Business in the Spotlight: A Treasured Something

                                          All about: A Treasured Something

Susan created  a small business called A Treasured Something. I spotted the gorgeous creations on Twitter and offered to do a blog post to showcase her business.

This is in Susan's words with some comments from me.

                                         Starting Out ....

Whilst I was at school I took Foundation Design and really enjoyed it. 

At the end of the school year, we were able to do exhibitions of our work and I put on one dedicated to The Teasle Family.  These were very much in during the early 1980s they were like little pompoms with a dress on and then a teasle head.  I then decided to make some stories with them and took photos on my old basic camera, had them developed at the chemist and put them in a book and wrote a little story about them living in my garden.  

I really enjoyed this and so did everyone who came to see my exhibition.

For many years then, art kind of fell by the wayside as work and gaining qualifications became more important. It wasn't really until about 10 years ago now that I started to pick it back up again, by looking into mixed media canvas paintings and decorating wine bottles and wine glasses.

                                                 My First Media Art Painting ....

I love this one so much because it reminds me 

of the sea with its wonderful colours and textures. 

I used a variety of mediums including broken 

jewellery, stamping and snow effects to give 

depth and texture to the painting.

It now hangs pride of place in my lounge to 

remind me of what I have achieved.

ME: I love the colours on this beautiful piece, it reminds me of the sea on a sunny day. 

Love the textures too, it's fabulous.

                

                              My Work Today .....

Over the past 10 years I have done a lot of different art and crafts, mainly for myself.  

                                     

One of the more unusual ones was making ornament goblets.

                                                                                

As a few of my friends were into Game of Thrones, I decided to get a few ordinary wine glasses and transform them into ornate Gothic style goblets.

ME: Aren't these fabulous? They really look the part. Such a great idea.

I enjoy diversifying into a variety of different mediums some have been pebble art, creating greeting cards and one of my loves at the moment is making miniature teddy bears and furry animals.  

As an artist and crafter I have found it very important to diversify in my work as it gives me ideals and inspiration.

 One of my favorite pieces has to be this little teddy bear and that is because I lost my little Pekingese in March this year and I popped some of her fur inside the teddy bear I had made so I could remember Hetty as she was my soul mate and will always be close to me.

ME: Such a wonderful idea, 

I am sure others would love something like this to remember a beloved pet and feel that they are still close. 

Susan's LINKS: 

ETSY: A Treasured Something

Ko-fi.com: A Treasured Something

Twitter: A Treasured Something

Facebook: A Treasured Something

Instagram: A Treasured Something

What do you think?

Did you enjoy this post about this lovely business? Do go and have a look, there are many beautiful pieces. Check out the social media pages. Why not follow to keep up to date with new products?

I love everything but especially the gorgeous Teddy bears, such glorious colours and so cute. They are not toys but fabulous collectables for adults to enjoy.

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Your business:

If you would like to have your business in the spotlight contact me. 

You need to write out why you started your business and what your inspiration is. Your first creation, your favourite piece and why. Add pictures and all links.

Its a Pay It Forward because starting out I had help from other crafters.

Business in the Spotlight: Lizbet Felt Creations

       Today's business in the spotlight is Lizbet Felt Creations

Usually I am given an idea of what to write with information supplied. Helen, the owner of this business has done all the hard work for me. She has done such a good job that I am leaving it all in her words.

Introducing Helen of Lizbet Felt Creations.

How it began

Needle felting was initially just a hobby for me. I loved art at school, but to my regret ,I didn’t carry on with it. If could go back in time, I’d go to art college. 

Over the years, I dabbled here and there, trying out different crafts in my spare

time, but nothing stuck. Then I bought a cheap needle felting kit and took to it immediately. The first thing I made was an apple, which is now sitting pride of place on my mum’s mantelpiece!

From dream to reality

I carried on experimenting. In 2020, after receiving some lovely comments about my work, I started thinking seriously about opening an Etsy shop, but I needed to work out the business side of things.

It was a dream come true when my Etsy shop eventually went live in November 2020 (yes, during lockdown). I felt nervous, but had the attitude that if it sells, it sells, if it doesn’t, it was worth trying. 

First Sale

The first creation I sold was a miniature penguin. I was sorry to see it go because it was a favourite of mine, but at the same time I was delighted to have made my first sale. I was so nervous wrapping the penguin up and preparing it for posting. What would the customer think? Thankfully I got great feedback, which boosted my confidence.

I’ve made many things since then, including lots of penguins.

I like to challenge myself. I have a list of things I want to make and am slowly working my way through it. Most recently I’ve ticked a cat off my list. 

I can’t pin down one favourite creation. Each new make becomes my favourite, but I can tell you the ones which stand out, and they include a hedgehog, a Herdwick sheep, and I loved a snowdrop and a fox I made so much, that I decided to keep them. I put a lot of myself into my work, so sometimes I do get attached.

One off creations

My work is unique. Many creations are one-offs, like the angels. Others are limited edition. Take the penguins I’ve made, even though some of them are done in the same style, their faces are all different, so when you buy something from me, know that no-one else has an identical piece. Needle felting is a slow art too, so I can’t make hundreds of the same item (not that I’d want to).

Now I have two shops, the original Etsy shop, plus a Crafter’s Market UK shop.

I opened the second shop because I wanted to be part of a site which was UK based. The Crafter’s Market UK shop is still a work-in-progress, but I am aiming to have that one for pictures, brooches, cards, plus one-off hanging decorations, whilst birds, animals and angels will all remain in my Etsy shop.

Loving the journey

2021 has been a learning curve, in terms of what I can make, social media and most recently, I’ve been looking into getting my work into local shops. 

I find needle felting relaxing. It’s the perfect way for me to express my creativity. It’s so exciting to start work on a blob of wool and to see what emerges. I love needle felting and I hope that comes across in my creations. 

Etsy: Welsh needle felting artist based in by LizbetFeltCreations (etsy.com)

Crafter’s Market UK: Lizbet Felt Creations (crafters.market)

Twitter: @lizbet_felt

Instagram: @lizbetfeltcreations

What do you think?

Did you enjoy the post? Have you checked out Helen's wonderful creations? Aren't they lovely, so cute and gorgeous!

Not looked yet? What are you waiting for? Click on those links and check them out.

Isn't it wonderful how a hobby and interest you really enjoy, can become a business you love.

Another post you might like: From Handmade Hobby to Business

Thank you for visiting and taking the time to read this post. See you again soon.

Money Making Crafts: Woodworking

 With so many people out of work because of business closures and less jobs available in the real world, it makes sense that so many are looking online. Whether looking for jobs, working for someone else, or wanting to start a business it seems that online, a hugely increasing market, is the place to be

Working from home

Being able to work from home has been shown to be pandemic proof, in the main. Some businesses suffered of course, the wedding and travel industry are the main ones that spring to mind. Those that only had one website that was totally invested in either of those would have lost their source of income virtually overnight.

Not a good place to be. The lesson there is to diversify.

Times are changing

Lots of big businesses have survived by moving online which meant a lot of job losses. Those that could work from home during lockdowns and restrictions found it was a better option. They felt safer, there was no commute and no office distractions. Another bonus was they got more done in less time, so had more family or leisure time.

Many do not want to go back into a busy office or work environment, neither do they want to be on crowded trains or buses on the commute to work.

Online businesses

These are on the increase but with over 4 billion online users there is plenty of room for all. Many crafters have upped their game and turned their hobbies into a business. Lots of others are looking at what they can do to create a viable business.

It doesn't need to cost much to start up, website provider/hosting, domain name etc. It can take time to build a business and there is more to learn about than you realise. 

You need to have good photographs from every angle with a good description. It's a good idea to have a blog on your website with articles on different aspects of your business or talking about what you make.

A good way to start off is advertising online via social media in your local area. It starts bringing in revenue quicker than waiting until your online presence has built.

What to make?

For this piece, I am going to start with woodwork. Why? Because if this is your forte there is such a variety of things you can create from large to small.

Let's start with a very popular item at the minute, a Mud Kitchen! Not heard of one? Nor me, until my granddaughter asked my husband to make one for our great-grandson's 1st birthday.

She gave him a picture for ideas and off he went.

The picture was before he added a top shelf and another underneath.

Now the reason for her asking was that so many she had seen were expensive. If they were a decent size, well made and looked good they were £300 upwards. Websites also charged extra for the accessories. 

We discovered some pound shops had stainless steel bowls for £1 and sets of wooden utensils for £1. They were just cut down to size for small hands. So it's worth looking offline as well as on for extras that you need.

You can do research and find out whatever else is popular at the minute.

More ideas

If you like making big stuff, there are sheds, log cabins as a garden room. Children's playhouses, benches, tables, desks, stools and so on. The list really is endless. 

Beds

My husband made some beds for the grandchildren. The first was a type of bunk bed over a desk though, rather than another bed. Camper van bunk beds that still look as good 10 years on. Very solid and sturdy unlike many you buy. 

He also made a toddler bed that looked like a digger. A four-poster single bed, with a pull-out bed underneath on castors.

Then of course you can make bed bases with storage underneath, either by lifting up or with drawers or cupboards underneath.

The list is endless once you start thinking. 

Shelves

Then there were shelves he made for a daughter's friends who saw the grandchildren's shelves. One person asked for a football pitch, another a sail boat and there were a few others too. 

So after making many for free, well not free to us of course, another daughter suggested he make a business of it. But this time make and sell them using eco board and eco paint.

He made a variety of children's shelves including a rainbow cloud, racing car, double decker bus, a castle, a fairy castle and a train and so many more.

They became popular, but it got too much after a while, with his full time working. So he stopped. 

You can make all sorts of shelves, not just novelty shelves, for all around the house.

Boxes

What about toy boxes or storage boxes? Be innovative and make sections to hold particular items. Paint them to match bedroom themes. Make big ones and small ones, perhaps even stackable for an office or craft room.

What about Pets?

You can make things for pets too. Kennels for dogs, hutches for rabbits and guinea pigs with or without a run, Hutches can of course be two storey to give more space to move around.

You can build aviaries for bird breeders.

Then there are beds. Cat beds and dog beds of all sizes too.

Be creative

Brainstorm ideas too. Look for something that no one or very few make. Get friends or family together and write down things that you would like to make. Then take those ideas and expand on them with 'What if's'.

What if something was a different shape? Try to be different.

If you are making to order, ensure you list the amount of time it will take to make an order up. Always take the money upfront for personalised or made-to-order items. If you have done the work you should be paid.

Conclusion

There is so much you can make from wood. If you enjoy woodworking then it's an ideal business. 

Working out costs and time is important. Don't make things for free because you feel guilty charging those you know. Once you make something free or at cost for someone they will not buy from you at full price.

Once you are a business treat it as a business, not a hobby. 

If you enjoyed the post, please comment to let me know and share for others to enjoy.

Thank you..

10 Most Popular Crafts in 2021

 

What are the most popular crafts? Any ideas?

Most people would come up with the things they enjoy doing. Why? Because they look for articles, websites, blogs and anything that is to do with what they enjoy.

We tend not to notice anything we aren't interested in. So obviously we don't ask those we know as this would probably be biased. 

Why are crafts popular again?

The interest in crafts seems to ebb and flow. In recent years, with people's lives becoming so busy, stuck on a treadmill of work, eat, sleep, hobbies didn't factor into many people's lives. 

What changed? 

The Pandemic! People were stuck at home. If they went out there were only food shops open. So of course people went online. They were bored, if they weren't working from home. Children were bored. So crafts amongst other things became more interesting. 

Hobbies became businesses

Some people discovered how much they really enjoyed their new hobbies and that others loved what they made. Before long new businesses sprung up online.

My granddaughter was one of those and her business, started last year, is going from strength to strength. Read HERE

What are the most popular crafts in 2021? 

Where do we go to find out? 

First Stop, Google

The obvious place to begin is Google. 

Results:

I had 2 choices. The most popular crafts and the most popular crafts to sell.

I selected the most popular crafts and all I got was the most popular crafts to sell. Hmmm. Clearly this is a popular question.

Searching again

This time I went for crafts trending in 2021.

So up came:

Crafts trends to look out for.

Craft trends to try in 2021.

The craft trends to watch.

And so on. Similar themes to go with.

It all depends which blog you look at as far as the order of crafts. Everyone looks at information and sees it from their own perspective.

My list

Resin: A very popular craft that seemed to really take off in 2021.

It was used mainly for jewellery at one time. Now there are keyrings, I had one in the letter of my name.

Trinket boxes, coasters, bowls, paperweights and I also saw an amazing wine bottle stand with holders for glasses too. Oh and a chess set and board that looked stunning, not to mention the brilliant paintings..

Starter kits are available, like this one: 

Orimath Epoxy Resin Crystal Clear Resin Kits for Beginners

Macrame: Now this made a comeback, I believe, because of the programme 'The Chateau'. The chatelaine,  Angel, a woman of many talents, made so many brilliant pieces for decoration in a variety of places, that inspired so many to try it for themselves.

Knitting: This has always stayed fairly popular but has had an increase in popularity in recent years.

There are so many wonderful things you can make with knitting. In the news recently is an elderly lady of 92, who has made many magnificent pieces with knitting. The latest is of the Sandringham Estate, the Queen's residence in Norfolk, where it is now on display. 

I suspect this wonderful lady has inspired many knitters. 

Crochet: This too has remained popular, with the usual ebb and flow of crafts. It too has had a resurgence of interest over the pandemic. It is easy to do and you can make things like blankets and scarves without requiring a pattern. 

I loved crochet and used to make up my own patterns. 

Candle making: A popular craft over the pandemic. Why? It's fun to do and you have something you can use at the end of it.

There are kits to try to see whether you like it before buying more, like the one shown here: 

Candle Making Kit

There are different types of wax: The usual paraffin wax. Soya wax, very eco friendly and much less carcinogenic and bees wax, another natural and eco friendly wax.

When made they make lovely gifts.

Baking: I have included this as it seems many people have become interested in cooking again and not just meals but actual baking too. Stunning cupcakes, cookies and cake designs that are so beautiful it seems wrong to eat them.

Programmes such as Bake Off had inspired some but the Pandemic seemed to bring out the srtistic flir in many.

 Pottery: Interest in pottery increased a lot in 2020 thanks to The Great Pottery Throwdown.

It's an interesting craft and very therapeutic. I had a couple of sessions that were a gift. It was interesting, fun and very calming shaping the clay onthe wheel. 

The pottery kit shown is for creating by hand without a pottery wheel. Its a good idea to find someone who gives lessons or does taster sessions, in your local area before buying expensive equipment.

The kit is called:

Pott'd Home Air-Dry Clay Pottery Kit for Beginners.

Sewing: Sewing has become popular because of the Great British Sewing Bee on television. Seeing how its done and the end results is inspiring and encouraging. Plus many have no idea what a variety of things you can make when you sew.

I did a blog about a man starting a sewing business. Read it HERE!

Painting: With time on their hands more people were exploring their love of art. Taking lessons online, getting outdoors with easel and paints as well as exploring the different mediums of acrylic, oil and watercolour.

Painting can be very absorbing and enjoyable, hours can pass by in a flash. I have often heard people say they cant draw or paint. It doesn't have to be perfect or even recognisable as anything, you just have to enjoy it.

Embroidery: Such a beautiful craft this is.

Embroidering pictures onto hoops is a very popular pastime.

The finished pictures make lovely gifts.

Of course embroidery is used on clothing, tablecloths, 

runners, chair backs and so much more.

It can be very absorbing and interesting to watch the picture emerge.

There are a variety of embroidery kits available

 includng this one:

4 Sets Embroidery Starter Kit

Starter kits are a good way to try a new craft.

I think 

that crafts are fun, enjoyable, they help with focus and we learn as we go. Learning anything new is very good to keep our brain sharp. The saying 'use it or lose it' is as true for our brain as for our bodies. It is important to keep both active.

It's really enjoyable spending time crafting and great fun trying out different crafts. It's also good to gain more skills and to have wider interests. 

It can help you to connect to other people who have similar interests. I have always found crafters to be a friendly bunch in the main.Ready to offer help and advice too when needed. It's a good commnity to be part of.

Are you a crafter or thinking of trying out a craft?

What is your favourite craft?

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Thank you for visiting, please come back soon.

The Story of Me and My Business

The Beginning

In a galaxy.... far far away .......  

Not really, lol.

 I started crafting at a young age with my grandmother, trying to show me how to knit. It didn't compute well as I expected it to grow faster. 

When I was 10 we moved house and rented an area that also had quite few things belonging to the owners.

I found a little booklet with detailed step by step pictures of crochet stitches. I tried it and bit by bit taught myself and from that moment on I was hooked.

I would make dolls blankets once I got hold of any wool, which wasn't often.

I would pick up the crochet occasionally but it finally became useful when I had children

I made many things for my home, especially after I got a knitting machine  I learned to design basic patterns to make clothes for the children,  jumpers for us and as gifts too.

Life got busier with a growing family and it was set aside.

Crochet was picked up occasionally from time to time but mostly lay untouched until grandchildren began to appear. 

Time to move Forward

But then the universe in its wisdom decided I wasn't doing what I should be doing and gave me shove.

3 illnesses all at once for just over 2 years was a really effective way of doing just that. I have to say it was very efficient otherwise it might have dragged on for a few years.

I have never been one to sit and do nothing and there is only so much meditation you can do. So out came the trusty hooks and yarn. I began to crochet blankets.

But as I improved I wanted variation and commenced making hats, scarves and fingerless mitts.

Of course the few items grew into piles and kept growing.

Once I recovered I had a brilliants idea, I could sell online. It would be simple to do. Right?  I have to say here, that I actually thought I would open an online shop and that was it, job done.

Starting that first online shop

I had absolutely no idea what I was doing or had let myself in for.

Just the initial set up was a challenge. I learned that I needed decent photos, not just one, but from every angle, as well as descriptions etc.

I did it, though it took a long while. The whole thing was a very steep learning curve and the more I learnt, the more I realised that I needed to know.

BUT .... once that first sale came in, I was hooked!! 

The general consensus was that it took about 4 years to make a reasonable profit. I have to say that it was about right. Not bad though considering I knew absolutely nothing about online selling when I started. 

I had never even looked at any social media platforms, they were a mystery too. I had resisted being on them but now I had no choice. 

I loved selling online and no longer wanted it as a hobby, I wanted a business!

Turning it into a business

I wanted a business but designing and creating crocheted accessories took too long too, I needed to change to something I could make more of, instead of something that took a few days. 

I did miniature paintings and really enjoyed those, sold quite a few. Then I tried needle felting, which was very satisfying and enjoyable. I made pictures and turned them into useful items like needlecases and pincushions.

It still wasn't what I was looking for though. I wanted something I could personalise, to make it totally unique for each person with a variety of designs to choose from.

Then I found Word Art.

It was new then and the pictures were very basic but it fired my imagination. I wanted to make something similar but make the pictures come alive, to give the idea of movement. 

It was certainly a challenge

Finding the right tools

I played around with it, having fun and learning. I liked it but I wanted to create better pictures. Pictures that were more life-like.

I spent months looking for the right software, not too complicated but good enough to create what I envisioned. I finally found the one I wanted and set to work.

I kept practicing, drawing new styles and pictures.

Then I realised that I needed more software for the finishing of the pictures. They would need editing. Making the right size, leaving a margin in case they were framed. Also being able to move words about so the right ones were larger and more prominent and the less important were clearly visible but smaller. 

I found the right software and had to learn how to use it for what I wanted. It was frustrating and fun all at once. Bit by bit I was getting where I wanted to be.

Word Art was born!

And so word art came into being about 7 years ago.

My first ones were very basic and I tested the waters with those. I made a few sales but hadn't gained the skills yet to alter the words without it being obvious. The price was lower while I worked this out but I didn't do many orders. I wasn't really advertising them much, afraid to put them out there in case it was a failure.

Gradually the pictures were getting better and I was building a basic collection.

A few became a dozen and kept growing, until I had a reasonable sized basic collection. I added a few to my Not On The High Street shop, then a few more. I kept practising but still they took many hours to create, it was all so new. I wanted each one to be perfect.

Very slowly, orders began to come in. It was exciting and scary too. 

The first  Christmas I did 30 in the November and nearly the same amount in the December despite a cut off point. Considering each one took most of a day, more if alterations were needed, that was a lot. By the Christmas I was exhausted and ready to drop.

At the same time, it was exhilarating and fun.

Another shove from the Universe

I got better, the order volumes grew, my business was doing nicely. I thought about leaving my job but it seemed too much like tempting fate.

Then, I lost my job, I was made redundant. I didn't get much money despite working there for over 20 years. The new boss had gradually whittled all the hours down, most just left. However, it was convenient for me but I knew my time there was limited.

When redundancy was mentioned I jumped at it because at least I would get something.

I considered getting another job but decided I would give myself 8 months to make it earn enough to at least equal my lost wage.

It was VERY hard work

Now I was working very long hours to make this into a business that paid me. I got up early, went to bed later and later. Designed new pictures, opened another shop, this time on Etsy and created a website.

The time passed in a blur. But before my deadline, it was a business that made the amount of profit I needed. In fact over time it surpassed my expectations.

At busy times, like Christmas, sleep became optional. 3-4 hours became the norm. Every single one took hours from start to finish, not as many as at the start but I wanted each one to be perfect.

I still love it but have cut back on it over the last few years as I spend time with grandchildren more.

I treasured the time with them and would not have given up the time for anything or anybody. 

Moving On

Now I needed something else, especially as the retirement age had moved on by 6 years. I wanted something new to learn, to stretch my brain to its limits. That would in time earn me money to replace lost income from limiting the word art. But what?

A chance remark about being an influencer due to the amount of my social media followers, set me off on a new path.

Time to learn and grow

I researched influencers as at that time I hadn't heard of them. Then I kept coming across affiliate marketing. Turned out that it was much the same thing, though I am pretty sure the influencers wouldn't say so. 

Plus affiliate marketing is harder as we do research, write about products we believe in or find solutions for problems that people need solving. A plus is that I love writing blogs. Finding things to write about is never a problem as I have several websites to fill.

I love new challenges and this is a major new challenge. It fits well with my lifestyle now, keeping up with family as we spread out. My work can be done anywhere and word art posting is planned to suit around my many days away each month.

During the Pandemic, I couldn't travel because of the Lockdowns and restricted times but I learnt a lot more and did get more done on my websites. So it is all coming along nicely.

Continuing to build

I would probably be much further along if I stuck to one website for affiliate marketing but of course I couldn't. A new idea would come along and set me off on a new tangent. But that's okay, it keeps life interesting.

There was one topic that I really wanted to talk about but it took me a while, as its kind of about the life journey, including mine and the things we learn, to grow as a person and spiritually. It's sharing all I have learnt through the years and continue to learn. It's HERE if you are interested in self help and growing into your best life.

It has taken a lot of hard work over the years, building social media and learning all I needed for each stage of my journey. However now it is a valued asset.

Now I know that learning never ends, that hopefully I will always seek new challenges and that life is more interesting when you are curious and have a thirst for knowledge.

I have also learned that change is good, you are never too old to start something new and that behaving like a kid, at times, is good for you too!!

I love my life and I am really happy, probably 98% of the time. The other 2% of possibly not, is because I am after all human and life happens.Lol.

Business in the Spotlight is Create England

 

Today's business in the Spotlight is: Create England

I discovered Andy of 'Create England' on Twitter:

On Twitter he is Andy@Create-England Please do go to visit and Follow him there for the latest news and creations.

How the Business started

From Andy:

I started my small business out of necessity. I had a bad episode of mental health issues that left me unable to get work. I don't like being bored so I got myself a sewing machine and taught myself the basics. I discovered that I really enjoyed it, being creative cleared my head and gave me a focus. I began to make and sell a few things.

Of course, then the Pandemic hit us and I was asked to make facemasks. I also started making laundry bags for the local hospital from old pillowcases. 

Making Bags

This then led me in to making bags which I now have a passion for. I like to make bags that are unique, strong, practical and look good too.

I purchased jeans, with broken buttons and zips, from the local charity shop and cut them up for the fabric to turn into bags.

My Take so far: 

I love this bag, looks good and is very practical. Eco friendly too, having been made from recycled fabric, which is just what we need to help the planet. What an easy way to do your bit for the environment, not only not using plastic but purchasing an eco friendly bag!

It's great to see and encourage those that want to help themselves to recovery from mental health issues as well as being determined to work no matter what!

Back to Andy:

When the charity shops closed due to Covid-19 I had to think of other ways to make bags. 

I had seen cushions made from lovely fabrics, so after looking into it, I decided to use that fabric to make some bags. And so my range of animal bags was born.

I continued to learn, innovate and improve my craft, something that, of course when you are doing something you love, never ends,

My Take on these:

I think these look absolutely gorgeous. There are a variety of bags available besides the ones you see here.

Do go and have a look. 

They come as shoppers as well as bags that zip up. Always useful to have a zipped option when out and about.

More from Andy:

Another thing I make on my website are letterbox post catchers. I started making them because my Mum struggled to pick up the post from the floor, so I wanted something to help her. She does find it much easier with her letterbox catcher but she complained that bills still come through too.

I think:

When I spotted those on the website I thought what a brilliant idea they are. Not just for those that struggle to pick up the post but for those with pets. Especially the ones that like to eat the post if they can or even just like to rip it or make it unreadable by chewing it to a pulp.

Then of course there are babies and small children. Crawling babies love anything that appears within reach and love nothing better than a good chew to help their gums while teething. Toddlers like to 'help' by opening the post even if the contents are no longer whole and sometimes they wander off with it and tuck it away safely somewhere unbeknown to parents.

So here is an unusual gift, a letterbox post catcher, that is ideal for yourself or to give to someone you know. Great for the elderly or those that struggle generally with mobility, for parents and pet owners too. 

Final words from Andy:

I am always thinking of ways to use fabric and as the offcuts built up I decided to make some patchwork bags. Each one is truly unique as I use what I have available and create them in my own innovative style. They are just as strong as the other bags because of the way I make them and the triple stitching on the 

Conclusion

A fabulous small business with a large range that includes cushions, drawstring bags and coin purses besides those items already explored here.

Had to include a little ditty for fun.

If you want to follow Andy on Instagram its HERE!

Ditto for Pinterest HERE!

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Did you enjoy this blog post? Don't forget to check out the website and see what you think.

Starting your Business, Basics

Let me say upfront, that I am not an expert by any stretch of the imagination. Having said that, I have been selling online for over 10 years now. I love the freedom it gives me and has given me for years.

I made the leap to working fulltime for myself when I got made redundant. I gave myself 8 months, from May when I became redundant to January. 

I told myself that if it wasn't earning me a decent wage by then I would get another job. That's a great incentive, especially in the winter, when it's wonderful to not have to go out in the cold, the rain, snow and whatever else winter throws at us.

This is literally the basic bare bones to get you started. Which is still more than I had when I started. If I can do it, so can you!

How to get started!

Nowadays the internet is a big part of our lives and most of us are fairly internet savvy.

I knew nothing and had to learn it from the ground up. I hadn't even been on any social media sites at that point, so it was a big learning curve.

It was easiest to start on a selling platform for me. It is a good way to get started. It wasn't a thing then but now, many start on Facebook and some sell only on Facebook. Whether you sell on there or not, it is a good idea to have a business page anyway.

A shop

Wherever you sell from, you need good detailed descriptions and good quality photographs. 

WHY?

Because that is the only way your customer will get to know what it is like before buying. Photos show them and the description obviously describes it in more detail. This is what will sell your goods.

You will be charged a small amount to list each item and generally the listing will last for 3 months.

Any selling platform now tends to have clear set up instructions and videos to show you step by step.

You will learn to tag your items with terms that people search for and including such words in your description and Title. This is called SEO or Search Engine Optimisation. 

My Shops: Etsy & NOTHS

A website

You can build your own website which is easy enough to do. I know because I managed it several years back. I had it up and running in less than a week just spending a little time here and there when I could.

Many of the platforms that host websites will have a free basic starter site you can sign up for. 

Many crafters I knew just stayed with the free version, especially if they linked it back to their shop for selling.

My Website

Social Media

If you want to have your own business selling goods or services, you need people to find you. That is where social media comes in.

You get business pages on each platform, all free, and start to build each one. Logo, business name a little bit about you and a link to your shop or website. You can usually only add one link. 

That is where a website is useful as you can add a button for any shops or social media.

Which Ones!

The main and important social media platforms are probably ones you use all the time; Facebook, Twitter, Instagram and Pinterest. 

There are others but don't overload yourself at the start as you need to use them regularly and interact with others to gain followers. 

The more followers you have, the more people that will get to see what you have to offer as your followers comment and share your posts. 

What else?

If you are making goods, keep making. In quiet times, yes there will always be times where you sell less than other times. Design new products, get on social media and get busy gaining followers. The more you do towards building those followers the more your business and goods will get seen.

TAX: Get registered with your local tax office. Even if you don't make much at first, it is very important to ensure your business is legitimate. I have heard about people being caught and fined because tax offices look online for those that haven't registered.

Yes there are a lot of new businesses springing up and there were lots before the Pandemic brought more. So is it overcrowded? 

With 4.6 BILLION people using the internet worldwide as of November 2020 (more now) I don't think we need to worry too much. 

The Internet is a growing business market, so get in there and get started.

Now is the time! A ditty!

         

Time to take the leap?

Most people are fed with working for someone else and having their working hours dictated by someone else. 

You know what they say about a J.O.B.? Just Over Broke!

I'm not interested in watching Television, so the evening is a great time for me to work. My daytime hours are decided by family and what else I have to do. 

In normal times I travel to stay with family at least 3 times a month, then my working hours change accordingly.

Yes it's hard work but it's for YOU!

Motivating tips for working from home.

Don't let fear hold you back

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I hope you enjoyed this post on the basics of starting a business. 

Sometimes basics are all you need. It can be very easy to get caught up in research on what to do and never actually make the start.

When I began over 10 years ago, I had no idea what online selling entailed. I decided and went for it, built it up alongside a job, home and family. 

I LOVE every minute of it!!

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Thank you for visiting, hope you enjoyed the post.

Questions and comments welcome.