eye on the prize

this is what i will give away in a random drawing when we get the new website up and participants answer 15 questions. i have hand selected a dozen different 1 yard lengths of our ribbons, some foam stamps, some acrylic frames and some bottlecaps! we hope to have everything up and running by sunday so check back for the quiz next week.

speaking of small businesses, a word to those of you who are wanting to start one. it isn't easy and it ain't cheap and be ready to spend a lot of time on it. things you have to do/contract out/ figure out/pay for include:

1. website hosting
2. website design
3. catalog design
4. catalog printing
5. product design
6. product prototyping
7. supplier visits (going to asia to work with suppliers)
8. trade shows
9. elements for the trade shows (furniture, projects, food, hotel, etc)
10. designers
11. telephone
12. fax
13. warehousing
14. DSL
15. business cards
16. accounting stuff
17. packing supplies
18. advertising (actual ads, TV show stuff, products in the hands of magazines)
19. labels , stickers for everything
20. giveaways
21. make and take sponsorships
22. QC issues

those are just the ones i can think of on the top of my head. so when it all comes down to it. you have to love what you do to even fathom and think about competing with the big boys and girls. but we enjoy it - seriously though think about all these things before jumping in otherwise you might unpleasantly surprise yourself!