It's been 3 weeks since I last posted, and I think the one thing I have learned through all of this (not including the whole postage debacle), is that starting a new business is really a mind game. Every morning and every night I pray for God's guidance in what I do for "In A Nutshell Store". I ask for wisdom on making the next move; I ask for boldness in taking the next step; I ask for His provision over the business as a whole; I ask for Him to be in the middle of everything that I am doing. But then, as soon as I am done praying, I start beating myself up. I'm not good-enough; I'm not an artist; I stink at all things financial; I don't deserve it - oh gosh, a whole host of things that I tell myself. In a sorts, it's like a tennis game. I serve with a prayer. I hit back with a negative thought. I hit back again with new move, and I hit back again with a mistake (like I made today - I stamped a letter BACKWARDS on an item that can't be replaced...I am thinking of creative solutions so that it is not a total loss!!) But this tennis game in my mind never ends. I am determined to win one day with a point for the positive side, a decisive end to the match!!
So, for the postive things today - I created an item, and both my husband and my daughter said "I like that" without even thinking about it. So, I know that it is one for the store. And one that can be recreated easily when sold. And one that doesn't require mega-postage. And one that I actually like. I did create another item, and it got a luke-warm response, but hey, it's a start. (The third item I created, ummm, that was the one with the backwards letter.) I refuse to lose...
Sunday, February 27, 2011
Sunday, February 6, 2011
My First SALE!!
"YES!!", I thought, "I got my first sale...YIPPEE!" You would have thought that I hit the lottery, found gold, grew wings...something wonderful and great. I texted my husband, IN ALL CAPS, and told him what had happened. And not only did I sell one item, but I sold two to the same person. The angels were singing in heaven - I could hear them "Ahhhhhhh". But that is where the "heavenly" story ends.
Let's just call it a learning experience. Now it is definitely not a buyer-issue. The buyer was fine, no problems there. The items I sold were two of our cocktail recipe shaker glasses (as mentioned in a previous post), and not some of the great artwork that I invision in my mind, and that have yet to come to a sellable fruition (is that even a term??). Anyway, I was glad to have the sales - I know some people wait months for a sale, and I was prepared to do so, but I had faith they would come...and they did. I took the two glasses down to the local shipping store, and I took a box & some protective wrapping that I had, hoping that they would be able to use it. Now, I know the people at the shipping store and have used them on various other occasions, so I do believe that they will treat me right. More so, I believe that they will package my item so it will arrive safely and securely. Well, they tell me and show me that indeed my box is too small. OK, so we go with their box and their protective packaging. Then, when the box is packed, they measure it, weigh it, and ask me how I would like to ship it. Well, "What can I get that is trackable but I don't need fast shipping?" It was a price about 3 times what I had charged my customer for shipping. OK, so "What can I get that is not-trackable but can get delivery confirmation?" Nope, still too high. So, I finally land on the option of standard delivery, which is still $2.00 more than what I indeed charged the customer for shipping. When you add in the supplies needed for shipping, the actual shipping charges, the fees to list items, the fees when you sell the items, and oh, gas for the car...and compare it to the actual price that I sold the items for (including shipping), we...lost...money. Yep, I paid the customer to take those items off my hands.
OK, so it was a learning experience. I thought I had done my research in shipping charges, and obviously I had not done enough. Or perhaps the sale price of my item should have been at least a little higher. Or...there are perhaps other reasons why this first sale, although appreciated, actually lost me money. Bottom line, I've got to start somewhere, and I've definitely got somewhere to improve!! And for that, I am thankful!
Let's just call it a learning experience. Now it is definitely not a buyer-issue. The buyer was fine, no problems there. The items I sold were two of our cocktail recipe shaker glasses (as mentioned in a previous post), and not some of the great artwork that I invision in my mind, and that have yet to come to a sellable fruition (is that even a term??). Anyway, I was glad to have the sales - I know some people wait months for a sale, and I was prepared to do so, but I had faith they would come...and they did. I took the two glasses down to the local shipping store, and I took a box & some protective wrapping that I had, hoping that they would be able to use it. Now, I know the people at the shipping store and have used them on various other occasions, so I do believe that they will treat me right. More so, I believe that they will package my item so it will arrive safely and securely. Well, they tell me and show me that indeed my box is too small. OK, so we go with their box and their protective packaging. Then, when the box is packed, they measure it, weigh it, and ask me how I would like to ship it. Well, "What can I get that is trackable but I don't need fast shipping?" It was a price about 3 times what I had charged my customer for shipping. OK, so "What can I get that is not-trackable but can get delivery confirmation?" Nope, still too high. So, I finally land on the option of standard delivery, which is still $2.00 more than what I indeed charged the customer for shipping. When you add in the supplies needed for shipping, the actual shipping charges, the fees to list items, the fees when you sell the items, and oh, gas for the car...and compare it to the actual price that I sold the items for (including shipping), we...lost...money. Yep, I paid the customer to take those items off my hands.
OK, so it was a learning experience. I thought I had done my research in shipping charges, and obviously I had not done enough. Or perhaps the sale price of my item should have been at least a little higher. Or...there are perhaps other reasons why this first sale, although appreciated, actually lost me money. Bottom line, I've got to start somewhere, and I've definitely got somewhere to improve!! And for that, I am thankful!
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