Random Cuteness

This is Kesha.  My four-legged sister (parents dog).  I asked her to sit pretty for a picture.  This is what I got.  

Have a great weekend everyone!

~Jennifer

Etsy Business Tip: Reserved Listing Images

"Our tip involves advice, not money."~Hardy

We've all heard these sayings at one time or another.

~If it's yours put your name on it.
~If you don't want anyone else to have it, put your name on it.
~You say someone took something that belonged to you?  Well, was your name on it?

I'm sure you can agree that although the statements are very common, at times they don't hold much weight.  While shopping on Etsy for some supplies, I found what I was looking for, but I needed a smaller quantity of what the seller had listed.  I've purchased from this shop before so I asked for a reserved listing of a smaller quantity.  She was happy to accommodate my request.

A reserved listing was created with my name on it. She sent me the link and when I clicked on it I saw one simple statement.  This item has sold. Are you kidding me?  So, as I was the chuckling to myself over the fact that someone else bought my listing a convo came into my inbox.  The seller was notifying me that someone else had purchased "MY" reserved listing and she will list another one right away.

Of course the other buyer didn't receive the products.  Instead they got an email simply stating they made an error.  Overall, the situation created a little extra work for the seller who had to create a new listing, cancel the original one, and email the person who made a mistake.  And it put me in a bit of a tizzy (my new word this week).

My muse was wide awake and we came up with an idea.  When creating reserved listings use an image other than the product itself.  Therefore, other potential buyers won't be able to see what is being held for someone else.  And hopefully avoiding temptation to add the item(s) to their cart.

In a recent blog post I shared with you that I was giving all of my online shops a makeover.  If you missed it, click here.  With my card shop I include all three of my dogs within the branding concept.  No one is left out and each of my fur kids play a part in the business (other than looking cute behind the lens).

Hardy has residency in the shop banner.  Disco and House work in other areas of the shop.  Therefore, we came up with these images.

I upload them when I have to create a reserved listing.  Will this tip prevent others from buying reserved listings?  Hopefully, but we're only human and we all make mistakes.  I like to think and work in a proactive manner.  Are you with me? 

We all love business tips, right?  Feel free to pass it around and prevents others from having a.....well you know, tizzy!

~Jennifer

Proof That My Youngest Son Loves the Camera

The photo is a bit blurry, but I'm sure we can all see what's going on here.  This is House.  He really does love the camera.  Most of the time he will sit behind the lens with me to screen shots that we take together.  Seriously, he does.  I call him my little apprentice.

I guess this day he decided to change things up a bit.  He can be such a character some times.  Gotta love him!

~Jennifer

I'm Sharing My Fortune With You

Last night the BF got Chinese for supper.  So, naturally I get the cookie.  That's the way it works.

I know that there's probably like eightymillion of these printed all with the same message.  But this sentence so fits me and where I'm at in my life right now.

That's all.  Just wanted to share my good fortune with you.

Have a productive day!:)

~Jennifer

A Whole New Look

"We've been very busy here!"

It's amazing what I can get done when I put my mind to it.  Or for better words, when I ban myself from the social sites.  I surprised myself that I could commit to such a big task.  And overall it's created a "mold" for future doings.  Like I stated earlier, I'm attacking my goals head on without looking back.  

Earlier this week on my Facebook Page I mentioned that I was revamping my blog.  Then I decided what the heck, let's update everything.  I'm aiming for a fresh approach to the new year.

An so I made the list.

~Update Etsy banners in both shops.

~Update Meylah logo in photography shop.

~New Blog layout and header.  Add buttons.  New pics of the puppies.

~Create a Welcome Page for Facebook.  I confess.  Code scares the shit out of me, so this will most likely be outsourced.

~Update content in all shops.  I highly recommend that you do this with all your online venues often to make sure it's information is current.  I was finding entries that weren't needed and content that I left out.

~Change Twitter Background and Profile Picture.

~Order new business cards.

~Convert Facebook over to the new Timeline.  I prefer to do it myself other than Mr. Zuckerberg doing it for me.  (Actually, it's not that bad).

~Launch new products.

Crazy list, eh?  Actually it wasn't all that bad.  I kept one key word in mind when working on it.  Branding.  I've spent a lot of time reading up on the important role it plays in your business.  You want people to know who you are and what you can offer them.  Create an identity (your logos) for yourself.  I could go on and on, but I think you get what I'm saying.  

Conclusion:  I'm happy to report that 75% of the above list is complete (audience clapping).  A little fine tuning and the welcome page are all I have left to complete.  Aren't we always "tuning" the inside details?  Then the real fun begins.  The launch of new products for my Etsy Paper Goods Shop.

Are you following my blog?  On the right sidebar you'll see a box to enter your email and subscribe to my feed.  In the process of this makeover I've come up with some useful tips for Etsy sellers.  Stay tuned for more.

~Jennifer

Happy New Year!

A new year is ahead of us.  I look at it like I now have 12 brand new months to do anything & everything that I didn't have "time" for this past year. Lots of exciting news will be released within the next couple of weeks with my storefronts.

Resolutions??  Sure I have them.  But to tell you them or write them down just isn't realistic for me.  Instead I'm going to attack them head on and then share my experiences with you.  Will I accomplish them all?  Probably not, but that's what New Years are for, right?

Are you with me?

In regards to the photo above.  It was taken on the one and only day that we had snow here a couple of weeks ago.  It lasted a whole day.  Today the winds are high, but still no snow.  Kind of odd but that's okay with me.

Please excuse the mess with the looks of my blog.  I'm doing some fine tuning.

Have a great day:)

~Jennifer

Merry Christmas

Merry Christmas to you and your family.

~Jennifer