The delivery has finally arrived and I now have 6000 keyrings
taking up most of any available storage space we have.
I spend time doing the day to day running of the business in my
office, which consists of the front room, a laptop, a Roberts digital radio (that
I steal whenever I can, even though I actually bought it as a present for my
partner!), three in-trays, two pretty coloured filing boxes, an array of pens
and a free mouse mat and mug that, sadly, are bright green and were presented
to me in a triumphant manner by my son who had got them from a trade fair!
In the hallway I have painted an old
dresser in lovely Farrow & Ball colours and have arranged my keyrings in
gift bags (which were an expensive mistake, as I forgot to add on P&P when
ordering from China, making them no cheaper than the UK at all – lesson learnt!)
and various displays. I’m learning lessons all of the time and I've now become obsessed
with different types of packaging, in my attempts to make the product appeal to
a range of potential audiences. For instance, I feel that gift shop owners
prefer the product displayed in an open manner, before being gift wrapped
beautifully, something which is difficult on a budget, though I have found that
I can use a pillow shaped packaging for the product. The jury is therefore out
as to whether the clam shell shape I currently have will be viable for the long
term.
The company’s
expenditure continues to pour out for things such as Intellectual Protection,
a Royal Mail PO box and insurance, however I am determined to put every penny earned from sales away so I can attend a Spring Fair in 2014.
Last week I had
some great news, I have been accepted on a high end design led online
retail site, so I have had some different product photographs taken with a
lovely young girl who is starting her own photography business @LDK_Photograpy. She
is enthusiastic, turns her work around promptly and professionally and I'm
sure she will do well.
Hopefully by the
end of the week I will have decided what to upload for the profile area of the
retail site and written all the information necessary. I feel it is very
important to present yourself well on all forms of social media. Even though I
have not found it easy, I believe that it is something you leave at your
peril and I will persevere and learn as I go on. It is also a great way of
obtaining free advertising so tweet on!
Meanwhile life
goes on as normal, I work part time and family tasks never end. I will
continue to juggle in order to get my business off the ground.
