Issue #5 February 2014
WIN A WEBSITE* Page 6
TOP PICKS
See which of your products I loved this summer Page 9
Summer Edition
GET TO KNOW
Would you like to meet one of our sponsors? Page 11
Meet our competition winner... Paws N Claws Pet Sitting Service
More on Page 7
How to use this digital e-mag Welcome to the Find It Online E-Magazine. A world of products and services bought to you by the micro businesses around Australia. The majority of micro businesses are run by work at home parents and are sole traders. By viewing and sharing this e-mag, you are helping to promote a micro business and potentially, send them more customers. CLICKABLE LINKS Throughout this e-mag, you will find clickable links that direct you to business websites or to competition pages. By hovering over images and text, you can find a clickable link. Simply click on one of these to start shopping online, browse product pages and enter competitions. NAVIGATION To navigate through the e-mag, simply click on the arrows on the left and right hand side of the pages. You will find a page window at the bottom of your screen. This shows you where you are at any given time. SHARE To SHARE the issue, simply click on SHARE underneath the magazine display. You can share it to any of your favourite social media points. QR CODES QR codes are codes you can scan with your smart phone and it will automatically open a webpage for you. It’s quick, it’s easy, all you need is a qr code scanner app.
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CONTENTS
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COVER STORY
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TOP PICKS
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GET TO KNOW
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COMPETITION
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KIDS COLOURING PAGES
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ONLINE COMPETITIONS
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GREAT IDEAS
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BUSINESS DIRECTORY
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Meet our competition winner
See my selection of summer products from our micro businesses
Meet this issue’s micro business owner
Win a website*
Print off a cool summer pic for the kids
Enter a competition via an Aussie Micro Business
Looking for ways to keep the kids occupied??
Find a micro business to shop with
Contact us with your enquiry
General Enquiries: enquiries@finditonline.net.au Sales Enquiries: sales@finditonline.net.au Website: www.finditonline.net.au Phone: 0413 036 206
SUMMER EDITION Welcome to the Summer Edition of the Find It Online E-Magazine. You may have noticed that we have re-named the magazine from iShop. I felt is easier for viewers to recognise it as a Find It Online brand if it had the same name, so welcome Find It Online E-Magazine. This issue is all about the summer we have just endured, as it is about to come to an end in a couple of days. Did you enjoy this summer or did you find it unbearable? You will get to have your say and we will choose one lucky comment to be featured in the next issue (If there is one) Some of you may have heard about plans to close down Find It Online....what are your thoughts? Do you find the service useful? I’d love to hear your thoughts. Feedback is the best way of knowing what you are thinking about how we can improve our services to your business. Anyway, enjoy this issue and please share this issue to all of your friends and family. Sharing is a sign that you like it and gives me motivation to continue. Thank You for your support and for supporting your local community businesses.
‘Love This Mag’ Melyndah Martin
Meet Our Sponsors
‘What an amazing magazine’ Mel Smith
Feature Article This year we held a competition to find a winner for our cover image...so here is the winner... Paws N Claws Pet Sitting Service Tell us about yourself Lee-Anne: Having a love of animals all my life , I was always the one who found the stray kitten or lost dog so it was inevitable that I ended up working with animals . After spending many years in customer service I felt I needed a change. I was always being asked to mind others pet’s I thought I may as well start up my own business and get paid for doing something I love .How great is that ? My family are all grown so I now have the time to concentrate on the business and even in “retirement” I can and will continue to mind others’ pets.
Tell us about your micro business:
My business is a pet sitting, dog walking and pet taxi service on the Central Coast in NSW. We provide professional and caring pet sitting in the clients’ home or in our home, dog walking, overnight stays and a pet taxi service. We have full insurance and National Police Clearance for your peace of mind. We also provide a basic home security check ,mail and bin service and garden care service . Up till now I was the only one servicing my clients but as time has gone on I have seen the need to provide this service all over the coast and as business is growing. this week I have employed two contractors to cover the further areas.
What made you decide to start a micro business:
As I always had problems finding someone reputable and caring to look after our own pets when we wanted to go on holidays I could see this was something I could do and do it well.
What makes your business different from your competitors?
My business slogan is “We care for your pets as if they are our own” and that is why my business is growing so quickly. Because we do care and our repeat business has proved that. Providing clients with the utmost care for their pets and homes consistently and professionally. Responding to their enquiries ASAP and then caring for their pets with compassion and care always. Being available 7 days a week including all public holidays and being flexible with our clients. Providing additional services as I see the need for with our clients. We now provide care in our home as well as our clients 'homes . As we continue to grow we will continue to service our clients with the services they demand and expect.
What are your best selling products or services?
Our most popular service are our overnight pet sitting for those older, sick or precious pets either in the clients’ home or our home.
What is your top tip for someone thinking of starting a micro business? Work with what you love and are passionate about it .
Do you have a special offer for Find It Online E-Mag readers?
Any online booking taken that mentions the Online E-Mag article will receive 20 % discount off any Paws N Claws service, valid on bookings up till May 2014.
Paws N Claws Pet Sitting Service has currently been nominated by many of my happy and satisfied clients for Pet Sitter/ Walker of the year in the 7th Annual Master Dog Breeders & Associates Dog Owners Choice Awards. This is a huge nomination for the business which is only just over 2 years old, and Lee-Anne is truly honoured to be nominated. Whether they win or not, there are 5 other worthy nominees from around Australia, to know that their clients think their service is this exceptional then she knows she is in the right business. CONTACT DETAILS Website: www.pawsnclawspetsit.com.au Facebook: www.facebook.com/pawsnclawspetsit Phone: 0432 210 120 Email: info@pawsnclawspetsittingservice.com.au Address : 231 Davistown Road Yattalunga NSW 2251 ABN: 53 375 478 349
TOP
With the end of summer, it’s time for our micro businesses to start creating goodies for Easter and even Christmas products have begun being produced. But for now, let’s focus on the summer beauties that have been created and have been popular.
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MISSY AND MOO
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BUTTERFLY RUFFLED SHORTS Check out these gorgeous handmade beauties...
Ruffle shorts with two different fabrics with an elastic waistband.
Looking for a different colour or fabric? Contact Sharon for a custom creation. These ones are a size 3
$25 each + postage Email missyandmoo@live.com.au to order
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TICKLE OR TREAT NIGHT GARDEN WALL HANGING
Made on a 1mtr branch wrapped in fairy lights. This gorgeous piece will especially help those little ones who love falling asleep with a faint night light * made in colours of your choice * the lights are tucked away and are battery operated so the kids cant pull on the cord * the animals can be removed & wall hanging Can be made with just the stars & moon if you prefer or you can remove the current animal/s in the image and add butterflies
$120 each Email tickleortreat@gmail.com to order
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SUGAR N SPICE PARTY PRINTABLES BOY AND GIRL MEMORY BOARDS Perfect for a cake smash photo shoot.
8x10 - $20 for file only A4 - $25 for file only
Email: orders@sugarnspiceprintables.com.au to place your order and we will create something special just for you.
PICKS I have sourced some of the most popular items that I have seen on Facebook, and I like A LOT of business pages. If there is a business you think I should follow, please leave a link on our Facebook page wall and I’ll check it out. Have a look at the featured items and I would love your review if you already have one of these in your home. You can leave a review of the product on our Facebook page wall as well.
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SAND & SEA DESIGNS Aqua Chalcedony earrings with clusters of Peach Moonstone, Prehnite, and Apatite.
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LILY AND CHARLIE Geometric Large Button Hair ties
Large Fabric Button hair tie. Button is 38mm in diameter. Carefully handmade using gorgeous designer fabric & a quality snag free hair-tie. The fabric is double lined to prevent any metal shine from the button. Price is for 1 Button Tie.
$4.95
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MEADOW BIRD DESIGNS
This gorgeous dress is made from Michael Miller fabric. It is fully lined and has a cute cap sleeve. Button fastening at the back. Length is 35cm from armpit to hem (an extra length of coordinating fabric can be added as this runs a little short on some size 2's. Size 2
Price $45.00
PP $8.00 within AU
GET TO KNOW.... This issue we introduce you to one of our major sponsors, Perth Design Web and Print. See inside Mel’s world of design of websites, invitations and everything in between.
Tell everyone about yourself Mel... Me? Well, let’s see....I am a mother of two. Zoe who is two weeks away from turning 12 and Dylan, who is six and a half and keeps me on my toes. I was recently working part time in their schools canteen but decided to leave to focus on my business and get it off the ground. I am a self taught designer and I continue to learn every single day. I love what I do but really wish there was more hours in the day...or another pair of hands.
Tell us about your micro business and how it started? I first started my design business back in 2008 as Red Dog Web Design. I was only creating websites back then and got my first job creating a website for a local remote control helicopter club. In December of 2011, I was diagnosed with Stage III invasive ductal carcinoma (breast cancer) and decided to close down my business to focus on treatment and recovery. It was a good time to connect with my family and come together during a time of pain and mental anguish. By the end of June, I had finished all of my treatments, but was starting to get depressed, as it was only now, that I was coming to terms what I had just been through. So, what does one do?? Go back to work!!! I re-opened my business under a new name, PDWP and branched into more than just websites, creating invitations and party stationery as requested by my friends and clients. So I now design anything that needs designing...Logos, websites, business cards, flyers, banner (print and electronic) brochures, emagazines, e-books, invitations, cards, wall prints, party stationery and so much more... I would like to start attending markets to promote my brand and get more awareness into the community. One day at a time I think.
How did you start your micro business? It wasn’t easy, let me tell you that. At the time, I was on Centrelink payment, and found a program called NEIS. The New Enterprise Incentive Scheme they call it. It is an government initiative to get people on payments self employed by helping them start their own business via the help of fortnightly payments (classed as income) and supplying them with a Cert IV in Small Business Management. To be honest, I don’t think it provided much beneficial business management techniques but more a background on how a business should be setup and how to make a business plan. It didn’t teach me anything about marketing, advertising techniques, book keeping or anything that actually involved the daily running of the business. It did however, get me in the door of the small business market and I am happy to say, that 5 years later, I am now an established home based business, that is succeeding and starting to now make a profit. Why are you different than your competitors? I believe it is down to three factors: 1. Affordability 2. Deadline driven service and 3. A loyalty club offering a 10% discount
My prices are affordable for every budget as I don’t have overheads and don’t mark up external services at all. I pay for services what the client can pay at the same provider. You can guarantee that I don’t mark up any external services. I pay what the client would pay at the same provider. I don’t believe it’s fair and I only charge for my time to setup/organise such services. I make sure you get your designs in a timely manner with service you can only get at a small business. Personalised and friendly whilst getting your project to you when needed. All of my clients automatically join the Loyalty Club which offers a 10% discount on all future project design fees. Whether it be website design or a party package...the discount is yours!! You earned it!
What is your top tip/s for anyone thinking of starting their own business? Hmmm, there is a few I think. Maybe the main one is to be realistic. Don’t expect to make a million dollars in your first year. It takes at least five years for a business to show profit and be known. If you really want to succeed, be patient, have a budget to fund marketing and advertising, tell everyone about your brand and idea and persevere with it. It will work if you put in the time and you will be so proud when it works out. Do you have a support network? And if so, who is it? Well, my family has been very sceptical, but I think they are finally starting to see a profit and now believe that what I do is a job. My mum and dad are supportive. Always giving me praise and making me feel like what I do is great. That helps for sure. Then I have my clients. Just them talking about my business to others, is a huge testament and I appreciate every one of them. Word of Mouth is by far my biggest marketing tool and even though I had some flyers printed, I don’t actually need to put them out yet, as my work load is enough. Do you have a special offer for the e-magazine readers? Of course I do...drop me an email and mention the Find it Online E-Magazine and I will give them a 25% discount on design fees for any of my services. That’s 25% off website design, invitation design, logo design, business card design...whatever your project! How can people get in touch with you Mel? The most common way is email, but you can also give me a call to discuss your project in more detail. If you would like to Skype, drop me an email and we’ll organise a time. (This is a consultation though and charged at $40/hour ) Or you can find me on Facebook and leave a message on my wall on PM me.
CONTACT DETAILS Website: www.pdwp.com.au Facebook: www.facebook.com/perthdesignwebandprint Phone: 0413 036 206 Email: info@pdwp.com.au Address : 121 Braemore Street SEVILLE GROVE WA 6112 ABN: 51 625 023 286
COMPETITION How would you like to win a website fully designed* and setup for your business?? Thanks to Perth Design Web and Print, it could be your lucky year!!
Prize Details: 5 page website includes: All Design Social Media links Contact Details 50 images Mobile Website Terms & Conditions • *Winner must pay for services such as domain name, web hosting and email address. Total cost is $150 payable at the start of the project. • Prize can not be transferred to another business or redeemed for cash • Winner must contact PDWP by the end of March to book in the job
Kids Colouring Pages
To get your colouring page: 1. Simply right click the page you would like to colour in 2. Save it to your computer 3. Print the file
Online Competitions Do you love a good competition? I have found some online and thought you might be interested...and of course they are run by Aussie micro businesses. Click the image to be directed to the competition page.
CHATTERBOX TOYS Another "Like and comment" competition. Drawn when we reach 8000 fans Simply tell us the Tolo First Friends animal that you would choose if you win! Prize is 1 x Tolo animal of the winner's choice. Comp closes when we reach 8000 fans. Prize includes postage if required. Draw takes place using random.org.
MAMASPHERE There's nothing we love more than a bit of local talent, and the gorgeous Danni at Tickle and Treat has made a brilliant business out of beautiful bits and bobs to personalise and brighten every nursery. Now she's offering one of her awesome mobiles FREE to an Aussie Mamasphere member! To enter, all you have to is like Mamasphere and Tickle or Treat .
Great Ideas I know keeping my kids entertained is hard work as they get bored so easily...but I have found some great tips and ideas from various micro businesses on how to keep them entertained...What do you think?
Image by LOST PERTH
Found via NIC-NAC
Share your idea to be featured in the next issue
Keep the kids busy
Products and Services
PERTH DESIGN WEB AND PRINT
ELLE J
HANDMADE KIDS
FIND IT ONLINE
PAWS N CLAWS PET SITTING
LIZZYS LETTERS
SIGN KIOSK
OUR ONLINE CANTEEN
Providing professional design services at a fraction of the cost
An Australian Online micro business directory
Handpicked designer and handmade clothing, accessories, decor and gifts
Pet sitting services on the gold coast
A website showcasing everything Handmade for Kids
Hand painted letter tiles for children
BYFORD CARPET CLEANING BYFORD CARPET CLEANING Affordable carpet and rug cleaning in Perth
Design your own professional stickers online
An online ordering system developed by a parent, for parents
CONTACT US P: 0413 036 206 Website www.finditonline.net.au Facebook - /finditonline Twitter - /finditonline_ Sales Enquiries – sales@finditonline.net.au General Enquiries – enquiries@finditonline.net.au Advertising Enquiries – advertising@finditonline.net.au
SPONSORSHIP OPPORTUNITES Become a Corporate Sponsor of Find It Online and your micro business can enjoy over $440 worth of advertising for a whole year.
Website advertising Digital advertising Social media promotion Custom banners and buttons Great discounts
Only $99/year Email sales@finditonline.net.au to reserve your position
iShop E-Magazine bought to you by: