hosting a wine and shopping night #BusinessTips

<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhbC-Rd16pszabiXkAv4tFvS3k2XuY07L-faEjGVTSxx7fGOUxoEQfkAOdkKEkkPntUPw_Pv8SC60sPGaXGyl-SRhMzWFrHFDidz43u-5KEBBlxUpiEprmatC3P5RNlPTWl1P6uo8HeAmc/s1600/13.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhbC-Rd16pszabiXkAv4tFvS3k2XuY07L-faEjGVTSxx7fGOUxoEQfkAOdkKEkkPntUPw_Pv8SC60sPGaXGyl-SRhMzWFrHFDidz43u-5KEBBlxUpiEprmatC3P5RNlPTWl1P6uo8HeAmc/s1600/13.jpg" /></a></div><br />For the last two Christmas season's I've hosted a neighborhood party for girlfriends - the theme that you come, have some wine, visit, catch up with friends, make new friends and  - shop! The last event was such fun that I decided to host a garden party with the similar theme - but I opened up the guest list a<i> little bit more</i> to a bigger group of friends and not necessarily girlfriends from the area - but some that I've met because of work, the blog, and encouraged those invited to bring a guest. Because it was in my garden, I knew that I could handle more people and I also invited my friend <a href="http://www.lovefresh.com/" target="_blank">Stacey</a> to take part.  I wanted to share this party on the blog because obviously it was fun, but it's also I think a great idea should you have a business of your own.<br /><br /><a name="more"></a><br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhrEqKyO0EbbosxA6VaJuzYQ9C9Dbt6UnM4XNs2-F3FBe5Eh3oQfP4OJnEHstydonZ5nMzTXoWPnVsghWTHt7jAPTl1iFIi8CxXp5yvsJvcPJcYB9-fiW2KxSNr7hINJWtaqY4DbpfTO6E/s1600/IMG_8421.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhrEqKyO0EbbosxA6VaJuzYQ9C9Dbt6UnM4XNs2-F3FBe5Eh3oQfP4OJnEHstydonZ5nMzTXoWPnVsghWTHt7jAPTl1iFIi8CxXp5yvsJvcPJcYB9-fiW2KxSNr7hINJWtaqY4DbpfTO6E/s1600/IMG_8421.jpg" /></a></div><br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div>Hosting an event like this is a great way to market your shop. Set up the event with the products around the garden / room and make it so low key. My tips on something like this is to spend the money on making it really a special event for your guests. Make them feel special, because they are, and it should be a really lovely experience. Have a bar, have food. Hire servers. It's not that expensive yet makes a really great night.<br /><div><br /></div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjlP7kaRyMW1L35VfqaoCXYWXWtQ4ucj299F-ehjgVJTXVIibKYF2-G98xAon_eSTZbNY1XGzkKeZCAn8geCFqNlq7RgKhEJQ4khc28vRJwQID-q4nmUeRXtehziJ69-TwBKwNA7n2psn8/s1600/IMG_8418.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjlP7kaRyMW1L35VfqaoCXYWXWtQ4ucj299F-ehjgVJTXVIibKYF2-G98xAon_eSTZbNY1XGzkKeZCAn8geCFqNlq7RgKhEJQ4khc28vRJwQID-q4nmUeRXtehziJ69-TwBKwNA7n2psn8/s1600/IMG_8418.jpg" /></a>Not everyone drinks wine (I'm much more of a punch girl 90% of the time) so I had a drink dispenser with non alcoholic punch available, glass milk bottles with fun straws at the bar.<br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhlYf0xKpHTJKTleCwWM4_gqrZdIDdn7svBLP5LboDCZjeKURVql2U-zyDC4Z2Z1HOB1QuSdNwhOZfEtkkZpOq_nmYiRba-b2Xxf5NswH7TygBDqWez9fsncUT_zHgXhCCzc7DqYq1Vtxc/s1600/IMG_8433.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhlYf0xKpHTJKTleCwWM4_gqrZdIDdn7svBLP5LboDCZjeKURVql2U-zyDC4Z2Z1HOB1QuSdNwhOZfEtkkZpOq_nmYiRba-b2Xxf5NswH7TygBDqWez9fsncUT_zHgXhCCzc7DqYq1Vtxc/s1600/IMG_8433.jpg" /></a></div>Have the room? Invite another business that you love, to share in the fun. I <i>love</i> Stacey and her line of products at <a href="http://lovefresh.com/" target="_blank">LoveFresh </a>- she's been an amazing mentor to me for me and has become a friend since I met her last Christmas. I invited her to come and bring her products to the garden party because I knew that if I loved her line, my girlfriends would too.  (I was right - they loved it as much as I do.)<br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEihFpF7HT1TjTIiQmpIq-lXL4kN_yuJEmfF5i2I7AyKM3AEzW9Iug8nZUNtMkQeFvERE9xI_xhFGjoCXv2TetSWVpSh-ZGT8q8aVoG5h-yMyPbCnrqhssEc7rCBk7r6SQSd4WBitRrK2ZE/s1600/IMG_8481.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEihFpF7HT1TjTIiQmpIq-lXL4kN_yuJEmfF5i2I7AyKM3AEzW9Iug8nZUNtMkQeFvERE9xI_xhFGjoCXv2TetSWVpSh-ZGT8q8aVoG5h-yMyPbCnrqhssEc7rCBk7r6SQSd4WBitRrK2ZE/s1600/IMG_8481.jpg" /></a></div>I hired a server again to come and take care of the bar. I tried to rope my brother to come help but he was working, so I hired Kevin again (he helped me last Christmas). He took care of the bar (red and white wine, sparkling juices and non-alcoholic punch) and would go around and top up glasses if no one was at the bar. It honestly is THE best money spent to have someone help you. Buy a TON of wine, and return what you don't use. Just double check the return policy on unopened bottles.<br /><br />With regards to the food, Aubrey comes from a restaurant background (his family owned a restaurant / catering business when he was growing up) so he took care of the catering for me. He's amazing, he can whip up a cheese plate like no one else.  I took care of the desserts. The bottom were simply two bite brownies with some icing, a hint of mint and a sliver of strawberry. The top was cake in a cup. I swear that is the best thing ever. It deserves its own post. Food can get costly, so we kept it pretty simple but put a lot of effort into presentation.<br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjGnLOeYsODP_KMUQcCBN_wOOR8_L_4DJCban-Kl9gy3SQ9TDh37j7NKp8eUYWGfMHjdXX7ICHOUUzIUpwkxhanAG1zFAPLjGBFGIAMrMZINCXdbgx9v939GrcJyiC118jzRi2CmheiNcc/s1600/IMG_8581.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjGnLOeYsODP_KMUQcCBN_wOOR8_L_4DJCban-Kl9gy3SQ9TDh37j7NKp8eUYWGfMHjdXX7ICHOUUzIUpwkxhanAG1zFAPLjGBFGIAMrMZINCXdbgx9v939GrcJyiC118jzRi2CmheiNcc/s1600/IMG_8581.jpg" /></a></div><br /><br /><br />Set up things so it's easy for people to touch and feel. You don't want to have to help, so make it easy for people to browse.<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgtHVBPaj0RDONait-eK1QPO31g9MKrdRB454yCspSKLHSL4P2qX5gosP9KC8IjN8YkHciB82AWsiCkZ_n90LseFVUHYj1B0IAK4BSkuu62fq9Rp5ylXkcQlpXVPevDnmQrQD1JztpUoFE/s1600/IMG_8597.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgtHVBPaj0RDONait-eK1QPO31g9MKrdRB454yCspSKLHSL4P2qX5gosP9KC8IjN8YkHciB82AWsiCkZ_n90LseFVUHYj1B0IAK4BSkuu62fq9Rp5ylXkcQlpXVPevDnmQrQD1JztpUoFE/s1600/IMG_8597.jpg" /></a>Globe lights lit up the event.In my mind, they are what made it look so beautiful. I hadn't taken down the ones from my Ikea shoot awhile back, and as you can see my cucumbers in my garden have latched onto the lights and created the most beautiful backdrop.<br /><br />I bought a huge tent (below) because renting one was going to be just as expensive. We like to host parties so this kind of purchase is great. I searched Craigslist and Kijiji and you can find companies selling tents for a few hundred dollars.<br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh8aGyZEu81LIDzLuOGzrWcWo94nJyqX10ELt7ZLUHwjtGQiw_UrS-nfgysQJWmu5WRew-1Vo2SDXKcZ0OSjGxt_vmYoapaiQ2LkutQGBAFwZoOw8QxnFJNxkP0aTq411nSJmsINDIkYf0/s1600/IMG_8617.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh8aGyZEu81LIDzLuOGzrWcWo94nJyqX10ELt7ZLUHwjtGQiw_UrS-nfgysQJWmu5WRew-1Vo2SDXKcZ0OSjGxt_vmYoapaiQ2LkutQGBAFwZoOw8QxnFJNxkP0aTq411nSJmsINDIkYf0/s1600/IMG_8617.jpg" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">If you have your own business, <i>this is great thing to host.</i> Even if no one buys - which is what I always assume when I'm planning it and my budget -  it's a word of mouth event. It gets people infront of your products.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">As the owner of the shop, and the host of the event, I make a point to <i>not be the person accepting any money at the party.</i> I hired my sister in law to come and do that for me, so that I can be free to mingle, and so there is no awkwardness about accepting money from friends. And, also, it means that it doesn't appear that I'm noticing who buys and who doesn't. To me, it's not about the selling, it's about the experience of the night. So bottom line - if you are going to host a night like this, get someone else to handle transactions - I personally think it helps eliminate any weirdness. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><b>So here are a few of my tips on hosting a wine and shopping night.... (Although I'm sure there are many, these are my top tips)</b><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"></div><ul><li>Be a host! When people arrive, invite them in and show them where everything is - bar, different tables of product, and point out baskets that they could use to put things they like in it. (I stock up on dollar store baskets that stack) When they are ready to buy, should they like anything, point out who they go to, to make a purchase. Avoid any presentation of products, unless people ask you about something.</li><li>Make your role at the party to be host. Not a server, cashier. This allows you to have fun.</li><ul><li>Ask family to help - be a server / bar. Or, hire a server to help. Expect $20 / hour for a server and consider a tip. </li><li>Don't be the one accepting money - get someone else to help you accept payment - This avoids awkwardness with friends. I have no idea who bought what and I'm 100% happy with that. </li></ul><li>Encourage people to bring a plus one. It's much more fun walking into an event when you know someone. It also means your shop or products will be shown to someone who may not know you. So if you have the room, allow for plus ones. </li><li>You can cater your own event. It's much more economical, just make sure nothing is major work and nothing needs to be in the oven. No one wants to be hanging out in the kitchen. </li><li>Price things out so people aren't asking you what things cost. Have a big sign with prices, or, price things individually. </li></ul><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Anyhow, this kind of event is a great way to get together, connect, share stories, build new friendships and bond. Life gets so busy that sometimes we need nights like this to just chill out. I won't lie that throwing an event like this isn't easy. It's a lot of work, and I may have fallen asleep fully dressed, with my iphone in my hand on the bed after everyone left. But I would do it again in a heartbeat.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Here is a wee video from last night. :) </div><br /><iframe allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="385" mozallowfullscreen="" src="//player.vimeo.com/video/101530787?title=0&byline=0&portrait=0&color=ffffff" webkitallowfullscreen="" width="685"></iframe>

hosting a wine and shopping night #BusinessTips

For the last two Christmas season's I've hosted a neighborhood party for girlfriends - the theme that you come, have some wine, visi...

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2014 has been the year of change

<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhElijV_kZysJGgDinKbHvDHcJOQyikiYSyYmNO_f3W4ZYcevb4BLqhw5y6GAOyG5Tc9MXbABizDXI0cavTV_d8N7ycUOkffhzhyVl_FSN1am_7wSicklvn77q2TwjlRCOW_MZNH7czEOg/s1600/Untitled-1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhElijV_kZysJGgDinKbHvDHcJOQyikiYSyYmNO_f3W4ZYcevb4BLqhw5y6GAOyG5Tc9MXbABizDXI0cavTV_d8N7ycUOkffhzhyVl_FSN1am_7wSicklvn77q2TwjlRCOW_MZNH7czEOg/s1600/Untitled-1.jpg" /></a></div><br />I'm working on some major changes over here, with the hopes that it will maybe bring some order to my life. As a business owner / self employed work at home mama, I've had to look at all that I'm involved in, and decide what in my life has priority. I'm now feeling <i>really</i> excited about the reorganization of it all - and I think I've <i>finally</i> got a handle on it.<br /><br />So what has changed? First - the business model of<a href="http://www.pennypaperco.com/" target="_blank">The Penny Paper Co</a>. has shifted over the last few months. Perhaps it hasn't been overly obvious, as the change has been quite slow. But I'm making slight changes in what is offered in the shop. Less custom, more ready to ship items. This change is rooted in the fact that the way the business was running, I couldn't hand it over to anyone to really help. Custom products really meant me - So in order to cut the cord a little  bit, to give myself some more time to dedicate to an area of my life that is expanding -<a href="http://www.lindsaystephenson.com/" target="_blank"> like my retail art</a> - I needed to make some changes in what was taking up the majority of my time. Although I'm sad to see 99% of the custom products go (it's what the business was founded on) I'm REALLY excited about the cool products I am bringing in. Anyhow, just a business blab for y'all. Nothing too major. 2014 has been the year of change for some reason. Not sure why? But I'm hoping the changes I'm making bring some order and peace to it all.<br /><br />xo Linds<br /><br /><i>*The custom art prints will be back on a "flash sale" opportunity - meaning every once and awhile I'll made the custom prints available.</i>

2014 has been the year of change

I'm working on some major changes over here, with the hopes that it will maybe bring some order to my life. As a business owner / self e...

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business changes

<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg2EEzMWpYhIirnt8ZwkVxRNKJHLlB0l12fVzaCWNA5twVS3rOKHL83XC9OBWc0nGu2OEo-nq0nFAW7HpEj0y0QhGlz89oGlLUnawl-R6_z7wz-IwpdCv-n14z2crK0t5ELIKsIot5zKhc/s1600/IMG_2327.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg2EEzMWpYhIirnt8ZwkVxRNKJHLlB0l12fVzaCWNA5twVS3rOKHL83XC9OBWc0nGu2OEo-nq0nFAW7HpEj0y0QhGlz89oGlLUnawl-R6_z7wz-IwpdCv-n14z2crK0t5ELIKsIot5zKhc/s1600/IMG_2327.jpg" /></a></div><br />I occasionally write about my business musings that go on over here. I know it's likely a limited group of people that would find it interesting - but it's such a significant part of my life that it feels odd not to explore ideas and business developments on my blog. On the slim chance that some may find it helpful to be hear my inner dialogue about business, triggering inspiration or, contemplation of your own - I press "publish" with the hope it maybe be helpful to some. So here is what is happening --- Over the last three months some changes have been brewing. When you're a business owner, the time for change isn't always apparent - or welcomed. The feeling brews and makes you uncomfortable and you wonder silently what is wrong....<br /><br /><a name="more"></a><br />I felt the tides of change coming right after Christmas. It started with the feeling that I didn't want to work. I wasn't inspired. I was in a slump. I'm sure 90% of that was associated to finishing a busy Christmas season and never wanting to pack another order. But the uneasy feeling stuck around too long to be associated to pure seasonal overdrive. I talked with Aubrey about it. <i>Did I want to close my shop?</i> No. I loved running a business. So what was it? My shop felt too full - out of whack. <i>Something </i>was wrong.<br /><br />What was wrong wasn't clear to me. However the fact that I knew that I didn't want to close my shop was a place to start. So if I didn't want to stop working, what did I have to change about my work to make it more enjoyable? Something had to change, but I couldn't figure out what. I would work through scenarios in my head. Should to push my business into a new direction - get <i>bigger?</i> If I were to look 10-20 years down the line, what would that end goal be - what would be a great career?<br /><br />My business has a lot of components, too many I wondered, so I decided to look at each individually.<br /><br /><a href="http://www.pennypaperco.com/collections/stationery-custom-stamps" target="_blank">Stamps</a>. Should the growth of my business be in getting a warehouse and revving up my stamp production? Immediately I knew that my passion is <i>designing </i>stamps, not owning a stamp production warehouse. I'd leave the world domination of stamps to someone else. This part of my business makeup was fine "as is" and obviously not what was itching for change.<br /><br />I looked at my <a href="http://www.pennypaperco.com/collections/accessories" target="_blank">accessories</a>. I debated if I wanted to get into growing my accessory line, build up my online business. I know I have a good eye, I know what sells. I have great relationships with vendors -  but storage for the stock is an issue and plus, it's a lot of money to <i>invest </i>in stock. You have to buy a lot of it upfront and so a lot of money is sitting in products in our home. That puts a financial strain on our family. It's a risk you do, when you want to grow a business but I don't want to move my business out of my home because I love being here for Oscar. Although I <i>love </i>accessories, I've decided to keep that "as is" and carry only a really "curated" collection of awesome things. So that area of my business wasn't requiring change either.<br /><br />Then, I debated <a href="http://www.pennypaperco.com/collections/all-stationery" target="_blank">stationery</a>. I got into stationery somewhat accidentally 10 years ago. The business was initially going to be art prints - but custom stationery quickly took over and became my primary focus. It was my bread and butter once. But now it didn't feel like it had a place in my shop.<br /><br /><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgjnWNhKJMe2KxYEpXAePfYcV_8yctNmUpJhU2Xl3qjqz8FhHv9n14MGLoLhyg0DoKBBevrHhOvXOSxVZVPhOe0nTica-4NYQA8S1fshMcYXeniz-JdylYwa5dQhfgdE3c7pOYH2dMc3jQ/s1600/DSCN3165.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgjnWNhKJMe2KxYEpXAePfYcV_8yctNmUpJhU2Xl3qjqz8FhHv9n14MGLoLhyg0DoKBBevrHhOvXOSxVZVPhOe0nTica-4NYQA8S1fshMcYXeniz-JdylYwa5dQhfgdE3c7pOYH2dMc3jQ/s1600/DSCN3165.jpg" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">In 2004, The Penny People characters were the primary focus of my shop. </td></tr></tbody></table><br /><br /><br />Over the years the collection has changed, I dropped the cartoon characters from the line because once again,<i> I changed </i>and realized I didn't like drawing them anymore. And over the last year my stationery line has dwindled and, my passion for it has really shifted. Not only has my passion for making stationery changed, but I'm preferring buying other peoples stationery more than my own. I'm in love with Etsy sellers that are so creative, and companies like Rifle Paper Co.  That was a a big ah-ha moment for me.  I had never really thought about it. But when faced with looking at it long term, and in terms of growth - stationery wasn't something I wanted to be doing. That was a CRAZY realization. So that ah-ha moment was a big one - and the result is pretty surprising to me. <i>I'm phasing out stationery.</i> Coming to that conclusion lifted this weight from me. This was what was not sitting right.<br /><br />Then I was left with considering the final piece of the pie - my artwork. My art. Oh, my <i>art prints.</i> I adore them. I get excited coming up with new designs, seeing the art in kids rooms, family walls. Working with my art publisher. This area of my life is my <i>joy</i>. So that was another big realization - <b>my passion and love was in my art.</b><br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjLtnx9Czi0jRoRkZcTk8gOU2djGdpYZRDmyDMCjFOBPDIx_gTMUCsOOPH7lxcqD9WKDjlelDY3HFnnV4lilx0_fv6ebiOzkmgQRspveuzjC5sCZH3RVFz6lMF0TMtuAzR209-8PZ6DJl4/s1600/IMG_2334.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjLtnx9Czi0jRoRkZcTk8gOU2djGdpYZRDmyDMCjFOBPDIx_gTMUCsOOPH7lxcqD9WKDjlelDY3HFnnV4lilx0_fv6ebiOzkmgQRspveuzjC5sCZH3RVFz6lMF0TMtuAzR209-8PZ6DJl4/s1600/IMG_2334.jpg" /></a></div>And that was by big moment of realization. Something needed to be dropped from my life, in order to  grow something else. Stationery was going, and my art prints were growing.<br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div>Sometimes you need to think of the bigger picture - even if it may be unattainable, you have to think "what if". For me that was considering what would have to happen in order to grow areas of my business. The warehouse spaces and working outside of home just weren't what I wanted to be doing, and that was necessary in order to grow most of the pieces of my company.<br /><br />I appreciate this is a long winded post but I think it's important as business owners, even if we're running small, medium or large businesses, is to be <i>aware </i>of change - embrace it even if it is uncomfortable and not exactly what you thought it would be. Never in a million years did I think I would drop my stationery from my shop. But here I am, weaning it out because not only has my business changed but I've changed. I also never imagined my art in retail stores, or having <a href="http://lindsaystephenson.com/wholesale/" target="_blank">catalogs of designs</a>. I'm truly honored to have this as part of my life.<br /><br />I really appreciate all of the support many of you give, with my blog, my business, my art - it's terribly daunting to put things "out there" especially when they are explaining moments of insecurity or self doubt. I appreciate your readership, and kindness - so thank you.<br /><br />xo Linds<br /><br /><i>Ps., The picture is of one of my pieces of art found at HomeSense - a few pieces are coming into stores framed and look AMAZING. </i><br /><br /><br /><br />

business changes

I occasionally write about my business musings that go on over here. I know it's likely a limited group of people that would find it int...

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