Business Matters - Outright Bookkeeping software

Last week I spoke about NeatReceipts - a scanner and software program that enables you to scan in your receipts and then creates a database of all the information.  At the same time as starting to use NeatReceipts, I also found Outright - which is free online bookkeeping software.

Here are some key features of Outright:

• it's great for small business
• it tracks income and expenses
• the software is free
• there is nothing to download  - this is cloud technology - but safe and protected
• it imports income and expenses from Paypal
• it's simple to use
• it's really simple to use!

It shows simple profit and loss graphs providing quick visual checks on how each month is going.

The company is quite young so they are still developing the software and improvements are being made all the time.  The main reasons I chose it was a) because it's soooooooo simple to use, and b) because it can import all my paypal data automatically and I use paypal for the majority of my income and large percentage of my expenses.

The only downside re. their Paypal system is that currently, they can only import in US dollars.  As I have two currency accounts on paypal - US dollars and Euros - it won't convert the euros.....but this is one of the things they are currently working on.  I can instead convert all my payments in paypal to dollars which gets around it.

There are only four tabs: Income, expenses, taxes and reports.  In the reports section you can search by date,  income by category (which you can set yourself), income by customer, expenses by vendor, expenses by category etc etc.

If you want a complicated system, with lots of bells and whistles this is not for you.  If you currently don't have a computerized system, this is free to try and easy to set up so worth a go!  For me, the fact that it imports Paypal data means its a great instant check on transactions and a back up for my pen and paper records.

Creative Business Cards

Now I've always liked my own business card. I like the logo design...I like the colors... it shows a whimsical style like my creations....however, it doesn't show "jewelry" because when I designed it, I wasn't just doing jewelry. But I still like it.

The front is shown above and on the back I have all my different contact information. In fact, I have a few different versions, and I determine which one I give out depending on the recipient.

The business card is an important marketing tool and having a memorable one can really help your business. A good friend recently sent me designs of some very creative business cards - so I thought I'd share my favorites with you.

1. An architect firm - Tur and Partner

Isn't that so cool.....a growing business card!

2. A Painting company - Agrie Paint Services:

So simple but so clever!

3. A Yoga company - Yoga One

Gosh - now I feel my card is soooo mundane. I'm full of new ideas.....I want a metal business card with some flat-packed, push out jewelry that you can press out and wear!... Like a ring with my birdie on the top!....I can just picture it..........but I guess such business cards wouldn't be free like mine are from Vistaprint!!!

Thanks Chui for sending the ideas. For more - check here.

Do you have a cool card? Let's see.....

Business Matters - What's in a name: Primary reason to buy

For today's naming post, I'd like to tell you about one piece that I sold that I think sold mainly due to the name and not necessarily the design.

It is a sweet story. Earlier this year I heard from guy in Australia who wanted to buy the piece "anyone can fall in love". He asked if I had any available and would I be able to express ship them to Oz. I told him I could make one for him and send it over in a couple of days. We actually had quite a few emails back and forth re. the size of the piece, the gender of the piece, the different options for mailing to Australia etc etc. He was very friendly and we chatted easily by email......so one day when I was about to mail it off, I asked:


"So is the recipient already in love with you?"

Yes - a little bold, but I did say he didn't have to answer and I was just curious....

He responded straight away and said I was welcome to ask and he understood my curiosity. He then went on to tell me that he was fairly certain that they had fallen for each other but neither of them had said it yet. He felt they hadn't said "the words" because he was shortly leaving to go traveling for a few years - plans he had made before they met....

He was to leave soon and it was her birthday coming up - so he wanted to give her "a final special something to remember us by" and the necklace would do the speaking for him. It seemed like it didn't feel right to part having verbally expressed what he felt - but the sentiment of "anyone can fall" in love, expressed it instead.

Not sure where the guy is now - but I hope he is enjoying his traveling and not missing his "friend" too much. And I hope my necklace said the unspoken. And yes, I did include the name of the piece in the gift box. Good luck A.

Who said selling online is impersonal! I love these types of connections with my customers. But it all came about through the name.

Do you have any good naming stories to share? Are you having trouble naming a piece. Let's try figuring some out......

Business Matters - What's in a name: Storytime

The voting last week to name my new piece resulted in a win for "hanging out". To be honest, I'm quite pleased with this as I have it in mind to do another one with the first person hanging onto someone else and then calling it "hanging out together"....


Some of the name suggestions got no votes and we did get a couple of new suggestions including "swing up to the sky", "anyone can trapeze" and "topsy turvy". Thanks for voting and your suggestions. Interesting to see how different names appeal to different people....

In the naming post today, I want to look at stories. Does the name of your piece hint at a story behind it?

There was a recent article in the Economist all about contemporary jewellery. The author wrote about how jewelry nowadays is more about ideas than the flaunting of wealth, with storytelling as a key element so that the wearer can be seen as "buying a bit of the artist's brain".

So do our creations' names suggest a story? Would a potential buyer look at the piece and its name and write their own story or try to find your story in it?

When I think of my pieces, I suppose that calling this necklace "Birdcage" is very lame! It doesn't suggest anything. It's just a bird cage. Guess I need to do something about that....

Maybe it would be better to call it "I know why the caged bird sings"...... or "you can cage the bird but not the song"...It adds a little intrigue and....while people may not search for an item with that name, as long as it is tagged/keyword "birdcage", then it still should be found....

What about "in safety's keeping".....That does conjur up more than one image....or is suggestive of a story.. I think it does ....






And how about "Atlantis" by my friend Fabienne from Easterya This conjurs up lots of underwater and seaside stories for me...looking in rock pools for starfish and other creatures.....





So I'm going to check over my names this week and see if I can offer up a bit more of the "artist's brain". Join me! Come on all you "flat" namers - instead of "leaf earrings" or "shell necklace", get creative in naming and suggest a story too....

Business Matters - Stuck for a name?

For this week's "naming" blog post, let's think about what to do if you can't decide on a name. It may be that no name comes to mind, or as is often the case with me, too many names come to mind!

In these situations, one of the easiest things to do is to enlist the help of others. It's good to see what others think when they see your piece, and maybe you won't end up choosing one of their titles, but it might spark off a new idea of your own....Yes, it may seem obvious to ask your family or friends, but why not spread it wider.....and use your blog or forums on marketplaces or social networks or twitter or......?

A couple of times now I've put up pieces here on my blog and asked readers to vote on the poll and choose their favorite name. It's a great way to find out about your piece and what others see in it, and also your audience. If you run a competition for someone to choose a name, it's nice to offer a prize, like I did with "chrome-o-somes" - or else you can put up a poll of your choices and see which is most popular or if another sparks some interest....

Let's try it with a piece I finished off today. While I was making this piece I had a name in my head for it but now that it's finished, I don't think that suits it. So let's take a poll....

So here's my latest piece - an "anyone" figure - so maybe that is in the name?...or maybe not?....and he/she is hanging upside down on a swing:

I won't tell you what I was thinking but I'll put up a poll at the top of the blog in the sidebar and I hope you'll vote on your favorite name or add another of your own choosing in the comments section here.....

Here are some suggestions from me:

Swingtime
Hang in there
Hanging out
Want to hang out?
Swing low
Look at life differently
Anyone can fly
It don't mean a thing (if it aint got that swing!)

Please vote at the top and we'll see what the most popular is.....and what I learn from it! Or else if you come up with something better, then I'll make you something as a prize!!!

Why not try it on your blog this week too - and let us know so we can join in!

Business Matters - What's in a name: Full-time or part-time name?

Last week I mentioned why I thought names for pieces you create are so important. If you want to sell online, every piece really needs a name but I wonder how many of you just give your pieces part-time names?

While you may list the name online, do you also show the name of the piece when you do a show or when your pieces are in a gallery? When the piece is being seen "live" do you take it's name away and leave it untitled?

I think a lot of people do and something is then lost. Maybe it's just the logistics of having these small printed names on display with your art and ensuring they won't blow away - but I encourage you to make your names full-time.

I don't do many shows but when I do, watching people react to the name of a piece is great. They come up and look at the jewelry, but then they notice the words! And then they try to put it all together and see why I named it that way. Then they smile and start talking to me.

So then what about when people buy pieces from you? Do you include a little card with the name of the piece on it? I didn't used to, but I found people would request that I did this. They are buying because the piece and the sentiment behind it means something to them - so why not remind them of it's name as it's all part of it. I don't send names with all my pieces but for those that are more meaningful, I do - like "you are the missing piece" or "special delivery".

A fellow metal clay artist friend Sue McNenly has found a way to name her pieces that always means the name is "full-time". She's just started framing her pieces and the title then is written on the mat. The two of us find we have lots in common in our styles and backgrounds and decided recently that we were twins separated at birth. You'll see the similarity in her work and their names!

Here's the first one: Be Home for Dinner


And Picture Day

"Picture day" was a traumatic day once a year for Sue when she was a little girl. It was the time when she and her sisters would have their "proper" picture taken and meant they had to sleep with hard rollers in their hair the night before!!!!

To see more of her work, go to her blog or website.

So tell us all. Are you a part-time namer or a full-time namer? More on this subject next Wednesday.

If you would like me to feature your work in this series of "naming", please let me know. I'd be happy to show how you approach this.

Business Matters - What's in a name: Why name a piece

For the next few weeks for my Business Matters posts on Wednesdays, I'll be discussing the idea of naming our creations. I look forward to your input too!

If you've seen any of my work, you'll probably tell that I'm a big fan of naming. So to start off this series, let's look at "why name a piece"?

Imagine...."oh what a sweet baby. What's her name?" ...
"Untitled".

or think about cars.....Car manufacturers spend a lot of money coming up with simple (in most cases!) names that give off a certain impression when people mention it...think of what "mini" conjurs up or "beetle" or "magnum" or "440"....Each name appeals differently to different people...and while the name might not make you buy or not buy that car - it has a big influence in initially grabbing your attention.








"Stuck on you" or"frog necklace"

So too with your art/craft. Naming a piece is the first verbal communication opportunity you have with a viewer or buyer. Why throw that away by using "untitled" or a bland name.

People buy art and handmade items because it stirs something within them and the title of a piece can really work towards pulling the viewer in and seeing it from the artist's perspective.

It also shows that the artist has bothered to spend some time considering a title...they thought their creation was worth that effort and I think that comes across to the viewer.

We were recently in Madrid and went to the Reina Sofia Museum of contemporary and modern art. Looking round, I felt kind of let down when the pieces were "untitled". I understand that some people think this leaves interpretation of the piece to the viewer, but it was also a lost opportunity when I could have had the chance to learn something more of the artist and understand their thinking when they created the piece...........And then there were those pieces which had a title that seemed intriguing or odd to me. With those, I looked closer and spent longer, trying to find meaning in that title and consider where the artist was coming from in naming it that way. The title was a grabber for me and made me stop and consider the piece in greater detail than I would have otherwise.







"Special delivery" or "mailbox necklace"

So until next week when I'll talk about how to choose a name, why not try to spend just an extra minute on choosing the name for a new piece, considering the impact this can have on viewers and potential buyers.

I would like to feature other artists' creations in this series and look at the choice of names or help choose a name for a piece. Please let me know if I can feature some of your work.

Business Matters - Marketplaces - Review

In my business matters posts over the last couple of months, I've given you my point of view and experience with a variety of artisan marketplaces where you can sell your creations. Each one is different, they have their own rules and their own styles. If you want to look at back at my posts, here are the links:
Boundless Gallery
Smashing Darling
Dawanda
Nest
Etsy
Not on the High Street
Zibbet
ArtFire

I hope what you have garnered from my discussion is that you get different things from different places. And while you may think the only place you want to be is where you get good sales, I encourage you to not let that restrict you. These marketplaces offer many things as well as sales - such as exposure, networking, friends, inspiration, connections, ideas for marketing, publicity, support,......

So if you are just using them for selling, I think you are missing out! Try somewhere new and see what you get and also what you can give to others. It's rewarding - and some of our most precious rewards aren't financial.

Here's some links to other sites I haven't mentioned that may be worth considering and there are plenty of others too:

1. http://www.ecrater.com/
2. http://www.bigcartel.com/
3. http://www.rubylane.com/
4. http://www.silkfair.com/
5. http://www.yessy.com/
6. http://www.supermarkethq.com/
7. http://www.elsewares.com/
8. http://www.indiepublic.com/
9. http://www.shophandmade.com/
10. http://www.1000markets.com/
11. http://www.trunkt.com/
12. http://www.winkelf.com/
13. http://www.folksy.com/
14. http://www.artsefest.com/
15. http://www.madeitmyself.com/
16. http://www.lollishops.com/
17. http://www.icraft.ca/
18. http://www.lov.li/
19. http://www.handmadecatalog.com/
20. http://www.coriandr.com/
21. http://www.youcraft.org/
22. http://www.youcraftylot.com/
23. http://www.fuzzb.com/
24. http://www.pinkdoodle.com
25. http://www.americanhandmadecrafts.com
26. http://crafthaus.ning.com
27. http://www.artfulhome.com
28. http://www.wholesalecrafts.com
29. http://www.craftmall.com

If you sell somewhere else and have a good experience - do please let us know in the comments section.

I'll be starting a new theme of "business matters" next Wednesday. Look forward to seeing you then.

Business Matters - Marketplaces - Smashing Darling

So far, I have given my impression on the following artisan marketplaces : Zibbet; Etsy; Not on the High Street; Nest; Dawanda; and Boundless Gallery.

Today it's Smashing Darling!


Now, I like SD! It a fun site. It is an independent fashion marketplace where you can sell clothing, jewelry, accessories, vintage.....with items designed for men, women and children.

The fee structure for sellers is that it costs nothing to set up a store or as many stores as you like and there is no listing charge - ever. (Listing is really easy and fast too!). So you only pay when you sell something - and then they charge an 18% commission charge. Yes, that's higher than other artisan marketplaces - but then SD is different from those places too.

Payment doesn't come through directly to you - so paypal is not used. Instead, SD accepts the payment and then takes their commission percentage and deposits the rest directly in your bank within 2 weeks of the sale.


The thing I like best about Smashing Darling is the management. It just feels like they are real people and people who take an interest. It was started by Julie Rorrer and Trish Ginter -- fashion designers. I have had a store there a few years and to be honest, I really don't sell much on the store - but I stay there because I like it. I think the store isn't really a good fit for my products. My jewelry isn't "fashion" jewelry per se - it's a bit too whimsy for that - so why do I bother? Well, for one, it doesn't cost anything to stay and two, I like being a part of it. I see Trish and Julie on their blogs, reading my blog, on facebook etc - it just feels inclusive and that they are interested. This morning I just got an email from Julie informing me that I had listed a pair of earrings for sale as "men's earrings" and obviously they aren't - so she let me know so I could change it. It's those little things - personalized - that they do so well.

There are over 300 stores there and they get a good number of viewers/potential buyers. A couple of years they submitted two of my necklaces to Elle magazine to use in an advertisment! How cool is that - and where else do you get that opportunity?

I recently introduced a friend to SD - Lora Hart - as I felt her jewelry might work there. Maybe Lora will comment on her experience so far. Here is her store:


They have a blog and newsletter and just today, my two latest items are listed on the side bar of the blog.
So while I don't think it's the best match for my style of jewelry - I stay and enjoy it. Do go take a look. You'll like it too. It's different from the other marketplaces - refreshingly different. Keep it up Trish and Julie.

Business Matters - Marketplaces - Zibbet

Zibbet is a relatively new artisan marketplace (the name Zibbet comes from the word 'exhibit'!). It only started in February this year and is still in Beta phase. There was a lot of publicity about it's opening - but the start was then delayed, and then delayed, and then delayed.....

My friend Fabienne from Turkey told me about the site. She was quite enthusiastic about all the run up to the opening and I too was looking forward to seeing somewhere new and what they would offer. We exchanged quite a few emails about it.....but I have to say that out excitement has abated somewhat since it started!

Zibbet was created by two guys from Sydney, Australia. It makes no charges for an artist to open a store, no listing fees and then charges 7.5% commission for any items that you sell. There is no maximum on the number of items you can list.

You then have the option to pay a small fee ($1-2) to show pieces in the showroom, to increase your exposure.

The whole look of Zibbet is clean, open and quite minimalist - quite different from a lot of the other marketplaces. As it has turned out, in my opinion, it seems to be a popular site for buying and selling paintings and prints and the like. That seems to be the most common type of seller on there - so maybe it will develop into that niche....a bit like Boundless gallery?.

They have had a few problems with scams - ie people trying to "purchase" things out of the system but really trying to scam the artists and not pay anything. That's unfortunate when a marketplace is so new.

The other problem with the site is that it is so new and thus doesn't get that many visitors....yet... But who knows - maybe that will change. Go take a look.

Here's a snapshot of Fabienne's store there - Easterya

Let me know what you think.

Business Matters - Marketplaces - Etsy

So, in writing a weekly post about different artisan marketplaces, you just have to include Etsy in there sooner or later! Etsy is the largest and has the highest traffic ranking of all artisan marketplaces.

Etsy has lots to offer - with good support, there are loads of groups you can join, an-overly active forum (which gets a bit too heated for me), virtual trunk shows, alchemy, community interactions,....gosh, it just has so much.


And while that top ranking is great in getting numbers of potential buyers, you can also easily get lost in Etsy and no one will ever find you.

It's quite daunting in a way. You list one of your items and in a few seconds, its buried in the millions of other items and only 6 people ever viewed it! Personally, it seems that only a few months ago did it get so overwhelming. When you listed something new then, it would always get a good number of views - but now, you blink and it's gone.

And if you haven't joined yet as a seller already - it is tricky to begin with. You do need to be found from the depths. When I first started, I did do two showcases. These are where your pieces are highlighted for the day and you pay a certain amount for that. While I didn't get any sales from either of them, I did get a lot of views and a lot of hearts. Hearts are the system that Etsy uses that people can tag your item to show that they like it - or they can tag a seller to add them to their favorites. I believe it is my wonderful team of taggers who are the ones that, some time down the road, become the buyers. To check out who hearts you - click on this link. Here's a view of my Etsy store:


Apart from showcases, other people favor posting often on the forum to promote their store but the forum messages change so quickly, unless you have a lot of time to do that, it seems the occasional comment just isn't going to have an impact. Others create a lot of treasuries which is where you make a collection of other people's items and these then get published and viewed. I'm afraid I'm just not quite the treasury maker. I wish I was...... but there are so many people wanting to get one that you have to sit and wait for one to become available. I don't have the patience for that.

What I do find that works for me is listing new items regularly. Nothing does better than this I think. Something fresh for people to see with good photos. Then also link to your Etsy store from outside of Etsy.

To be a seller on Etsy, it costs 20c to list an item for four months and then Etsy takes a 3.5% commission on what you sell. Most transactions come through paypal although there are other options.

There are lots of how-to guides, lots of ideas, and I think you just need to find your niche. Some people love it, some people hate it and some people are indifferent - but you can't get away from it's size!

I actually like it a lot. I get a reasonable number of sales, meet some lovely buyers and enjoy being part of the Etsy Metal clay group. If you are one of those people out there who isn't selling on Etsy - I hope you have taken a look at least!

For the rest of us, buried in the vast number of sellers and buyers - keep your head up and keep listing!

Business Matters - Marketplaces - Not on the High Street

As I'm in England right now visiting family, I thought my marketplace for review this week should be based in England too - so I've chosen "Not on the High Street". I don't sell there - one reason being you need to live in England full time to even apply but I love it as a site. If someone reading this is a seller there, do please let us know your experience in the comment section.

It is not open to everyone to sell on and in fact, they say they accept only 5% of the people who apply. They launched in April 2006 and have received quite a few awards.

They have an application fee, an annual fee (which varies depending on how much you sell - from 49 - 249 pounds), a transaction fee of 2.9% and commission charges - which all seems to mount up!

Then they have clause that says you can't sell on any other marketplace that could be a competitor to Not on the High Street. They say it is OK to sell on your own website and ebay but no other marketplace.

Periodically I get an email with their specials or seasonal gifts, as shown below - which I like. They also produce printed catalogs for the different seasons that you can request in the mail.

(love the look of that personalized swing!)

They do seem to have some lovely items and great gift ideas. I'd love to hear how sellers are finding the site...... I guess if you are looking for an exclusive place to sell in addition to your own website, it may be good. Anyone have inside experiences?

Anyhow, I love it as a site to browse and shop - go take a look .

Business Matters - Marketplaces - Nest

"Everyone needs beauty as well as bread." John Muir

As part of my series of reviewing different places to sell your arts and crafts, this week I'm going to tell you about Nest. Nest is great! It is a non-profit organization that raises funds to support women artists in developing countries using micro-credit loans. You can read lots more about them on their website and blog and I encourage you to take a look.

I started working with them last year. They have three different programs for artists to get involved with - and I like the idea that what I do is helping another woman do her art too.

The main program is that Nest has an online marketplace where you can sell up to 15 products. You then select to donate either 25%, 30% or 35% of each sale to Nest and their micro-loan program. They deduct their percentage and send you the rest. I currently have 13 items for sale with Nest on their marketplace. The women who receive the loans also sell their products on the website too.

Their second program is called "Shop to Save the world". This is a shorter commitment where you dedicate a certain percentage of all sales from a specific event (like a trunk show or house party) or a specific time period (ie 1 month of online sales) to Nest. Nest then helps you promote the event and provides literature about their organization. I did a show at home last December and donated 20% of all sales. It generated a lot of interest in Nest from my buyers.

Their third program is called "Friends of Nest". This is a longer term commitment for a minimum of one year. During this time period you dedicate 1 - 3 products as Nest items. A percentage of the proceeds of these sales is then donated to Nest, wherever you sell them. Nest provides tags and marketing assistance so customers know what their purchase is supporting.


You can choose which program(s) you wish to be involved with and what donation level you want to give.

Nest provides alot of information on the recipients of the loans so I feel well connected with where the funds are going. The staff are all great there - and respond very promptly to any questions you may have and are very supportive of the ways you get involved.

As you can probably tell, I really like it! It feels good that my sales are helping women in developing countries start or expand their creative work too. It's small, friendly, and connecting.

"One is not born into the world to do everything but to do something." Henry David Thoreau

Business Matters - Marketplaces - Dawanda

I said last week I was going to post about the Australian marketplace Mintd - but I've changed my mind. It was all too depressing and I can't even get on the site now. Maybe they no longer exist??? So telling doom and gloom doesn't seem like a good way to go! Basically - avoid Mintd - there is no support, no admin, no ...

So instead - how about Dawanda.



I have to say that Dawanda is my favourite of the marketplaces. It is a European site and, with the help of two friends that I "met" on the site, I list my items in English, French and German. The multiple language listings really is the trick to the website. The English part has the least number of buyers/visitors, and the German the most - as it started as a German site. The majority of my customers are German - although my best customer is French. I rarely sell to the UK/US through them.

It's quite a bit smaller than Etsy so you can be found! You don't have to relist all the time - it's just a nice place to sell - and buy.


On the English site there is currently no charge for listing - but that will change sometime this year. The commission is 5%. There has recently been a little bit of controversy with fees being backdated as until this year, we never got any bills at all. I think that has settled down a little - although some sellers left.

The admin is OK and gets back reasonably promptly. The forum isn't as active as Etsy - and I tend to look and respond once in a while. All the prices are in Euros.

I do a lot of mentoring on Dawanda where people setting up a new shop can contact me and I'll help them and review their store and let them know my thoughts/suggestions. I tried to set up an "official" mentor program with Dawanda admin so other "seasoned" sellers could help too - but Dawanda never really seemed to jump on board.


One aspect of Dawanda that is a little different and I do like is that they have sales every now and again - related to something happening - like the olympics or world cup or......Sellers can choose whether to opt in or not - but it seems to be a popular thing. If I recall - it is generally an 11% discount and Dawanda chooses different types of products each day to have on sale.

If there was one thing that I would change it would be that payment would come through immediately. The system of buying at Dawanda is that you make your selection, the buyer confirms it and notifies of postage charges and then the buyer has a week to pay. Sometimes people don't pay or it takes them a long time. It would just be nice if it was a simple one step buy and pay system like other marketplaces.

My overall comment is I love Dawanda.

I've made some great friends, have some wonderful customers and just like it! If you are thinking of trying another store - take a look at Dawanda. If you already sell on there - I'd love to hear your reaction.

Next week I'll tell you about Nest.

Business Matters - Marketplaces - Boundless Gallery

As I've spent the first three months of this year writing about different "business matters" topics, I thought I'd go for a little change for the next few months - still about business - but each week I'll write a little about the different marketplaces that are available for us to sell our arts or crafts. I've tried quite a few and so obviously it will only by my personal opinions but it may encourage you to look at somewhere new...... And if you have experience of the marketplace I mention, please add your thoughts and comments too.

This week, the first one up is Boundless Gallery. I no longer sell on Boundless but I did for a little over a year. I really like it as a marketplace and if you haven't looked at it - you should.


It just has a good feel about. It's not too busy, it's really easy to upload items, their search is good, there are optional ways to pay a little extra for more exposure........ I just really liked it. There is no listing fee and different monthly rates that vary the commission you pay.

So why aren't I still selling there, you may ask? I just don't think it's a good place for jewelry. They have been selling jewelry there since they started but it really is predominantly paintings, photos and prints. There are other things like fiber art, sculptures, ceramics, glass art - but it really showcases paintings.
I stopped selling there a while ago so things may have changed - but it seems that it is the place for shoppers who want to buy paintings - so not quite the jewelry niche. If you are a painter, you may want to take a look.....

Next week I'll write about Mintd.

Business Matters - Part 7b - 100 Times Rule

When I wrote last week's blog post on the 100 times Rule, I didn't expect it to be a two part post - but here I am this week, writing part b. The reason is that I spent the week kind of regretting writing the post because then I had to listen to myself ;-$


I have spent the last month or so not succeeding in a project..... but have kept going. Last week, it still wasn't working - and as it happened, it was last Wednesday when I was just about to decide that yes, it may have been a good idea - but sometimes you just have to call it quits. But then I realized I had just written the post about the 100 times rule and so couldn't quit - especially on the very day I had put forth how good persistence was!!!

Today, finally - after what does seem like 100 attempts, I think I've cracked it!

As Seth Godin says "Persistence isn't using the same tactics over and over... Persistence is having the same goal over and over."

Yes, every time I tackled this project, I tried a slightly different approach. And if I hadn't made progress today would I have been writing a blog post about quitting while you are ahead or knowing when to give up?? Maybe????......but I felt it was in my grasp.....


I'm reluctant to even say what I have been trying to do - as it shouldn't have been complicated but just turned out to be. Anyhow - I made great progress today and I think I will finally make a piece of jewelry that if I costed it out, would cost a fortune for the hours I have struggled with it.

So do I feel good that I persisted????? I guess I will wait until the project is finally finished before I answer that!

Anyhow else have a burst of persistence this week?????

Business Matters - Part 7 - 100 Times Rule

I recently heard about the 100 times rule. I've previously written on my Business Matters post about the Rule of 5 - so it's a bit of a jump to the 100 times rule - but this is rule came from Angela from Savor the Success.

Rather than tell you what it is - I thought I'd share a little story that demonstrates it.

A customer on Dawanda clicked to purchase an item of mine in the middle of January. She then had problems with the payment system and so cancelled the sale. Two days later, she purchased the item again....but again had problems paying.

We exchanged quite a few messages - mine in English and hers in German! Both of us using online translators. After a while of back and forth, I sent the correspondence to my German friend Marion who does my translations to see if I was missing anything and if she had any ideas for my next approach and some way to help the customer. Marion then kindly contacted the customer by email and then arranged to phone her and discuss the payment difficulties.

The customer was having a tricky time with a Dawanda voucher, then when that didn't work, she was trying to set up a paypal account - but still no success. Marion couldn't help her. So then I asked Dawanda administration to help her. They couldn't help either.

This is all taking place over a couple of months.....and the "rule" at Dawanda is that if you don't receive payment in 7 days, you cancel the sale. Well, I knew this customer was trying hard but just not managing it and I didn't know how else to help.....She just kept sending me these messages about what she was trying and just seemed to keep on going. This has continued for 9 weeks and I just said to Marion that I should send the customer the necklace anyhow without payment - for all the effort she has put into it!

Fast forward to today and my friend Marion emails me and says she has the money from the customer and she has now just forwarded it into my paypal account! The customer apparently continued to get nowhere and so finally came up with the idea of phoning Marion back and asking if she could send her the money instead of through the Dawanda system!!! And that's what happened!!

She obviously really wanted the necklace and she kept trying different approaches which didn't work but eventually she found a way. Now I can send it to her with the hope that when she gets it, she'll feel it was worth her effort!!

So the 100 times Rule is all about The Power of Persistence. If you are struggling with something, have you tried 100 different ways to make it work? This customer kept on going....and maybe this will be the one and only online purchase she ever makes at Dawanda - but she did it!

And good old Marion! She just jumps on board and gets things moving and then says "I love doing this sort of thing (occasionally!)".

So keep on persisting....try new ways......and you'll do it!

Oh yes - the necklace she purchased was "home is where the heart is".

Business Matters - Part 6 - Psychology

Times are tough now. You read the paper or see the news and it's not happy, cheering news. It's difficult whatever business you are in - or if you are not in a business... so is there anything we can do?

You may or may not be aware that I did a masters degree in Psychology here in the US. It was specifically in health psychology but a lot of standard psychology is covered too.

So today, I thought I'd talk a little about solution focused brief therapy and how we can use it in these times when the economy is difficult. No, this isn't a therapy session - just a different way to look at things....

Solution focused brief therapy (SFBT) focuses on what we want to achieve rather than the problem. It does not focus on the past but on the present and future. And one of the key phrases from the therapy that I always remember is that "you get more of what you focus on" - so if you focus on bad times and not getting sales etc etc, you get more of that. Whereas if you focus on the things that are going well, your new designs, how you sold one piece last week that you had had for ages, then you get more of that.

It sounds very simple - and it is. SFBT is just that. Don't dwell on the problem, focus on what you want to acheive. You can use it in every day life and I frequently pass on the "you get more of what you focus on" and it really makes a difference. It doesn't matter what the "problem" is - as you don't focus on that - you focus on the solution.

So if business is slow right now - look at the good things that are going on instead. Focus on those, find those - and you'll get more! Or if something else isn't going well in your life - focus on what is going well instead.

Try it today - and see what a difference it makes! And then let us know......

Business Matters - Part 5 - Building a website

I've just spent part of the last week or so building a website for a non-profit organization I am involved with. I've built a few before - but they were all on mac using iweb. However this time, we needed a website that other members of the non-profit organization could use and update and change and so is not restricted to only mac users or only pc users, nor is a program like rapidweaver that has a huge learning curve.

After a little searching, I came across these three free website builders - Google sites, Weebly and Synthasite. In the end, we chose Synthasite and our website is just about ready to publish.

I mention it here because it is a great illustration of just how simple putting together a website can be nowadays. Synthasite lets you choose from one of 30 or so styles and then you don't need to know any html - you just type what you want, where you want.

We put a blog on the site, we've got photos, you can link to flickr or picnik, pdf's of the newsletters are linked through........It gives you a choice of web-friendly fonts, colors of fonts, you can upload your own banner or logo....like this one I made for it:


Yes, it has a few little foibles that you have to fiddle with to get things how you want - but really, it's a great way to get your own web presence.

It's a great way to get a site up and running in just a few hours. So you could start off with a simple site created on Synthasite and see what happens..... Then change and develop it as you want and need to. Maybe you'll end up wanting a professionally designed site in the end - but this is just a great way to start. I find having built my own site so advantageous because then I can update as often as I need, without having to get someone else to do it for me (and paying someone else!). Sorry I can't show you the new site now but we can't publish it until the Board have seen it. Maybe in a couple of week's time.

Anyhow - for now - here is my (mac built) website www.birdlandcreations.com ,

and also a website I built for my sister for her vacation home www.heronslake.co.uk (Sorry her place is only available for family and friends......). Get building!!!!

Business Matters - Part 4b - Practice the Rule of 5

So I tried practicing my Rule of 5 this week( see last week's post for info). Thanks also to Fabienne from Easterya and Nikki from the Beaded Zen for joining me. Anyone else give it a try?? It really did help to have someone to email regularly about my experiences and successes and those not-quite-successes! It made me do more and try harder.

My conclusion after trying to work by the Rule of 5 (you commit to accomplishing five specific things each and every day that move you towards your goal) is that trying to do 5 things each day to reach toward a new goal is too much!!! It was most useful to write out goals in steps - but adding 5 new things each day to my normal daily activities didn't work out. I think I'm a 5 steps a week kind of person.

It would seem that Fabienne and the Nikki had similar experiences. Here's what Fabs said:

"Well, setting targets each day to work towards a goal is great, makes total sense... But 5??? Woohoo! That's a bit steep! I guess if you are to succeed, you have to be able to dissect all the steps you need to take to achieve that goal, and I agree with you: 5 targets a week instead of a day, to start off with, feels much more manageable... This week, out of my five, I've managed only 2, so I'll keep on going..."

I know Fabs made great strides with techie things this week - like making banners and avatars so I think she gets extra points for her techie-ness - her 2 goals really equal 5 as getting to know a program for image manipulation etc is, at least for me, very slow going. Good for you Fabs!

Overall, I found the approach useful. I did use the week to get together my Songbird suite of jewelry items and I have, so far, approached one store to ask if they would be interested. They are a birding store and have just a little bit of jewelry and I think my items would be a good fit. I only emailed them today, so I'll wait and see. But now I'm ready to approach others too.

It was a good way to implement something new in my business - a specific goal and I think I'll use it again.

Care to share any "get it done" strategies you have used successfully?