Some of you may have it made…you’ve worked at a well-paying job for years, you have an epiphany, you quit your well-paying job, use some chunk of your savings and start your own business and you’re a success your very first year, with tons of accolades and you’re in the clear within a year and a half. Well this is NOT my story…nope not even close.
Yes I HAD a well paying-job that I left because I was having my first child, and my husband was deploying for 6 months and I was going to be home doing everything, with a newborn. But up till that point I had no reason to be ’saving’ well I saved but not like that. I was young and spent it, I knew I should’ve been saving but…ehh at that age who really cares to save? Not me anyway. So fast forward to 4 years later and I’m starting my company Stick Me Designs, I don’t have the chunk of savings to get it started so I rely on what I can to get things going.
So now it’s time to make some moves to get things rolling forward, on to a new step in the comany’s lifespan, adding new collections and bringing in some new accessories. So I’ve decied to go back to work full time to fund this expansion. BIG, HUGE, decision for our family. Both boys with a sitter/preschool and I’m working during the daytime* Ginormous adjustment! I haven’t had a traditional day job since before 1996! But I think it is well worth it for now to push things along with the company. I see it as a little bit of sacrifice to make it worth it later on.
Sometimes you gotta do what you gotta do…and the way I see it it’s only for a little while. Before you know it Stick Me Designs will be the household name in stylish medical accessories!!!
[read CELEBRATE] :)
So when running your own small business, you need a few things. You need something you’re selling whether it be a service, product or simply your time. You need people who are willing to part with their money and buy whatever it is you’re selling and you need a way to reach themon a regular basis. And here’s the part where the internet is greatest thing since ground turkey* The internet…it can be a phenom and the devil on your screen.
Ever since the whole 2.0 phase of the internet has evolved so has the springing up of blogs, social networks and communities. But while you’re running around the www looking for creative ways to plug your business, you may find at some point and time that it’s all a bit too much and you’re spreading yourself a little too thin. That is what has happened to me. My email address has become bombarded with ‘join me’ requests from who knows what or who. Why? Well because I’ve become a member to about 15-20 different social networking sites…No More!
I’m on a mission to cut back, and slim down on the social networking to only the important ones, and the ones that actually help my business and my sanity, not bother or hinder. It’s taking a little bit of time, but it’s coming along and with each profile deletion I feel more free…*yay for freedom*
Along with this new mantra I decided to pack up the boys, the two dogs and take a road trip to NY to visit my mom and sister. Not recommended for the faint of heart. The 3 year old talked me death (a blessing and a curse) while the 10 month old slept…the cried…then slept. Yay roadtrip. But anyway, we all need a chance to recharge, to regroup and to really look for what is important. My business is an important part of my life, but I tend to lose sight of me and everything else. So this is a new direction…slow down…smell the summer air…enjoy my family and enjoy this point in my life…
What are you doing????
What a great feeling to know you’re doing something that is wonderful to somebody. Have you felt that before? Well in business it’s an especially great wonderful. One of my happy repeat customers was nice enough to share her newest Stick Me Designs glucose meter bag and her other everyday essentials with us. We agree that the Spring Squared carrying case goes quite nicely with her coolie, and her food journal…way to be responsible! Thanks for this great picture*
It’s happening on a slow roll basis. Yup all of my thousand plus emails are slowly starting to take root. What did you not hear me correctly…yes I said a thousand and some emails. That is how many emails I’ve sent out in my personal quest to put Stick Me Designs on the stylish diabetes accessories map. They say persistence is a necessary evil when you strike it out on your own…boy they’re not kidding.
My local newspager the Virginian Pilot will be featuring Stick Me Designs for their weekly story of “At Work With…” guest starring yours truly quick *yay*. And if you haven’t heard from our homepage post already, we will be featured in this Fall’s Better Homes and Garden’s Diabetic Living and another quick *yay yay*. I’m psyched.
If you’re thinking of starting your own business know this…it’s not easy…it’s not always fun…and it’s especially difficult if you have small children at home with you during ‘normal working hours’. But…and here is my saving grace…it is all totally worth it. I’m in love with what I’m doing and that is one of the most satisfying feelings you can have.
I’m working on putting together an E-book on my entrepreneur steps I’m taking to get where I want to go…Will You Read It???
Since our quest began last October we have met some pretty amazing women, moms and entrepreneurs that like us are inspired to bring our customers and friends something a little different and unique to their lives. We decided that because some of their products and services are quite a pleasure, that we shouldn’t keep them to ourselves any longer. So we decided to do a Frequent Shopper Feature and share our little finds along our journey. We’ll include a little blurb about them, and where you can grab your own stuff from them. It’s one way we like to take our minds off of the medical stuff and shop a bit…we can all appreciate a little of that now and again! ~Enjoy
So without further ado we bring you ‘Baby Fish Mouth’-Fashion for future film fans. We discovered this clever and too cute boutique through one of our online communities and got to know one of the owners well, and now we have fallen for their simple adorable film-inspired gear for the little ones in your life. Check out our favorite one below, then go find one you love for your little film fan.
AND you can also find them featured in next month’s Redbook…Go BFM!!!
“The first rule of Daycare-don’t talk about Daycare” -$24
*Goodness, I just love it*
Ok now I know there are some very girlie girls out there who love being a girl. And who can blame her we get to enjoy pink, smelling like roses, pretty pretty bows, and tutu’s. So whimsical…and now that same girlie girl can carry her diabetes testing supplies with her in girlie girl style. We have added another line of accessories to our family, the Prissy Petites. Just the right size for basic glucose testing, and simply all girl. The first two styles are a hot pink with white polkas, and a scarlett red with white polkas. Just about too cute??? Nah, can you ever be?
We’re giving away 6 Stick Me Slim carrying cases with Make It Your Own customization to 6 lucky Sentinel members! Not a member yet? Whatcha waiting on? You gotta be a member to win, and you have to do that by visiting our homepage and entering your email address. 6 winners will be picked at random starting in July. By joining you’ll receive news about collection launches, new designs on our tables and of course special members only discount codes to save while you shop, what could be better? So come on over, sign-up and you may just win!
~Don’t be shy tell you friends too*
So while we all battle some intro to summer weather(we’re dealing with 106 degree temps!), we’re lookin’ to show some wonderful customers and bloggers some cyber love! Show us some love and we’ll return the favor!
It’s a fact word of mouth buzz is genuine, it’s fun, and it’s priceless. We’ve been so greatful for all the wonderful referrals that we receive and have been trying to think of fun creative ways to keep our customers and visitors talking, sharing, and encourage even more. So here goes.
We’re doing a ‘BFAB’ appreciation drive! What is BFAB you ask? Blog For A Bag! If you blog and have at least 300 hits a day, and you’re willing to blog about our newest addition to our unique diabetes accessory lineup, you’re qualified to ‘BFAB’. We’re looking for organic word of mouth buzz with dynamic & charismatic blogging. Blog about our diabetes boutique, or designs or our unique accessories and we’ll pick 3 outstanding bloggers to win their very own too chic Jet Setter! Just let us know you’ve blogged and you’ll be entered! It’s that simple. We appreciate bloggers and are showing you just how much!
Yet another brave and generous customer of Stick Me Designs has graciously shared an ‘action’ shot with us. This ‘Star’ sends greetings all the way from Cirencester, Glocestershire, United Kingdom! Here is what she had to say:”I have received both of my bags, they are great… thanks, I do prefer carrying this small bag with everything I need within over a diabetic-stocked make-up case.”
Thanks D for your great picture and words of encouragement!
So after listening to all of my wonderful customers and taking cues from my design instinct we’ve decided to pre-launch our first carry-all collection. The Jet Setter line is the perfect carry-all for when you need a little more d-goods and you’d still like to carry things with you like a wallet, bottled water and lip gloss to name a few. But of course you still have to be style-forward, and be true to your own personality. With all that in mind we have found a too cute solution. The Jet Set carry-all. Not too big, not too small but just right, with all the right compartments especially for you, and of course with the Stick Me Design contemporary flair.
Our first Jet Setter available the East Coast bag is ready to take you on long errands or on a weekend holiday.
… Jet Set…Go!
