Ahhh… Finishing what you start. To be honest, this isn’t always my strong point. I’m an idea person. I get a lot of ideas and there really is no way that I could complete all of them.

It can be easy to think of something new, get excited, and start working on it right away. Then you realize how much time that project will really take, and of course realize you have to finish something else first or you get excited about a different project and put everything else down to work on the new thing.

It is a vicious cycle! And seeing all of those un-finished prjoects piled up can make you sick to your stomach, fill you with anxiety and make you avoid working all together. Who wants that?

If you have that problem as well, I suggest really thinking about an idea before you put any work into it. Keep an idea notebook handy to write down all of your bright ideas. That way, when inspiration strikes you can jot down your initial idea and then go back to it when you have time to devote to it.

Sometimes, when you go back through your notebook, you will come across an idea that makes perfect sense. And other times, you will look at an idea and wonder “What was I thinking? That idea isn’t going to work!”

That step will save you LOTS of time in the future. Sometimes, what looks like a great idea in the moment can look a lot different a week later. You’ll no longer get carried away with excitement and waste a day working on a project you end up putting aside and never touching again.

Just think about how much time you’ll have for the projects you really want to finish!

Well, you don’t have to imagine that happening, and you don’t have to wonder about how much you can learn from them. You can just start learning!

Every Tuesday night at 9pm Eastern you can join me and some of my favorite business women for The Summer Biz Sessions! And if you can’t make a live session, don’t worry. I’m recording the calls and you will be able to listen online, as well as download the Mp3 of each of call.

Some of our guest speakers include:

• Jenny Hart, founder of Sublime Stitching
• Jennifer Perkins, founder of Naughty Secretary Club and host of Craft Lab and co-host of Stylelicious
• Sue Daly, co-founder of Renegade Craft Fair
• Claudine Hellmuth, founder of Collage Artist
• Amy Schroeder, founder of Venus Zine
• Casie Metcalf, owner of IndiePublic.com

You can learn more and register by clicking here!

Fact: Moms spend a lot of money. Putting a kid-spin on your marketing will attract their attention. And it could cause them to buy your products!

Here are some ideas:

Kid Classes - Kids love to craft! Set up a day where you teach a few kid-friendly projects. If you have the space, you can do it at your home. If not, call some local craft stores and see if they have space you can use. If that’s not an option, you could set up shop in the meeting room of a restaurant… or whatever business that has space you can use : )

Make sure you bring samples of your work and put them on display. This will give the moms something to look at… and buy! So you will be selling product and you will be getting paid for teaching a class. Double profits are nice!

Market To Daycare Owners - Lots of kids go to daycare facilities every day. The people that own these daycares are always looking for something new and fun to do with the children. Create a little project that children will find entertaining and ask some daycare owners if you can come in and teach the project to the kids. The daycare owners will appreciate the activity, the kids will have fun, and you can use this opportunity to introduce your business to all of their parents! Make sure you put a little card on the projects with your contact info!! The parents will enjoy knowing who helped their child create the project. They will naturally want to go to your site and check it out. And who knows? They may end up purchasing something!

What are your ideas for kid-friendly marketing?

I’m talking about Indie Biz Chicks Summer School! I’ve put together all kinds of classes and seminars on some very cool topics! Here are some of the things you can learn

• How To Start Your Own Podcast
• How To Define Your Target Market
• How To Give Good Blog
• How To Get Great Press
• How To Use Social Media To Market Your Biz
• How To Market A Craft Biz Online - Without Going Broke
• How To Create Your Own Online Event
• And More!

The classes start at $9.95 and include a workbook. The seminars are only $1. If you can’t make a live session, you can still register. I will email you the Mp3 recording and you can listen when it’s convenient for you! You can view the full of list of classes & seminars and register for them by clicking here

Sparkplugging’s General Manager, Kelly McCausey, is offering her own summer learning with the Hot Summer Seminar Series! Your season pass is only $10 and each Wednesday night, Kelly will introduce you to a new guest speaker. You’ll be learning about 8 different work at home careers! If you have been wanting to earn some extra money, but just haven’t been sure where to start, start here! To learn more and to sign up, click here.

The summer is a great time to learn new things that will help you kick your biz into high gear for the busy fall & winter season!

As a crafter, you are probably more green than you realize! I am willing to bet that you are constantly re-using items or putting found objects into your projects! Maybe you were at a thrift store and found an old tablecloth made out of a great fabric but noticed there was a stain on it. What did you do? You took that fabric and made something else out of it! Now that, my friend, is reducing, re-using, and recycling. Totally Green!!!

Your potential customers may not realize that buying handmade can be good for the environment. So let them know! Weave that message into your marketing! This will make your customers feel better about their purchases - and could actually help some “fence sitters” become buyers!

Goal Setting! For some, this is an easy practice that is practically second nature. For others, this is a tedious task that may as well be a punishment!

If you fall into the second category, don’t despair. You are definitely NOT alone! In fact, I would venture to say that you are in the majority.

One thing that helps me with goal setting is to look at the big picture and then start working backwards. I figure out what I want to accomplish and then I break it down into small pieces. If I were only looking at the big picture, it would be easy to get overwhelmed. And being overwhelmed is no fun!

On the other hand, when you do things how I am doing it, I have the big goal that serves as the ‘master plan,’ and then I have lots of little bit sized goals to lead me along the way.

Here’s an example of how this might play out in real life:

Big Goal: You are participating in a craft fair on August 8 and want to make 50 pairs of your most popular earrings.

Breaking it down: Today is June 11. You have about 7 and 1/2 weeks until the show. You would like to be done with production about  two weeks before the show. If you divide 50 pieces by 5 weeks, you will know that in order to meet your goal, you will need to produce and package 10 new pairs of earrings each week for the next 5 weeks.

Working backwards and putting a big goal into bite size is what works for me. I hope it helps you, too!

If you happen to be in New York, the Brooklyn Renegade Craft Fair is taking place this weekend, June 6 & 7 in McCarren Park. Click here for directions & more info.

If you would like to sell at Renegade Chicago, being held September 12 + 13, applications are now being accepted. Click here to apply.

You can also shop at the Renegade Handmade online store anytime of the year by visiting www.RenegadeHandmade.com. The store has a physical location at 1924 W. Division St in the Wicker Park neighborhood of Chicago.

Yay, Renegade!!

When you perform a regular routine before you start your work, it signals to your brain “okay, this is work time.” It helps your brain shut off other things and focus on the work that needs to be done. If you are easily distracted, this could be the difference between getting a project finished or barely getting started.

This can be especially true when you work from home, without supervision. When you are at an employer’s location, you know that people are watching you. But when you are working from your home, it can be very easy to turn on the TV, or start doing little chores, such as throwing in a load of laundry, or unloading the dishwasher. Those little moments add up, and before you know it, your  “work day” is gone and you haven’t even started your actual work yet.

I know some people who, even though they work from home, still get up, take a shower, get dressed, and even walk outside of the house before turning around and coming back in. That regular routine clears their mind and allows them to focus on work.

I don’t go that far with it, but I do try to set up a regular routine, as I know it helps me focus. My routine is about to change, as school is finishing up next week. We’ll have to see how the summer routine unfolds.

Do you have a regular routine? If so, feel free to share it. Your routine might inspire someone else!

Customer service is crucial in any line of work. But I’d also add that customer appreciation is a key ingredient in providing the first. Today I am going to share just a few, simple ideas of what you can do show appreciation towards those who give you business as well as why showing appreciation to those who work with you is also of great value.

And to help guide us through, I’m going to give a simple acronym that will mean a lot more by the end of reading this post. When it comes to customer appreciation, I say, “GO & DO!”

G- GENUINE APPRECIATION: One fact of life is that everyone appreciates being appreciated. And when that appreciation is genuine and sincere, then it can move mountains. Not trying to be overly dramatic, but I say this because it can’t be over-emphasized too much.  Being very specific in your comments helps the other person to know that you really noticed something special and you wanted to share that with them. Chances are that because of what you have shared, the customer, co-worker, or employee will be that much more likely to continue doing great things because they know that YOU know them.

O- ORGANIZE A SYSTEM: You want to organize a system in your business which puts customer service and appreciation your #1 priority. You can have the best marketing system in the world in place, the greatest products, etc…and yet, if customer service fails, you will fail. Gaining a reputation in your industry of superb customer relations will leap you to the forefront. So do whatever is necessary to make sure that you can manage a great system of service with a smile.

and now…. DO!

D- Deal Effectively: The dictionary tells us that the word effective means “adequate to accomplish a purpose; producing the intended or expected result.”  Another meaning includes, “producing a deep or vivid impression; striking.” I like what both of these definitions say when it comes to customer service.  No matter the circumstance, it is always important to put yourself in “someone else’s shoes.” When dealing with an issue that comes up with a customer, always take a deep breath and think for a moment, “What would I do if I were in their position? How would I feel?” Then find out what may have gone wrong and do everything you can quickly and effeciently to help resolve the issue.

It reminds me of a time when a customer was very upset and wrote to YouCanMakeThis.com about a problem she was having with a download. The email sent was, let’s just say, “less than nice” in every way. Kim, the owner of YCMT, rather than being on the defensive side, decided that a phone call to the customer could be an effective way of helping her. Sometimes email can be very ineffective because of the time lapse and misunderstandings through writing. At the beginning of the conversation, this customer was extremely upset. Kim listened. She asked further questions. She helped her resolve what was occurring and even offered her a free product for the hassle it had caused her. I sat back and just admired the way Kim handled the entire situation….and I learned a lot from it. By the end of their phone conversation, they were both laughing about “mom stuff” and an hour later, the customer was sending photographs to Kim of her new babies! Talk about effective.

And finally…

O- Opportunities All Around You! Indeed, there are opportunities all around you to show your appreciation! Take advantage of every one of them! Offer discounts or other special offers to repeat customers. Write a personal email to thank them. With those who work for you, perhaps make an “out-of-the-blue” phone call to let them know what a great job they are doing and ask them for their input with how the business is going and what ideas they might have to help. Send a thank-you note in the mail along with a giftcard to ice cream for their family at the local ice creamery. What a fun surprise! No need to wait for a birthday or other special occasion…just do it and the smile will last for days for both you and the person on the receiving end!

So what do you think? I’d love to hear your thoughts as well as other ideas you might have for showing your appreciation!

Ahhh, summer! Who doesn’t look forward to three months full of sunshine, picnics, and warm lazy days??? I guess you can blame it on the fact that we had a summer vacation during our school years, but for some reason, when the temperatures start rising, a lot of people put their businesses on the back burner.

Now, don’t get me wrong. I’m all for taking a break here and there. But… I don’t think summer is a time for total rest and relaxation. Your business is still a business and you need to treat it like a business if you want to make a profit.

Plus, the busy fall and winter season will be here soon and this s the time to start gearing up for it. Putting in some extra marketing work now will pay off big time in a few months!

If the thought of future profits isn’t enough to keep you motivated, here are some tips:

Make a Plan: It’s always easier to get your work done when you have a game plan to follow. You’ll know what you have to get done to stay on track.

Get Child Care: If you have school age children, you may find it hard to work your usual hours with your kids on summer break. If this is the case, don’t feel guilty about arranging for child care. This doesn’t have to be a formal daycare situation; it can be anything from having the kids go to Grandma’s for a few hours during the week or having a younger teen come over and play with them while you get some stuff done in your home office. Another idea is to trade child care with a couple of other Moms in the neighborhood. Your kids will have fun playing with their friends and you’ll get some quiet time to work!

Work Smart: There are lots of ways to work smarter, not harder! For example, you could hire a virtual assistant (also known as a VA) to help you answer email and take care of other administrative tasks.  You can also take a few days to do blocks of work, which might help you stay focused. For example, take one day per week to write several blog posts and set the timer within your blog  so that they are  published throughout the week, or create newsletters in advance and load them into your autoresponder so that they are delivered on the day you’d like your readers to get them.

If you would like more ideas to help you stay motivated this summer, download the Summer Biz Guide by clicking here. It’s a free, 29 page guide full of articles and tips!

I will also be hosting The Summer Biz Sessions, starting June 2 and lasting through August 25. We will be meeting in a web room each Tuesday at 9pm Eastern to discuss different business topics. We will have a different guest speaker each week, and the line up is fantastic! We’ll be hearing from Jenny Hart, founder of Sublime Stitching; Sue Blatt, founder of Renegade Craft Fair; Casie Metcalf, owner of IndiePublic.com; Claudine Hellmuth, founder of Collage Artist; Amy Schroeder, founder of Venus Zine; Laura Allen, co-founder of 15 Second Pitch; and that is just to name a few!!! For more info and to register, click here.

 A Friend: First and foremost, bring help with you! Don’t think for a minute that this is something you can do entirely on your own. Running a booth is a constant juggling act, so having your “right-hand man” is key to having not only success, but everything is more enjoyable when you can share it with others! Having a 2nd person to take payments is a great asset so that you re fully available to answer questions and show your products. It’s also valuable for transporting items, being able to take a restroom break, or even grab a lunchtime meal.  This person also becomes your “cheerleader” to help support your efforts throughout the day! I promise, you will be so grateful if you can find that special friend or family member to help you on the big day.

 Your Products: How many you ask? That is a good question. Bring what you can, but make sure you have a sign-up list available for those who would like to special order.

 Bags for Customers: Shoppers need bags! There are a number of resources on line of how to obtain bags, but one of the best resources may be in your very own area!  Before doing a show several years back, I went to our local drugstore as I knew their bags did not carry the individual store’s name. Instead there was a rose and I figured if I could get them at a good price, it really didn’t matter what was on the bag! So I went in and asked the manager if I could purchase some bags from them and indeed they did let me! The cost was unbelievably cheap and I now was ready to take my bags with me to the booth!

 A Possible Credit Card Machine: If this is doable, you may want to seriously consider opening up this method of paying to customers. By doing so, you are offering a convenient service to them. If you don’t, you may lose some potential buyers. I say this not to scare you, but perhaps intrigue you by looking into this option more seriously. It not only makes your booth look even more professional, but it is also a much safer route to go rather than accepting personal checks. You must obtain a merchant account in order to offer this, so be sure to check with your bank on how to do this. Taking credit and debit cards can really boost your sales!

 Your Money Center : Some craft fair organizers provide these for you and some do not, so be sure to check into your options. The small table is a great place to set up your money center. Along with this, don’t forget your calculator, a receipt book, a sales tax chart, cash box or machine, and the credit card machine if you go that route. And while you’re at it, don’t forget to bring change! A copy of your sales tax certificate and your business license to hang up in your booth is also a nice touch.

 A Small Cooler: Bring some snacks and bottles of water to keep you at your peak performance all day. You may easily get worn down if you wait too long before taking a break. Sometimes a small snack is just the right energy boost you need!

 Office Supplies & Other Misc.: These include: pens, stapler, tape, a garbage bag, sales tax chart for your area, extra price tags, markers, business cards and brochures, tape, your cell phone, a camera so you can document this fun day, and possibly some candy in a bowl. Don’t believe for a second that the candy is just for the children! The grown-ups love it just as well!

 Any Hang Tags or Care Instructions: If you’re offering any item for sale that requires special instructions, be sure to include those attached to your products. Your customers will truly appreciate your efforts.

 Tissue or Newspaper: If you have any items that are fragile, you’ll want to be sure to have these on hand to help package the items in the customers’ bags.

 Shelves: If possible, see if you can find some shelves that you can put onto your tables. Keeping items at different levels is more pleasing to the eye. So lift! Keep the booth interesting by doing this. Crates and stacks of blocks also work well with linen cloths draped over.

 Company Name Sign: Make it big and make it something special. If you have a website, be sure to include that on your banner as well.

 A Sign Up Sheet: This will help make future contacts for your business. A name and an email is a perfect way to contact interested customers in the future and keep them updated of new products and upcoming shows.

What items do you take with you when selling at a craft fair? Did I leave anything off the list that you would suggest?

You can p;promote your business very inexpensively by partnering with other biz owners on Swag give-a-ways.

Here is a fictitious example of how this might work:

Sarah makes organic bath products; Sally sells jewelry; and Kate makes hand knitted items. They all partner together and send each other their Swag. When Sarah processes an order, she will include a piece of Sally and Kate’s Swag as a freebie (and Sally and Kate will send out Swag in their orders, too).

Everyone loves freebies and their customers will enjoy the Swag items they receive. And by partnering with complementary businesses, these biz owners will be introducing their business to people who may never have come across it otherwise.

It’s a win-win situation all around!

Need some ideas for Swag items? Read this post on my blog for some great ideas!

This week, we are “Sparking An Idea From The Movies.” I’m going to share some important business lessons I’ve learned from one of my favorite movies,  The Prize Winner of Defiance, Ohio. If you’ve never seen this movie, you need to go to Blockbuster and rent it this weekend.

It was common practice throughout the 1950s and early 60s for companies to hold contests and offer prizes for the best jingle. Julianne Moore portrays Evelyn Ryan, a 1950s housewife who supports her family of ten children by entering - and winning - these contests.

Her husband, Kelly, portrayed by Woody Harrelson, is an alcoholic that has trouble making ends meet. The movie shows how Evelyn often ’saves the day’ by winning a contest and earning enough prize money to pay for what is needed.

For many reasons, I was extremely touched and moved by Moore’s character. Here is a woman who is stuck in a seemingly hopeless situation. She is stuck at home, in what has to be an unhappy marriage. Even though she has won a sports car, she has no driver’s license and therefore cannot leave her tiny town.

If circumstances were different, she could easily have a job running the marketing department of one of the companies she writes jingles for. It goes without saying that Evelyn was a gifted writer and marketer with a very creative mind. But this was 1950s America and women were expected to stay home and keep a good home for their husbands and children.

So what did I learn from this movie? Well, first of all, the big lesson is that if she can do it, I can do it. Let’s face it - Evelyn Ryan had a lot working against her. But she kept at it, she kept writing and it paid off (in a big way).

Moore’s character used the talents and skills she had and found a way to make them work for her. I like to thinkk that I am doing the same thing with my business.

One thing that I do have that Evelyn Ryan did not is the Internet. Watching this movie will make you understand how much the Internet has truly changed the lives of women across America.  Not to spoil too much for you if you haven’t seen the movie, but Evelyn gets invited to attend a meeting of fellow jingle writers, which is being held several hours away. She tries several times to meet with them, without success.

It is really heartbreaking to see how much of a struggle it was for this woman to simply travel a few hours away and meet with some women who understood what she was going through. Today, we can easily turn on the Internet and connect with people through blogs and social networking sites.

In last week’s Spark An Idea post we talked about forming business allies. I have been lucky enough to make some great friends through my business (one of which I’m meeting for coffee in a couple of hours!). The conveniences we have make it easy to take for granted the loneliness and isolation that women like Moore’s character must have experienced.

Lesson learned? Reach out to others for business advice and brainstorming sessions, even if you don’t feel you need it. The fact is, you have the luxury of being able to do this, so do it. You might make some new friends along the way, get an idea for a new project, or even find a potential business partner.

Entering these contests enabled Ryan to stay home with her children, provide them a good home, and to use her talents to create something she could be proud of. In many cases, Ryan reminds me of one of today’s “Mommy Bloggers.” (A Mommy Blogger is a woman who keeps a blog and earns her living from writing about her experiences as a mother.)

I like to think that comparison shows how much times have changed, and yet, how much things are still the same.

This is a true story and the movie is based upon the book of the same name, which is written by Evelyn’s daughter, Terry Ryan.

Bust Spring Fling Craftacular - New York City - May 17

Indie Craft Experience - Atlanta - May 30 - 31

Maker Faire Bay Area - San Mateo County - May 30 - 31

Renegade Craft Fair - Brooklyn - June 6 - 7

If you are going to any of these shows, or if you are selling at them, let us know by leaving a comment! Also, leave a comment about any upcoming fairs in your neighborhood!

I love the fact that I work online. I started my business when I lived in Alaska and the convenience that working online offers is just what I needed. Working from home - by yourself - can get lonely at times. You can easily get trapped in your “bubble” and lose sight of what is going on in the rest of the world.

That’s why I recommend making a few business friends that you can brainstorm with, get feedback from, and if possible, meet in person and work on some projects together. I have met some great friends through my business.

If  you are feeling shy and aren’t sure how to reach out to a potential business friend, here are a few examples of how I met some of my business friends:

Start With An Email: Back in the fall of 2007, I was flipping through an issue of Bust and came across a cute ad from MadeByAmyD.com. I wrote the owner and told her I thought it was a really good ad. She wrote back and that’s where it all started. We began emailing back and forth; I invited her to be a guest on my podcast and we had a great time talking, so I asked her to co-host an episode with me… and well, long story short, we are still in regular contact. Some of the ladies from Handmade Detroit and I will be road tripping to Ohio in August to meet Amy and the Ohio Crafters in person. And it all started with an email!

They Don’t Call It Social Networking For Nothing: Social networking sites are a great place to make a new business ally. I’ve met a lot of people through these sites; some have become partners on projects, and others have been a huge asset in helping me promote my site. I recommend that at the very minimum, you set up a fan page for your business on Facebook and also set up a Twitter account.

Attend  Craft Shows, Conferences, And Other Events: Back in 2006 when MySpace was still all the rage, I came across the profile for Handmade Detroit, a group of crafters that promotes the indie craft movement in Detroit and the surrounding area. Now, I was living in Alaska, but I’ll always be a “Michigan Girl,” so I added them as a friend. One of the members, Beth Nixon, began reading my blog. When I announced that I was going to be the keynote speaker at an event in May 2008, she decided to drive up to Flint and attend.

We had a chance to talk at the event and our personalities jived. A couple months later we decided to meet for coffee. We didn’t do much business talking at that first meeting; we talked about our lives and realized how much we had in common. She invited me to attend a party the following week and I met the majority of the other Handmade Detroit crew. Indie Biz Chicks and HD  have struck up a great “business relationship” in the sense that we promote each other and I’ve made some really good friends.  So go to in person events when you can and don’t be afraid to strike up a conversation!

I hope these ideas gave you some inspiration for reaching out to other business owners and making some new “biz friends!”  Don’t forget to post your own ideas for making biz friends on your blog (and link back to this blog post) !!

The scrapbook I made yesterday

Yesterday, I traveled a couple hours south to Toledo, Ohio with my friend Deni to attend a scrapbook party. I picked up a few interesting lessons and thought I’d share them:

Get Out Of Your Comfort Zone: It’s very common to get stuck in a pattern and sometimes, you gotta break it up a bit and try something new! If  you’ve heard me teach an online class or have seen me speaking at an in-person event, you may not believe that I can be kind of shy. But it’s true. Especially when I’m in a small group of people that I’m meeting for the first time.

Just like yesterday’s scrapbook party! That’s right. I didn’t know anyone who was attending. The people at the party were all co-workers of my friend. They all work for the same company, based in different areas in Michigan and Ohio. But I went and I had fun and I met a bunch of new people. And by the way - the friend that I went with is a relatively new friend, as well. I met her last summer when I went to a party thrown by another friend.

So get out of your routine. shake it up, and see what happens!

Don’t Second Guess Yourself: One of the people who attended the party had never scrapbooked before and was not feeling very confident about her pages. She was second guessing herself, but the truth is, she was making some very cute designs! Believe in yourself! If you don’t, know one else will.

Getting Started Is The Hardest Part: When we arrived at the party, the first thing we did was set up the food table (can you blame us?). And then we all sat there, looking at our supplies…  Starting a new project is always the hardest part. Whether you are starting a new business altogether or are just thinking about doing something new within your business (like creating a press page), getting started can be the hardest part!

As for the crop last night, once we started playing with the papers, stamps, and other tools, we were on a roll. Everyone was coming up with new ideas. And that’s exactly what it will be like with your business. So just get started with something and see where inspiration takes you.

Don’t Spend Too Much Time On Facebook: Near the end of the party, the hostess’ laptop got brought out and the person who rode with my friend and I got on Facebook…. Well, we didn’t end up leaving Toledo until 11:30 pm and that meant we didn’t get home till around 2 am.

It’s important to use social networking tools like Facebook and Twitter in your business, but definitely watch how much time you are spending on them. Don’t let it get in the way of the other parts of your business!

Now it’s your turn! What are some of your favorite crafty business lessons???

Speaking of the conference, did you catch the session about podcasting on Wednesday? It was led by Sparkplugging’s General Editor, Kelly McCausey. She gave some great tips on how to use a podcast for your marketing.

As a craft business owner, you can use your craft ideas as the center of your podcast / video cast. For example, check out Handmade Detroit and their Craftervids.

If you ever wanted to have your own show on HGTV or the DIY Network, grab a video camera and tape yourself making a project. Anothr idea is to simply take pictures of your project at various stages of completion. Take the pictures and form them into a 30 second video that shows the creation of your project from start to finish!

in addion to posting the vidoes on your own site  and blog, you can submit these videos to iTunes, YouTube, and Vimeo. It’s a great way to introduce your business to new people!

I LOVE being able to work from home. For me, there’s nothing like it. But doing so presents some challeges as well. That is, that there are certain times during the day when I need to be at the computer or on a conference call. Because of this, I am always on the look-out for fun activities for my children to do right beside me.  

And whether it’s answering an email or just loading the dishwasher for the upteenth time, we all need ideas on how to keep our little ones busy while you are too!

So today I’m going to share an idea with you that your kids will love! It involves SCISSORS! Just be careful that they don’t love it too much, that a locke of hair comes off!

It’s real easy, too. Ready?

Compile some old magazines together that I’m sure you have lying around your home! 

Give your child a pair of blunt-ended scissors. I always make sure my children are sitting down when using scissors and I watch carefully.

Instruct your child to find pictures of faces in the magazine. You want them to find a mouth on one face, some eyes from another face, and even a nose from a completely different face! Oh, they’re going to have fun with this!

Carefully cut out each one and then glue onto a separate piece of paper.

And that’s it! Here are a couple of end results from my children when they did this activity!

Isn’t that fun? They’ll have a ball trying to find all the different body parts to make their “new” person!

Having your children cut with scissors is an important skill to learn. The hand-eye coordination it takes to maneuver the cutting motion is often taken for granted and so this is a great way to give them an experience with scissors.

Children also enjoy cutting out objects that they like and making a collage. My 6-year-old loved just making a simple collage from pictures of trucks, basketball hoops, and his favorite foods! Even my 2 1/2 year-old can be entertained for quite a while by simply cutting paper.

I’d love to hear any ideas you do with your little ones when you’re busy!

Here are a few ideas:

1. Offer a wide range of price points. Make sure everything is clearly marked. Potential customers want to know immediately how much something costs. I like to call it the “Car Sales” approach. I don’t know about you, but one of the things I don’t like when I am looking for a car is not being able to find a price front and center in the window. If I see the price at first, then I immediately know what is within my budget and what is not. If I don’t see a price, it is a rarity that I will actually find the sales person to inquire about the price. I want something fast and easy. The easier it is to find a price, then the more likely I am to become more interested. Offering items at different prices that are clearly marked will bring more consumers into your booth. They are less likely to “just walk on by” because it is obvious if they’ll be able to find something in there that fits their price range.

2. Combine items. Pair items together that, if sold separately, would individually be priced a little higher. But be sure to advertise to customers that if the items are sold together, the price is lower. Customers will feel they have received great value for their purchase. And they should, too! You’ll make more money with a higher transaction value. It’s a win-win for both the buyer and the seller.

3. Get creative with your sales! Here are just a few ideas of what you can do to boost your sales!

• Include a small, free gift with a minimum purchase amount.
• “Buy one, get one at 50% off” sales.
• “The more you buy, the more you save” kind of sale. For example, if they purchase $50 worth, then they could receive 10% off their entire order, or if they purchase $100 worth, then they may receive 20% off their order.
• Offer free personalization whenever possible. Many are coming to these shows for that one-of-a-kind, unique gift to give. Personalizing something shows exactly that. They won’t be able to find that at a big chain store! So if possible, personalize! You might even think about taking pre-paid orders for items to be personalized at home later for pick-up.

Pricing can be tricky, but each time you sell, you will learn so much. Ask friends and family for objective and honest opinions. Keep an open mind and don’t be defensive. Talking with them can be very helpful. Discussing these things with fellow crafters both online and around your community can also be beneficial.

What are some ideas that have worked for you in helping to move your product line?

Some of the speakers include Amy Schroeder, the founder of Venus Zine; Jenny Hart of Sublime Stitching; the ladies of Handmade Detroit; Gwen Bell, Kirtsy partner, and voted one of the 50 most influential women in social media!; as well as Sparkplugging’s General Editor, Kelly McCausey - and that is just to name a few! For a complete list, visit: http://indiebizchicksconference.com/speakers/

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