The Herb'n Mixtress Says...

2012: The Year of the Great Reconnect

2011-12-31T20:24:00.000-08:00

Hey Herb'n Villagers!!! This won't be a long post, but I did want to take a moment to reflect on 2011. In years past, the dawning of each new year would bring about a sense of worry for me. Although I was grateful that I had lived to see another year, I always worried about "who" the next 365 days would take from me. Talk about depressing, eh?

Anywho, as 2011 hit the scene, I chose to change my mindset. Rather than worry about things that were out of my control, I decided to go a different route. With a string of failed resolutions trailing behind me, I made the decision to mark the incoming years with themes. In looking back, I had so much to be grateful for that honestly, my first theme was a no brainer-- 2011 would be my year of living in the spirit of GRATITUDE! I'd take time out regularly to reflect on the good and not-so-good moments in my life, and extract something from each of those moments to be grateful for. And, I noticed something else too. When I stopped worrying about who the year would take from me, I began to take notice of who and what the year brought into my life.

Another good thing that came out of all of that reflecting was the epiphany for my 2012 theme: RECONNECT!!! When I really started pondering all of the people, experiences, and things I was grateful for in 2011, I realized the relationships that I took for granted too. And in the spirit of being brutally honest with myself, I'd realized that I have been a terrible friend, cousin, business associate, etc. I don't return phone calls, I rarely make time to hang out (albeit, I'd always make plans to go, but then later, back out giving some lame excuse as to why I couldn't go). I'd forget to send emails, and if I said i'd do something, I often forget that too! I know it's terrible, but this is me, looking in a mirror, and being transparently honest with myself, and y'all.

So this year, I plan to renew my relationship with GOD, to nurture those special relationships in my life. And to show those close to me how important they are to me, and how grateful I am to have them on this journey with me for whatever stage they entered. There is a saying, that people enter your life for reasons, seasons, and lifetimes, well whatever the reason, I plan to cherish, appreciate and live in the moment of it :)

I truly thank y'all, my family, friends, customers, fans for your encouragement and motivation. And I pray, good health, good wealth and plenty of happiness for your 2012's and beyond! I LOVE Y'ALL!!!

HAPPY NEW YEAR!!!

New Lip Balm Line: Fleur De Lips

2011-11-15T18:05:00.000-08:00

My new Lip Butter Line, FLEUR DE LIPS, is finally online!!! This is something i've been playing around with for quite some time, trying to get the packaging, and labels just right. But they're here now, so no worries! The new line boasts an array of flavors and colors including: Pina Colada, Bubble Gum, Peach Daiquiri, Spearmint and Bare It All (unflavored or colored). And I packaged them in these super cute and compact .25 oz. slidey tins. Now some folks have voiced their concern over the tins not being as sanitary as the tubes, because you're using your fingers to apply the balm, but, my remedy for this is to apply it the way that I always have, by applying directly to your lips, and just rubbing it across. Easy Peazy!!!

Here's a few of them:

Say What Nah? New Store Location!!!

2011-11-12T06:33:00.000-08:00

Yes, yes y'all!!! You heard me right! Herb'n Development Handmades now has a brick and mortar store location!!! In early September, we moved into a store co-op called Diva's Paradise. DP is a jazzy boutique in New Orleans East that lends itself totally to the empowerment of the entrepreneurial spirit. Inside of it's walls, it hosts several small businesses, including mine! I love this aspect of it, because I love being surrounded by so much creativity and passion! Aside from HDH, there's also:
* Buttons & Bows - a posh children's boutique
* Gla'more Galore - A spot to find the hottest shoes, purses, and apparel
* Ebony & Ivory - An awesome make up & eye lash bar (Ebony makes her own make up :)
* Ladies First - The lingerie counter, for your sensual side
* Birds of Paradise Day Spa - Where you can rejuvenate your body, mind, and spirit
And there's also a jewelry & accessories counter too!!!

You may be wondering how all of this works under one roof. Inside, there are multiple stations which are separated by counters and partitions. Each is individually owned, and we all pay rent monthly. It really is a fabulous setup, just something you gotta see for yourself.

I'm super excited to be doing this, if for nothing else than the experience of it all :o) Check out the pics below, and tell me what you think!!!

My Interview With New Orleans Rising

2011-06-21T19:48:00.000-07:00

Hey y'all! I was just looking back through a few of my saved files, and I came across my very first spotlight article. This was written by New Orleans Rising, and I swear, I was sooo excited!!! Take a look, leave a comment, and tell me what y'all think.

My wife Leann had a dilemma. She wanted some good bath soaps for her daily "I love me time". She wanted to do this while supporting a local New Orleans business. She didn't want to go to Bath & Body Works. Great as it may be, it's not local. She looked online and found Herb'n Development.com. We were blown away at what an amazing product line they have and the quality was superb. I looked into it a little further and loved what I found. This wonderful litlle online bath boutique was locally grown and made. The owner Tedra has been doing this for over 3 years. She is a native of New Orleans and still is proud to call it home. She explained to me it all started when she was tired of the national chain of natural hair care products. She said to herself "How do I know it's all natural? Because of a label?" I thought to myself you know she makes sense. It does, how do you know that your "natural" products are truely natural? I couldn't tell you that but, what I can tell you is that Tedra uses 100% natural products straight from Whole Foods. It started with hair products for neighbors and friends. Tedra's business blossomed from the neighborhood store to the online buisness you see today.

Her product line includes shampoos, haircare products, sugar scrubs and whipped soaps that look like Willy Wonka made them. Don't be fooled by thinking that this is all Tedra does. She also is married(12 years) and has 3 beautiful daughters. If that isn't enough she also protects and serves with the New Orleans Police Department. Trust me, if you ever see her out on the beat you'll know she's one of the good girls. If you think Tedra only cares about turning a profit think again. In 2010 after Haiti's devasting earthquake Tedra sprung into action. Herb'n Development with the help of contributions from the NOPD hosted "Soaper Saturday". This is where Tedra along with 40 volunteers made soap for Haitian victims. In total they made over 1000 bars of soap for the earthquake victims.

If your worried about having to call the bank for access to you IRA account to buy their products don't. Most everything you see in her store site runs between 4 to 15 dollars. Whether your her next door neighbor or ordering online from across the country Tedra's number one goal is you. Herb'n Development's number one goal is for you to have a down home southern experience infused with hospitality , a superior product, and a positive personal buying experience. When you walk away with their product you will not only walk away with a great experience, you'll also step out of the bathroom feeling great as well . Herb'n Development's product can be found in Fleurty Girl shops in the New Orleans area and at French Address in Slidell.

Herb'n Development

Fleurty Girl

http://fleurdislisfaithful.blogspot.com/2011_04_01_archive.html

Love Suds: Oliveira Bags

2011-06-07T19:53:00.000-07:00

The Herb'n Mixtress is constantly on the look out for fresh, hip, and funky businesses, especially where conscience living, and sustainability are concerned. These are the types of folks that I like to shout out and give props to for their contribution to the green movement in my Love Suds collection.

So without further adieu... The Herb'n Mixtress is giving a big soapy, sudsy shout out to Oliveira Bags!!! I recently came across her cute little shop while perusing Etsy, and when I saw ~~this~~ MY BAG, I knew I just had to get it-- it called out to me. The "my name is Tedra, and i'm an impulse buyer" post will come a bit later :p Back to the bag, it's the perfect go-to for on the go girls (and guys) like moi, especially for use during Farmer's Markets and festivals. Aside from making reusable shopping bags, you can also find reusable sandwich bags (awesome right!) and haute designer, and most importantly, multi-purpose Gourds. And the perk of course is, the more I use it in lieu of the plastics, the smaller my "footprint" becomes, and let's face it, I can look that much more interesting (okay, maybe not). But never the less, I feel more and more like i'm doing my part. You can too!!! Find her and her bags @ Oliveira Bags

Worth It Wednesday!!! Class Is In Session!!!

2011-06-01T21:37:00.000-07:00

Anyone who knows me, knows that I take education very seriously. If and when I felt my little Herb'n Village didn't have enough homework, much to their dismay, I'd crawl the Internet looking for age/grade/potential appropriate assignments to supplement their schoolwork. And, when it comes to me, I will read just about anything I can get my hands on, just to learn something... anything.... new. With that being said, I've been giving a lot of thought lately to my business savvy, making sure to target my strengths and weaknesses. This self assessment led me to discover one of my biggest hinderances --my lack of education (dunh dunh duhnnnhhhh) sans the cornball sound effects.

I'm a self taught soap maker, whose made great strides in my business life. But here lies the problem: I have no formal education in the business arena. Now even though my Mama taught me that "anything is possible," and gave me a million "if I believe it, I can achieve it" speeches, I knew that my soap making skills would only take me so far. I needed some type of business background, if I intended to actually make it in this biz. So with that in mind, I recently decided to return to school, now majoring in Business Entrepreneurship. Today was my first day of summer school, online classes-- YIKES!!! I'm a bit nervous, but, I moreso excited to be embarking on this new course in my journey! My goal is to emerge as the young business woman and entrepreneur that I see myself as already, with the knowledge to back all of my soapy smarts up! I know it won't be easy, but, I'm confident that I'm up for the challenge. Because after all, "if I believe it, I can achieve it," right Mom ;)

Say What Nah?

2011-05-29T18:25:00.000-07:00

In the spirit of restructuring a few things, I've decided to make it a priority to keep y'all updated on the happenings in the land of the Herb'n Mixtress. With that said, I have some exciting news!!!

I've been asked to be a writer for a new up and coming local magazine!!! The other day, while checking my Mixtress Mail, seriously... that's my inbox's nickname, I opened an email that had me beaming from ear to ear for two days straight! In it, the writer introduced herself to me, told me about her new magazine coming to New Orleans, and asked me if i'd be interested in being a Contributor and get paid for doing it!!! Say what nah?!?! Me?!?! I swear y'all. I was so excited, I coulda did a couple of cart wheels in my living room. Okay well maybe a few of those forward tuck and roll things, but y'all catch my drift. Anywho, I looked over the press kit, and liked what I saw, so guess what... I'M IN!!! More deets are on the horizon, so stay tuned :)

Next up... Body Oils are on thee way! (In my Martin voice). The Mixtress has been busy mixing up her latest sexy and sensuous creations, Bangin' Body Oils!!! Ooh la laaaa.... you say? Well you should because these oils are amazing!!! Soft and silky, sultry and sexy, have been just a few of the feedback descriptors used by our testers. My oils blends vary based on each design objective, that include energy, relax, pray, release, and the like. This line may or may not have southern derived names, I really haven't decided yet. Hmmm... this actually sounds like a set up for a give-away ~ y'all better pay attention! Look for the Oils to hit the shop around mid-June.

Last, but not even a lil bit least, and this is not a definite, but HDH may be participating in the Fierce, Fly, Fabulous In The City event, on July 2 at the Ernest N. Morial Convention Center. This Natural Hair Expo, will be held during the Essence Music Fest Weekend, complete with classes, sample giveaways, and of course-- vendors, like moi! Now, the reason I say that this is a maybe, is because as some of you know, being the Herb'n Mixtress is not the only hat I wear. In my other life, as a Police Officer, this is one of our busier weekends, and even though, i'm not scheduled to work, I may still be called in. So, y'all say a little prayer that we are able to participate. And, in the mean time and tween time, i'll be in prep mode, for the just in case. One thing is for sure, I'll let y'all know as soon as I know. Don't worry about it though, God is able!!!

Make Scrub Not War!

Worth It Wednesday!!!

2011-05-25T08:03:00.000-07:00

So as you can see, the HDH Blog has gone through some significant changes, including the name, with more fun and surprises in store. With so many changes, and my newfound commitment to be a better blog mommy, I decided to start a "Worth It Wednesday", basically posting about something that I've done, seen, heard, read, etc. during the week that was just oh so "WORTH IT!" to mention here! So without further adieu.... My Worth It moment of the week was when I joined (or should I say, rejoined) Curves! And I feel so good about going back!!! Yes, I've wanted to lose weight for quite some time, but, as of late these scary chest pains, uncontrollable high blood pressure, and the reality that heart disease runs rampant in my family, has put things into perspective for me. I may be super woman, but, I'm not invincible! I HAVE TO be here for my three little sprouts! And I HAVE TO, NEED TO, AND WANT TO, DO THIS FOR ME!!! I decided to return to Curves because of the amazing success I had there initially, before Hurricane Katrina, shut my gym down.

Aside from getting back on track with this new again workout regimen, I'm also eating much healthier, shout out to the Holiday Inn for allowing me to eat oatmeal and fresh fruit every morning while i'm on duty (in my other life) for free! Finally for reinforcement, I subscribed and refer to the fantabulously awesome blog, A Black Girl' Guide To Weight Loss that is power packed with real life tips, advice, and delicious recipes, shared by Erika Nicole Kendall. She's someone whose been where I am, and even though she's lost a jaw dropping amount of weight and inches, still admits this will always be her struggle. So yeah, paying this $38.05 a month for a new gym membership, and having the gall to begin again is oh soooo WORTH IT!!!

Festivals, Craftshows, and Other Stuff

2011-05-22T10:52:00.001-07:00

Herb'n Development Handmades recently participated in a couple of New Orleans most fantabulous of festivals, and I figured, why not share my experiences with you. We participated in the Freret Street Festival on April 2, 2011 and the Earth Day Fest on April 17 along the beautiful Bayou St. John. The weather was gorgeous for both events, and me and my Herb'n Village had soooo much fun, meeting so many great people, and the bonus was interacting with other local soapers, that was a real treat! I met a movie producer, radio personailty, and even one of the New Orleans Saintsations: Deri'Andra who is also an aspiring singer, and a total sweetheart! Kaja Papaya loved her to pieces!

Left to Right: Kaja Papaya, Deri'Andra, KokoPuff, The Herb'n Mixtress

All in all, the events were very successful! All of my customers received my products very well, and a few even offered up suggestions for new products. I also received quite a few custom orders.

Some things that worked for me were: having a sufficient amount of help (two words: bathroom breaks!!!), a newsletter signup sheet, photos of my work displayed, this came in handy for when people asked about other products. One piece of advice I will give, and stand firmly behind is this: technology is your friend! I brought along my iPad with my oh so handy credit card reader that I use in conjuction with the Squareup app, and let me tell you what a difference it made! I would have missed out on an estimated 35-40% of my total sales had I not had it. I won't go into a whole long spiel on Square (I'll save that for another post) but I will say, if they asked me right now, I'd do a commercial singing their praises, PRO BONO!

Any who,

Here are more pics from the festivals:

NOLA Social Interview

2011-04-10T10:58:00.001-07:00

I'm a bit late, as usual, so I'll be posting back to back to back posts, but, better late than never, right? Sooo, a couple of weeks ago, NOLA Social, a new entity aimed at boosting the spotlight for local entrepreneurship, did an interview of Herb'n Development Handmades. This was a great honor for our very first interview to be done by such a prestigious entrepreneurial hub.
Read our interview here ------> Then share your thoughts with us.

Herb'n Development Handmades

Herb'n Development Handmades is not only a business, but also a labor of love for one local entrepreneur. After one successful law enforcement career, three daughters, and several other life-changing events, Tedra found herself wanting something more. While researching hobbies to satisfy her new aspiration, she began making her own natural hair care products. She quickly found joy in her new project and soon began perfecting the art. Her product line rapidly expanded to include soaps and other similar items. Reinforced by positive reviews from her friends and family, she decided to test the waters of the business world by offering her products to others. Since then, the business and product line have continued to grow and she now runs her successful business online through Etsy.com.
Thank you for taking the time to answer these questions for us. I know many entrepreneurs and small businesses out there will find your advice inspirational and informative.

Your bio says you were researching new hobbies when you started making your own natural hair care products. What prompted you to choose this particular hobby? Did you contemplate any other hobbies before starting this one?
A: I chose to try my hand at hair products after deciding to transition my hair from chemically treated to natural. Once I made this decision, I became obsessed with all things natural, and finally decided I wanted to be the one to control what ingredients went into the products that I used on a daily basis.
How long did it take your product line to catch on and draw in your first few customers?
A: I officially launched on July 22, 2009, and received my first online sale on August 11. I waited a month for the next one, but then after that my customers started spreading the word, and my products were a hit!

Did you market or sell your product anywhere locally before you began selling your product online?
A: Before I began selling online, I would give soaps away to people in my circle. When they returned offering me money for more, I figured it was time to give online selling a shot.
Are most of your sales first time buyers or repeat customers or both?
A: My sales are a wonderful balance of both first time and repeat customers. My repeat customers are sending the first timers my way :-)

What is the most popular item that you sell? What is your favorite item that you sell?
A. My seasonal King Cake Super Soaps, which are replicas of tiny King Cakes complete with its own baby, are by far, the most popular item in my shop. My personal favorite item is my Pandora's Snowball Sugar Scrub. Man, I can't get enough of that stuff!

Etsy.com is a very popular website for small businesses and products such as yours. What are the positive and negative aspects of using their website to sell your products?
A: What I like most about selling on Etsy.com, is that it allowed me an instant platform with which to find and market to my niche. It also allowed me to connect with other Indies out there who love crafting and learning the ropes of entrepreneurship as much as I do. I really don't have a negative when it comes to Etsy.
Do you use any other outlets other than Etsy to sell your product?
A: Yes, you can find my products in the Fleurty Girl stores, as well as The French Address, an adorable gift boutique in Slidell. I also sell at various craft shows, and festivals.

How do you draw people to your Etsy online store? How do you currently market your products outside of Etsy?
A. Believe it or not, I'm still primarily word of mouth. I also use social media outlets, such as Facebook, and Twitter. You can also follow my blog http://herbndevelopment.blogspot.com where you can find fresh, up to date news on HDH.

What has been the hardest part of running your own business?
A. As a one woman show, the toughest challenge I've had was learning to find a balance. Aside from running a business, I'm also a wife, mother, and Police Officer. I have to fit all of these things into my life and give each 100% of me.

If you could start over again from the beginning, what, if anything, would you do differently?
A. Absolutely, positively NOTHING! Bringing HDH into existence has truly been a learning experience, with lots of trial and error. Some days I ask myself what have I gotten myself into? Then other days in joy, I scream out, "look at what I've gotten myself into!"

What are your current and long-term goals for your company?
A. I'm currently working at building my brand, and increasing my community outreach programs, this year I'll be hosting my first Soaper Summer Camp teaching local youth the art of soap making. As for long term goals, I plan to increase my store base, and someday, have my products on the shelves of Whole Foods. I also intend to open my flagship store here in New Orleans, complete with a studio where I can teach soap making classes and host soapy parties.

Is there anyone you would like to thank for helping you in your journey so far?
A. I'd like to thank God, for giving me the vision to even dare to start this journey. My husband, for being a constant support. And my Mother, and cousin, Chalilda J, who never once told me I was crazy for stepping out into the unknown. These three have been my backbone since HDH was conceived.
What advice would you give to someone who is thinking about opening his or her own business?
A. Don't ever wait for everything to fall into place before you start. If God has impregnated you with a business, it's up to you to bring it forth. One of my favorite quotes, I think by the late and legendary Arthur Ashe, is to "start where you are, use what you have."

We would again like to thank Herb'n Development for taking the time to answer these questions for us. If you have not already, please check out their online store at http://www.etsy.com/shop/herbndevelopment.

Our Favorite Interview Quotes

"Don't ever wait for everything to fall into place before you start. If God has impregnated you with a business, it's up to you to bring it forth."

- Herb'n Development Handmades

- Posted using BlogPress from my iPad

New Soap Studio!!!

2011-03-24T09:17:00.000-07:00

Soooo, as the title suggest, I have a new studio!!!! Well actually, not so new. Do I care to explain??? Why certainly! When I initially started HDH, I occupied one counter, and the cabinets above it, in my kitchen. As the biz started to blossom, I took over the adjacent counter, and drawers too. Then from there, I began using the dining room table, then added a table into my living room, and a hall closet. Whew, my house was getting crowded-- FAST! So what's my solution? Well, I checked into a few spaces that I could rent studio space in (check out the Artist Egg, really cool spot). But, then I started thinking, am I really ready for that, rent, other overhead expenses? Probably not. Then I had an idea!!! *insert lightbulb here <~~~ * Why not just consolidate?!?! So that's exactly what I set about doing. I could count on one hand how often we'd used our dining room for its intended purpose. The space was perfect. I slid the rarely used dining room table against one wall, and officially dubbed it the "prepping station". Then I moved (and when I say "I" - I mean the hubby) the other table to the other walled and christened it as the new photo/packaging/admin station!!! To the space I also added two printing stations, and shelving. And finally, a DIY wall storage station in which I spray painted and hung buckets. The perfect repurposing solution!!! As for the result... Well see for yourself! One day, I'll HDH will become a young adult, and move out and into her own space, but for now, I'm happy to have her here with me :o)

Repurposed soap buckets shelving: spray painting, hammer & nails ;-) Also, Printing Station #1

Close up!!!

Photo/packaging/admin Station!!!

Prep Station - notice the HDH Collage, made by yours truly!!!

Print Station #2

The Party's Over! Or Is It...

2011-03-12T10:48:00.000-08:00

Mardi Gras is over and all I can say is thank you Lord!!! It's not that I don't like the historical celebration that is New Orleans, it's just that in my day job as a Police Officer, we have a very different perspective than that of the average parade reveler. I won't get into the details, but I'll say I don't miss those 12 and 16 hour days. Any who, as y'all know, because of my working schedule, I had to put my Etsy shop on vacation for those two weeks. I really wanted to reopen the day after Mardi Gras, but damn it I'm tired. Yesterday, I treated myself to a massage, and today it's been sleep, sleep, and more sleep. And later on, I'm gonna get out with the girls, my mini mixtress' and go get some crawfish, crabs, and a daiquiri for me.

Now what's happening with HDH? BATH BOMBS BABY!!! Yep, we are rolling in fun, colorful, smelltastic, bath bombs!!! Of course y'all know I have to rename them, if you haven't figured it out, I tend to skirt around typical product names, hence, bath bar, soft serve, yeah you get the point. So I guess I'll put on my thinking cap and find a locally inspired name for them. Look for em soon!

HDH will be returning this Monday, March 14th!!! You can look for new products and Greta deals all day!

Finally, it's festival season in NOLA!!! And First up on our list is the Freret Street Festival! The booth has been requested, and now we're just waiting, with fingers crossed, for our acceptance email. As soon as I know, you'll know.

So, what's been going on with y'all? Did you celebrate Mardi Gras? If so, how?

Herb'n Mixtress,

Make Scrub Not War!!!

GRATITUDE

2011-01-10T12:38:00.000-08:00

Wow, I can't believe i've been such a bad blog mommy. I've neglected to nurture my creation of literal thoughts and ramblings for almost a year to the day. Tsk, tsk, tsk... Okay, RESOLUTION #1 - I'm gonna do better! (I hope...) Truth is, I don't believe that much in New Years Resolutions. Yeah I know, but I guess it's something that i've never been any good at. But, even though I didn't make any official declarations of what I plan to do differently in this new year, I did make a very quiet and personal decision--To live in GRATITUDE. I' ve always been a very grateful person anyway, but somehow, I think the conscience action to "just be grateful" has gotten away from me over the years. So today, i'm grateful that my entire family made it into 2011 unharmed, safe, and intact. I'm grateful for my children who are so lively in spirit and offer abundant amounts of love daily. I'm grateful for my husband, who though it hasn't always been an easy road, he continues to press forward. I'm grateful for my mother who has remained my constant support system. I'm grateful for HDH. This year, i'm living and walking in GRATITUDE... You? What are you grateful for?

Handmades For Haiti

2010-01-13T22:09:00.000-08:00

I am utterly saddened by what my brothers and sisters in Haiti have suffered, and will suffer in the coming months and even years. As a New Orleanian, it was not so long ago that we too, were faced with one of the biggest catastrophes of our life. When Hurricane Katrina hit, we were left helpless, and at times hopeless. Our lives, and everything that we ever knew...everything that had any sense of familiarity, had been completely obliterated. This is what has happened in Haiti. Just as those August 2005 rains that attempted to drown our beloved city, our culture, our way of life. So has the earth crumbled under Haiti's feet, and attempted to swallow it whole. As I type (and cry), there are children looking for their parents, brothers searching amongst the living, and the dead, for their sisters, and mothers who have just witnessed the very life that once flourished inside their wombs, extinguished. I know, because i've seen it, tasted it, experienced it, first hand, just a little ways across the water. HDH family new and old, please step up. Take your place in history by sending your prayers and donations to the good people of Haiti. Herb'n Development Handmades will donate 25% of it proceeds to aid in the relief of the people of Haiti. You may also donate directly at http://www.yele.org. Please, please, make a difference.

Doing "Good Works"

2009-12-02T13:09:00.000-08:00

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?!?!?!

2009-11-21T12:31:00.000-08:00

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

2009-11-17T08:41:00.000-08:00

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

2009-09-26T12:26:00.000-07:00

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

2009-08-19T16:38:00.000-07:00

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...)

2009-08-05T10:12:00.000-07:00

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

2009-07-28T17:15:00.000-07:00

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

2009-07-24T11:44:00.000-07:00

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

2009-07-23T09:50:00.000-07:00

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