Just a beautiful day

It is a beautiful sunny day here in New Jersey. I just completed an order for some beautiful beads at bobbiebeads on artfire and headpin supplies through lululalaland also on artfire both are very reasonable priced. I have made purchases from lululalaland in the past and it has been a easy positive purchase and delivery. This is my first purchase from bobbiebeads.
I joined a guild, "shops with 5 or less sales". There is an upcoming contest I am not real clear on so I am following the first contest. It is to promote people to your shop. I feel stupid to say I only found how to access the forum in the guild and found what the contest rules are.

Networking

Hi welcome to my world...
I have not been consistent on my blog due to chronic pain issues. I am sure those who can relate to those 3 little words (chronic pain issues){CPI} you know how much this condition can change and most times control your life. I have been down for a week or almost 2 (when you have CPI you count every good day & every bad day). At times it is unmanageable with no relief. I am getting back on the uppity up train feeling somewhat better. At least good enough to sit and design.
It is during the low times when I read art daily on artfire or etsy community resources to gain insight what is happening in the art world and ways to enhance and increase sales, packaging merchandise, advertising, increasing customers, contests, etc...
Don't forget tonight at 9:00pm EST will be another ambush on artfire sneakers check it out for the unsub which is also listed on chatter box same time...until next time....

Supplies

I like to pay it forward and share both good and not so good experiences and information on purchased bead supplies. I have been ordering only on artfire and etsy..well sometimes e-bay if I can get a good deal. I recently made a purchase at The Beadin' Path.(they have a web site) It seemed like a good deal they were moving next door and they had a special 30% off and free shipping orders over $50. My beauties came today and I absolutely love them. I don't think the percentage is still valid but the supplies are worth every penny I spent and shipping is still the same. Of course I did over spend and over purchased so when I am ready to part with some of my beauties I will be sharing and posting items in an array of fashion to be purchased. I can't wait to use them. I already feel the design. Check out my shop and stop back often new items to be available.
Sometimes the world flies bye me and I get off track (darn chronic pain) I am a perfectionist and want the utmost happiness for all my customers so the almost beaded bra straps are in the final stages.
Thanks God Bless and Pay It Forward

Open House

Over the past few months I have been reading everything posted on how to promote your shop and increase or getting your first sale. I have had home jewelry parties in the past but my chronic pain issues prevent me from doing them more often. I needed to promote my merchandise and my web site. I had an open house jewelry party. I decide to have light refreshments. I did not have a lot to spend on refreshments, but I had a plan. People began to offer to bring something...so I accepted help and said yes. It turned out very nice and I had a successful open house jewelry party. I would like to share ideas I used to sell my merchandise while also promoting my artfire store. Most people were first time buyers, but there were a few regular customers.

I chose a date before Mother's Day
I had a free earring contest (which I obtained e-mail address, home addresses, and phone#).
I made my own earring cards with a special note and web site info on them.
Every bag had a business card attached (which has web site info)
My granddaughter special gift wrapped all purchased items, if it was to be given as a gift there was a inexpensive bag that we decorated and put the merchandise in, with pink tissue paper.
I had a sign for custom orders.
I had a "sale bin" which was items I made sometime ago and needed to sell or take apart. ( it is now empty).
I had a variety of prices (like my web site).

Right now that is all I can think of but I used a lot of suggestions from artfire news page, marketing, and other informative pages on the news page, .. chatterbox. I found this blog very informative for a lot of info.. check it out http://kaysommers.blogspot.com

I have been down for 3 days now with chronic pain but would I do it again......yes

Advertising

I have been working very hard preparing and getting my house in order. I am promoting my shop and merchandise by having a home jewelry party. I have gathered soooo many ideas from this web site www.squidoo.com/stand_out. Hope it is as helpful to you as it was to me.
PS I finally did receive my long awaited order.

Savings

In these times I know for myself saving money is a great way for me to have a little extra to spend on other areas (jewelry & sewing supplies). I found this web site very helpful with coupons and freebies go to Saving with 6abc. Let me know how you make out. The only thing I had to do was download the coupon printer so my coupons print. It worked for me passing it forward to you. Enjoy

Ambushing

I really like the idea that Artfire Sneakers does. They help people get their sales by ambushing their store. The un-sub is revealed every Tuesday at 9:00 pm. I am coming up with a few ideas of my own.
I would like to mention leafingearth her jewelery is so inspiring to me. She is on artfire and etsy check it out.

I am moving slow these past few days..I had a slip and fall on Friday. I went straight back and hit my head (pounding headache) and really injured my whole right side from hand, elbow, shoulder down to my feet (ouch). This is not a good thin considering I am trying to get my house in order for a in-home jewelry party next Saturday. I have been completing one task at a time.

Up coming item....I don't know about you but I hate when I wear a top and have my bra strap stick out...I will be displaying my new items in a few days how to solve this dilema....keep coming back