The Vintage ISSUE 8/ FEB 2015
Business Magazine
Business Tips from Your Toddler
How your CHILD can TEACH you how to run your venture
SMART THINKING WHEN to plan your marketing strategy
and HOW not to do it
PSYCHOLOGYOF THECRAFTFAIR
GROW YOUR BUSINESS
new c onfidence!
Find your
Selling is all in the mind
Getting green fingered in the gardening world
Turning timeless passions into endless profits
ISSUE 8 FEB 2015
EDITOR'S LETTER As Spring starts to knock on the door, I feel the phone ring more violently than usual and the vintage season starts to hot up. The diary is getting to the point where I am now having to start writing events and dates in the margins! This issue sees the return to the nitty gritty stuff. We tackle the art of stage acts to starting your own gardening business. If you are keen to get out in the slightly warmer air and dig those weeds, we gently show you how to make a winning success of your green obsession. As you can see to your left, Helen Jones and I have got the flyers out, the venue is booked and we are all ready for the off! If you are a vintage trader or stall holder either craft, homemade, retro, repro or vintage, we would love to have you there pitching alongside us. Click on the image here and it will take you straight to the festival website where you can book your pitch. It's hugely exciting putting on a festival on this scale, and it is set to be the biggest in the calendar! Meanwhile, time to get back to the issue, Best wishes, Michelle Hatcher
CONTENTS FEATURES THE LIGHT BULB MOMENT P4
BUSINESS TIPS FROM YOUR TODDLER P6
GROW YOUR BUSINESS P8
SHOW ME YOUR VINTAGE P14 COMFORT ZONE P18 GET BLOGGING P21 PSYCHOLOGY OF THE CRAFT FAIR P24
Editor: Michelle Hatcher Assistant Feature writer: Bexi Owen Dawn Gunter Troy White James Walmsley Marty Ron Abass Toriola
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THE LIGHT BULB MOMENT BY MICHELLE HATCHER
Bill Gates, so I am told, started out in his garage. Now, doesn’t that make you feel better? Let’s just forget for a moment that young Bill didn’t have the brain of a genius with the ability of making billions of dollars and actually all he wanted to do was build wooden engines for a living. Perhaps the outcome would have been a lot different and someone else might have been cleaning their windows one day when the light bulb moment appeared.
will need to buy new and this is where your ‘already prepared’ budget homework will come into play. Everything has to start small. You build a business and it never falls into your lap. I won’t doubt that Bill Gates has had his share of dark moments when things weren’t going quite the right way (and no, he didn’t start off with a billion pound loan from the bank!) It takes effort, BUT the key is, if you start on the right foot and do all the preliminary tasks (and don’t skip any) then it can work. No, re-record – it WILL work. Dreams are good. No, in fact, dreams are very relevant. You need them and if you can find pictures of it, then plaster them all over a room in the house that other members of the family don’t mind you plastering. You need visuals and you need to stay on key. Not only will these pictures give you something to aim for, but they will keep you in track and consistent in achieving your goal. There are too many writers and publications out there who dish out the ‘reality.’ Which usually spells out as ‘look love, you might not be the next Kirstie Allsopp (if there is any chance of her stepping down from the throne) but if selling a few upcycled bits of this and that at the local fete every other Sunday then fine.’ I believe you should be able to aim above Kirstie’s head. I have ever fancied the idea of coming second place to anyone. Of course, the first thing that I will agree with is that you shouldn’t give up your day job. Very easy for me to say? No. I remember how that feels being told that there is no way you can afford to give up the desk job. I had to say that to myself for many years before I actually was able to do it, and you know? That’s the best thing I ever did. Sit tight until I could afford it. Right, now that’s got the miserable stuff out of the way, let’s crack on with the cheaper, fun stuff! With an upcycling, recycling or craft business (something were your end product will be something you made with your hands.) I will assume that you are starting a business in something you already enjoy? If you think about starting up a business with making wooden trains and you actually don’t like wooden trains then stop there. Do something you enjoy and most importantly, you will enjoy doing if you have to do it seven days a week, chances are, in the first few months, you will be doing it that much. It will be your life, your passion and your offspring. So it has to be something you truly love. Gather together all the things you need. Now this should cost much – second hand tools and machines will do. Thanks to the web, these are no all over the place and not just in the free ads in the local chip shop. Make sure you are buying tools which are good, well cared for. Of course, there are some things you
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Remember your family and those around you. It is easy to get carried away with a new business venture and forget everyone around you, including the ones you live with! Do you use power tools? Do you need to be outdoors? In a shed or a garage (like Bill Gates?) Remember the environment and to avoid any nasty visits from the Council, make sure you have cleared it with people around you first. Also, while we are on the subject of Councils, have a chat with them about any insurances or rates you might need to pay if you are running your business from home. You might need to pay business rates (but chances are you won’t) but it is best to check first. Avoid debt. Don’t take out a loan unless you really have to – don’t get any loan secured to your home and if you are in any doubt, talk to your bank. They are a lot friendlier than they used to be and most banks and building societies with give you free advice so make an appointment and go for a chat. Do you need Public Liability? If you are going to trade to the public face to face at a fair for example, then you will need to make sure you’re covered. There are plenty of websites around which will compare others for you in terms of price. Get what will cover you and nothing else. It is not hugely costly, but will cost you in other ways if a customer decides to take something out against you. Don’t wash over insurance, please – just in case you need it. Take advice, proper advice. CAB, Council, Banks – they are all here to help, and us of course! It can be done, but properly. Don’t cut corners. Many people has started out small and grown a business with time. And that’s the key. It takes TIME. Time is the most important element of any successful business. Give yourself time and you will get back everything you have ever dreamed about in a business, tenfold. As someone once said, Millions of businesses have started modestly, with used equipment, borrowed spaces, and family labour. There is no better and more satisfying thing than to start this way, because then your successes have been earned by the sweat of your brow.
1.No matter how small you are you can change lots of lives - your goal for starting your business should be to change lives in one way or another. Remember this in everything you do - how can I change my customers lives ? 2.Climb that wall - no matter how big the wall is - persistence pays off in the end. Never give up on your dreams and keep on trying. 3.Times when you appear small and frail are when you can surprise everyone with your hidden strengths. Everyone in business pays attention to what the big boys are doing and how they became successful. What they miss though is the small businesses that quietly make substantial profits every year. These companies go about their business quietly and draw attention from the customers not the competition. 4.Act like a silly goof whenever and wherever you want – people will never forget you - and that is what every business owner should dream of - sticking in everyone’s mind. 5.Remember to share – People can get very protective of what they learn and how they achieve success. When you have something of value that would benefit others – share ! IT will come back to you one hundred fold . You do have you rights also - protect what is not to be shared and make sure others know it is yours and yours only. 6.Run naked every once in a while. Well ok, you don’t have to be naked but run – have fun, be free and try to be a kid again. Having kids gives you that chance again and it is incredible to relive the fun that you used to have – when you weren’t so serious about life and business. 7.Lay back on the grass and watch the clouds go by whenever you have a chance. Reflection and relaxation can be one of
the most powerful combinations that you can ask for in your personal and business success – use it ! 8.Put on a fancy hat - dress up for the day. Nothing can make you feel like a new person more than a complete change in clothing. Wear something you usually would not wear – or something you have always wanted to wear but were afraid to. In business this one little point can make you stand out from all of the rest. Wear a tacky tie, or a purple shirt, or a new hat every day – your customers will never forget you. 9.Silence is not always a good thing. Usually it means something big is brewing and trouble is near. If you find too many of your competitors are quiet or your clients are quieter than usual – figure out why ! Something serious could be happening out there and you better find out what it is. 10.Find some sand and let your toes dig in. Sand has an amazing soothing quality to it. If you do not have sand near your house or business – go buy a bag of sand at your local garden center and put it in a small box you can dip your feet in. Try this when you are working on a tough problem – new ideas will pop into your head in no time.
Small business success is very similar to learning to walk, talk and spell. The basics have to be understood before moving on to the next step. I am blessed to have twin 3 year old girls in my life and am amazed constantly how much I learn from them on a daily basis. As I watch them run around and explore, I find myself realizing just how much my observations apply to being successful and happy in life and in business. So take heart in the following tips – they may come from little people but they have the power of giants. To your happiness and your success !
BUSINESS TIPS FROM
Your Toddler From running naked, to buying a bag of sand simply to run your toes through it to help you think up great business ideas, Troy White give s us the guide to business planning and restructuring in the play pen...
By Troy White of www.SmallBusinessCopywriter.com... “Turning Words Into Wealth” Helping entrepreneurs jump start their business success and profit growth through uncommon, yet highly profitable, marketing techniques. http://www.SmallBusinessCopywriter.com… sign up for our *Free* newsletter on-line …Call 1-877-259-4566… or email
By Troy White
GROW YOUR BUSINESS Gardening might not be everyone's grow bag but there are more and more businesses developing for the outdoors and future is looking rosy for these green fingered plant crazed business owners. So what is the appeal and is it really for anyone? Michelle Hatcher invesitgates the English obsession with the green stuff
Most of us would love to be out in the open air with the cool breeze in our faces and the warm sun on our backs, so it's no wonder that people across the country are attemtping to get out and start a business doing gardening. There are plenty of pitfalls of course, the sun and the cool breeze aren't always there and most of the time you are cold and standing out in the rain. So it can make sense to do landscaping for your customers as well as doing the digging and pulling out the weeds. Many people live lives far too hectic for outdoor work so to employ a freelance gardener is sometimes a hugely attractive idea. There are plenty of colleges around the country who run short courses on how to do basic gardening to plant care and beyond. Night schools tend to deal with the theory rather than the practical. Those around us who do gardening at night are more likely to attract the police rather than potential customers.
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