Well, I am back from our massive (and fabulous) holiday, and I’m back in business.

I was invited to speak the other week on the topic of running a successful craft business, and it got me thinking.

So, I wrote this post over on Epheriell Designs.

In it, I give 8 principles to follow that have helped . . . → Read More: How to turn your passion into a successful business…]]> Hello lovely people!

Well, I am back from our massive (and fabulous) holiday, and I’m back in business.

I was invited to speak the other week on the topic of running a successful craft business, and it got me thinking.

So, I wrote this post over on Epheriell Designs.

In it, I give 8 principles to follow that have helped to make my business a success. Enjoy!

Nick and I are heading over to the UK and France for 6 weeks, to visit the in-laws, other family and friends! I have to say, I’m mega-excited, because despite having been married to an Englishman for almost 2 years, I’ve never been over there before!

We’re going to visit lots of places – Nick is from . . . → Read More: It’s Vacation Time!]]>

Nick and I are heading over to the UK and France for 6 weeks, to visit the in-laws, other family and friends! I have to say, I’m mega-excited, because despite having been married to an Englishman for almost 2 years, I’ve never been over there before!

We’re going to visit lots of places – Nick is from Southampton, so we’ll be based there with my in-laws – but we have plans to visit Oxford, Falmouth (in Cornwall), London, Brighton – not to mention Paris and a few other spots in France!

So, I’m taking a break from this blog until we get back! I’ll still be blogging over on Epheriell Designs, though!

Both Epheriell and Vintette (all stores) will be closed as of June 10th, and will re-open on around August 4th (depending on how jet-lagged I feel!). So, if you want to buy someone (or yourself, of course!) a gift for a special occasion in that time, make sure to order quick-smart!

*bespoke* will still be selling during that time, though, I am roping in my trusty mum to keep the zines going out the door! Oh, and speaking of *bespoke* – in case you missed it –  Issue 3 is now available for pre-order – yay!

{image by vwbeetlemania on flickr}

I saw an exchange on twitter recently, where an unhappy giveaway winner (let’s call them A) stated that they would not enter the giver’s (let’s call them B) giveaways again, because their prize hadn’t arrived 3 months after winning it.

B responded to the tweet, and from that there resulted a long (public) twitter conversation . . . → Read More: How do you handle unhappy customers who take it public?]]>

I saw an exchange on twitter recently, where an unhappy giveaway winner (let’s call them A) stated that they would not enter the giver’s (let’s call them B) giveaways again, because their prize hadn’t arrived 3 months after winning it.

B responded to the tweet, and from that there resulted a long (public) twitter conversation about the issue.

It made me uncomfortable, simply because I hate seeing people upset – and it got me thinking. How would I have responded?

Would I have continued the conversation publicly, or would I have taken it to DM or e-mail?

And – more to the point – this could just as easily have been an unhappy customer taking their displeasure public, as we have all no doubt done at once stage or another (I know I’m guilty of doing so, with big corporations, like Amazon and Australia Post). I think I’d keep an issue with a fellow individual business owner private… but perhaps I wouldn’t if I felt that they’d done something particularly reprehensible that I felt people needed to be warned about.

A benefit of dealing with it publicly is the fact that you are showing that you are right there, ready to deal with and hopefully solve any issues. If it ends up positively for both parties, then that’s a plus.

But what about when there is no hope of pleasing the unhappy party? Perhaps you really have made a monumental stuff-up, and no amount apologising etc. is going to cover it.

Is it best to just admit that yes, I’m human, and I’m so sorry for failing you?

Or do you think that these issues should be dealt with privately, between the customer and seller?

{image by basistka on flickr}

Today is my contribution to the massive Courage to Fly Blog hop being hosted by the inspirational Stephey Baker.

I chose to muse on the topic of risk. Stephey’s question was:

Have you ever taken a risk on yourself? pushed off the branch and flew into uncharted territory with nothing but inspiration fueling you? If so, . . . → Read More: Courage to Fly – Blog Hop]]>

Today is my contribution to the massive Courage to Fly Blog hop being hosted by the inspirational Stephey Baker.

I chose to muse on the topic of risk. Stephey’s question was:

Have you ever taken a risk on yourself? pushed off the branch and flew into uncharted territory with nothing but inspiration fueling you? If so, please share what gave you  the COURAGE to do so and briefly share what courage means to you. Also, briefly share a lesson, or piece of wisdom, you learned along the way and how the situation  turned out.

Oh boy, have I!

I feel like my business life now is one big risk after another.

But the biggest risk I’ve taken has probably been launching *bespoke* – my crafty print zine.

I was in the throes of growing my jewellery business – Epheriell – and working on that non-stop/full time. Then, along comes this crazy, pushy, insistent little idea that would not take no for an answer.

I already had a growing daily blog, but the idea of creating a full-colour print magazine that people could hold in their hands seized me with a passion, and I put the idea out to my community via twitter.

The response was amazing! So many people encouraged me to go for it, so I did.

Mind you, I have NO publishing or journalistic experience. I have NO idea about graphic design, i.e. how to put this thing together. All I knew was that I wanted to work with my community to create something beautiful and inspiring, and I trusted that it would all come together.

What made this such a risk? Well, at the most fundamental, financial level, it cost around $2,500 to get the first Issue printed. That’s a bloody big investment in my books when you’ve got a fledgling business that’s barely turning a profit.

But I think the emotional risk was the larger one. I risked my reputation on this – if it had fallen through, how would that have made me feel? How would I have looked in the eyes of my community?

Happily, I don’t know, because the first Issue was a resounding success, even selling out! Issue 2 is now going strong, and Issue 3 is due out in a little over a month.

I took the leap – and it did come together. A graphic designer volunteered to put Issue 1 together for me. I had scores of people submit stories, articles, and agree to interviews.

The handmade community embraced *bespoke*, spreading the word via blogs, twitter and facebook.

But you know the funniest thing? I was actually MORE nervous about the second issue than I was about the first. I thought – ‘what if no-one likes this one’? ‘What if Issue 1 was just a fluke?’

Happily, it seems I was wrong.

But oh boy, it took courage to take that first leap.

And I am so, so glad I did.

I think the lesson I learned was this:

If you have a big idea, leap in and make it happen! Don’t worry about the details, they will come together. Don’t worry about the doubts, analyse them and push through if they’re simply groundless worries. You only live once, so don’t wait to make your dreams happen. Live them now.

{image by Bahman Farzad on flickr}

Going Solo. from Studio Botes on Vimeo.

I love this – some really, really excellent advice on running your own micro-biz. Would you add any advice . . . → Read More: Inspiring Video on Going Solo i.e. running your own biz…]]>

Going Solo. from Studio Botes on Vimeo.

I love this – some really, really excellent advice on running your own micro-biz. Would you add any advice to this?

Recently, I hurt my lower back moving furniture and carrying boxes during the clean-out of my grandmother’s house (she’s moved in with us and my parents).

I tend to hurt my back a few times a year (thanks for the awesome genes, mum and dad), but this time it felt particularly ouchie, so I went . . . → Read More: It’s a Small World…]]>

Recently, I hurt my lower back moving furniture and carrying boxes during the clean-out of my grandmother’s house (she’s moved in with us and my parents).

I tend to hurt my back a few times a year (thanks for the awesome genes, mum and dad), but this time it felt particularly ouchie, so I went to visit my physio. Now, a bit of background – Kerry has been my physio (and my mum’s) for over 20 years, since I was a kid.

A little while back my mum asked me to make Kerry a necklace as a thank-you for going above and beyond to help mum out.

When I visited, we were chatting about what had been happening in our worlds, and she had quite a fabulous story for me!

A few days before, Kerry was wearing the necklace I had made her, and she was talking to her relatively new receptionist (whom I’ve never met), a young woman. Kerry told the receptionist my name, and that I’d made the necklace…

The receptionist, amazingly, recognised my name! (and nope, not just from the appointments book)

Apparently, she had come across my jewellery online, and ‘liked’ it on facebook. Her boyfriend saw that she’d liked my page, and ordered a set of earrings and a necklace from me as a gift for her!

This story spun me out – in a good way! It really illustrated the small-world idea… and the fact that obviously my brand is getting out there and being found via social media.

It also illustrated the importance of facebook to my business – who knows how many times a similar story has played out, and I had no idea?

And finally – how about that boyfriend, huh?? Good on you, mate!

{image by Seldom Scene Photography on flickr}

Want to learn how to harness the power of social media like Facebook, so cool stuff like this can happen for your biz? Then check out…

These days, I am lucky enough to have a bookkeeper (a.k.a. Nick, my husband) to do the increasingly voluminous finance data entry that comes along with a growing business.

He is usually spot-on, doing it every day – but this weekend he was away, and has to catch up. And you know what?

I’m feeling twitchy!

Every night . . . → Read More: Do ‘the numbers’ keep you motivated?]]>

These days, I am lucky enough to have a bookkeeper (a.k.a. Nick, my husband) to do the increasingly voluminous finance data entry that comes along with a growing business.

He is usually spot-on, doing it every day – but this weekend he was away, and has to catch up. And you know what?

I’m feeling twitchy!

Every night when he does the numbers he’ll update me on the current totals. Money-in, money-out.

I love this.

I love knowing what’s happening with my cashflow. I love knowing if I’m hitting goals, I love seeing the $$ tick over, and I love the feeling when I reach a new income milestone (as I did last month).

I also love being in control, and knowing what’s happening with my business expenses and income is really important to me – it helps me stay on top of whether I need to be promoting more, whether I’m spending too much on supplies or ads, and whether this is all worth it, (financially, of course).

Do you feel this way about your business numbers? Or do you neglect them, or even ignore them?

Is keeping track of your finances an important part of your business?

Because, to be honest, if it’s not, then I would question if you’re really running a business.

Keeping track of this stuff – regularly, not just when tax time rolls around – is vital to knowing how you are going, and if you’re going in the right direction. I know most of us with a crafty biz are in this for the passion and love of it – but passion and love won’t pay your bills or feed you (or pay for holidays, hey, lets aim high!).

So – do you need to pay more attention to the numbers?

{Image by Le Petit Poulailler}

I just wanted to share this amazing interview with Jess Constable that I’ve published over at Scoutie Girl. Jess was really generous with her answers about the growth and development of her indie biz – so check . . . → Read More: Interview with Jess Constable of JessLC]]>

I just wanted to share this amazing interview with Jess Constable that I’ve published over at Scoutie Girl. Jess was really generous with her answers about the growth and development of her indie biz – so check it out!

Does this reflect your own use of social media?

Does it make you re-think your use of social media – if you’re not on twitter, . . . → Read More: How Are Small Businesses Using Social Media… Really?]]> I shared this on my facebook page and via twitter, but I thought it was worth showing you here, too. This infographic from Mashable shows how small business really use social media.

Does this reflect your own use of social media?

Does it make you re-think your use of social media – if you’re not on twitter, for example?

Share in the comments!

Most of the time, working for myself at a business I love is the best thing ever.

But.

It gets tricky to switch off.

And the longer I do this, the harder and harder it is to relax. In fact, last night I said to Nick ‘I think I’ve forgotten how to relax’. His . . . → Read More: Blurring the Lines Between Work and Play]]>

Most of the time, working for myself at a business I love is the best thing ever.

But.

Sometimes, it gets tricky.

It gets tricky to switch off.

And the longer I do this, the harder and harder it is to relax. In fact, last night I said to Nick ‘I think I’ve forgotten how to relax’. His response?

‘Yep, I think you have.’

This is the peril you face when your play becomes your work, and your work is play.

Even when I want to relax… I can’t quite seem to manage it. I can’t just watch TV – I need to be on my laptop. I can’t just crochet, I need to be listening to something – perhaps a video or podcast.

The only activity that I still have that completely absorbs me away from my own world is reading.

I have always been able to lose myself in a good novel, and thankfully, I still can. My problem comes when I either finish a book too fast (I’ve often read a whole novel in one evening – yep, I’m a fast reader) or when I get absorbed into a long series, and I cannot do anything else until I’ve finished it.

Hence, I’m pretty careful about what and when I read!

I’m not quite sure what the solution to this is. Do I try to start a new hobby? Do I just set aside an evening each week to read a novel and get lost in that world? Do I take up regular meditation?

It’s an important issue to address, because when I’m working all the time, the quality of my work suffers.

Humans need periods of rest to allow our brains to switch track – to rejuvinate, and to allow new ideas to form.

So – how do you switch off and relax? What works for you?

{Image by batakbeatrix on flickr}