Stand Out in a Crowd...

How many business cards have you received in the last year and how many do you still remember? I’m learning that business cards should look professional but still have unique flair. That means not having too much going on as far as graphics, while still being attractive. As an artist, my business card is an extension of my work, and I want to be able to market myself the right way. Here are some tips I’ve learned while researching business cards:

• Only choose the best paper for your business cards. Thicker heavier paper is better as it looks more expensive and professional. 

• Use colorful printing, prices have dropped, it does not cost much more than standard two color cards. 

• Use a tagline that will quickly let the person know what your product/skill is. 

• Put a picture on your business card. Studies have shown that people are more likely to hold on to a Business card with a photo on it. It could be your picture, a picture of your product, or a combination of both. Picture cards get attention! 

• Do not use a premade business card design called templates. The more people who use these templates, the more your card starts to look like everybody else’s. You want to have a business card that stands out, not one that gets lost in the crowd.

I’ve learned that if I want to use good business etiquette and good marketing then I need to start handing out more of my business cards. This will help me to conduct my business in a much more professional and efficient manner. There is nothing easier or more profitable than using business cards in a marketing strategy.

Cheers!

Lori in Blue Ridge, GA

Making Friends as an Introvert...

Those who know me well know that I’m an Introvert and totally shy around new people. Making “friends” as an introvert is always a difficult task for me.  Soon my husband and I will be moving to a new town; the idea of making friends again is daunting.  To combat my fear, I’m doing a little research on the new town and planning some ways to make this “challenge” interesting and more adventurous. Below are some possible ways to make friends as an introvert in our new town.

1. Find a cafe, bar, park, or bench that is “mine”.

The new town has a main street filled with interesting shops and restaurants. It is close to home, and will take minimal effort to get there. I plan to visit it often, same time, and same place. After several visits I will emerge as a regular to the staff and other regulars. This won’t take too long to accomplish.

2. Take a jewelry making class.

The new town has a little independent bead shop that offers classes. I’ve found that classes are a good place to connect and relax. Letting go of control is challenging as an introvert. However, that is the point. After 2 hours of watching others working on the same project, conversation is easier, fun, and just flows.

3. Go to upcoming creative lectures.

Lectures are a major draw for introverts. Several artists are scheduled to lecture at one of the galleries on Main Street.  I can sit and listen to big ideas and new concepts. I can look around the room, observe the curiosity of others, and simply enjoy a close-ended experience. There’s plenty of time to ask questions in an orderly fashion, and pinpoint others I’d like to get to know. Afterwards, there should be an opportunity to strike up a conversation or engage with a group of people.

4. Go walking at the same time every day.

There’s something about taking a walk on a quiet morning and seeing other members of the community in their daily routines. You see familiar faces by following the same route. This provides me a sense of security, comfort, and community. It’s great practice for talking to strangers, and maybe making a new friend.

5. Start a meetup group

Starting my own community gives me the chance to “hand-pick” the people I want in my new circle of friends. Maybe a dining group or artists who want to start a co-op. I can create events, and cap it at 10 or even 20 members. As the group leader, I’ll be in charge of picking events and communicating with people.  This will push me to get out and socialize.

Hopefully these efforts will give me a sense of empowerment as I try to make new friends as an introvert. I want to create new social connections that will enhance my life.  Wish me luck on this new adventure!

Cheers!

Are you happy at work?



LUNCH WITH 'FRIENDS'



Many of you know that my ‘day job’ is with a very large organization here in Atlanta. I’ve been with this company for many years as a devoted employee and I’ve had the opportunity to travel the US and Canada meeting hundreds of dedicated employees.

This week it was wonderful running into someone that remembered me from a training event that I worked on 20+ years ago.  I had made enough of an impression that they not only remembered the event, they even remembered my name after so many years. Was it my great training skills? Was it my outgoing personality? Or maybe it was my quirky fashion sense? Nope, none of the above…it was the chili. No, that wasn’t a typo; it was the Chili I made.  Hmmm….that got me thinking…. 

At that time we were a much smaller company, more of a family than a giant corporate building of unidentified faces. We did things like chili cook-offs, holiday parties, and after work get-togethers. Back in the day we invited co-workers for home cooked Holiday meals and softball games with dogs on the grill. I miss that Family feeling!!!  How do we get that fun family back?

I may be over simplifying the solution, but what do families do to strengthen their bonds? They get together and eat. Eating together provides a way for everyone in the family to share, connect, and bond.  What did all my favorite events listed above have in common – FOOD.

I did a little research on the subject and found that employees in the healthiest companies often eat together, talk about food, and even cook for each other. Certainly, getting employees to eat together more often is not the sole antidote for my organizations “estranged family” issues. But, experts agree that the practice of eating together can have many positive benefits. And if you're not convinced, remember, this all started with a bowl of chili; food was our link over 20 years later.

Anyone out there having lunch with friends today, Save me a seat!  Cheers!

Blogging - Who Knew.....

One of many lovely Paths featured on my Pinterest board -

"The Path Less Traveled"

I started this blog to chronicle the opening and evolution of my Etsy shop - LorisGlassworks. My first post was in July 2009 about a month after opening my online shop. At the onset I struggled with blogging, but eventually after some trial and error, mixing articles about my life and Etsy projects became enjoyable. I don’t consider myself a brilliant writer, but I’ve discovered that I can put a few words together and take a decent picture. The unbelievable thing to me is that people actually READ my words. Some of my posts have had hundreds of readers (Yikes). This is truly amazing and a little daunting! I assumed that I would get a few family members, friends, and neighbors stopping by the blog from time to time, but I never thought I would go down this path and actually have a “following”. I promise that I’m going to get more deliberate about making time for blogging and crafting; after all, it’s why I started my blog in the first place. Thank You for making the time in your day to take a peek at my little blog.

Cheers!
Lori D.



Atlanta Jewelry Making Group - Meetup…

I've joined a new Meetup group...The vision for this new group is a monthly gathering for jewelry enthusiasts to get together, make jewelry, teach each other new skills, and eventually come up with a plan to incorporate jewelry-making with giving back to our community. We hope to work with different women's organizations/shelters/non-profits and volunteer our time to teach others our jewelry making skills. I will be sharing my own experiences and tips on selling jewelry on Etsy. If you are in the greater Atlanta area and would like to join the group, please follow the link below to sign up and join our first meeting.

http://www.meetup.com/Atlanta-Jewelry-Making-Group/

Our first meeting will be on the 1st of February at 7:00 PM, at a great little coffee shop in Atlanta. This will be our Kick-off meeting to get to know one another and also discuss our expectations of what we’d like to accomplish each time we meet.

During each meetup, at least one person will show how to make something. At this first meet up, our organizer (Shama) will show how to use a crimp bead and crimp tool to attach clasps to necklaces/bracelets. It might be very basic for many of you, but for those who haven’t made jewelry before, it would be a great starting point.

If you have any connections to an Atlanta area non-profit/shelter that would benefit from voluntary jewelry classes, please share in the comments area below.

Hope to see you there!

Negative Feedback….YIKES!

Have you ever gotten negative feedback in your Etsy shop? Do you think it had an impact on your sales? Two months ago, I received negative feedback on four items from a seller. I paid quickly for my items using paypal, did not ask for a refund, and I left the seller positive feedback on each item. I could not understand why they gave me negative feedback.

After many emails I determined the seller was upset that I had sent a message asking about the finish on one of the items I had purchased. I did not give him negative feedback or ask for a refund, I was just asking a question. For two months he refused to change the negative feedback, the seller said I was “a trouble maker”. Contacting the Etsy support team was not successful; they could not help me because the seller did not leave a comment, he just selected negative for each item. In my opinion this is a bad Etsy policy. Maybe the feedback system needs an overhaul.

After some research on Chinese traditions and more emails to the seller about bad Karma and losing face, he finally changed the unfavorable feedback to positive this week (two months later).

 

Today, I had my first sale since the negative feedback was changed. I do feel that potential customers may have been lost during the time that my score was not 100% positive. During the two months that I was negotiating with the upset seller, I did not have one purchase.

Please give me your thoughts on the effects of negative feedback. Would you purchase from a seller that has less than 100% positive feedback?

Thanks for your comments in advance…..

Hello, What's Your Project?

Ahhh…the never ending side project. Possibly it's a long term effort, or maybe it's something you can get done over a weekend. Whatever the project might be, whether it's a new jewelry design or gardening, or some kind of family project, it's the thing that's on your mind, the thing you want to get to, the thing that you really enjoy working on.

While working for The Home Depot I was trained to always ask “What’s Your Project?” It became a natural reflex when I saw a “weekend warrior” wandering the aisle. I loved the way people communicated when they described their creative projects — I was inspired not only by their ideas, but also by their passion.

I no longer work in the aisles of Home Depot, but I do ask crafty friends and I constantly ask myself, "What's your project?" It's my way of searching for inspiration, of reminding me to get to work on the idea that is bouncing around in my head.

SO, I’m asking you…….”What’s your Project?”…..please inspire me; I’m in a creative rut (again).

You don't have to be the schmoozer....

If you are looking to expand your Etsy business by social networking but haven’t been seeing the results you want, keep these four principles in mind:

1.  Networking is about making a connection with people, not making a sale on the spot.
2.  Be your natural self.  People can smell a put-on or sales pitch a mile away.
3.  Look for connections you can make for your new contact.  Focus on being helpful to your new contact rather than focusing on what they could possibly do for you.
4. Prioritize following up.  Set aside time each week to periodically reach out to your contacts to see how they are doing and what you could potentially do to help them.

Networking is about building a strong network; it is not about collecting business cards or making sales. The best networking tips to remember are to be authentic, be professional, and be selfless.

Step away from the computer.....

Establishing a new and steady stream of shoppers to your business is a challenge, I have been looking beyond the online world in order to attain the success that I desire.  A great way to do this is to start exploring traditional networking venues. I strongly believe that effective networking is as much about quality as quantity.  Make sure the room is filled with potential clients and watch your networking time pay-off!  Many of these events are scheduled in the early morning or at lunch time, so even if you have a day job, you can probably work an event or two into your schedule.

Here are some tips for finding networking events that are a good match for your creative business: 

• What local city is known for harboring artists?  Make sure you attend the Chamber events there. 
•  Google “art clubs” or “craft clubs” and then the name of your city or county and see what comes up and when they meet. 
• Tip Clubs can even be helpful: they are filled with independent business people who come into contact with tons of individuals.
• Attend events put on by your local galleries.
• Network at local craft fairs and shows.

Networking with people face to face is much scarier for a shy person like me than networking online, but I’m giving it a try. I’m sure you too will be surprised by how much you can grow your sales locally.  Who knows, we may even meet a gallery or boutique owner!