Collaboration Women Wednesday Blog Hop - Week 8

Welcome to Creation|Collaboration's 9th Women Wednesday blog roll, hosted by Beads & More by Lois, Soaperstar and Plans and Presents

Creation|Collaboration was set up by eight women, all existing friends, who run small businesses from their homes. We have started Women Wednesday blog roll to link up with other women in business, spread the word about Creation|Collaboration and basically just have fun visiting all of your interesting blogs!

Join in each week and you could be the following weeks blog feature. Every Thursday we will use Randomness software to pick someone from that weeks blog hop and announce who will be the next blog feature.

Heres how you can join in with Collaboration Women Wednesday:

• Link up your blog name and URL to your Women Wednesday blog post using the McKLinky below (you only need to add on one blog to be seen on all of the McKLinky blog roll's) Please note that it's for blogs only and not links to your websites or shops.
• Follow our Creation|Collaboration blog and the hostesses listed in the first 3 slots.
• Grab our Women Wednesday button and feature it on your blog or Women Wednesday blog post.
• Follow and comment saying you're from Women Wednesday on as many blogs as you likes listed in the McKlinky box.
• Follow back any new followers from Women Wednesday!

It's that easy and a fun way to discover new and interesting blogs and us women at Creation|Collaboration get to meet other women in business!

Last week Suzanne from Scent Trail was picked to be our 3rd Blog Hop Feature!

Suzanne is a soap maker living in the North West, her soaps are made using the hot process method and are all palm oil free. She also makes lovely bath salts and body butters, read more to find out more about Scent Trail.

  

We asked Suzanne 5 questions so we could find out more about her and her business.

1. Tell us more about yourself and your business.

My name is Suzanne Jones. I live in the north west of England, and work part time in a dog food company, run a small petsitting business which I have had for about four years, and more recently set up a bath and beauty company. Oh, and I make jewellery from time to time, using Fair Trade silver beads and findings which I get direct from Thailand.

Over the past ten years or so, I have become more concerned with what I eat, where the products I use come from and how they have been tested.  For a couple of years I played with the idea of making soap, something I wanted to do but found courage lacking. The support I received from one of the forums I am a member of gave me that courage, and  finally I found something that I am good at (I think) and that I love to do. It has taken me a long time to decide what I want to be when I grow up but this is it. I love it.

The company was started after foisting my soap on a number of guinea pigs, who came back for more!  I knew then that I had the recipe right, so one safety assessment later, I set up Scent Trail in February of this year.  Since then I have created and recently launched a body butter, and I am working on a foot balm and have ideas for more products than I have time to make.  I believe in the Fair Trade ethic and like to use Fair Trade ingredients if they are available.

2. What do you love most about having your own business?

I love being my own boss. There is something quite liberating about not having to answer to someone, having creative control, and being able to go off on a tangent and see where it leads. I love standing in the kitchen stirring my cauldron and experimenting with new ingredients.

3. What would you like to change?

More money would be nice, but mainly, I would love more time to devote to the business. It is frustrating to have an idea for a new product, or packaging idea and not be able to do anything about it for a couple of days because everything else gets in the way. I need to try to build the business and that takes time that at the moment I am struggling to find.

4. What do you love most about blogging?

I have always kept a diary and love using words, blogging is an extension of that and is such an immediate way of contacting people, and is a great way of networking and showcasing your products.

5. What is your most favourite item you have made?


My favourite creation? That is difficult because they are all my babies. It is probably what I have done last, and in this case it is the body butter I made yesterday. It absorbs beautifully and makes the skin feel gorgeously soft.

Thank you Suzanne for being part of the blog hop and feature.

You can buy Scent Trail products from their website

If you would like to be featured next week, make sure you join in this weeks blog hop, only 3 more left!

Start-up Sunday Week 1 - Feel the Fear and Do It Anyway!

Feel the Fear and Do It Anyway - Start-up Sunday

I can't start my own business, I have no money!

I have no time.

My family would laugh at me.

People like me just don't run businesses.

I'm scared, I have no business skills.

I have always been bad at maths, how could I possibly keep records.

No one would want to buy what I make.

I will be a failure.

But you need to know about taxes and I know nothing.

I would need a business plan and I just don't know where to start.

Do any of the statements above sound familiar to you? Thought so. Here, at Creation Collaboration, we really have been there, done that and bought the t-shirt.

Over the next 8 weeks, we will be taking you through such important topics as writing a business plan, building a brand, networking and, most importantly and the thing that seems to daunt most prospective business owners, taxes.

We have all been in the position of starting out, we have felt and faced the fear of the unknown, we would like to give you the benefit of our experience start ups or a more experienced trader we hope you will find our guide helpful and useful.

Week 1 - Introduction - Feel the Fear and Do It Anyway!
Week 2 - Sole Trader, Partnership or Limited Company? What's the difference & what option is best for you?
Week 3 - Writing a Business Plan
Week 4 - Website or no Website?
Week 5 - Self Assesment, VAT, PAYE and Record Keeping
Week 6 - Legislation and Insurance
Week 7 - Building a Brand
Week 8 - Online Marketing and Social Media
Week 9 - The Future and Beyond

 

Please tell everyone you know who would find this information useful - we'll be covering really important topics that could really help you out!

Our Week 2 subject blog post on Sole Trader, Partnership or Limited Company - what's the difference & what option is best for you will be posted on Sunday 13 June.  Make sure to check back!

Creation|Collaboration features CarmenJean!

We're really delighted to be bringing you our seventh Feature Friday - today we're featuring Carmen Maidment who runs CarmenJean.

Hi Carmen, introduce us to yourself and your company!

Greeting all C|C readers! My name is Carmen Maidment, and I run the CarmenJean Group. I know – it sounds terribly grand, but really it’s a collection of three trading names, all doing something a little different. CarmenJean, Soap By The Slice, and Teeny Tiny Soap Co.

The main focus of all of them is all bath & body products. CarmenJean’s focus is on wholesale orders, Soap By The Slice focuses on retail sales and Teeny Tiny Soap Co focuses on favours and small soaps & products. Each one has their own personality and image, and is treated as stand alone units.

The group is run mainly by myself, with support from my wonderful, understanding and ever patient husband. And I am kept mad by my two very energetic children. Well, the madness helps the creativity to flow!

I make glycerine soaps, body butters and a whole host of products to help wake you up in the morning, and relax you after a stressful day. I’ve started to make some of my own packaging too – a truly therapeutic activity!

Where did the idea of running this as a business come from?

As a work at home mum, I have always been driven to run a business from my home. When I started to make soaps, it was with the intent to sell them on. I never dreamed that I’d become this obsessed with it all!

What do you love most about your business?

The colours, the fragrances, the ingredients, the end product, and the joy my customers experience when they use my products.

I also love the creation aspect – making something that is appealing to the eye. I love the cute packaging, the handing over a parcel to a customer, knowing that they, or a loved one is going to enjoy using those products.

There are so many things I love about it, that it’s really difficult to pick just one. So, I suppose the answer to the question ‘What do you love most about your business?’ is …. My business, and everything about it.

What would you like to change?

Hmm. That’s a tough one. I’d like to have more time. But since that’s not going to happen, I suppose I’d like to be able to work smarter. By that, I mean that I would like to be more efficient, more resourceful, more organised and more efficient. (Yes, I did mention ‘efficient’ twice!) It’s not easy for me. My husband called me a ‘Space Invader’ nine years ago, and it still holds true today! I seem to occupy far more space than necessary.

What is your aim for the next year?

Expansion! I have so many ideas that need to be actioned. It really is just a case of getting them done. I am working on more wholesale orders, and more craft fairs, and those two are my main points of focus for this year.

Where do you ultimately see yourself?

Successful and happy. Success makes me happy, but, success is not easily defined. To me, success is a healthy turnover in my business, and a happy home life. The balance is not an easy one, but certainly not impossible. I don’t want my products in supermarkets – I would be far more happy for them to be in boutiques, gift shops and galleries.

What are your Top 5 tips for new Business Women ?

Tip 1: SKILLS!! I can’t stress enough, how important it is to have the skills you need as a strong foundation to build on. Whether those skills are in papercrafts, or bookkeeping – you need to have them as a strong, rock solid foundation. And if you don’t have those skills, get them! Internet, courses, college, and friends are all places where you can find those skills. If you’re physically unable to get a skill (anything to do with numbers confuzzles me!), get someone who does have that skill. My husband wouldn’t dream of letting me loose on the accounts, and I cringe at the thought of him designing a business card.

Tip 2: Source good ingredients. It doesn’t matter whether your ingredients include shea butter, sterling wire or ceramic clay, make sure that your ingredients match the standard of your end item. There is no way you can use inferior ingredients, and hope to sell the end item for a premium price. If it means you have to buy less quantity according to your budget, then do so – there is no substitute for good quality ingredients.

Tip 3: Branding. Whatever you sell, make sure that your name is on it in some shape or form. If it’s a service, make sure that everyone, and I mean everyone, knows who you are and has a good image of you.

Labels on products should reflect your style and should proudly display your company name. There should be no doubt where the product has come from.

It’s not easy, and many well known brands still don’t get it right. But wait! Before you throw your hands up in despair and give up, remember, it’s far easier for small business owners to change and adapt than it is for large companies. Think of a small speedboat making a turn, as opposed to a supertanker making a turn.

Tip 4: Roll with the times. Make sure that you are adaptable and flexible. If someone makes a negative comment about your product or service, do not take it personally. Turn it around, and see how you can use that information to tweak your business and make it better.

Tip 5: Be true to yourself. Don’t let someone else (even a loved one) tell you which way your business should go. Sure, get ideas from others, bounce new ideas off someone else, but go with what you feel is right for you.

Don’t allow your image style to be shabby chique, if you’re more of a grunge type of person. And if gothic is your thing, don’t let someone else tell you that you have to be more traditional. It may mean delaying the launch of your business, but it will be well worth it. If your business is to be sustainable, it must be something that reflects a part of you. And if you change, allow your company to change too. You will put a great deal of time and energy into this, and if it’s not something that you enjoy, it may not be long lasting.

A few last words - How do we contact you Carmen?

There are several different ways.

Facebook: CarmenJean Bath – Body - Beauty http://www.facebook.com/carmenjean.b.b.b

Twitter: http://twitter.com/CJ_Soap, http://twitter.com/soapbytheslice and http://twitter.com/TeenyTinySoapCo

Website: http://www.carmenjean.co.uk/

E-Mail: info@carmenjean.co.uk

I am working on my website, and will be listing the fairs that I will be attending in the year. Hopefully I’ll be able to get it finished fairly soon … hopefully.

Thank you so much for reading all about me, and my business.

Thank you so much Carmen for talking us today, your products sound utterly fabulous and we love the idea that you've split your company into different sections to match the different markets you sell to. 

Next week, we'll be featuring Brenda Panter from Splash - make sure to check back next Friday!!!

Women Wednesday's 3rd Blog Hop Feature

To celebrate the success of our weekly Women Wednesday Blog hop so far we would like to start featuring someone's blog from the previous weeks list and featuring alongside the following Women Wednesday blog hop. The featured blog will also be put at number 5 on the blog hop list so it's near the top and likely to get more followers!


This week we are picking a winner from weeks 7 blog hop where we had 20 entries.

And the winner is...

Number 20!

Which is Suzanne from Scent Trail

Well done Suzanne, your blog will be featured with next weeks blog hop! We'll be in contact to see if you wouldn't mind answering a few questions to add with your blog feature.

Collaboration Women Wednesday Blog Hop - Week 7

Welcome to Creation|Collaboration's 7th Women Wednesday blog roll, hosted by Beads & More by Lois, Soaperstar and Plans and Presents

Creation|Collaboration was set up by eight women, all existing friends, who run small businesses from their homes. We have started Women Wednesday blog roll to link up with other women in business, spread the word about Creation|Collaboration and basically just have fun visiting all of your interesting blogs!

Join in each week and you could be the following weeks blog feature. Every Thursday we will use Randomness software to pick someone from that weeks blog hop and announce who will be the next blog feature.

Heres how you can join in with Collaboration Women Wednesday:

• Link up your blog name and URL to your Women Wednesday blog post using the McKLinky below (you only need to add on one blog to be seen on all of the McKLinky blog roll's) Please note that it's for blogs only and not links to your websites or shops.
• Follow our Creation|Collaboration blog and the hostesses listed in the first 3 slots.
• Grab our Women Wednesday button and feature it on your blog or Women Wednesday blog post.
• Follow and comment saying you're from Women Wednesday on as many blogs as you likes listed in the McKlinky box.
• Follow back any new followers from Women Wednesday!

It's that easy and a fun way to discover new and interesting blogs and us women at Creation|Collaboration get to meet other women in business!

Last week Michelle Wyatt from Melusine Soap was picked to be our 2nd Blog Hop Feature!

Michelle is a lovely soaper based in Somerset, she handcrafts all of her Sodium Lauryl Sulfate (SLS) - free, glycerin soaps at home, she sells them online and at fairs. Read more to find out more about Melusine Soap!

 

We asked Michelle 5 questions so we could find out more about her and her business.

1. Tell us more about yourself and your business.

Hello, my name is Michelle, I live in the beautiful county of Somerset and I'm a mum to my 1 year old daughter, Mathilda. I've been making glycerine soaps for about 10 months now.  It started off as a little hobby to do while I was on maternity leave, making soaps as gifts for friends and family and then it just snowballed from there!  I was very fortunate to be subject to a random act of kindness from a lady I met through a soap making forum and she basically helped pay for my Safety Assessment for me to start selling soaps to customers.  From then on I've been gradually building up my collection, which is heavily inspired by my surroundings, nature and folklore.  I also set up a shop on Folksy and I had my first ever craft fair at the beginning of May.  It went so well that it helped me to decide to not return to my 9-5, well-paid job as a buyer for a helicopter manufacturer, and to focus on bringing up my daughter and making and selling soaps from home!

2. What do you love most about having your own business?

I love the creativity.  That is definitely my favourite part as there's nothing more satisfying then creating something beautiful that people also enjoy and get pleasure from.  I also love belonging to such a lovely community of fellow crafters.  Virtually everyone I've met, either on Twitter, social networking sites, or at craft fairs, have been very supportive and helpful, which is something I never noticed while working for a large company.

3. What would you like to change?

I have a list as long as my arm at the moment regarding things I'd like to change!  My business has only just started, and I'm completely learning everything from scratch.  My main priority at the moment is to clarify my brand and my logo, it's something that has been put on the back burner for far too long while I've been busy experimenting with soap making!  I'll then be working on a website which I aim to be up and running by the end of the year.

4. What do you love most about blogging?

I'm also very new to blogging, but I'm enjoying it very much.  It's a very important part of networking and I love how it can be great exposure for my business and I'm enjoying the the Folksy Friday and Creation Collaboration Women Wednesday blog hops.  Again it's like being part of a great community of crafters, who all support and learn from each other.  Taking part in blog hops means that I can meet even more crafters and keep my finger on the pulse.

5. What is your most favourite item you have made?

I'm very proud of my Oats, Milk and Somerset Honey soap.  It took a lot of planning because I really wanted to make something using local produce and to try and make it unique in some way as Oat, Milk and Honey soaps are very popular among other soapers.  It was interesting to make because it involved several different ingredients and techniques (including the bubble wrap technique to create a honeycomb effect for the honey layer) so I felt like it tested the skills I had developed over the last few months.  It's a popular seller at local craft fairs and was even ordered by someone in Alabama recently, which was an amazing complement to me and my work!

Thank you Michelle for being part of the blog hop and feature.

Buy Melusine Soaps through her Folksy Shop

You can catch Melusine Soap on Facebook

If you would like to be featured next week, make sure you join in on this weeks blog hop!

Feature Friday - Myroo Skincare & Milly and Flossy

  

We're really delighted to be bringing you our sixth Feature Friday - today we're featuring Rachael Dunseath who runs both myroo skincare and Milly & Flossy. 

Hi Rachael, introduce us to yourself and your company! 

Hello! I’m Rachael Dunseath and I am the owner of myroo skincare and Milly & Flossy.

Both brands are dedicated to hand-creating natural skincare that is desirable but ethical. Milly & Flossy is my baby range.

I use only the best natural ingredients and my products contain no sodium laureth/lauryl sulphate, no parabens, phthalates or silicones, no petrochemicals, no palm oil and no artificial fragrances or colours. I only use synthetic ingredients where they are unavoidable, for example to preserve.

My shea butter is organic and fairly traded. All my packaging is recyclable. I don’t test my products on animals and nor are any of the raw ingredients tested on them either.  The whole range is suitable for pregnant women and the baby range is suitable from birth.

The entire range is handmade by me in small batches in my tiny workshop.

Where did the idea of running this as a business come from?

I have always wanted to run a business that made the most of my creative side and my business and marketing background. Myroo came about when double redundancies in our house set me looking for homemade gift ideas. A few experiments later and some fantastic feedback from my testers and an idea was born. Things have moved so fast, the products are more sophisticated but the basic idea remains the same.

What do you love most about your business?

I love my cupboard full of ingredients. I feel privileged to be working with such lovely raw materials; beautiful butters, luxurious oils and fragrant essential oils. It is a joy.

I also love it when a customer takes the time to give me feedback. It’s wonderful to hear that people enjoy what you are making and that it works. Several people have actually taken time to email me to let me know how much they love my products, which is amazing.

Finally, it gives me an enormous sense of pride whenever I set up my stall at a craft fair. To think it’s less than a year since the original idea, my little business has had quite a journey.

What would you like to change?

Ugh, bookkeeping is the bane of my life. I’d love to be earning enough to pay a bookkeeper to do what they’re good at, so I can concentrate what I’m good at. Soon, fingers crossed.

What is your aim for the next year?

I have ambitious growth plans for the business. I plan to launch several new products in the next twelve months, starting with my new Milly & Flossy baby butter which will be available very soon. My website is undergoing a major transformation so there will be lots of activity focused online too. I’m also working hard on PR and would love to see my brands featured in some national publications.

Where do you ultimately see yourself?

My ultimate aim is to be stocked in a high-end high street store, my dream would be to be on the shelves of Space NK. I want to achieve that whilst remaining true to the ethical values of my business and keeping the products handmade.

What are your Top 5 tips for new Business Women?

Tip 1: Do not forget to include your time in the pricing of you business, be it a service or a product. If you cannot make a profit when your time is factored in, then your business will not grow. It’s harsh but true.

Tip 2: Network. It can be isolating being self employed, especially if you work from home. Meeting up with like minded business people can help develop your business and keep you motivated.

Tip 3: Make the most of social media. It is hard making a name for yourself in your chosen field and it’s unlikely you’ll have a massive marketing budget. Twitter, Facebook, Linkedin and other social media formats all offer a chance for you to get your name out there and you don’t need to part with any cash; remember though, your time does have a value - if you’re doing nothing but social media, your business won’t grow.

Tip 4: Prioritise. It can be tempting to focus on the things you like doing and the things you are good at, especially if your business is based around a skill or craft, but you need to focus on the things that are going to grow your business. The reality is that a small amount of your time will actually be spent doing the creative side and a lot of time will be spent doing the business and marketing elements.

Tip 5: Enjoy it! Being self employed is wonderful, it’s rewarding, fulfilling and challenging. It has ups and downs but that sense of pride in knowing it’s all yours is unbeatable. You’ve done it, you created your own business, you are an entrepreneur!

A few last words - How do we contact you?

You can buy online at http://www.myroo.co.uk/ and http://www.millyandflossy.co.uk/. 

Find out more on http://www.facebook.com//myrooskincare and http://www.facebook.com/millyandflossy or follow us on Twitter at http://twitter.com/myrooskincare and http://twitter.com/millyflossy.

If you live in Harrogate, you can also buy our products at The Stalls, a lovely boutique stocking all handmade products, 3 Bower Street, Harrogate, HG1 5BQ

Thank you so much Rachael for talking us today, your products sound utterly fabulous and we love your use of natural ingredients in all your products.
 
Next week, we'll be featuring a special guest company - check back on next Friday for details!!!

Women Wednesday's 2nd Blog Hop Feature

To celebrate the success of our weekly Women Wednesday Blog hop so far we would like to start featuring someone's blog from the previous weeks list and featuring alongside the following Women Wednesday blog hop. The featured blog will also be put at number 5 on the blog hop list so it's near the top and likely to get more followers!


This week we are picking a winner from weeks 6 blog hop where we had 28 entries.

And the winner is...

Number 11!

Which is Michelle from Melusine Soap.

Well done Michelle, your blog will be featured with next weeks blog hop! We'll be in contact to see if you wouldn't mind answering a few questions to add with your blog feature.

Collaboration Women Wednesday Blog Hop - Week 6

Welcome to Creation|Collaboration's 5th Women Wednesday blog roll, hosted by Beads & More by Lois, Soaperstar and Plans and Presents

Creation|Collaboration was set up by eight women, all existing friends, who run small businesses from their homes. We have started Women Wednesday blog roll to link up with other women in business, spread the word about Creation|Collaboration and basically just have fun visiting all of your interesting blogs!

Join in each week and you could be the following weeks blog feature. Every Thursday we will use Randomness software to pick someone from that weeks blog hop and announce who will be the next blog feature.

Heres how you can join in with Collaboration Women Wednesday:

• Link up your blog name and URL to your Women Wednesday blog post using the McKLinky below (you only need to add on one blog to be seen on all of the McKLinky blog roll's) Please note that it's for blogs only and not links to your websites or shops.
• Follow our Creation|Collaboration blog and the hostesses listed in the first 3 slots.
• Grab our Women Wednesday button and feature it on your blog or Women Wednesday blog post.
• Follow and comment saying you're from Women Wednesday on as many blogs as you likes listed in the McKlinky box.
• Follow back any new followers from Women Wednesday!

It's that easy and a fun way to discover new and interesting blogs and us women at Creation|Collaboration get to meet other women in business!

Last week Georgie Baker was picked to be our first Blog Hop Feature!

Georgie Baker makes gorgeous textile treasures by the sea in Southend-On-Sea, Essex. Her textile accessories and jewellery are unique with a quirky style that makes her items stand out from the rest.

We asked Georgie 5 questions so we could find out more about her and her business.

1. Tell us more about yourself and your business.

Hello all, my name is Georgina, and I am a designer/maker living and working in Essex. I graduated from University College Falmouth in 2008 with a degree in Textile Design, and after having a little time out, now design and make textile accessories and jewellery under the moniker Georgie Baker Designs.

My work mainly consists of hand-embroidered accessories and jewellery with a vintage twist. I absolutely adore vintage collectables and anything from the Art Deco period, so I think that tends to influence my designs and thought processes. I try to make every design and piece as unique as possible, and I think this is especially important today when so much is mass-produced.

2. What do you love most about having your own business?

There are lots of things I love about designing and creating...I love the freedom of being able to set your own creative targets and deadlines, and I love getting in touch with other designers and crafters who share the same passion for beautiful things. It's also really nice when someone compliments you on a piece of jewellery or an accessory you have put alot of time and hard work into.

3. What would you like to change?

I would really like to change the space in which I work in. That's the only down-side of working from home. It's sometimes difficult to find the space and the right environment to help put you in a creative frame of mind. It just means that you have to be extra organised!

4. What do you love most about blogging?

I think blogging is so important with regards to exposure and advertising your company and products. Before I had a blog, a facebook page and twitter, I completely under-estimated the power they have to generate 'traffic' to my sites and online shop. I also like the fact that blogging helps you to keep up to date with what other designers and crafters are doing. It's really interesting to see what is being produced.

5. What is your most favourite item you have made?

I am always my own worst critic and a real perfectionist when it comes to my work, but I do enjoy seeing the finished product when it is photographed and displayed. I suppose one of my favourites is the black and white sequined magpie feather brooch. This was one of the first things I made for my accessories portflio. Having said that, there are so many more things I want to do in terms of designing and making, and there is always room for improvement! 

She has recently opened an Etsy shop so check out her lovely designs:

http://www.etsy.com/shop/Georgiebakerdesigns

You can follow and find out more about Georgie on her blog:

http://georgiebakerdesigns.blogspot.com/

If you would like to be featured next week, be sure to join todays Women Wednesday Blog Hop!

Feature Friday - Pot of Gold Crafts Profile on Creation|Collaboration

Welcome to the fifth of our Feature Fridays on Creation|Collaboration! Each Friday, we profile a woman run business by interviewing the founder and finding more out about them, their business, their life and loves!

For our fifth Feature Friday, we've chatted to Susie McKinstray, owner of Pot of Gold Crafts in North-East Scotland.



Hi Susie, introduce us to yourself and your company!

Hi all, I'm Susie McKinstray and I am the creator behind everything at Pot of Gold Crafts.

Pot of Gold is one of those places you really can find something for anyone. We currently specialise in handmade greetings cards, jewellery and accessories and now we do hand-dyed wool, aimed originally at the cloth nappy market for knitters to create soakers for over the cloth nappies, but obviously any real wool lovers are more than welcome. We've also combined a love of wool, knitting and jewels to create a range of Swarovski crystal stitch markers to add some fantastic sparkle to your knitting day. We also have many new items currently in the planning stage, with some now in development and heading to the testing stage.

Where did the idea of running this as a business come from?

I have always had an incredibly creative streak and have tried my hand at many different crafts (if I went into listing them we'd be here for a while!) Being a stay-at-home mum since having my first child, I found many other mums online who ran “WAHM” (work-at-home mum) businesses. That's really when it first hit me that other people may also be interested in the things I make.

What do you love most about your business?

Just knowing people like the things I make is amazing. I also like being able to be flexible with working time depending on what my family's needs are. However, for me, the best thing is that I don't have to commute to work at all.

What would you like to change?

My workspace. I've already got a corner set up in my living room as my craft work area but it's a little unorganised and I want to turn the storage area under our stairs into a fantastic mini craft room.

What is your aim for the next year?

Many new products and working to have an in stock yarn selection as I am currently working on a preorder status. I have had a small break from making current products as I am developing a few new things, with sewn products as well as some knitted and crocheted items so I aim to resume building up more current stock as well. I am also hoping soon to create my own website to house the cards and jewellery and keep the yarn at my Hyenacart store since there is a great yarn-loving community there.



Where do you ultimately see yourself?

I would love to open a “bricks and mortar” shop, and sell not only my own products but those of other crafters who want to get their name out there. I suppose it would be like a “real life” version of Creation|Collaboration.

What are your Top 5 tips for new Business Women ?

Tip 1 Believe in yourself! If other people tell you they like what you do and keep asking for you to assist or make something for them, then you know what you are doing will be worth it. Even when things are going slowly, don't let it get to you and put you off wanting to continue.

Tip 2 Be patient! It is so hard to get people to realise you are there, especially if you are trying to get into a business with many other creators, and in some cases cheaper mass-produced items.


Tip 3 Carefully consider your pricing structure. Obviously you want your customers to feel they are getting good value for money, but don't underprice yourself either. If you're not earning from your hard work then you won't make a living; remember it is a business and not just a hobby anymore (but whoever said work couldn't be fun?)

Tip 4 Advertise! I don't mean you have to spend thousands on TV or radio adverts, but setting up Twitter and Facebook pages and inviting all your friends can lead to word of mouth and more and more people will become aware of your business and hopefully start recommending you to others that they know will be interested. Business cards are easily obtainable for very little cost now, make sure to send some out with every order (I usually enclose 2 or 3 with orders in the hope the spares may be passed on to friends) and you may also find some local businesses will be happy to hand them out to people they know may be interested in your products.


Tip 5 Planning! Try to set yourself daily and weekly goals with things to do, try to put in work regularly and maybe consider setting yourself “working hours” whether it's a set time each day to work or just a certain number of hours per week. The more organised you are about your business then the easier it will be to make sure customers get things in a timely manner. This is something I had issues with when starting out, but it's definitely something that you get used to if you get into the habit of doing it.

A few last words - How do we contact Pot of Gold Crafts?

You can stop by the shop at http://hyenacart.com/potofgold or come on by the Facebook page http://www.facebook.com/potofgoldcrafts. We're also on Twitter at http://twitter.com/potofgoldcrafts and finally our blog is at http://potofgoldcrafts.blogspot.com/

Thanks so much Susie for talking to us today - we love the colours and variety of your handmade products. 

Next week, on Feature Friday, we'll be featuring Rachael Dunseath from Myroo Skincare and MillyandFlossy.  Make sure to check back!!