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Shopping Local and Cyber Monday Discounts

Shopping local has several benefits that contribute to the overall well-being of communities and local economies. Here are some reasons why supporting local businesses is important:

1. **Community Support:**
   - Local businesses are often owned and operated by people who live in the same community as their customers. By supporting these businesses, you're investing in your own community and helping it thrive.

2. **Economic Impact:**
   - Money spent at local businesses tends to stay within the community. Local businesses are more likely to source their products and services locally, which helps create a cycle of economic sustainability.

3. **Job Creation:**
   - Local businesses are significant contributors to job creation. When you support them, you're helping to maintain and create employment opportunities in your community.

4. **Unique Products and Services:**
   - Local businesses often offer unique and specialized products that you might not find in larger, more mainstream stores. Supporting them encourages diversity in the marketplace and helps maintain a vibrant local culture.

5. **Environmental Impact:**
   - Shopping locally can have a smaller environmental footprint compared to purchasing from large, distant corporations. Local businesses often have shorter supply chains, which can reduce transportation-related pollution.

6. **Personalized Service:**
   - Local businesses are more likely to provide personalized and attentive customer service. Building relationships with local shop owners can lead to a more satisfying shopping experience.

Now, concerning Cyber Monday discounts, while these deals can offer significant savings, it's essential to strike a balance. Here are some reasons why you might consider not exclusively focusing on online discounts:

1. **Impact on Local Businesses:**
   - Large online retailers often dominate Cyber Monday sales, potentially taking business away from local shops. By exclusively seeking online discounts, you might contribute to the decline of local businesses.

2. **Quality over Quantity:**
   - Local businesses may not always be able to compete with the deep discounts offered by online giants. However, they often provide high-quality products and personalized service that may outweigh the allure of massive discounts.

3. **Long-Term Sustainability:**
   - A community with a healthy mix of local and online businesses is more likely to be economically sustainable in the long run. Prioritizing local shopping helps maintain this balance.

4. **Preservation of Local Culture:**
   - Local businesses often reflect the unique character and identity of a community. Supporting them helps preserve and celebrate the local culture.

In summary, while taking advantage of online discounts can be a part of your shopping strategy, considering the broader impact on your community and local businesses is important for fostering a sustainable and thriving local economy.

 Posted in Creativepreneur Tips

Make Your Business Card Stand Out with a Stamp

In a world where digital communication dominates, it's easy to forget the value of a physical business card. However, handing out a well-designed business card can still make a lasting impression on potential clients or customers.

One way to make your business card stand out is to add a stamp to it. Business card stamps are small stamps that you can use to add your logo or other branding elements to your business cards. They are an affordable and easy way to personalize your cards and make them more memorable.

Here are some of the benefits of using a business card stamp:

  • Cost-effective: Business card stamps are an affordable way to add your branding to your cards. Instead of spending money on expensive custom-designed cards, you can purchase a stamp and use it to customize any standard business card.
  • Easy to use: Business card stamps are very easy to use. Simply ink the stamp and press it onto the card. You can do this quickly and easily, even when you're on the go. Versatile: Business card stamps can be used on a wide variety of materials, including paper, cardstock, and even fabric. This means that you can use them to customize not only your business cards but also other promotional materials like flyers and brochures.
  • Consistent branding: By using a business card stamp, you can ensure that all of your business cards have a consistent look and feel. This helps to reinforce your branding and make your business more recognizable.
  • Unique design: With a business card stamp, you can create a unique design that reflects your business's personality and values. This can help you stand out from your competitors and make a lasting impression on potential clients.

 

When it comes to choosing a business card stamp, there are many options available. You can purchase a pre-designed stamp or have one custom-made to your specifications like we make here. You can also choose from a variety of ink colors and stamp sizes to create a stamp that perfectly fits your needs.

In conclusion, business card stamps are an affordable and easy way to customize your business cards and make them more memorable. By using a stamp, you can create a unique design that reflects your brand's personality and values, and ensure that all of your cards have a consistent look and feel. So why not give it a try and see how a business card stamp can help your business stand out from the crowd!

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 Posted in Creativepreneur Tips

QR code usage for business owners

QR codes have become an increasingly popular way for businesses to share information with their customers. These codes can be scanned using a smartphone camera, which then directs the user to a specific webpage, video, or other digital content. QR codes can be used in many different ways to help businesses engage with their customers and provide them with valuable information.

Here are some ideas for using QR code signs in your business...

  1. Product Information: Placing a QR code on a product or product display can allow customers to scan the code and be taken to a webpage with more detailed information about the product. This can be particularly helpful for businesses that sell technical or complex products.
  2. Coupons and Discounts: QR codes can also be used to provide customers with discounts and coupons. Customers can scan the code and be taken to a landing page with a coupon code or other special offer.
  3. Contactless Menus: In the era of COVID-19, many restaurants and cafes have turned to QR codes as a way to provide contactless menus. Customers can scan the code and be taken to an online menu, eliminating the need for physical menus that need to be sanitized between uses.
  4. Social Media Engagement: QR codes can also be used to encourage social media engagement. For example, you could place a QR code on a sign asking customers to follow your business on Instagram or Facebook.
  5. Signage and Wayfinding: QR codes can be placed on signage and wayfinding materials to provide customers with additional information about a location or to provide directions.
  6. Customer Feedback: QR codes can be used to gather customer feedback. By placing a QR code on a receipt or in-store signage, customers can quickly scan the code and be taken to a survey or feedback form.

We customize your QR codes for your business in many ways and you can find them in our store here.

When designing QR code signs, it's important to keep in mind that not all customers will be familiar with how to use QR codes. Make sure to include clear instructions on how to scan the code and what the customer can expect to see once they do.

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 Posted in Creativepreneur Tips
  Tags qr codes

10 reasons why women make great creative entrepreneurs

10 reasons why women make great creative entrepreneurs

  1. Empathy: Women tend to have a natural ability to understand and connect with others, which can be an important asset when it comes to developing products or services that meet the needs of their target audience.
  2. Creativity: Women are often recognized for their creative abilities, which can be a huge advantage in developing innovative products, marketing strategies, and brand identities.
  3. Resilience: Women are often faced with more obstacles and challenges in the business world, and as a result, they tend to be more resilient and able to bounce back from setbacks.
  4. Collaboration: Women are typically excellent collaborators, able to work well with others and build strong teams that can help to bring their creative vision to life.
  5. Attention to detail: Women are known for their meticulous attention to detail, which can be a valuable skill when it comes to developing and refining products or services.
  6. Communication: Women are typically strong communicators, able to convey their vision and ideas to others in a clear and compelling way.
  7. Flexibility: Women are often able to adapt quickly to changes in the business landscape, which can be a valuable trait in a world that is constantly evolving.
  8. Multitasking: Women are often skilled at juggling multiple tasks and responsibilities, which can be crucial in managing the many demands of running a successful business.
  9. Passion: Women are often driven by a deep sense of passion and purpose, which can provide the motivation needed to overcome obstacles and persist in the face of challenges.
  10. Diversity: Women bring a diverse range of perspectives, experiences, and ideas to the table, which can be a powerful asset in developing truly innovative and impactful solutions.
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 Posted in Creativepreneur Tips

Holding Space for Each Other

I'm a bit behind this month in my blogging.   I made it a habit to be on top of writing and yet here I am contemplating on what's going on with the world and if any of what I'm doing really matters.

I couldn't help but be swayed by the state of the world.  We stopped engaging with reaction based media and limit my time on thinking about possible outcomes... we know how that can go down a rabbit hole right?  It's no wonder that training ourselves to be mentally resilient shows positive effects on our mood, outlook on life and ability to stay kind and creative.

Those of you who's been reading my blog for some time now knows I'm big on creating better habits for myself, growing in discomfort and practicing failing so I'm more resilient.  So to say that I'm struggling this past month has been hard for me.  (See the first graph for some internal dialogue I've been having)  I do think there's a correlation with the (mis)information we are fed, the uncertainty we are still facing and the constant back and forth of truth, lies, and is this even real conversations we have with ourselves.    That's not the energy I want to spend most of my day thinking about yet the guilt or the thought of being numb by this human experience I'm going through kinda irks me.

Mindfulness

Chinese characters do not constitute an alphabet or a compact syllabary. Rather, the writing system is roughly logosyllabic; that is, a character generally represents one syllable of spoken Chinese and may be a word on its own or a part of a polysyllabic word.

The above character "mindfulness" is written in Traditional Chinese and it's made up of two radicals, "the present" and "heart".  When we practice mindfulness meditation, we work towards grounding ourselves in the present moment and it's a heart-centered practice that require constantly bringing our ever changing mind state back to the now.

I find it easier and easier to start my day with a glass of water and a meditation routine rather than scrolling on my phone even if it's to answer a business email.  Self Care is not Selfish.

What is the price of growth? Uncertainty 

Entrepreneurial life is hard, lonely and uncomfortable.  I've never wanted to grow a business alone and working with others has been one of the most rewarding and scariest thing I've ever done.  Not to mention how much energy it takes to learn to trust myself and others.    

May we hold space for each other to grow through uncertainty and discomfort.

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 Posted in Creativepreneur Tips
  Tags holding space mindfulness

Planning Together

Last year in January 2021, I shared this pie chart of how we manage our time and the chart compares expectation vs reality which basically sums up how we go about our day sharing all the things we want to work on vs the reality pie chart where mindset, energy and focus take up more headspace than time management on the expectation pie chart.

Thinking on this concept and expanding it further, it isn't time management we want to work on, it's Energy Management (Self Care), Mindset Management (Mentorship/ Reading Self Help Books), Focus Management (Meditation/ Yoga/ Exercise) then Time Management (how we spend our time)

So when I look at my 2022 Intentions, did you write yours yet? (you can read my Jan newsletter here) I want to apply my 5 intentions to "habit stack" with the reality pie chart.

  1. Learn about me (energy management)
  2. Lead with kindness (mindset management)
  3. Let go of things that don't serve me (focus management)
  4. Laugh more (focus management)
  5. Listen more (energy + mindset management)

Notice there's really nothing about time management here! Interesting!!

So if we become super productive with the management of our core values, how do we work on managing our time? (the doing)

     

How I Spend My Time V.1 Pie Chart (left) vs How I Spend My Time? Revised Pie Chart (Right):

The left shows a typical let's have a meeting about meetings scenarios and you think you're productive. You're bored out of your mind or you're trying to think of all the ways you'll be creative or take care of yourself so you head down this rabbit hole of analysis paralysis.

Then by the end of the day, you're super tired and drained (you've depleted of all your energy) so you binge watch Netflix.  (okay nothing wrong with Netflix, I almost always sit down at the end of the night to watch flix with my hubby) But you get the idea about being drained right? 

The right shows a more holistic approach where you've identified what morning routine you're happy with, set intentions on what you want to achieve and mantra the crap out of it so you don't forget your why.

This practice of writing to you is to share a bit of wisdom I've learned along the way running two full time businesses and discovering all the ways I've failed so hopefully you won't have to. 
May you find joy and prosperity in what you do.

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 Posted in Creativepreneur Tips
  Tags time management planning

How to Find Your Own Clarity

How to find your own clarity

 

 

Get clear on what matters most and the rest will follow

You will find this to be true at any stage in your business that clarity will provide the answers to how you run your business and the decisions you make when sh*t goes sideways (as they always will).

One of the best techniques to finding this almighty word clarity is to set intentions for yourself.
Sidenote: I am refraining to use the term goals as it denotes an ending rather than a work in progress.   We're all striving to become more clear every day and it's a practice not a destination.

I sat down with my bestie and asked her to write with me 5 intentions for 2022.   They are:
1) Learn more about myself:  I have been studying Moonology a lot more than I thought I would and it's really helped me find clarity when I understand myself more.
2) Lead with kindness:  This seems self explanatory but it is important as business owners to be clear in our words and intentions so not to cause resentment in the future. (from either parties)
3) Let go of things that don't serve me:  The phrase "shadow work" is a new phrase I learned about holding onto past thoughts/ memories/ events that triggers that cause us to detach ourselves from the present.  There are full moon rituals that are effective or simply bringing this forward at a certain time can have huge impact in our growth and allow us to move on from past experience.  Make space for clear thoughts!
4) Laugh more often:  I get caught up in the moment of attention to something I'm learning or want to grow through that I forget to stop and smell the roses.  Having a little more fun and laugh more is not only good for the soul but activates so much creative space for me .. I mean why the heck not! 
5) Listen more: No matter how many (self-help) books I read or how many crappy jobs I've had in life and traumatic events I've been through, I can always learn more when I listen (to my own intuition and other's experiences) The hearing serves as a reminder of hell yes or hell no when decisions need to be made.

It's your turn!

Get out a piece of paper and write out your top 5 intentions now.  Make it work for you by creating a mnemonic so it's easier to remember and share it so you're on the hook to make it a reality!

Bonus if you reply to this email and let me know so I can reflect on your intentions with you!



(Image borrowed from my other business at Vancouver Island Market)

"Let's Root for each other and Watch each other Grow."  Please share this with someone who's starting out!
https://etchythings.com/sign-up

Habit Tracker

Free Download Here

Free Download

4 Simple Steps

  1. Start now.
  2. Keep it Simple.
  3. Track It.
  4. Don't judge your results.

"First forget inspiration. Habit is more dependable. Habit will sustain you whether you are inspired or not." - Octavia Butler.

Jerry Seinfield keeps a calendar and he places an "x" over each day after he writes his one joke for the day. He writes his joke, puts an x on his calendar, closes his book of jokes and leaves his office for the day.


Whether you need to unlearn something that has become a habit or create a new habit today, follow these 4 simple steps and watch you grow.

May you discover what matters most to you and grow there.

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 Posted in Creativepreneur Tips
  Tags habit tracking setting intentions

Kindness Matters

 

Working from Inside-Out

How are you doing? Calm on the outside but struggling on the inside?  
If you're like me who tracks mood, cycles and other patterns that keep me up at night, it's a good idea to bring gratitude practice into your daily life.

 

 

I just returned from being part of one of the most aMEIzing craft market experiences I've ever put on and it felt "right".   Don't get me wrong, there were hiccups for sure but for the most part everyone treated each other kindly which was all I could ask for.

So the day after the event, I gave permission to myself to sleep in a bit.  (I still woke up early but it's not the same when you can sleep in longer IF I want to).    It's funny how most people assume that we will be able to just go straight to hibernation mode .. but as business owners, there's still lots to do and tidy up (clean up and take down at the market, do inventory, pay staff, reply to emails that haven't been replied to, coordinate debrief meetings to work on next year's plan... the list goes on and it isn't realistic to say we can just turn off the lights and walk away.   It just doesn't happen.   

However, we do get to choose to have MOMENTS where we can celebrate and we NEED to if we are to continue to grow.

So tonight, I'm spending time with my bestie.  She couldn't be at the market with me because she's going through cancer treatments and her surgery is on Monday.   She helped me with tagging prices on my items at the Gift Shop when there were only myself and a couple of helpers during set up.   I have so much respect for my best friend.  And having a reward like this tonight makes me very happy.

Take a moment to think about what you're grateful for.  It doesn't have to be grand.  Just a minute of your time to reflect on the things you have that make your life 10% happier in this moment. And don't forget to be kinder to yourself regardless of the situation.  You grow through what you go through and it's okay to be not okay from time to time.

"Let's Root for each other and Watch each other Grow."  Please share this with someone who's starting out!
https://etchythings.com/sign-up

Self Care Mantra Calendar

Buy It Here
 

Product Details

Limited Edition and Quantities! (See Video for colour pages included)

Includes:

- 12 Moon + Date Calendar Pages (6x9)

- 1 Cover Page + Start with Why Intention Page

- Hygge (Pronounced Hue_Gah) Themed

Hand picked quotes

Beautiful Illustrations From Artist

Locally Sourced Materials

100% Made in Canada

Pick Up Available in South Nanaimo (choose self pick up at check out)

“Distance gives us a reason to love harder.”

It was designed with our small business owners in mind. The ones who dreamed hard that they could create something they love and others would too. The ones who want to make a little extra money to support their family, save up so they can travel again (someday), or invest their profits back into growing their business.

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 Posted in Creativepreneur Tips

Reusing Materials

Reusing an item several times before repurposing or recycling it prevents waste.

Some easy-to-reuse items include containers and packaging materials such as bags and boxes.

Some things are easier to reuse than others because they are flimsy or you need to dismantle them to get at the primary item.

Here at Etchy Things, we love repurposing items as part of our commitment to the sustainability cycle.
 
 
You can reuse the above for packaging, and shipping and general container use. Plus you save those dollars  in having to stock lots of new boxes! I have been doing this for years but especially before the holidays.
 
Demo on stamping on packing paper I up-cycled from another shipment⁠
A really quick and easy way to save money on packaging materials while being eco-conscious.⁠
I use baby wipes to wipe off excess ink left on stamp.⁠
 
"Let's Root for each other and Watch each other Grow."  Please share this with someone who's starting out!
https://etchythings.com/sign-up
 
 

Self Care Mantra Calendar
Buy It Here

 

Product Details

Limited Edition and Quantities! (See Video for colour pages included)

Includes:

- 12 Moon + Date Calendar Pages (6x9)

- 1 Cover Page + Start with Why Intention Page

- Hygge (Pronounced Hue_Gah) Themed

Hand picked quotes

Beautiful Illustrations From Artist

Locally Sourced Materials

100% Made in Canada

Pick Up Available in South Nanaimo (choose self pick up at check out)
“Distance gives us a reason to love harder.”

It was designed with our small business owners in mind. The ones who dreamed hard that they could create something they love and others would too. The ones who want to make a little extra money to support their family, save up so they can travel again (someday), or invest their profits back into growing their business.
 
0 comments
 Posted in Creativepreneur Tips
  Tags reusing materials upcycling

October - Are You Ready for This Holiday?

 

We are but only a few months away from the holidays and now is the perfect time to think strategically about the supplies you need, markets you should attend or be part of and any sales goals you have. 

You may think it’s too soon to prepare your business for the holidays, but the close of summer and the beginning of fall is the best time to start preparing. 

Staff Input

If you do have staff, talk to them about last year. What worked and what didn't and as a team look at the schedule to ensure you are fully covered for a potential rush.  If you're a Solopreneur, which most of us are, go back to your notes, your previous sales and do a bit of house cleaning as you find the gaps in last year's sales goals and see if you have a better way to plan this year.

Organization is key

The holiday season is the time that you should also order any additional supplies that you may need. Research online tools that you can use during the holiday season, which may include online tools to track inventory and shipping as well as social media marketing management systems (think Later). 

To Market, to Market 

Being part of a market during the holidays is both full of spirit and opportunity to increase sales, make connections and get you and your wonderful brand out there. Figure out which ones are most aligned with your business and sign up!

 
 
 
"Let's Root for each other and Watch each other Grow."  Please share this with someone who's starting out!
https://etchythings.com/sign-up
 

This is my other business! Vancouver Island Market. And I'm super passionate about connecting a community of buyers and sellers together through online and offline marketplace and space!

This is the perfect time to add yourself to our directory!  We have both free and premium directory options and you don't have to live on the island to be part of this.   You just need to be in BC.

To learn more about the Premium Directory Listing and what you’ll get go here. 

If you prefer the free option for now with just the name of your business and one submitted photo, you can do that here.
 

Muslin Cloth Packaging Bags
Buy It Here

Product Details

  • Cloth Bags is a simple way to package items without worrying about the rigidity of a box, the shape of your item etc. and they are stampable!

  • sturdy
  • dependable
  • stampable
  • draw string
  • not treated with chemicals
  • may shrink up to 10%
  • heat set your stamped image for permanency

  • 4x6"

    usable 3.75 x 5" (wxl)
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 Posted in General
  Tags holiday business practice retail season christmas

View older posts »

Blog Posts

Shopping Local and Cyber Monday Discounts

Shopping local has several benefits that contribute to the overall well-being of communities and local economies. Here are some reasons why supporting local businesses is important:

1. **Community Support:**
   - Local businesses are often owned and operated by people who live in the same community…

Read more

 Posted in Creativepreneur Tips

Make Your Business Card Stand Out with a Stamp

In a world where digital communication dominates, it's easy to forget the value of a physical business card. However, handing out a well-designed business card can still make a lasting impression on potential clients or customers.

One way to make your business card stand out is to add a stamp…

Read more

0 comments
 Posted in Creativepreneur Tips

QR code usage for business owners

QR codes have become an increasingly popular way for businesses to share information with their customers. These codes can be scanned using a smartphone camera, which then directs the user to a specific webpage, video, or other digital content. QR codes can be used in many different ways to help…

Read more

0 comments
 Posted in Creativepreneur Tips
  Tags qr codes

10 reasons why women make great creative entrepreneurs

10 reasons why women make great creative entrepreneurs

  1. Empathy: Women tend to have a natural ability to understand and connect with others, which can be an important asset when it comes to developing products or services that meet the needs of their target audience.
  2. Creativity: Women are ofte…

Read more

0 comments
 Posted in Creativepreneur Tips

Holding Space for Each Other

I'm a bit behind this month in my blogging.   I made it a habit to be on top of writing and yet here I am contemplating on what's going on with the world and if any of what I'm doing really matters.

I couldn't help but be swayed by the state of the world.  We stopped engaging with reaction …

Read more

0 comments
 Posted in Creativepreneur Tips
  Tags holding space mindfulness

Planning Together

Last year in January 2021, I shared this pie chart of how we manage our time and the chart compares expectation vs reality which basically sums up how we go about our day sharing all the things we want to work on vs the reality pie chart where mindset, energy and focus take up more headspace tha…

Read more

0 comments
 Posted in Creativepreneur Tips
  Tags time management planning

How to Find Your Own Clarity

How to find your own clarity

 

 

Get clear on what matters most and the rest will follow

You will find this to be true at any stage in your business that clarity will provide the answers to how you run your business and the decisions you make when sh*…

Read more

0 comments
 Posted in Creativepreneur Tips
  Tags habit tracking setting intentions

Kindness Matters

 

Working from Inside-Out

How are you doing? Calm on the outside but struggling on the inside?  
If you're like me who tracks mood, cycles and other patterns that keep me up at night, it's a good idea to bring gratitude practice into your daily life.

 

…

Read more

0 comments
 Posted in Creativepreneur Tips

Reusing Materials

Reusing an item several times before repurposing or recycling it prevents waste.

Some easy-to-reuse items include containers and packagi…

Read more

0 comments
 Posted in Creativepreneur Tips
  Tags reusing materials upcycling

October - Are You Ready for This Holiday?

 
…

Read more

0 comments
 Posted in General
  Tags holiday business practice retail season christmas

View older posts »

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