Progress

So the home party idea is progressing. I am not ready to book my first party yet, but I need to get with the program because; ready or not; on March 9 at my next purse show I am going to advertise to start booking parties. I have my note books bought to start designing my catalogs, I have looked at business cards, and bought 5 out of 10 of my stock fabrics. They are all the patterned designs; now I need lining and contrasting fabrics. I am thinking solid colors? I know I want a solid hot pink and maybe a red, and something to match a burnt orange. I have stocked up on magnets and purchased a cutting board. I still need order forms, catalog photos, current photos of my new designs, and I need to sew as if my business depends on it... and it does. I believe I am going to raffle off a purse at the next purse show to get names and addresses of prospective clients. I have 9 days to get the raffle together. A little longer to work on the rest of it since the first show would more than likely be at least a week (hope springs eternal) possibly two weeks after I actually book it. So say a prayer for me and give me any words of encouragement or advice that you deem appropriate because... here I go!

Home Parties

I am thinking about doing home parties for my purses. I did my 2nd ladies night the other night and as previously stated sold one purse. However, I was asked twice if I would consider doing home parties for my purses. HMMMM...she says! What an interesting idea. I have started working on a brochure and putting together specific details as to how I would pull this off. On another note, I once again bombed this week on ebay. I am wondering if I need to scrap the whole e-bay idea or learn from my mistakes and repost later. The photos were taken professionally, so it wasn't that. The purses to the right is ones that did not sell. I have done comparison pricing and I feel my purses are in line with other similar bags. Maybe I need to look at the layout, or the insurance and shipping charges or maybe the wording? Don't know. I will have to ponder this and then make a decision.

sold one! double or nothing!

I had my second purse show last night at the same bar as last month. I actually sold a purse. I could be depressed about it, but I refuse to give in to that emotion. After all, I sold twice as much as I did last month! LOL! I have decided that this particular show is training for the bigger show I will be doing in June. I used last night to change up the way I am presenting my purses. Presentation is 95% of sales. So next month...who knows. Maybe I will double my sales again. I will go for a 1000% increase next month. So if anyone actually reads this thing...send a prayer up for me.

Ok...patience comes by trial and tribulation. My ebay store is on hold pending buying a good camera. The camera is on hold pending selling a few purses at vendor shows. The vendor show I want to do has a waiting list until June. ARGH! That which does not kill us will only make us stronger. I must be incredibly strong. I keep reminding myself. Do not get ahead of God, Do not get behind God, Walk in step with God. I can only assume that my purses are not perfected yet. So I keep sewing and trying new things. Someday, someday!

The Let Down

I went to my first purse show tonight. I didn't even sell one purse. My girls were there though. Carrol, Jeannie, and Tracy came to support me. That meant the world to me. I just feel like I let everyone down. Jeannie has cheered me on and given me multiple ideas, Tracy brought me patterns and thread, Carrol made business cards and provided the rack for me, Sally and Jeannie helped me to make my purse-suit design placards. Not one purse. Tracy and Jeannie made me promise not to get down. I am working on it. I did make some good contacts. Michelle (in charge of the night) wants me to come and visit with her on Wednesday to see about putting my purses in her beauty salon. I also had a lady ask me if I could customize some bags for her to use with her company. So, I guess it was worth the evening. I just had plans for the money. Several birthday gifts that are past due and a digital camera to take pictures of my purses. It just sort of sucks. Tomorrow is another day.

Purse show

ok...so Monday is "P day"...(purse day). My first showing. I have 2 days left. I made a trip to Joann's fabric last night to get purse magnets and wound up buying fabric, roller cutter, ect. because they were on sale. I then took my son and grandson out for dinner and defeated the purpose of saving money from buying on sale! Oh well, life goes on. We had a good time.

I am soooo stressing. MY first public showing of my purses is on January 12. It is now January 4! ARRRRGH! What if I am wasting my time? What if people are cruel? What if it is just another "latest obsession"? Too many "what if's". Oh well, time marches on. I will know on the 12th. So much pressure! So little time. I need magnets and time and money are both an issue. HELP!

ok... so this thing just keeps growing. I needed internet to sell my purses and my son (with ulterior motives in mind) offered to pay for internet. After I had internet I realized that my cheapo digital camera didn't take good enough pics to upload onto etsy and barely passable for ebay. Lo and behold my best friend; a professional photographer; came over for lunch yesterday, brought her camera, and guess what... I now have professional pics of 20 out of 30 of the purses I had on hand. She is editing them and putting them on a cd for me and then I can share on etsey, ebay, and anywhere else I feel like sharing. She mentioned Craig's list. I will have to check it out. On another note. Today is the first day of a new year. You know what that means... another weight challenge. This year Ed (hubby) is going on board with me. We'll see.