Holiday Boot Camp Week 3

I can't believe week 3 has come and gone!  It has been a rather productive week for me, although not so much on the desired out come of this weeks tasks.  So here we go!

Task 1: Get to Know Your Camera
Great reminder of all the great and simply things that most cameras can do these days.  Knowing these basic things can definitely help improve your photographs!

Task 2: Guide to Photography
Wow is there a lot of information there!  Great for any type of business.  I actually got my camera out and played with the different functions as I read about them and jotted down some ideas that sprung from the suggestions of the authors.  I also got out the manual to my camera to figure out how to best use some of the functions it has to my advantage.

Task 3: Photograph Holiday Packaging
I haven't actually decided on this yest so I couldn't photograph it.  I'm worried that my prices will have to increase to accommodate a higher shipping fee.  I'm afraid the boxes I want to use will increase the size and cost of shipping.

Task 4: Mastering Depth of Field
I wish my camera was a little more advanced.  I tried the different steps and suggestions for depth of field, but my camera just doesn't seem to have the capability to make much of a difference from the low to high end.

Task 5: Photo Critique
Well I didn't take any photos, so there is nothing for my buddy to critique.  My buddy is also focusing on adding items, so there was none for me to help her with either.  But I did try and help out Baby Swank with her photos.

Task 6: Add New Photos to Listing
Once again, if I had taken actual photos I may have been able to do this, but alas I didn't.  Once I get my new holiday stuff done I will come back and check these off.

In the next post I will show you what I did get done this week!  I have finished 3 hats in the last 2 week and 2 pair of rain boot booties!

Holiday Boot Camp Week 2

I'm not behind this week and it feels great!!!  While I am still slightly behind on getting Holiday items made and listed, I have a plan and this week's To Do List helped me sooo much!!!

Task 1: Stocking up for the Holiday
This article helped realize there is so much more information I should be putting in my listings to help buyers realize what a great item I have!  Made me realize that the way I shop for gifts may not be the way my buyer is going to shop for a gift!

Task 2: Holiday Project Worksheet
Great work sheet!!!  Definitely helped me put onto paper some of the things that have been floating around in my head.  Like who would my items be for and who would buy them for that person.   And how can I make them an even more appealing gift.  The one thing I noticed is that I have 2 general price ranges: Under $10 and Under $25.  For now this will probably have to stay the way it is.

Task 3: Create To Do List for Holiday Products
This task probably helped me the most!  I'm always making lists, Love lists!  My problem, I write them and end up losing them.  I've started using my Google account more and more in the last few weeks and this week I decided to put my To Do List on my main Google page where I can see it daily, from anywhere.  I can (and have) applied due dates and broken things down from a bigger To Do into the little tasks it will take to accomplish the main goal.  I always feel more accomplishment when I can check off the smaller things.



Task 4: Forum Thread
I've actually kept up with this weeks thread and I feel great about having offered advice and gotten advice from others.  The comments in the threads have given me some great ideas for how to change my listings and hopefully get more views on them.  Plus there are so many small things I can do to improve how the items look when they are shipped out the door!

Task 5: Consult Your Buddy
Well, I'm using you as my buddy.  Along with the weekly forum threads.  I'm not really "consulting" but I am staying accountable to you.

Task 6: Search Ad Stats
I have no gotten into the search ads yet, but I plan to in the beginning of November.

So there you have it.  I have been motivated to accomplish tasks that I have been putting off for some time and I'm very excited to be checking things off my To Do List!

Holiday Boot Camp: Goals

I can't believe it's that time of year again!  That's right, Etsy's Holiday Boot Camp is starting again!

And of course I'm starting a little behind.  Of course that seems to be how I'm starting most things these days.  Thankfully week 1 wasn't too daunting.

Task 1: Reading the blog post.  I like the post, gave me some motivation that I CAN DO THIS.  Since I already feel behind motivation is going to be important this season!  I also really liked the extra link on how to offer special services.  I really need to look into this!

Task 2: Holiday Budget Worksheet.  This is my least favorite part of having my shop.  My sales have been so inconsistent that I have a hard time keeping my books, which means that for now half the numbers I entered are a hip shot.  Hopefully this will help me get a better and get me more prepared for next year though.

Task 3: Boot Camp Calendar Stickers.  I was surprised at how long this took me, but I don't normally ship internationally, but I do want to be prepared so I'm still working on figuring out last ship dates.  I wish I had a 3 month dry erase calendar for my shop (possible investment) because with a toddler, pregnancy and cold/flu season coming, some dates may have to change.  Pencil will have to do for now.

Task 4: Share your goals.  I'm doing that right here.  As I'm pretty sure I've mentioned at least once before, my ultimate goal is to make my shop my full time career.  I realize this isn't going to happen with out a lot of hard work, or over night, but coming up with realistic goals has been difficult.  Right now my overall goal is make my shop self sustaining.  At this point I am still spending out of pocket money for materials to offer more items because the ones listed aren't selling.  My goal for this season is to have excellent customer service and create more repeat customers and referral customers.

Task 5: Find a Boot Camp Buddy.  While I found my buddy to be of great help last year, I don't think I will have the time to devote to a buddy if I am to devote enough time to my shop to reach my goals.  I don't want to make promises of support to another shop owner that I may not be able to keep so this season I am going to try and motivate myself brave this camp alone.

Halloween

I've made NEW CLIPS!!!

Yes, I know the pictures could be much better, but my little model was all excited that her Aunt was there to visit and she didn't want to sit still.

Black lined Snap Clips with Orange Spider

Fully lined alligator Clip, Orange Strip Bow with Candy Corn Center
Approximately 3 inches long

Fully line alligator clip with orange strip bow and black spider
Approximately 2.5 inches

Purple line alligator clip with black spider

Small Black lined alligator clip with small black and orange butterfly

Black lined alligator clip with butterfly.

Outside of wings has spider webs while inside say Boo!

More New Items!

Here are a few more items I've finished in the last few weeks!

Fan Mary Janes with Flower closure

Fan Rows Hat with removable flower

This pattern is available for free by Sunset Crochet

Circle Mesh Newborn Wrap
Pattern by Sunset Crochet

Handspun Loops Newborn Bowl
Pattern by Sunset Crochet

Boy Mouse Outfit
Pattern by Sunset Crochet

Girl Mouse Outfit
Pattern by Sunset Crochet

Spring Buds Cocoon & Cloche
Pattern by Caps & Crowns



I think soon we will be having a give away for a discount on a sports hat!

New Items!

These items were just finished and my wonderful friend took some great pictures of her new baby girl in them!

Fall Is On It's Way

Check out the great treasury I was featured in!  I'd love to see it on the front page of Etsy so click as many pictures as you can

'Fall Farm Harvest' by HooksNLoops

TOTEallyPosh $18.00	BrandisBowBout... $3.00	daisymadedesig... $59.00	MegansMenageri... $5.50
TwoLittleBlueb... $6.00	TheFeltedPear $37.00	TagAlongAdvent... $11.99	siblingspecial... $17.00
partypapercrea... $19.95	sparksoffire $40.00	thechicadeesho... $120.00	Fairyfolk $20.00
FreshLemonBlos... $4.50	tamaragarvey $38.00	claydogstudio $35.00	auldnouveau $7.29

Treasury tool by Red Row Studio.