So what has happened since last week…. Well Brinley turned 3, and we had many wonderful events to celebrate. Both children became sick- which slowed my productivity. I discovered that you cannot have a retail license as an LLC until your LLC is in the state register- big set back. I searched and finally found (at a premium price) more prairie skirt fabric- I decided that as my best seller I need another run of it to attract more customers. I had a logo designed, based on my original artwork for a skirt trade- Wonderful! We decided that we are moving in mid July- AHHHH! Right after Vacation AHHHH Again! To a dream home- so business is going to be slowed a bit for now.
I am busy trying to pick designs for fall, as well as fall patterns and colors. I am loving chocolate brown with blues and oranges, still love the red and blue, and might mix in some olive and gray.
As soon as I have a store front, I will be submitting to BLOGS and a few local print sources to try and get my things featured.
Let me just say this- had you talked to me even three months ago, I would never believe you that I would be sitting her doing any of this.
Biz-y Mama
Tuesday, June 23, 2009
Tuesday, June 16, 2009
NEWS...
Coming Soon!
May-bee LLC is the newest source for handcrafted matching mother/daughter/ sibling apparel. My styles and colors are classic and yet can be worn by all ages. They stand up to play and laundry and can be dressed up or down.
Currently I am taking all orders for skirts through email, but starting early to mid July, I will have an etsy shop up and running. Etsy is simple, customers do have to register to make shipping easier, but it is quick. You can pay by credit card through paypal.. I will still take orders through email as well.
I also hope to have a regular website up soon.
The Prairie Skirt, my most popular, is almost ready to be discontinued. PLEASE contact me soon if you would like one- I will take orders until it is gone. The designer of this print has discontinued it. I have it in stock and will ship in about 1 week from order.
Pictures are not up, but I am offering matching headbands and ponytail ties for all styles. Headbands are $12 and wrap all the way around the head with elastic in the bottom back. Please specify children’s sizes (use the size chart) or adult(all one size). The pony tails are covered buttons with elastic ties. Please specify children’s sizes or adult (it determines the size of the hair tie). These are sold for $5 and can be a set of two small fabric buttons or one large fabric button.
Did you notice the new email address- May-bee has applied for an LLC!
Orders are coming in steadily- so sample skirts are a bit low on the priority list. Expect to see more in July. Solid color cotton use will now be KONA cotton- super soft and fairly resistant to wrinkles, and I will not have to line it. For those of you who have a lined skirt already, please contact me if you wish to change it.
I am extending the referral program through July. Any new purchasing customer that you refer will allow YOU to purchase one item 50% off.
PLEASE tell everyone you know about May-bee- my customers are encouraging me to dream BIG. Without you, I will not be able to pursue this great company.
May-bee LLC is the newest source for handcrafted matching mother/daughter/ sibling apparel. My styles and colors are classic and yet can be worn by all ages. They stand up to play and laundry and can be dressed up or down.
Currently I am taking all orders for skirts through email, but starting early to mid July, I will have an etsy shop up and running. Etsy is simple, customers do have to register to make shipping easier, but it is quick. You can pay by credit card through paypal.. I will still take orders through email as well.
I also hope to have a regular website up soon.
The Prairie Skirt, my most popular, is almost ready to be discontinued. PLEASE contact me soon if you would like one- I will take orders until it is gone. The designer of this print has discontinued it. I have it in stock and will ship in about 1 week from order.
Pictures are not up, but I am offering matching headbands and ponytail ties for all styles. Headbands are $12 and wrap all the way around the head with elastic in the bottom back. Please specify children’s sizes (use the size chart) or adult(all one size). The pony tails are covered buttons with elastic ties. Please specify children’s sizes or adult (it determines the size of the hair tie). These are sold for $5 and can be a set of two small fabric buttons or one large fabric button.
Did you notice the new email address- May-bee has applied for an LLC!
Orders are coming in steadily- so sample skirts are a bit low on the priority list. Expect to see more in July. Solid color cotton use will now be KONA cotton- super soft and fairly resistant to wrinkles, and I will not have to line it. For those of you who have a lined skirt already, please contact me if you wish to change it.
I am extending the referral program through July. Any new purchasing customer that you refer will allow YOU to purchase one item 50% off.
PLEASE tell everyone you know about May-bee- my customers are encouraging me to dream BIG. Without you, I will not be able to pursue this great company.
Sunday, June 14, 2009
A plan... and doubts...
I would like to open ETSY after the 4th of July. This is really my month goal. I need to finish 4 designs and photograph them before I do this. Truthfully I am a bit nervous. ETSY is intimidating to me. I don’t have a great camera, and I don’t have Photoshop so I really feel like I am out of my league. Then again- I really want to try. No one else has stuff like mine, and that is encouraging. However, I worry that it will get lost among the millions of other things. I don’t really know of anyone who shops their either- I look ALL THE TIME- but I am guilty of not buying. I think that’s important on ETSY- it seems to be a “support” thing- but then are all the buyers other shop owners, and if so, then is your money just paying for more stuff… My dream for now (and this really does sound so superficial I know) is to make enough to pay for house cleaning once a week. SO basically to pay someone to do what I had time to do before I took up this task.
I don’t really know that I can do it- to make a career out of this I mean. Sure I can sell a few skirts here and there. But to be the next Lilly Pulitzer (can you just imagine)?
I don’t really know that I can do it- to make a career out of this I mean. Sure I can sell a few skirts here and there. But to be the next Lilly Pulitzer (can you just imagine)?
Week of June 14, 2009-
It looks like I have a lite week- hope to have some more orders to do. We’ll see!
I check email at 6:15 every morning, my kids nap from about 1-3 everyday.
Thursday update- 6 skirts waiting to be made, I need to play catch up while finishing for Amanda
Monday-
- AM Outdoor play with kids, sew up 1 skirt during sesame street
- NAP: Amanda’s Order of 9 (started)
Tuesday-
- AM (kids at school till 12) Clean House
- NAP: Finish order (if I have one)
Wednesday-
- AM (kids at school till 12) Work on Preschool schedule for 09/10 at school Amanda’s Order of 9
- NAP- Start new design, menu plan for week - Amanda’s Order of 9
Thursday-
- AM (kids at school till 12) Gather items for Brin’s Party on Saturday Start cutting 6 skirts!
- NAP- Work on party things, BLOG updates
Friday-
- AM kids to museum
- NAP: ETSY site work SKIRTS SKIRTS SKIRTS!
Saturday-
- PARTY/ Date Night
Sunday-
- Church
The Begining...
Months ago I started dreaming of doing something with sewing, although I did not know what. I browsed etsy everyday, drooled over amazing fabric prints, and sewed clothes for my children out of scraps I had lying around. Then I started trying to actually make clothes others would want, and they did.
So- I started sending Brin to school in the things that I made, and I picked up some orders. I came up with a name printed my own labels for the garments using iron on adhesive with a paper back and the good old laser printer, and made my own business cards and tags on cardstock. This was exciting, and encouraged me even more. I wanted to be legal and look professional, and then took the steps to be sure everything was in line. I when to the irs.gov website and got my EIN (tax id number) and came up with my name. I started a blog just for the line, and I sent EVERYONE the link and posted it on FACEBOOK.
Next I set up an etsy store(but have not opened it yet) and a paypal account (have not used it yet).
I then applied at legalzoom.com to have an llc (still awaiting paperwork)
And that my friends is where I am today.
So here is what I hope to do- both for myself and all of you-
Give you my weekly to do list, and work schedule
Interview others who have done what I want to do
Update you on my endeavors
Allow you to ask and answer questions.
So- I started sending Brin to school in the things that I made, and I picked up some orders. I came up with a name printed my own labels for the garments using iron on adhesive with a paper back and the good old laser printer, and made my own business cards and tags on cardstock. This was exciting, and encouraged me even more. I wanted to be legal and look professional, and then took the steps to be sure everything was in line. I when to the irs.gov website and got my EIN (tax id number) and came up with my name. I started a blog just for the line, and I sent EVERYONE the link and posted it on FACEBOOK.
Next I set up an etsy store(but have not opened it yet) and a paypal account (have not used it yet).
I then applied at legalzoom.com to have an llc (still awaiting paperwork)
And that my friends is where I am today.
So here is what I hope to do- both for myself and all of you-
Give you my weekly to do list, and work schedule
Interview others who have done what I want to do
Update you on my endeavors
Allow you to ask and answer questions.
Friday, June 5, 2009
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