Can anybody explain to me exactly where the hours go in a day? Like most people, I seem to get up, run around like a headless chicken, then go to bed!
Mind you, I shouldn't moan - I absolutely love being busy. There's nothing worse than sitting around staring into space, although I would like to get a little time to read a book occasionally.
Its been a strange sort of a week so far - no orders have come in via the website or over the phone but cos I've been running around its only just dawned on me. I do think I maybe haven't been giving the nappy cakes the time they deserve and I really need to rectify that or there's a good chance I'm going to lose the business altogether.
I need to spend some time on my website, my advertising and well ... just everything really. Unfortunately I'm going to have to sit down and actually timetable some of this into my week otherwise I'm just not going to get it done.
I've got a meeting tomorrow at midday so that's going to cut into the day and then Friday I've got another appointment. Sunday is my mum's birthday so all the family are getting together so I've made the decision ... Saturday is "nappy cake" day.
I'll let you know whether I actually keep the date. Watch this space.
Wednesday, 16 March 2011
Sunday, 13 March 2011
When space becomes an issue
Well, as I explained in my last post, I now have a bit of a glut of nappy cakes taking up residence in my living room.
On and off all weekend I have been trying to move them around so they don't take up as much room as they seem to be doing at the moment, but I think I'm just making things worse!
I think I'm going to have to seriously consider some sort of special offer to entice the customers to buy as I don't have another show until 27th March, which means things are going to remain a little crowded.
It does seem strange that whenever I did a stock swap at the hospital shop, somebody would then place an order for the exact nappy cake on the website that I had just left 10 miles away, but as soon as they are all waiting for new homes nobody seems to be ordering. Where are all those Spring babies?
Now I'm going to sound quite odd, but having so many already made up means I don't have any reason to sit and make some more which is one thing I really love to do. Sitting and creating a new nappy cake gives me a warm fuzzy feeling inside (sad eh?!) and as each one is so unique from my previous creations, the joy of seeing it come together is something I have always loved.
So, if you know anyone who is looking for a bargain please contact me and I promise to offer them a good deal on buying a nappy cake (just so I can have my living room back!).
On and off all weekend I have been trying to move them around so they don't take up as much room as they seem to be doing at the moment, but I think I'm just making things worse!
I think I'm going to have to seriously consider some sort of special offer to entice the customers to buy as I don't have another show until 27th March, which means things are going to remain a little crowded.
It does seem strange that whenever I did a stock swap at the hospital shop, somebody would then place an order for the exact nappy cake on the website that I had just left 10 miles away, but as soon as they are all waiting for new homes nobody seems to be ordering. Where are all those Spring babies?
Now I'm going to sound quite odd, but having so many already made up means I don't have any reason to sit and make some more which is one thing I really love to do. Sitting and creating a new nappy cake gives me a warm fuzzy feeling inside (sad eh?!) and as each one is so unique from my previous creations, the joy of seeing it come together is something I have always loved.
So, if you know anyone who is looking for a bargain please contact me and I promise to offer them a good deal on buying a nappy cake (just so I can have my living room back!).
Friday, 11 March 2011
A sad day :0(
The title of this blog is due to the fact that I went to one of the shops that stocked my nappy cakes and removed them all today.
Don't get me wrong, I wasn't just in a mood, there really was a genuine reason and I thought long and hard and then even longer before I actually went ahead and did it.
This particular shop has stocked my nappy cakes practically since I started making them, but unfortunately there is a huge amount of building work going on around it and the main door through which everybody came in and subsequently meant they walked straight past the window of the shop, has now been closed up because of the construction and therefore people don't have to walk past, which naturally means nothing is selling :0(
Each of the shops that stock my items work on a slightly different basis but this particular one rented me the shelving space and I have been paying out more than I've been getting in as hardly anything was selling. I had to take the decision, that until the building work is completed, sales were going to be slow to non existent and I am better off putting my money into some fairs and events.
Mind you, my living room is now absolutely full to bursting with nappy cakes. Eldest daughter goes way for 6 months at the end of April so I plan on utilising her room then but until that happens I'm going to have to hope and pray that some orders come in and so my stock starts to downsize!
Maybe a special offer is in order?
Don't get me wrong, I wasn't just in a mood, there really was a genuine reason and I thought long and hard and then even longer before I actually went ahead and did it.
This particular shop has stocked my nappy cakes practically since I started making them, but unfortunately there is a huge amount of building work going on around it and the main door through which everybody came in and subsequently meant they walked straight past the window of the shop, has now been closed up because of the construction and therefore people don't have to walk past, which naturally means nothing is selling :0(
Each of the shops that stock my items work on a slightly different basis but this particular one rented me the shelving space and I have been paying out more than I've been getting in as hardly anything was selling. I had to take the decision, that until the building work is completed, sales were going to be slow to non existent and I am better off putting my money into some fairs and events.
Mind you, my living room is now absolutely full to bursting with nappy cakes. Eldest daughter goes way for 6 months at the end of April so I plan on utilising her room then but until that happens I'm going to have to hope and pray that some orders come in and so my stock starts to downsize!
Maybe a special offer is in order?
Monday, 7 March 2011
Making notes
Do you know how some days you just seem to have everything going round and round in your head? Well that's how today has been for me.
I really really need to start writing things down and then remembering to actually check back at what I have written as I completely forgot I had made an appointment to see somebody this afternoon.
It was only when I checked my mobile (which was on silent) and saw I had 5 missed calls that it dawned on me I was meant to be at home - oops!
Luckily the lady concerned had gotten lost driving to my house and so we practically met on my driveway. We had a very interesting chat and I now have yet more ideas to add to my portfolio for the future of my nappy cake business.
I attended two separate shows over the weekend and only managed to sell one thing on Saturday and nothing at all on Sunday - however things do seem to go like that and I did manage to hand out an awful lot of leaflets so I'm hoping business will come in from them.
Mind you, I've lost count of the number of times I've been told somebody will definitely be ordering a nappy cake when their friend/relative/work colleague has their baby only to see the birth announcements made on various social networking sites but no order is forthcoming.
The amount of people now making nappy cakes is amazing - if you search for the term on any search engine more and more businesses seem to be springing up every day - I guess the goal is to create something that is better, more unusual and also cheaper than anybody else and keep your fingers crossed.
So, I'm off to have a bit more of a think about what I discussed during my afternoon meeting and how I can use it to enhance my business.
Have a great week x
I really really need to start writing things down and then remembering to actually check back at what I have written as I completely forgot I had made an appointment to see somebody this afternoon.
It was only when I checked my mobile (which was on silent) and saw I had 5 missed calls that it dawned on me I was meant to be at home - oops!
Luckily the lady concerned had gotten lost driving to my house and so we practically met on my driveway. We had a very interesting chat and I now have yet more ideas to add to my portfolio for the future of my nappy cake business.
I attended two separate shows over the weekend and only managed to sell one thing on Saturday and nothing at all on Sunday - however things do seem to go like that and I did manage to hand out an awful lot of leaflets so I'm hoping business will come in from them.
Mind you, I've lost count of the number of times I've been told somebody will definitely be ordering a nappy cake when their friend/relative/work colleague has their baby only to see the birth announcements made on various social networking sites but no order is forthcoming.
The amount of people now making nappy cakes is amazing - if you search for the term on any search engine more and more businesses seem to be springing up every day - I guess the goal is to create something that is better, more unusual and also cheaper than anybody else and keep your fingers crossed.
So, I'm off to have a bit more of a think about what I discussed during my afternoon meeting and how I can use it to enhance my business.
Have a great week x
Thursday, 3 March 2011
And the season starts again ....
Well, the 2011 show season is well and truly under way now.
I attended a baby and toddler show last Sunday and despite the fact that the weather fairy did her very best to keep people away (it bucketed down all day) people still came out for a wander and I sold two nappy cakes, a keepsake box and two scan mounts - so a pretty good show really.
I'm starting to get back into the swing of things with regards to what I need to pack in the car and with hubby helping it even all fits! Mind you, at the end of the show when I'm desperate to get home and put my feet up, things just never seem to go back in the car as well as when they arrived.
Its been a bit of a strange week as only one order has come through from the website and nothing via the phone but then some weeks are like that.
This coming weekend is going to be pretty busy as I have a craft fair on Saturday and another baby and toddler show on Sunday so I'm going to spend tomorrow frantically making sure I have enough supplies to cover me for both days just in case there's a sudden rush (chance would be a fine thing!).
I'm also looking to get a regular stall at a local market and have applied for one but apparently there's a bit of a list so it may be a wait. Mind you, with how cold its been again this week, I won't mind too much if nothing comes of it until the spring. Standing outside in all weathers doesn't appeal too much but if that's what I have to do to get myself a bit more well known and get those much needed orders then so be it.
Well, I'm off to have a look and see what the wholesalers are offering this week as I'm rapidly running out of teddies.
Have a good one x
I attended a baby and toddler show last Sunday and despite the fact that the weather fairy did her very best to keep people away (it bucketed down all day) people still came out for a wander and I sold two nappy cakes, a keepsake box and two scan mounts - so a pretty good show really.
I'm starting to get back into the swing of things with regards to what I need to pack in the car and with hubby helping it even all fits! Mind you, at the end of the show when I'm desperate to get home and put my feet up, things just never seem to go back in the car as well as when they arrived.
Its been a bit of a strange week as only one order has come through from the website and nothing via the phone but then some weeks are like that.
This coming weekend is going to be pretty busy as I have a craft fair on Saturday and another baby and toddler show on Sunday so I'm going to spend tomorrow frantically making sure I have enough supplies to cover me for both days just in case there's a sudden rush (chance would be a fine thing!).
I'm also looking to get a regular stall at a local market and have applied for one but apparently there's a bit of a list so it may be a wait. Mind you, with how cold its been again this week, I won't mind too much if nothing comes of it until the spring. Standing outside in all weathers doesn't appeal too much but if that's what I have to do to get myself a bit more well known and get those much needed orders then so be it.
Well, I'm off to have a look and see what the wholesalers are offering this week as I'm rapidly running out of teddies.
Have a good one x
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)