Help Me Out

Not like it was ever easy, but it is becoming increasingly difficult to run a small creative business. There are more options, opinions, advice, oppportunities, traps, costs, competition....
And don't get me wrong. As I continue to explore the possibilities of Florida Scarf (and painting) I find it all very exciting and promising.
Prior to this season you could shop Flo Sca at eight retailers, catch me at five to ten craft shows, and shop (quite minimally) online. As my life situation continues to change, the biggest impact it has is on the availability of my products. As things have turned out this year I will predominantly be found online. The retailers have been scaled down to two (for now) and I only have one craft fair scheduled. Essentially, I am putting all my "eggs" in the online retail "basket". Because of this I started offering my items in a few different spots. I'm having trouble deciding who gets what, how much of it they get, and if they're all neccessary. If you are a friend of Flo Sca I would love to get your personal opinion on the matter. Where would you prefer to shop Flo Sca?
       Etsy?
                UsTrendy?
                                 Facebook?
                                                 In person? (sorry I can not provide a link that would beam you to me)

I really appreciate the feedback. Please give me your comment in one of three places:
       Comment below.
                                  Facebook
                                                 email at scgeraci@yahoo.com

Thanks for checking in today.

My First Military Holiday

As stated a few days ago, my holidays are over. Boy, am I relieved. As I sit and reflect on this past season I've become more aware of the impact being in the military had on the business. Initially I thought it was going to be a miracle to sell even one scarf out of Alabama. What actually happened is completely different.

My husband and I have a combined average age of 30. We have been in the Army exactly one year now. It's definitely a bit old to be starting this style of life, but we're always up for an adventure. My husband is going to fly helicopters. In order to do that one must first complete training at Ft. Rucker in Alabama. Everyone thought we were crazy. Most specifically, they thought I was crazy. "What are you going to do down there?", everyone asked.

I'd had Florida Scarf for three years already, and had moved three times previously. I thought running the business from (practically) the middle of nowhere would be an interesting challenge. What I found was that it was no challenge at all. At best, the challenge was keeping shipping cost effective.

Being a part of any military is being a part of the most supportive community on the planet. I made more army-friends with Florida Scarf than anything else. Some of these "new friends" live near post, but many of them are supporters from around the globe. My experience this season has shown me that not only active duty members, but their spouses, and distant family as well, do what they can to be supportive.

It isn't easy for spouses of active duty members to find jobs, or be creative, or work toward personal goals. One's life really has to revolve around the soldier. Because of this, when a spouse can be creative and/or work out of the house the community really gets behind it. Customers that have bought my scarves have been my best marketers. I'm excited for it to continue.

I want to thank everyone for welcoming me to not only Ft. Rucker, but to the Army as well. I look forward to more of 'Florida Scarf, Chapter 2:The Amry'. I hope the experience brings new adventures, friendships, materials, and tools.

http://www.floridascarf.com/

I Never Learned to Juggle

This is the most disgruntled picture of myself I could find.

I am writing this post in opposition to every other post I've read recently. I don't consider myself a pesimist, but I feel like I can't do anything as good as anyone else. The more I read about marketing through social media and successfully running an online store, the more I feel like I don't have what it takes.

At the risk of looking incapable on my company blog allow me to pontificate. I have a website. I have an etsy site, as well as an indiepublic site. I am part of three etsy teams. Two of which I check in with. I signed on for Etsy's bootcamp. I have a buddy. I belong to handmade spark. I have a blog, obviously. I don't blog everyday, probably more like weekly. I am a member of independant fashion bloggers. I have a facebook and a fan page. I have donated pieces to charities and received promotion because of the effort. I have google analytics, but I rarely look at it.....the list may go on, but I can't think of anything else off the top of my head.

I handmake 85% of the items I sell. I have brought on a few other girls to sew a few pieces each season. This project was designed to get me more stock without working through the night, and get the art of these girls more exposure. Each piece is all handmade, sometimes right down to the button, and one of a kind.
I find it is impossible to spend as much time at the computer as one would spend creating. Besides, the creating is more fun. It's why I started this whole business.

It seems to me that I am starting to flood. So I am going to cut this off and ask, "Is there anyone out there like me?"

The only thing I know I do really well is make interesting scarves and hoods. I don't know how to keep up with every other aspect. I am all over the place. Just when I designed a new banner for my Etsy Store everyone is talking about a banner for the holidays. Ahhhh! Just when I may have my shipping down, now we're talking sales tax! I barely keep up with my blog how can I tweet?

I had a nightmare last night. I made my own Christmas stocking and it was really ornate. It was so beautiful because it was patchwork and embroidery- to the max. When it got close to Christmas it was filled with items before it was hung. This was when the dream started to get weird. Then when it was hung, it got put upside down. Everything started falling out. I couldn't catch everything, prevent it from falling out, and put anything back in it. And I woke up in a cold sweat.

Thanks guys. I just had to get that out. Maybe things will be on the up from here. I don't even have kids, pets, or live in the same town as my family. I don't know how real women do it. God bless you all. You deserve a fabulous holiday season.

I was going to write a post about how people should make, or buy handmade, gifts this season. I guess I'll save it for next week. That is, if I don't drown in my to-do list.