Bittersweet and the little soap company

Bittersweet Studio

Winter Inventory

 
The studio inventory is withering away. Only open two more Saturdays before Christmas! I can't believe how fast Christmas comes and goes, amazing!

Still have a few bars of holiday soap left, but plan on running out in a week or so.

 
The studio will be closed during the month of January. The internal side of things gets done. Taxes, Sales Tax, Inventory, compliance,  etc.

Even though my business runs from my home it still has the same responsibilities as any other. City license required, ordinance restrictions, merchant accounts, insurance, etc. All those necessary expenses that come with owning your own business. 

Owning a small business is rewarding beyond words, but can also be a challenge at times. You small business owners can relate to what I'm saying.

January is a great month to reflect on the past year and ponder new thoughts of what is yet to come.

Enjoy caring and sharing holidays.

Happily,

Jill 00

Two hugs are better than one

In between....

The soft shades appearing in the studio are the perfect hues for easing into fall I think.

This time of year is always a challenge to merchandise. I absolutely love the transformation Autumn brings with her auburn colored  leaves, but not enamored with that tone in the studio.

 I've been working with a lovely lady, Marie, the past few days designing a logo for her business.

Julie's new banner is created too. This will go atop her new web site.

I thought you might like a peek.

I took that picture of the pretty pink party dress a few years back, and that's a picture of Aggie, julies kitty.

There's a funny story about the Aggie.

I used to have my shop above Julies. One day Aggie and another kitty showed up. They were both wild kitties, and would not allow you to get too close. Julie was determined to tame them, and every day she sat out fresh food and water and the kittens began to warm up ever so slowly. After about two months of feeding the kittens and talking to them from a distance the two kittens allowed Julie to get near them a bit more little by little each day. Julie remained patient allowing the cats to become more docile.

One of the kitties came up missing one day never to be seen again.

But Aggie, the name Julie gave her striped kitty became the shops head mistress and remains so today.

Enjoy caring and sharing days.

Happily,

Jill 00 (Two hugs are better than one)
 

Studio days...

The studio is long overdue for a makeover. Summer time @ the Saturday Studio is lay-ed back, and although manufacturing speeds up, my little home shop slows down and is usually neglected between making things. 

When the shelves begin to thin out, that means it's time to replenish them with new creations. I have heaping piles of soap that needs to be wrapped, and fresh jars of lavender liniment to place in the apothecary cabinets.

I'll share the makeover when it's completed. I'm rolling around thoughts of neutral mixed with fresh blossoms from the summer garden. I won't purchase anything new for the re-do, but rather dig into my stash of past flea market finds. It's always rewarding for me to utilize what I have on hand, and to not have a need to buy new stuff.
I fixed a yummy summer meal the other night that I want to share with you later.

Enjoy caring and sharing summer days.

Happily, Jill 00  

 

 

The land of milk & honey

 I did not know this.

I was referring to these.

An army of peppermint headache sticks standing attention. I added a little blessing onto the large batch. I do that with all the stuff I make.

While I was at the market taking pictures over the weekend I spotted these.

Can you see the colors? Perfect for my new Spring collection. I'll probably merchandise the boxes at a show. There is a third smaller one, but it I needed to reinforce the top paper with some Elmer's glue!

I am in love with red, pink, and blue at the moment!

I finished the Vintage Market Web Site too. There will be more nuts and bolts to add, but the design and layout is complete. Do you like it?

Kim, (owner of Vintage Market), has some great ideas and I'll be incorporating those thoughts into the new site.

I suggested she sell some of the smaller vintage items on her new web site, so that's exciting. There is such a great mix of re-purposed goodies, like those hat boxes.

Since Spring is just around the corner♥ too, I'll be designing, creating a new Spring Magazine for the April VM Showcase. I love creating that magazine! You can see the last issue cover here.  This one will be full of fresh spring colors and interesting topics, upcoming VM event information, advertising, and well I haven't  gotten that far.

Enjoy caring and sharing days.

Happily,

Jill 00 (Two hugs are better than none)

 

  
 

Show Ready

 

Oh it's all coming back to me!

A crucial motive for participating in a "show" is to make money, but too, positioning my little company to take advantage of the large group of potential customers that will  pass by and gaze upon my products, items. 

When I called to get info about the "Art on the Hill" show, I asked how many people came last year? Around six-hundred was the reply. Even when I had the boutique, I would be hard pressed to have six-hundred customers walk through my doors within a short period of time. 

So with that in mind, I'm preparing marketing techniques that I believe will offer the best bang for my buck!

Firstly, I'm taking the not yet published but soon to be, "Calico Petals Cookbook" info and when it will be available.

Second, lot's of business cards, both companies.

Thirdly, Free samples. During my many years of operating a shop I learned that free samples offer an excellent form for marketing my product, especially soap! Most customers that receive a sample will return for more! After all, that's the whole point of doing business right, to sell your stuff?

Fourthly, Oodles of pamphlets, brochures, info on both companies. I'm a busy talker, but being able to converse with six hundred people in one day is even a bit too much for this type A. Having brochures helps to free you up for the many other tasks, and the person that receives the brochure will most likely read the brochure in the comfort of their home in a more relaxed setting.

Fifthly, Guest Book. I have over four-thousand customers in my data base just from having a guest book in my shop over the years. I found that most customers want to sign the book and be updated on events, specials, etc., and the majority of people that walked through my doors usually signed the guest book without being asked.

For most of you, this topic will hold no interest. But for those of you that search my blog for show displays, show marketing, etc., hopefully the info will be of  value.

Enjoy a caring and sharing Spring day.

Happily,

Jill 00 (Two hugs are better than one)

Weekend Update

I had a restful moment and thought I'd give everyone that placed Bittersweet orders this week an update and status. They are in fact on their Merry Way.

Aussie girls, please let me know when you receive your kits, soap, etc.

I'm still in wrapping mode around here. Those darn elves never did show up! Santa probably has them very busy as Christmas will indeed be arriving soon.

I do have a new soap. It's a Winter blend that smells oh so good.

   I contemplated on the wrappings for some time before coming up with this favorite old-fashioned brown paper wrap.

I'll be tidying up around here trying to see the bottom of my soap wrapping table. I know it's under there, I know it is!

Enjoy caring and sharing holidays.

Happily,

Jill 00 (Two hugs are better than one)

Pleasant + Unpleasant = Balance

With the pleasant comes the unpleasant, and isn't that usually the case? I consider this document unpleasant anyway. "What is this document"? I'm so glad you asked!

INSURANCE... Gotta have it when you own your own business!  I still don't like it, and you can't make me!

My annual insurance coverage paper work came once again, and just as it was last year and the year before and the year before that, enclosed, "Cap On Certified Terrorism Losses". Isn't that scary? That particular title.

The act, and I quote, "Is a violent act or an act that is dangerous to human life, property or infrastructure and is committed by an individual or individuals as part of an effort to coerce the civilian population of the United States or to influence the policy or affect the conduct of the United States Government by coercion. There you have it, an insert from Article A, section 2. AND That's THE UNPLEASANT PART..... Wouldn't you agree?

My beliefs... Along with the pleasant comes the unpleasant, and if you're lucky and your heart is light, and you're blessed, we're all blessed I believe, then comes BALANCE.

On the pleasant Saturday morning side.. Another Patchwork Mushroom popped up right next to some Bittersweet product over night.

I met a wonderful Mother, Daughter team at the market this morning. They own this company.

While I was posting,  I smelled something good, I had forgotten I purchased one of their candles and had it burning in the kitchen.

My weekly supply of fresh tomatoes from the market, and that cucumber, from my garden!

A little rain storm moving through this morning. I like it!

It's a glorious Saturday, and I'm balanced and in sync, and prepared for a lovely weekend.

Enjoy a happy balanced Summer weekend.

Happily,

Jill 00 (Two hugs are better than one)

Sweet Saturday Studio

The Bittersweet studio was booming on Saturday. It was officially the first Saturday  Bittersweet has re-opened in my home. You know how when you start something for the very first time how you have to get some kinks out. Well, not too many kinks. In fact I'm very pleased with my little home studio, and I absolutely love working in the new area. I still work in my kitchen making soap, and creams and such, but having a little store just a hop and a skip down the stairs is very comforting to me. Just in case you can't feel my enthusiasm, HAPPY, HAPPY, JOY, JOY!!!

The gals and guys that came by on Saturday were stocking up on Bittersweet soap, and checking out some of the new products.

The dry oil is a huge hit! In fact I'm making more today. I plan to put it on the web site soon. I love this stuff!

For those of you that called asking about the lavender liniment, I should get vitamin E this week, and as soon as I do, I will make an extra large fresh batch of liniment, and plan to get it on web site too.

Oh my gosh, Sandy dropped by last night to show me her latest creations for the VintageTwo web site. I can't wait! Loved, Loved, Loved everything. Things that are really different too. I wanted her stuff! Again, HAPPY, HAPPY, JOY, JOY!

Am I starting to get on your nerves? I'm getting on my own nerves...

Patchouli Julie, this is your Valentine!

My friend Julie loves Patchouli. So I appropriately call her by that name. I even incorporate the name into Bittersweet patchouli products. When I had the boutique, customers got a blast out of the name. A lot of them know Julie, and that made it even more real.

I'ts such a good feeling to be busy. You gals and guys out there that know me, know how I like to be busy. I am a happy soap making girl!

Enjoy a caring and sharing day!

Happily,

Jill 00 (Two hugs are better than one)

 

Love

February weddings aren't they romantic?

I'm working on making some February wedding bridal gifts for Bittersweet. I don't usually do too many custom orders, but weddings are a exception. I get to use textiles and lots of embellishments that I don't normally use on Bittersweet products so it's a change from the norm.

I'm also working on creating a new body product. A customer had asked if I could make a dry body oil, and I told her I would check into it. I researched it, and found that I can, and will begin manufacturing a dry body oil. I am planning on working on the formulation today, and then I will get started on the packaging. Dry oils are soft and non-oily to the skin, but yet still moisturize, and penetrate into the skin. It will be a nice product to introduce with the rest of the Bittersweet Spring line.

Speaking of Spring... I know we still have a lot of winter left, but I am  so anxious for Spring. I get this way every winter about this time. This year I'm even more excited since I will be home with the studio. Being home will allow me to have more time to plant flowers, and just set outside on our little porch and listen to the birds. Doesn't sound boring to me one bit! I haven't been able to do such things for years. Owning and managing the shop took every bit of my time.

Off to work....

Enjoy a caring and sharing day!

Happily,

Jill 00 (Two hugs are better than one)