Pagan Packs | Helping Pagan Businesses Prosper…one pack at a time!

February 4, 2012
by Gypsy
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5 Reasons Blogging is Crucial to Your Business

Are you blogging for you business?

** This article is republished by Gypsy, owner of Blogging w/ Gypsy @ Gypsy’s Treasures. **

I’ve been blogging on and off since roughly around 2007, but over the past 2 years I have discovered just how important blogging CAN be for any business. It’s amazing how it falls right there along side using the social networks as well. With the internet being as vast as it is, every business owner MUST find ways to get their business out there and in front of people. And blogging is one of those ways.

Here are MY 5 Reasons for blogging for your business

Builds Relationships ~ Whether you include personal things in your business blog or not, readers get to know you and as they read more of your posts and keep coming back to your blog, this in turn builds trust.
Expands Your Reach ~ If readers like what you posted, can relate to it somehow, or feel emotional attached to your subject matter, they WILL share it! (Do you have social sharing buttons on your blog? If not, I suggest you install them. Stay tuned for my post about social sharing later this week. Better yet, use that “Subscribe” box over there on the top right and you won’t miss a post ever!)
Grow Your List ~ One of your biggest goals is to build your mailing list. The more subscribers you have, the more chance you have of your readers to buy something from you. This is why a newsletter is so important … I better get on that! LOL
Shows Expertise ~ Sharing with your readers what you know and what you can do helps show you are an expert in your niche. What’s your niche? What do you do? Share it, teach it … but get it out there.
Establishes Credibility ~ With this comes the trust and loyalty you build with your expertise and customer relationships. (These would be my #1 and #4 reasons.)

Hmmm .. funny how most of these same reasons hold true for having a social media presence such as a Facebook Page, a Google+ Page, or a Twitter account. But I’ll save that for another post

What are your best reasons to blog? If you don’t blog yet, I’d like to hear why. Have any questions about blogging for your business? Use the comment box below! I will answer them for you!

** If you would like to repost this article on your blog, please visit Blogging w/ Gypsy @ Gypsy’s Treasures FAQ page for more information. **

January 31, 2012
by Mary Caelsto
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Featured Business: GRT Web Design & Blogging With Gypsy

Business Name:

Blogging with Gypsy at Gypsy’s Treasures ~ A Place to Find Treasures of ALL Kinds!
GRT Web Design ~ It’s Like Magick!

Business URL:

http://www.gypsystreasures.com
http://www.grtwebdesign.com

Facebook/Twitter/Other Social Networking Sites:

FB Page: http://www.facebook.com/bloggingwithgypsy
Twitter: http://www.twitter.com/grtshoppe
Google+: http://plus.google.com/u/0/102303419325283486659/posts

What is your primary line of business?

Blogging with Gypsy is my blogging outlet. There are so many Pagan businesses out there that think they need to have a shop set up right away to start selling their wares and then they wonder why their website/shop is not making sales. Blogging is a great way to help potential clients/customers get to know you, to build a relationship with you, as well as getting to know the products/services you are offering.

I share tips and tricks about using Word Press. I write about crafts I am doing and will be offering. I sew, crochet, make candles, design blogsites among other things. I share resources, websites and other goodies. I also share my own experiences, in hopes that it will help inspire other Pagans to find ways to share their knowledge with others.

GRT Web Design is primarily to build a working blogsite for personal use or for business using WordPress for clients. The beauty with WordPress is that you do not need to have the blog if you do not want to, although I strongly encourage blogging to help get more traffic to your site. I design logos, custom design WP themes to match logos, as well as help clients set up their social network.

What can you offer customers that others cannot? Or how can you add value to your customers’ orders?

On my Blogging with Gypsy blog, I share the knowledge I have to encourage other Pagans, whether in business or not, to blog or start a blog and get their words out there. I like to share my own experiences and resources with making my own crafts to encourage others that it can be done. I want to let people know that you can be a mom, be a wife and work at home doing what you love.

At GRT Web Design, I encourage others that WordPress is not just for blogging; that it’s a fantastic content management system that can be used for websites only and as an eCommerce option as well. I help set the foundation to a solid social network and provide the tools or resources to help use that foundation to grow and build on.

When/How did you get started? Tell us a bit about your history.

I got into graphic design and website design in 1999 when I got my first computer, with no formal education. Just surfed the net and learned J I used drag and drop programs, but I really preferred hard coding them myself. In 2005 I began my own online business called Gypsy Rose Treasures and discovered shopping carts. I learned how to totally redesign my own cart. But I was never really happy with it because it still was such a static site, except for when I added new pages or products. Then I discovered the “art” of blogging and WordPress! This opened a whole new world for me. At the time I started taking web design classes and received my certificate in Web Design in the fall of 2009! Yay!!

By fall of 2010 I was heading down a new path – steering away from static sites and sites using shopping carts. I was discovering how easy it was to use WordPress for more than just blogging sites. I was just beginning to start building up my web design business and my husband and I found out we were having a baby. Life sometimes has a way of putting things on hold. LOL After baby William was born in July of 2011, I got back into designing and started blogging regularly again. Now you can find me at Gypsy’s Treasures blogging and helping clients through GRT Web Design.

Do you have any specials you’d like to share?

Please visit http://www.gypsystreasures.com and sign up for my newsletter “Blogging with Gypsy”.

Do you have any upcoming plans or exciting things coming up in the future for your business?

I am excited about being a regular guest blogger at Pagan Packs (http://www.paganpacks.com). I will be adding hand crafted one-of-a-kind items to Gypsy’s Treasures.

January 24, 2012
by Mary Caelsto
0 comments

Featured Business: Raven and Crone

Business Name: Raven and Crone

Business URL: http://www.ravenandcrone.com/

Facebook/Twitter/Other Social Networking Sites: facebook.ravenandcrone.com

What is your primary line of business? Online Pagan Supplies and Crystals

What can you offer customers that others cannot? Or how can you add value to your customers’ orders?

I communicate with every customer and order. They always get the automated response after placing an order but then I always send them a personal email too. I let them know about processing time, when the order is shipped. If there is something special about the item they ordered, I will tell them about it. When they order crystals or stones there is usually an extra surprise in the order for them. Usually a stone that compliments what they ordered. Most of my stones and crystals are handpicked by me when I buy my stock. When I start packing the order that has crystals and stones I look at what they have ordered and try to focus on the intention they are trying to achieve and put that energy into each item as it is picked. Two weeks after an order is shipped each customer gets an email from me. They are asked if they received their order and if they are happy with it. At that time they have the option of leaving feedback on their purchases if they want to. This is a good way to make sure everyone is happy with the transaction.

When/How did you get started? Tell us a bit about your history.

My business started in 2004. At the time I was beading jewelry and decided to put it online. About 1 year later I had enough of beading and, started adding pagan supplies. I gradually converted to all pagan supplies. As time evolved I fell in love with crystals and tumbled stones, so I started adding them to my site. The crystals are what I love most about the business now. I sell both pagan supplies and crystals. My inventory changes and grows monthly. During all this time I had a day job too. Finally this year I am full time with the online store. I love it!

Do you have any specials you’d like to share?

I put on sales every month. Sometimes it’s just a certain category and sometimes the whole catalog. If my supplier offers a special I pass it on to my customers. I like having specials and always welcome ideas from anyone that takes the time to email me with a suggestion.

Do you have any upcoming plans or exciting things coming up in the future for your business?

I hope to have a special featured product every month. Something I choose that I fell in love with and want to share. I also might feature a product that I possibly bought too much of because I liked it so much and got carried away. I hope to tell a story about the item and why it’s featured and of course put a special price on it for the month.

Is there anything else you’d like to add?

I run the business alone. My main focus is the customer. I treat every order personally. This always comes first. Having an online store is a lot of work. I love that it is growing. However I never want it to get to big because I want each order to be personal. I want to have the time to treat every customer as I would like to be treated. I want people to know there is a person on the other side of the computer taking care of their order with care and appreciation.

January 21, 2012
by Mary Caelsto
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Positive Proprietor: Educate Your Customers

This past week we saw the SOPA and PIPA protests and the education of internet users of what it would mean for them. It was an educational effort of unprecedented proportions and it worked! We might still have to be vigilant, but we accomplished what we wanted to do–the bill (for now) is dead.

Now there’s talk of a Black March to try and protest against the big corporations which were behind SOPA/PIPA. However, while we do want to hurt those companies, it’s hard to remember that these companies employ countless individuals who had nothing to do with the company’s policy. The artists and content creators with these companies may even have been against SOPA/PIPA. In addition, by not purchasing any media, there’s a chance that smaller publishers, musicians, independent labels and artists, and others would be hurt by any boycott. It’s a matter of education.

As shop owners, we need to educate our customers daily. For stores like independent pet stores, it’s important to educate customers on reasons to buy local and buy from small shops. Those who sell online should educate customers about things lie what they, as a shop, do to protect privacy or reasons to purchase from the shop. It’s an ongoing process.

There are many ways to educate customers. Signage and discussions work well in a physical store. Online stores can also benefit from signage in the form of graphics, or a page of information. Keep in mind that busy customers won’t read a lot of information or have time to go through many pages. We want to give them relevant information that helps them.

Customers want to know three things:

How you will help them
What they can do to help themselves
What they can do to help you

Surprised about the last one? Loyal customers who have a relationship with your business will, if it’s easy for them, help your business. Customers want you to succeed. If they have a relationship with your business, then customers will generally want to keep you in business and keep you going.

So think about the ways in which you can educate your customers. You might be surprised at the results.

January 17, 2012
by Mary Caelsto
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Featured Business: Gaia’s Artistry

Business Name: Gaia’s Artistry

Business URL: http://www.gaiasartistry.com

Facebook/Twitter/Other Social Networking Sites: http://www.facebook.com/pages/Gaias-Artistry/351499035594.

What is your primary line of business?: Handcrafted spiritual items for those who follow alternative spiritual beliefs. All of my products are inspired by the natural world.

What can you offer customers that others cannot? Or how can you add value to your customers’ orders?

Inspired by the natural world around me I take images and symbols and create handcrafted items for use as decoration or as functional (and depending on the product washable) altar/spiritual tools. Each item is created with the thought of it being a one of a kind item and they find their owners.

When/How did you get started? Tell us a bit about your history.

Creating beautiful crafts has always been a passion of mine as I; knit, crochet, spin my own yarn, weave, sew, cross stitch and embroider. I love being in nature and growing things and hope to work on including an herbalist certification in the future. Three years or so ago a friend of mine and I came up with the business as we drove to a sheep and wool festival in Rhode Island. Three years later I haven’t gotten bored with the variety and inspiration from the world around me.

Do you have any specials you’d like to share?

Customers receive a 10% discount on returning orders of $20 or more.

Do you have any upcoming plans or exciting things coming up in the future for your business?

The ideas are always evolving I am hoping to add several new inspirational products to my line as well as working on more embroidery projects through the winterJ

Is there anything else you’d like to add?

I enjoy working with my customers on special orders and welcome custom work. I find that it makes the item more connected to the person.

January 14, 2012
by Mary Caelsto
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Positive Proprietor: Do we really want to be Esurance?

I was struck the other night by a commercial from Esurance where they touted how many customers wrote positive messages on their wall, and/or told their friends about the company. Now, they’re not the only company who does this. Ask me about my Temperpedic is another one. However, they are the only company that I know of to make a big deal how they did not pay their customers.

Okay, I think we all understand that we pay the insurance companies and they happily take our money and pray we don’t have an accident. (We do too, but they see it as a financial gain if they don’t have to do anything for us for that six-month period or however long our policy runs…) However, what I think Esurance fails to understand in boasting about how they don’t do anything nice for their customers who spread the good word is the simple law of customer service.

A happy customer tells only a few people. An unhappy one tells at least 7-10.

So why is it wrong that Esurance doesn’t compensate their customers?

Continue Reading →

January 8, 2012
by Mary Caelsto
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Positive Proprietor: Do You Have HR?

Human resources (HR) has gotten a bad reputation these days, as being a place where the company and it’s interests are protected more than the people who work for it. It’s a place that screens applications finding reasons not to hire people these days, rather than being a way to develop and build the human capital that powers a company to greater heights. As small business owners, we might think that we don’t have a HR department. In fact, we may think that we don’t need an HR department. If we are a sole-proprietorship where it’s just the proverbial “me, myself, and I”, then there won’t be any disciplinary issues, any hiring or firing decisions, or anything that a HR department traditionally does.

However, that really isn’t the case. Small businesses do have HR departments, though like most other “departments” within the company it’s all rolled into the duties of the owner, sole-proprietor. So what does a small business HR department do?

Going back to the original meaning of the words (not the trumped up, MBA meaning), it’s “human resources”. In other words, it’s how you as the owner relate to others and what resources you bring, or don’t bring, to your company.
You do hire, or fire, vendors, service providers or others with whom you work.
You do work at developing your human capital (you) as you learn more about your business or aspects of your industry

Let’s start with the last one, because it’s the easiest. Looking at HR as a department taxed with the job of developing employees, every time you learn about an aspect of your business (read a trade journal for example), you are developing your human capital — you! Learning about websites or new technologies falls under this category, too. There’s a lot of education that goes into running a business by yourself. You can keep going along as you’re going along, but things change so often that’s it is always good to learn.

Hiring and firing vendors is HR’s job, too. Website not running right? Need to fire your tech support and find a new one? That’s a personnel decision for your “HR department”. Researching new web site hosting companies or a new wholesale vendor to add or improve existing product lines falls here, too. You may not realize it, but you make these kinds of decisions all the time. Changing advertising outlets, trying new media outreach, it’s all HR, even if it’s something you do as part of your normal business.

And, finally, going back to the root of the two words: human = people and resource = a source of supply or support, a natural source of wealth or revenue, an ability to meet and handle a situation. (Definition for resource provided by the Merriam-Webster dictionary). The root of this is, what company do you keep and how do you treat people you deal with.

“an ability to meet and handle a situation”

I think it’s easy to say that we encounter “situations” all the time in the course of our doing business. Angry customers, vendors who don’t deliver on time, competitors who try to tear us down. I think we’d all agree that those are “situations”. How we deal with those is exactly what human resources is about. Do we portray ourselves as a source of supply or support, a natural source of wealth or revenue, or do we tumble down the slippery slope of negativity and recriminations?

In all the ways that the single person business has to act as all the departments in a company, in some ways, how sole-proprietors handle their human resources is the most important.

December 31, 2011
by Mary Caelsto
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Positive Proprietor: Is Your Business Based On Ego?

Been doing a lot of reading lately and a particular author has struck a thoughtful nerve with me, in that I want to think more about her work. She talks a lot about moving your ego aside, getting rid of your ego, because then you will be on spirit’s level and not the level of ego. And I got to thinking about certain businesses and careers and how they are based solely on ego. As a small business person, and one who practices a business philosophy of helping others and giving back, I wanted to think about how we can move our businesses from ego to spirit.

Looking at the economic climate, the businesses that I choose not to work with, the places where I’m moving my accounts from are based on ego. A philosophy of “we’re better than everyone else”, “we’re more special”, and “we deserve your business.”

Um, no. A business based on spirit is one where love and humbleness reigns, where the business owner is pleased to have your business, and sees you as a valued partner, not as a change purse to be shaken down every time you visit the store.

So as we look at our business in 2012, we need to ask ourselves: Is our business based on ego?

See if you can answer these questions:

1. Do you think that you’re better than others in your field?

2. Do you feel that you are more special and that you deserve special treatment/special customers/financial rewards because of your “specialness”? (This is the salesman, “I deserve to have you cater to me because I am the sales person and I bring this company money” attitude. Very toxic.)

3. Do you give back to your customers and their communities?

4. If a customer would be better served by one of your competitors, do you recommend that person to your customer? Or do you try to keep the business for yoruself?

5. Do you demand special treatment?

I think it’s important to realize that we are all, customer and business owner alike special. We are all light and no one’s light shines more brightly. When we operate our business from this place of equality, then we will truly be operating from spirit and not ego.

Something to strive for in 2012.

December 5, 2011
by Mary Caelsto
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Positive Proprietor: Make Black Friday & Cyber Monday Last Every Day

Okay, so maybe you don’t want the craziness and the mania of Black Friday and Cyber Monday to last every day. That’d get tiring. But, you do want the energy of those days, the excitement and enthusiasm about your store to last year round. How do you do that?

First. Forget the gimmicks. Deep discounts and awesome specials are good, but if you’re cutting into the meat of your business, you’re not doing your customers, or yourself, any favors. Do what you can, offer the specials you are able to, and the rest….

Second. Customer service. Think about the business you LOVE to visit. For me, it’s the Starbucks next to my bank. Okay, the coffee is a big draw, but everyone is so nice, so friendly, all-smiles, and for a few moments, I feel like they’re there to make my coffee. It’s for me! If you are an online business customers can’t see your face. They can, however, see your website, your social media presence, and there you want to shine. Make it easy for customers to contact you. Make every interaction sparkle. And make sure you always put your best face forward.

Third. Your products speak for your business. If you’re selling homemade work, make sure each and every one is your best work. If you’re selling pre-packed items, look at what you’re selling, and make sure it’s of good quality.

Sure, you can throw out some great sales on Black Friday and Cyber Monday and customers may come. But the trick to translating those customers into sales through out the year is ensuring you keep the same enthusiasm about your business. Sales are okay. Great products and even better customer service is spectacular!

November 29, 2011
by Mary Caelsto
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Dec 4 Book of Shadows Education Event Schedule

We have finalized our schedule for this Sunday’s event featuring several vendors teaching about different ways to create or enhance your Book of Shadows. All events are free, though we hope you will stay and socialize in between classes and visit our vendors.

ALL EVENTS TAKE PLACE IN OUR CHAT ROOM

Event begins at 11am CST (9am PST/noon EST) with social/opening events until 11:30 CST
11:30 – Presentation: Using Photoshop to Embellish Your Book of Shadows

Presenter Bio:

My abilities are as follows Clairvoyance/Remote Viewing, Clairsentience, Astral Projection, Clairaudience, Animal Telepathy, Precognition, Psychometry, Radiesthesia which is a homing/tracking gift. I have a strong 6th sense and some telekinesis.

I am a Mom and a wife and a daughter as well as a sister.

My family has always been supportive of me. I choose to be a healer because being an empath and one who deals with physical illness herself. I can’t put myself in your shoes and I can be someone that can offer you compassionate healing and help with your problems.

My services are based on the belief that my clients’ needs are of the utmost importance. I am committed to meeting those needs. I do not turn people away if they do not have the money for a service. I cannot help you for free but we can make an arrangement.

I welcome the opportunity to earn your trust and deliver you the best advice and guidance that the spirit will allow me to.

www.psychichealerchristine.com

12-12:30 Social/vending time.
12:30-1 Presentation: How to Make Your Own Brushes and Layers in Photoshop

Ever noticed how that perfect symbol or design is nowhere to be found when you are creating your personal BOS? Well I finally got tired of searching and decided to create my own. Whether you are creating a page to be printed or you want to keep it digital, learning how to create custom brushes and then using them with the layers option in Photoshop, makes having a custom BOS all your own so much easier. My presentation today is going to teach you how to do just that.

My name is Taryn and my shop link is http://www.dragonspelldesigns.com
We do offer blank BOS/journals, and we also do custom work. Stop by and check us out.
1:30 – 2 Social/Vending
2-2:30 – PRESENTATION:
2:30(45ish) to 3 – Social/Vending
3 to 3:30 – PRESENTATION: How to start a Book of Shadows
Perhaps you know you need to have a Book of Shadows, or it’s one of those things you’ve never “gotten around to do”, either way, Mary will lead you through breaking down the steps and get you started. Take a deep breath and prepare for a half an hour of thoughts, ideas, and organization.

Presenter: Mary Caelsto is a spiritual author, the owner of Pagan Packs, and the owner/publisher for Jupiter Gardens Press. Visit her blog at http://marycaelsto.com.

3:30 to 4 social vending
4 to 4:30 – PRESENTATION: Paper Preparation for Your Book of Shadows

This mini workshop will focus on how to prepare your paper for writing, drawing & more. We discuss staining the paper for an old look and even go into detail about infusing your papers with herbal blends. Learn how to bless & cleanse your paper before it is added to your Book of Shadows. Preparing your paper can enhance the beauty and the power of what is actually being added to it.

~Presented by Zonipa of Murmuring Woods.

The presentation will be available for download after the faire at our blog, ‘Craft’ in the Ozarks. This humble and newbie blog discusses simple living and ‘crafting’ in the beautiful Ozark Mountains. Blog is located at www.craftintheozarks.blogspot.com.

4:30 to 5 – social/vending/close