Small Business Recap 2012

via sixwordstoryeveryday.com

I posted my business goals for 2012 back in December of 2011. I also did a recap in April this year. Now its the end of 2012 and lets see how I did. 

Goals:

1. Create new/test products on regular basis. I don't think I will ever be happy with the amount of products I create/test. I found through out the year this is not really a goal but good business practice for growing your business. You and I should always be thinking out of the box and keep coming up with new ideas.   
2. Streamline where I can. I am going to mark this goal complete! I streamlined my paper inventory which really helped. I also started shipping free paper color samples to customers which has helped a lot for them to see and touch the paper before ordering. No more surprise colors when your order comes in the mail. I FINALLY (I put finally in all caps since I must have been living under a rock for not starting this sooner!) started using paypal for shipping. Talk about streamlining! Just printing shipping labels at home has saved me money, time and gas. I still go to the post office for international orders but that is fine by me.
3. Cutting costs. This one is kinda part of #2. Streamlining and cutting costs go hand in hand. I will also say I made good progress for this goal with shipping via paypal.  
4. Making my name known. I make some progress, but again I don't think it could ever be enough. I reached out to local vendors (only had a couple of replies), I advertised on a wedding blog which I know brought traffic to my site but not sure how many sales came from it. A new goal for 2013 is to open my own online store other than etsy and artfire. I just feel its time, I don't want to have all my eggs in one basket.

Another goal I had was my sales goal for the year. I am happy to report I made it! I didn't make it until late December but I made it and that is what counts.

Small Business Check In

via sixwordstoryeveryday.com

I had posted my business goals back in December. I know 1st quarter has already pasted by, but I wanted to touch on what I have done so far.

Goals:

1. Create new/test products on regular basis. This is still a struggle with my day job and orders. Here and there I have created new products thanks to great customers asking for something not already created. It forces me to get have fun and create something new. 
2. Streamline where I can. I created a new color chart with fewer colors. It has really cut down my trips to retail stores and getting small qty's of certain colors. These colors were not as popular and harder to find. I know I have had to say no to some customers asking for a color but overall it has really helped. If I don't have a color their the custom will go with a neutral or not. I am ok with this.
3. Cutting costs. This also goes with #2 cutting down my paper choices has saved me time, gas and money. I have not seen a impact in sales because of it. I was afraid I would lose customers but you can't please everyone. 
4. Making my name known. This is a work in progress. I had a friend of my (she is writer) create messaging for me to reach out to local vendors. I have yet to do it but I now have what I need to do it. It's on my ever growing to do list. If you know you need help with something ask for help. I know I am not a strong writer. I am thrilled with what she created and I am sure it will help get my name out there.
   

Small Business goal setting 2012

via sixwordstoryeveryday.com

I am so close to my sales goal for the year I can taste it! It's a overwhelming feeling. I can't believe what I thought was this crazy goal at the beginning of the year would happen. Of course I have other goals as well but this one gets to me the most. Not without a lot of help, crying, hard work, stress and road blocks this year but it happened.

I wanted to triple my business over last year. To me that was huge. With that being said, I reason I am so close was because I expanded into a whole new market. The wedding market. I began to really sell wedding related items which pushed my sales to meet my goal.

So now I start thinking of 2012. Can I do it again? What should my new sales goal be for 2012? How can I make it happen?

Here is a list of things that I need to look at in order to make this goal a reality. You can ask yourself the same things.

1. Create new/test products on regular basis. This one is going to be hard but I think crucial to my business or any business. If I want customers to return I need to have new things for them to buy and to attract new customers.
2. Streamline where I can.Streamlining anything can help save you time, money and effort in the long run. See what you can streamline in your own business. Can you make something easier or faster? Can you ask for help? Can you order more inventory at one time?
3. Cutting costs.This is a big one for me. I need to start really getting my wholesale accounts for supplies in order. I don't want to have to run to the local retail shop every time I run of of something. Somethings I already buy wholesale. One example is a adhesive. I got through so much of it you would think I could glue a car together by now.
4. Making my name known.You can never get enough of this. It seems easy enough but its harder than you think. I have not done as much of this as I should have this year. The reason - I am scared. I am scared it might actually work and I will get so many orders I don't know if I could keep up ( I still have full time 40 hour week job). That being said if I don't get more orders or new clients how am I going to make my goals? Starting in 2012 I am going to start getting my name out there - in the "real" world and online.

What are your goals for 2012? How are you going to meet them or exceed them?