My Son's First T-Ball Games and My Other Son's Baseball Games

Older son games undefeated 2-0 Team Orioles
Younger sons games not scored Team Red Sox

Customer Service Why it is Important!

Providing great customer service to a difficult customer or client can feel like walking a diplomatic tightrope. But if you handle a customer's complaint the right way, you can turn the situation around and even turn that person into a happy, satisfied and loyal customer. Here are some tips to help you when faced with a difficult customer.

Don't Take It Personally
How you handle the first contact with a dissatisfied and unhappy customer is critical to diffusing the situation. If a customer or client approaches you with an adversarial attitude, voice raised, he isn't seeing you as an individual at that moment - only as a representative of your company. Try to remain objective, and don't take it personally. If your first reaction is to become defensive, you're already well on your way to losing control of the situation. Let him/her do most of the talking initially, and just listen.

Try Honestly To See Things From Your Customer's Point Of View

Show respect for your customer's opinions. Whether he's (she’s) justified or not in being upset, it's important to put yourself in your customer's shoes for a moment. Use phrases like, "I can certainly understand why you'd feel that way." Draw on your own experiences as a dissatisfied customer. You may have been more diplomatic in the way you asked to have your complaint resolved, but you did expect to be treated with respect and taken seriously. If you can do this for your difficult customer, in most cases he'll begin to calm down at this point.


Call Attention To A Customer's Mistake Indirectly
It's seldom a good idea to directly tell anyone that they're wrong. Such a direct accusation causes embarrassment, builds resentment and hardens someone's attitude, and makes it less likely that the person you're talking to will want to listen to what you have to say.

If you think that your customer or client has made a mistake, begin by using phrases like, "Well, I thought otherwise but I might be wrong. Let's look at this together." Being willing to admit that you could be wrong will make it easier for your customer to admit that he might be wrong, too. Even if you know for a certainty that he's wrong, begin by using diplomacy so that your customer can 'save face' if he's proven wrong. If he feels humiliated, you've probably lost any chance for future business with him.


If You're Wrong, Admit It
If you or someone at your company has made a mistake, admit it and apologise, sincerely and in no uncertain terms. If you've missed a deadline, mixed up an order or delivered a product or service below your usual standards, there really is no acceptable excuse to a customer who was depending on you.

If you agree that your client has a right to be upset, you've effectively removed any grounds for argument and you can begin to negotiate a resolution. When a customer complains, sometimes what they're really saying is, "How are you going to make this right?" In effect, they're giving you another chance. The customer you've truly lost is the one who doesn't complain, but simply never returns.


Decide If You Really Need The Business
The only way to win an argument is to avoid it. But there will be times when, despite your best efforts, you will have to decide if the difficult customer's business is worth the time and emotional strain it costs you. Fortunately, these situations are the exception.

Handling difficult customers can be challenging, but it's well worth mastering the negotiation skills required to win their loyalty. When they're satisfied with the way you handle their complaints, they can also be among your biggest sources of referrals. And since customers are the lifeblood of any business, the more you can rely on regular customers and referrals then the less time and money you'll have to spend to get new business.

Prims Magazine- Finally a great magazine

The newest Prim magazine on the block just came out and it is wonderful to say the least.  It is full of vivid pics of prims by artists who deserve to be in there.

  My great news is they had asked me to be in there also but I was so swamped with orders, I missed the cut off date.  Well, the editor was on Etsy yesterday when i was listing items and loved my elephant parade see pics below:

She also loved these two Halloween pieces:

So now I am going to hurry and get these 2 Halloweens done and sent off to make the deadline this time of May 15th and *crossing fingers*  I will hopefully be featured in the next issue....So kewl......

Alice Gallery Opening.....My Art Will Be There :)

Going Viral What Does it Mean and How Can it Help Your Business

Viral Marketing is an exciting form of advertising that fits well with network marketing. Both concepts are based around relationship building.
Viral marketing basically creates a word-of-mouth referral method by using your existing customers and contacts. Your message is passed around and around, creating exponential growth for your company.

This is very similar to network marketing. Remember me talking about referring someone to a movie or restaurant you liked? This is the same concept.
Studies have shown that the typical internet user is very vocal about their online experience. This means that for each person you reach, you are actually reaching a group of their friends as well. And then those friends tell other friends, etc. and you have the kind of growth that is similar to the way downlines grow in network marketing companies.

Let me give you an example of viral marketing in action. Have you ever received a greeting card from Blue Mountain? They are a very popular free greeting card company on the internet. At the bottom of each card you receive, it allows you the option to give a card back to the sender or anyone else you might like. This is viral marketing in action!

The person getting the card now knows that Blue Mountain is a reliable company. After all, their friend uses their service. This establishes credibility and trust simply by association! The number one barrier to closing sales is already removed by using this method!

Another good example of Viral Marketing is seen at Amazon.com. At the close of each sale, they ask you if you know someone who might like what you have just purchased. If you do, they offer to email them a note saying that you have just purchased this product and thought they might like it as well. If your friend orders the same product within a certain amount of time, they receive a discount. This is a brilliant concept because it allows Amazon to reach more people through a credible third party. With every email they send on your behalf, you are endorsing their website, and taking part in their viral marketing campaign. In essence, they are getting you to do their advertising for them!

So, why would someone spread YOUR advertising message around to others? What have we been talking about in almost every section? BENEFITS! The bigger the benefit that you can offer to people, the more likely that they’ll pass it along.

For example, create a free report with valuable content and include a "pass it on" link at the bottom. If you have a newsletter, or write articles for one, put a line at the bottom of your article – "Know someone who would be interested in this? Click here to email it to them!"

What benefit does the person sending these receive, you might wonder? They are offering valuable information to friends and colleagues. They are helping them out, and in the process, establishing you as a person worthy of their trust.

Contests are also an effective way to generate interest. Encourage people to refer their friends to sign up for your contest. For each friend they sign up, they could receive another entry into the drawing.

In whatever form you chose, remember to ask the person for the referral, rather than just hoping that they’ll do it on their own.

Take some time to think about how viral marketing can be used to further your business. Look around and see what other companies are doing. Don’t overlook this far-reaching, powerful marketing technique! If done correctly, it could be the most valuable one you will ever use!

Interview With Robin Kaba

1. What is the name of your Etsy shop or website and why did you choose that name?
 I am currently on LemonPoppySeeds under the name-
Ye,ole Primitive Doll Shoppe I choose that name because
i am totally addicted to the look of the primitive dolls.

2. How long have you been on Etsy or how long have you had a website?
I started in Nov. with that group

3. What type of items do you offer?
I offer primitive dolls.

4. How long have you been crafting?
I have been crafting for over 20 years 

5. Who or What inspires you?
I have to say all the talented artist out there ,gives me the inspiration to sew and design.

6. What is your favorite item in your shop and why?
I love all the dolls. In fact when i sew i always make one for me to keep.

7. Other places where you can be found (Ebay, webstore, blog)
Simplycountryny.com I sell to a gal and she is doing home shows four times a year -

8) Describe what a typical day of crafting is like for you..
I have to get up early to sew , around 4.00 am because
i work for the school. The weekends i get most of my
work done.I try to do several dolls at the same time .
sew , stuff , paint and then grunge them all up to look primitive


Link to Robins Shoppe:


http://www.lemonpoppyseeds.com/shoppes/psyeoleprimitivedollshoppe/

Taking the Best Online Craft Pics

Craft pictures is one of the most important factor to sell your products online. It is the heart of all your sales. Without a picture no buyer will be interested in your items. In taking pictures one must be creative and should take the best quality image. Plan for a background for your items so it will produce and a great image in showcasing your products online.

 

 

Instructions

Things You'll Need:

• digital camera
• background cloth
• photo editor website

1. Step 1
   Gather all your crafts or product for picture taking.
   
2. Step 2
   Examine your products color and design and look for appropriate background styles that goes well with your products. For instance, if your product color is black, do not use black or any dark color cloth as background. Depending on the kind of product you are selling, dolls for instance, place then in any corner or cabinets for displays.
   
3. Step 3
   Take pictures in different backgrounds and in different angles or sides as many as your can. This way you can choose which of the product images look great.
   
4. Step 4
   Take close up pictures of your products.
   
5. Step 5
   Edit your pictures . If you have Windows Paint, crop, resize and add some texts like your store name or url in each of your image before uploading.
   
6. Step 6
   Create a banner or image header of your store online and follow the prescribed format.
   

One MOre Pic from Vday Swap and More Bunnies from Bunny Swap

Made by Dee Denise Salsgiver Comber

This is also Dee's

Made by Sue O'Connor

Made by Sue O'Connor

How to Successfully Price Your Crafts

Want your craft business to be a success? If so, you have to step back from the creative process and realize that on the money-making end of this proposition, you sell a product. When it comes to financial planning, your craft is no different from a computer, car or gallon of milk.
Pricing for Crafts - Figuring Up How Much it Costs You to Make Each Craft Item: Every little component and material you use to make each craft item, plus the labor to put them together, is an expense. In accounting lingo, this is called cost of goods. You can't set a reasonable selling price for your handcrafted goods before you figure out your cost of goods sold.
Cost of goods sold items are also known as variable costs. Materials and labor costs will vary (go up or down) depending on how many craft items you sell. Here are a few examples of variable costs your craft business will have:
Pricing Craft Raw Materials: For crafters, this will probably be your biggest variable expense. The following fact is important so keep it in mind: your raw material cost for each craft item is only the material you use to make it.
For example, let’s say you make quilts. You purchase quilt squares in bulk for $500 and only use half of those squares to make one quilt. Your cost of raw materials for the quilt squares isn’t $500, the total cost of the order. It’s $250, representing the portion of the order used to make that one quilt.
Pricing Craft Labor: If you have employees, labor costs have to be factored in as well. I find this easier to do than raw materials, as you’ll probably pay most craft help by the piece rather than by the hour. So, if you pay a crafter $50 to line the quilt, that amount is also added to the quilt’s cost.
Don’t forget your own labor. Just because you’re the owner doesn’t mean that your labor is any less a cost of good sold than the crafters you hire to help. Many craft business owners either have the tendency to undervalue the worth of their own time or haven’t adequately figured out how much time it takes them to get their craft item to market. Don't fall into this trap - your time is important! Make sure you figure it into the final cost of your product.
Pricing Craft Packaging and Shipping: Remember, your customers are partially buying into the story behind your handcrafted product. They can buy a sweater at Target. Your hand-loomed sweater made from wool shorn from organically fed Alpacas is a special item for which you’re charging (and they’re paying) a higher price. It deserves special packaging, which is also a variable cost.
If you ship your product to your customer – perhaps you have an ecommerce website – shipping is also a variable cost. Even if you pass the cost of shipping along to the customer, it’s best to break your shipping costs out as a variable expense. This gives you more accurate financial reports.
Pricing Craft Fixed Costs: Next, let's discuss typical craft business fixed costs. These are the business expenses you have each month regardless of the number of craft items you sell. Things like rent and telephone expense are examples of fixed costs. If your lease calls for $1,000 monthly rent, you owe your landlord $1,000 each month regardless if you sell a million sweaters or none. Like variable, fixed costs have to be factored into the price of your craft item. Breakeven point analysis is an easy way to do this.
Setting a Price: After you know how much it costs you to create your product, you can set a price for your craft. Many small business crafters “keystone” their product. This means they take the cost to make the item and double it for retail. So, if it costs you $100 to make a sweater, you sell it for $200.
Pricing for Craft Supply and Demand: Remember how I emphasized the importance of preparing a business plan? Well, you can make a beautifully crafted sweater or quilt, but if your price is higher than the market will bear, your craft business won’t be a success.
This is an issue normally addressed and handled while writing the business plan, before you set up shop. I recommend checking out what other similar craft businesses at your level of exposure charge for their pieces. In the beginning, use this as a benchmark, increasing your price as demand increases.
Pricing for Perceived Value: This is tied to the image your business has with current and potential customers. If your perceived value is good, you can consider increasing your prices above what your competition charges.
Here's how it works using blue jeans as an example:
You're considering buying a pair of blue jeans at discount department store. They're dark blue, heavy cotton made with 90% cotton and 10% spandex. Another pair of blue jeans that are identical in fabric, make, quality and appearance are sold at a major department store. The only difference between the two is a famous designer label sewn on the back pocket.
I think you know the end of this marketing tale. The designer jeans will probably be at least three times as expensive as the discount department store jeans. That's perceived value at work.
If you want to sell your crafts and make a profit, you have to set reasonable prices. Carefully consider what your actual costs are, or you'll quickly put yourself out of business.
 By Maire Loughran, About.com Guide

Etsy Shoppers Biggest Put Offs

1) Poor photography
2) Brief product descriptions
3) Unexplained high price
4) No return policy
5) High shipping rates
6) Sellers that put down other sellers in forums
7) If selling jewelry, customers want a size scale pic.
8) Cutesy Names ad sections so you have to click to see what actual product is
9) Not selling Internationally
10) Not telling where you are located or a cutesy one like somewhere in the US
11) a mile long shop announcement with SpElLiNg lIkE tHaT and squiggly stuff
12) no policies
13) having to ask about price/shipping in convo first
14) I do however really HATE photos on items on dirty floors, counters with obvious crumbs etc and shots of items taken while holding them looking in the mirror (please get a real camera stop using your phone!) and you can see all the clutter and crap in someones bedroom/living room etc. I don’t want to buy from those people- ever!15) Mis-tagging the items
16) Lack of communication, answer convos promply

Wondering Where to Show off Your Art?

Have you ever thought of local establishments?  I'm talking your local diners, mom and pop stores and especially your local coffee shops not the large chain shops as they have set artwork but the locally run shops.  I remember when I lived in Pittsburgh, I used to frequent a shop on the southside called the Beehive.  A bunch of artwork was displayed there and I remember buying some at the time.  I wasn't making dolls then so it never occurred to me to sell my art in local shops.

 Local coffee shops would be an ideal place to sell artwork as people are constantly going in and out all day long.  You have your morning commuters in for a cup of joe, your college students studying for exams, your regulars, artists and such....just ask the managing barista if you can set up some work in the shop.  Also, a great alternative to the art is if you make bookmarks, notecards, etc to sell......




Other local shoppes may sell your items also if you ask.  Just look for locally owned mom and pop shops.  Slacker comes to my mind.  It is a gothic store way better than Hot Topic....

Some locally owned stores may  also welcome new inventory to sell with a small fee....or comission

All I can say is now that the weather is warming up.  Put on your walking shoes and start to look for the signs.

After you walked around all day and you are feeling kind of hungry support your local diner and stop and get a bite to eat.....

How to make a tiny lightbulb Terrarium

How kewl are these???  Come on over to this blog to see ste by step how to make these awesome terrariums

http://thehipsterho.me/2010/01/how-to-make-a-tiny-terrarium-in-a-light-bulb/

Monday Featured Artist Art By Me

1. What is the name of your Etsy shop and why did you choose that name?
   
   Artbyme    That is my name on Ebay and wanted 

to keep everything the same.

2. How long have you been on Etsy?

   Little over a year

3. What type of items do you offer?

   Primitive Folk Art Dolls

4. How long have you been crafting?

  Over 20 years
5. Who or What inspires you?

   I can get inspiration from just about anything. 

I do get a lot from other    creative people. 
      


6. What is your favorite item in your shop and why?

   Halloween items. I love creating Halloween items.


7. Other places where you can be found (Ebay, webstore, blog)

    http://www.artbymecindy.blogspot.com
    http://www.artbymecindy-soatp.com
    http://Artbyme.artfire.com
    http://shop.ebay.com/merchant/artbyme_W0QQ_nkwZQQ_armrsZ1QQ_fromZQQ_mdoZ

A few of Cindy's Items

So What's New ?

Well with me working on orders as usual and swaps.  I got an awesome bunny from Kim-Prims By Kim that I will be putting up later tonight.  She is so sweet. Thanks Kim! I am still working on yours :) 
I also just got an email from Christina.  I am doing a local Art Gallery show here in Fayetteville in April.  The theme is Alice in Wonderland.  The great news is they are having a party/get together at Barnes and Noble Bookstores the end of this month.  People will be dressing in costume and they will have activities and readings too for the kids.  In the coffee section, they want to display 5 pieces of art that will be in the show.  I so totally want to get a piece done for display.  They also are taking pics to advertise the show and they want artists that can demonstrate the work process while people watch. Not really teaching just working and letting people watch you work.  How kewl is that??????
So i am going to try my best to get a piece done and be there in costume for the party.......Sooo that is what is new with me.  What is new with you?  Leave me a comment and tell me.......

Latest Newbies and Swaps

I am first showing my latest dollies for purchase on my website and Etsy, then I have received 2 swap dollies I wanted to share with you all :)  I received the Annie from R'Chelle for the Vintage Valentine Swap I had and I received the Mouse from an Alice in Wonderland Swap from Susie :)

New Giveaway

My friend Cindy over at Thimbleprims Studio is giving away this lovely Spring gal.....here is a link to try your chances at winning her


http://thimbleprimsstudio.blogspot.com/2010/02/new-blog-giveaway.html

Making Cold Porcelin Roses

Cold porcelain can be made at home. It is time consuming and messy, however it can be done successfully if you follow the instructions below. A much faster, cleaner alternative is the ready made cold porcelain clay that I sell in my shopping cart. Premade, premixed, ready to use, with all of the benefits of homemade without the mess. If you prefer to make your own, use the recipe and instructions below.
1. Always keep the cold porcelain sealed in a completely air tight bag. It is an air drying material, so must be kept sealed. It can also be kept in a sealed bag in the freezer.
2. Use of cold cream on your hands will help you in working with the cold porcelain. Don't use too much, just a bit is enough to keep the CP from sticking to your fingers.
3. If your CP begins to get a bit stiff or slightly dried out, you can add a bit of cold cream to reconstitute and soften it up. Not too much, and just a bit at a time, till the CP is workable and soft again.
4. If you make your own CP, and find that it is too sticky, then additional corn starch added in small amounts and worked in till the correct consistency will help. Conversely, if it is too stiff, add a bit of cold cream.
5. Cold porcelain needs no baking, and will air dry beautifully and quickly. Be sure to place your finished pieces in a safe place while drying so that nothing gets set on top of them... or to keep the cat from eating them.....
6. You can create much thinner petals with CP than with sculpey. They can be nearly translucent. Just make sure that you use cold cream on your finger tips so that you do not distort the shape of the petals after flattening, and you can make them as thin as you want.
Cold Porcelain Recipe

3/4 cup of white glue (Elmers is recommended)
1/2 cup of water
1 teaspoon of cold cream*
1 teaspoon of glycerin
1 cup cornstarch
Heavy bottomed skillet - CAN NOT BE USED FOR FOOD!!
Mix wet ingredients until smooth over medium heat. Cook for a few minutes and add cornstarch. When adding cornstarch, add a bit at a time, and stir constantly while adding. Continue to cook over medium heat, stirring continually until the mixture forms a ball. Remove from pan and mix thoroughly with hands, using a kneading action. (I like to cover with a damp cloth until its cool enough to handle) Do not refrigerate. Keep in an airtight bag.
Notes:
* Ponds Cold Cream will do the job also Sorbolene (in Australia), which is what I use because I couldn't get cold cream. You will find Sorbolene at the supermarket or chemist (pharmacy). You could probably try any white hand cream with similar results.
Use as you would any modeling paste, can be molded and used in many ways... color before sculpting, or paint with any paint when dry.

Coloring:
I recommend coloring only small portions of a batch for the project you are working on. The CP will hold up for months if sealed well, but does dry out faster after it is colored.
A tiny dab of tube oil paints is the preferred method to color if you want to have a translucent clay. It does not dry out the clay as some water based paints and colorings might.
Using chalk pastels is another method. Sand off powder from the chalks onto a small bit of cold porcelain and knead until the color is blended.
Acrylic paints can also be used for painting the flowers where a deeper color is required. This may dry the clay out a bit, particularly over time. It will also give an opaque appearance.

Food colorings can also be used, however.
the disadvantage with the liquid food coloring is that it gives a solid, all over color and it shortens the working time.
For a more realistic shading of the flowers, try dusting the dry flowers with powdered food dye (same as used in cake decorating) and then hold in the steam of a kettle. The porcelain will absorb the color and looks much more natural.

Show Off Your Prims! Sign Up for RSS Feed

On my Facebook Fanpage!  Become a follower and post us some pics.  I will get some going in a bit :)

http://www.facebook.com/pages/Rabbit-Hollow-Prims/140071874987

Also want to know when I post something new here?  Sign up for the RSS Feed at top :)

New Doll on Etsy and Etsy Link for Etsy Fee Calculator

Civil War Soldier

On Etsy http://www.rabbithollowprims.etsy.com



Etsy Calc here:
http://www.rolbe.com/etsy.htm

Hoppin Down the Bunny Trail

Just added to my Etsy Shoppe http://www.rabbithollowprims.etsy.com