Showing posts with label Getting Started. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Getting Started. Show all posts

Monday, November 30, 2015

How to Take Inventory of Your Supplies

Knowing what supplies you have, when you bought them, for how much, and unit price; is all
very important to figure out your costs of goods sold.
You can notice patterns of prices to save you money, and you know how many of each supply you have to determine what you need.

I've found that an easy way to inventory jewelry supplies is to put them in plastic baggies with a paper label inside the bag. So I designed these labels to be small, and fit all the info I needed.
I keep an Excel sheet of all my supplies listed with all it's info {usually copied from the invoice}.
I assign each supply an item number for easier tracking.
I plan to keep a hard copy version in a binder separated by my supply accounts- working on this, will post more later.

Now on to good stuff, what you came here for...

How to take Inventory of your supplies

Step 1: List the things you need to sort & choose how to store the items
 example= Jewelry supplies- findings, beads, chain...
 I chose to store each jewelry supply in a baggie with a paper label inside.

Step 2: Decide how to identify the items
 Give your supplies an inventory item number.
 I made a list and added abbreviations to identify each supply type.
 Here's a Word document of how i identify my supply inventory
https://drive.google.com/file/d/0B-5rXH5KiVMMRUF4d0ZoajVZZ2c/view?usp=sharing

Step 3: Decide how to label items
 You could make your own labels.
  Or you can use these $2 labels I created, buy them here
http://www.etsy.com/listing/258160595/jewelry-or-craft-supply-inventory-tag
TheHandmadeBiz's Jewelry/Craft Supply Label Printable
Here's how my labels look in use
 
Step 4: Divide and conquer!
 Taking inventory of all your supplies is a huge job.
So you need to break the job done into do-able groups. Like one drawer, or box, or bag at a time.

In fact it took me 14 days {a couple hours here and there} to label and sort all my jewelry supplies. I had beads and such that I bought back in 2009!
It helped that I was watching my favorite anime, Fairy Tail, while sorting and counting!
Now go get some labels and start sorting your jewelry and craft supplies!!!
 TheHandmadeBiz's Jewelry/Craft Supply Label Printable


Tuesday, January 21, 2014

Printable- Products You Should Be Creating


In my search for great tips to share I found two articles addressing the products you should
be creating, and these articles apply to any creative business.

The three types of products you should have in your line by Megan Auman
http://designinganmba.com/2013/10/16/gateway-aspirational-upsell-products/

Powerful Product Development by Handmadeology
http://www.handmadeology.com/powerful-product-development-4-ways-to-build-your-ideas/

Here's a quick printable I put together, that you should keep in your sketchbooks as a reminder.
Products You Should Be Creating

Monday, January 20, 2014

Creative Business Binder Library Printables



Printables I found that would go nicely in your binder Library:
http://www.stay-a-stay-at-home-mom.com/support-files/etsysellingchecklist.pdf
http://www.stay-a-stay-at-home-mom.com/support-files/50itemsetsy.pdf
http://meylah.com/meylah/boost-your-holiday-sales-download-your-small-business-holiday-campaign-kit
http://andersonandgrant.blogspot.com/2013/08/free-printable-etsy-planner.html
http://andersonandgrant.blogspot.com/2013/08/blog-planner-printable.html
http://www.homeschoolcreations.net/2012/07/free-printable-blog-planner/
http://ohksocial.com/be-a-blogger-series-blog-schedule/
http://absolutelysmall.blogspot.com/2009/11/etsy-marketing-tracker.html
http://absolutelysmall.blogspot.com/2009/07/etsy-goal-spreadsheet.html
http://www.livinglocurto.com/2011/03/free-printable-blog-calendar/
http://www.bridgettedwards.com/2010/07/12/free-printable-my-blog-topics/
http://www.ohthelovelythings.com/2011/05/free-printable-weekly-blog-planner.html
http://www.handmadeology.com/2011-etsy-sales-goal-tracker-spreadsheet-free-download/
http://www.livingwellspendingless.com/blog-planner/
http://www.somebakerstwine.blogspot.com/2013/01/Planner_12.html
http://amyjdelightful.blogspot.com/2011/05/free-downloadable-plannerfor-you.html
http://www.thissimplehome.com/2012/02/blogging-printables-free.html
http://takingtimetocreate.blogspot.com/2013/02/the-household-binder-part-3-blog-etsy.html
http://sweetlyscrappedart.blogspot.com/2012/01/100-free-printable-business-cards.html#axzz1htshPBlz
http://www.blessingsoverflowing.com/blogging-binder-with-free-printable/
http://www.infarrantlycreative.net/2012/02/free-printable-blogplanner.html
http://www.mardel.com/free-binder-templates.aspx
http://www.onetoughmotherblog.com/2013/10/build-family-binder-in-31-days-day-31.html

A free printable I put together to help get the ideas flowing:
If Money Wasn't an Issue  [[ I suggest printing a copy for each- blog, shop, and your personal household notebook {for what you want out of life}]]


Monday, January 6, 2014

Shop Sketchbook- Creative Business Binder Library

Today we're working on your shop sketchbook.
The purpose of this binder is to gather your ideas for that specific shop.



I currently have 2 binders started, but many more in progress.

Ideas to have in your sketchbook:
1. Reproducable Items Recipe book
you should have reproducible items as your 'bread and butter' pieces
  so write down your supply list exactly + steps to create each of these reproducable items
  it'll help you remember what supplies to stock, how to create them, and instructions for if you ever have employees to help you create them

Divider in my LizsWares Sketchbook

Instructions I keep in my LizsWares Sketchbook


Other things to include in your sketchbook:
drawings of product ideas
tutorials for products ideas
supplies to try
supplies you need for each project
themes, color inspiration
pattern lists
magazine/catalog tear outs

Section Ideas:
by material
by item type- bracelets, rings, etc
Gateway Products
Upsell Products
Aspirational Products
core products- the main things you make
marketing products- {freebie promotional} business cards, newsletter, free mini ebooks, other printables
passive products- tutorials, ebooks, workbooks, tutorial videos, photobook of artwork/photography etc

Divider in my THB sketchbook for this project

Divider in my TheHandmadeBiz sketchbook for the Creative Notebook


Your Assignment This Week:
1. Print the dividers that you intend to use, or design your own.

2. Gather supplies in front of you.
  binder{s}, plastic dividers, printed dividers

3. Gather all paperwork for this binder.
  doesn't have to be every piece right now, just what you already have on hand

4. Start sorting!
 -Lay out all your printed paper dividers on a clean table or floor
 -then place the plastic dividers over them
 -start piling your paperwork on their appropriate pile
This method lets you see everything, and it gets sorted now.

For a quick assembly just put your dividers in order now, then add your paperwork as you can.

5. Put everything in the binder!
 This binder system won't work if you don't keep everything in one spot.

6. Now that all your papers + dividers are sorted, lets print up the tabs for the plastic dividers.
 Change the words if you like. Then put them in.

Next Monday we'll have a roundup for this series where you can linkup and share your binder!!

Monday, December 30, 2013

Main Decade Binder- Creative Business Binder Library

Now to build your main decade binder.



Purpose:
to hold information that is not relevant to current year, but you should save for scrapbooking, backup info, tax purposes

How to divide:
simple= divide by year
could sub divide between= each shop, blog, main office papers

Examples of what to include:
the bank statements + financial statements
blog features of of your shop/blog from other people's blogs/Etsy/magazines
Etsy news {site and feature changes/updates to Etsy, News articles about Etsy}

(( I follow this same routine with my personal files as well.
Current year's files in my main binder, once year is over it moves to the "decade binder".
sometimes you can't fit a whole decade in a binder {I use 3" binders}, but usually you can. ))



Your Assignment This Week:
1. Print the dividers that you intend to use, or design your own.

2. Gather supplies in front of you.
  binder{s}, plastic dividers, printed dividers

3. Gather all paperwork for this binder.
  doesn't have to be every piece right now, just what you already have on hand

4. Start sorting!
 -Lay out all your printed paper dividers on a clean table or floor
 -then place the plastic dividers over them
 -start piling your paperwork on their appropriate pile
This method lets you see everything, and it gets sorted now.

For a quick assembly just put your dividers in order now, then add your paperwork as you can.

5. Put everything in the binder!
 This binder system won't work if you don't keep everything in one spot.

6. Now that all your papers + dividers are sorted, lets print up the tabs for the plastic dividers.
 Change the words if you like. Then put them in.

Monday, December 23, 2013

The Office Binder- Creative Business Binder Library


Now to build your main office binder using a 3" binder. You can use this binder for all of your shops, or make one for each shop. I'm going to start with one main binder.




The Sections I Use:
I. Important Info
 business EIN, business name info stuff
 account passwords log {link will be in printables post later}


II. Finances

=supplies bought invoice subsection
 receipts for supplies {Walmart, Joanns}
 invoices for supplies bought online

=monthly invoice subsection
 bank statements
Etsy bill invoice
 PayPal monthly invoice if any supplies or transactions

= Items Sold subsection:
{{ create this section for each shop }}
each transaction= 1 page protector
Etsy invoice
Etsy listing page w/ supply info wrote on back
PayPal invoice
USPS receipt
USPS tracking receipt
info about supplies + costs wrote on back of last page in protector/item listing page



=profit/loss page of bookkeeping
printed yearly

*ex. business income & expenses for the month
*ex. business income & expenses for the year

III. Marketing

=Packaging
page protector of examples from items you buy
page protector of examples of packaging you have used for your shop
ideas lists, drawings, cost comparisons

=Promos
sales, coupon codes, giveaways idea list
sales, coupon codes, giveaways you've done list; print the page with your example
 like print your giveaway blog post you did on your/someone else's blog
 or your blog page for the free pdf for signing up with your newsletter

=Newsletter

=advertisements

=social media

IV. Suppliers
could divide by item type or just list them, and items you usually buy from them



V. Branding/Brand Building
subsection for each shop
media kit, shop design, your voices, ideas

VI. Fairs/Craft shows
booth decor/setup ideas
Document your experiences
 what you used, how to setup, what you brought {non product wise-like tools, tables, sheets, etc}, products your brought-what sold, what got attention, what was frowned upon, price reactions,
 how was the show- slow/busy/fun, interactions you had, booth pictures, test setup at home

VII. Shop Statistics
overview by the years

(( most of this i keep on the computer {and burn to dvd monthly} since each file would be 13+ pages printed out, but the year by year overview is good to print for here ))

VIII. Business Recipe book  {standard operating procedures}
shipping
marketing- giveaways, social media, advertising, media kit
networking- Etsy teams
creating
photography
etc
the steps you take for each task that has worked for you!

IX. Shop Inventory

X. Shops Planning + Goals
ideas about the biz {not product ideas, that goes in the workshop binder}
where you want to end up
to do lists
year by year: thoughts {what worked/didn't work, enjoyed, hated, wishes, etc}

Tips for Use of the Main Binder:
-As this binder gets full move the older stuff to your Main Decade Binder. Like the item financial invoices, old blog post planning pages from previous years
-You don't have to use the exact same categories as me, you can pick and choose. You are also free to change the font styles.

Your Assignment This Week:
1. Print the dividers that you intend to use, or design your own.

2. Gather supplies in front of you.
  binder{s}, plastic dividers, printed dividers

3. Gather all paperwork for this binder.
  doesn't have to be every piece right now, just what you already have on hand

4. Start sorting!
 -Lay out all your printed paper dividers on a clean table or floor
 -then place the plastic dividers over them
 -start piling your paperwork on their appropriate pile
This method lets you see everything, and it gets sorted now.

For a quick assembly just put your dividers in order now, then add your paperwork as you can.

5. Put everything in the binder!
 This binder system won't work if you don't keep everything in one spot.

6. Now that all your papers + dividers are sorted, lets print up the tabs for the plastic dividers.
 Change the words if you like. Then put them in. The Avery website has the templates for the tabs.

Come back next Monday to work on the decade version of the office binder!
.

Monday, December 16, 2013

Blog Planner- Creative Business Binder Library

Now that you have your supplies, lets get started on your blog planner.



I originally was going to split my planner between 2 blogs, but during construction realized the binder was too full.So I have a binder for each, one finished and one not.



Binder is really full with both blogs paperwork.





My Sections are as follows:
I. Schedules/Calendar/important info
  monthly, weekly, daily
  editorial calendar
  account passwords log
  -post planner for the week
  -post planner for series

II. Blog design

III. Blog goals/planning
  what u want to accomplish
  master blog to do list
  hopes, etc
  yearly review questions
  blog marketing, stats?

IV. Blog Finances
  sponsors/ad space payments
  tools you bought for blogging
  mileage

V. Giveaways, sponsors & ad space info
  examples of what you offer
  your SOP of how to write a sponsored post/ad

VI. Blog post categories {a divider each}

The Handmade Biz Blog
Getting Started
In the office
Shop Design + Branding
Shipping
finances
Photography
Listing + SEO
Marketing
blogging
In the Studio
Gift Ideas {sponsors, affiliates}



LizsWares Blog
small business
sponsors + affiliates
Home making
Shopping Guides
Fashion
Home Decor
Vintage finds
tutorials
Look what I found





How to use your blog planner:
{I currently} on notebook paper:
 draft the post
 write notes on what to research, tags to use, category
 upper right corner: "post" "series" "finished" "X" when posted

under each blog section I put:
blog idea lists
blog post drafts
ideas to research
list of current post for that category {add a new list every year}


Your Assignment For This Week:
1. Print the dividers that you intend to use, or design your own.

2. Gather supplies in front of you.
  binder{s}, plastic dividers, printed dividers, tabs for plastic dividers
3. Gather all paperwork for this binder.
  doesn't have to be every piece right now, just what you already have on hand

4. Start sorting!
 -Lay out all your printed paper dividers on a clean table or floor
 -then place the plastic dividers over them
 -start piling your paperwork on their appropriate pile
This method lets you see everything, and it gets sorted now.

For a quick assembly just put your dividers in order now, then add your paperwork as you can.

5. Put everything in the binder!
 This binder system won't work if you don't keep everything in one spot.

6. Now that all your papers + dividers are sorted, lets print up the tabs for the plastic dividers.
 Change the words if you like. Then put them in. {The Avery website has the template for the dividers.}

Next Monday we'll work on your main office binder!

Monday, December 9, 2013

Creative Business Binder Library- Intro



I wanted to do a makeover of my shop binders.

My old Binders


I figured this would be a great time to help my fellow creative entrepreneurs get organized!
Whether you sell your handmade goods on Etsy, Big Cartel, Ebay, Artfire, or your own site- you need a way to keep yourself organized.

Now you could keep all your paperwork digital, but I prefer to have some hard copies in case the computer goes down.

So we're going to start building your binder library. I'll use my own for examples.

Binders we're going to create:
blog planner
main shop binder
shop's decade binder
shop sketchbook

 I have multiple shops to plan for {some open, others in progress to be open at some point}.

Your Assignment Today is: 
1. Decide how many binders you are going to make.
2. Gather your supplies
3. Print the binder cover

Supplies List {with affiliate links}: 

**If you have 1 shop, you will need 2 binders at 3" size

Office Impressions Round Ring Economy Vinyl View Binder, 3 Inch Capacity, White (82236)

**and 2 binders at 1" size
Wilson Jones 3-Hole View Binder, 1-Inch Rings, 11 Inch by 8 1/2 Inch, White (W362-14W)

For each additional shop you will need a 1" binder

**Plastic dividers with Tabs for the binders, this will vary depending on the number of sections you'll use. Decade binder needs: 10-11 tabs
main binder needs: 13 tabs
sketchbooks varies: for all of mine I would need 57
blog planner: mine need 29 {pref 10 round, 19 regular}

regular tabs Avery Big Tab Two-Pocket Insertable Plastic Dividers, 8-Tab Set, 1 Set (11907)
round tabs Avery Style Edge Insertable Plastic Dividers, 8-Tab Set (11201)

You don't have to use the exact same categories as me, you can pick and choose.
You are also free to change the font styles.
I just bought as many dividers I could afford right now, and plan to get more later.
You could also make your own dividers.
I want to keep the look cohesive, and pretty so I'll invest in more dividers by adding them on to my future Amazon transactions.

**You'll also need:
 -a hole punch, I prefer a 3 hole to make them all uniform
 -a pen

Binder Covers + Spines:
1. First download and install the following fonts,  or pick your own
Gimme your love
cheri
moonstar
leaf 1
hippie gypsy
DJB Doodlie beans
little bird
VTks revolt
orial
typerwriter
cutelove
vtks black

How to install fonts


2. Download and print binder covers <--- click link


My Covers, spines, and dividers printed out


Next Monday we'll start on the blog planner, the dividers will be linked in subsequent posts!

Wednesday, December 4, 2013

Sneak Preview- Creative Business Binder Library

Here's a sneak preview of the project I"m working on.



The Creative Business Binder Library!!
I'll post the Intro on Monday, December 9th. So everyone can start getting their Etsy small businesses organized for 2014!

Be here next Monday, or be square!

Monday, December 31, 2012

The Find Your Passion Series Intro



So you want to sell stuff?
Well the best thing sell is something you're passionate about and are {or will be} good at.

First let's look at what you love:
Do you love sewing?
Do you love cooking?
Do you love knitting?
Do you love crocheting?
Do you love woodworking?

Make a list that fits you.

Second let's look at what you're good at:
Do you make the best cookies around?
Do you sew the cutest little dresses for your nieces?
Do you make the coolest looking wooden toys ever?

Choose something that you are good at, or that you love and
can get better at.

Following your passion will take time, and patience.
But it will be worth it in the end.

In this series I'll showcase various things you could make or do
and try to show examples of those who are on their way of
creating their dream.

This series is meant to give you inspiration, and some serious
eye candy!