Overdue Toots: 11/16

My deepest apologies to Amanda and Missie - I took too long to get this written. Please give them EXTRA kudos for their patience!!

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Amanda at SygnetCreations is on a seriously awesome path toward reaching her goals for the year! She writes, "My goal for 2009 is to reach 1000 hearts and sell a total of 500 items by Dec 31st. At the beginning of the year I was at approx 600-700 hearts and just under 300 sales. I am so close I can feel it =) I am 9 hearts away from 1000 and only 70 sales from my Dec goal!!!"

WAY TO GO, AMANDA!!!

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Missie at allthangsoldbutnew2u has an amazing new project underway! She shares, "Okay peeps. I got some good news to share. A very good friend of mine happens to be a nurse for one of the T.C. THOMPSON hospitals. They are the hospitals that take care of kids who have cancer or other illnesses. Well, we are partnering up to make hats for the kids at the hospital. The Hospital we will be donating to will be the Chattanooga Tennessee Hospital. I hope to have hats made for all these children. If you would like to help out please contact me. I would love to have volunteers. She will be delivering them to the children. I also will be planning to pay very special visits to these children. It will take some time and care to make these hats for the kids. Some of these kids are undergoing treatments and care and some of the children do not have hair. There are children who range from infants to teenagers. Please pray on this situation, look deep into your hearts and help these kids." Missie is a truly selfless individual, and a fabulous talent. We wish you all the best with accomplishing your goals for the children at the hospital.

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Don't forget, if you are an etsyfriend with news to share, I'm ready to blog about you!

Your Good Name and Promoting It!

So you have made your first sale, packaged up your item, maybe included a small hand written note.... But what will you add to help them remember YOU? I am sure your item has your business tag (either sewn or hanging), but what if they want to show their friends? Word of mouth is your biggest asset, a first hand experience of what is to be expected when shopping in your store. What would you add to entice the spread of your good name?

Here is what I do/did:

About a year ago I decided to create a rack card with information about my business and the products I offered. I found that the size, 4x9in, was less likely to be lost yet small enough to stow away in a drawer or pin to the wall. It seemed to help as I received many referral sales just a few months after implementing. In recent months I have added custom luggage tags to random pillow purchases and I hope that this little touch will be both useful to my clients and beneficial in reaching others! *Note* I did have a client give out my business card while on a plane because the person next to her commented on the pillow! (Always give two so they can give one away!!)

Please share what promotional materials you have either used in the past or plan to use in the future. Also do you feel they have worked for you? Why?