Good Deeds

This is EnVogue.  One of the baddest girl groups that ever was.  Considering that every man wanted them, women really couldn't get mad because the girls can blow.  Plus they had one of the sexiest brothers in their video, Djimon Hounsou.  This is fine to the 10th degree.  Is it getting hot in here?





Today was one of my first shows of 2014.   I was back at Maucker Union at UNI College.    Ive been making jewelry since being off from my job, trying to stay ahead of the game.  I have always been down to the wire, preparations.   A  full time job will do that for you.  I had my game tight and ready.  I set up, paid my money and waited for the crowds to appear.  It was homecoming week and I was sure that money was to be had(I like to thank all of the customers who stopped my table).  A few students who have brought from me in the past stopped by.  Glad to see old familiar faces, but the sales were not there.   My new earring cards worked perfectly.  I just couldn't stand up(another post).  I was by the door(which I like) and the wind coming in kept knocking thing down.   I did manage to sell some earring, a couple of bracelets , two necklace sets and pass out some cards.  One young man wants me to help with a fun raising project for his group.

It just was not clicking.   The vibe was all wrong.   Since the booth rental has gone up, I had to adjust my prices accordingly.  Nothing too drastic. 50 cents here, 2 dollars there.   It just wasn't my day. Especially when I did not make my booth rental back.  For a small business like mine(small as in only - me),every penny counts.

Now I have had setbacks before.   I can remember a show where I only made 75 cents.   I cried like a baby that day and the next.  Would have continued to cry and give up, but something my mother told me stopped my pity party.   She asked me a question. " Do you think McDonald s makes the same amount every day?.   Bless her heart.  My mother comparing my teeny, tiny business to a corporate giant as McDonald s. I kissed her on her forehead and said thanks mom,   She always has my back.     But her theory was right.   Some days are up and some days are down.  If I am going to be honest with myself, the down days, make the up days.  Whether it was you, your items or whatever, you go back to the drawing board and come up with other means at your next show.  Maybe more of this and less of that.   The down days keep you in fighting spirit.   You come out leaner and meaner, ready to take on the world.

And no, I didn't cry this time.  I just listened to the voice inside my head.   Thanks Mom.  Today McDonald s, next the world.

I Just Love It

                               

   Al Green - Simply Beautiful

I like to always find ways to make my business better. What business doesn't?  I love making my own tags, bags, displays, anything to enhance my booth/table/site and increase sales.  Since I am the frugal, crafty type, I am always on the hunt for items to use, reuse or recycle.  The school where I work had a carnival on the last day.  One of the booths that we have is the White Elephant.  Donations of used goods are sold to fund our next years activities.  I picked up a box of party favor bags.  8 bags to a pak, and I had 21 paks.  I knew instantly what I could do with them.

I love the round center

.

Opens up to fit earring, bracelets and small
necklaces.

Look how deep the bag is!!

The ribbon is an added bonus.  How pretty.

Someone must have ordered these for a party or wedding.

My first thought was to get some round labels, print my name and paste them on to the bag.    I checked with Staples and they wanted 17.00 a package.   I did not know whether I would have the need for round labels again, so crossed out that idea.   My next thought was to use address labels.  I had already purchased some from the dollar store.

Plain old boring white labels.

Since I had gotten them from the dollar, store(Thank you Dollar Tree), I saw that they compared to Avery 8160.  If you know Avery Labels, they can be quite expensive.   Inside the folder was instructions on how to print on the labels using MS-Word.  Here is what I printed out.  Simple and to the point.

Now at this stage of the game, I thought about add some other embellishment to the labels to give it some style.  Here is what I did

Nothing at all.   The only other thing I did was to paste them down at an angle.  

Nothing more, nothing less. I just want my business name and the bag to stand out. 

 

I just love it!!!!!!