Creating my own Website

Creating a website has been more difficult than I previously thought.  Of course, I knew it wasn't going to be easy, but I didn't think I would be so hesitant about making the final moves.  I am determined to create my own website, and to further promote my business.  I have been continuing to research, using Christine Grier's Handmade Results as well as watching videos on the SBI! website.  There's a lot of interesting information about how to choose your niche and create interesting website content for the people you would like to attract as your audience.  Now that I have been researching I do realize that many popular websites are built with these theories in mind.  You go to a website because you needed information about something and then while you are browsing you see a link for something interesting that may lead you to click on an ad or even spend money.  Seems and sounds simple.  It has not been, there is a lot to do before you just decide to start a webpage.  You really want to have your stuff together before you publish.  As hard as it has been to get jumpstarted, I know that this is something that I really want to do.  I am starting to get that excited feeling in the morning when I wake up that I can do work on this project.  It's the feeling I get when I am starting a new toy or design.  It's keeping me awake at night as I start to piece together the content that I want to write about.  I think the reason I am excited is because I think the writing will be just as much fun as creating my jewelry, toys and clothes.  How awesome would it be to have a job that I love as much as I love sewing.  It's obviously just in the initial stages, but I am going to write about women like me, with active lifestyles in Hawaii.  It will be more than that, but I think that will be the most interesting part.  I will also link to interesting hikes and possible sports to try out here.  It will be a resource for visitors to the island as well as anyone who is relocating and wants to stay active.  I remember how difficult it was when I first moved here to find resources.  It is not easy out here unless you know someone.  Hopefully this website can be helpful for some people.  I am super excited about interviewing the friends that I have made out here to get their stories.  What better way to show my appreciation for them, than to write an article showing how awesome they have been?  Let me know what you think!

My shop has moved.

I have decided to focus all of my energy on one selling site rather than two.  I have had two many people tell me they can't find my shop on Etsy.  That's ridiculous.  Even with my username and my shopname I have had several people tell me it is hard to find.  How are strangers supposed to find my shop if my friends can't do it?  I have simplified everything by creating a blog site where I will sell my items under my own domain name.  It is exciting envisioning myself as a businesswoman.  Please check out my new site by clicking here or simply type in http://amberelyse2.blogspot.com.  See you there!

Working on the Business End of Things

I've been listening/watching to some videos about the CTMP theory of building your business. Very interesting stuff.  It is the first time that I have really understood why you want to target your one group of people, or your niche.  I always kind of thought that it would be selling out to pick a target audience and gear your product towards them, but after doing some research I feel like slapping myself in the head for not going with it a long time ago.  Of course, there's a lot more to it than that.  I've learned a ton from handmaderesults.com.  It's gotten me thinking about actually having a business.  I think previous to this I've wanted to sell my stuff, but I hadn't wrapped my head around the thought of having my own business.  Now I'm super excited.  Will keep everyone posted when my ideas are more goal oriented and focused.  Biggest advice was to take these beginning steps slow, not to rush it.  The beginning planning stage is the foundation and if it is weak it will crumble.  So I'm going to try to go about this in a way that will hopefully have me working from home in a few years.  Who knows.  Wish me luck!

New Strategy

I need to regroup.  I read an article this morning that made me really take a look at how I have been attempting to get started selling my items.  I have been going about it all wrong.  I love looking at my Etsy site and seeing my items up there, as if they are sitting on a shelf in a store for anyone browsing to stop and look at.  The truth of the matter is that the Etsy and Etsy like websites are so jam packed with other people with similar items as mine.  For me to assume that all I need to do is put those items on a website and people will randomly stumble upon them and then buy them no longer seems like a good idea.  I'm glad I went that route and will keep my Etsy shop open, but I will be revamping my whole strategy soon.  I read an article by Christine Gierer titled How to Get Results Selling Your Jewelry Online and it's obvious that she has been through this process before and had some real life strategies to take a look at.  The truth of the matter is, I have to decide to run a business not a hobby.  That transition hasn't happened yet.  I have only dabbled in selling online and although I have sold a few items, it is literally friends and family and a random person who stumbled upon an item they liked.  So.  Instead of forging ahead blindly, continuing to hope that luck will come my way, I am making a commitment this year to start an actual business.  I know in my heart that I make quality toys.  I know in my heart that I can make awesome jewelry.  My friends and family have said I should sell what I make.  The difficulty is how do you tell strangers how awesome it is?  I do not come from a business background.  This has been my challenge.  This is why I have been only posting sporadically on this site.  I just haven't felt like I've been going in the right direction.  I haven't felt that "Aha!"  I am going to keep up my site, but the first step of my new strategy is doing a lot of research to find my niche.  I may limit myself at this time to research and of course, building a stuffed Minotaur for my brother.  That challenge had me stumped for a while, but after a wonderful dream last night I figured out how to modify one of my existing patterns to create a stuffed, standing mythical minotaur (half man, half bull).  I think I am going to go a little whimsical and combine soft, snuggly materials with a gruff pattern (and nose ring of course). 
I will continue to post as I research, but feel free to leave a comment if you're interested in any of my items or are thinking about how to create a custom toy!