For Times When You Feel Like Giving Up

It took me a few days to write this because I've been talking down to myself and letting myself worry and blow things out of proportion. Don't be like that. Don't worry and blow things out of proportion. Don't talk down to yourself because everything will prove you wrong in its own time.

So, before I get into the do's and dont's about yourself, which it's really up to you anyway, I'm going to share my story. Some of the parts in this story are grim and others are not so grim. I don't want pity, but please hear me out as I tell my full life story in a nutshell:

I was born in Raleigh, NC at 7:57 am on May 7, 1987. Ever since I can remember, I have not had a father figure in my life. My biological father was a drug addict which is why I never knew him. My mother did not want me around that and fought the court system very hard to keep him away from me even when he wanted visitation. The only reason he wanted to fight for visitation rights in the first place was to make my mother mad. It's all documented in court files and stacks of detailed journals my mother kept throughout the entire process.
Eventually, he gave up wanting to have anything to do with me or my mother, and my mother eventually started dating my current adopted father. He adopted me when I was 2 years old. From what I remember, everything was great until they were married and had my brother. Things fell apart and my adoptive father became verbally and physically abusive toward me and my brother. I don't remember a whole lot during this time except for him calling me a fat pig and choke-shaking my brother. I do remember wanting to be a singer and dancer when I was younger. I loved to sing but never really had the confidence even at a young age to actually sing in front of people. Since then, I've never really wanted to have much to do with him. Eventually, my mother divorced him, and we fast forward to my teenage years. When I was around 13, my mother, my brother, and I moved to Durham, NC where I found my love of dance through classes at school. Mrs. Ledbetter, my dance teacher thought that I should take professional dance classes and I really would have gone, but I had a string of mishaps and allowed them to get in my way. For starters, and here's where it gets grim, my mother was just starting to date a man from Roxboro, NC, Jon who was disgusting in his own way.
At 13, I was subjected to things that no minor should ever have to suffer. Unfortunately, it still haunts me to this day, and I try to stuff those memories way back in the back of my subconscious to where they never see the light of day. I was humiliated and I still feel as though I am stuck at 13 and that I will forever be stuck at 13. It's like time stopped for me. Everyone else passed me by and grew up while I'm stuck to deal with a morbid past on my own because I'm the only who can fix it. During my high school years, I wasn't much involved with the favorable crowd. I had friends and a lot of them were good friends, but I also had friends who I should have stayed away from. I dabbled here and there with things I shouldn't. Things teens get grounded for and get whippings for. I never really understood how my actions affected my mother until I got older and moved out of the house. That's when I really got involved with undesirable situations. I was involved with drugs, binge drinking, and just the wrong people in general. It led to me moving out of Roxboro and moving to Greenville, NC where I ended up in an abusive relationship with my then fiance. I had the sense to leave that behind though. So, I'm glad that I had the nerve to stand up for myself. Everyone should stand up for themselves. You are worth it, regardless of what someone else thinks. Their opinion is invalid. It's what you think of yourself.
Now, I am married to a good man, and we have a beautiful little girl and now live in his grandparents house that was left to him. No, our life isn't perfect. We have issues with people who are not in our family, and we do have our differences from time to time. But, nothing anywhere close to the altercations with my ex-fiance.
Since we have been married and our daughter has been born, I have heard all sorts of nonsense come back through the grapevine to me. I've heard "the only reason Josh and Kristine got married is because Kristine is pregnant." I've heard "they better make sure that house is kept up or they'll be out of there," "I don't ever see that baby outside. It never sees sunlight," and people have told me that his family members don't like me. I'm at a point where I don't care who has said what, when, where, how, or why it was said. It doesn't matter. They don't know the truth, and it's none of their business to find out what the truth is unless I or my husband tells them personally. I don't have very many friends and this is the reason why. I just cut the chord loose because it wasn't helpful for me. Always cut the cord when harmful or potentially damaging people enter your life and try to cause chaos.
So, seeing that I had an opportunity to go back to school to finish out for my bachelor's in Accounting, I seized the opportunity, and I am a little over halfway finished. Yay! During this time, I also found my love for creating soaps that I loved and wanted to share them with other people. That is how Earth N Moon was started almost a year ago. It will be a year come this September!
Since then, I have had so many learning experiences. It has really helped me to grow a tougher skin and realize what is more important. The petty words and actions people put out about you or your business should actually be flattering instead of an insult. When people are jealous, especially in a business setting, it means they find you threatening and that your products are actually tough competition. So, if you find yourself in a situation where there may be some who downplay or talk badly about you, just smile and know that you are something to talk about. Don't stoop to their level and hand it back to them. That's what they want. The best thing to do is go your own way and ignore what they say. They make their selves look bad by talking badly about others. Just for clarification, let's not confuse purposefully deceitful down talking someone or their business with them simply saying they don't like your products. There is a difference. If someone has never purchased or tried your products and they say that your products are not good products, that's deceitful and dishonest behavior because they've never tried the products to form an opinion. So, don't automatically assume that they are being deceitful if they simply don't like your products. There may be a reason. Not everyone is going to like you or your stuff. But, you shouldn't try to make everyone like you or your stuff either. They are allowed to have their own opinions, just like you are allowed to have your opinions.

So, now that you know my life story, I hope you find some sort of strength within yourself to tell yourself you can do this. Don't give up if a bump or massive hole forms in your path. Find a way around it. Be creative. Be an inspiration to others as I hope to be an inspiration to you right now.

Just a few tips that I think might help along the way of your journey:

If you are just starting out in your homemade craft business like I am, you know it's hard to build up your clientele with all of the competition currently out there. Some of your competition has been selling theirs for years and has thousands of good reviews. The important things to remember when you feel the jealousy sink in and try to compare your business with theirs:

1. Don't compare. Just don't do it. Your items are unique and between the competition and you, everyone's products are different.
2. Stay true to yourself. Don't get discouraged when it appears that the competition is taking away sales. I'll discuss what to do further down in the post.
3. Stay positive. Cut the negativity by switching your attitude into a positive outlook. Turn browsing the competition to your advantage. Again, I'll discuss what to do further down the post.

I'm just now starting to understand why a lot of people do not own their own business aside from the start up costs and the responsibility. You trying to sell your ideas and your hard work to people especially if you hand make your products. If you have a Facebook page for your business, you'll know that likes and reviews are important. However, you can't make people like or review your products. They'll come with time. Sometimes, it's to whom you are reaching, not that people don't like your products. So, don't beat yourself up, you're just not reaching the right crowd. Plus, some people are fickle. They'll like your page and someone might say something about your products in a negative light that has never tried them, or you might have a particular viewpoint on a matter and they'll stop following you. It's okay. That's their right. Don't let it discourage you. If I were you, I wouldn't even look at the likes. It's not representative of what your products are about or your company, or even you as a representative of your company. Just breathe, relax, and let it roll off. Did you know some very successful companies don't have that many likes on their pages? Heck, some don't even have Facebook pages!

All in all, it's what's best for you and your business.

You got this, kid! You can do this! It's not a crazy idea, and yes, it will work if you believe and try hard enough. Your ideas are important. You are important. Make yourself known. Make your business known. Celebrate! This is a time of rejoice because you've found something you're good at. You've found something that you feel free and comfortable on which to earning a living. Wait, you're still worried and worried about everyone else? Okay, let's stop again. 

• Don't even think about the competition, at least not right now.
• Don't worry about everyone else.
• Turn that frown upside down. You've got a lot to live for, even if it's just you. You mean a lot, and you were born for a reason. Seek out your purpose. Travel, try different things, get out there and go!
• Don't stay in one spot. Keeping moving your business as far as you want it to go. Your business is your canvas, and you are the painter. You have the power to do what you want, when you want it, and how you want to do it.
• Money is just a stepping stone. Yes, it takes money to make money, but if you really want to start your project, you'll find a way even if it is slowly saving up to start a project. You'll get there.
• Be patient. Rome wasn't built in a day as they say! Don't get burned out by the advice of others or your work pace. Slow and steady wins the race. Wait, there is no race! Life is not a race. Your business will come to fruition with patience, knowledge, the application of that knowledge, proper resources, and proper timing. It'll come, trust me.

The important thing to remember is that YOU shape your future regardless of others.

From my heart to yours,
From one person to another,
Kristine

Why Sellers Need Reviews

I am the person who stresses over how much a customer likes their items they purchased from me.

Reviews are extremely important to businesses because receiving feedback in the form of reviews gives them the chance to guage which products they should keep on the shelves.

Sales alone don't necessarily prove that people are enjoying your products.
Posting reviews on business pages may also help attract new customers depending on the detail and positivity of the review. Think about it, when you look at buying an item online, what is one of the things you look for first? You look for product reviews and business reviews, or at least that's what I do.

While some sellers do offer discounts for good reviews, I do not take this approach. I don't feel it is an honest method of gaining reviews so I don't offer discounts or free items for good reviews. However, I do invite customers to leave reviews of their experience. I always like hearing feedback whether it is a suggestion for a product, a suggestion for changing a product, and if a customer loved their purchase and experience.

With all of the competition on Facebook, Etsy, and online in general, it is difficult for small businesses to start out and maintain sales (or begin sales) if they do not have positive reviews. With that being said, sellers should make sure they are selling quality items in order for them to receive those positive reviews.

So, if you have the time, help a growing business by leaving reviews of your experience. They will certainly appreciate it.

Come back this evening as I will be posting a new tutorial on DIY simple and easy bath salts.


Cheers!
Kristine

Earth N Moon Wholesale

You may have seen on my Facebook page that I am now accepting wholesale orders. If you'd like to know more about Earth N Moon wholesale, check out the website here!

What exactly is the difference between wholesale and retail?
Well, in simple terms, retail is the non discounted price you would see on the Etsy store. Retail costs factor in packaging costs, labor costs, raw materials costs, and overhead costs. Wholesale is basically for stores who would like to sell other peoples' items in their store. However, instead of buying the items at the retail value, there is usually a discount and a minimum order. So, people who usually buy wholesale buy in bulk and receive a discounted rate.

Essentially, I am willing to part with my unique, homemade items at a wholesale rate in which I may not make much monetarily. However, there are other benefits to selling wholesale which include:

• Moving more product at one time. Think about it, although you are selling at a discounted rate, you are moving more inventory that would normally be sitting there waiting for each person to come by and buy one or two items. If you're really lucky, they may buy more than two at a time. By moving more inventory at one time, you are able to make room for other items.
• Gaining recognition. I've noticed that unless you are widely known through your local and online communities, you will not sell much because people don't know who you are. The more familiar people are with you the more people are likely to buy from you. Wholesale gives you the opportunity to gain recognition not just in your local community, but potentially nationally. It depends on where your items are featured, to whom your items are being presented, and the quality of your product along with other factors. Gaining recognition in place of the discount on the prices of items is never a bad thing. It could potentially drive retail sales upward.
• Building relationships. Your network and contacts will slowly grow through wholesale. Part of building a great business and being known is building better relationships between you, your customers, and your customer's customers. While people who are requesting wholesale prices are ultimately reselling your items at their own rates, they are still your customers. Having a healthy customer service relationship with your wholesale customers is key to keeping your items in the public eye as well as making their customers happy to a certain extent.

So, if you are getting a lot of requests for wholesale orders, don't shoot them down just yet. Talk with those who are looking to feature your items in their locations. You can always be open to opportunities but stand firm on your discounted prices and terms. This is your work. You are putting yourself out there and you have every right to what you feel is best for you and your blossoming business. So, here are a few tips in case you are just a little unsure of whether or not to consider wholesale prices.

• Are you at a point to consider wholesale? If you are making your products in small batches, you can still consider wholesale, just don't burn yourself out. Just know that you will have to be able to keep up with your wholesale orders at the same time of keeping up with your retail orders. Making sure you have enough product, materials, and time is essential to committing to wholesale and retail at the same time.
• You have the right to know where your items are being sold. If a person wants to discuss wholesale prices with you, always get information first such as the name of their store and where your items will be featured. If they can't give you a name or refuse to tell you where your items will be sold, go with your gut instinct.
• Always make sure you have a minimum purchase quantity. Why else would you give a discount? There would be no point in selling wholesale if the other person were not buying in bulk. The minimum purchase quantity is ultimately up to you. Set realistic minimums. If you are making all of your products by hand and you set your minimum at 5 per item, will you be able to easily deliver that amount?
• Don't sell yourself short. You should still be able to make a profit from your wholesale orders. Your wholesale prices should depend on how much profit you will make. Set realistic prices and make sure they are fair to both yourself and your wholesale customers.

Remember, this is your stuff and your business. You ultimately set the prices and purchase requirements for wholesale.

Join me tomorrow for a tutorial on super easy bath salts! 

Cheers!

Kristine

Vendors Be Cautious

So, I just wanted to post this idea out there for vendors who have had a similar situation. This is just some food for thought... I had a woman contact me about selling my products in her new store about wanting wholesale prices. So, being that I'm already signed up with An Artisan's Emporium in Roxoboro, I wanted to know what this new store was about and to do my research first (always do your research first!). Plus, I wanted to keep my arranged agreement updated as they have a right to know. Anyway, so I asked normal questions such as "what is the name and location of the store?" and "what items are you interested in?". I got a response back that stated she was interested in soaps, hair, and skin products. Anything organic for the body. She also mentioned that they were not disclosing the name of the store until construction was complete, but that the building was located in downtown Greensboro, NC. So, there were red flags all over this:

1. The main red flag--Even though construction is not complete, I have a right as a seller to know who and where my products are being sold. The fact that she is not willing to disclose the name of the store regardless of whether or not construction is complete is a big NO for me especially since I am in a contractual agreement with a local store in Roxboro.
2. The fact that I asked her which of my products she was interested in for me to give her wholesale prices and she did not give me a list of any of my products makes me suspicious. It tells me that she did not even look at my products on my store page. 
3. She did not respond after I told her I was in a contractual agreement with another store and needed to update them on other venues where I am selling.

So, I just let it go. 

My point is to just be careful when someone sends you a message and wants to do business with you. My tips for being fair to yourself and prospective business partners is

• Research your prospective business partner. Are they an actual business? Do they have a physical location? Ask for their address and business name. Don't be afraid to ask for this information, You, as a vendor, have a right to know about the possible venue where your items are being sold.
• If you feel like you are being pressured into something, think twice before you say "yes". Don't feel obligated or pressured into a sale or business proposal. Depending on the situation, it may not be in your best interest. Think about it before you do it.
• With the previous bullet, look at all of the factors before signing on. Is the business well-known? Do they have a lot of good reviews? Pay attention to the attitude of your prospective business partner. Will they represent your items well when you're not around? Remember, just because someone else may be selling your products, the people who are selling your items for you are also representing your brand. Customers and potential customers usually don't differentiate between physical store and what is carried in the store. So, if your customer or potential customer has a bad experience at the store where your products are being sold, it could result in a potential customer loss. It just depends on situations and customers. However, with that being said, a lot of times, you won't know if a customer has had a bad experience unless the customer expresses through personal complaint, social media, or other way.
• Make sure all of your questions are answered upfront before making a decision. Get all of the details on fees, booth/spot costs, payment dispersal, etc.

I am sure there may be some more that come to mind. So, if I think of any more, I will update this post.

Hoping this helps my vendor friends and followers!

Cheers!

Kristine

Turning Over a New Leaf

I feel like I should start with an introductory blog. This is my first blog, so please be gentle! I know I'll get into the habit of writing seemingly interesting blog posts, but right now it's a little awkward for me like when you get your very first diary as a kid and you have no idea what to say so you just start writing random thoughts and end with "okay bye". Yeah.

Anyway, so I want to start with who I am and how I got to this point. I started Earth N Moon in September of 2015 as a basic craft project with Melt and Pour Soaps that I could give to family and friends. If you have no idea what I'm talking about, Melt and Pour soaps are soaps made from premade bases that melt easily and set up quickly. They usually contain a high Glycerin content depending on the soap. There are all sorts of Melt and Pour types such as Stephenson, Goat Milk, Clear (true Glycerin), White, Shea, Aloe, etc.

It wasn't until I started delving into soap making and researching the various techniques and soap makers that I really wanted to try my hand at cold process soaping which does involve making your own soap from scratch and does involve the use of a caustic ingredient known as lye. I was super nervous my first time because I was terrified of getting burned by lye.

*Word of advice, if you have never worked with lye, DO NOT Google pictures of lye burns before working with lye. It will only scare you to the point of saying NOPE all together*

However, with that being said, everyone should understand the hazards and proper methods of safe handling when it comes to any chemical ingredient. So, definitely do your research before you go gallivanting all over the place trying out DIY recipes on the Internet.

Back to my story (I know I'm terrible about staying on track, sorry!). My first bar of soap was a basic bar that had very little scent. I really liked my first soap and was instantly hooked on the whole soap making adventure.

So, fast forward to today and here we are talking about soap and having a grand ol' time making it. I'm learning new things every day. My advice for anyone looking into soap making is:

Research, research, research

Become active in the soap community

Talk to people

Share ideas and inspirations

Attend live events such as craft shows

I'll have more detailed and specific blogs on my adventures and view points on the different aspects of the soap business as I go along. So follow me, friend me, all that good stuff to keep up with all of the tips and advice I have to offer!

Follow Me on Facebook

I'm on Twitter too!

Here are some great places to find tutorials that I have used in the past and that I trust:

Soap Queen

Bramble Berry