Home Biz Notes

Happy Fourth of July from Home Biz Notes

JULY 4th

This is a day, or even weekend, for gala events, family get-togethers, and enjoyable times all around as we celebrate the Independence Day of country, when those brave forefathers put their lives on the line for the freedom we all enjoy. 

 It’s a time for making memories, too, or reminiscing about what this day really means to us and to our country.

How do you celebrate this time in your family and your business?

• Sometimes we’re involved in community events and parades
• We may close our business and enjoy a quiet family time
• We might visit friends and family in another town
• We have been involved in business activities surrounding this holiday and freedom
• Yard sales are frequent in our town over this weekend, so my family often participates in this, if the weather is good.  (Our businesses are those enable us to take the time off to organize a yard sale.)

What are you doing for this patriotic holiday?

(Image: sxc.hu)

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By Mary Emma Allen -- 0 comments

Do You Use Postcards for PR?

In today’s high (and higher) postage world, we try to find ways to cut business expenses, yet still be effective with our publicity and promotion.  Sending postcards remains fairly inexpensive…at least sending postcards instead of letters whenever possible.

I’ve written an article at Blisstree’s Arts and Crafts section about Using Postcards for Craft PR.  Here I mention various reasons to utilize this method  for business and for personal communication that ultimately aids your business.

I’m talking about postcards that advertise your book, your craft, your products or services.  In addition to announcing news about your business, you often can use postcards for personal communication.  A writers’ workshop speaker mentioned that sealed letters are seen by the sender and recipient, whereas postcards often are viewed by many along the mailing route.  Even subconsciously, the information on the cards may stick in someone’s mind for future reference.

I have postcards with illustrations from my children’s anthology, Tales of Adventure & Discovery ,that I use for announcing events about my writing.  I also use them for personal communication.  I place them on my book signing tables.  I give them out when I do author programs in schools.

I make postcards from my paintings and from my fabric postcards to use for various types of PR and note sending.

I’ve made promotional postcards for book sales.  I’d send them to various people, businesses or organizations announcing the release of a book.  On the back, there also would be an order blank for the book.  This  proved to be a good sales tool for I received many orders for books this way.  (It won’t work for every book, but was successful when I published my Alzheimer’s book.)

How have you utilized postcards for PR?

(Image: sxc.hu)

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Mary Emma Allen Blogging at My Organized Biz & Small Business Boomers

I’m expanding my blogging here at b5media and shall be blogging at My Organized Biz and Small Business Boomers, as well as here at Home Biz Notes.  I also blog at Blisstree’s Parenting and Arts/Crafts sections.

These business blogs are somewhat interrelated in that they all concern businesses which obviously need organization and can all involve boomers.  They may or may not be operated out of the home.  So some of the posts at any of these blogs may apply to a wider audience. 

I’ll try to point this out when applicable, so you can take advantage of additional information that may help you with your own ventures.

Also, over at Blisstree’s Arts and Crafts section, I frequently post on topics concerning arts businesses.

Questions and comments you have on these topics are always welcomed.

(Image: sxc.hu)

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Cooking as a Home Business

For those who enjoy cooking, there are many ways you can turn this into a home business, something you can work at from your home.  If you are doing actual cooking to provide food for others, you’ll need to research the regulations for your state and community.  Also, check out zoning laws to see if this business is possible from your home.

•  
• Decorating cakes
•  Providing breads for restaurants and stores. 
•  Making and providing party foods
•  Doing party planning for others
•  Writing about cooking.  I wrote (and still write) a cooking column for newspapers for more than 40 years.
•  Compiling a cookbook.  This even can be an e-book.  You might do this as a family cookbook, one for a community organization, or to sell on your own.
•  Design and produce food related notepaper and postcards.  Some of these might include recipes.
•  Sell cooking related items, gadgets, aprons, etc. from your home…as a walk-in shop and/or online.
•  Design and make aprons, potholders, hot mats, placemats.
•  Teach cooking classes.
• Selling food online

 Do you have a business related to cooking and food?  I’d enjoy hearing about it.

(Omaha Steaks image at Amazon)

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Tips for Party Planning Businesses - Incorporating Crafts Sessions

One of the popular ideas for kids’ parties nowadays consists of planning an arts and crafts session.  If you’re involved in party planning, are leaning in this direction, or have a business surrounding arts and crafts, see how you can incorporate this latest idea into it.

If you have a business providing arts and crafts for youngsters anyway, expand and offer sessions at parties.  The moms generally would like someone who can entertain the kids this way and should be more than willing to purchase your supplies.

If you have a party planning business, incorporate this type of party into your offerings.  You can provide supplies and ideas.  Or you could select crafts you know how to do and supervise these at the party.

If you’re simply planning a party for your youngsters, check out some type of craft for the activity.  This might require less planning and thus take less time away from your home business when celebration times are here.

I’ve often entertained at my daughter’s parties and then grandchildren’s with some form of craft.  Even when the youngsters simply got together with friends or cousins, we had arts and crafts sessions.  So look into these as a form of party entertainment.

References for more information:

Arts and Crafts Party Entertainment (my informative post at Blisstree)

Arts and Crafts Birthday Parties Growing More Popular at Adesso Albums

(Manley image at Amazon)

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True or False - You Are Your Own Boss in a Home Business

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Are you really your own boss in your home business?

In a way this is true and another way it isn’t.

 On the surface, it seems so.  You decide what you want to do, that is what type of business you’d like to develop.  You can work somewhat flexible hours, thus around your family’s schedule.  You don’t need to commute.  You don’t have to worry about professional dress unless you’re meeting customers.  You can determine what you’ll charge.

 However…are you entirely your own boss?

•  Your business depends on customers who can be enjoyable to work with, very difficult or somewhere in between.  With various types of services, you have to work around your customer’s schedules not your own.
• Your getting paid depends on the satisfaction of your customer.  You may encounter some customers/clients who decide you’ve not fulfilled your agreement and pay you less or not at all.
•  You often must create (such as in commissioned art, dressmaking, landscaping, etc.) what the client wants.  You’re not free to do it entirely as you desire. 
•  Working according to a customer/client’s wishes can become frustrating.
•  Mass producing items for customers can become boring, but in order to earn the income, you must adhere to the customer’s desires.

There are benefits to owning your own business, as long as you’re aware of the downside of “being your own boss.”  Simply realize you’re not a free spirit if you want to earn a living this way…at least until you’ve established a name and reputation which will give you more flexibility.

(Amazon image)

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By Mary Emma Allen -- 2 comments

Business Promotion Using Debbie Macomber Techniques

Developing publicity for your home business, whether you’re a craftsperson, author, computer programmer, software designer, lawn service technician, landscape artist, illustrator, party planner or something entirely different can be a challenge.  One of the people I admire for her diverse methods of publicity and pleasing her readers is novelist Debbie Macomber.

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Is Going “Paperless” Always Best in Business?

More and more banks, credit card companies, and businesses are urging their customers and clients to go “paperless,” to have statements and invoices come to you entirely online rather than through the mail.  My husband and I’ve begun to do a great deal of our business online, such as paying bills, corresponding with businesses, and checking on invoices.  It’s convenient and immediate.

However, I’m reluctant to have a complete record online with no paper trail for a number of reasons. 

• Invoices and payments can go astray online, as well as in the mail.
• The Internet or your computer can go down.
• Your can lose your files and find you forgot to back them up adequately.
• You or the business can be hacked.
• You have records conveniently available when you can’t access your computer.
• Your back-up method becomes obsolete and you can’t access it.

What have you found about “going green” or “paperless” in your business and personal records and transactions?  Do you keep a paper back-up trail?

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By Mary Emma Allen -- 4 comments

20 Minutes a Day to Organized Life

Does your office, bedroom or entire home become so disorganized it’s difficult to function?  Do you spend considerable time looking for papers, books or other items you know you have…but just haven’t put away in an organized fashion?

I get caught up in this syndrome.  I’ve learned to function in a busy household of six people in three generations so keep telling myself I don’t have time to organize.  I try to organize as I go, but sometimes papers and “to do” items simply get piled in my work area, then tucked into a box when they threaten to engulf me.

I’ve read about taking 15 - 20 minutes a day to organize some portion of one’s chaos…sort, file and, yes THROW OUT!  I’ve started on this path, but after a few days, get sidetracked with what I consider a too busy schedule.

I’m determined to stick with this goal of 20 minutes a day or sorting and organizing until I’ve “managed my mess.”  I’ll start by continually telling myself “You’re a very organized person.”  People think I am well organized to get as much done as I do, but I never feel this way.  Perhaps that’s why I don’t continue with my 20 minute organization.  Even when my kids have given me books about organizing.

Since I’ve announced it here and have mentioned it to my mentor, I’ll have to stick with my 20 minutes a day!

What organizational tips have worked for you?

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Dare to Dream in Your Home Business

Usually we’ll have favorite books, or ones that inspire us so we keep them handy and read them over and over.  This may be one a friend or mentor recommends or one we discover on our own. 

Reading about successful people in your field, or in other areas, and finding out how they pursued their dreams and goals may act as a springboard for your reaching for success.

Dare to Dream……Then Do It (What Successful People Know and Do) by John C. Maxwell is one of those little books (pocket book size but hardcover) that’s easy to tuck into purse or brief case or keep on a bedside table.  It’s made up of short anecdotes and essays, quotes and ponderings by Maxwell and other leaders.

It’s great to read when you’re feeling discouraged or when you just need something to start your day. 

What book(s) do you use to inspire and encourage you to pursue your dreams?

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