Candybee

I agree. For all the same reasons listed above. I stay away from the fine arts shows and look for the well established and attended shows for crafts. And a juried event tends to be better than one that doesn't check who is bringing in what to sell.

I also check all local county Chamber of Commerce sites for their event calender and came up with about half the shows I am doing this year. The other half I get through an Arts and Crafts Shows Yellow Pages publication.

That's my plan. They came in a box that will hold em just fine. (Until I can afford a proper holder!)

I am still printing my own labels. But not for long! I had my brochures printed up by a printer and it cost a whole lot less! Including time saved plus the cost of having to buy a ton of color ink cartridges.

Whoopee!! I got my merchant account approved for taking credit cards. This means I can add to my website so I can open my store!! I am so excited! I can also take credit card payments at my craft shows so this is huge to me! My first show is this Saturday so I am so appeeeeee!

Yes! Please resize.

Lots of good advice here. I would also keep in mind that you should never let anyone discourage you from doing what you want to do. Use the advice and follow your dreams. Gawd-- I sound so goofy!

Dang! You seem so calm! My problem was I came from a family that didn't believe in credit so it took me a while to figure out how to get it. Of cours now its easier to get it-- and easier to overspend!

Bingo!!! The single most important tidbit of advice I have seen so far! There is something about starting at the 'back' before you move forward. If your partner is as serious as you - they will have no problem with setting up a business proposition with an attorney. Put it in writing and make it a legal document so you both know your responsibilities. Doesn't mean you can't be flexible or have it 'written in stone' but it will help down the road if your business partnership doesn't work. Now that I have said that-- I sure do wish sometimes that I had help with my biz. I get pretty lonely sometimes making all the decisions. But when I do I know they are my own. Anyway-- I really wish you luck with your decision to partner or not to partner.

Yeah. Mine pulled a report. Have you pulled a credit report lately Chistina? It may be better than you think.

Those are cute!

I agree with Kristine about checking out local. I ended up using the bank I already have my business account with so I can just go down the street to do my banking. I got lower fees and lower percentage rate plus I don't pay an extra monthly fee on top of that! I shopped around and found my own bank had the best deal.

Yes. I realised I could do it myself. Bummer! Sorry you had that happen to you. BTW-- what did you do?

Thanks for the kind words re the site. Its such a hair pulling experience to put one together. Thanks to everyone for all the helpful suggestions re the pics.

I like em too. Good colors. Bet they smell terrific!

Those are adorable! Your colors are very pretty too!!

I like your style. I try to keep stuff on hand at all times too but sometimes my pocketbooks says no!:undecided

I use those too! For lots of stuff! I also buy those large plastic bins cause you can stack em. Only I get mine at Walmart or the Dollar store.

You guys are cracking me up! :laugh2: As long as nobody calls me a wick dipper I'm good.

Yes. I know that the pics can be stolen anyway. My point was to create a deterrent. I also like the message that pops up. I wanted to look for a solution other than watermarking. My best legal safetynet is having my pics copyrighted. So they can steal it but if they profit from it I have the copyright and I can demonstrate that I took means to safeguard my photos.

I asked my designer to help me with safeguarding my photos on my website. Guess what he came up with-- go to www.candalisacandles.com and try to copy any of my photos. How did he do that?!!!!!! I guess this was the thing he was talking about the other day that he had to teach me how to do. I think it is so cool!

Thanks. I have registered and filed all the photos for copyright anyway so if anyone does try to use them they will get a big surprise. I left a notice on the sight that the photos have copyright.

Yeah. I am considering my options for safeguarding my pics. Watermarking has its pros and cons. My designer is gonna show me another option but says he will have to teach it to me. Sorry I don't remember what it was-- something about a flash thing so you can't right click and save it. Not the right click disable but something else. I am not sure about watermarking cause I don't want to change the quality of the pick. Plus he reminded me that watermarks can still be cut out and the pics still used.

I may have to start a photog biz on the side:D Seriously, I love taking pics and since you are close I just might be able to accommodate.

That didn't come out right. I meant a wide melt pool in the jar:laugh2: