The iEmporium Sizzle

Page 1

Small Businesses • spotlights • Promotions • ideas • shopping

Cooking With Denay Parade of products A Moment of Muse

Entrepreneur of the Month

September 2008


Letter From the Editors‌ Welcome to the first official edition of The iEmporium Sizzle! This issue features some words of wisdom, some great advice and lots of wonderful merchants! If you are interested in writing for The Sizzle or have an idea for an article or feature, please let us know at iEmporiumSizzle@gmail.com. A special thank you to Christine from Defining Divas for providing the cover artwork. Thank you for joining us on our journey. The best is yet to come!

ssa i l e M a, n e h t Par u se M e h &T


Contact Melissa for more information!


“A girl should be two things: classy and fabulous.” ~ Coco Chanel

Entrepreneur of the Month Regina of Margarita Bloom

How were you inspired to create your business?

you got the name of a girl that loves to spice up her bath routine with lots of retro fun…the modern girl for bath and body I always knew from a very small age that I wanted to have my own was born! Margarita Bloom! She’s a gorgeous gal with a bit of business. It wasn’t until I got my very first computer that I was able a modern yet 1950’s flair. She to see the wonderful world of the loves beautiful goodies and smelling oh, so nice! nothing but internet and what I could the best for a Margarita Bloom accomplish with it. I discovered this entire world of bath and body girl. products and that I could actually have my very own shop online. I How did you learned how to create a website choose your and from there Margarita Bloom products? was born. My passion really is bath and body goodies and every day is I basically pick them a new experience with a new based on what I product or new fragrance oil that would love to use gets me excited all over again! myself. Favorite scents, favorite How did you come up with products, wonderful ingredients….every your business name? product in our store is something that I I was inspired from a couple of quotes by Coco Chanel….“In order personally would love to use. to be irreplaceable one must always be different.” and “A girl should be How did you fund your busitwo things: classy and fabulous.” ness? ~ Coco Chanel. I had my family for support and of I knew that I needed a name that course saved, saved, saved. Lol… was somehow very original but yet was something that everybody What types of advertising knew & of course it had to be methods have you used? classy and very fabulous. What works best? It all started with the word bloom…it sounded fresh and cute….and then it hit me….Margarita Bloom….the modern girl. It was perfect. Everybody knew what a margarita was and put the two together and

I’ve done a lot of inexpensive budget advertising but mostly word of mouth which seems to work best in answer to your other question. Getting out there and talking to the people who are your customers and clients;

introducing your company to them, telling about what you have to offer really seems to be the best way at least for me!

Our website is:

Do you do more marketing online or locally? Which generates the most sales?

and our blog:

I’d have to say online. It’s really allowed me to reach people I never would have been able to reach otherwise. Does your business fit well with your family and personal life? Is your family supportive?

http://www.margaritabloom.com

http:// www.margaritabloom888.blogs pot.com You can even sign up for our specials on our home page too for all those Margarita Bloom girls out there! What advice do you have for other women starting their own businesses?

I know it sounds cliché, but really follow your dreams. Find your passion and go for it. Yes, of course. My family has Don’t be swayed by anybody always encouraged me to follow my dreams and is even as excited else telling you, you can’t do it. If it’s something that you as I am! really…really, really love your Who is your support network excitement will flow over and outside of family? Do you have spill onto all the people that a website? Blog? your company touches and Truly I would have to say all these they’ll be just as excited as you wonderful groups I belong to and and in return your company all the new friends I’ve made along will prosper. the way of growing my business. They really seem to encourage me and are genuinely excited about MB.


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Art of Beads By Mona Rae how much the glass will

others. I started with Bulls

shrink as it is cooling from a

Eye glass, which has a 96

molten to a hardened state. It

COE and is a little harder in

is important to use the same

my opinion than 104 COE…

COE for all your glass when

it is a harder, soft glass. 104

you begin making beads;

COE is made by several com-

there are exceptions to this

panies; I use Moretti Effetre

rule that can be learned as

glass because it is easier to

you gain experience. A bead

melt on my type of torch, and

that uses different glass of

has a wonderful color pallet

different COE will cool at

to choose from. Colors come in transparent,

I started making beads, also

glass, mandrels, and fire.

different

known

Of course, there are safety

stress leading to cracks in

translucent, and opaque

about two years ago. I got

concerns and different

your beads. Glass comes in

shades. They come as chips,

my bead making kit three

options and considerations

several COEs, however I

chunks, rods and strips. They

years ago! It took me a year

for each of these elements.

recommend you begin with

come in “handmade” and

to gather the courage, to

I will touch on them here,

COE 104, which is a softer

“odd lots”, made in limited

overcome my fear of fire,

however, I am a lamp-

glass.

quantities. They come with

and to just light my torch.

worker, not an authority,

But the best way I spent my

and you should use caution

Softer Glass?! Yes, glass is

silver and gold and copper.

time before attempting to

before you start.

classified as soft and hard,

They come encased in clear,

and some soft glass is softer

called filigrana. They come

or harder (or “stiffer”) than

in sparkles, called aventurine

as

lampworking,

make my first bead was spent reading Cindy Jenkins’ book,

Glass is a wonderful,

Making Glass Beads, over

light-reflecting material. It

and over again.

Now that

is magical and sparkles and

you are reading, keep reading

comes in so many delicious

and I’ll give you the basics of

colors.

making glass beads.

And

pect you need to understand

when you are done reading,

before making beads is that

go find more to read about an

glass has what is called a

absolutely wonderful craft!

“coefficient of expansion”,

One important as-

more commonly called a Making glass beads requires

“C. O. E.” Very basically,

some essential equipment:

the COE is a measure of

rates

and

cause

high contents of metal, like


and dichroic. There are so many op-

use a “Hot Head” torch, which is a be-

which is a light phenomenon that

tions, you can’t help but find a favorite

ginners torch, but is also a portable

results from the melting of glass and

color! Many glass manufacturers have

torch. The fuel for the fire can be a one

prevents you from seeing a lot of what

“sampler” or

pound

you are doing and the true “melting

“starter” packs,

canister of

colors” of your glass. Finally, you

which generally

propane

want to set up your torch in a well-

include a rod of

(blue bottle)

ventilated area, with lots of light, and

each color of

or MAPP

a fireproof work surface; I use a 1” x

opaque and/or

(yellow

25” slab of marble on an old sewing

transparent glass

bottle) gas,

table. My table and chair sit atop a

they make; that

or you can

fireproof floor mat.

is what I suggest

purchase

you start with.

fittings to

Okay, now we have everything we

As you gain experience with melting

attach the torch to a “bulk” tank, similar

need, except a way to light the flame.

glass, you gradually learn the differ-

to a barbecue tank or larger. Not only is

I use a normal flint striker for my

ences between melting opaques and

a HotHead practical for a beginner

torch. When you sit at the lit torch

transparent and the different habits of

because it is easy to set up, it is

you should be close enough to be able

certain colors combined with other

economical to purchase, and makes the

to work with the flame between your

colors (glass reactions.)

“hobby” affordable to try on. As you

face and your hands. Hold your man-

So now that you have basic glass un-

gain commitment to the experience, you

drel in your less-dominant hand and

derstanding, you will need mandrels.

may want to get a bigger, more expen-

your glass rod in the other. Glass is

These are metal rods of different

sive torch, that will burn a combination

“shocky” when going too quickly

thicknesses upon which you apply

of propane and oxygen, both controlled

from room temperature to the flame,

molten glass. Essential to preventing

separately at the torch.

and will “fly” when shocked. To pre-

the glass from sticking to the mandrel

vent this, “dip” the end of the glass

(if that happens you don’t have a bead,

There are tools you will want to use to

rod quickly in and out of the end of

you have a plant decoration), is the

shape your glass into beads, and most

the flame until you feel comfortable

application of “bead release” to the

can be found in your kitchen, but it is

that it is warm enough to stay

mandrel prior to making beads. Bead

inexpensive to

continuously in

release is a “dip” of clay substance

start with a

the flame. Melt

that once heated in the flame prevents

graphite paddle

enough glass at

the glass from sticking to the metal

marver and

the end of the

mandrel. When your bead is done you

tungsten pick

rod to make a

clean the bead release from the bead

with which to

single bead,

hole. I recommend a beginner start

shape, pull, and

usually about

with mandrels of 1/8” and 3/32” thick-

poke your

½”. Better yet,

nesses.

molten glass.

melt enough

You will also

glass that it will

Now you need a torch, the source of

want to protect your eyes with special

drip from the rod onto your work

fire with which you melt the glass. I

glasses that block out “soda flare”,

surface…eliminate that fear and


satisfy that curiosity. Now melt the

into the flame to heat the glass evenly

own style or favorite type of bead to

end of your rod to make a bead. With

throughout and to “round” out your

make; someday someone will see a

your mandrel turning between your

bead. There will be many future lessons

bead and say “that’s yours!” I’m still

thumb and fingers, and your glass

to learn after you learn to apply the glass

looking for my signature, and I’m still

melting directly in the flame, move the

to the mandrel. You will eventually

learning new techniques and practic-

molten glass just below the flame

learn how to center the glass around the

ing basics, even after two years, but

(farther away from you) and touch the

hole, have puckered ends that won’t cut

most importantly I still enjoy melting

molten glass to the mandrel…keep

bead stringing materials or skin, how to

and shaping glass into beads!

turning….hold the rod still…wind the

make different shapes, how to use differ-

glass around the rod. Now separate

ent decorating techniques, how to make

You can see Mona’s work and buy her

the rod from your mandrel by moving

your own “stringers” and “twisties”, how

handmade beads at Mona Rae’s

the rod back into the flame, and as you

to use presses, and so very much more.

Beads.

continue to turn your bead, move the bead farther away from the flame,

You will eventually learn about more

essentially using the flame to “cut” the

tools you can use, the most important of

rod from the bead.

which is a kiln (if you decide you want to keep making beads and you want

Now you can move the mandrel to

beads that are as strong as they can be.)

your dominant hand, and move it back

And eventually you will even find your



Sign up or shop today with Michele Puccini at Tupperware.




The Sale Adventures of Iris and Gertie (copyright 2008 by The Muse) They had saved all their coinage... Paper bills they had stuffed... Much to the chagrin of others... And sometimes in a rush. For you see... The friends had heard... That fabulous word... That a SALE was in the offing... And for these two girls... There was no stopping! Why Gertie had even started billing... For the mopping, the washing and the garden tilling! Her family knew her dream... So they played along with her scheme. And Iris that sweet thing... Was being paid not to sing... By kindred of her own name... But Iris, sweet Iris... Was playing an innocent game... For truth be told her voice was like gold... Yet suddenly now, it was croaky, rusty and old! At last the day came... The store doors were flung open wide... The friends, stood trembling, side by side... Ecstatically throwing up major high fives... Oh this SALE was bigger and better than they'd been hoping... It was all so emotional, these tears and gasps~the friends were choking... The bargains were fabulous, discounted and great... They made it in time, they hadn't been late! The weather was sunny, breezy and nice... "Hurry, dear friend," urged Gertie..."I'm coming, I'm coming," laughed Iris... "You don't have to ask me twice!" (Iris and Gertie's adventures will continue....)


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Etsy: Find That Perfect Something! BY MELISSA EDDINGS

Indulge Your Senses! If you’ve ever searched

online world filled with

ways

the

artists and their hand-

products on Etsy. You

perfect gift, you’re not

crafted items.

can search by cate-

alone. The internet can

paintings

internet

for

that

to

From baked

gory,

be an endless maze

color.

of

search

sponsored

ads

to

search

for

keyword

or

You can even stores

that

and highly recogniz-

haven’t had a sale yet

able

over-

or just had a sale. Etsy

exposed retailers. To

makes it easy to find

find that little shop

exactly

what

you

selling

need.

More

than

and

handmade

items is almost im-

likely,

possible. Buried be-

more than what you

neath

keywords

and

pricey ads, the independent

artists

are

hard to find.

endless.

Etsy is a self-

contained website that makes it easy to find

There is one place that remedies that.

goods, the choices are

That

place is Etsy. Etsy is an

that unique gift you’ve been searching for. There

are

numerous

you

will

find

truly need. In the following pages,

BUYERS: Find the perfect gift for yourself or someone you love! Search by color, category or keyword. Visit the Gift Guide for ideas. Visit the Treasury for handpicked items from Etsy members. Purchase directly from artists and crafters.

you will see just a few of the amazing products found at Etsy. The best of the best are presented here and I hope

that

you

visit

each and every one of them. Indulge your senses!

SELLERS: Sell your handcrafted items at Etsy! Create your own store, add pics, a banner and your bio. Sell directly to buyers. Low sales fees. Promote your store with Etsy banners.

Silver Bangle with Hill Tribe Charms The Pretty Peacock - $32

Show the world your passion!


Handcrafted Art For

Touch Etsy.. Dazzle in one-of-a-kind designs!

Custom Lolita Dress Ruby Pearl - $375

V-Neck Dress Orange NYC - $300

Blk Gray Ruffled Petticoat PinarEris— $249


All Your Senses!

Roses Are Pink Halter Dress Little Girl Pearl - $60


See Etsy... Discover art that moves you!

Displaced She Is Pretty—$20


Sweetness Remains Shared Space- $10 Seasonal Fruits Revo - $430 Angie’s Iris Angies Iris’s Shop—$25

Ripples Nina’s Window- $295

Sommwhere In Asia Imagine Studios—$28


Smell Etsy... Indulge in relaxing and tantalizing scents!

Berry Sage Candle Soothing Rituals—$7.50

Displaced Customized Perfume She Is Pretty—$20 Loreto—$14

Blackberry & Amber Soap Bar Anderson Soap Company—$5


Tub Truffles Lily Bay Soap—$6.50

Kids In Bed Early Body Scrub Moms On Edge - $6.50

Bay Rum Soap Spotted Cow Soaps—$4.50


Taste Etsy... Tempt your taste buds with homemade treats!

Caramel Gourmet Popcorn Keeping It Simply Sweet—$9.50

Organic Olive Oil Toribeth Organics—$12 Tie-Dye Caramel Apple Double Dipped Sweets—$9

Bangerang Cupcakes Bangerang Bake Shop—$19.50


Strawberry Cream Sandwich Cookies Sweetie Pies Delights- $9.95

Lavender Tea Old Money Botanicals—$10

The One Pound Cuppie Sugar Dreams Bakery—$10.75


Hear Etsy... Let the music soothe your soul!

Eat Your Heart Out West Corinth Studios—$1750


Textured Raku Meditation Flute Teresa’s Art Shop - $40

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Frame Drum Mystic Griffin - $45


Beads of Hope Helping Cure Childhood Cancer One Bead at a Time

Beads of Hope was created to increase awareness of childhood cancer and to raise money for childhood cancer research. Whether you are looking to find jewelry for a special occasion, unique jewelry for your boutique or simply want to purchase from a company that is working to make a difference, you will be very pleased with the quality of your Beads of Hope design. My own child was diagnosed with Acute Lymphoblastic Leukemia on his third birthday. Today, he is perceived by

most as a typical child, but he continues daily to battle and overcome. The treatments that he must endure, and the illnesses related to his cancer, take an incredible toll on his young body and spirit. It is his strength, determination and courage that keeps me inspired and committed to find a cure, giving children like my Jakob a fighting chance for recovery. With your support, we can help fight this disease together.

made with love. Every time you fasten the clasp or receive a compliment on your beautiful necklace or stunning bracelet, you will feel good knowing that you are not only supporting a worthy cause, but honoring a child’s struggle with cancer, recognizing your own loved ones, raising cancer awareness and sending a message of hope. ~Staci, Beads of Hope

The beaded gem stone jewelry from Beads of Hope is inspired, distinct, and

September is Childhood Cancer Awareness Please join us, Sept. 15 through Sept. 30, 2008, at iEmporium for a silent auction. You will have the opportunity to bid on numerous products donated by our merchants. All proceeds raised by the silent auction will go to fund research for childhood cancer. Help a wonderful cause and bid on some wonderful products at the same time! For more information, please visit iEmporium.


Lady Lynn’s Boutique Incredible Fossil and Multi Gemstone Pendant Sterling Silver $78.95

Carved Abalone & Peridot Earrings Sterling Silver $24.95

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Cooking With Denay Back to School Lunch Ideas Lunch Ideas for Your Student: String cheese with a variety of crackers Mini veggies with individual Ranch Dressing cups (Cucumber slices, sugar snap peas, carrots, fresh green beans etc.) Tangerines (Clementine’s - if in season) Melon cubes Apples (dipped in citrus juice to prevent browning) Seedless grapes Dried fruits and mixed dried fruits and nuts Individual fruit cups and applesauce (Avoid cooked broccoli, boiled eggs and goat or bleu cheese. These foods sometime emit a bad odor and this can be embarrassing to your child. No child wants to be pointed out for having smelly food.)

Consider using these alternatives for bread: Pita (either small individual size or half of a regular pita) Quick breads make great open face sandwiches (banana, pumpkin, apple etc.) Whole wheat hamburger and hot dog buns Muffins (regular and mini muffins) Scones Bagels and mini bagels for younger children Tortilla (white or wheat or vegetable) Raisin bread

Time flies when you are having fun and that is no over statement, a summer time vacation can disappear like snow in a furnace. Yes, it is time to purchase school supplies, track down after-school programs, and pack healthy tasty lunches. Here we go again, trying to figure out a new creative way to make something so mundane spectacular. We all know school lunches need to be attractive, healthy and tasty even in the eyes of a six year old, but the secret lies in keeping your child’s lunchtime meal familiar even if it means they will eat that cheese sandwich over and over again. Many moons ago I worked as a parent educator discussing the numerous challenges of parenthood and one area addressed most often involved coming up with innovative lunch ideas. My experience as a professional cook and baker, educator and parent lead me to suggest keeping lunch menus as simple as possible. Children do not like variety, strange flavors and textures; at least not during lunch time. If a parent feels the need to experiment, keep those endeavors occurring during the weekend when there is an opportunity to talk to your child about these newly introduced foods and flavors and why they are adding them to their diet. The key to creating great school lunches is to keep it simple, keep the food interactive, when possible keep it fresh and familiar. Keeping a lunch choice healthy as well

as something your children will like may sound like an oxymoron, but it is something that parents should strive to accomplish. Parents must think outside the box and take a keen look at what foods their children enjoy. There is nothing wrong with the traditional, bologna, turkey, ham and cheese, plain cheese and the like, just make sure if you are using mayonnaise you are packing the sandwich with a cold pack. If you child is not into sandwiches, you may want to look at offering a variety of little dippers and finger foods. There is also nothing wrong with packing supper-time leftovers as long as they can be eaten at room temperature or cold. Most children do not have the luxury of heating their food, so if your child likes cold pizza, macaroni and cheese, or chicken legs, pack it. All too often it is not what a parent packs in the lunch bag but how it is packed. It is easy to think that children don’t care or won’t notice that the sandwich is smashed or the fruit is warm, but they do. It means a lot to go the extra mile when preparing your child’s lunch. We all know most early morning routines are a hectic time and everyone is rushing to get started with their day. One way to relieve this stressful time is preparing your child’s lunch the night before and having them participate in the process. Parents are a child’s first teacher and it is your

responsibility to teach your child about the importance of packing a healthy tasty lunch. The most effective preparation tips involve cutting items into manageable pieces. Consider filling the thermos with hot water just before adding any hot soup or food. This practice assists in prepping the thermos and helps to keep the food warm longer. Parents may also want to place a frozen juice box or small bottled water next to cold foods to keep them cool. Cold packs are wonderful too, but parents may want to avoid using the liquid cold pack, since curious children may be tempted to puncture the bag to take a better view, dare I say taste, of the blue liquid in the pack; and insulated lunch bags are always better than those Disposable brown paper sacks. If you really want to go the extra mile, take an index card, cut it in half and write a little note of love on it. I started doing this when my child was in first grade and she loved it. The messages might read, “Have a wonderful day, we’ll talk after school, or I just wanted you to know I am always thinking of you.” Children love it when parents take the time to focus on them and only them. Try it. Parents interested in learning more about packing safe lunches can contact the USDA Food Safety Program at 1-800-535-4555 or visit http://www.usda.gov/fsis.


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s d r o w y Easy ke

Keywords are search terms people actually enter into the search en gines w h en conducting a search. They directly relate to your customer’s needs and your audience’s language. Do you know which words are used by them to find your business or website? This is the key to optimizing your keywords. It does not matter how you define your business if you’re not grabbing the attention of your target audience.

With this in mind, there are 5 key processes you can take now to find those attention grabbing words and interact with your audience to help drive quality traffic to your website and create a profitable marketing campaign.

Step 1: Find the right words Think like your customer. Read the magazines your customer reads and visit the web sites and forums of your core audience. What is their lifestyle and where do they

shop? Learn their language and their shopping destinations. Do you see common terms or questions to a problem or need?

Experimentation with the long tail phrase is the key.

Step 2: Make a list of common words and phrases

Step 3: Analyze the list

Upon learning the language of your audience, develop a list of words and phrases that are most likely searched on to meet their needs. For example, if you enter a forum and the primary question is “where can I find affordable silver jewelry” list “affordable silver jewelry” as a keyword phrase. Develop a list of no less than 100 and up to 300 specific keywords and phrases based on these terms. Opt for the “long tail” key phrases. For example, I sell dresses, but more specifically, affordable women’s dresses. One word is likely to have too much competition, so seek out the niche market within that word. Another example would be jewelry. Perhaps “artisan handmade designer silver jewelry” will yield a more profitable niche.

by michelle

Take your keyword list and input the data into an analysis tool to find the top performers (those with a high daily search to competitor ratio). There are several trial or free tools available and others that charge a monthly fee to access services. Try the following:

Wordeze - http:// www.wordze.com/ (Trial and paid) Wordtracker - http:// freekeywords.wordtracker.com (Free, trial and paid) Goodkeywords http://www.goodkeywords. com/ (Free)

Keywordsdiscovery.com http://www.keyworddis covery.com/index.html (Trial and paid) Google Keywords Tool https://adwords.google.co m/select/KeywordToolExt ernal (free, but only includes Google search data). I have tested all of these tools except for GoodKeywords (but have heard excellent reviews) and recommend beginners start with the Google Keywords Tool. It’s free and easy to use and will list comparable keywords based on your selection.


When analyzing the keywords, you want to look at the KEI (Keyword Effectiveness Index). The KEI compares the number of searches for a keyword with the number of search results to pinpoint which keywords are most effective for your campaign. Suppose the number of searches for a keyword is 500 per month and Google displays 200,000 results for that keyword. Then the ratio between the popularity and competitiveness for that keyword is 500 * 500 divided by 200,000. In this case, the KEI 1.25. The higher the KEI, the more effective your keywords are, and the less competition they have. That means you might have a better chance of getting to the top of the search engine ranking with that keyword or phrase. In short, the golden keywords are those that have many searches but not enough competition (higher KEI).

Step 4: Focus on the Top 25 Keywords/Phrases After analysis, you can narrow your keywords down to about 25-30 phrases. Determine which keywords are best suited for the home page versus other pages on your website. You should target 1-2

keywords per page. For example, your home page should focus on your main mission. If you sell women’s clothing, it should focus on your best KEI phrase for that target audience. Then, if you have another page for women’s dresses, the keyword should be relevant to that page – instead of women’s clothing, you may list a key phrase such as women’s dresses, etc. Map out the effective keywords for each page and keep track of them for future campaigns and get ready to work on your code!

Step 5: Add the Keywords/Phrases to the Page Code After determining which keywords to use and where to use them, add them to your code. These are the three MOST important tags to focus on: Title Tag - The title indicates what the web page describes and is the first line in search engine listings. Not only should you list your keywords here, but also your site name (i.e., mysitename, mykeyword). This is the first indicator to tell the search engine you are optimizing your page for this

keyword. Think of it as a set-up for the rest of the site content. Meta Tag Description - The second or third line of a search engine listing. This should correspond with the title tag. Expressed as <meta name=”description” content=”keywords here”> Body Tag - Within the first paragraph after the <body> tag, the keyword should be mentioned again. It can also be referred to once more in the last paragraph of your content before the end <body> tag. With these tips in mind, you’re off to a great start in keyword optimization for your website. This is the ground work to successful page optimization and marketing/advertising campaigns in the future.

Look for more articles in future issues that will address more ways to optimize your website and business.

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Selling Crafts in a Challenging Economy By Mary Lou Huelsman Being a new crafter and new to the craft show world, I set out on a venture to see what I have gotten myself into. The economy is declining and small businesses do not have a high success rate anyway, so am I really making the right decision at the right time? Am I setting myself up for failure before I even begin? Well, I went ahead and plunged in with both feet and am moving full speed ahead. I have done some research, talked to vendors and crafters and customers and I believe that I can be a success in this business, even with the economy as it is. Yes, the high price of gas has affected every craft show business person. Some costs are as high as four times what they were previously. A lot of crafters are traveling less distance for their shows, and others continue to hit many different states. For me, I can find a show within 75 miles just about every weekend and can do a show without the overnight expense of a motel. That is a huge savings there. I have never intended to travel any further than this. I do not have plans to have to fill out taxes in more than one state.

I can see where the full-time crafter who travels to all the high-end shows may find this to their advantage, but to be a beginner, this just is not the beginning stage. I have talked to vendors who travel as many as 16 states and many who travel in a motor home. Oh, that would be nice, but fewer are doing this, as the price of gas cuts so far into their p r o f i t .

them. For me, I sell little girl purses, and there is no high value in these, other than they are all unique and nobody has seen anything like them, therefore, the value to them is the one-of-a-kind gift they give that special little girl.

There are other reasons why I feel like I can be a success now. One is that I have a unique product. Many, many people are saying that the customers are still buying; they are just being more selective on what they purchase. It is not necessarily the less expensive items that are being bought, but the item that appears to have the highest value in the customer’s eyes.

From what I have learned, promoters are having a harder time filling the venue and the vendors are having a harder time selling their product, but with the proper booth display that is inviting and eyeappealing, the customers are still there. When a vendor adds the ability of taking credit/debit cards, they increase their sales, as that is how shoppers shop now. A vendor cannot sit back and expect the sale to come to them, they must be visible, personable, and knowledgeable and being a salesperson is required.

That value might be a higher end painting to spruce up a room rather than completely remodel, or it might be a more expensive priced piece of jewelry because they can see the value of the stones, or as human beings, they buy what looks best on

Even with the price of gas being up, the cost of hotels and food, and the higher cost of booths, many, many vendors are seeing a sales increase this year. This gives me hope and confidence that I can be successful, despite the economy challenges.

Even though a lot of the shows have a lower attendance, it appears as those who do go are going with the idea that they will find a g o o d d e a l . People are taking fewer vacations this year and finding other things to do as a family and with their money. There are a lot of entire families that attend a show as “family time”. Without spending money on the vacation, they find it justifiable to buy their child something from the craft show as a souvenir of their day out. The craft show shoppers are staying closer to home, preferring to spend that sacred dollar on something they want or need opposed to spending it on gas. Yes, the economy is tight. No, there is not a lot of extra money floating around. People are tightening their money belts, but I still see the need for a place where the public can get that unique, one-of-a-kind, made in the USA product. I see a future in this and I am glad I am where I am today.

Visit Mary Lou’s site , My Princess Purses.


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Cell Phone Case Blings & Things - $12


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