Tag: small business

Practicing and Growing

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So now that I have the 2 new printers in the store it is time to start promoting what I can do.

I have been practicing and practicing and wasting. So far I know I can produce quality looking images for shirts and other soft products. I am able to print up to 30 Golf balls at once and have them turn out great.

My issue is now how to get the word out and get a steady work load. I have created some ads and a new business card for the printing services. I have an ad at the Golf Course starting this year for 2 years offering 15% off a purchase of $50 or more.

I find it really hard to self promote. I know I do good work, and my prices are fair. I am trying to fit in where there are gaps in services in the area so I am not directly competing with other companies.

My Goals:

  1. This year to get the business to stabilize and pay it’s own rent and utilities,
  2. Next year to get the business to pay a small wage for myself.
  3. Grow into a Print Shop for Crafters… Not a full production shop. Although I do have the ability to produce products on hand.

Who am I targeting in order to do this:

  1. Golf Courses
  2. Crafters wanting quality full graphic prints for their customers/Products
  3. Gift Shops offering pre-made and custom Golf Balls

I need help in marketing I think.

I also don’t like to create for no reason. My preference is to work with the client and develop something completely unique for them.

I am not a graphic artist but I can pull things together and create something just for them.

I know people don’t usually think of something till they see it somewhere and I am thankful for sites that I can buy files/Clipart. I am not trying to copy anyone’s work. I will not steal or use licensed images. I love to use art from other small businesses who create these images and I can print them.

This is the Business Card I created just to get the ball rolling on the Printing Services. I need to book some craft shows and such…

If you have any tips or advice I would love to hear it.

Winter 2022

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I haven’t written in a while as I have trouble finding the words to put on the page. As I am sitting her even… I keep losing my ideas of what to write.

We received the inheritance from Johns Uncle and have put a lot of it towards growing the business. I have purchased 2 new printers.

A UV Ink Printer that I can print directly to products with. Going to expand my product line to things like Golf Balls. I have already used it on Glass, Metal and Wood products. Will learn to use the rotary tool soon so I can print on tumblers with it.

The other printer is a replacement and improvement of the DTF printer for apparel. The original one stopped working.

I have to focus on my advertising now that I have these and work on getting the website to show off what I can do.

I am taking 2 online courses one for graphic design and the other for bookkeeping so I can be more efficient and on top of things here.

I am using my time off from the bus to improve these skills and get my yearly bookkeeping done for tax time.

We moved the store downstairs and it isn’t as big as upstairs but I have better power down here for the printers.

John moved down here with me so he is no longer using the office upstairs for his stuff. Currently we are using it for storage.

I am in a bit of distress waiting for the other printer to arrive and then make our final adjustments as to where everything is going to live.

We have a lot of changes coming in the new year but I will write about that in another post.

Happy New Year and Glad Tidings.

August 2022

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We just celebrated our 31st Anniversary. Strange to think that many years have passed, as it really doesn’t seem that long ago I was getting ready for our wedding.

In those 31 years we have had our share of ups and downs as all couples do. We just have the view that it will be worked out and tomorrow is a new day.

Other updates:

Business: I have been struggling with the DTF printer. One day it is printing somewhat ok then days like today the white is not working at all… I am quite frustrated to be honest. The white layer when it is printing is not very thick. So what we are now deciding is that once the money from the inheritance comes in we are buying the better larger DTF printer.

Home: Since I posted last we have our new dog Brodie. He is a Red Doberman and is a gentle giant. 4 yrs old and learning how to play. Sasha is bossy with him and he doesn’t care. Mya is happy to have a large dog to rest with.

We are also getting ready to purchase the house as soon as we have the money we will proceed with the sale.

Family: Grandma is in hospital again. She had twisted bowels, so they did the surgery and she is on the mend. Not sure if she will be able to go home again.

Steven and Rain are doing well in BC. Steven is still working with Fabricland and is enjoying working there. Rain is doing something with the college I believe. I will have to ask more questions. We don’t talk as much as we used to.

Daryon and Taylor are doing well. Daryon is working with Nissan and is becoming the leader we always saw him growing towards. His dream is to own his own garage one day. Taylor is still waitressing and doing well with it. We had an impromptu visit on Sunday and was again told I probably won’t have any grand babies… I reminded them I am not in a rush and I will see what they decide when they are in their 30’s LOL

I don’t have much else to say right now as I am sitting here trying to focus and not having much luck.

Moving forward

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So I’ve been busy with the bus, My Creative business and my services business. Between all that I’ve been working with my mental health worker getting house in some sort of order.

The new medication has slowed my thinking down and I appreciate that. However, I feel sluggish and have a hard time motivating myself.

I’ve always been a professional procrastinater. Now it seems to be a bit more but only because I feel tired and sluggish.

I spend my time working and building a steady routine. I’m trying to acknowledge how much I do and be proud of my accomplishments.

This last weekend Natalie and I went to Toronto to train in the business. It was a super informative day and I forced myself to stick around and meet some of the leaders in the business.

I’m connecting to another team and they are helping me hone my skills. It is great having support from more than 1 source.

I’ve been working on t-shirt orders this past couple of weeks and I’ll be getting more orders over the next couple weeks and this will keep growing.

Fully operational print powder and seal

Still here

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It’s been a while since I’ve updated this blog. Was on medical leave for anxiety for 6 weeks. New meds are settling for now. Have Dr appt on May 3. Will discuss next steps.

The creative business is struggling because I am struggling but I have orders so I’m going in the right direction. The other supporting business I just need to get out there and start inviting people to meet my mentor so he can help me build up.

My DTF Printer finally arrived. Some minor damage so far. Haven’t printed with it yet. I am fighting anxiety left right and centre.

Went back to driving bus last week. Kids are glad I’m back. I love being with them. I’m not getting my energy back like I used to when I drove. I don’t want to feel like that around the kids. They should feel I want to be there. This is difficult for me.

I feel like a whiner which is not my intent. I felt the need to update. Hopefully over the next few weeks as I get the printer up and running and I get back in the pool I’ll be more myself.

Business advances

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The DTF printer is finally on it’s way in Canada. Set to arrive next week. I’m so excited!

I spoke with one of my suppliers today to see if he can get in the door mats I use for camping customers.

I finished 2 orders today. Finally starting to feel a little more balanced.

Looking forward to these new changes and advancements with Uniquelyys.ca

The other new venture is coming along. I’m acquiring customers and looking for business partners who want to have a safety net of residual income from a new virtual technology business. I love that I can help people save money on their home and business services and help feed children locally.

Today’s fun project

My roadside flags are designed and also should be here next week.

Flags for Roadside

So many positive changes as we travel through the month.

New Business added

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I can’t stop… I saw a great opportunity to help people save on home services and build myself stable residual income and I took it…

This week started ok. I got my prescription filled. Started taking 2 mg Abilify Tuesday night up all night having panic/anxiety attacks. Chose safety over wages. So have taken the week off. Still having mood swings so not going Monday.

I am going to talk to Mark about switching to a Van run, reduce driving. However, this cuts into my financial support. Hence I am going to work my butt off at building this side business and then driving won’t be my support for Uniquelyys.ca

Our house is slowly coming back to being a home. Things are staying clean longer and less cluttered.

John is more animated lately. Which is great. Weird and uncomfortable in a way. I’ll get used to it.

Hard to manage my mood swings but only gotten through week 1, so looking forward to balance soon.

Learning new methods
My new profile pic.

Adjustments

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So I started Abilify 2 mg last Wed and last night I had panic attacks almost the full night. I did not drive the bus today because I knew I would not be completely attentive and I’m exhausted.

I decided to take the rest of the week off to allow my body to adjust to the meds. I’m struggling with guilt for leaving the company short handed but I could not allow myself to drive and take the chance of something going wrong as I adjust.

I’ve teamed up with my Sister Cheryl in a business. We will be helping people save money and building a team together while we do this.

I am starting to get orders again. So things are starting up. I unfortunately lost an opportunity as I can’t compete with companies that can offer products below my acquisition cost.

More changes

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The train is in constant motion. Whether it be on the mental health track, physical health, financial health, relationships or other. It is always in motion.

As I strive to be better and healthier I am met with more realizations. I am not someone who likes change but I constantly make changes as I strive for better.

This week I met with a psychiatrist and he has added a new med that should compliment what I am already on and help me stabilize my anxiety. This will help me move forward in so many directions.

I have to admit I am nervous it will negatively affect me and my driving career with the school bus. I rely on the school bus to support my business and my mental health. I rely on it for so much as it has been my best stabilizer through the past 23 yrs. Losing this would be a huge loss for me. I rely on it financially as well for just knowing I have the funds to meet our needs as they come.

We just went through a week of snow days and holidays mixed with a weekend and losing that routine was not easy.

I did use the time to catch up on bookkeeping for our 2020 files. Next will be getting 2021 caught up. Then focus on inventory and then advertising/website development.

The house is coming together as I have had assistance from a couple friends over the past couple weeks. My mental health worker and Home Support has been great.

So here I am moving along on the track of life. Sometimes speeding on a straight way, easy going. Other times more than not, up-hill on a bend as slowly and safely as possible. But still progressing.

Thanks for your support as you read this. I truly appreciate it.