New Footer to reflect new direction of blog

Earlier in the year, I was a good girl.  Blog posts were written twice a week.  There was a schedule of topics and photos, and a list of 'let's re-visit' ideas.  Then May happened...I had my first craft show in May with LeilaBel Anne.  After that, time wasn't managed properly because all LBA time was allocated to making products.  [Negative] The blog was not updated.  Topics were lame.  Stories were not as well thought out.  [Positive] Improved product quality.  Researched better suppliers.  Gained more show experience.  Developed a network of other crafters.

Originally, the blog was to focus on the management side of having a business in handcrafted goods.  I should hang my head in shame because I tried to be too business-y, but didn't have much experience.  This is what my footer used to look like:

Craft Show Display: First 10' x 10' set up

The 39th Annual Hand of Man Art & Craft Sale was held this past weekend.  Being the largest show in Peterborough, it was the best opportunity to test LeilaBel Anne products in my local market.  What I want to or think will sell may not be what does sell, so this show provided a great learning experience.  Merchandising, product development, salesmanship...participating in a show improves all that.

For The Hand of Man, a corner booth is what LeilaBel Anne reserved.  A corner booth allows attendees to see a vendor's items from two sides (as opposed to one side with a regular booth).  The more products people can touch and see up close, without having to walk inside a booth, the better chance a sale will be made.  Even if they don't buy, I have an idea of what they like based on what they look at.  I saw your lingering eyes even if you didn't notice me.  Sometimes you can learn more about a customer by just observing.  Here is how I filled my first 10' x 10' space:

Now on Instagram

www.instagram.com/LeilaBelAnne

I've been re-evaluating the purpose of this blog because I have less time to dedicate to it.  My recent posts have been short and kinda useless, so I'm putting an end to it.  Similar to LeilaBel Anne products, I don't want to put anything out there that doesn't meet my quality standards.  Instagram it is!  In a previous post, I wrote about how I will be using social media.  Here is my re-evaluated plan:

Promotional Cards - Use one card in multiple ways

A friend recently asked me to include a little blurb about my business with her shipment.  She thought it would be a nice idea to inform her friends (who were receiving Mother/Daughter scarves from her) about LeilaBel Anne.  It's actually a GREAT IDEA!

I could have printed a write-up on computer paper, trim it to size and...that's it.  Ummm....I don't think so.  What a waste of a branding opportunity.  This is what I did.  

Finance and Administration - applying skills to first show!

"A passionate crafter with a background in business."  That's the tagline to describe me.  I have a background in Finance and Administration (stalk me on LinkedIn, though I likely have not updated it).  How did I apply what I know to my first show?  Top 3!

1. Track Revenue and Investment
Thank you SQUARE!

PART 2: Displaying the goods - my first table in detail

Be selective.  Be creative.  Re-purpose.  Save your $$$ dolla dolla bills.  Your show table should complement your products and enhance your brand.

Focus of Part 2: A detailed look into my first table.  I used stuff to show off my stuff.  For my first table, I think I did an alright job, but there are definitely changes I am going to make for future shows.  In Part 3, I'll be writing about Lessons Learned.

Onto a detailed look into LeilaBel Anne's first show table.  Some photos are from my mock display in my bedroom because I didn't take blog-quality pics.  I think I was a little too excited to be there.  *embarrassed pout

[Reminder] Available SUPER CUTE Goodies for Sale: scarves, hair accessories, gift tags, and magnets

The evolution.  
When applying for the show, I set up a mock display using one table and one standing rack.  (NOTE: I later upgraded to two tables and one standing rack at no additional cost).  Check out the 'Before' and 'After'.  While both set ups have a similar look, the set up was sssooo different.

Milestone: First item shipped! And I'm still worried

Update (May 14, 2014):  After speaking with fellow vendors and researching what some ETSY sellers do re: tracking, I've decided that all shipping costs will be at the customer's expense.  If they want the package tracked and with insurance, they will have to pay.  My disclaimer: "LeilaBel Anne/Jennifer Ducusin is not responsible for lost, stolen or damaged goods in transit."  Packaging will be at my expense.

Original post...

Not gonna lie...I am hesitant to open my ETSY shop because the costs associated with shipping and packaging worry me.  With my limited funds (reminder - I haven't 'worked' since 2011), I've allocated most of my dolla dolla bills to buying supplies and tools for creating super cute, high quality goodies.  If I wouldn't own it, I'm not going to make it.  I knew one day I would have to ship something...that day came last week.

Deep breath.  Can't delay shipping now! 

Why $330 worth of Pottery Barn curtains were ripped apart

Table cloth, tablecloth, table cover...whatever.

Two tables.  Two table covers.  90" x 132" preferably.  That's what I'll be needing for my first show in May.  I sourced linen suppliers within Canada (so I don't have to worry about fees from importing).  For 2 orange table cloths and 2 overlays, my total cost would have been $80 + tax.  That's with a 20% discount - the 'always on discount' discount.  I had set my budget to $50 and $80 > $50.

Moving on....

$2 for gift tags aka LeilaBel Anne promotional material

Label and package gift tags.  CHECK!  

Based on my calculations, approx. 2,000 gift tags were punched, stamped, glued, strung, and placed into boxes.  2,000-ish!  Let's break it down...

Show signage

*UPDATE April 23, 2014:  Since this post, I've changed my accent font to Pupcat.

Design table signage for shows.  CHECK!
Created with PowerPoint.  To remain consistent with my blog, I used the same accent colour (orange) and fonts (floraless and consolas).  The price box is blank because I'm not sure if I'm going to write it in or have it already printed.  I'm thinking...and thinking...

Accepting orders!

Create an order from.  CHECK. 
I don't have a price list up in my Products section yet, but I do have my order form completed.  Backwards.  I know.

With just over a month until my first show,  I've entered panic mode .  Right now, my to-do list contains 20+ administrative and display-related tasks.  With each cross-out, my stress decreases...for only 2.5 seconds because it's replaced with something else I need to do.

So relief lasted 2.5 seconds when I finished working on my order form-paper (#17).

Inspiration: It started with a 'lamp'

A candle holder...designed as a lamp...a shade made of wax on a wooden base....SUPER CUTE and the inspiration behind the LeilaBel Anne show table and product photos.  When I saw this 'lamp' at Value Village, I had to get it!  I was INSPIRED.  The cogs in my brain got oiled and the ideas kept coming.  If a cartoonist could capture me in that moment, thought bubbles would be bursting from my head.

Personal Branding: Profile Photo

On Sunday night, I updated my Facebook profile photo and was overwhelmed by the amount of 'Likes' I received in less than a day.  Far exceeding any mobile post I've done.  The simple change of updating my profile picture had a big impact on my Personal Brand.  

Branding milestone: Thank you Vistaprint!

I'm a fan of Vistaprint.  Making it official after I've researched suppliers in town and online.  In an earlier post, I asked where I could use my logo? Answer: business cards, self-inking stamps and a banner.  Check out the BCard below.  Wickedness!

With limited funds, I had to wisely decide what needed to be made with my logo.  Vistaprint...oh Vistaprint.  You provided me the menu of logo happiness.  Not only did you offer quality items in a timely manner, but your prices are awesome!  The holy trinity of small business branding.  I should note that I took advantage of their semi-annual sale where all items were 40-50% off.

Here's my rationale of what I LeilaBel Anne-ified:

LeilaBel Anne is on Facebook

Create a page on Facebook: CHECK
www.facebook.com/leilabelanne

Branding issue: Dear Facebook, please allow a second capital letter in company names.  Not cool.

It's LeilaBel Anne; not Leilabel Anne (as seen on Facebook).  I could have written 'Leila Bel Anne,' but the first name being together is important to me as I want it to represent my daughters as one.  Continuity is important in branding, especially the name.  Oh Facebook...damn.  *tsk tsk, *lower head aannnddd shake  Other than this hiccup, set up was easy.

Always looking on the positive side: Facebook provides a great platform for introducing LeilaBel Anne to friends and family.  Check you there or check you here!

Covering the basic sites

1. Facebook
2. Twitter
3. Pinterest

In the crafting world, I've observed that these three sites are commonly used as promotional and informational pages, in addition to a home site (I use Blogger).  Prior to purchasing my .COM, I performed a general search online and specific sites to make sure LeilaBel Anne was not taken.  Bonus!  Nothing to be found.  Even if I don't intend to use LBA on every site, I'm more at ease knowing that the name belongs to me and not a random person.  Registering on these sites is FREE!  I'm trying to create a brand, so allocating time and having patience to register is worth ensuring that LBA is not associated with products and/or services that are inappropriate or misleading.

My initial plan of attack:

The Logo

It took me 30 mins. to come up with the design on PowerPoint.  It took me an additional 5 days to download a designing program (Inkscape), adjust proportions and alignment, get it critiqued by those closest to me, and finalize it.  I love the design because it's sssooo me.  If you broke me down into pixels, you'd get my logo.  A little funky, easy to read (no problem expressing my thoughts and emotions here - my hubs definitely knows that), some chunk - haha!, and eyeglasses because 1. the frames make my eyes appear larger - in my head, 2. a practical, fun accessory, and 3. to those near and dear to me - when is the last time you saw me without glasses?!?!  Little detail: the three dots on either side of the frames represent the three chicks that make up LeilaBel Anne - Leilani, Evelynn Mabel, and j.Anne.  The WINK is for being SUPER CUTE!