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!

View my Hang Tag design service >>

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.

Looking for a clean and stylish design for your website? My newest template “Chic Swirl” is a great showcase for your products. In addition to the template design, you can purchase a custom splash image design, that will highlight what your store has to offer.

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.

As a small business just starting out, it can be frustrating trying to find buyers for your products or as a reseller, hard to find quality items to sell. This is where MyWares.com comes in. They provide an online product showcase of items made by women - bringing the two sides together. Check them out and see if they can help you land that wholesale account you’ve been wanting!

Showcasing top products by women, MyWares is anything but ordinary. We connect creative “small business” owners with qualified wholesale buyers en masse…

Built for women, by women, MyWares is an opportunity to expand your audience and join a dynamic group who knows what it takes to design, sell & succeed…

Products by women are more popular than ever. MyWares addresses the pent-up demand for unique, quality products. www.mywares.com

 

A last glimpse of summer. My son sure won’t miss the bees - he has been stung twice!

Photo by Sara of Snap Happy Designs

Who is Earth Angels Diaper Co.?

An online cloth diaper boutique run by a SAHM turned WAHM who knows her clientele, because she is a cloth diapering mom herself. Items are put to the test before being included in the product line-up, and special care is taken to promote product lines made and invented by other WAHM’s.

Why did you decide to start a business?

I’ve always had a passion for retail and had always imagined owning my own store, but I could never figure out exactly what I wanted to sell. After the birth of my twin sons, when the disposable diaper supply we had been gifted began to run out, my husband and I began to explore the world of cloth diapers. Something came over me and I *literally* woke up the next morning, called my husband and said “We’re going to start our own business, and we’re going to sell cloth diapers!”

How did you get started?

A lot of research and a little luck, Capital One sent a credit card and we were off to the races.

What do you sell?

A unique variety of cloth diapers, accessories, natural parenting and baby accessories, with a focus on WAHM made items.

What would you have done differently in the beginning?

Had I not been such an impatient person, I would have waited until I had more money to invest in inventory because I learned the hard way that drop-shipping can eat up a good portion of your profits.

What advice would you offer to a WAHM just getting started?

Be creative, especially if you are interested in opening an online business. You have to imagine that the world-wide web is a mall, and you are only one click away from all your competitors. Be creative and strive to set yourself apart from the rest with excellent customer service, inventive marketing and promotions. Most of all, be optimistic and imagine that anything you set your mind to you can achieve.

Julia Clark
www.earthangelsdiaperco.com
“Saving the planet one diaper at a time.”