Myspace

I've created a myspace page for Heathen's Hearth and thought I'd post here on the blog and see if anyone out there has a myspace page for their business. If so, I'd love to add you :).

You can find us here!

Yet another way to network

While browsing the Etsy forums the other day, I ran across a thread about Plumdrop.com. I had never heard of it, so I checked it out. The reason I hadn't heard of it is because it's brand new. Simply put, it's a networking site for online sellers. I'm pretty happy with the user-friendliness of the site and like it so far. I've uploaded about half of our items in the photos section (it's slow going since my work computer is tempermental) and hope to finish the rest today.

You can find us there at http://www.plumdrop.com/members/heathenshearth

Does anyone else out there have a plumdrop page? If so, let me know, I'd love to add you :)

-Misty

Her Highness

We are finally getting some sales! Well, we've had sales, but all from people we know. Not that their money isn't as good, lol..but it gives me a warm fuzzy to see other Etsy sellers and people completely unknown to us buying our products.

We have been promoting and networking like mad. Spending countless hours sucked into the Etsy forums, blogging (which I love), reading other blogs and commenting (again, which I love...there are so many talented people out there!), and I signed up for Entrecard. It has brought us some readers, which is good.

Today as I was getting some orders ready to ship, I found Queen Quinn hindering my work. She Who Must Be Obeyed would not let me get a box until I gave her enough love. Silly kitty.

Getting the word out

We've finally ordered supplies to start on our sugar scrubs, milk baths, and shampoo and conditioners. They should be delivered mid next week, hopefully...and then I'll be a busy little bee!

We have a holiday craft show on our schedule for the first weekend of December. I have a few weeks to get some pictures taken, the application completed and mailed in. I'm crossing my fingers we'll be chosen to participate. I'm anxious to put together more gift baskets and I think a holiday craft show is the perfect venue to sell them.

We're trying like mad to network and get the word out. Most of the sales we've had so far are from people we "know" from some of our ususal online haunts, a couple more due to recommendations, and our largest sale so far -- we answered an add on Freecycle for packing peanuts and left some soap and lotion samples for the lady. She contacted us a couple days later to place a large order...some for her, some to give away as gifts!

I'm spending a lot of time reading the Etsy forums (especially Business Topics) and also checking out other sellers' blogs. I'm going to start adding some of them as favorites here....there are just so many talented and crafty folks out there!

The Wonders of Networking

First up, its all about networking and word of mouth.

Amy contacted someone in our local Freecycle list because she is giving away a bag full of packing peanuts, and she has asked for samples of our soap, so we took her some samples of Cucumber Mint soap and lotion. She emailed Amy back raving about it and said that we'd be seeing her around the holidays. :)

Amy is also planning on taking some samples and business cards with her next week and for J to take to work with him. T has taken some and gotten a few orders from his minions at work, who are also spreading the word to their girlfriends, etc.

In the meantime we've been getting rave reviews from people who have already purchased the soap, including these:

--I wanted to say that I LOVE your soaps! My skin is no longer dry and itchy after baths and showers and I've even stopped using lotion afterwards daily. [My kids] who are even more prone to dry skin than me (the ones with eczema) have been using it and I see a big difference there too. Plus they smell like thin mint cookies when they're done and they like that. I'll definitely be a repeat customer. And now that I see you have bath salts up, I'll be ordering sooner rather than later. - Aylwyn

--This soap is pretty awesome. The dragon's blood scent isn't overwhelming like some dragon's blood products I've used. It also looks nice and makes my skin soft. - Pinkcaffiene

--This, too, is awesome. I've used some sandalwood products made by other people that really overwhelm me with the smell, this is not that way, just right. As with the others, it made my skin really soft, rinsed off cleanly and.. well, cleaned. Good stuff. - Pinkcaffiene

--Suds up awesomely. Definately softened the skin. - Pearls

--These are amazing soaps, that last a long time. There's nothing like Lavender mint to wake you up in the morning, and cinnamon nutmeg to put you to sleep. - Mohnkern

I won't mention my receptionist who after using the Pomegranate Vanilla soap forced me to feel how soft her skin is....she says she's our #1 fan. #1! LOL.

Yay for good reviews.

We also have a couple of sales going on at Etsy including:

A Labor Day Special on our Basic Gift Set (1 bar soap, 1 8oz lotion, 1 9oz bath salt) at $16.50, over 25% off our regular price of $22.50.

And we also have special on bar soaps, through Etsy only, Buy 5 regularly priced bars, get 1 free.

As well, we've decided to start phasing out our summertime scents (Citrus Amber, Strawberry Vanilla, Orange Cream, Lemon Cream, Tea Tree and Chamomile, Cucumber Mint, and Ocean Breeze), and those (soaps only) are currently on sale for $3 a bar while supplies last.

In the works currently, are final plans and purchases so that we can begin to create our larger gift baskets, including Smoothing Sugar Scrub, All Natural Un-Beatable Body Butter, Luscious Lip Balms (also all natural), and Ultra Moisturizing Bath Bombs. We will be getting them started soon, so that we can be ready for craft shows in the fall and ready for shipping to customers who order online.

We're also offering Gift Shipping, so that anyone who wants to order and save postage by not having to mail things twice, can tell us who to send the gift to, and we'll mail the package directly to the gift recipient. We'll include a gift copy of the invoice (no prices included) and a gift card with the purchaser's requested greeting in the gift package, and email the actual invoice to the person purchasing the order. All that will be required is that each gift shipped will pay the full shipping price and no multiple purchase discounts can be applied to shipping. Wrapping the gift (inside the box) can also be included for a small additional fee. All in all things seem to be going pretty well for a brand new business.

And remember, if you have a special request, just ask...we're pretty flexible!