Any small business owners out there?

If you get a Post Office Box, you could put a P.O. box number address on your items. That way nobody could trace you to your physical home address. I live with my senior citizen mother. None of our mail is delivered to our home, it is all delivered to our box at the Post Office.

Another online sales venue is earthling.com, which is a mall containing individual stores with a mix of hand-crafted, or mostly, modern items. One of our online stores is located there (we mostly sell used books, jigsaw puzzles, and sewing patterns; but have other items as well). Not all of the stores have items in the self-representing artists category, though; some do, and some do not.

I am not telling the name of our store, but if you find the one with this item, that is our store. I made this set of small tumblers in high school ceramics class in the early 1970s.



The high fees charged by eBay make it much less profitable for small-time indipendant sellers than it once was. The only ones making any money there now are high-volume commercial sellers. We have not sold there in years.

HeelerLady wrote:Yeah, that's as much contact as I have with him. He walked out of my life 6 years ago - called me on my 23rd birthday and told me, he and his fiance were moving to IA and if my brother and I wanted anything from the house to come get it otherwise it would be trashed. Haven't heard from him since.

He did teach me the leather working skills which I may employ later but not to the level that he does things. I have my own ideas.

I'm sorry, Becky. That's tough isn't it?

You're strong and talented, and I admire your talent and strength in moving on with your life.

Becky

Becky,
My pain level is peaking, so this will be quick and somewhat disjointed, but I will try to give you a few suggestions. I used to produce a calligraphy calendar book and showed at both book and craft fairs--online was not even a dream at that time. Business cards/half bs cards...do them all. Get your name out there and get people to pick up any paper with your name and business on it.

You can buy bs card forms at office depot and print them out or use their print dept, or kinko's and lots of other similar places. If you can't get your card perfect before the fair deadline, just get your best version, you can always change it in the future. Remember, you can always redo just about anything. Whatever you are unsure of, do not buy in huge bulk.

At the fair, most people make sure they have great table displays, and I am sure you will, too. But remember to have something up high---a sign or display. People will be wandering all around the fair area and will be looking for places of interest to investigate. Lead people who are quite far away to your table by letting them know what you are selling.

People have limited time, and buyers from stores and catalogues may be there also. If you don't have a high sign or photo, you will rely only on wander by traffic or people who read table numbers in a booklet---if there is one, and if they use it...

A huge blow up of several of your favorite or most colorful pieces would be striking and easy to do. All the print businesses and even some drugstore chains will blow up photos to poster size.They can make signs for you, or you can blow up your logo at a copy machine. Or you can even buy press on letters; or, I have traced and even drawn my own signs freehand.

Have a couple of piles of your business cards on the table; you may be occupied and someone in a hurry might want information but not be able to wait for you to get free. Think of any scenario, as long as you get your name and business and contact information to as many people as possible.

Don't worry about someone calling at 3 am. that is what answering machines are for. You WANT all the inquiring phone calls you can get.

I was told to do this and I thought it was the lamest idea in the world, but I got a huge number of business cards:put a bowl out with a sign above it that asks people to drop in their bs cards or names and phone numbers (have a pen and paper there, too) for a free drawing---the winner will get a piece of your jewelry. Trust me, you will get cards.

Ask anyone you speak to for his/her card, you never know what you might need in the future, or who might be valuable to you in terms of networking. You will be surprised at how many people will be happy for you just starting out and offer their good wishes or even help or advice.

I learned about all kinds of groups and meetings for women to get together and network and help each other. These days you will probably learn about all kinds of websites or forums to join that could be helpful. About books, if some look valuable enough that you want a copy of it---perhaps there are graphs or tables or charts or anything that you want to have a permanent copy of. There are dozens of used book bookstores. Amazon advertises used books from other sellers, even from individuals.

But the best deals are at small used book websites. I just bought $100 of craft technique books for $20 and $3 shipping. They are in great condition. They will tell you if the book is new, or how used it is. Since people comment on how reliable the sellers are, I have never had any trouble/misrepresentation.

Have professional looking invoices and stationery, even small bs notepaper to attach notes to various things you send out. Have your things all look professional, but do not ever be nervous about admitting how new and small you are. I got more help and advice that way than I ever thought I would. I originally thought I might have to try to pretend to be a bit more experienced than I was; I was afraid of appearing like a foolish beginner, but so many colleagues were so generous and anxious to answer questions etc.

Oh, I enjoy looking at jewelry online. My huge pet peeve is when the pieces are not photographed from all angles, and not all dimensions and information is readily available---content of metals, etc. I also read that when people buy online, the biggest reason they do not go through with a sale is that the shipping/handling/tax/total costs are not given before the final sale click is made. Everyone wants to know the cost of every single thing and the return policy or they will not finalize the sale.

Good luck, you have received some great advice from so many people here, run with it and keep us all informed.

Mishkyn

Mishkyn

I loved your post but what I loved even more is my dirty mind. Every time you abbreviated business with bs I thought you know...bullsh*t. It gave me the best laugh. Thanks for that

Overall though, the post was fantastic and informative..AND make me crack up.

I hope you feel better as you mentioned you were in pain.

Mule Kick - thanks for the info. I had thought about a PO box but I'm not sure I wanted to go that way and have already set everything to come to my home address. But if I were to move, I would consider doing it (live in an apartment now). I will also check out that site you mentioned. Right now I'm probably going to go with Zibbet.com but will check it out before I make my final decision. And ebay was never an option - fee's and competition are a big turn off.

Becky - yes it is hard. But this is his choice, not mine. Frankly, things are not about to change - his fiance wanted nothing to do with his kids and it was obvious that she wanted us out of their life. But he also has the same relationship with the rest of his family - they haven't heard from him either.

Mishkyn - thank you for the advice. I may do a small run of full business cards...still have to order checks anyway. Your idea of a drawing is a good one - I think I will do that. The signs...I know I need to do something but the layout is long rows - I have someone on either side and there is a row across from me and I don't know that there is much room to place things out front of the space. So many other good ideas, thank you.