Tag Archives: small business

Focus! Why I act like a toddler…

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Small business lessons: So here is what happens- I try very hard to wear my ‘big picture hat’, but as a one person business I get very easily distracted. I have to look at each day and spend time working on parts of my business that look to the future and the growth of the business, it is so easy for me to get caught up in artwork and then forget that I am suppose to be running and growing a business!

I have to remember that book ‘the e-myth’ go read it if you haven’t yet- will really give you the right perspective on how to run your business.

Big picture, all the way, every day. that is my rhyme of the evening! Good night!

Snapchat?! Ok let’s see..

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Well as the media maven that I am (read newbie) I am trying my next platform and seeing if snapchat could be good for business.

What I like about it:

  1. It doesnt have to be taken with a good camera, my lack of photograghy skills don’t matter.
  2.  Seems pretty damn easy to do at any point during my day.
  3. Could be a good way to show people the life of a 1 person business- striving to be a million dollar company!

What I don’t like about it:

  1.  How do I get people to know I’m there?!
  2.  Having to ask my son constantly what the different symbols mean
  3.  Is everyone there under the age of 20??

I will keep you all posted- meanwhile- go check me out there! @unforgettaballs

How do you know when it’s time to move out of your house, and into an office?

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I should end the blog right there with the title b/c I actually don’t have an answer!

Having worked out of my house for so many years there is a lot to be said for it. I can be around for my kids and dog when needed, my wardrobe is shorts and t-shirts, and I can work anytime of day. But in the age where everyone is moving from office to home-office I find myself pushing against the current.

The advantages of being in an office (even a shared space which is what I would do) are huge- people to see and talk to, the feeling of being out in the world and not home alone at a desk, reasons to wear more then t-shirts…the list goes on and on! I think I am a little people starved! Being an owner of a small business that sells gift baseballs is awesome- but I think I need to take this show on the road. Now I just need to find some really affordable office space…that may be my next blog!

How to expand your business to something larger

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So I am one of those people who is endlessly reading branding books b/c i am always eager to learn the latest thinking on how to best brand your business. The latest one I am reading is by Daymond John, from Shark Tank. He talks about going from a brand to a lifestyle. So I have been doing a lot of thinking lately about what my brand is and who it speaks to best. What makes my product unique is that it appeals to both men shopping for themselves, and women shopping for men. This makes it tricky to figure out who I am speaking to specifically- I guess maybe what unites them is just being a baseball fan!

Smaller Runs- help from the crowd!

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So my new concept is to create smaller runs of some specialty baseballs.  I have created the Captain ball, and now a SF Giants 3 world series win ball.

Both I painted and posted as I created them on Facebook and Instagram.. It really helps to get fans of the particular teams looking at the baseball and giving suggestions of what’s important.

This pictured SF ball I posted as you see here- and I had several people ask why there was the blue on the ball (it actually is the KC Royals crowd b/c that is where the last win took place) but the SF fans wanted their ball to be more orange and black, so I was able to modify this before going to print!  Very helpful b/c when you work alone it’s hard- sometimes it’s nice to step back and get other feedback!  So thank you all!  And if you don’t follow on FB or IG please do- could use your thoughts!

 

How many times I can call FedEx

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So I am waiting on all my preorder baseballs- and calling Fedex about 4 times a day.  My baseballs have been ready to ship for the last week, but I have had such a hard time getting info on where the shipment is, why it is taking so long to get picked up and brought to my ship warehouse- etc.  Why is it that you can’t speak to the same Fedex person twice?  Each time you start from scratch with a new person! Next year maybe we have preorders not coming in quite so close to holiday time…

Throwback to 1995

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So here was my first big break- Hammacher Schlemmer put my baseballs on the cover of their catalog in 1995.  I think my mom ordered like 10 catalogs!  It was my first real lesson in the ways of the world- not 3 months before this happened I had contacted HS myself to see if they were interested in my baseballs… Read More