August Afternoon Blog - Boutique Web Design
Small Business tips, resources and more!
Looking for a way to create custom hang tags using your home printer? If so, Creative Label Concepts has the label stock for you! You can download a template to design your own labels and print away. They are made of quality cardstock and the edges are smooth for a professional look. If you have used their hang tags, leave a comment including a link to your products – it’s always fun to see what people come up with for their tags!
Who is Cute2Carry?
Tracey – Owner and Designer of Cute2Carry
I’m SO ordinary!!! Just like many of you….I’m simply a mom who loves to sew and be crafty! And I like cute handbags, of course. I have 3 very busy, sporty boys (one being my husband), and my girly sewing room is often my escape! When I’m not designing and sewing handbags, I’m outside enjoying our gorgeous Arizona weather – swimming, running and hanging out with my family.
Why did you decide to start a business?
It was a dare…my sister dared me! Plus, she liked the handbag gifts I’d make for her. Who was I to back down? She even named the business for me.
How did you get started?
Very simply! I found an online shopping cart (www.hyenacart.com) that was reasonable and offered a free template to set up my online store. I made 8 handbags and put them up for sale. I emailed the link to family and friends and within hours I began to make sales.
What do you sell?
Handbags. Really cute handbags! I also sell diaper bags, knitting totes, and accessories to match.
What would you have done differently in the beginning?
Not too much. I kept things simple which helped me build my confidence as an Indie Designer. Utilizing a light box made a huge difference displaying my products. This was recommended to me after a couple of months in business, and I have been told on more than one occasion that a particular product sold because of how it was photographed. They are inexpensive and available on Ebay, believe it or not!
What advice would you offer to a WAHM just getting started?
Go for it! It doesn’t have to be expensive to get started, and you will likely find that your passion carries interest for others (buyers), too. Consider what you look for when making a purchase (for me, it was professional looking images), and be sure that your own store reflects this as well. Also, don’t be afraid to take it to the next level, once you’ve gotten your feet wet, and challenge yourself to succeed! Get your own domain name if you haven’t yet, build your site to look more professional (Cicily has done wonders for mine!) and consider focusing a bit more on advertising your product.
At a loss for words? You know what you want to say, but aren’t sure how to put it all together in a powerful way. That’s where Outstanding Ink comes in! As a small or medium sized business, standing out in the crowd plays an important role in your success. Make sure you stand out for the right reasons, such as, “outstanding” business writing. Have a website that needs wording? How about a product brochure that needs to impress your customers? Confused about what to put in a newsletter? Outstanding Ink can do all that and more! Give yourself a break from struggling to put together your own wording and check them out.
Outstanding Ink specializes in copywriting for small and medium-sized businesses. The primary types of writing services we offer include Press Releases to Company Profiles , Cover Letters and Vision & Mission Statements, with supplemental business services to be launched in the near future.
