If you're neither into skin care nor lingerie, it is not your month on this blog... On the plus side, if you can half get with either, it's fun times! Since I wrote about bras last time, today it's skin care. I did receive a new bra yesterday - one I haven't said anything about thus far. I'll review it for you tomorrow but the short story is that it's a winner.
I realize that I said my next skin care post would be to introduce Serum A (a creative end-result that I'm very excited to natter on about) but I've spent the last 2 weeks absorbed in the alternatively-creative, all-consuming act of setting up a small business and I simply must tell you about it. Look: I'm not one of those peeps who bravely quits her career to revel in the self-directedness of entrepreneurship. I'm deeply attached to my salary - which I am only interested to expand (and, no, not after accepting a cut in lifestyle prior to making it big). So you won't see me ditching my day-job anytime soon. As such, it means I'm going to have to be that much more efficient.
Given that I'm surrounded by entrepreneurs, I find it interesting that I have never embraced this path. Oh, I love selling things. I mean, I love engaging with people about things that interest them, that might improve their lives in some small way (whether I've made those things or not) - and I'm totally down with the transactional component. It's like participating in the beautiful cycle of commerce from every bar of beeswax to finished balm. I love R&D and creating product and marketing. Gotta say, though, the whole cost analysis / balance sheet part of the job doesn't exactly call to me. And since I've been mega-living that element of the small business experience, it's really sharpening my focus.
My husband has been relentless on this topic. If I hear the phrase: If you don't know every cost associated with your production model, how will you know how to price your product? one more freakin' time... I finally just decided to do it to shut him up. And wasn't he on the ball? I guess intuition doesn't improve profit margin after all.
I've also been setting up an Etsy shop. (Natch, I'll plug it when it's ready to roll.) OMG, people, I never knew how much I wanted an Etsy shop till I got one! I just stare at it all the time! This part of the undertaking has quickly brought me up to speed on ways that I can improve what I can offer to clients, how to realize discounts on shipping (yay for us all) but it has also made me aware of the steep hidden costs associated with peer-to-peer e-commerce as it pertains to the business beginner. Don't get me wrong, it's the way of things, and I believe the platform is a well-run necessity. But I'm starting to understand why everything I buy costs twice as much as I think it should. :-)
I sense I will not be able to keep myself from writing about all of this. You know I write about what I do and, for better or worse, right now this is what I'm doing. Plus, it's a major learning curve and who doesn't like to prattle on about that?! All I can say is that it's really illuminating to put your money (and your time and your energy and your creative-spirit) where your mouth is.
Today's questions are for the entrepreneurs (or part-time or wannabe entrepreneurs): Lord, people, how do you do this all the time? Aren't you tired?? Oh, and what do you appreciate most about having your own business? What do you sell? Stuff? Services? How did you get started? Is there anything I need to know like, today? Please, please - let's talk!
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My husband and I have run a home business ( longarm quilting) for 15 years, while working full time and raising 3 children. It has been exhausting, but very rewarding. I did the research when I was worried about a merger at work. It never did happen but we started the business anyway. My husband worked seasonally, so it made sense for him to learn how to run the machine, and for me to do the marketing, bookkeeping and see the clients evenings and weekends. We had a miniature advertising budget, so I would make business card on our home computer and take samples everywhere we went on vacation. I would drop off cards at every quilt shop along the way. We also have lots of clients just by work of mouth. I am not shy about asking the happy clients to give out my cards to their friends. We have no website, but do have a Facebook page. I just got my first client from that, so it was worth the time to set it up. Best of luck with your business!
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PS Learn to be smart with your time. I don't book clients everyday, so that I can keep up with home stuff. Kids are now grown and out on their own, so that helps too.
How interesting! Barb: Do you still work at your day job? Or did you eventually join the family business full time?
DeleteI was able to retire early this Jan 1st, but we will keep the business going for the next decade at least. I didn't take any business courses, but worked in banking , in the commercial dept, so I picked up a thing or two along the way. Best of luck on your new business.
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I like your husband. He's right on the money (pun intended!) It's a failing of so many small business and startups. As is running before they can walk. It sounds like you're doing things just right. What fun! I, for one, am enjoying this topic of conversation very much indeed.
ReplyDeleteOh, he'd like you too! This whole thing is such a trip. I'm going to tell you a story soon, about my first Etsy client (which happened today). It's hilarious.
DeleteAs of last year around this time we're the proud owner/operators of two (ag-related) businesses. Thankfully, we both have degrees in some aspect of business, which has helped us out so far. So yes, I can totally understand where your husband is coming from. Just because you are good at something, doesn't mean you can make a go of it and be successful. There's a lot to owning a business and making decisions that keep you in the black beyond just a good idea/product. Especially, if you are planning to have it become your job instead of a side business. If that is your plan, I highly recommend a few business courses and finding a mentor. Good luck! :-)
ReplyDeleteYou are so fabulous! My husband has run his own business for his entire career. He's never had a boss. But he knows his stuff so I'm listening to him. Even as he's annoyingly right. I consider him my mentor. But I do need courses :-)
DeleteLOL! Nah, we just kind of fell into the one, and the other was just becoming a free agent of a portion of his former job. (Hard to explain without sharing more details than I'm comfortable with.) The free agent part is where I come in though, I enter in all the forms and such for that. I also occasionally plan meetings and set up catering and the like. Which sounds much more glamorous than it is--baby on hip and all that. ;-)
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