For The Love of Cake!

For The Love of Cake

 I think one of those most important ingredients in the recipe for success is passion. It’s like the baking soda in your muffins; you just can’t rise to the top without it (too corny?). That’s why it’s so important to love what you are doing. It’s obvious when someone is passionate about their product. It’s the difference between getting a generic and unimpressive item and getting something you can tell was made with love and dedication.

Can't You Feel the Love??

This element is strikingly evident at Red Rose Cakes and Confections. Heather Santo has been running her home bakery Red Rose Cakes and Confections for the past 2 years. After working as a cake decorator for a retailer for over 14 years Heather took what she learned and what she loved from her job and with the support of her loving husband, started baking and designing on her own.

Doing what you love for a living won’t guarantee that everyday will be a cake walk (okay, bad pun) but it helps a great deal getting through the rough spots. Every career has its own ups and downs. When running your own small business these ups and downs are all the more personal, and as Heather Santo explains, sometimes the best and the worst can be one in the same,

 “The best part is that it belongs to you. You are the person that is in control of what is priced and all of your work is returned to you and not to someone else… The worst part is also that it is yours.  No matter how many hours you put in or how long you work, most of the time you do not get in return the hours of work that you put in. You have to make all of the decisions yourself and hope that you make the right ones.”

At Red Rose Cakes and confections Heather creates delectable goodies including decorative cookies, barks, brittles, chocolate candies and custom cakes. She even does custom wedding cakes in Pittsburgh.

To taste the passion and dedication visit RedRoseCakesPittsburgh.com and take a look around. They offer Their Treat of the Month Club where you can sample a variety of their sweats and treats every month! A great gift idea for Mother’s Day !

Red Rose Cakes and Confections

To find out more about Red Rose Cakes and Confections, follow these links,

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/RedRoseCakes

Twitter: https://twitter.com/#!/RedRoseCakes

Blog: http://redrosecakesconnection.blogspot.com

Artfire: http://www.artfire.com/ext/shop/studio/RedRoseConfections

In Sleepy Poppy News

We will be debuting our Goddess Body Care line very shortly! Our first products will be our exfoliating scrubs and moisturizing whips with our Body Wash soon to follow! As promised here is the list of our first three scents from The Sleepy Poppy Shop’s Goddess Body Care:

Artemis: An invigorating mix of rosemary and mint. Great for a refreshing start to the day!

Isis:  A rich blend with warming notes of amber, incense, vanilla sandalwood and musk.

Sophia: A sweet floral of patchouli and rose petals. This isn’t your hippy mama’s patchouli. Sweetened with roses, this is a unique blend of girly botanicals and sexy earthy notes.

The Sleepy Poppy Shop's Goddess Body Care

Respond with your own personal favorite Goddess from mythology and win a Sleepy Poppy Seed Packet to start your own Sleepy Garden!

Sleepy Poppy Seeds

Turning Your Business into a Portfolio?

Turning Your Business into a Portfolio?

This week my fiancé (that term sounds so lame), my boyfriend (that sounded childish), the man I currently live with, (wow, that sounded slutty), someone asked me if I had ever thought about putting my business plan and creation process into a consolidated portfolio for future interviews etc.

I had thought about including my experience into any resume where it was relevant but I had not seriously considered a portfolio and now I’m not sure why. Many online merchants hope to make their business their main source of income and their primary career; others are always looking for additional opportunities, while still maintaining a successful online business. I consider myself to be in the latter category. I’m not sure that I will find myself in a situation where a documented creation processes of The Sleepy Poppy Shop will be helpful but if I do find myself in that situation I think I would like to have it ready.

I guess I have been very focused on getting the best possible final product up for sale that I never thought to, as everyone’s 5^th grade math teacher instructed, show my work.

Algebra: Dente's Forgotten Circle of Hell !

                                                                           

But why not show how I got my final result? As an online merchant we are usually taking photographs of our products all of the time. It’s important to have good visuals when your buyers can’t touch or feel your products with their own hands. Because of this I already have the process decently documented. I have graphics of not only the products but every label and design I have created and every business card or flyer I have made since the beginning. I suppose all it would take was a timeline, some organization and the ability to create a text synopsis to go along with the visuals (and time, don’t forget time). Adding my business plan, budget and such would also probably be appropriate to include, though, not having done a portfolio like this before, I’m only guessing. The only portfolios I have put together have been art and fashion (back when I was applying to design schools. Why does that feel like 3 lives ago?). I think some research is in order.

Have any of you used your home business experience as credentials for other employment or involvement in other projects? It makes sense. There is no better experience than doing.

Have any of you put it in portfolio form, or even just a story board?  Please share! All of this has really got me thinking about how much goes into our final products and that the process really does deserve to be viewed as much as the result. There is a reason why candy shops always seem to have the viewing window into their taffy pull kitchen. Someone is interested in seeing how it’s made!

“I am going to get soooo many cavities.”

photo at Hammond’s Candies in Denver CO. from the blog Milli Fiori Favoriti: My Life in the big city. Check it out here!

Follow Me on Pinterest ! And A note about packaging and mailing.

This is my private account but  I don’t have a business account yet.  I do have a Sleepy Poppy Pin Board.

Check it out if you wish.

http://pinterest.com/sleepyfrankie/

Now for my little side note/ rant. Just last night I was packaging up an order using the utmost care and attention to detail. I was really proud of how it looked and was thinking about just how much I enjoyed that part of the process. I have a signature look to my packaging. Each product has its own designated colors, box, or wrapping- hand delivered orders have their own bags etc. I also take care to ensure that the products can endure getting jostled about by USPS/UPS. My process for that was largely learned through trial and error. I think I have it down pretty well. Anyway while packaging the order I packaged up two Easter baskets I made up for our nieces. We have sent them every year since the first one was born and they make the trip from Florida to New Hampshire in fair condition.  Every spring I have trouble finding a box the right size to fit whatever particular basket I buy and stuff. This year I was happy to have  found a box that fit the two baskets perfectly. I knew the cute arrangement of candy and toys probably wouldn’t fully withstand the trip but I put enough of the stability packaging that I use with my Sleepy Poppy shipments and I thought it would make it just fine, that is if it was not turned upside down. So I, with my optimistic sharpie,  went on an arrow drawing spree around the box. I clearly put 5 to 6 thick blue arrow marks pointing in the direction the package should be held and wrote “This side up please” on the top of the box. Again I’m not delusional, I’m aware that this was probably a lot to ask for but you would think the USPS worker at the desk today would have AT LEAST humored me while I was standing there. As if she didn’t even see the marks, she threw the package on the counter behind her on its side. It was ridiculous. I know the packages go through a machine that reads the labels – I even put my labels on the appropriate side so it would make it through that machine right side up- so there was really no need for her to lay throw it that way. It was just rude. Something that I’m not used to with USPS. They are usually very helpful, respectful and accommodating. This was just negligence or spite. Anyway, not that there is anything I can do about it I guess it just got to me. Its always a shame to see something you have put that much care into disregarded.  Obviously that postal worker had no idea of the time and effortI took, nor would she care if she had known, but I suppose its just the idea of it. This got me thinking about shipping issues in general. Any of you out there that have any tips or care to share your postal woes with the group? Feel free to vent here!

Before

After…just kidding.

A True Gem!

A True Gem!

If you have been following this blog from its first entry you may have read a little bit about how I came to run The Sleepy Poppy Shop. Long story short; I created it after my father’s hospitalization and subsequent care. I was feeling down and in a rut and was grasping for a creative outlet. From that came the idea and the rest followed.  After starting to network with other home business owners I became curious about how they all started out. I figured that all of them were passionate about their service or product but in most instances passion for a hobby is not enough of a reason to turn it into a career (But should it be enough?).  When I asked around I discovered that most often, everyone had more to their story, some I have covered in other entries. A few weeks ago I came across a wonderful product who’s creator I really identified with.

Do T Do, run by Bridget Miller, might at first glance, seem like a jewelry shop with their bright glimmering array of gems and crystals in all shades of the rainbow, but, these shimmery delights are good enough to eat…literally. Do T Do offers a wide variety of hard candies and therapeutic cough drops made with natural DōTerra® essential oils. Each shiny confection crafted to look like a precious stone!

Do T Do is a independently run business headed by Miller with the support of her family. The start of Do T Do came from a trying time in the family’s history. In 2010 Miller’s mother-in-law was diagnosed with leukemia. The family held a fundraiser to help pay for treatments and other medical needs that were not covered by insurance.

“One of my friends showed me how to make lollipops to sell at the fundraiser. It was so much fun that I decided to continue to make them for my family”

Miller explains how a small project to help out a sick family member turned into a hobby with her own twist.

” I wasn’t happy with the candy oils ingredients, then it dawned on me, ” Why am I using Artificial Lemon Candy Oil when I can use Real Lemon Essential Oils and get health benefits as well?” So I started experimenting with essential oils and only found consistency in DōTERRA’s Essential Oils. Each flavor tastes so good and is packed full of beneficial qualities!”

Once she had her design and recipes down Do T Do was formed and her drops and candies are now available for sale on her Etsy Shop.

The products are beautiful as well as beneficial. Definitely a treasure to have in your candy dish at home or at work! I personally would love a few apothecary jars full of these candies.

As well as running her own home based company Bridget Miller is happy to be able to say she is a dedicated stay at home mom.

“My husband and kiddos are really supportive. Also my family and friends really help get the word out for me. I couldn’t do it without them.”

To try Bridget Miller’s Do T Do candy and drops visit the links below. You have to take a look at her Easter Egg Mystery Mailers! They are a wonderful treat for anyone this spring and Easter season. Stuff them in your children’s baskets or send one to a friend for a sweet treat in their mail box!

Facebook: www.facebook.com/DoTDoCandy

EtsyShop: http://www.etsy.com/shop/doTdo?ref=seller_info

BlogSpot: www.dotdocandy.blogspot.com

Twitter: www.twitter.com/DoTDoCandy

Do T Do Essential Oil Cough Drops and Candies

Click image to try these out!

In Sleepy Poppy Shop News our Spring Promo Code has been extended! Use SPRING15 on our EstyShop at checkout at get 15% off your entire order! Remember you are entitled to a FREE gift with orders of $35+! Happy Shopping!

Sleepy Poppy Shop Spring Sale 15% Off

 

 

Spreading the Seeds Suds & Love to the Mid-Atlantic

The Sleepy Poppy Shop will be on Vacation from Saturday the 10th until, Saturday the 17th. The Etsy Shop will be closed and TheSleepyPoppyShop.com will not be filling orders until we return. Orders will be accepted but will be shipped no sooner than Monday 3/19. We will be spreading the Seeds, Suds & Love around the Mid-Atlantic as we travel to PA, NJ and NYC.

I am heading up north next week with my fiancee. We are spending some time in my hometown of Brooklyn, New York and also visiting some family in Philadelphia and New Jersey. As I try to fit a weeks worth of clothing into my carry-ons (I have a fear of checking bags. I always think they will lose them) I am stuffing every available nook and cranny left empty with business cards and samples.

It cant hurt to spread a little poppy swag around the respective cities. Although I regularly send calling cards and post cards to friends and family up north, I’m never quite sure how many get passed out or go missing. I’m excited to pass some out myself and see what kind of exposure I can get.

Do any of you try and take advantage of vacations like this? I know during my last trip to Savannah every waitress, bell hop, and chambermaid got a card and a sample with their tip. A little pushy? Well…maybe, but hey, these are our businesses and we want them to be a success. Sometimes we have to push our info so that as many people as possible get to see the quality of our products.

Wish me luck!

USF students, enjoy Spring Break and be safe!

The Sleepy Poppy Shop

 

Doing What Comes Naturally

Doing What Comes Naturally

When I started The Sleepy Poppy Shop it was important to me that all of my products be made with organic and natural ingredients. In the past few years I have found myself reading labels on just about everything from cookies to shampoo to make sure I am not consuming anything unsavory…at least not without my knowledge. So I’m not perfect. I may, in a weak moment, consume a candy or two made with HFCS, but now at least I’m conscious that I am slowly poisoning myself.

All kidding aside I have worked to replace my cosmetics with natural mineral or organic choices (I’m still working on the food. I’ll get back to you on that) and now that is all that I use and all that I offer in my Poppy Shop products.

I find that offering such products is becoming the norm especially in the homemade small business community. Many shoppers are reading the labels on just about everything they buy. More and more people now know to cringe when reading words like Sodium Lauryl Sulfate on the back of their body wash.

When large chains still offer a limited selection of natural cosmetics and bath and body products, customers have to look elsewhere for safe products for their personal care and the care of their families.

Natural Mtn Body Care is one of those alternatives.

Christina Menhennett has run Natural Mtn Body Care alongside her sister since 2010. Together they offer many alternative and natural products ranging from mineral eye-shadow to natural air fresheners.

Christina explains that all of their body care and cosmetics are 100% natural and Certified Organic

“They are made from scratch with Earth and YOU in mind…”

With experience in both vitamin and mineral sales and in makeup artistry Christina comes from a perfect background to combine the two and offer a quality product.

Natural Mtn Body Care is a family run company. Soon they plan to add a variety of baked goods to their selection! They operate out of Crossville Tennessee and offer shipping worldwide.

I am most interested in trying their natural nail polish! That’s right NATURAL NAIL POLISH! Check it out!

Companies like Natural Mtn Care are great for the informed shopper. Who are your favorite alternative natural cosmetic companies? Reply with your suggestions!

Spa Gift Set from Natural Mtn Body Care

To find out more about Natural Mtn Body care visit the links below!

www.luulla.com/store/naturalmtnbodycare

www.naturalmtnbodycare.etsy.com,

www.naturalmtnbodycare.storenvy.com

http://naturalmtnbodycare.blogspot.com/

To find out more on SLS in cosmetics go here:

http://www.natural-health-information-centre.com/sodium-lauryl-sulfate.html

Networking? How’s it working?- A look into sample distribution and promotion.

When I first decided to start my own business a very important question quickly arose; How do I get the word out?

I figured that I would just have to put my products up for sale, hope the word got out and “make it rain” flyers and calling cards wherever I went. It was not until I sought the advice of a friend (who runs a small bakery from her home) that I learned about networking, circles and teams. Groups of small business owners, who come together to promote each others businesses on the net. These groups seem pretty prevalent in the internet business community. They run on the idea of shared promotion. Even competitors band together to  share facebook & Etsy.com pages and spread the word for one another, the goal being the greatest amount of exposure possible.

My friend was quick to recommend one Traci Porczynski of Quakertown PA, and her promotion company, Sampler Villiage. Joining “the Villiage” has been a huge help in networking and advertising The Sleepy Poppy Shop.

Traci started Sampler Village  in 2009. A long time crafter, Traci found a way to combine her passion and know-how and turn it into a profitable business that allowed her to have a career and still be an involved stay at home mom.

The basis of Sampler Village is the Sampler Boxes Traci sells each month to potential buyers. Each box contains a wonderful assortment of samples of handmade goods which are available for sale on the internet. Traci’s boxes come in several sizes and include samples of makeup, lotions, candles, soaps, greeting cards, jewelry, hair accessories, art and, much more. She even has a line of “Yummylicious” edible sampler boxes for sale each month which include samples of cookies, artisan candies, chocolates and tons of other treats. Each sample comes with information on where to purchase full sized versions of the sample product and where buyers can go to see what else the featured company has to offer.

I myself have participated in the boxes a few times already and enjoyed the experiences. There is no fee to join other than the cost of  making your samples. In exchange for the samples featured in the boxes Traci promotes her clients products constantly via her own high traffic website, twitter, Facebook and of course the distribution of the sampler boxes to potential buyers around the U.S.A and Canada.

I have found it quite beneficial and would recommend any new seller of homemade crafts and goods to join a team, circle or group such as this one, though I am partial to the Village .

Something that Sampler Village offers that I have found so very valuable is the support system. Traci invites her participating sellers to communicate via a forum which allows them to trade stories, advice and give encouragement and  advice. What better way to learn than by sharing your own stories and reading about others in similar situations. I highly recommend any small business owner to network in this way. You may know a handful of people starting a home run business personally but these forums introduce you to hundreds of people who are in the same boat.

To learn more about Sampler Village or to try one of the Sampler or Yummylicious Boxes visit the links below. These boxes are an amazing and affordable way to sample a wide variety of products at one time. They also serve well as Easter basket or stocking stuffers, office gifts, goody bag prizes etc.

How do you network? I’d love to hear some alternative or new ideas!

Sampler Village! Try a Box!

www.SamplerVillage.com

www.SamplerVillage.etsy.com

www.SamplerVillage.blogspot.com

www.facebook.com/SamplerVillage2

www.twitter.com/SamplerVillage

www.youtube.com/user/SamplerVillage

What they think we do!

What they think we do!

I almost hate to share a MEME. They annoy me, but then I saw this I thought I would share!

Its rings true! Oy Vey~

Francesca

How Did We Get Here?; Continuation (Plus some thoughts on product description)

How Did We Get Here; Continuation (Plus some thoughts on product description)

In my previous posts I spoke a little about what made me start my own business from home. After doing so and networking with others online that have done the same I decided to ask some of them the same question; “How did you get your start?” I came across many answers. Some started their businesses after being laid off from a former position while others run their private businesses in tandem with their formal careers. I decided to share the story of a local business owner who works right here in the Tampa Bay Area!

Rana Wilson is an adjunct English professor at two schools in the Bay Area and is the proprietor and artist behind Definitive Designs handmade jewelry and accessories.

Miss Wilson holds a Masters degree with a concentration on the works of William Shakespeare (a woman after my own heart), but says she has been into arts and crafts since she was just a child.

“I’ve been a “crafter” my entire life and some of my earliest memories are of making things with my mom (and playing with her glue gun).  I began with gluing flowers onto things, making Christmas ornaments, moved into Cross-stitch and embroidery, picked up paper crafting, and finally, a few years ago, discovered beading.”

She now has a full inventory of beautiful and unique beaded jewelry pieces for sale on her shop on ArtFire.com.

The start of Definitive Designs seems to have developed from a little bit of serendipity,

“The business bloomed after a colleague literally bought the earrings I’d made right out of my ears, and then asked me to design several more pairs as gifts.  Prior to that, it was just something I did for fun.”

Her story truly stood out to me because it started with someone noticing and validating her talent.  Imagine someone being so taken with your work that they start naming prices before you even put the item up for sale. It has to feel pretty good!  When looking through Rana Wilson’s designs it is easy to see how her first customer was so taken with her jewelry. Each item is ornate and original. The quality and care she puts into her work is immediately visible.

What I love the most about Definitive Designs are the excellent product descriptions. The artist’s background in literature comes through in every line. I have found that an imaginative description of your product can be just as helpful in selling your product as a quality photograph. I wonder if some of you have found the same to be true. Sometimes I see products listed with full paragraphs of description and other times nothing at all. It has made me contemplate whether some online sellers feel it is necessary. I sure like a nice description of the meal selections on menus at restaurants and I try to provide a good description to go along with my inventory.

To check out Definitive Designs or Rana Wilson’s Blog follow the links listed below.

 

Artfire Shop: http://rlwshkspr.artfire.com

Blog: http://definitivedesignsbyrwilson.blogspot.com/

Facebook Page: http://www.facebook.com/definitivedesignsbyrwilson

 

Beautiful Death Earrings, my current favorite from Definitive Designs

How Did We Get Here?

How Did We Get Here?

 

In my last entry I spoke a little about what made me start my own business. I think it was mainly out of creative necessity, whatever that means. Like I tried to explain before I was feeling stifled and needed an outlet.  I’m sure I had other reasons but that is what sticks out to me the most. Probably because it’s the area in which I have so far achieved the most success. I may not be getting rich quick off what I do and it sure has not solved all my problems but it defiantly helped heal my artistic and creative self and allowed me to grow in that way. At least I can always say it was successful in that way. This subject brings forth the discussion of why others choose to take this rout. Why start your own home-run business? I’m sure there are one million ways and variations by which one could answer this question.  To see just how varied the answers may be I have posed this question to several of my peers (and by peers I mean home business owners). They varied in age from 20-60 and live all over the country (one or two  even live an ocean away) but they all seem to have one common goal; to share their craft that they love and to make a living doing so. I interviewed working mothers, college students, even an Army wife living in Germany struggling to make her business a success thousands of miles from home. Please check in later this week as I delve into this question on a personal level. Everyone has a story to tell.

Side Note: Happy Valentine’s Day to all of you out there! Much love to any readers, lurkers or classmates. I hope those who have a somewhat cynical view of this day can take the romance and commercialism out of the equation and focus on love in general. As children my father never stuck us with a sitter while he took my mother out for a night on the town. He included my little sister and I in the equation. He brought us all little gifts and made reservations for 4. He gave my sister and me wonderful perspective on the “holiday” from a young age. The day can be about your love for your mother, your friends, your children or even your cat.  Doing something small for anyone you have love for today might make a world of difference. If you’re not in the giving mood then listen to a song you love or do something you love or are passionate about and use today as a reminder of the importance of the emotion.  xoxo

BTW,any USF readers please know that you can use student discount code GOUSFBULLS12 to get 12% off at checkout  at SleepyPoppyShop.etsy.com. 

The Sleepy Poppy Shop, If I Only Had A Heart Valentine Gift Box