Marketing Op Update

I had forgotten all about me sending those blankets and such to Lucian's school for the baskets. Nothing came out of it. I think that it's because I didn't have good marketing materials.

Everything is so new to me and when I get an idea - it's going to work - no doubt about it! But then... *flat*. Nothing. Nada. Zilch. I find another way that's better but I'm in too many directions.

So, I realized that what I need to do is buckle down and stay up later (which I've been doing lately) and work when there are no distractions. It's working out actually. I mean, pretty good in fact! I still need to get my time management down, but that's a work in process. What works for someone else may not work for me because I have an issue with calendars. I update them and then they disappear (ok, really I forget about them) and there goes my time management.

Out the window like a pretty little hummingbird - fly away time! Fly fly fly!

So anyway - nothing came out of the marketing op. But guess what? I did it ONCE! Did I expect to have 30 sales from ONE time doing something? Uhhh... no. I did have a couple sales from the girls at work, so that's good. I just need to get my stuff out there! MORE MORE MORE!

I'm researching marketing stuff. Wish me luck.

Logo Designing... so important!

When I first started this Sedilu Venture, I decided that I was going to whip up a quick logo. I was going to focus on baby items which is fab. It's what I'm going to still be doing. But I realized, after really focusing on boy items - that my logo (with the pink butterfly) didn't really go between boy and girl. So I changed the color of the butterfly to green and blue.








CUTE! But... I'm still not happy with it... It is still too girly. It's not modern. It's not hip. It's... quite frankly... BLAH. And I'm starting to hate it.




So I just didn't know where I was going. I was in a sort of a fog... floating through with temporary stuff like temporary tattoos - luckily I didn't spend money on designing it. I did it myself. BUT I did spend a lot of time on it... so that's about all I've wasted (and about $10 for the vector images)... but life goes on.

SO today I'm browsing the web (http://www.istockphoto.com/) for my new logo for my spinoff venture SediluGreen (which is totally cool reusable items!) and I find what is called...

RETRO. AND I LOVE IT!

I can't begin to express how I was like "oh wow! Check that out! LOVES IT! OOO! OOO!" Anything with that Olive green and brown that is sooooo in right now - Yeah. I'm digging it to the 100th degree.

So I think that I'm going to have a logo designed (you can get GREAT designers to do this for CHEAP on etsy - I'm talking like $50 compared to like $150+++ by designers on the web!) So I've been browsing for about 35 minutes over my lunch break to find some fabulous images for someone to design my store header (on etsy! YAY! LOVES THE ETSY!) and my logo for print design and labels.

I'm pretty excited. BUT - I have to remember that the logo is going to be for a long time. It's branding. Remember that branding is a HUGE part of business. People need to be able to recognize your items by your logo. It's your imprint on society and your niche. I have to think about this before jumping in headfirst (and you do too if you're starting a business or a boutique or anything!!) - is this a lasting thing that I can use for the next 10 years or is it a passing trend?

Whatever you do - don't follow trends when it comes to design and business logos. No no no! It's sure disaster when you have to redesign in 5 years and pretty much start over on branding...

But if you're not concerned about that - more power to you go for it!

I just know what I love. I totally *heart* retro/mod. Every time I see an item with a retro owl or mushroom (and I used to LOVE mushrooms back in the day - I even had clear mushroom stickers on my car tail lights - many many moons ago!) I'm a pile of "awww!"

So, that's the update. I'll be posting about my new "Green" venture and of course the ROCK N ROLL stuff I have rolling out.

Now... just to get time to.... Oh... MAKE the stuff! Now, that's a novel idea!! Making the stuff to sell it and getting it out of my head. hmmmm...

Slow going - for sure!

So this is all so slooooooow going! I had the idea that I would be sewing away and all of my ideas would be fabulous (which most of them are, if I do say so myself - haha) and I would have all the hours in the day to sew my heart out. Well. Guess what? That's not really the case, now is it? Uhhh. No.

Here's the reality -

I work 40 hours a week. I pick up the boy from "daycare" (really Karate with an afterschool/summer program - I LOVE IT). I go home. I make dinner (it's past 6 by this point). I get the boy in the bathtub. I get the boy his bedtime snack (now it's 7:15 PM). I put him in the bed. We read a book. I cuddle with him for a few minutes. Now, it's past 8 (most nights). I wipe the nearly asleep from my eyes. I talk to Sean for a few minutes. I work. Now it's 9 PM. I work until Midnight. I'm exhausted.

I get up at 6. I should get up at 4:30. But no. That's not happening!

I'm starting to realize that I'm gung ho. But... as Sean mentioned to me several times - I need to manage my time. He's so right. On the weekends when I'm working, I try to get stuff done - but in reality - I'm all over the place - I'm cleaning, cooking, doing dishes, playing with Lucian. And... in the midst of all that - I work for about ohh.... 2 hours. Boooo!

So, here it is. Time management time! I'm going to manage my time. Effectively.

Now, just how I'm going to do that is a little beyond me... Hmmm... *scratching chin*

Any help? :)

Interesting Site & Company

So I'm doing some research on... well... we won't get into that. I just like to learn about things. So I'm researching through the web and come across this site:



http://aspexcorp.com/index.html

If you're a geek like me, check this out! What they do is pretty cool. Not to mention, they do scholarships and other cool stuff. Here's a brief portion of their history...

ABOUT
Since 1992
In 1992, ASPEX Corporation introduced the “PC” of scanning electron microscopes, the ASPEX personal SEM. The automated particle analyzer—based on integrated SEM-EDS technology—is ASPEX’s flagship product. The ASPEX PSEM has consistently provided customers with a reliable workhorse solution for their particle analysis needs-particle size, shape and elemental composition. Since the first introduction of the PSEMTM innovations and improvements in component technology, robust form factors and software enhancements have allowed ASPEX to continue to offer superior solutions to a variety customer’s needs of the last 15 years.

ASPEX can help your company to achieve high performance by supplying automated micro contamination quality-control systems to customers with particle contamination and manufacturing cleanliness issues, as well as innovative microanalysis solutions for monitoring product quality and inspecting medical devices.

Do you know of anyone that needs this service? It's pretty cool if you ask me. Browse around their site and check it out...

I'm a total science fanatic and this stuff fascinates me! Even if it's not your cup of tea, browse that site. You'll see some pretty neat-o stuff!!

Also, for the kiddos - they offer $1,000 scholarships. In today's economy... that's good stuff.

http://aspexcorp.com/resources/scholarship.html

Here are some videos...

http://aspexcorp.com/resources/product-videos.html

This is totally cool stuff!

Allergies

Anyone with allergies is going to relate to this - completely. I. Feel. Like. Dog. Doo. I can barely speak (which Sean cheered for - ha ha honey...) and my head feels like it's floating in a vat of bacon grease. Although I L O V E the smell of bacon, having my head wallowing in it - not cool.

The pollen is a-flyin' early this year. It got me. Hard. I am taking my medication, but alas - it was too late! And I'm down to 4 pills. Fab. Just fab.

So today is flying by (THANK GOODNESS) and I haven't done much. I, honestly, just want to go home and break out my snuggie and cuddle up on the couch - oh and add a decaf coffee (sprinkled with Bailey's). Delish.

But I can't. LUCKILY I keep a clean house and don't have to do anything other than cook (ugh) tonight. Maybe Sean will be so kind and take that duty (please please please honey wouldya?)

So, no creating going on over here. I have a few ideas but I just can't implement them.

Wise word of the day? Go to sleep. It will be better tomorrow.

No really. Just teasing. Wise word.... Check back tomorrow. :)

Blah. Humbug.

Ideas Abound

I started an informational website. Let's not beat around the bush here people. I did it! I've actually been pretty busy doing a few things when it comes to Sedilu. I got the small business development class lined up (after missing TWO of them because of LIFE coming in and saying "not today Dinnetta. Not today"). And Life sort of came today and said "woah Nellie! Not today" but I'm telling that LIFE to just hush for a minute. I'm doing this. I'm just going to have to compromise and improvise a little bit. I'm not waiting any longer! Lucian. Grab your games boy. We're going to learn about business!! I can almost hear his squeals of delight (yeah, not so much).

The website is (drumroll please!):

www.sedilu-boutique-designs.weebly.com

This is how it goes. I'm going to be doing a lot of custom items. I LOVE custom items! So I'll post the fabrics that I have available (or have access to!) and people can go and choose their fabrics. Snazzy huh? This is going to be great for blankets, pillows, onesies (once I get there) and other clothing items (again, once I get there!). I'm actually really super excited about it!

In reality, by the time YOU are reading this blog, it's going to be fully operational because I haven't advertised this blog pretty much - at all! So how would you know it's here? The internet is an OCEAN of EVERYTHING and I'm just a plankton being swept along in the current. Oh, my trusty lovelies, the day shall come! And when that day comes that I have followers - mwuahahahah! I'll love it! :) I know. I'm such an attention fiend. *wink*

Anywhoo! Back on topic (I swear I have ADD!). I'm going to continue to increase my arsenal of fabrics and include a TON of popular designers like Michael Miller, Amy Butler, and Alexander Henry. I absolutely ADORE these people's whimsical designs. I mean, ADORE! If you have any ideas or suggestions for the website (which will include a business blog too! OH. MY. GOSH this blogging thing is totally addicting - I act like I have a lot of time but I love it! I like to talk. What can I say?). It's exciting to start something.

Advice for today?

Stick with it. Regardless of how "far behind" you think you are, it's not that bad. If you quit, you'll have a problem. But as long as you WRITE DOWN YOUR GOALS, and make them realistic (that's a key there), you'll be just fine. I have yet to learn how to use my embroidery machine, but I was unrealistic about my goals. I just didn't have the time (or, quite frankly the motivation) to do it. But if you are realistic, write it down, and keep trucking along, you're going to make it.

Right now I'm in a learning stage. I am taking a free marketing and SEO class (YOU HAVE GOT TO TAKE IT. Awesome lessons. I'll put the link at the bottom of the post) and learning as much as I can. I think that I jumped into this a little too early but you have GOT to learn these lessons. Otherwise you'll never have lived.

Take chances. Live life. Go. Go. Go! Take your baby steps because it takes time. But once you learn how to walk, you're going to learn how to jog. Once you're jogging, you're going to learn how to run and when you take off running - there's no looking back. Ignore those side stitches and keep going lovey! You're going to be amazed at the power of YOU!

Here's the link to the free marketing and SEO classes. The founder's name is Cricket and she's the nicest, informative, and attentive person! If you have a question, you better believe it's going to be answered. I haven't had a chance to keep up with all the lessons, but I'm telling you - I have learned SO MUCH from her!

Best of luck and BLESS! I'm on the way. And you can be too!

Until next time lovies. TTFN.

http://www.gnc-web-creations.com/web-training.htm

Check out her website. You won't regret it. On the page that I posted, you need to scroll down to register. Super easy. It's a web group. She gives specific instructions on what to do to join! Lots of information. LOVE IT!

Moving right along

I can't believe how quickly time goes by. I remember when I was in high school it seemed as though time dragged on and the weekend NEVER came. Sitting in class nearly falling asleep listening to the teacher drone on about the civil war or some biological wonder that no one really cared about in class except for the teacher.

But here I am. Sitting on the couch on a Saturday at 7:07 AM (and have been up for nearly an hour now) blogging because I haven't done it since FEBRUARY 24th! It feels like I just sat down here about 3 days ago. *sigh* Where, oh where, does the time go? I have a sneaky suspicion that there is a gremlin somewhere stealing it, but my suspicions go unfounded (for now - only because I don't have time to investigate the matter). And THEN, society throws a wrench into my life once again and takes an hour from me TONIGHT - darn daylight savings time. I personally think they need to get rid of it - Arizona doesn't have it - and they're still doing just fine. Go figure!!

Anyway, so I am going to a small business development class today to learn about licensing and permitting and other such things that I am going to need when I finally get enough financial backing and "peace" to start Sedilu going on the right track. I'll have to blog and let you know how it turns out. I think that it's going to be good. Considering that I have zero clue on where to start and it's proven that when a person feels overwhelmed... they SHUT IT DOWN and I am no different. I did some research and found about 8 BAZILLION websites with information - not all pertinent to my state - and my head about exploded. This is a free class mind you - and I'm loving that. With the economy being so shaky, it would be crazy not to learn everything you can right now to get things going. I can't procrastinate this! I have to take Lucian with me to the class (gulp) but he's a good kid. So it should be ok. I'll take his PSP and some food and he should be ok for the 2 hours (please please please hope that I'm right!). Sean has to work. Dang job. Oh yeah. WE LIKE WORK! Work is good. Work pays the bills.

You know, I had it in my head that this was going to be simple. I was going to sew some stuff. I was going to list a few things on etsy and VOILA. I was going to start seeing my investment make some returns (that oh so lovely ROI). But after starting, I realize - that this needs more. I need to market my wares. But to market anything I need to HAVE A GOOD set INVENTORY of items. I can't just start sending out marketing materials for what - 4 designs? Crazy! So I am taking Dave Ramsey's advice and taking BABY STEPS! Shockingly good idea! I got overwhelmed sewing until my fingers bled (not really but it felt like that!).

SO if you're starting a venture - work at it slowly. Nothing comes quickly. Good things come to those who wait. Patience is a virtue. Am I making you sick with these cliche's? Yeah. Me too.

But it's true. Don't rush it. Take your time or you're going to shut right down and get nothing accomplished. I started a little informational website because I have a great idea for customizing blankets, pillows and even dresses and such (when I get to that point) which I'm going to post about in a little bit. It's actually pretty cool and I had a BLAST doing it! As of today, I haven't gotten much on it, but it's going to be really neat when it's done! I'm totally excited about it! I'll be right back to post about it! YAY.