A Great Start To The New Year

It's funny how karma works...in my last blog entry, I mentioned how 2009 was only a so-so year for my handmade sea glass jewelry business and how I was looking forward to a better year in 2010.

Then Mo showed up and began to turn things around. Mo can mean a great deal to your handmade business... when Mo is positive, great things happen and when Mo is negative, you can't give things away. Who is Mo and how do you get her to show up to your business? Don't worry, Mo is always there.... some call it Karma... my husband Kevin, likes to call it Momentum.

After my last blog entry, I found out I had been featured in another blog. A great full page feature, including several pictures, a little bit of info about me and info on sea glass in general. The next evening, I received a email from a fellow EtsyNJer and she let me know she included one of my items in her treasury (wow, it's been months since I've been included in a treasury!) It looks like Mo has picked up speed....

Today I wake up after a fun night of celebrating the New Year with my hubby and our sons to find that I was on the Front Page of Etsy! Etsy selected one of my items for a front page treasury feature and as most front page treasuries go...the item sold and my shop received several shop hearts, item hearts and item views.

As crazy as it sounds, Mo has always been with my business, I just let her sit idle for too long. It's a new year and Mo wants to party... and my New Year's resolution of trying to do something positive for my life, my family and my handmade business has already begun.

Let the party roll on, let's dance Mo.... Happy 2010 everyone- may Mo party all year long in your lives!

'til next time...
R

The End Of Another Year In My Hanmdade Business

As 2009 winds down it's last few days, it's always interesting to see how the year has played out for my little handmade business.

The economy certainly played a major factor in spending habits. At times, it seemed I may have made a mistake in moving my business to all sea glass jewelry and away from mixing in some less expensive glass bead creations... but looking back on the decision, I feel it was the correct move to create a niche product for myself.

Handmade craft fairs seemed to be hit & miss once again in 09. When the weather wasn't wreaking havoc, the economy sometimes affected some of my shows. Some shows that were good the previous few years, turned into absolute busts in 2009, while others remained solid events...once again, offering a niche product exclusively may have been a reason for shows that I deemed to be less than successful. Yet shows like AbbieRoad's The Handmade Faire continued to be solid shows and when the weather cooperated, the show was the best show in Central NJ (and perhaps the best show in all of NJ...Abbie and friends do a top-notch job of promoting...it's a must-do show if you live in the tri-state area)

2009 also found my creations in various brick & mortar shops with varying levels of success. A display on LBI didn't live up to expectations, while a small gallery in Barnegat did better than expected...and considering I wasn't in the gallery for the summer months, I have high hopes for this location in the coming year.

I also have a display in a new shop, JerseyMade, which is run by a fellow Etsy member who I've done many shows with. I'm very excited to have the opportunity to sell my sea glass jewelry in Holly's (LeafPile) shop. The shop is located in Historic Mt Holly, NJ, in the Mill Race Village shopping area.

In looking ahead to 2010, I'm hoping to do fewer shows (but keep those where my product does well) while looking to add a couple more consignment/wholesale accounts with brick & mortar shops. My main focus will be on Long Beach Island and I'd like to add one more shore resort shop to the mix for this coming year. I will also be focusing on doing the North American Sea Glass Festival in 2010 (I really wanted to take the plunge in 09, but wasn't sure I was ready & didn't believe I had enough product)

My CreationsByRobin shop on Etsy.com continues to live up to my expectations. Sales seemed a bit sluggish this holiday season when compared to 2008, but again, the economy may have had a lot to do with the slower sales. As the economy begins to improve, hopefully sales will increase in the coming year.

I am also hoping to open my own website in the coming year. The site will be all sea glass... my sea glass jewelry creations, sea glass decor, and possibly loose pieces of sea glass- for both mosaics and jewelry quality pieces.

2009 had it's ups and downs. But I survived the year and the disastrous economy...and even took a few positive steps forward in the process. I'm looking forward to the new year!

My next entry will introduce a few vendors who stepped forward and offered the handmade community some fantastic product...hopefully I can get the blog posted in the next day or two.

til next time...

R

Wordless Wednesday

Last Show Of The Holiday Season... Jersey Made

Wow, the end of the year has arrived quickly. With less than two weeks to Christmas (and so much shopping still to be done in my house) tomorrow, Sunday December 13th will be my final handmade show of the year.

I will have my sea glass jewelry at the 2nd Annual Holiday Magical Family Event at Historic Smithville Park in Eastampton, NJ. The hours for the show are from 12pm-5pm. My table display will be located in Area 3.

This event was a huge success last year. The crowds came out to enjoy Santa, music, carolers, etc. The event seemed to have plenty of room and vendors, but the show was overwhelmed with visitors. It was literally wall-to-all people and everyone seemed to enjoy themselves (despite longer than expected lines) This is a great event for the entire family (my boys especially liked the reindeer last year) The event is held under huge, heated tents...so don't let the weather stop you from enjoying this wonderful holiday experience!

If you can't make it to the show, and don't see what you're looking for in my Etsy shop. I'm also located at the Gold Duster in Barnegat, NJ and my sea glass jewelry has just arrived at a brand new shop... JerseyMade.

JerseyMade is located in the Mill Race shopping village in Mount Holly, NJ.

JerseyMade features many handmade artists/crafters from the Etsy New Jersey street team (EtsyNJ team) I'm very excited to be part of this new venture...the area is beautiful and the village has 15 or so shops. Holly (LeafPile from Etsy) has done a wonderful job creating a warm, inviting shop. Craft classes are already on the schedule and I hope to offer a sea glass/basic wire wrapping class in the future. Kudos also go out to Abbie (AbbieRoad on Etsy) and her husband, Sean for helping Holly create "her look".

Mill Race Village is having an event later tonight to help raise funds for the South Jersey Food Bank... From 6pm-9pm tonight, December 12th, the shops of Mill Race Village will be having a Chocolate Walk... visit each of the shops to pick up free handmade chocolates (a $20 donation get you a box and you are off on a chocolate hunt through the village) The shops will remain open through 9pm for chocolate hunters and holiday shopping... it's a worthy cause and the donations will help out our neighbors in South Jersey that may be struggling during these times.

'til next time....

R