New Soap Designs Require New Packaging



The unveiling of our new packaging for some of the new soap designs

This week I have been on Spring Break and not making much soap because I have so much packaging to finish up and get ready for our Open House for local customers this weekend.  (The house needed a good spring cleaning, too)  With the new soap designs that have more eye appeal than the simple looking bars of the past, there was still this itch to take the look up a notch further.  I am happy to say that I am 100% happy with the new eye appeal of both the soaps and the packaging.   Gift ready for any occasion ~ Mother's Day, Birthday, Anniversary, and more. 

Labeling is the last feat to accomplish before Saturday, and I might just have to buy a new printer because I don't have another minute to waste on ink streaks with labels.   I think the problem requires the assistance of a professional cleaning above and beyond the capabilities of the features on the printer and time is not in my favor at this stage of the game. 

Last week I started listing items in our online shop and have already shipped the first order out.  From now until May 5, 2013 we are offering a free bar of our Kitchen Soap with orders of $20 or more (before shipping). 

Etsy-versary

Earlier this month I celebrated my First Anniversary on Etsy. I had tried selling online via other avenues in the past, with little success. Knowing how to market and where to market seemed to be a sea of unknowns, not to mention ~ time consuming. Finding the time to devote/seek out marketing avenues after working 8+ hours 5 days a week can be difficult. Internet marketing is vastly different than a Brick and Mortar store. You can't physically see your target audience and you only have a few seconds to make a lasting impression that will prompt the visitor to look beyond that first click.

When I stumbled across Etsy, I was impressed with the fact that I could open a shop for free, the listing fees very reasonable, and the selling fees equally reasonable. Best of all, Etsy is a selling market geared to expose handcrafted products. I figured I had little to lose if nothing sold. But, if I did start selling, then I've gained some much needed extra income for my family.

Within weeks sales began to come in. After spending hours on end scouring the forums on Etsy, I came to realize that the only way for sales to keep coming in I had to devote an incredible amount of time to market my shop. And the marketing had to go beyond Etsy to be effective and far reaching.

Selling online is hard work. New avenues to market yourself are discovered every day. You might find one technique of marketing that works today, but is "dead" tomorrow. Just as technology is changing every day, so is internet marketing. Do you know how many people I have met both online and off that have never heard about Etsy? If you aren't marketing your shop off of Etsy you are missing a huge market of potential customers.

I have met some of the greatest people on Etsy. I've gained some awesome friendships and customers both locally and abroad. I have little to complain about...at almost 600 sales a year later, I'm pretty jazzed!

Everything Purple ~ A Happy Day!

What can I say? I LOVE my perennial flowers and they love me back. I can't help myself...each year they take my breath away and I have to preserve their beauty with memories. I never tire of my flowers.

The lilacs are bursting...


The crocus my husband gifted me 2 years ago for our 20th anniversary are smiling back at me...


And their tiny beauty is simply breathtaking!

22nd Anniversary

It is a busy weekend with Easter and all...throw in our 22nd Wedding Anniversary and you have the makings for a very busy weekend. We have aged gracefully, have two teenagers almost ready to make the jump into adulthood, and one child that has already crossed out of the teen years. With 22 years of experiences (some good, some bad) to reflect upon, our love still rings true and is the driving force of our marriage.

For the occasion, we took a little ride to Hanover, New Hampshire to check out this fabulous restaurant, Jesse's. The rustic appearance of the place was so cozy and inviting, the staff equally pleasant. They have the most incredible salad bar loaded with fresh baby greens, vegetables, and salads. Much of what they stock on the salad bar is locally grown or handmade in house. Awesome, awesome!!! We were in pursuit of a good steak, and Jesse's delivered along with their signature steak sauce that is outstanding...and this chick is a die hard A-1 Steak Sauce kinda girl! The Turtle Cheesecake was so tempting, so we caved in on a rare occasion to indulge ourselves with dessert. Curiosity got the better of me...Green Tulip Martini? Not bad, catchy name, lured me right in! LOL I would suggest if you are ever in Hanover, NH and want to check out Jesse's, to call ahead to make reservations. The place is happening and busy.