This past week I have been extremely busy editing my Etsy Shop (www.etsy.com/shop/rbboutique). I received some helpful advise from other Etsians (sellers on Etsy) on how to improve my shop, so I took notes and made a list. I have 150 items in my shop and have about one third of the listings edited, however I am waiting on my photo backgrounds to come in the mail so I can get started retaking all my photos and make them more appealing to all of you. I am excited to retake my photos because my new backgrounds are adorable!! They are neutral colors but I'm still really excited to get started. I'm planning on having all of my listings edited by the end of the week, so when my backgrounds come in I can get started on taking photos and editing them on Etsy.
Here are some coupon codes for my Etsy Shop:
Get 10% Off your purchase at my Etsy Shop Now through July 31 by using Coupon Code FREEDOM10
Get Free Shipping (IN THE USA ONLY) on orders $30 Coupon Code FREESHIP13!!
Thank you all for reading, I will be back soon with updates!!
~Hope
Monday, July 15, 2013
Wednesday, July 10, 2013
The Beginning
Hello all and welcome to my blog!
First off I would like to introduce and tell you about myself. My name is Hope, I'm a mother of two children, my daughter is 8 and my son is 5. I have two fur babies a 3 year old American Straffordshire Terrier, Charlie, and a 5 month old Great Dane, Brea. I married my best friend and soul mate, Tyler, on the beach of Surfside Beach, SC, July 2012. I love being able to stay at home and take care of my children and watch their milestones daily.
So, when did I begin my journey as a WAHM? I was taking college online courses to obtain my Associates Degree in Psychology and decided that I needed another outlet and needed to feel like I was helping financially with my family. I started brainstorming with my husband and decided in December 2011, that I would open a hair accessories business. The search began with finding supply stores, deciding what I wanted to offer, and of course a business name. My mom called me one day to let me know she came up with a name idea for me, Ribbons and Bows Boutique. I thought the name was lacking uniqueness so I abbreviated the Ribbons and Bows part to R and B. I decided I would open my shop on what would have been my sister's 16th birthday (she passed away at the age of 10 due to a heart condition.) I announced on Facebook to all my friends and family that I was opening a business, on Facebook www.facebook.com/rbboutique. When I opened I orders gradually came in. I began looking for craft shows and booking them. Before I knew it I had booked nearly 20 shows in a 4 month period. I was swamped, I had shows every weekend, and was swamped with homework, household duties, tending to my children, being a wife, and trying to keep my completed supply stocked for my shows. About mid September I was making nearly 100 flower and bow clips a week, on top of everything else I had to do. Needless to say it made for a long winter.
I graduated college in December *YAY* and was able to focus more of my time to my business. I began expanding my inventory, making more products, added nearly 200 items to my Etsy Shop www.etsy.com/shop/rbboutique, added over a 100 pins to my Pinterest Board http://pinterest.com/hopemc2012/r-b-boutique/, Opened a Twitter Account @BowWeaver, and soon found myself running out of space in my tiny (a 12 x 12 room) office area... also known to my children and hubby as "the boutique."
Now, I have been open for business for a year and a half, cringe when I have to go into my boutique because it's crowded with supplies, tables, and my display for my craft shows. However, that is about to change because we are going to add on to make my boutique area A LOT bigger! I can't wait!! And of course I will post about the addition as it's going on! I have recently placed my business on Manta and had it verified by the company, something I highly recommend and of course I decided to blog about my adventure and if it helps spread the word about my business, then that is an added bonus!!
Things that I offer for being a fan on my Facebook page:
Special Offers & Sales for Facebook Fans Only
Coupon Codes for Etsy
Updates on New Products
Play Games for Prizes; discounts, free R & B products, etc.
Helpful Customer Service
Custom Orders
and More!
Things I offer on Etsy
Over 100 Ready to Ship Items
Coupon Codes to new customers (found at the top of my shop)
Helpful Customer Service
Custom Orders
and More!
Twitter, Pinterest, and Manta are other ways I help promote my business!!
Looking at my business over the last year and a half, I can definitely say that there are things I needed/need to change but the best part about a new business is that I can learn what works, what doesn't, and what does work but can be bettered!!
I saw a quote today that fits perfectly for how I am feeling:
"The Fabulous Life of a WAHM; Crazy, Hectic, but Always Worth IT!!"
~Author Unknown
Thank you all for reading! See you next time! :)
First off I would like to introduce and tell you about myself. My name is Hope, I'm a mother of two children, my daughter is 8 and my son is 5. I have two fur babies a 3 year old American Straffordshire Terrier, Charlie, and a 5 month old Great Dane, Brea. I married my best friend and soul mate, Tyler, on the beach of Surfside Beach, SC, July 2012. I love being able to stay at home and take care of my children and watch their milestones daily.
So, when did I begin my journey as a WAHM? I was taking college online courses to obtain my Associates Degree in Psychology and decided that I needed another outlet and needed to feel like I was helping financially with my family. I started brainstorming with my husband and decided in December 2011, that I would open a hair accessories business. The search began with finding supply stores, deciding what I wanted to offer, and of course a business name. My mom called me one day to let me know she came up with a name idea for me, Ribbons and Bows Boutique. I thought the name was lacking uniqueness so I abbreviated the Ribbons and Bows part to R and B. I decided I would open my shop on what would have been my sister's 16th birthday (she passed away at the age of 10 due to a heart condition.) I announced on Facebook to all my friends and family that I was opening a business, on Facebook www.facebook.com/rbboutique. When I opened I orders gradually came in. I began looking for craft shows and booking them. Before I knew it I had booked nearly 20 shows in a 4 month period. I was swamped, I had shows every weekend, and was swamped with homework, household duties, tending to my children, being a wife, and trying to keep my completed supply stocked for my shows. About mid September I was making nearly 100 flower and bow clips a week, on top of everything else I had to do. Needless to say it made for a long winter.
I graduated college in December *YAY* and was able to focus more of my time to my business. I began expanding my inventory, making more products, added nearly 200 items to my Etsy Shop www.etsy.com/shop/rbboutique, added over a 100 pins to my Pinterest Board http://pinterest.com/hopemc2012/r-b-boutique/, Opened a Twitter Account @BowWeaver, and soon found myself running out of space in my tiny (a 12 x 12 room) office area... also known to my children and hubby as "the boutique."
Now, I have been open for business for a year and a half, cringe when I have to go into my boutique because it's crowded with supplies, tables, and my display for my craft shows. However, that is about to change because we are going to add on to make my boutique area A LOT bigger! I can't wait!! And of course I will post about the addition as it's going on! I have recently placed my business on Manta and had it verified by the company, something I highly recommend and of course I decided to blog about my adventure and if it helps spread the word about my business, then that is an added bonus!!
Things that I offer for being a fan on my Facebook page:
Special Offers & Sales for Facebook Fans Only
Coupon Codes for Etsy
Updates on New Products
Play Games for Prizes; discounts, free R & B products, etc.
Helpful Customer Service
Custom Orders
and More!
Things I offer on Etsy
Over 100 Ready to Ship Items
Coupon Codes to new customers (found at the top of my shop)
Helpful Customer Service
Custom Orders
and More!
Twitter, Pinterest, and Manta are other ways I help promote my business!!
Looking at my business over the last year and a half, I can definitely say that there are things I needed/need to change but the best part about a new business is that I can learn what works, what doesn't, and what does work but can be bettered!!
I saw a quote today that fits perfectly for how I am feeling:
"The Fabulous Life of a WAHM; Crazy, Hectic, but Always Worth IT!!"
~Author Unknown
Thank you all for reading! See you next time! :)
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