Changes

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For a while now, I’ve been debating what to do with my website.  My goal has always been to have a website that incorporates an online shop with a blog, press info, wholesale info, and all that other good stuff all in one place.

I was lucky enough to be chosen to be the subject of the first business workshop over at Ace Department yesterday.  First of all, if you’re a business owner, get over there and sign up – it’s in beta so it’s free right now, and those ladies know their stuff!  The point of the workshop was to discuss where I want to go with my business in regards to my online presence.  I can’t tell you how helpful everyone’s advice was, and now I really feel like I have a concrete plan.

As soon as I can get it together (hopefully in the next two weeks), I’ll be re-launching bobalookids.com with a little bit of an overhaul.  I’m planning on making the website a landing spot for customers where they can read the blog, shop, or learn more about my brand all in one place.  Want a sneak preview?  Here ya go:

 

 

So what does this mean for this blog?  I’ll still be writing a blog, but it’s going to be more geared toward my customers instead of other handmade business owners.  I haven’t decided for sure what to do with my existing blog content.  Either I’ll move it over to the new website, but post more customer-related content from now on, or I’ll move it to it’s own blog.

This is one decision I haven’t completely made, so I’d love your input.  I’d be happy to maintain a second blog about the business side of things if there’s enough demand, but my posting schedule would probably be a little lighter (once or twice a week).  What do you guys think?  I learned how useful other people’s points of view can be when making big decisions, so advise away!

Setting Goals for the New Year

Tweet This week has been a behind-the-scenes business kind of week.  I haven’t really done much on the product side – no sewing, no product photography, no listing and promoting.  Instead, I’ve been up to my eyeballs in paperwork and doing A LOT of planning.  I don’t really do the New Year’s Resolution thing, but I thought I’d share with you some of my plans so hopefully you’re inspired to put your goals in writing!



Etsy Shop Goals.  I set a goal of 50 sales for the first quarter of 2011.  I think this may be a little lofty, but I think it’s important to aim high.  I just stumbled across this great Etsy Goal Spreadsheet from Absolutely Small that I think I’ll start using for a little added motivation.



Blog Goals.  I’m planning on posting more often – look out for a new feature coming this Saturday!  Also, I tend to be a passive reader on other people’s blogs, so I’m going to try to come out of the woodwork a little more and make sure to interact with others by commenting on their blogs.  I love to hear from bobaloo! readers, so I know other bloggers feel the same way.

Along the same lines, I’ve installed DISQUS for comments (thanks to some advice from a Crafterminds tweet chat) so you guys will get an email when I respond to a comment here on bobaloo!  This is brand new to me, so if you have any trouble commenting let me know so I can look into it.  One thing I don’t like very much about Blogger is the inability to respond directly to readers’ comments, so hopefully this solves that problem.



Facebook and Twitter goals.  I know I’m not making the best use of either of these.  I don’t want to be one of those Twitter users that only tweets about products they’ve listed, but I know I can use Twitter to spread the word about my business.  I also feel like I underutilize Facebook – I post about new blog posts and occasionally product listings, but I know I can do more.  Anybody have any reading recommendations about Twitter or Facebook?



Local Sales Goals.  bobaloo! is carried in two local stores – the Irvington Iris Tea Room and the Little Green Bean Boutique.  I’d like to add one more store in the next three months.  Ideally I’d like to pick up a wholesale account, but I’m perfectly okay with consignment as well.  I’m going to ask all my mom buddies around my area if they know of any good kids’ shops and start calling buyers.

I have a few smaller goals, like finally setting up my Cargoh shop and reorganizing my sewing room yet again.  I’m planning on reviewing my goals every two weeks to keep myself on track.  This is my first time setting such specific goals, so it will be interesting to see how it turns out.

What about you guys?  Do you have any goals for your business or yourself?  Let’s have some inspiration!

Like a machine

Tweet Early last week I had set a goal to finish 15 inventory items by the 31st, thinking that meant Friday.  Friday night I wasn't quite finished... then realized SATURDAY was the 31st.  So I made my goal and then some - a total of 20.  Holla!

• 2 cute little roll-up changing pads
• 5 stuffed bunnies
• 1 painter's smock
• 2 flower necklaces
• 10 dahlia pins

The necklaces and the dahlia pins were for my first batch of product for the Irvington Iris Tea Room.  I don't think I've mentioned it before, but the products Miranda's carrying are kind of a departure from my planned line.  Both the necklaces and the pins are for adults, and I'm planning on bringing her some vintage-fabric aprons to sell as well.  Here's the store display that my awesome hubby built for me:

It's is a piece of stained birch plywood with dowels to hang product on and my logo Mod Podged to the top.  We put it together with materials we already had (except for the piece of dowel rod).  I am trying really hard not to spend very much money until I'm making money, which might actually be a good thing.  It's making me very creative and I'm certainly making use of what I've got on hand.

I'm pretty happy with my level of production last week, so my goal this week is two items a day.  I'm doing well already - four sweet crayon toolbelts are happily resting in my inventory closet - but it is only Tuesday.  This is a slow week at home, so I can keep up as long as I don't just sit around and daydream about State Fair food!