Doing "Good Works"

I've been wanting to share this verse for awhile now. It just seemed to fit so well with my own personal business code of ethics.

"For we are God's handiwork, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do." ~Ephesians 2:10

I particularly like how I can relate this to my business. God has ordained us to do "good works," which is what I strive for in every product that I make, and for that matter, every move that I make. I honestly feel that if more business owners held to this belief, there would a. be far fewer shady business dealings taking place, and, b. be many more successful businesses, both large and small.

Some of the ways that I am doing "good works" through Herb'n Development Handmades is by:

~Making sure that all products that I present to you, are made in a clean and sterile environment.

~Recycling any and all supply bottles, jars, packaging, etc.

~Continually researching to ensure that HDH is using the very best ingredients in our products.

~Working on a discount recycling program.
And the list goes on.

So to any business owners following along, I challenge you to model or re-model your business dealings with this scripture in mind, and see what bearings, if any, it has on your business. Find a way to do business better. I'm betting that the rewards will be positive.

Soaper Saturday: Shoeboxes and Soap?!?!?!

So, i'm always excited to try new ideas and recipes. And because i'm limited by the sizes and styles of molds I have at my disposal right now, i'm constantly trying to think up new ways to repurpose other house hold items, enter: THE SHOEBOX, dunh, dunh, duuunnnhhhh.... (that's my sound effects, you get the point...right?) Anyway, I think I was watching youtube the other day when I got the inspiration to use a shoebox as a soap mold. Sounded interesting enough, so I decided to give it a whirl.

So first, because this was my first time trying this, I chose one of Fat Buddha's (my baby girl) tiny shoe boxes. This way, I wouldn't waste too much product, in case it didn't work out.

Next, I measured out my wax paper to line the box. Basically, all I did here was, lay the paper on top of the box' opening and marked off each corner, and cut it down to size. Once I had the paper smoothly inserted into the box (it took a couple of tries and some adjusting before it was completely smooth) I folded it over and taped it down to the outside of the box to prevent it from moving.

Finally I mixed all of my ingredients, and used the box as I would any other soap mold.

Here are the results:

Because I was using Mulberry Fragance Oil, I layered three different shades of purple, and added gold mica just to give it that little extra "something something." This was a fun project and I may use this technique for my shop in the future, who knows.

Note: Only try this with Melt and Pour soaps, and, as with all things soapy, use caution.

Well folks, I hope ya'll have a SOAPER SATURDAY!!!

HDH's New Structure

Due to not having much experience in the blogging arena, I have fallen behind in my weekly entries. Because of this I have decided to reorganize in order to get a better feel for this blogging thing. So, I have decided to post a new entry 3 times per week. Monday's will be called "Lagniappe Lundi" where I get to post whatever is tickling my fancy at the time. Wednesday will now be my "Worship Wednesday" time. This is when i'll get my praise and worship on. This is not to offend any non-Christian believers, or those that have beliefs other than my own. I can respect your beliefs, and all I ask is that you respect mine. God has been good to me, and I just want to share His goodness with whom ever wants to hear it. And finally, Saturday will be called "Soaper Saturday!" Get it? This is when, i'll discuss all things soap and other fun soapy products of course. So, now that we are all on the same page, L'AISEZ LE BON TEMPS ROULEZ!!!

Pandora's Snowball Sugar Scrub

Down in a little city known as New Orleans, on a little street named N. Carrollton Ave., resides a snowball stand bigger than it's namesake, Pandora's Box. Pandora's Snowballs, which was created in 1971, has been the solution for many New Orleanians and visitors alike who were looking to beat that muggy, humid summer heat. These sweet icy treats are world renowned (eh, well at least state side renowned), and for good reason. With enough sweet syrupy flavors and topping options to please the masses, it's no wonder so many travel from near and far just to get their hands on one.

Whenever I'm in need of inspiration to create a new product, I never have to look too far. New Orleans is so rich in culture that most times all it takes is a walk or ride through the city, and poof, those wheels start turning. My latest creation was inspired by none other than Pandora's Snowballs and the happiness it brings to all who partake in its' goodness. Pandora's Snowball Sugar Scrub (my take on the real thing) not only looks good and smells delectable, it whole-heartedly loves your skin. It boasts a bounty of moisturizers such as shea butter, coconut and safflower oils, as well as, the healing and restoring properties of aloe vera and vitamin E. If ever there was a scrub to love, this is it.

Get Your House In Order

So now that i'm a business woman, there are certain issues that I need to address. What's that? you may ask--Money!!! After taking a long, hard look at my finances and where I stood fiscally, I have come to the conclusion that if I want to be taken seriously, I need to get my financial house in order. Now don't get me wrong, I decided that this needed to be done long before I had a business. However, the birth of HDH was the catalyst that I needed to take action. Having bad credit can be an embarrassing and difficult situation. For a long time, I felt as if I was buried under a mountain of bills. I had no clue on where to start, and sadly enough, I felt helpless. But, it's funny how a little thing called "empowerment" can change you. I became so overjoyed once I realized that I actually could act upon my dreams, that these feelings naturally began to spill over into other areas of my life. And, for the first time, I started asking myself "why not?" Why not start my own business? Why not live my dreams? Why not set goals, and actually attain them? Why not be financially free? Maybe some of my readers can relate to this, and maybe not, but for so long I had gotten used to being told "no." So often in fact, that I often told myself "NO," just because that's the way I figured it had to be. But let me tell ya, the audacity to hope for change is something else. I had the audacity to actually want to change my situation!

So, I sat down and made a list of what needed to be done. Then I broke the list down further, and came up with small goals that needed to be done to acheive the ultimate Big Goal. But, even with that, I realized that I was limited in what I could do for myself, and therefore, sought out advice from Leslie Smith, my business coach, as well as Theresa Navarre, my NACA Counselor. Both stressed that educating myself would be an important first step. Leslie ponited me in the direction of the New Orleans based Capital Access Project Credit Counseling program. I like this program, because they too, educated me on credit worthiness, and offered me real world advice on what I needed to get me from point A (poor credit) to point Z (great credit). I am allowing all of these people to help me become a better version of me. I am excited because I know that my life is undergoing drastic renovations, but I welcome it, and thank God for it. If you are in this boat, figure out what changes you can implement in your life today, and go from there. Get your house in order!!!

What I've Learned On Etsy (so far...)

Though my time on Etsy has been short (2 weeks to be exact), i'm proud to say that I have learned a few things. There is a wealth of information available to shop owners to help them to achieve their ultimate goals. Here is some of what i've learned thus far, this list is in no particular order:

1. Make sure your shop gives the best representation of you. Have bright, clear pictures that catches the buyers eye. Be sure to keep them free of clutter, only focusing on the product that is being sold. A great way to give your shop that polished look is to have custom designed banner. It makes it look more professional, and to me, it just seems to bring everything together. If you don't have the time or patience to try to create a banner yourself (like me), there are some very talented Etsians who can create one for you for a minimal fee. I used Erin Bradley Designs, very easy to work with and great products. Check her out here http://tinyurl.com/dbf3sf, or use Etsy's Bannerator here http://tinyurl.com/ntt88c.

2. Use your TAGS. Tags is what helps buyers find you and your products. Without them, finding your stuff would being like finding a needle in a haystack. Use any and all that relate to your products, even vague relations. Just use them, it will only help, 'nuff said.

3. Participate in the Community Forums. During my first few days on Etsy, I was like, okay, i'm not going anywhere near there (forums). I figured it would just further add to the confusion of Etsy, that was already paramount in my mind. Well let me tell you, when I finally did garner enough courage to venture over there, I was hooked. Not only do you gain exposure within the Etsy community, the wisdom and knowledge that lies within the forum boards is yours for the taking as well. I'm telling you folks, you can stare at your shops all day, but the forums is where the learning happens. It's a place to get advice from experienced Etsians, learn the tricks of the trade, and an overall nice place to hang out and make new friends. Warning though, once you venture over, you WILL BE hooked! Trust me, i've sat up until 3 am playing in the forums.

4. Etsy offers classes and workshops. The Virtual Labs are so cool. They offer everything from Newbie Chat (if your a newbie like me, you won't want to miss) to Chat with Matt (which by the way, was my first experience with this feature). It's an open forum in which you can interact with the speaker. Just totally cool in my opinion. You have to be logged on to Etsy to be able to participate.

5. Find and join a team. I don't have much experience in this area yet. Although I did join Handmade Louisiana (see them here http://tinyurl.com/lq7oxv), which seems to be a lovely group of artisan crafters from The Boot (Louisiana, LOL!). I joined right after they'd had a meeting. I had been following them long before I opened my shop, and was super excited when I found them on Etsy. I can't wait until the next meeting, which will be my first. Teams are another great way to learn through interaction. The goals of teams can vary greatly from your own personal set of goals, so it's good to find a team that best suits your needs.

Okay so my meager offerings are only a microscopic tip of the iceberg, but, I hope this helps somebody. I have so much more to learn (much, much more). I know I won't ever know everything about the machine that is Etsy, but, I hope to expand my knowledge base so that someday, I can be in his shoes http://tinyurl.com/6jpdnt, well not exactly his, maybe this cute little pair of wedges i've been eyeing, but you get the point. My aspiration is to become a Top Seller, and, with work, due diligence, and knowledge, I know it will happen. A Newbie Chat starts in about five minutes, so that's it for now.

The Good Work Network

Yesterday I had a meeting with the Good Work Network. This is how they describe their purpose: "The Good Work Network is dedicated to helping low-income and disadvantage micro entrepreneurs get the resources they need to succeed. It provides training, one-on-one consultation, group networking and collaboration opportunities, back office support services, market access assistance, and access to micro loan funds to individuals and businesses in the greater New Orleans area. In support of its mission, Good Work Network also provides clerical and accounting services to small non-profit organization in the area." I don't think I could word it better than they already have, but, here are my thoughts. For those with dreams of owning their own business without the know how, the Good Work Network is like a breathe of fresh air, a guide through an intricate labyrinth. Yesterday was actually my second meeting with them, but my first time meeting with my counselor, Leslie. My initial meeting at GWN was more or less an intake of sorts. I met with a very pleasant representative there who gave me an overview of GWN. She gathered information about my business and the goals I had for it. My second meeting, however, was more in depth. Meeting with Leslie was wonderful and extremely productive. She listened in earnest to what I needed and desired for HDH. In the past, i've dealt with other "so-called" small business development agencies, only to find out later that they had grossly misrepresented their true intentions. This meeting was not like that. Leslie further expounded on the purpose of GWN, gathered additional information about me and HDH, and provided me with a plethora of great feedback. She looked at the HDH Etsy site, and even complimented my keen (but amateur) photo taking ability. She was very knowledgeable about info as it pertained to business start up and its' laws, and more importantly, she was eager to help! It's a known fact that you can tell when someone has dedicated themselves to the cause of helping others versus someone who clocks in for eight hours to collect a pay check. I left with an assignment to work on and complete the marketing strategies portion of my business plan, and more importantly, the reassurance that I can do this! I'm really excited about meeting with her next week. So thanks to Leslie and the good folks at the Good Work Network. For those New Orleanians who want additional info, you can find it here: http://www.goodworknetwork.org/

Handmades By Hands God Made

The other day while sitting at my desk/dining room table tying up some loose ends, I began to ponder slogans for my new business. Then, like a lightening bolt, it hit me! "Handmades by hands God made." It was brilliant, to me at least, because it involved a play on the word handmades, and more importantly, it reflected the fact that even in my business dealings, I wanted to always give honor to God. When G-Man (that's the hubby) got home from work, I was excited to show him what i'd been working on (i'd made up flyers incorporating the new slogan). He had to read it twice aloud before he got it, and then his response was: "Are you sure you want to mention God? It may be a turn off to some prospective customers." Hmmm... I thought. He may be correct, it might matter to some. It might even cause me to lose sales. What!?!? Could I afford that? I mean after all, I'm a new start up company that has dreams of someday expanding my biz beyond the scope of Etsy (no disrespect to Etsy, I appreciate them for making it possible for people like me to be the little engines that could). Well, really and truly, this was a no-brainer. The question was, could I afford not too? I love my hubby because he balances me out, and always offers a fresh (usually political) perspective. And, as opinionated as I am, he can normally get me to see things his way. But to him, my response was, "then if that is their motivating factor for not buying my products, then so be it." It was God who got me to this point, and God will take me beyond. Now, don't think that I am some holy roller, because truly i'm not--this year alone, i've missed church far more often than i've attended. But I do believe in God's power, mercy, and grace. Will this make me a better entreprenuer? Who knows, but, i'd like to think so. And guess what else? G-Man agreed. HA!

Getting The Party Started

Yesterday, I took a big step and launched my very own Etsy shop!!! Herb'n Development Handmades. I make and sell handmade bath and body products, such as lotions, soaps, body butters, hair care items, etc. Initially, I wanted to wait until I had all of my "ducks in a row" i.e. perfect pics, perfect labels, beautiful website, a large inventory, etc. And while there is nothing wrong with having all of those things, I followed one key piece of advice. "Start where you are, use what you have." And, now that I have, I must admit that in my head, I was absolutely making things more complicated than what they needed to be (in some respects, I probably still am). Since starting this journey I am blessed to have been led to sites and networks such as the Indie Beauty Network, Essential Wholesale, Bella Lucce, Brambleberry (whose Youtube videos I watch almost religiously) and countless others who freely impart their wisdom to newcomers like me. If you are just entering the handmade industry, networking with just the few that i've named here is great way to start building a solid foundation.

After finally taking that one intimidating step, I decided to take on this next step into the world of blogging. Not that I haven't tried my hand at blogging before, that was some sort of bloggerized (is that a word) catastrophe, that has since been deleted and cast into a firey pit. This time, I won't scurry off into a corner at just the mere thought of blogging. Here I intend to chronicle my journey as a fresh new entreprenuer and my love of creating new products, and share what I learn along the way. I hope that you will hang in there with me as take my first steps, and follow me on this ride. Oh, and please check out http://www.herbndevelopment.etsy.com/ where all things are "Handmade by hands God made" (yeah check the slogan, I made it up myself, LOL!) I will be adding more products in the coming days.

Peace and Blessings