I did it .. I caved! One Kindle II has now been ordered/reserved for me. My poor credit card!!! I had to have this .. Debbie in the shop has one of those cool cell phones with the screen where you move your fingers over it and it changes and it's really cool and I have no idea how it works or how I'd work it but I wanted one and Dave said no like he's in control or something but he's probably right and I would just spend my money on something that's cool to look at when someone else who knows what they're doing is using it so at least now I'll have something cool that other people can look at and go wow-that's really neat! (how's that for a run on sentence?! Mr Davis from English class is doing back flips in his grave right now, I'm sure!!!)
Besides, I don't even have an Ipod .. or know how THAT works .. or an MP3 player and have no idea how that works either. I DO have a cell phone that takes me about 37 minutes to try to figure out how to increase the volume or get a voice message or take a picture (which I never remember that I have that function) and once I take a picture, have absolutely no idea how to 'make it go' anywhere .. like my computer. And don't even get me going on texting ... that will NEVER happen! LOL
So .. sometime in March I'll be getting a 'reading machine' that will even READ out loud to me IN MY CAR if I want it to!!! neat-okeen!!!!!
Since I last posted I've also joined two on-line stitching communities ... The Stitcher's Village (which my shop won't be 'live' on until the 1st of March), and Loose Thread Stitchers (which I'm listed on now)! That's why I'm a member of TNNA - why wouldn't I belong to an organization whose main function is to support my business within my industry?! There are so many shop owners out there that just don't get it and I honestly cannot figure out why they don't get it!! I mean, yeah there IS a fee to join the organization but ... it's only $60.00 a year!!!
Now, these two stitching communities I've just joined have fees too, but I have to think of these fees as 'advertising fees' well spent. I'm advertising directly to where stitchers are looking .. not like a newspaper or tv or radio .. where you 'hope' that maybe, if you're incredibly lucky, someone who might be interested in stitching MIGHT actually see that newspaper ad or hear/watch it right at the moment its being run! Both The Stitcher's Village and Loose Thread Stitchers are 'brand new', so we'll see how this goes .. but I'm looking at it as a very positive move .. not only for me as a shop, but as a stitcher too!!
Sunday, February 22, 2009
Friday, February 20, 2009
Reading N Things
On the 'reading' part .....
OK .. I'm intrigued. The Kindle II is out! That automatic book computer thingy. Anyone have one? Tried it? I was sitting next to someone in the airport on one of my trips who had the original Kindle, and she gave me a 'tour'. She loved hers. Then I read comments on Amazon about it and most say to save your money and wait for the next version to come out, as they've been testing it and it has great improvements.
I want one .. or rather, I think I want one (technological challenged though I may be). But .. reading is such a tactile thing, much like stitching, to me .. the feel of a book in my hands, turning pages and hunkering down in a cozy chair for the day. Not to mention reading in bed at night, laying on my side, waiting to get tired enough to put the book down, turn off the light, and go to sleep.
Will I feel the same way about reading with a magical little 'book thingy computer' in my hands??
Then there's the option of downloading instantly new books .. I won't have to WAIT for the hardcover to be published in paperback (as this is my preferred choice of read in bed) .. I'll be able to satisfy my impatience immediately!
Not that I afford one right now, though I do have a $50.00 Gift Card that's burning a hole through my favorite Laurel Burch leather purse (and that would be a shame). What to do?
On the 'things' part .....
Can't people read? On each page of my website where there is ordering info I have posted .. in a highlighted/colored box .. information about my catalog shipping charges that will be quoted on their order when placed.
I just got ANOTHER email from someone, this time cancelling her order, as she was able to find cheaper shipping elsewhere. LOL -- not laughing about the cancelled order, but that's OK, but laughing just the same .. we charge USPS postal rate charges .. I don't know how much clearer I can make it!
When my shopping cart system was purchased, there was NOT an option for quoting actual shipping costs. Since then, the system has been updated so that I can. BUT .. in order to do that, I would have to weigh each and every item IN packaging (as that also determins postal weight), then go into the catalog and edit each and every item to show that item's postal weight. THEN it would hat the probibility of showing what the actual shipping charges would be. With around 15,000 items in my catalog .. that would take me YEARS to do! So that's not going to happen!
But .. it's the same when we hang CLOSED FOR INVENTORY signs all over the windows and doors, and then have people hammering on the door to be let in (or in the case of one person, flipping us off).
That's that for today .. back to work!!!
OK .. I'm intrigued. The Kindle II is out! That automatic book computer thingy. Anyone have one? Tried it? I was sitting next to someone in the airport on one of my trips who had the original Kindle, and she gave me a 'tour'. She loved hers. Then I read comments on Amazon about it and most say to save your money and wait for the next version to come out, as they've been testing it and it has great improvements.
I want one .. or rather, I think I want one (technological challenged though I may be). But .. reading is such a tactile thing, much like stitching, to me .. the feel of a book in my hands, turning pages and hunkering down in a cozy chair for the day. Not to mention reading in bed at night, laying on my side, waiting to get tired enough to put the book down, turn off the light, and go to sleep.
Will I feel the same way about reading with a magical little 'book thingy computer' in my hands??
Then there's the option of downloading instantly new books .. I won't have to WAIT for the hardcover to be published in paperback (as this is my preferred choice of read in bed) .. I'll be able to satisfy my impatience immediately!
Not that I afford one right now, though I do have a $50.00 Gift Card that's burning a hole through my favorite Laurel Burch leather purse (and that would be a shame). What to do?
On the 'things' part .....
Can't people read? On each page of my website where there is ordering info I have posted .. in a highlighted/colored box .. information about my catalog shipping charges that will be quoted on their order when placed.
I just got ANOTHER email from someone, this time cancelling her order, as she was able to find cheaper shipping elsewhere. LOL -- not laughing about the cancelled order, but that's OK, but laughing just the same .. we charge USPS postal rate charges .. I don't know how much clearer I can make it!
When my shopping cart system was purchased, there was NOT an option for quoting actual shipping costs. Since then, the system has been updated so that I can. BUT .. in order to do that, I would have to weigh each and every item IN packaging (as that also determins postal weight), then go into the catalog and edit each and every item to show that item's postal weight. THEN it would hat the probibility of showing what the actual shipping charges would be. With around 15,000 items in my catalog .. that would take me YEARS to do! So that's not going to happen!
But .. it's the same when we hang CLOSED FOR INVENTORY signs all over the windows and doors, and then have people hammering on the door to be let in (or in the case of one person, flipping us off).
That's that for today .. back to work!!!
Wednesday, February 18, 2009
Working N Stitches N Things
Wow .. I'm sorry! I can't believe it's been so long since I last wrote here! Time is just going too fast, way too fast!
Market is over .. and it was GRAND! The attendees - both shops and exhibitors - were down from this past year, but with this economy that wasn't much of a surprise. I'm so glad I went (how could I not go???!!!!!) and am very pleased with what I purchased and brought back with me. The van wasn't as full, but I still spent 'thousands' , and the shop is 'newly crammed' with goodies again!!! What fun!
But .. with the San Diego Market and Nashville falling only 10 days apart, I worked myself in quite the little lather. When I left the shop this past Saturday night, I was looking forward to having a 'day off' and what I was going to do on that day off! That didn't happen!
Went to bed Saturday night and slept for 12 1/4 hours STRAIGHT! Got up, ate some cereal and drank a couple of mugs of coffee, then into the bathroom to start my day. Put face moisturizer on and as I was walking into the bedroom to get into my jeans, realized that I hadn't realized before that my moisturizer had 'pumice' like beads in it. Drat .. I just smoothed cleansing lotion all over my face. Back to the bathroom, washed my face and decided the hell with it. Went back to bed.
Slept for a hour and a half. Got up (again), this time actually PUT the moisturizer on and got dressed. Too tired to move still ... jaw cracking yawns going on here. After ripping the same 1/2 inch section on my cross stitch out for the 5th time, put that project aside. Maybe I'll read. Nope .. too tired to read .. those pages are feeling quite 'heavy'.
Just lazed in the chair, petted the cats, and tried for the Guinness book of how big a yawn I could produce. Went to bed just before 9pm on Sunday night and Dave had to 'turn the dog loose on me on the bed' at 7:30am Monday morning as I just wouldn't wake up on my own!
At least I wasn't yawning anymore!!
Monday .. all alone in the shop. LouAnn has day off to do something fun with her kids home from school .. Debbie is sick, thinks it may be pneumonia. And I had a full 'walk in day' with customers coming in all day long! And that's fun too ... I love working with stitchers who are happy about being where they are in a stitch shop! It wasn't until after 3pm that I could start processing the Internet orders that were streaming in. (did I mention I was pleased with all the goodies I brought back from Market? .. apparently my stitching customers are pleased too!!)
Worked till 6pm Monday night ... then home to do bills. Worked till 7:30pm last night trying to get all my ordering done. LouAnn and I 'may' ... keyword here is MAY ... get caught up somewhat today! whooohoooo
I'd better get back to work then, huh?
sigh
Market is over .. and it was GRAND! The attendees - both shops and exhibitors - were down from this past year, but with this economy that wasn't much of a surprise. I'm so glad I went (how could I not go???!!!!!) and am very pleased with what I purchased and brought back with me. The van wasn't as full, but I still spent 'thousands' , and the shop is 'newly crammed' with goodies again!!! What fun!
But .. with the San Diego Market and Nashville falling only 10 days apart, I worked myself in quite the little lather. When I left the shop this past Saturday night, I was looking forward to having a 'day off' and what I was going to do on that day off! That didn't happen!
Went to bed Saturday night and slept for 12 1/4 hours STRAIGHT! Got up, ate some cereal and drank a couple of mugs of coffee, then into the bathroom to start my day. Put face moisturizer on and as I was walking into the bedroom to get into my jeans, realized that I hadn't realized before that my moisturizer had 'pumice' like beads in it. Drat .. I just smoothed cleansing lotion all over my face. Back to the bathroom, washed my face and decided the hell with it. Went back to bed.
Slept for a hour and a half. Got up (again), this time actually PUT the moisturizer on and got dressed. Too tired to move still ... jaw cracking yawns going on here. After ripping the same 1/2 inch section on my cross stitch out for the 5th time, put that project aside. Maybe I'll read. Nope .. too tired to read .. those pages are feeling quite 'heavy'.
Just lazed in the chair, petted the cats, and tried for the Guinness book of how big a yawn I could produce. Went to bed just before 9pm on Sunday night and Dave had to 'turn the dog loose on me on the bed' at 7:30am Monday morning as I just wouldn't wake up on my own!
At least I wasn't yawning anymore!!
Monday .. all alone in the shop. LouAnn has day off to do something fun with her kids home from school .. Debbie is sick, thinks it may be pneumonia. And I had a full 'walk in day' with customers coming in all day long! And that's fun too ... I love working with stitchers who are happy about being where they are in a stitch shop! It wasn't until after 3pm that I could start processing the Internet orders that were streaming in. (did I mention I was pleased with all the goodies I brought back from Market? .. apparently my stitching customers are pleased too!!)
Worked till 6pm Monday night ... then home to do bills. Worked till 7:30pm last night trying to get all my ordering done. LouAnn and I 'may' ... keyword here is MAY ... get caught up somewhat today! whooohoooo
I'd better get back to work then, huh?
sigh
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