Craft Cafe Artisan Chat - Aqua Blossom

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Meet Ashley Wallis from Aqua Blossom

♥ Please tell us about yourself:
I'm a mom to two boys, ages 2 and 3. I love natural products and started making baby bath products when my kids were babies. The more I read and learned about different ingredients and techniques, the more adventurous I got with my products. After I learned to make lip balms and body scrubs, I was encouraged by friends and family to open up a shop. Ever since then it has been wonderful! It's not just my job, but also my creative outlet  When I'm not working or developing new products, I love reading, baking, playing at the park with the kids, and watching movies with my hubby.

♥ How long have you been in business?
Almost 2 years.

♥ Please describe your business:
I make spa-quality products, including lip balm, body scrubs, body butter, and facial products. All of my products are 100% handmade by me - from selecting the best ingredients, to creating a perfect formula, melting, mixing, designing labels, packaging - everything is handmade from start to finish. All of my products are vegan and gluten-free, and I use natural ingredients that are safe for your skin and the environment.

♥ Tell us what inspires you:
 I get a lot of inspiration from nature and the seasons. I love making seasonal products - minty or cinnamon flavors in the winter, fresh and floral for the spring, etc. A good amount of my scents are tropical or fruity... being a Florida girl, we have summer most of the year

♥ Please share with others, your best marketing techniques:
I have tried tons of different techniques, but I think what has worked best for me is to constantly keep in contact with customers through social media. Instead of just posting or tweeting when I have a sale going on, I post photos of what I'm working on today or of a completed custom order. Also, asking questions or seeking opinions is a good way to encourage participation through social

♥ What do you love most about your business?
I love that it is something I created, by myself, from the ground up. It is my baby! I also love that being my own boss has enabled me to work on my own schedule. I've been able to stay home with my kids while they're little, which has been amazing. And I can get orders out at 2 am if I need to - I am a night owl

♥ Please tell us why have chosen Craft Café as a venue for your business?
Craft Cafe is a really unique handmade community! First of all, it is very fair to all sellers, and everyone has a chance to be on the front page! From a seller standpoint, they have super easy tools to set up shop, like shipping tools and photo uploading tools. The pricing structure also cannot be beat - paying per month or per year is always a better deal than paying per transaction. Keeping my fees lower, means keeping my prices lower for customers

♥ What advice can you give for crafters/artisans just starting out?
Do NOT give up! Getting those first few sales can be rough - I didn't make my first sale for two months. Just keep on creating and listing your items, and don't forget to promote. Also, don't sell yourself short - it is tempting to price things low to attract new customers, but if you're not making any money, how will you afford to keep creating?

♥ Where do you see your business in 5 years?
 I am constantly making short and long term goals for myself! In 5 years I really would like to have my products in some local shops and boutiques, and to keep increasing and meeting my online sales goals.

♥ Lastly, would you like to offer our readers a special or coupon code for your Craft Cafe shop?
Absolutely! You can use coupon code CAFELOVE for 20% off your purchase through March 31, 2013 in my Craft Cafe Shop.

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We would like to send out a big THANK YOU to Ashley for all her love and support.

Be sure to visit Aqua Blossom soon ♥ ♥ Craft Cafe Shop / Facebook / Twitter