Behind the Register: Creating Plan B For Your Business

by Lisa LeBlanc on 1/12/11 | View Comments Comment(s)

First off, thanks so much to everyone who sent me get-well wishes from my last post.  I love having an extended family on Handmade Spark…all your love and support through this difficult time in my life means so much.  Illness aside, I had been planning to write for some time …

Behind the Register: The Art of Saying No

by Lisa LeBlanc on 12/18/10 | View Comments Comment(s)

Somewhere between my reflection of the past months of 2010 and my resolutions for 2011, I realize now that I need to learn how to say “NO”.  I thought I had mastered this when every grandma that could make a hair bow, candle, or some other craft-gone-bad combo would come …

Behind the Register: More Sellers than Buyers

by Lisa LeBlanc on 12/08/10 | View Comments Comment(s)

It’s basic supply and demand and I find daily I am having to explain this to both my customers and eagerly hopeful consignors and vendors, but when someone asks why I don’t carry “xyz” or someone wants me to buy “xyz” from them, I use my new motto “more sellers …

Writers Spark: Interview with Susan Campanini

by Emily Orpin on 8/15/10 | View Comments Comment(s)

Typewriter pouch by ity bity bags
Continuing the Writers Spark series, I am delighted to introduce you to Handmade Spark blog writer, beaded jewelry maker, gardener and cat lover Susan Campanini!   Susan is also a freelance copyeditor – something which I had to admit made me a bit nervous typing up …

Writers Spark: Interview With Amber Jordan (aka Mommy The Marketer)

by Emily Orpin on 6/15/10 | View Comments Comment(s)

Typewriter necklace by Cute Ability
Typewriter Necklace by Cute Ability
In this installment of the ongoing Writers Spark series I interview Amber Jordan, aka Mommy The Marketer.  A veritable font of marketing knowledge, Amber is a very busy lady!  She maintains an Etsy shop (Tate Skye Designs), writes for Handmade Spark and …

International Shipping: The Good, the Bad and the Ugly

by Emily Orpin on 5/29/10 | View Comments Comment(s)

Air Mail labels by Squid Ink

I started thinking about writing this post over a month ago, and back then it would have simply been called ‘International Shipping: The Good’.  But as I read through various blog posts and forum threads and spoke to other Etsy sellers, I began to realize …