How a home business starts to take off

Many years ago, I came across Carl on a forum;  seems like a sensible person with just the usual, run-of the mill issues about working in a difficult economy, a nice family and an interest in the creative arts.  Until ....

Carl's life took an unexpected turn after a fire destroyed his home;  I'm not sure what caused the fire and thankfully Carl and family weren't hurt.  Even more fortunately, Carl had made sure he had good home insurance and started to rebuild the family home, acquiring some new stuff where it was sensible to do so and also some second-hand bits and pieces where there seemed no reason to buy brand new.  That's how the new home business started.

In the course of seeking out second-hand furniture, Carl came across a family who were downsizing from their large family home and who hadn't a clue how to market their collection of collectibles and antiques.  So, because Carl is quite good on the computer and knows how to take decent photos, he made an arrangement where he takes pictures of the collectibles, researches the items and then lists the item for sale on eBay.  It's not a full-time business, it only takes a few days out of every month to do the work and, obviously, when the house is clear of the collectibles, the arrangement will come to an end, hopefully to be replaced by finding someone else looking for the same service.

Carl's payment is a fee for doing the work to list each item - so he's not making a fortune.  However, it is adding to his income every month and it is giving him so much knowledge about the collectibles he's selling that he will be able to start dealing in these items himself, if he ever wished to do that.

This is not a business for everyone but it is doable and, as I say, it adds to Carl's monthly income at a time when there are few part time jobs available.

Product Idea Manufacturing

Do you watch the Dragons' Den programmes?  We love them and watch the re-runs at every available opportunity because they quite often offer a business masterclass.  The Dragons are shrewd people with an eye for projects which are likely to succeed and which therefore offer a good return on their investment.

How do inventors and creative people get the products made in the first place?  How do they go about making prototypes, finding manufacturers and bringing the product to market?  It turns out that there are companies dedicated to product idea manufacturing.  Who would have thought :)  One such company is United Global Sourcing - they have been helping creative types since 1982.  UGS seamlessly arranges design, prototyping, tooling, production, quality control and transportation for hundreds of American, Canadian and European manufacturing companies.

I'm getting my thinking cap on while I'm typing this!

Insurance for homeowners

We've just returned from a month's holiday and we had a fabulous time.  However, getting on holiday proved a little more traumatic as several insurance issues raised their heads.

It was time for our annual house insurance renewal - because I was changing companies, I needed to visit my agent to complete the necessary forms.  (This was the day before our departure date!)  Business done, I headed home - only to be involved in a rear-end shunt at traffic lights approximately 2 miles from home.  DUH.  More insurance issues to deal with.

Because we were going to be away for so long, it was a relief to know that our house was covered for insurance - and, if you'd like an illustration of what cover you need to protect your property, (Las Vegas homeowners take note!) then here are some useful tips -

There are many types of homeowners insurance. The most traditional homeowners insurance policy is simply a policy to protect your home, the contents of your home and any structures on the property and provide liability protection. The premiums can be rolled into your mortgage as a part of escrow or paid on their own yearly or monthly.

If you are a renter, you may want to consider homeowners insurance for renters. This provides you with liability coverage in case of a fire or water leak that stems from your rented space. Also, it covers your personal belongings that are stored in your rented space.

If you own a condo, townhouse or apartment, you will also require some form of Las Vegas homeowners insurance. Liability coverage will be more important in this instance because you will be sharing walls and the danger of damaging someone else's property is much greater.

 Give yourself the peace of mind knowing that you're covered! 

Invoiceberry - great way to send out electronic invoices.

Invoiceberry is an easy-to-use online invoicing software for small businesses, freelancers and sole traders. Businesses can create, send and manage their invoices online. They can also keep track of their expenses and payments and send invoice reminders. 

Over the years since I went online, (my first attempt at a website was on aol's free web space, many years ago) the software which has been developed has covered most areas of business.  Online invoicing software just wasn't available then and now, thanks to Invoiceberry, you can manage your invoices, send out reminders automatically and keep track of your costs as well as creating and sending out quotations.  This is designed to be straightforward with no frills, so that the online management of your business is streamlined.  It's a great idea for service businesses who are looking to embrace online technology, freeing up their time to provide the service rather than doing the admin.

Kids Clothes - Wholesale Supply

It's typical - just the other day someone asked me about supplying some kids clothes and I didn't have a wholesale supply contact for the type of clothes they wanted.  Now I've just stumbled on the very site which would have solved their problem - KidsKornerOnline.co.uk   This company offers a range of childrens' clothes from cardigans to party dresses and from boys' suits to pyjamas. 

While the images don't really do the stock justice, this is an online shop which should go from strength to strength.

Oak Dining Tables - a contemporary look

I grew up in a farmhouse which was furnished by my mother from great finds at local auctions.  We used to joke that she would come back with yet another dining room table, a great wardrobe or chest of drawers.  In those days, solid wood furniture was cheap to buy and, because her father had been a joiner, she loved and appreciated the quality of the furniture on offer.

It's really lovely to see nice pieces of oak being made into dining tables, chairs and sideboards - Top Furniture Ltd offer one of the largest selection of oak dining tables in the UK.  Small dining tables to seat 2 or 4 people up to very large dining tables seating 8, 10, 12 or 14 people. Well-made pieces like these might be appearing on the Antiques Road Show 200 years from now - I'd love to be around to see them!  The prices seem very reasonable as well - Mum would be proud.

Jolomo Calendar 2012

Just a quick note to say that I added a new listing on our eBay store - the Jolomo 2012 Wall Calendar - the prints of John Lowrie Morrison's painting for each month are so good that they would frame beautifully.  Ideal as a corporate gift, we would be happy to discuss your order.

Jolomo Calendar

Scenes depicted -

• Old Tree at Loch Buie Mull,
• Butt of Lewis Lighthouse,
• Early morning light Salen pier Mull,
• Moonlight Crail,
• Evening reflections Dunardy,
• Summer evening light Isle of Gigha,
• Prince Charlie's Bay Isle of Eriskay,
• Iona Sunset,
• Kilbrannan Sound Arran from Kintyre,
• The Spark the Duke and the Vic [Puffers],
• Footprints in the sand Etrick Bay,
• Early morning rain Craighouse Isle of Jura.

15" X 12" Published by Island Blue  Tobermory Isle of Mull Scotland

Someone interrupted me!

Robert Kiyosaki

It's such a frustration when you get a phone call in the middle of watching a television programme (especially when hubby answers it when you would have ignored it!).  I was watching a programme on BBC about money called "Who wants to be a millionaire".  It's currently available on the BBC iPlayer for those who can access it.  (That's how I caught up with the full programme.)

Among the folks featured was American Robert Kiyosaki who has made a lot of money (after starting with nothing) by following some basic principles which he says are taught by the wealthy to their families.  He explained on the programme that owning something which produces income is an asset and something which costs money or earns nothing is a liability (he and his wife mentioned that their home is actually a liability because it doesn't generate an income.)  Kiyosaki loves "toys" - he has a stable of some very expensive cars and obviously likes other gadgets and gizmos.  However, before he buys a new toy he makes sure that there is an asset somewhere producing enough income to cover his expensive choices.  Wise move!

The other thing which obviously makes him a lot of money is his coaching and mentoring programme - and his board game, Cashflow, which aims to teach people how to manage assets and liabilities.

Disrupted sleep

Well, I don't know about you, but I have a really hard time on the weekend when daylight savings takes effect;  in the UK, we changed our clocks this weekend and I don't know whether or not I'm coming or going.  It's turned me into a zombie - probably not too difficult, but I'm definitely not as sharp as usual.

I came across a website about sleep and the effects of disrupted sleep patterns - and, although I normally sleep well, this weekend gave me a bit of a taste of what other people go through most nights when their waking hours overtake the number of hours asleep.  I promise you, it's scary.  I'm going to keep an eye on this blog so that I know where to find the information if my normally good sleep patterns are upset again.

Children's Entertainers in the UK

It's only a few weeks since I became a Great Auntie (again!) and we enjoyed meeting our great-niece recently.  Isn't it amazing how such a small bundle of fun can have a huge impact on your life!

Anyway, more to the point, because her folks are in the entertainment industry, we started chatting about kiddies' parties; how much people would spend on them, what types of things the children wanted to do and, ok, some of the disasters as well.  Then they got a bit more technical.

For instance, one of the things they said was that, in the UK, if you're booking an entertainer for a party, then you could and should ask if they have a CRB (Criminal Records Bureau) check done and also if they carry public liability insurance.  There are loads of other questions you should ask a children's entertainer before hiring him/her to perform at your children's party.  I came across the Children's Entertainer Directory and found a very useful set of articles there which should help you avoid trouble when booking a performer - and where you can also find performers for hire.

Don't for get to ask the questions, though - your children and their friends are so precious - and it's worth taking extra trouble to make sure you get it right!

Check out the articles on http://www.childrenentertainers.net/articles/

Warm as toast

Sometimes the Scottish weather can be really challenging - and that's how it was when we went to visit friends the other day.  It was wild, wet, windy - and cold, especially considering we were only half way through September.

Our friend's a builder - so he always keeps a weather eye out for a bargain - and quite often these bargains end up in his house.  He had just installed a wood-burning stove and it was quite unlike any I've seen before.  Sleek and modern, it was the most efficient wood burner I think I've seen.  He said it would work with just a few logs each day - and, because it burned the wood so efficiently, there was hardly any ash to clear out. 

Additionally, our friend said he'd installed a wall-mounted "insert" wood burner into a fireplace for a client.  The client wanted him to install the stove at a height which would allow him to load in the wood without having to bend down ...   that sounds like my kind of arrangement :-)

I have to tell you that I came home feeling inspired to make over our sitting room completely because the comfort coming from that Jotul stove had me dreaming of ....   ok, I'm not going to tell you where my dreams took me !!

There, their - is there a better way to do it?

I came up the old-fashioned way.  Our writing had to follow the rules of grammar, be spelled correctly and it was even allowed to be interesting.  Now, far be it from me to say that I knew then and can remember now all the intricacies of English grammer as it was taught back in the late 1950s.  I find myself slipping into the modern day slang and, when I'm typing out an article, my spelling can go completely adrift.  I don't always catch these mistakes and then, months later, re-reading can give me some quite serious heartburn.

Is it really my imagination or have people lost the notion that grammatical writing can be good?  It certainly seems that efforts to spell correctly have gone by the wayside.  One of my pet hates is when folks can't figure their way out of the "there/their/they're" debate.  I can remember one of my teachers going through the rules, the descriptions and the examples over and over again until our class really got it.

They're going to put their school books over there.

There remains the question, "So, what was so difficult about that?"

Fiverr for Business

Fiverr for business
It's some time now since I came across the smart service which is run by Fiverr; you can buy and sell "gigs" for $5, allowing you to earn some income and to do some business online.

What do you get for your $5? Well, it has to be said that this can vary from the exceptionally good to the truly awful. You have to look, learn and listen. There are some sites which just ooze useful information which will help you avoid the many pitfalls on Fiverr and which will also allow you to use Fiverr for business and, yes, you guessed it, one of the best is Fiverr for business.

I'm constantly amazed by the innovative ways people are using Fiverr gigs and I don't doubt it will stretch your mind to find out how Charleen is making the best of Fiverr for business.

Margaret

ps - I've just spent an extra hour or two surfing round her site picking up more cool ideas! A great way to spend an afternoon :)

Mother Nature's Natural Remedies

Mother Nature's Natural Remedies is a small natural/alternative health shop and complimentary therapy practice.

They take pride in giving an amazing, fast and value for money service providing customers with personalised Flower Remedies, in addition to Aromatherapy and herbal based health boosting products. The aim of the team at Mother Nature's Natural Remedies is to promote a positive path to emotional and physical wellbeing for their customers.

The Natural Health Retail Store is located in London’s trendy Camden Lock.

Services include -

• One to One Reiki,
• Flower Essence Therapy,
• Allergy Testing & Counselling.

Consultations take place with qualified practitioners in well-known Central and North London locations, including the beautiful Kingyo Therapy Centre in Paddington and Crouch End in North London.

'Manage your health fullfil your potential' is their motto!

Chemo Fog and Brain Health

Those of you who know (and love?) me, know that this year has been a challenge. Starting with a hysterectomy at the beginning of the year, I have also undergone a short course of chemotherapy followed by a short course of radiotherapy (mostly as a precautionary measure to mop up any rogue cancer cells). For the most part, I have coped extremely well with the treatment - apart from losing my hair, there have been very few side effects. However, one thing which is obvious from within (and I don't know if I'm concealing it as well as I hoped) is the chemo fog in which I live.

My life hasn't changed significantly as a result of the treatment - but I do find my ability to recall names and events has been changed. Suddenly I have this "doddery" approach to things which a few months ago wouldn't have phased me at all. I have been looking around to see if other people are in the same boat; well, of course they are, because this is a well recognised after-effect of the chemo. I also came across a website which offers information and help on improving the health of my brain function. The sign-up is free and there is an online assessment of your cognitive abilities. I am about to sign up and check my brain health and then see what recommended exercises are to keep my brain strong and healthy for as long as possible.

The Cognifit website doesn't only deal with people with "Chemo Brain" - but all kinds of memory impairment. I'd be interested to hear how you get on :)

Great web design

Let the shoes do the walking!
I just saw an article in this morning's Sunday Times about the way women are shopping during this recession. Apparently, despite being hard up, the sales of sexy, funky shoes are going through the roof. That made me surf around the net and I came across this site selling some beautiful shoes. I hope they have an affiliate program!

With a little bit of investigation, I came across the web designer of the HeelsandHers website - and they are doing some very clever web design, especially with wordpress installations. I finally twigged that they have a web design site where you can select your own theme, choose your own hosting package and set up your site so easily - now why didn't I think of that! They also have an affiliate program :) You'd better be fast and sign up before I get my own application completed, LOL.

I'm looking forward to seeing Christopher Kendrick's own site - I'm sure it's going to be amazing.

I wrecked my nails catching up with housework

I have visitors coming - I'm really looking forward to seeing them because they're bringing my newest great-niece (I really can't believe I'm that old!). So, with a new baby coming to visit, I thought it only right to scrub the house from top to bottom. I don't want to send her home with some dreadful infection or other!
http://www.blogger.com/img/blank.gif
My nails have seen better days - they've been abused by washing dishes, washing windows and all sorts of stuff in between. They need rescued - and I really love having pretty nails. I surfed around and found this lovely site where I can buy the acrylic nails and the nail polish to do my own manicure (ok, I might need a little help but I know a great young lass who will do the necessary!) My friend does this amazing nail art stuff - and her nails look really pretty. She sticks on rhinestones and paints all kinds of designs onto her acrylic nails - really talented! I'll try that after the baby's been and gone - I'm going to stick to a lovely clear nail varnish for the visit but then I'm going to let my hair down and really go for it! This is a year for doing once things I have never done before and making my nails beautiful and glamorous is one of them!

Well done, TKMaxxy.com - you've opened my eyes up to some great nail art!

Turtle paints picture

Some weird and wonderful things happen when you surf the internet - and tonight I came across a picture "painted" by a turtle belonging to artist Kira Ayn Varszegi.

Koopa is a box turtle with whom I formed a special bond immediately. He came from an environment of neglect and abandon, so I nurtured him and gained his trust. Koopa follows me around, does tricks, is housebroken, comes when called (selectively) and behaves like a kitten or puppy. I always let him lead a tank-free life, which I know he needs and appreciates. In 2003, Koopa walked onto my unattended paint palette, which changed my life forever.

I reconfirmed (via MSDS) that the ingredients of the paints I'd been using for the "Hope" series were safe, non-toxic, and washable. I also consulted Koopa's vet. I tested individual colors on his skin in tiny amounts, then over the next 4-5 months we simulated the painting experience without paint - I made sure Koopa wouldn't freak out from my camera's flash or from being rinsed off in the shower. I sold his artwork on eBay, and it was an instant success. My career as a solo artist was put on hold while Koopa's career flourished for 5 years. I still created, just not as much, due to time constraints.

Kira's Painting by Breast series of pictures regularly sell online - and I could scarcely take my eyes off the photos of the turtle "creating" a picture.

I must have less caffeine, I think!

My Social Network - the latest social get-together

Because I'm a silver surfer, I am usually a little slow getting to the party - and yes, there's a new party in town. :)

It seems that the newest place in town is My Social Network People - and, no, I didn't "get" it at first; however, now that I've registered, I can see that it's a very vibrant community. According to the blurb -

We will never sell your details to anyone. Ever! We only want people who like their music LOUD. Any type of music, so long as it pleases everyone. ♫ Feel free to Listen and Enjoy. ♫ -- Add more music you love most, share it to others ^^

Using this site you can Share Music, Share Videos, Blogs, Photos, Polls, Free chat, Games and Events. There's an active forum as well - and they also have a community on Facebook - http://www.facebook.com/apps/application.php?id=212450085450277&sk=info

I'm looking forward to the fun :)


That's my kind of place - I'm looking forward to playing the William Tell Overture at full volume ... any takers?

Cool Stuff

I love quirky and unusual things and while surfing around the Cool site at Infmetry.com, I came across these funky USB flash drives. Being in a girly mood, I thought the handbag flash drives were really cool - I have a couple of nieces who would adore these as a gift.

If you're looking for a whole range of Cool Stuff, then this site is the place to look. A Hong-Kong based company means that there will be a slight delay in getting your order - but I reckon that it will only be a couple of days more than most internet orders!