This week I am 35 weeks pregnant with baby boy #2! (He has the hiccups as I type this.) I am deep into nesting in our home (which also where I hope to give birth) and also attempting to prepare for the Tucson Gem and Mineral Show which starts at the end of the month.
I intend to keep my shop open until I go into labor, or until my due date in mid February, whichever happens first. This means assuming I go full term, the shop will be open for anywhere from the next 2ish to 5ish weeks. After baby is born (or after my due date), I will play it by ear, but I am sure the shop will remain closed for at least a few weeks. This is the downside of being self employed with such a small business - no paid leave! It would be nice as our family adjusts to the new addition to take two or three months off of work, but we can't put our bills on hold that long. However once I do re-open, I plan to only take a certain number of orders per week for awhile - again, playing it by ear as our family adjusts and learns and grows with our fourth family member!
As far as the gem show and plans for my designs, I was still trying to figure out what I want to do with my line of beaded loop style necklaces. I mentioned in my last post that I have thousands of beads and inventory wise they turn over rather slowly. I am leaning toward not buying any new non-pendant beads at the gem show and simply using what I have for the remainder of the year.
This means that I will continually have to come up with new beaded designs as I run out of the beads for my old designs; it also means that some popular designs I have had listed for a very long time will eventually no longer be available. However I think financially and organizationally this will be the best move. So, if you adore any current designs that are listed, be aware that all are now officially "limited edition" and will only be available until I run out of those particular beads!
11 January 2012
27 December 2011
On a more personal note...
I know I have been terrible about updates with this blog. What can I say - being a full time SAHM to a toddler while running my little home business keeps me busy!
If you've been a long time customer, you might have noticed some changes in my shop recently. First, I added the option of using Google Checkout as a payment method in addition to Paypal and money order. Now when you select "Other" as your payment method, I will email you an invoice to pay with your credit/debit card via Google Checkout. Paypal is definitely convenient as Etsy and Paypal have an integrated system; however, I know some people choose not to keep Paypal accounts but would still like to use their credit card to purchase, so I made this option available. To learn more about Google Checkout, click here for a virtual tour.
You may have also noticed that I lowered some of my prices. I wish I could say that I was able to do this because my costs for supplies have gone down. But really, they have gone up, as well as shipping prices. However, I have competitors on Etsy who have copied some of my original designs and then under priced them. This is one of the challenges of selling on Etsy as many shop owners will tell you: when other sellers undervalue their time and product. To price an item, one should take into account several factors: cost of materials, time spent designing/creating/producing the item, time spend photographing and editing photos, and time spent writing/making the listing. I do this because I love it, but also because it pays the bills, and I can't afford to work for $2 an hour like some sellers seem to be able to do. However I know my prices need to remain competitive, so I essentially gave myself a pay cut in order to do this (and believe me, my "hourly wage" wasn't much more than minimum wage to begin with!). Bummer for me as a small business owner, benefit for you as the customer! ;)
On a more positive note, I wanted to share about some exciting events I am looking forward to in this next couple of months. The end of January marks the beginning of the Tucson Gem and Mineral Show, the largest gem show in the country which happens to take place in my back yard. I purchase 80-90% of my inventory for the year at this annual event. It is a busy and fun and exciting time every year around here! This year, a bit more excitement is added because I am pregnant with our second child, who is due mid February. I am crossing my fingers he chooses to gestate for at least 38.5 weeks so that I have time to do my gem show shopping before he arrives. ;)
In anticipation of these events, I will likely have some sort of sale happening in January to clear out some inventory and make room for new. I will also be anticipating closing up shop for a few weeks after baby arrives. I hope not to have to shut down for too long, though. I anticipate that I will reopen soon but slowly, taking a certain maximum number of orders per week for a couple of months.
I also like to ask my customers this time of year what they might like to see in my shop. I try to take all suggestions into consideration when I set out shopping for my inventory for the year at the gem show. So if you have any special stones or pendant designs or anything else you would like to see offered, please let me know so I can keep that in mind!
And finally, one last change that I am considering in an effort to streamline my business. I like that as a nursing necklace seller, I offer pretty much the largest variety I've seen as far as types of nursing necklace (beaded, pendant, and wooden). However, I sell far more pendant and wooden necklaces than I do beaded necklaces. I have thousands of beads that turn over very slowly, inventory wise. So I am considering either phasing out my beaded loop design entirely, or only offering a small number of beaded designs at any one time (maybe 5-10 different designs), again in an effort to streamline my time, supplies, organization, etc. I still haven't decided for sure, but I will need to decide before purchasing at the gem show this year, so stay tuned for this potential change.
If you've been a long time customer, you might have noticed some changes in my shop recently. First, I added the option of using Google Checkout as a payment method in addition to Paypal and money order. Now when you select "Other" as your payment method, I will email you an invoice to pay with your credit/debit card via Google Checkout. Paypal is definitely convenient as Etsy and Paypal have an integrated system; however, I know some people choose not to keep Paypal accounts but would still like to use their credit card to purchase, so I made this option available. To learn more about Google Checkout, click here for a virtual tour.
You may have also noticed that I lowered some of my prices. I wish I could say that I was able to do this because my costs for supplies have gone down. But really, they have gone up, as well as shipping prices. However, I have competitors on Etsy who have copied some of my original designs and then under priced them. This is one of the challenges of selling on Etsy as many shop owners will tell you: when other sellers undervalue their time and product. To price an item, one should take into account several factors: cost of materials, time spent designing/creating/producing the item, time spend photographing and editing photos, and time spent writing/making the listing. I do this because I love it, but also because it pays the bills, and I can't afford to work for $2 an hour like some sellers seem to be able to do. However I know my prices need to remain competitive, so I essentially gave myself a pay cut in order to do this (and believe me, my "hourly wage" wasn't much more than minimum wage to begin with!). Bummer for me as a small business owner, benefit for you as the customer! ;)
On a more positive note, I wanted to share about some exciting events I am looking forward to in this next couple of months. The end of January marks the beginning of the Tucson Gem and Mineral Show, the largest gem show in the country which happens to take place in my back yard. I purchase 80-90% of my inventory for the year at this annual event. It is a busy and fun and exciting time every year around here! This year, a bit more excitement is added because I am pregnant with our second child, who is due mid February. I am crossing my fingers he chooses to gestate for at least 38.5 weeks so that I have time to do my gem show shopping before he arrives. ;)
In anticipation of these events, I will likely have some sort of sale happening in January to clear out some inventory and make room for new. I will also be anticipating closing up shop for a few weeks after baby arrives. I hope not to have to shut down for too long, though. I anticipate that I will reopen soon but slowly, taking a certain maximum number of orders per week for a couple of months.
I also like to ask my customers this time of year what they might like to see in my shop. I try to take all suggestions into consideration when I set out shopping for my inventory for the year at the gem show. So if you have any special stones or pendant designs or anything else you would like to see offered, please let me know so I can keep that in mind!
And finally, one last change that I am considering in an effort to streamline my business. I like that as a nursing necklace seller, I offer pretty much the largest variety I've seen as far as types of nursing necklace (beaded, pendant, and wooden). However, I sell far more pendant and wooden necklaces than I do beaded necklaces. I have thousands of beads that turn over very slowly, inventory wise. So I am considering either phasing out my beaded loop design entirely, or only offering a small number of beaded designs at any one time (maybe 5-10 different designs), again in an effort to streamline my time, supplies, organization, etc. I still haven't decided for sure, but I will need to decide before purchasing at the gem show this year, so stay tuned for this potential change.
30 April 2011
Just for fun, and because I love Alice. :)
'Is she the right Alice?' by stonesofhealing2
Eat me - drink me - but remember: We're all mad here.
 Paint the Roses Red Pos... $7.00 |  12 Vintage Glittered &... $12.00 |  Giant Dwarf // Mini Hea... $35.00 |  Alice IN Wonderland Tic... $7.00 |
 From Wonderland ... Ant... $29.95 |  Alice in Wonderland Tea... $30.00 |  SALE Alice in Wonderlan... $12.00 |  Late... Late... I am ve... $32.50 |
 Alice in Wonderland'... $21.00 |  Queen of Hearts - Steam... $26.00 |  We're All Mad Here ... $14.95 |  Luscious Royal Three La... $400.00 |
 Queen of Hearts charm b... $57.00 |  Ready to Ship - Queen o... $45.00 |  Alice's Teapot - B... $18.00 |  Drink Me $10.00 |
21 March 2011
Giveaway Winner!
Congratulations Tara Canning! :)
Please contact me at info@stonesofhealing.com to claim your $25 gift code for my shop.
Please contact me at info@stonesofhealing.com to claim your $25 gift code for my shop.
10 March 2011
1000+ SALES = GIVEAWAY!
Yep, it's giveaway time! My current Etsy shop surpassed 1,000 sales this week - thanks to all of my wonderful customers. :)
The last giveaway was for a New Mother Nursing Necklace Gift Set. I decided this time to simply give away... a gift certificate for $25US! That way the winner can choose a favorite item or two in my shop! :D
I am going to give you the opportunity to enter through March 20th. You can earn as many as six entries in the contest, by doing one, some, or all of the following... Each method/comment is worth one entry. So if you do all six, you will leave six separate comments total. :)
1. "Follow" this blog. Leave me a comment to let me know you are following. If you were already following, great! Still leave the comment for an entry.
2. Comment on this blog with your favorite listing from my Etsy shop - include the link please. :)
3. Blog about this giveaway and link to this blog entry on YOUR blog (leave a comment to tell me you did this with a link to your entry).
4. Post about this giveaway with a link to this blog on your Facebook and/or Twitter (leave a comment to tell me you did this). Use @stonesofhealing in your status so that I know I was tagged!
5. Email me a photo of you and/or your baby wearing or using your Stones of Healing nursing necklace (leave me a comment to let me know you sent a photo to info@stonesofhealing.com). NOTE: I may later contact you regarding permission to use your photo on my website - but I will not use it without your permission!
6. Create an Etsy treasury featuring at least one my items - the rest of the items can be anything you want! If it's an awesome enough collection it may get featured on Etsy's front page. ;) Comment here with the link to the treasury. Go here to create a treasury: Etsy Treasury.
VERY IMPORTANT: I NEED TO KNOW A NAME IN ORDER TO CHOOSE AND ANNOUNCE A WINNER. PLEASE INCLUDE THIS INFO IN EACH COMMENT. YOU CAN CHOOSE FIRST AND LAST NAME, OR FIRST NAME AND LOCATION, OR WHATEVER YOU ARE COMFORTABLE WITH. I will assign each entry a number for the purpose of using random.org (so if Wendy does the first four entries, she will be assigned #s 1,2,3, and 4), but I still need to be able to go back and match the number with the entrant. :)
On March 21st, I will choose a winner using random.org. I will announce the winner on this blog, Facebook, and Twitter, and give the winner 72 hours to respond (if I do not receive a response I will then choose another winner).
Good luck! :)
10 February 2011
Treasury Fun
I was featured in this amazingly lovely treasury of local artists, and the treasury was featured on a Phoenix news website. :D I have been featured in a lot of treasuries - or rather, my jewelry has - but I've never made into a local newspaper that I know of until now.
Featuring Arizona artists/designers/sellersFlippin' Be Happy.
And here's a treasury I created - TGIF!! :D
TGIF * Go from a day at the office to a Friday night on the town with this collection of perfect-for-Friday finds.
'Blushing in Arizona' by flippedbird
Featuring Arizona artists/designers/sellersFlippin' Be Happy.
 Flipped Bird reversible... $56.00 |  Pink Cat Bicycle Origin... $24.00 |  Vintage 1950s Dress Swe... $87.00 |  Pick Your State Bracele... $17.00 |
 Heart of Glass Designs-... $ |  Pink Lemonade Shaving S... $6.00 |  Sweetness and Sass I AM... $24.00 |  Tulip Chair Screenprint $35.00 |
 Hand Puppet, Porfirio t... $50.00 |  Vintage Sun Valley Melm... $12.00 |  WOODEN Teething and Nur... $ |  Strawberry Toaster Neck... $16.00 |
 Girl in Heels. 8x10 Pho... $14.00 |  Listen to Your Heart $2.50 |  SM/MED Rose Mauve Brida... $7.00 |  RETRO BUTTERCREAM ITSY ... $30.00 |
Treasury tool is sponsored by Lazzia.com A/B image testing.
And here's a treasury I created - TGIF!! :D
'For the Love of Friday' by stonesofhealing2
TGIF * Go from a day at the office to a Friday night on the town with this collection of perfect-for-Friday finds.
 It's Friday I'm... $23.00 |  Office Soap - TGIF (Cle... $2.50 |  Moss Aquamarine Necklac... $48.00 |  Recyclewear Bottle Cap ... $20.00 |
 Asymmetric Wrap Dress -... $109.00 |  Vintage Peas, Peas in a... $22.00 |  Matching Blue Mugs - se... $25.00 |  Green Amethyst Sterling... $54.00 |
 Blow Out SALE - Galaxie... $15.00 |  Firefly - Shimmer (High... $6.50 |  SALE Sterling Silver Ch... $31.00 |  Skinny Jeans Green Stit... $85.00 |
 Upcycled Urban Hand Pai... $45.00 |  Back Space Typewriter K... $24.99 |  Crochet Vest Brown, Ta... $48.00 |  Charcoal Pocket Clutch $32.00 |
Treasury tool is sponsored by Lazzia.com A/B image testing.
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