made a few sales from explaining that it means that I make and sell soap. (not that I like soap operas as is also occasionally assumed)
Yesterday, I was at the gas station when the fellow in the car in front of me asked, "So, do you make soap?"
To which I explained that I did and that I own a small business. He seemed interested in it, although he did follow up with the second most frequently asked question I get which was, "Like in Fight Club?"
No. Eew. Why in the world would I make soap out of human fat? I'd have to render that stuff. And pull out all the capillaries and other such detritus that feeds the fat in our bodies. (seriously. look it up.)
Nope. Vegetarian soap for me. Then all I have to deal with is a greasy ice cream scoop.
So, gas station dude. Interested in my soap. A lightbulb went off. I SHOULD GIVE HIM A BUSINESS CARD!!!!
I didn't have any. None. Not one. Not even a Reno Roller Girls one that he could use to find me somehow.
Fudge.
You know I mean a different 4 letter word that starts with "F", but this is a "G" rated blog and I try to keep it clean for business.
I know better. I know WAY WAY better.
another lost sale. I have GOT to get better at this...
Tuesday, September 6, 2011
Thursday, August 4, 2011
Full speed ahead! *speedbump*
About a month ago I decided that I needed one of these
http://www.craftwellusa.com/cutters
I got the purpleberry one. I have been seriously missing the cutter I had at my last job and was able to justify the purchase by telling myself I could make my own banners and some for the Roller Girls as well. Plus I am plotting other things AND I want to make labels for the soap and all sorts of neat awesomeness. In my head.
The machine arrived, and was all pretty but I was super busy so it tool me like, a week to take it out of the box. then I downloaded thefree software it came with but it's not Mac compatible so I had to put it on the laptop. WHICH meant that I could play with my toy anywhere!
Since I wanted to hve plenty of room for laying out some banner material I cleared off my workbench in the garage. I even painted it. AND I unpacked the imprinter.
The cutter and the laptop don't communicate. I think they need couples counseling. Or I need to try harder. OR I need to fork out the bucks for the OTHER software that I found which IS Mac compatible. Then I will be able to SEE the graphics I am creating. (YAY) The laptop is really small. But the Mac is in the house. Dangit.
Speedbumps. This too shall pass.
http://www.craftwellusa.com/cutters
I got the purpleberry one. I have been seriously missing the cutter I had at my last job and was able to justify the purchase by telling myself I could make my own banners and some for the Roller Girls as well. Plus I am plotting other things AND I want to make labels for the soap and all sorts of neat awesomeness. In my head.
The machine arrived, and was all pretty but I was super busy so it tool me like, a week to take it out of the box. then I downloaded thefree software it came with but it's not Mac compatible so I had to put it on the laptop. WHICH meant that I could play with my toy anywhere!
Since I wanted to hve plenty of room for laying out some banner material I cleared off my workbench in the garage. I even painted it. AND I unpacked the imprinter.
The cutter and the laptop don't communicate. I think they need couples counseling. Or I need to try harder. OR I need to fork out the bucks for the OTHER software that I found which IS Mac compatible. Then I will be able to SEE the graphics I am creating. (YAY) The laptop is really small. But the Mac is in the house. Dangit.
Speedbumps. This too shall pass.
Monday, July 18, 2011
Review and a giveaway!
I have started sending off (if started counts that I have done it once) samples of my soap for review! Lemme tell you, it's kind of scary. My first review is in and it's a good one!
AND there is a giveaway going on. I highly recommend you go check it out for the opportunity to win a WHOLE BAR of Bubbly Creations soap. There's also a coupon code in there. Awesome.
G
http://davisdailydose.blogspot.com/2011/07/bubbly-creations-soap-review-giveaway.html
AND there is a giveaway going on. I highly recommend you go check it out for the opportunity to win a WHOLE BAR of Bubbly Creations soap. There's also a coupon code in there. Awesome.
G
http://davisdailydose.blogspot.com/2011/07/bubbly-creations-soap-review-giveaway.html
Thursday, June 23, 2011
Busy busy!
I have been a busy girl with all that I do, but business great and things are moving along!
If you follow me on facebook, you have seen a few of the new product pictures I have taken. You can also look at the website for these. The new camera is awesome and someday I hope I can finish taking pictures of everything so I can have my dining room table back. So I can pile it full of crap again.
Seriously. If I didn't occasionally use it for it's intended purpose, I would find it a new home. I think that about my coffee table too.
I've been attending the South Reno Farmer's Market every Sunday and lemme tell you, I'm having a BLAST! And I'm selling soap. No complaints there!
I love Farmers Markets because I get to meet my customers and I really believe that I can sell my product way better than a picture or a description. I have had one repeat from last year and several who remembered me, which is very flattering because I don't think of myself as being a memorable person.
It also gives me the opportunity to collect stories. I sit with my spinning wheel and spin while I am there and people never fail to stop and talk to me about how I bring back happy memories of their grandmothers or great grandmothers doing the same thing. They tell me how the spinning wheels in their families have become cherished heirlooms. And children. The children are always drawn to it. Then I get to teach them about where their clothes come from and I feel like I have accomplished something other than yarn.
All in all, it's very positive and every week I leave feeling (exhausted!) accomplished. Am I a millionaire yet? hardly. but this year, my goal is to break even or make a small profit. Not a big goal, but I believe in starting slowly and not expecting miracles. I am surrounded by them anyway.
If you follow me on facebook, you have seen a few of the new product pictures I have taken. You can also look at the website for these. The new camera is awesome and someday I hope I can finish taking pictures of everything so I can have my dining room table back. So I can pile it full of crap again.
Seriously. If I didn't occasionally use it for it's intended purpose, I would find it a new home. I think that about my coffee table too.
I've been attending the South Reno Farmer's Market every Sunday and lemme tell you, I'm having a BLAST! And I'm selling soap. No complaints there!
I love Farmers Markets because I get to meet my customers and I really believe that I can sell my product way better than a picture or a description. I have had one repeat from last year and several who remembered me, which is very flattering because I don't think of myself as being a memorable person.
It also gives me the opportunity to collect stories. I sit with my spinning wheel and spin while I am there and people never fail to stop and talk to me about how I bring back happy memories of their grandmothers or great grandmothers doing the same thing. They tell me how the spinning wheels in their families have become cherished heirlooms. And children. The children are always drawn to it. Then I get to teach them about where their clothes come from and I feel like I have accomplished something other than yarn.
All in all, it's very positive and every week I leave feeling (exhausted!) accomplished. Am I a millionaire yet? hardly. but this year, my goal is to break even or make a small profit. Not a big goal, but I believe in starting slowly and not expecting miracles. I am surrounded by them anyway.
Thursday, May 19, 2011
Solving the Technical difficulties
If you have known me at all over the last several years since my website went down the second time, you know that finding a new option was very difficult. I tried Etsy, the only option I knew at that point, but was put off by the listing and relisting fees.
When a good sale day is $20, those fees can quickly eat away any profit I can make. I also found it very hard to be found there.
After many initial mishaps, losing my email address, and ending up with no web presence at all, my friend over at Polkadot Bandit suggested Artfire.
Artfire allows you to have a limited studio for free. Free. I love that word. But, they also offer the option of paying for the service. I did my calculations. At $10 a month, I would be coming in just slightly over the cost I would have paid to host my site through a private party. I have no idea what it was going to cost to have the site actually built. (It was to be a gift. Long story.) And I would have had to call the webmaster every time I wanted to list or change something. AND for the price he was offering, he wasn't sure if he would be able to build in the things that I wanted to be able to offer. And then he wasn't available to work on my stuff so he suggested I set up temporarily over at Etsy. (forehead slap) Don't get me wrong, he's a good guy. And a new baby is always a good excuse to be out of time in my book.
With Artfire, I get all those things I wanted.
Coupon Codes.
Easy updating.
Pictures
Access to my prior orders
Access to my customer Database
But wait there's more!
I also get access to the Forums, where I can communicate with other small handmade businesses. The information here is SO VALUABLE! And sometimes, I get to peek into the lives of other makers. And that is always awesome.
AND I just learned that you can add items from my shop to your Amazon Wishlist (Holy crap that's fantastic!!) just by clicking the button
I get listed on Search Engines with Search Engine Optimization
I can quickly see how people are linking in...
In other words, I am happy. My Webmaster directed my web address to my artfire account so if you go to http://www.bubblycreations.com/ you get a real live website that looks as decent as I know how to make it and maybe, just maybe, you buy a bar of soap or five.
One technical difficulty down, a couple left to go.
If you are a maker, I highly suggest you check it out. If you click on my link, we both get freebies. I love freebies. Someday soon, I'll be offering a few of my own...
Become an ArtFire Pro with this link and get your 3rd month free!
When a good sale day is $20, those fees can quickly eat away any profit I can make. I also found it very hard to be found there.
After many initial mishaps, losing my email address, and ending up with no web presence at all, my friend over at Polkadot Bandit suggested Artfire.
Artfire allows you to have a limited studio for free. Free. I love that word. But, they also offer the option of paying for the service. I did my calculations. At $10 a month, I would be coming in just slightly over the cost I would have paid to host my site through a private party. I have no idea what it was going to cost to have the site actually built. (It was to be a gift. Long story.) And I would have had to call the webmaster every time I wanted to list or change something. AND for the price he was offering, he wasn't sure if he would be able to build in the things that I wanted to be able to offer. And then he wasn't available to work on my stuff so he suggested I set up temporarily over at Etsy. (forehead slap) Don't get me wrong, he's a good guy. And a new baby is always a good excuse to be out of time in my book.
With Artfire, I get all those things I wanted.
Coupon Codes.
Easy updating.
Pictures
Access to my prior orders
Access to my customer Database
But wait there's more!
I also get access to the Forums, where I can communicate with other small handmade businesses. The information here is SO VALUABLE! And sometimes, I get to peek into the lives of other makers. And that is always awesome.
AND I just learned that you can add items from my shop to your Amazon Wishlist (Holy crap that's fantastic!!) just by clicking the button
I get listed on Search Engines with Search Engine Optimization
I can quickly see how people are linking in...
In other words, I am happy. My Webmaster directed my web address to my artfire account so if you go to http://www.bubblycreations.com/ you get a real live website that looks as decent as I know how to make it and maybe, just maybe, you buy a bar of soap or five.
One technical difficulty down, a couple left to go.
If you are a maker, I highly suggest you check it out. If you click on my link, we both get freebies. I love freebies. Someday soon, I'll be offering a few of my own...
Become an ArtFire Pro with this link and get your 3rd month free!
Tuesday, May 17, 2011
Intuit GoPayment and such
I know it's an old story over here. Blah Blah Blah, technical difficulties, blah blah blah, crap, such and such went down.
Well I have news. The only think that isn't working right now is the bubble phone. And I am confident that a (nother) trip to the AT&T store will fix that little problem.
Today, my cradlepoint arrived and I am thrilled to say it's working GREAT!! I'm currently playing on the Mac AND the ipod and I'm sure if I could type with my butt, I'd be on the laptop too. But I can't. And I really wouldn't want to.
I was approved for my GoPayment account so I can now accept credit cards on the go. I am, to say the least, thrilled.
If you follow me on Facebook, you will know I have been busy taking photos.
My applications for the Farmer's market are in the email.
I love when things start to fall into place.
Well I have news. The only think that isn't working right now is the bubble phone. And I am confident that a (nother) trip to the AT&T store will fix that little problem.
Today, my cradlepoint arrived and I am thrilled to say it's working GREAT!! I'm currently playing on the Mac AND the ipod and I'm sure if I could type with my butt, I'd be on the laptop too. But I can't. And I really wouldn't want to.
I was approved for my GoPayment account so I can now accept credit cards on the go. I am, to say the least, thrilled.
If you follow me on Facebook, you will know I have been busy taking photos.
My applications for the Farmer's market are in the email.
I love when things start to fall into place.
Wednesday, May 4, 2011
Wooo!!!
It's amazing how a little step forward or an attempt to step forward can thrill and excite me.
Today I applied for a credit card swiper that will attach to my ipod touch. It's not just for playing Cut the Rope anymore, folks.
I am hoping that this will assist me in getting sales during the Farmers Market this year. I will also have to get an adapter that makes my Cricket Modem a wifi hotspot.
Amazing what technology can do. I remember when they had the carbon swipers at the grocery store. And how fun I thought it would be to be a checker. And how cool the automatic change makers were. They still are. I love those things.
It's possible that intuit will decide that I'm not worth the terminal. I hope not. But for now, I will be excited that I am trying to improve my services.
I upgraded the computer the other day too. Now I can get a new printer.
I bought a new camera too. I can't WAIT to play with it. Pictures to come. And better product photos too.
Today I applied for a credit card swiper that will attach to my ipod touch. It's not just for playing Cut the Rope anymore, folks.
I am hoping that this will assist me in getting sales during the Farmers Market this year. I will also have to get an adapter that makes my Cricket Modem a wifi hotspot.
Amazing what technology can do. I remember when they had the carbon swipers at the grocery store. And how fun I thought it would be to be a checker. And how cool the automatic change makers were. They still are. I love those things.
It's possible that intuit will decide that I'm not worth the terminal. I hope not. But for now, I will be excited that I am trying to improve my services.
I upgraded the computer the other day too. Now I can get a new printer.
I bought a new camera too. I can't WAIT to play with it. Pictures to come. And better product photos too.
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