Coffee Shop Talk .... Let the Organizing for your Season Begin

So it's September! How is everyone doing? I know that the end of the summer can be hetic with finishing up summer activities with friends family and loved ones, and getting kids back into school. I know I have had one heck of a summer, in a very good way & I hope you all have too!

I wanted to share how staying positive and productive during this summer has helped me grow into my business a little more comfortably.

I have had a very busy summer, with heath issues at the beginning, company during the month of July, having my 33^rd birthday, and having a fabulous last of the summer karaoke party with family and friends. I still worked every day regardless, maybe it be an hour a day or 16 hrs. a day but I worked every day.

So let’s grab a cup of coffee and re-wind….

Last year at this time I was moving into a brand new house with my boyfriend and had just graduated 4 months. I was ready to dive into business. But I had to un-pack my warehouse, 2 storage units, and move from my moms. Time just seemed to not exist. Shortly life happened and my boyfriend took a dive off some scaffolding at work and broke his shoulder in December of last year.

I knew then weather this house, family and I would like it or not, I had to start working. At this point I was far behind. I was struggling maintaining my inventory. It was here and there, at moms still, in the office, not in the office. EVERYWHERE!

I knew once he started to feel better this last June it was time to focus on the organization of this house. Not just this house but my business.

• Step 1 – I found all and any available bins, baskets, bottles, trinket boxes I could.
• Step 2 – Got the label maker out.
• Step 3- Started with the small little boxes, everything not listed.
• Step 4- Sorting, I took lots of extra time going over every garment and item to list.
• Step 5- Donating the items I could not sale to families & non- profits. This created a few extra boxes to give me for more storage space.
• Step 6- Making sure all goes in the labeled box or bin.
• Step 7- Color, and Pattern code. This helps you finds things much easier! 

Repeat! Repeat! And I am still Repeating! I will continue til I am one season ahead. Which I am already working on next spring boxes.

Now, you maybe thinking not all can go into bins and boxes so what next….

• I took my old dresser from moms that I had painted, my boyfriends old dress and created even more space freeing up more bins for organization by labeling drawers for the smaller stuff.
• I took my Grandfathers old encyclopedia book case and started to use that for my books and magazines.
• My old landlords from a former business, which was a Deli for 3 years while in college. They called up this past month to say they are moving to Texas so I ended up inheriting some amours.
• Now creating even more space, So I did this with little spending money, instead I focused on materials needed to have a successful shipping season. Stocked up on ink, paper and packing supplies when I can, I do recycle what I can and I have had friends look out for bubble warp and boxes that are good for shipping.
• This is something that is never ending, but where do I store this stuff! Well I made a trip to the dollar store they have great little plastic bins. I now can store a good amount of wrapping and bubble wrap right in my office and some stored away, great for all kinds of storage.

Color and Pattern code. 

I ended up with 2 of these for free, talk about space savers, I will miss my old friends but so happy they contacted me 1st before throwing these away.

The Old Dresses being used. Label Label Label! 

I even worked on my Etsy shop's supplies as I was cleaning I am depleting my supplies. 

This all resulting into a great summer and summer success for myself and business.  I thank you all, family, friends, and network!

So here we are the in the presence of Fall.....

Holiday season, it is time to get to the grind. This may for some a night-mare for sellers, it was for me last year not being this organized.  Here are some tips I have done to prepare myself for the holidays. I hope everyone that can use these, see’s the results that I am currently.

• Step  1- Focus on your monthly goals. Set a few small ones for each week. Mine this week is 20 drafts in eBay drafts ready to go with all finale details done.  (Everything is now in it’s place.)
• Step 2 – Prepare by the month. This is the best time to start listing your Halloween items. People are already starting to purchase. So if you need to pre-write your items while waiting for the next big promotion. I encourage you to do so. I have a goal of 200 pre-writes before the week is up. To have a final total of 1,350 listings with sales, mind you I do all this on my own.  ( Everything now has a home, YAY)
• Step 3 – Work every day but don’t wear yourself out. It is important to try to work every day. This even includes answering messages, working on your social media aspect of marketing. It all ties in hand and hand.  You do need time for yourself. I still struggle with this time for you thing, but I am managing to work it in. Seeing better productive work days when working all day

I do thank you all for your support in my shop, my life and dream. You really have to love what you do; I have to say I do!

With just a few last words to being said, just a few things I repeat to myself frequently so I don’t get discouraged when a curve ball gets in my way. 

• Don’t give up, don’t let the small stuff discourage you
• have the communication with your buyers that you would want to have with a merchant your purchasing from.  
• Small shop, large shop you work hard!
• Don’t compare yourself to other shops or judge others.
• Focus! 

Thank you for stopping in and sharing time with me and my shop. Happy Fall!

Stop by and see what's new! Always adding daily. MY SHOP 

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

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 

Motivation For Healthly Eating

What Motivates Me? 

Well let me tell you how my addiction to Pinterest has change my ways of eating. 

First off, I work at home and attend class at home so I have to sit a lot during the day. 

With Online Networking and Promoting teams & listing & creating things. 

It's a lot of sitting, so its important to not put garbage down into your body.

It's also important to get up and move around. 

Here's my list of healthy habits I have picked up along the way of my long working days online. 

Every Sunday I shop for fresh veggies, I head to the veggie isle 1st.

 This reminds me of what I need vrs what I want. 

Shopping for 1 for 1 1/2 week of food.

Finding the freshest and cheapest foods is the hard part. Here in the northwest we have a WINCO a great savings on family shopping and budget shoppers.

 I can buy about 15 dollars in veggies for almost 2 weeks or maybe a little more. Great prices. 

Once I get home from my shopping trip I wash all veggies & fruit and start cutting and preparing in my mind what I would like to eat.

 I cut all veggies into different sizes for breakfast foods, lunch and dinner. 

The fruit is for all day snacks so I just mix it all together. 

After I have prepared my foods.

Finding good containers that will keep your food fresh as long as possible for storage.

This is a good way to keep veggies in front of you as a reminder of what to grab for a snack and cook for a meal. 

I have found a very good gluten free fat free cheese, and have replaced my bacon for turkey bacon.  1 egg with fruit and a little bit of squash potatoes.

Believe it or not alot of my ideas of how to shop, store, and cut.

Even cook some of the my new foods have come from  Pinterest.

I have lost 20 pounds this summer by cutting out the bad stuff, including sugar, major bad carbs, most pastas etc.
I have basically replaced alot of the bad stuff with sweet fruits and delicious fresh veggies. 

Inspiration

I have been inspired to change a lot of things in my life and life style. I have one more year of college left and I have been so busy with teams and online networking. I have come to not having the proper space inside my house. So with my insane addiction to Pinterest and the inspiration from fellow Etsy friends, I created my own space. Hope you enjoy.

Before, This was my bead and stash spot in my room.  Over the summer  I have made myself a promise to create a space for myself so I can continue to grow.  This spot was hurting for a make-over

I had to find a space for the d-stash items for the d-stash shop.

Some know I love me some salt shakers :) 

After:: Everything you see is what was once cluttered in my room , I gave my whole room a make over. 

One of my favorite candle holders that I had stuffed in a drawer. 

Last but not least some seating, I have had this seat chest for a long time just hiding behind my bed. 

I feel great, good things are going to happen in this space. Some of you know I am leaving for vacation and what a space to come back to refreshed, organized and ready!! 

New Inspiration Treasury Feel free to click on photo to check out shops.