tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-595462995395752860.post5344344398079237711..comments2023-10-24T08:50:57.442-05:00Comments on Memories for Life: Top 5 Things I Learned Holiday Season 2014Memories for Lifehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09677127617656258362noreply@blogger.comBlogger14125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-595462995395752860.post-19320763919163445732015-01-23T17:57:18.964-06:002015-01-23T17:57:18.964-06:00I agree that customers don't read. I try to t...I agree that customers don't read. I try to tell my hubby that when he is making up bulletins for the church. Maybe he/we would do better too follow the journalism principles of keeping all the facts in the first few sentences and keeping it at a sixth grade reading level. :) just kidding! Anyway, I agree with your changing your listings. Great idea! Abby / Lindahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13028566281703045829noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-595462995395752860.post-9695488325136361312015-01-22T21:13:20.922-06:002015-01-22T21:13:20.922-06:00I'm happy for you that your business is doing ...I'm happy for you that your business is doing so well. I hope the steps you take for the next holiday season work out for you. And I'm glad you're not a factory!<br />Annettehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06470363688622542695noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-595462995395752860.post-25559130864622926642015-01-22T21:01:35.341-06:002015-01-22T21:01:35.341-06:00So awesome to hear about your progress!! What i es...So awesome to hear about your progress!! What i especially like is when you mentioned you are not willing to give up the aspect that help make it handmade. I think staying in contact with the customer especially for custom orders really sets you apart from retail to handmade. I definitely think you can still run efficiently while maintain all aspects of your business. It really just about how to manage it. Unfortunately, I can't give any tips except staying organized as much as possible!! Eyelahhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14932855023408938249noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-595462995395752860.post-75525750249222726682015-01-22T05:27:44.287-06:002015-01-22T05:27:44.287-06:00Posted to quickly, the but should be a both..Posted to quickly, the but should be a both..Your Invisible Crownhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09457158992358038035noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-595462995395752860.post-1835295612878638462015-01-22T05:26:50.028-06:002015-01-22T05:26:50.028-06:00Great idea to put all information at the top of th...Great idea to put all information at the top of the listing that is being asked about a lot. But still, some people really don't read the discription. I've also had feedback from people complaining that in item is bigger or smaller than they thought it would be. Even though it is in all of the items description, but in inches and centimeters.... This Christmas I'll make sure I'll have lots of packaging material and stamps around. And I totally understand about wanting to do everything yourself. I was lucky to have mom helping me out with the packaging stuff :-)Your Invisible Crownhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09457158992358038035noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-595462995395752860.post-6110388643984670472015-01-21T16:41:17.507-06:002015-01-21T16:41:17.507-06:00Ugh, the convos from people who could have answere...Ugh, the convos from people who could have answered their own question are so annoying!<br /><br />I totally understand not wanting to incorporate more people/wanting to keep it YOUR business. I've had people ask me if I want employees making my things and what have you and my answer is always no. <br /><br />It sounds like your holiday season was super busy. I hope you have as much success (or more!) next year, but feel a little more prepared for it. Christmas really snuck up on me this year and I definitely was not prepared and didn't make as many sales as I could have as a result. Oh, well - January has been pretty busy for me so far, so I guess it balances out.Natashalhhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08176159532063740139noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-595462995395752860.post-13793702354480860102015-01-21T16:17:25.546-06:002015-01-21T16:17:25.546-06:00I'm happy to hear you had a great season and t...I'm happy to hear you had a great season and this is all great advice for new sellers! It's always fun to read about other business owners' experiences during busy seasons. Thanks for sharing.Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09281086955203566206noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-595462995395752860.post-67241541502379306532015-01-21T15:19:44.904-06:002015-01-21T15:19:44.904-06:00Sadly, I learned that success in one holiday seaso...Sadly, I learned that success in one holiday season does not necessarily mean the same level of sales the following season. As a result, I OVER-ordered supplies.<br />I'm glad you had a great season, and I'm sure your sales figures will continue to grow.pasqueflowerhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17726376425071322993noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-595462995395752860.post-24145999300586625782015-01-21T14:29:02.557-06:002015-01-21T14:29:02.557-06:00This was definitely a learning season for you. I f...This was definitely a learning season for you. I felt the lack of supplies too. I was shocked I ran out of components! Over ordering is the way to go next year. It is a great idea to be more on a schedule to increase efficiency. Kudos to you getting a helper and learning to trust that person. I can only imagine that challenge! Next season you will be so organized going into it after this past year.Miss Val's Creationshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11200441034267532187noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-595462995395752860.post-71475904015137849442015-01-21T13:09:49.004-06:002015-01-21T13:09:49.004-06:00These are SUCH great tips Edi. At the height of my...These are SUCH great tips Edi. At the height of my clothing business, the holidays were so busy that I barely slept. Like you, I had to rearrange everything to make things work. I did have a staff though… And I also have an employee now to help with the card/art shop (mainly wholesale orders) and blog emails. I'm like you in that I have a hard time trusting other people to do things correctly - and I think that this is a struggle for most small business owners. But if you can find certain tasks to hand off, it makes things a million times easier, and can even make your business grow. It sounds like this what you did and will be doing again. Congrats on such a successful season! :)Melissa at bubbyandbean.comhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13529482206467186418noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-595462995395752860.post-493859481509589092015-01-21T11:40:08.609-06:002015-01-21T11:40:08.609-06:00You did learn come valuable tips this year. There...You did learn come valuable tips this year. There's certainly some things that you just can't give up because it's your business and your reputation. Running out of supplies would give me a panic attack! BeadedTailhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14662802836032167316noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-595462995395752860.post-15554059381464015242015-01-21T10:04:50.092-06:002015-01-21T10:04:50.092-06:00Edi, I learned a valuable lesson this year as well...Edi, I learned a valuable lesson this year as well. Same - run out of supplies, time management, and communication issues with a custom orders. But I'm so glad you posted this, because it basically summarized all those issues and provided solution! I like to see our online experience as a journey do live and learn!LanasArtStudiohttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17419162566809174790noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-595462995395752860.post-23700625780812501932015-01-21T08:11:35.398-06:002015-01-21T08:11:35.398-06:00So happy for your success.
For 2015, I will orde...So happy for your success. <br /><br />For 2015, I will order holiday charms a few months in advance because my vendors were out of them. But, no sales were lost, luckily. <br /><br />It's good to know what you will and won't turn over and why. I've had help producing a few pairs of earrings, but haven't needed it (yet). <br /><br /><br />Linda Bhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04393428396130421890noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-595462995395752860.post-17135728230354865122015-01-21T08:01:18.900-06:002015-01-21T08:01:18.900-06:00Whew! Girl, I'm tired just reading this. Your ...Whew! Girl, I'm tired just reading this. Your tip about putting important information at the top of the listing is great; nothing is worse than getting a convo from somebody because they didn't read.<br /><br />I also like what you said about not being a factory. Would you ever consider putting your shop on vacation mode to catch up in the future? I've heard of shops who know they can product X number of items per month, and when those orders have all been sold, they close the shop for processing and re-ordering of materials. I'm not sure how something like that would impact you in search results now, though, since they changed the algorithm. Paige @ Little Nostalgiahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11978050087934003216noreply@blogger.com