In reply and Agreement with Michele on the USPS Post

Ok so I read the article on USPS that was posted in the thread and I would have to dis-agree with it as well. I decided I didn't want to take up a bunch of space in the thread to so I would post my thoughts and feelings on this topic here.

My Personal Feelings 

As most of you know I sell on eBay and on Etsy, I have had over nearly 3,500 sales on websites over the last almost 5 years of working online, I have used Paypal for every shipping label. Including off sites off of eBay. I am down to just being a seller on both Etsy and eBay, and I have had 1 total package that has been "Lost".

It's not even lost, what happened was I made the mistake and double printed label and sent a already paid label out with the item to a customer, because of this it was sent to the fraud department here in Seattle. The postal office works with me every week calling and taking the time out of their day to see it come back to me. But due to Union pay cuts, our local fraud department is down to 2 people in that office, from 30. So with that said, it's located in Seattle, it really isn't lost, making that 0 for me for lost packages.

One of my Best friends just quit the postal service of 15 years, I have been lucky to have had her on my route, she catered to my every need, she taught me how to do the correct shipping, I asked her tons of questions. As I have grown into more sales and everything is able to be shipped differently I was asking a-lot more questions. So that said, I have a 0 record of lost shipments.

It is my responsibility as a seller online, to make sure I am working directly from the source and learn the correct way. I seriously did not know much about shipping at all until I started asking questions. I was afraid of lost packages, and having to refund money.

I do not print my shipping labels from Etsy when I make sales, I go directly to paypal and do it from there, then up-load the tracking by hand, for some reason it's easier for me to do so. Being that I am a seller on both sites it is important from what Chip says, make sure to have fresh ink, if it starts to fade it is not easy for them to scan, some sellers put tape over the full PayPal shipping label, I have seen a package recently from Etsy and a postal worker wrote on the box and said "Would not scan tape on label."

Now I am sure because they did do their job, they punched it in, but that is a given because it got to me, but think about if they didn't do their job, maybe I would not have gotten my package from the amazing Etsy shop. It is all about how you as the seller ship & how you work with the postal office if there is a issue.

We are all human, sellers & postal workers, we all make mistakes, as Michele stated.

The Student Side of Me Speaks

In business management you are very drilled about eCommerce, in almost every text book I have studied, it rarely talks about Brick n Mortar. Online business is taking over rapidly and most business's online have something to do with shipping, the number of company's that have been merging into the retail world online, such as GoodWill, Target, Walmart and other big box chains, increase the shipping demand. The demand for shipping is up more than ever before, USPS yes has seen a de-crease in revenue, but they are not the only ones, hence the retailers like big box offices heading towards this direction. They will never be in the spot where they will have to dis-appear, that would never happen.

Being a business owner at a young age I have learned a=lot about Brick-N-Mortar vrs, the online world, having owning a deli at the age of 18 til I was 21 and than re-opening the same deli at the age of 26-31, I knew I wanted to be a business owner online after closing down the deli for the second time, I also new with the amount of items I'd be shipping, I would have to get my shipping methods down.

The Book "The Long Tail" by Chris Anderson is an excellent read about the future of business, the economics of Culture and Commerce. This also talks about the supply and demand of online business, and touches the topic of shipping.

In conclusion I agree with Michele, and as you can tell this is a subject I am very passionate about, with out them I would be so lost, I thank the postal worker's everyday for their help. I even give them holiday gifts, I love seeing their face when I leave goodies in the mail box during the Christmas season.

It is important for us small business owners to be responsible for our shipping, our responsibility as a seller and business owner, is to provide good packing, fresh ink in your printer, not putting tape on the whole shipping label, as well as knowing how to work with the postal office. It is not entirely their fault of lost packages.

I have alot of respect for the USPS, they has never failed me, I have had a few grumpy interactions with some counter people, but all I do is kill them with a smile and kindness. Normally that works and lifts their spirits.

~ Lornajane ~

When am I ever going to have time? Inspired by Fall of 2013

WOW the saying "Time sure does fly" sure has applied to my day to day life after graduation! What a crazy summer!

What went on during this past summer was rapidly fast, everyday just seemed to have collieded together into one big long day. My boyfriend and I bought our 1st house together, rather fast process but a extra long one for me.

Let's just rewind a little:
JAN- MARCH = Was in my 8th quarter of classes. (Getting burnt out a little.) & Yes that is a gin & tonic to help me get through it all.

SPRING BREAK =  ( RE-CHARGE ) ~ * ~ Vegas ~*~ (one last fling before college is over) Look Mom! I am climbing a rock in the Mojave Desert!

I am the little black dot behind the 3 others! SO fun SOOO BEAUTIFUL! 

MARCH - JUNE= My 9th quarter of classes, also the month of graduation.

MID JUNE = Road trip to meet Pat's Parents for the 1st time ( 5 days)

APRIL = Got all the licensing for Pacific Northwest Online Consign Designs. ( Blog for PNOCD )

JULY- AUGUST = House hunting all summer, with the boyfriends parents up from OR. It was a good time spent with his mom, where we celebrated the 4th of July over on Whidbey Island. ( If you have never been and want to go, it's a must! )

SEPT = Paper work for the house, was approved and keys were in possession on SEPT 4th.

3 bedroom, 2 bath, and 3 car garage. 

     For ones that have known me a while know, I have a house with my mom and a storage unit combined with my shop warehouse and let me just say we are still moving out of all of them. While months of packing & unpacking & STILL packing & unpacking. I came across several bins of beads, charms, ribbons, wire, paint, corks, buttons and MUCH more just packed in random containers. When am I ever going to have time?  Am I a hoarder?  ... I am not a hoarder.. I repeat to myself daily, and with an occasional episode of Hoarders to keep myself in check with hoarding, but you know what I AM a HOARDER! O MY GOODNESS the madness of art supplies, beads, buttons, ribbons, jars, bags, clothes O YES I AM A HOARDER!

     But with this new chapter has offered me a chance to adapt to the process of letting go and moving on. I am going to share with you with how I have been getting organized and settling down into this new life after the storm that lasted the entire year.

     This took some time and is one of the reasons why I've been absent from Etsy, which I am truly sorry to the ones I have worked closely with & along the side with for the past few years!

SO grab your coffee... and lets have a chat!

     OK where do I start (which is also a daily question) I now start my day with a list in the morning. Set 5 small goals to get done that day. I make sure I pace myself to get to these 5 goals, but as well not getting down on my self for not reaching them. This is important you have to remain believing you can do anything to reach your goals, so when I do complete those 5 goals on the list the whole mission comes together as reaching that ultimate goal, and that is happiness with in yourself.

     I started with boxes and many of them so, 1st thing on my list was to get rid of these and stop moving in boxes, So you know those millions of grocery bags you have plastic and the re-usable ones, yup might be a little more of a pain but it didn't cost me anything and the disposal was much cheaper!

So time to get that "hoarding mess" organized!

My Day Job

     There are two parts to my online selling life, My eBay world which is my day job serving the community with service in consignment of items. I am now consigning for 21 great residents from the area ( Port Townsend, Sequim and Port Angeles, Washington). I enjoy working with these people whom I consider my clients. It not only provides me food on my table, helps pay my bills  but I also get to help others! Nothing is better! Which is something I have done for many years and love to do! I  support my community and most of all friends in need during tough times. Best thing I have ever been able to tell someone these days is I  love my job! It's my dream job and I have been working on this job for 5 years in the planning!

Keep your eyes peeled for a future blog of the new warehouse design~ In the process being built now.

My Night Job

     Some of you may have noticed I am back on Etsy (slow process), and oh boy does it feel good to be back! There is one thing your lacking when you're online seller, and that is it can get quite around the house, no one to talk to, no one to say good morning to, and bring a cup a coffee to. It can simply just drag on by! Being back on Etsy reminds me of how important that is to have that interaction I thank my network on several social media sites! Best morning messages are " Good morning, you have been featured have a good day!" This you can not get on eBay although I love my job don't get me wrong!

     I have decided to focus working on one shop at a time and deciding which one is best for me at this time. That would have to be the the supply shop Chromaticity Supply, I opened up in 2011 to help pay bills through school. Now I have even more items I just just don't have time for again! I will re-open my hand crafted item shop soon I am hoping at the end of November to have a few new items I have dabbled creating during the beautiful Washington summer evenings.

Lots of random bins filled with bits and pieces. I am slowly getting them into the bins of where they belong.

     I also started a project for myself and have even inspired friends to help me out, and that be getting into recycled materials & offering some gently washed & reusable materials, such as corks, bottle caps, plastic caps etc. Great for all kinds of DIY projects! You can check those out in my RECYCLE RECYCLE section on Etsy.

I am finding all kinds of fun jars, salt and pepper shakers and little trinket boxes
to store my fun shop items. Once they get empty and the collection of empty jars gets bigger I shall part with them as well, for someone else can use them for fun storage. 

      This recycling project is in the prospects of growing, for I am working with my aunt with raising money for her Non Profit Organization Rancho Laguna  Where she works with police departments & shelters in Washington St., saving animals from shelters who need to be nursed to back to health and to help find forever homes. My Vacation is over Time to Work blog features some of her critters on the Ranch. Very soon percentages and proceeds will be donated for feed and animal needs at the Ranch.

      It feels never ending but I find that I am having more time during the work day if I follow my short goal list, I can see the end to the ultimate goal and that would be happiness! Every box unpacked, every jar & bin getting organized, every tweet, every photo that goes by I am reaching my goal.

     AND with that being said one last thing, I thank you all for your support during school, this past summer and the new friendships along the way. I enjoy watching you all growth along the way as well. It is something not ignored, I've watched several of you soar with sales and online media growth. I look forward to new stronger friendships along the way as well as re-kindling a few old.

     Now that I have finally found some time....

Social Media Links:
~ eBay Twitter ~ https://twitter.com/LornajaneCosign
~ Etsy Twitter ~ https://twitter.com/LornajaneonEtsy
~Pinterest ~ : http://www.pinterest.com/lorna146/boards/
~ eBay Facebook~ https://www.facebook.com/PNOCD?ref=br_rs

Shops:
~ eBay ~ http://stores.ebay.com/PNOCD
~ Etsy ~ https://www.etsy.com/shop/ChromaticitySupply

WHAT A RIDE!!

What's new in my world? 

      Well most of you that follow me close and are within my amazing networking circle in the online community, know I have been attending college for the past few years. I have finally have reached success in finishing, I went 3 straight years. Let me tell you it was the hardest thing I have ever faced and accomplished!

My mentor and main teacher for the program, very proud moment!

      The challenge begins.... Some have asked what is the next chapter? Well I will tell you what I didn't go to school for business for nothing. I have had dreams and plans to open up a shop here in my local town to consign items but not only do that support my community in helping others, in more ways than one. I have decided to put my knowledge to the best of it's capabilities and I opened a online shop on eBay for community consignments and more!

                                                                  Introducing PNOCD Pacific Northwest Online Consign Designs, this shop is a collection of donations as well as consignment items form the community around me. I have been blessed with great friends that have given me the chance of trusting me with their items and selling them all around the world for a great affordable and fair price. This stimulates house hold incomes and with my online skills this has really been a great tool for my community so far. I am looking forward to working with more people that need some economic relief in their lives.

How this works for those whom live locally and are more curious: You can contact me via email PNOCD@yahoo.com, best way is to follow my facebook fan page where you can find all the newest and most recent items. You can also message me there as well I respond to both. I can arrange to meet you or you can come into town where I live 5 blocks from my warehouse. All things are stored in the warehouse than transported to photo location once finished they get put away in order to your items and put in the warehouse. Than it's just up to me to list and sell your items, checks are sent every three weeks although if I have only sold 1 item that is not much value yet I will hold and contact you to send the next month. You are free to pick up your items at anytime if you change your mind, or have me keep them as long as you want. Keep in mind it takes that special person for certain items and sometimes they will not sell for a while, although I have had great success in doing so, so far.

How the items are stored, recent photos I just added new racks and they are already going to be filled here soon! 

In conclusion I am also still on Etsy and will remain to do so creating is my favorite hobby and I love to share what I can do with the world. I will also continue with the de-stash supply shop as well, where I am still finding & getting rid of things that have been around for years that are not something I will have time to get too. With all this being said, thank you all for the support in my journey and the ones that continue to support me in all aspects, locally and online.

Sincerely,
Lornajane

Vacation Treasury Extravaganza

Happy Holiday's to everyone!

Hope your Holidays are safe and are full of the favorite people and pets in your life. I wanted to say thank you and Merry Christmas to all my Etsy friends! By supporting you all in a Vacation Treasury Extravaganza. I will be updating this blog every treasury at a time. Enjoy There are some fantastic shops to be shopping from in the world of Etsy and I am proud to support you all.

May you Razzle and Dazzle in the New year to Come

Vintage, Supplies, Jewelry, & Fashion at your finger tips.

Love everyday but ESPECIALLY on this day! 

December Listings 2012 

Classy Girls Party Too

Cozy Holiday 

Cheers to Continuing Support of Etsy Shops 2013

Gifting in Green

Let's talk about it over a cup of Joe

Merry Christmas Leaders and Captains of Etsy 

I will be adding through out the rest of my vacation enjoy! 

& Happy Etsy Shopping! 

Sincerely,

Lornajane 

Fall Quarter Overview; The new Me

The New Me ! 

WOW what can I say about this past quarter; some of you that I network close to on and off online sites such as Etsy and eBay have known I have had been a little on the ill side. But I have had a great quarter regardless. I thank everyone for the support of my shops! It has been a outstanding help with promotion from friends and family members.

I am at the point of returning to school here in a week and I just wanted to say thank you by doing a Etsy Treasury Extravaganza before I end up going back. But before I get to that blog I would like to overview a little of what happened during last quarter with schooling.

So grab some tea or coffee and let's get social for a moment. 

This past quarter I was enrolled into Macro-Economics as well as a Marketing class. Can you guess which one I took better too? Yup, if you thought marketing your completely right ! I loved it, it was my favorite class out of all my 3 years of school so far. If you have ever had the interest in a class like this I would highly recommend taking a class of this sort if your in the world of online or even brick and mortar stores.

I had told my team Promo123love on Etsy that I would write a little bit what I had gained from this amazing class, but honestly there is so much to discuss so instead I want to share with you what tools I gained and have helped me in my transformations in both Etsy and eBay.

1. ~ Separation & Defining the shop names: 

I have always had social media for my jewelry and clothing for my eBay shop together all mixed up with everything. I also once ran everything with shop the shop name LINX Connectiong for Cause with the eBay shop running as my old email name. It to me was a huge mess and up until now I haven't known how to untangle it. For years I have been known for donating a percentage of funds to various charities, local events; such as cancer benefits, the local boys & girls club, even national & international relief and fundraising. So this was why it was called LINX (as in coming together) and of course Connecting for Cause. I was using both my eBay and my Etsy to help raise funds for not only my own college education but to work with the community and have connection near and far.


But times have changed in life for me as far as jewelry, because of school events & shows, as well as easy access to friends and family that support me, sales dropped in the last few years. Online selling has taken over and have increased this past year even more this past quarter by separating and renaming my shop's. As of now my Etsy shop's have similar names so that it is more cohesive with clean lines. These shops are always a work in progress for there is so much put into thinking about ever so changing shipping rates, tags, new products and ideas are always generating. I don't want to be known just for jewelry so after long thoughtful weeks I introduce you to the new and improved :

Chromaticity Designs & Chromaticity Supply 

Please click on text below photos to find your way to the shops 

Colorful Designs by Lornajane 

Colorful Supply provided by Lornajane 

This has not stopped me in raising money for causes. I will just be able to define & organizing them a-lot better with the new changes that have been made. I hope you will join me  some day in some of these fundraisers sometime!

eBay has taken a drastic change as well like I said before I had it named with my old email account. After years of selling on both sites I have found that eBay has given me the most financial support in the past year so I have created a new business that is shortly being released in a few months. This is very big and exciting news! I am not wanting to let out all the cats out of the bag just yet, although I will let you know that I am in the phase of building hunting & becoming a future Online Trading Specialist (OTS) in my area bringing a fresh new spin and idea to this area. I am very excited for I have put an amazing amount of my new found education into something I am very passionate about! I did receive a extra boost of confidence from my marketing teacher nailing my final project with a 100 % with a side note attached: Extraordinary work! among with some other supportive feedback. Keep your eyes peeled for a new blog that contains the introduction for this grand opening.

It would not be fair of me to not show you a little peak of the logo of this upcoming new business. This is not a complete logo for I cut the name off, I can't give it to you all at once :)

As of right now my eBay shop name remains as LornajaneCosign
Until further notice. 

2.~ Social Media changes 

My Top 3 

~ Facebook ~ Twitter ~ Pinterest 

A big change here, with Facebook changes some may notice that I have stopped using my LINX, Connecting for Cause page. A few quarters back I chose to do a research and final accounting project on Facebook, I was really lucky for at that time Facebook had a major social media explosion. Stocks were released, some may remember but once the stocks release scandals started to pop out of no where. Facebook had lost some capital in the company and changes started to happen at that point. Social Media changed for Facebook for small business fan pages. Paying for views were introduced a few days before and after business's pages are having a much harder time engaging with all their fans. Although stating this I have researched ways to engage with out having to pay for those ads. I have made new pages that will be introduced shortly. I still believe in Facebook do not get me wrong, but with it's rapid growth so must you. 

I have separated my twitter for both eBay and Etsy you may now find me here for both twitter accounts. 

Click here for my Etsy Twitter 

Click here for my eBay Twitter 

With Pinterest I have not done any changes, I know there are new business Pinterest pages but I like to keep Pinterest more interactive with fans and family and not so much on just one business its a great mesh of everything I love! Although one change here is that I am pinning a-lot more, for this is a great tool for your shops! As well a useful tool for all kinds of money saving ideas and tips. If your not on Pinterest please feel free to message me and lets get you on Pinterest today! You could be missing out on alot of exposure for yourself. You can find me here on Pinterest: HAPPY PINNING everyone! 

Click here to follow my Pinning boards over 5,000 pins of various artist and Etsy teams as well as a-lot more!


To Wrap it up !

So wrapping this up in a nut shell SOCIAL MEDIA is the most important marketing tool out there right now. Learning to communicate to your fans, consumers, and networking friends is the number one tool to success.   There is also something that I have gained from this quarter, never think there isn't room for improvement. If your not selling and spending more in product, advertising, having low communication & interactions in your shops. There is a clear sign of improvement needed, research, read and absorb are three great internet tools you have right in front of you. Read threads in your teams, blogs on and about Etsy, share and connect to your fans and friends. You will see a difference I assure you.

I hope you enjoy and gained a little insight on the changes that I have made. I am looking forward to more changes: redoing my business cards, releasing the new Facebook pages, changing things in my Etsy shops, and most of all finally building a career with eBay and in my community. 

Future blogs will most likely be separated content containing new information or promotions of both eBay and Etsy. 

Thank you all for taking the time to read about these important milestones in my business  and online success. Talk soon. 

Sincerely, 

Lornajane