Riding the Elevator

Part of a business series I am writing for those of you (especially mamas) thinking of starting a handmade business.  Hopefully we can connect soon!  

The Elevator Speech.  

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Ah the 30 seconds, at best that you give it your all.  You sell yourself in less time then it takes to spell your name out loud.  The elevator speech is so so very important as you market your business outside the internets.  

The elevator speech really doesn't need to take place in an elevator but it does have certain components to every time you say it.  

How to recognize the time for the elevator speech opportunity.

1. you are with total strangers

2. you are with people who know you but don't know what you do

3. you have 20 - 30- seconds to answer the question, "what do you do."

4. there is no one to speak "above."

Nuts and Bolts of the Speech

1. who are you?
2. what do you do?
3. how do you do it?
4. when do you do it?
5. why do you do it? 

The basics we learned in 2nd grade.  This is where you are.  You have 20-30 seconds to let someone know how passionate you are about what you create.  Why you spend sleepless nights doing what you do.  And how they can buy your goods (uber importante!).

I am constantly changing my elevator speech.  Every week I evaluate what my speech looks like.  It keeps in me in touch with my business, it affords opportunity for me to dream, and maybe it will show in a sale.  

Right now, #sofour's elevator speech often looks something like this.

Hi I'm Heather.  I sell and blog about my art filled sewn pieces of everyday items that promote a positive message in a bright and colorful way.  You can find my pieces on Etsy, Facebook and by using the hashtag #sofour.  (then the traditional handing of the business card).  

It's not perfect, but right now it is me.  My elevator speech keeps in line with tag line.  It holds true to my branding ideals. This elevator speech can be changed based on my audience - a very important details.  

I have used my elevator speech at the kid's schools, at a recent craft show, at the local cafe - the possibilities of telling people about what you do are infinite.  

As much as the elevator speech is a very important part of your package, what it more important is that your audience leaves interested and inspired.  

The #sofour community would love to hear your speech - share it!  That is the best practice! 

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Business as Usual

Now that the kids are back in school and chaos of everyday life ensues, I find that my creative muscles flex in a more productive way.  I know, I know - that sounds nuts.  But I was the college student who could knock out 40 page papers the night before they were due and sneak away with an A.  There is always a plan behind the madness, but the execution might be last minute.  

It looks extrememely romantic from the sidelines but running a handmade business is hustle.  Behind the scenes of whimsy and wonder are many components you never do see (for real).  

- There are the countless sleepless nights finishing orders, producing product, writing, publishing, and just thinking

- A army of journals follow me wherever I go.  There is one in the car (you never know what strikes you at a red light).  I carry a 2 journals in my bag.  One for business ideas, the other is a gratitude journal where I often write sermon notes or other things to think about.  A legal size notepad hangs on a clipboard in my sewing area.  And at the kitchen family desk area, yet another journal.

  

- Research.  Seriously I am still doing research - just not writing the papers to go with it.  I spend a bit of everyday seeing what other artists are doing.  Reading helpful articles on Etsy.  Sometimes I can be found digging into the trenches of social media to get a pulse on trends.  



- Then there is my love hate relationship with marketing.  I love to brainstorm about it, scared as hell to implement it.  See when you make something and ask people to buy it, you are being judged.  Really, you are asking people to judge you.  Scary.  Extremely vunerable.  But at the same time so fun.  I mean who doesn't like business card design, connecting with people, blogging.  The list goes on and on. 



There are so many exciting converstaions I have with dreamers that want to jump into a handmade business.  I love these convos -- they keep me going.  But in all honesty, you have to love what you do to do this on your own.  It is a ton of hardwork.  A bit of a marriage if you will.  You must love it.  I do.  

Business - what's in a name

What to name a business.  It can back fire or set you into jet fuel propelling.  It is something people agonize over as if they are giving birth to a baby all over again.  

I have been"professionally" sewing for 10+ years.  In that time there have been three business names.  I think each reflects a period of where and why the art was focused. 

First there was "Cotton Kisses".  Cotton Kisses was named after the sweetest yellow lab ever.  She always knew how to love people.  She took care of us.  And I knew as I sewed tote bags to bring home our Russian daughter that she would be the dog to watch over our new baby.  Cotton's Kisses lasted for a few years.  That business raised 10's of thousands of dollars to get the artist home.  It was an opportunity to learn.

Then "Nina Bina" was born.  She was again a result of prayer - a cry for provision for a family and the need to be a Proverbs 31 woman.  Nina Bina was always a happy business.  It was focused on monogram and applique in a time that was perfect.  I loved, loved, loved being a part of special moments in life. But there was an artist part of me that wasn't being fed.  Thankful, just not fed.

September 2013, an idea that had been on my heart for a long time starting to come to fruition.  It was great thanks to a dynamic group of people and once again, prayer.  It has all been a lot of hard work but fun work.  And once again - this Proverbs 31 woman is encouraged.  "So Four" means exactly what it says, so four.  So, I am the mom of four now - that basically means the sky is the limit.  God has pretty much given me some crazy superhero powers.  I am thankful.  

My four are so encouraging.

My four are so loving.

My four are a tight tribe.

My four are a blessing from above.

My four are a gift.

A gift of joy that I hope encourages you in your daily life.

So, when picking a name for a business you might be dreaming of.  Keep it simple.  Keep it close to your heart.  Because after all there can be a million people that do what you do but only one you who will be you.  

thankful business

I'm incredibly thankful for my little business.  My wonderful clients help pay for karate, clothes, and sometimes even food.  I get to stay home with my kids and life is good! 

But since the first of the year, business has been more of a burden than a joy.  There is something inside of me festering.  I want so bad to proclaim that I am an artist, maybe even a designer -- it sounds so much more sophisticated that stating, "I sew."

I began to loathe when orders came in.  The worst attitude began to take over.  The creative heart in me began to be replaced with - here we go again.  This is a terrible place to be! Guilt began to set in and my little business became a little burden.  Ugh!  

But then three things happened.  One, I stepped off my pedestal.  For so long I was putting the cart before the horse - or me in front of God.  Two, I began to read the book Quitter.  It really opened my eyes to where God wants me to be and why he has me there.  Three, I looked back over the pictures of the things people have ordered over the past few years and realized something so amazing.  

It is a privilege to do what I do.  A little bit of me gets to be a part of baby showers.  I get to play a role in very important birthdays.  People choose my work to be a part of everlasting photographic memories.  This is a blessing I have overlooked for so long.  What I get to do is a gift, and much more important than a self pictured title.  

So thank you.  Thank you Lord for opening my eyes.  Thank you friends for letting me be a part of your baby's first birthday.  Thank you ladies for letting me welcome your babies into the world.  Thank you grandmother's for letting me send your grand babies to college.  Thank you for letting me be a part of sending your friends off in marriage.  Thank you for letting me be a part of your lives - I am humbled and grateful.