Showing posts with label sharing. Show all posts
Showing posts with label sharing. Show all posts

Business Topics: Showing God's love in your packaging
by Cathryn of EdenPottery

Photo by Cathryn. Used with permission.

In today's age of expanded technology where the only communication with your customer is usually an automated response email, it's hard to find ways as a Christian artist to show God's love. When I started my business, a couple of years ago, my goal was not only to sell quality pottery but also to plant that little seed in every person that clicked on my website. Since most customers zoom in on that one item they love in your shop, some times they miss the message.

So in hopes of getting in the last word, I found these great labels that have scripture verses written on them. I wrap up my pieces in bubble wrap and I stick on one of these great tiny excerpts from the best selling book of all time with a prayer that the receiver has an open heart. These labels have been replaced on Current Catalog with new ones written about friendship. But who says you can't create your own? The Bible verse that touches your heart might just change the life of one of you customers. And now you have another reason to believe that every one of your sales is more precious than what it puts into your bank account!

Thanks,
Cathryn

by Cathryn of EdenPottery



8:41 AM | Category: , , , , , , , , | 16 comments

Do you Tweet?
Do you have a Twitter account? Leave your link in the comments on this post so that other CAST Members can find you!


Also, if you haven't already, review Patty's post about The Effective Use of Twitter:

by Sue of SueRunyonDesigns
5:00 AM | Category: , , , , , , , , | 19 comments

Critique Anyone?


Recently Susan from gentleadornments and I traded critiques on our Etsy shops and I think it worked out very well for both of us. We both make jewelry so we have the same type of issues to deal with:  how best to photograph small shiny objects, shipping costs, jewelry pricing and so forth.

We traded several lengthy convos giving advice and bouncing ideas off each other. It was so beneficial to me to have her input on various things, but especially on my photo backgrounds which I have been struggling with. I needed her fresh eyes to take a look and she had an idea that I'm really excited to try. I gave her advice on her shop announcement and International shipping costs and starting an e-mail newsletter. Susan tweaked her International shipping costs in the evening and woke up to a sale from Australia in the morning--her first International sale!

I'd like to encourage other CAST members to get involved in giving thoughtful critiques to each other. If you are interested in finding another CAST member to share critiques with, you can always invite someone from the team to participate with you, or leave a comment on this blog post to let everyone know you are interested.

There are some etiquette rules to remember when giving a critique. 

* If you are the sensitive type, let your partner know up front, but remember you may not get the best critique if they are trying to spare your feelings.
* CAST Team members tend to be VERY nice, but that doesn't mean you can't also be honest and thorough.
* If your partner doesn't take your advice, it's totally OK. They may have a completely different vision, artistic sensibility, time and money restraints, etc.
* Take your time. Look at everything:  photos, descriptions, shop announcement, shop title, banner, avatar, policies, shipping, tags, bio, EVERYTHING.
* Tell them what they are doing right too--that's a critical piece of the puzzle.
* Tell them what you'd like to see in their shop they might not have now.
* If you are struggling in a specific area, let them know to spend extra time on that.

Therefore encourage one another and build each other up, just as in fact you are doing. Now we ask you, brothers, to respect those who work hard among you, who are over you in the Lord and who admonish you. Hold them in the highest regard in love because of their work. Live in peace with each other. And we urge you, brothers, warn those who are idle, encourage the timid, help the weak, be patient with everyone. Make sure that nobody pays back wrong for wrong, but always try to be kind to each other and to everyone else.
I Thessalonians 5:11-15

Remember to leave a comment if you are interested in letting people know you'd like to share critiques.

by Sue of SueRunyonDesigns

Check out Susan's shop:
5:00 AM | Category: , , , , , , , , , , | 13 comments

June Recipe of the Month: Rita's Meatballs
by Rita of sammysgrammy

“And all thy children shall be taught of the Lord: and great shall be the peace of thy children.” Isaiah 54:13


This is the record of a little tete a tete between my granddaughter (a senior at Clemson University) and me on FaceBook in which a “family recipe” was successfully passed down from generation to generation.


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Hi Gram!!

How are you doing? I'm getting ready to for my first summer class today.

Anyways, I was wondering I could get your recipe for your meatballs. I have been thinking about them and I would really like to try making them!

Thank so much!
Love and miss you!!

Lissy 

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Hi Lissy....I'm missing meatballs too. Need to make some myself. Buy a pound or less of ground beef. (I buy a blend of veal/pork/beef). If you can get that, do. To that I add 3-5 slices of Italian bread, wet and squeezed out. Crumble this into your meat. Couple tbs. of fresh chopped parsley or tiny bit of dried. 1/4 cup of grated Romano cheese and one beaten egg. Pepper. Blend together with hands. Form into little footballs and brown in fry pan.

Note: they can be eaten just like this or put in your sauce. Don't leave in sauce more than an hour or they may disintegrate.

Mangia, mangia.......Grammy

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Tonight I made meatballs for the first time ever with my Grandma's recipe and I also made ravioli and my own sauce and for dessert we had dirt pudding and it was all phenomenal! 

 by Rita of sammysgrammy

5:00 AM | Category: , , , , , , , | 11 comments