Hello March! I’m so happy you’re here. February was a month packed with mundane tasks (taxes) and loads of behind the scenes groundwork to get Jumping Jack Designs moving forward. My husband would refer to this process as The Preflight, mandatory for a safe flight. My business has reached a critical point where it either needs to take off or stall. Because I’m a girl who wants to go places, stalling is not an option.
Below is a quick review of my February goals and each task’s current status:
{Goals for February 2010}
- Send out first press release :: Rough draft is written.
- Write a business plan :: I have a solid first draft completed.
- Continue Blogging Class :: In our last week. Have been putting my new knowledge to work.
- Complete nine stationery lines from existing artwork :: Done. Need to photograph and post.
- Meet with one boutique owner :: Contact made. Have an appointment later this week.
- Do my taxes :: Done (home + biz). Doing a little dance.
As I dove into February I knew I had taken on too much, but I’m glad I did because it became a month of awakening. That’s a nice way of saying I got a clue and pulled my head out of the sand. I learned (maybe this should have been obvious) there is a lot of prep that goes into a successful marketing campaign. Writing, photography, research, relationship building, honest self evaluation, just to name a few. I now know I have some serious issues with branding. I need to make a memorable impression and that’s not happening. That being said, here are my March Goals:
{Goals for March 2010}
- Photograph new elements in stationery line and post to Website/Etsy
- Redo business cards and thank you insert for orders
- Create a conspicuous “visit our shop” illustration for my blog sidebar
- Read Made to Stick for Crafting an MBA Book Club
- Create a line sheet and catalog for wholesale (Realistically this will happen in April)
- Prepare for my new Reno-based weekly blog feature (to premiere April 7)
- Take March 29 – April 4 off to relax and enjoy my sister’s wedding.
- Psyche self up for PR blitz in April (I think I’ll be ready this time!)
I’m looking forward to completing my preflight checklist. Even more, I am looking forward to spending the last week of the month with my sister as we celebrate her marriage in Mesa, Arizona. Family, sunshine, swimming, spring training, a big bunny and true love. Sounds like a perfect week.
The Meetup happens on the first of every month. It’s hosted by the fabulous Liz of Athena Dreams.
Click image to see more details on Flickr
As many of you know, I’m taking Holly Becker’s Blogging Your Way e-class to help find direction and voice for this blog. It’s been an eye opening experience. There is so much I want to do and this class is helping me define my focus and find my voice. I won’t go into the gory details, but I do want to share this week’s homework with you.
The assignment was to create a mood board that hones in on my interests and taste. No digital manipulation was allowed. Technically, I may be cheating by including a human being, but as I’ve said before, separating family from work is impossible.
To give you a taste of who I am and what I love within the sphere of my work world, I’ll list the details in the photo. Roughly clockwise from the upper left corner here goes:
- Kid art. My children’s artwork brings me great joy.
- My “To Do List” notebook. A daily to do list keeps me on track and calms my brain.
- Pantone swatchbook. Tattered and loved. I use this all day, everyday.
- Succulents and garden flowers make me happy.
- Font book. I love a good font.
- My journal where I write ideas, take notes, sketch and use for general brain babble.
- Kate. She’s always underfoot, which I love (on most days).
- Jack. My first born and my logo.
- Patterns. My newest fascination.
- The Wedding Invitation Handbook. A beloved reference book.
- My 85 mm Nikon lens. It rocks.
- My own work. Some note cards I created today.
- Scotch ATG 714. A must have for any stationer.
So that’s me in a nutshell (as of Friday, February 5th at 2:30 p.m.). If I did it again tomorrow, who knows!
I bumbled around a bit in January. Many of my goals took a left turn, but all in all, I’ve still got forward momentum. Here is a quick review of last month’s goals:
{Goals for January 2010}
- Send out first press release on January 18 :: Ack. Temporarily sidetracked. I ended up focusing on improvements to my photography and product staging, a fall out from this goal. The release will be delayed by a month, but I believe it will be worth the wait. Photos are my storefront. I need to get it right. An excuse? Perhaps.
- Eliminate riff – raff from Etsy shop :: Yeah! I feel so much better.
- Close 1000 Markets Shop :: Done.
- Begin Blogging Class January 18 :: I started taking a blogging class taught by Holly Becker of Decor8. After the first two weeks, I’ve gained unexpected perspective about who I am as a blogger and an artist as well as great insight about the direction I want to take the blog. It’s very exciting.
- Create nine stationery lines from existing artwork :: Started working to streamline 9 stationery lines. Each line will include a thank you note set, personalized note card, invitation and photo announcement. I’m amped to have a bit more structure in my product lines.
- Meet with one boutique owner :: I chickened out. Will wo-man up and just do it.
- Begin documenting sales/expenses via spreadsheet :: Still learning, but the structure is in place.
{Goals for February 2010}
- Send out first press release
- Write a business plan :: Taking Bakery’s e-course Six Weeks to a Tastier Business which starts today. Thankfully a business plan is first on the curriculum. I’m going to need some hand holding to get it done.
- Continue Blogging Class :: Started. It’s fabulous.
- Complete nine stationery lines from existing artwork :: 50% done with this.
- Meet with one boutique owner :: Any words of wisdom or pep talks are welcome.
- Do my taxes :: Meh.
It’s going to be a big month. I’ve sharpened my pencils and I’m ready to learn. Lately I feel I’m in over my head when it comes to the business end of things. I stress over how best to manage my books, approach PR, wholesaling and a myriad of other things. It’s officially time for me to address the issues I’ve been avoiding. Wish me luck!
The Monthly Goal Meetup happens every month over at Athena Dreams. Come check it out!
I spent the weekend making lists. Lists of goals. Lists of tasks. Lists of groceries. Lists of hopes. Lists of how to keep my lists in order. Essentially, I’m buried in ideas and don’t know where to start. So let me begin with some reflection.
Have you ever had someone in your life who provided motivation unlike anyone else? Someone who’s opinion and words of encouragement could give you just the kick in the pants you need to race towards your dreams? For me, that person is my optometrist. Crazy, I know, but our relationship goes back to my teen years when he was my optometrist, boss and cheerleader. Despite growing up and fostering new relationships, his motivational pep talks can still light a fire under me. At my last check up I told him about my stationery business and he lit up. He told me if I can visualize my goals, they will become my reality. He even wrote me a prescription to detail my wants before they happen and a mandatory reading list to accompany those dreams. Sounds corny, but when I walked out of the office that November afternoon, I was ready to take on the world. My thoughts took on a forward momentum that carried me through 2009, my most productive year to date.
Knowing we’d hit the worst economic recession of my lifetime, one that had hit my hometown particularly hard, my goal for 2009 was not record sales, but to build a infrastructure for my business. My hope was to create a solid foundation for my studio to operate on so when people found their financial footing again, I’d be ready. In the past year, I commissioned and designed a fully functional website, blog and newsletter. I dipped my toes into the world of advertising, created a solid holiday line that sold very well despite economic woes and sharpened my photography skills. I learned what works and what doesn’t, came to the harsh realization that what I like isn’t necessarily what sells and gained a great appreciation for the art of simplifying.
Now it’s time to put my foundation to work. I won’t share my 2010 list of goals with you, because I don’t want to you to laugh or fall asleep. Instead here are some highlights:
- Trim the Fat: Narrow my focus to baby and children’s items. Eliminate business design. All other design will be done as custom orders and priced accordingly.
- Take the emphasis off Holiday sales: Reclaim a family-centric Christmas season. I will continue offering a holiday line, but it won’t be my primary source of income.
- Make blogging a priority
- PR will be my number one priority in 2010: It’s time to get my name out there.
- Wholesale accounts: Get ‘em. Will start with a local stationery boutique and go from there.
- Organize Biz Finances: Consolidate Etsy, CC and Check payments through spreadsheets
- Network: Consider going to NSS in May and hiring a rep
Sounds a bit overwhelming, but I have a year to do it in. I’ll take it one month at a time beginning now!
{Goals for January 2010}
- Send out first press release on January 18
- Eliminate riff – raff from Etsy shop (I’ve already de-listed 40+ items)
- Close 1000 Markets Shop
- Begin Blogging Class January 18
- Create nine stationery lines from existing artwork
- Meet with one boutique owner
- Begin documenting sales/expenses via spreadsheet
So here’s to simultaneously growing and trimming the fat. I’m ready to get this studio in shape!
FYI: The Monthly Goal Meet-Up now has a new home thanks to Liz at Athena Dreams.
Click image to view details
Want to meet the artist behind Jumping Jack Designs? Join me tomorrow, November 12, from 3 to 8 p.m. at the Second Annual Brews and Bows Fundraiser benefitting the Northern Nevada Children’s Cancer Foundation and Brookfield School.
Enjoy wine and beer tasting, food, live music and holiday shopping with local businesses and artisans. Stop by my booth to say hello and meet Reno’s premiere calligrapher and artist, Denise Hallerbach, of Scripts Unlimited. Denise will be making appointments for custom art orders and calligraphy. Alleviate holiday stress by having Denise address your holiday cards.
Purchase gift tags, boxed holiday greetings, kid’s fill-in thank you notes and note card sets. I will be taking orders for personalized note card sets (a perfect gift for teachers and hostesses) and 2009 holiday photo greetings.
As a former oncology RN this charity is near and dear to me. Plus Brookfield School is my nephew’s alma mater. I hope you will join me to support a great cause.
The festivities are taking place on the Brookfield School grounds located at 6800 S. McCarran Blvd. in Reno (between Kietzke and Lakeside).
See you there!
{September Goals}
1. Design: Children’s Carnival Invitation
2. Prep: Photograph, edit, post holiday designs
3. Complete: Website/Blog face lift
4. Market: Purchase ad spot on three blogs
5. Continue: Blog three times per week
Woo Hoo! September was a highly productive month. I plowed through my to do list and felt in control of the process. September is always a stressful month because it is all about holiday prep. I managed to get 90% of my holiday designs onto my new website and complete a minor website facelift. The facelift has left me refreshed and confident. I see why people can get addicted (RIP Michael Jackson).
My favorite September design was the Carnival Party Invitation that topped my to do list. It was a big hit with the birthday girl plus it made it onto IndieSpotting.com which was a fabulous treat.
I am still intimidated by the blog submission and advertising process, but I did make some strides in that area. I purchased one ad for October/November, contacted one blogger about a feature and was accepted into Paper n Stitch’s November Exhibition. I plan to concentrate more on getting the word out throughout October.
And, to top it off, there was an increase in sales on my new website, I reached 300 sales in my Etsy Shop, added a new printer to the studio and updated my camera equipment. All in all, September was a great month. Now to keep that momentum going through the holiday season.
{October Goals}
1. Design: 2 new holiday photo card designs; 2 new holiday boxed card designs
2. Prep: Prep for Nov 12 Beers & Bows Shopping Faire
3. Complete: Adding holiday line to Etsy (almost done!)
4. Market: Purchase one more ad spot and contact 2 bloggers about features
5. Continue: Re-taking photographs for Etsy listings (goal of 10)
It’s an ambitious list, but I’m counting on my Holiday Adrenaline Rush to keep propelling me along. The monthly goal meetup is the brain child of Jena Coray. Be sure to visit her at Modish.
We have joined a national, grassroots effort to reinvigorate America with hope, one card at a time. During the week of September 1-7, we will participate in the Week Of Hope — a campaign created by Hope Is In The Cards.
Throughout the next week, purchase any greeting card or note card set and we will include postage stamps with your order. Order a set of note cards and receive the Crystal Star Note Card and Hope envelope shown above. You may find our greeting and note cards in the stationery section of our website or in our Etsy Shop.
We hope this campaign inspires you to send a hand written note to someone special. Imagine the impact millions of hopeful messages can make. I truly believe it’s the little things that make the biggest impact.
More about the Hope Movement from The Hope is in the Cards:
The recession has hit America’s workforce hard. Many feel helpless in today’s difficult economic times. The simple act of mailing a positive, upbeat message of thanks or support lifts the spirits of the recipient and the sender. It’s a way to do something positive, right now, and spread hopeful, uplifting messages across our country.
Hope Is In The Cards™ was created by Russ Haan, a struggling small business owner in Phoenix. Haan envisions nationwide impact by igniting millions of tiny actions that will add up and completely change the country’s outlook into one of possibility and change. “HOPE is a powerful thing. I want to let even the most discouraged person know that somewhere, someone cares about them,” said Haan. “I want them to know that together, we can get through this.”
We hope the Week of Hope will add wind to the sails of HOPE, eventually hitting every pocket of the country. This is what will make this community-driven campaign so successful.
The campaign’s goals are simple:
300 million messages of hope and support circulating throughout the country
A renewed sense of community, family and friendship
The word HOPE, written or printed on the back of every piece of mail, repeated hundreds of millions of times
When you send HOPE, you create HOPE, and that’s exactly what we all need.
Phew! My oldest began first grade today. After a summer of swimming, hiking, traveling and unstructured chaos, I welcome the school year and relish returning to a normal work schedule.
Technically I should review last month’s goals before moving on to September’s goals. However, I was a complete disaster when it came to staying on track. My accomplishments include a terrific family vacation, keeping on top of orders and a greater understanding of my camera. Looking back, I don’t think I could ask for anything more.
My goals for September look light, but are quite an undertaking. The holidays are fast approaching and I need to be 100% ready by September 15th. After that date, I plan to promote and create.
{September Goals}
1. Design: Children’s Carnival Invitation
2. Prep: Photograph, edit, post holiday designs
3. Complete: Website/Blog face lift
4. Market: Purchase ad spot on three blogs
5. Continue: Blog three times per week
To learn more about the Monthy Goal Meetup please visit Jena at Modish Biz Tips. Here’s to a productive and rewarding September!
{Interesting Factoid}
First graders cannot smile and look at the camera simultaneously.
{June Goals}
1. Design: One amazing wedding invitation suite
2. Prep: Research online press kit
3. Complete: Design and packaging of “variety pack”
(I don’t want to talk about this goal. Meh)
4. Market: Design ad and purchase spot on one blog
5. Continue: Blog three times per week + one giveaway
Happy July! June was officially the fastest month of my life. I feel like I just wrote down my June goals. Scary. That being said, I managed to accomplish half of my June goals… more like 50% of each goal. For instance, I came up with a wedding invitation concept that I’m extremely excited about, but it’s only reached the sketch stage. I designed a blog ad, but realized I am too busy with summer and existing orders to actively promote. I blogged three times a week (minus the week I was out of town) but didn’t do a giveaway due to scheduling conflicts. So I consider myself 49% successful this month.
At first I was frustrated that I wasn’t completing my goals in a efficient manner. I was struggling to fit work into every free moment: nights, weekends, etc. Then I read a tweet from a fellow designer that stated (I’m paraphrasing), “My life is 178% better since I stopped working weekends.” LIGHTBULB! At that moment, I had a mid-summer awakening.
Work life with kids underfoot all-day-every-day is significantly more challenging than I had anticipated. Time to adapt.
My little ones are too young to send outside without supervision so much of my work is done under a shady tree — great for proof sets, email, twitter but lousy for photo editing, client meetings, printing and assembling. If we aren’t outside, we are on the go, biking, hiking, swimming. Sadly, my imaginary staff of helpers never gets anything done while I’m gone! The kicker is after the kids are in bed, I’m so exhausted I can’t do anything but melt into the sofa.
In response to our summer-of-fun lifestyle, I’ve had to limit marketing and the number of custom design orders I take on. I must admit, it has been somewhat liberating to say “no”. No, no, no, no. There, I said it! This reality check has made me contemplate how to handle future summers as my kids grow and become more active. I foresee summers with limited hours and a european approach to vacations; closing shop for a month or more of family time. It sounds decadent now, but as a my own boss, I have the freedom to plan for these times ensuring loose ends are tidy and clients are well informed.
I’m realizing I want it all, but simply put, I’m not that talented. This realization has been a blessing in disguise. It’s inspired me to step back and focus on summer fun with my family. Typically, I become discouraged or feel guilty about my lack of ‘productivity’, instead I’m feeling a sense of freedom enjoying popsicles and shady trees. I plan to keep plugging along, and look forward to being refreshed and prepared for the fall rush.
{July Goals}
1. Design: Bear party invitation for my favorite soon-to-be four year old
2. Prep: Photograph boxed holiday cards for website & Etsy
3. Complete: Wedding invitation design (it’s gonna be awesome)
4. Market: Purchase ad spot on one blog to start July 15th-ish
5. Continue: Blog three times per week
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