"Something for Mom" Feature Favorite Post & Vote Winner - Dzign by Jamie

"Something for Mom" Post & Vote Winner!
Dzign by Jamie

The Story Of Us - Hand Stamped Stick Figure Metal Necklace

The Story Of Us is simply told with a stick figure representation of each family member. Hand stamped on both brass and copper discs. There's a cute swirling vine and leaf design as well. A dainty brass ball chain necklace with a lobster clasp finishes off the design.

~* MORE DETAILS *~
Hand stamped items are very unique, due to the hand made nature of this item no two will ever be exactly alike. There will always be slight variations. That's what gives hand stamped items character!

Be sure to visit Dzign by Jamie Today!

"Your Favorite" Post and Vote Winners - Izzy's Place & Dragonfly Arts Pottery

"Your Favorite" Post & Vote Winner #1!
Izzy's Place

Pink Roses Puffy Round Glass Tile Pendant Necklace

Pink Roses Puffy Round Glass Tile Pendant Necklace

This beautiful altered art puffy heart pendant is made from a 1” x 1" glass tile. This pendant features an Aanraku Silver Plated bail and it arrives to you on a 24 inch ball chain which can be shortened easily. Graphics are printed out on photo paper to maintain that crisp, clear look of the picture and to capture the colors. Sent in a pretty organza bag.

Be sure to visit Izzy's Place Today!

Craft Cafe / Facebook

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"Your Favorite" Post & Vote Winner #2!
Dragonfly Arts Pottery

"Spongette" Stoneware Kitchen Sponge Holder

Wheel thrown stoneware pottery.

The Spongette keeps your kitchen sponges up off the sink top and out of the basin! No more sponge in the garbage disposal! :)

The air holes allow air flow to dry your sponge quicker and reduces bacterial growth, keeping your sponge fresh longer!

Dishwasher safe -- when your Spongette gets mucky, simply pop it into the dishwasher and it's brand new again! :)

Also makes a great business card holder!

Be sure to visit Dragonfly Arts Pottery Today!

Craft Cafe / Facebook

Delicious Delights Video Creation

Watch our

"Delicious Delights & More"

Video Creation

"Yellow" Pinterest Challenge Winner

Craft Cafe "Yellow" Challenge Pinboard by  Denese Woodard (Dee's Silk Creations)

Jewelry Artisans Video Creation

See our latest video creation

"Craft Cafe Jewelry Artisans"

So many wonderful jewelry artsians!

Find what tickles your fancy at CraftCafe.co

"Yellow" Feature Favorite Post & Vote Winner - Dollipop Cosmetics

"Yellow" Post & Vote Winner!
Dollipop Cosmetics

Happy 5g Pigmented Mineral Eye Shadow Jar with Sifter

Our mineral eye shadows are super pigmented and go on smooth for all day wearability.
Most are packed full of sparkle and shimmer!
We don't use any yucky synthetic fillers like talc! Our recipes are all our own, no repacking!
5 gram pots come filled to the brim with pigment, no half-full jars here.
They also come with sifters for easy dispensing.

 Happy is a beautiful bright sunshine yellow with lots of shimmer.

A little goes a long way with this color.

 Dollipop Cosmetics does not test on animals! Happy is part of our Permanent Line!

Be sure to visit Dollipop Cosmetics Today!

Craft Cafe / Facebook 

Craft Cafe Artisan Chat - Me and the Boy

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Meet Tanya and Val from Me and the Boy

♥ Please tell us about yourself: 
I'm the mom of a great son. We love to craft and create with whatever we can get our hands on! My company started when I couldn't always afford play therapy for my autistic son....than slowly, I was able to afford for my husband to take an extra day off work. Family is my everything.
Our bath and body line is almost all Vegan friendly and every single item contains no paraben, silicone or phthalate.
All our candles and tart melts are made of non GMO soy wax

♥ How long have you been in business?
Just a little over 2 years

♥ Please describe your business:
We offer a bit of everything. Our tagline is accessorize yourself and your home. We offer candles, bath and body, nail polish, jewelry and more.

♥ Tell us what inspires you:
Everyday life inspires me. My family...and being able to not only offer my products to those that appreciate and love handmade but also shop handmade myself. It's awesome knowing that someone loves what I do!

♥ Please share with others, your best marketing techniques:
 I provide free samples in virtually every order I ship. Based on an order I try to find something in my stash of samples that I think you would love or would work well with what you already have picked. Also word of mouth is HUGE....and it's advertising I can't buy!

♥ What do you love most about your business?
The freedom to do as I please.....and working in a tank top and shorts everyday is nice too! Plus I love when my son helps.....it teaches him a lot of life lessons.

♥ Please tell us why have chosen Craft Café as a venue for your business?
 It's simple.....I don't pay a thing when I sell! I pay a small fee yearly to sell.....and have amazing support from owners of the site that are also handmade lovers and makers! I can even offer my items a bit less as I don't have to pay seller fees


♥ What advice can you give for crafters/artisans just starting out?
BE PATIENT.....don't expect much the first year....believe that you are full of passion and greatness and just when you decide to quit....give it your all....it will pay off.

♥ Where do you see your business in 5 years?
We are slowly working into the Canadian retail market and hope to have a better percentage of our products in the retail market by then.

♥ Lastly, would you like to offer our readers a special or coupon code for your Craft Cafe shop?
Yes, please use code: BLOGLOVE for 20% off an your entire order at my Craft Cafe Shop.
{Expires 4.30.13}

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We would like to send out a big THANK YOU to Tanya and Val for all their love and support.

Be sure to visit Me and The Boy soon ♥ ♥ Craft Cafe Shop / Facebook / Twitter

"Easter/Spring" Feature Favorite - Post & Vote Winner - Faerieland Fragrances

"Easter/Spring" Post & Vote Winner!

Faerieland Fragrances

JELLY BEAN JUBILEE Faerie Frosting Body Soufflé Lotion

Scent: JELLY BEAN JUBILEE

Whimsically yummy and fun! Smells super sweet & fruity, just like opening a bag of jelly bean candies! 
Yummmmm! 
(✿◠‿◠)

My Faerie Frosting Super Fruit Body Soufflé Lotion is my personal favorite lotion that I carry. Fluffy, light, and blended with an array of nourishing ingredient such as: 

~Sweet Almond Oil
~Aloe Vera Leaf Juice
~Noni Fruit Extract
~Goji Fruit Extract
~Mangosteen Fruit Extract
~Acai Fruit Extract
~Pro-Vitamin B5 
~Vitamin E 
~Aloe Vera 
~Silk Amino Acids

It has an inherent shimmer to it, and it feels silky, wonderful, and moisturizing on your skin. 

Be sure to visit Faerieland Fragrances Today!

Craft Cafe / Facebook / Twitter / Pinterest 

Craft Cafe Artisan Chat - Cornish Dragon

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Meet Victoria Tierney from Cornish Dragon

♥ Please tell us about yourself: 
I have always loved making things since I was little and it influenced my first Job, as I'm a qualified as a Florist. Even though I don't work with flowers anymore the skills I learned have helped with my making and crafting.

♥ How long have you been in business?
Since January 2009

♥ Please describe your business:
Something for everyone, from gifts, jewelry, lampwork beads and not forgetting the Elves.

♥ Tell us what inspires you:
Living in by the Atlantic Ocean here in Cornwall,  is just my biggest source of inspiration the ever changing sea, moors and nature. Also living an hour away from places like Tintagel and Boscastle the myths and legends of South West, England are a rich source of inspiration

♥ Please share with others, your best marketing techniques:
When I started I didn't really market much, good customer service gave me a lot of "word of mouth" publicity. Now I use most of the social media like facebook, twitter, etc.

♥ What do you love most about your business?
Just making things that people love and enjoy.

♥ Please tell us why have chosen Craft Café as a venue for your business?
Craft Cafe has no listing fees, which is great as listing regularly is not as expensive.

♥ What advice can you give for crafters/artisans just starting out?
Make what you love and enjoy crafting. It can also be lonely at times so join a forum of like minded crafters they can hep and support you with problem plus have some fun and laughter, I have made some great friends since starting out through some forums.

♥ Lastly, where do you see your business in 5 years?
Still making and crating new things and just enjoying it.

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

Be sure to visit Cornish Dragon soon ♥ ♥ Craft Cafe Shop / Facebook / Twitter / Pinterest

Craft Cafe Bath & Body Boutique Video Creation

View our 

"Craft Cafe Bath & Body Boutique" 

Video Creation

See More Fun Videos at our You Tube Channel 

https://www.youtube.com/user/CraftCafeLove

Craft Cafe Artisan Chat - Skinny Dip Soaps

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Meet Amber Wilkins from Skinny Dip Soaps 

♥ Please tell us about yourself: 
Hi there! My name is Amber and I'm a work from home mom of 4 amazing kiddos. 2 are in school and 2 are home with me during the day.  My kids are the reason I started making soap in the first place :)  I get most of my business work done late at night when everyone is sleeping and early in the morning after I take the 2 older kids to school.

♥ How long have you been in business?
I started making handmade soap in 2003 for my family and started selling it locally. I started my Etsy shop in March, 2011 and the Craft Cafe shop in July, 2012.

♥ Please describe your business:
You can find a variety of bath, body and home fragrances goodies in my shop.  Handcrafted soaps, scrubs, lip balms, whipped cream soaps, soy blend melts, candles and lots more.

♥ Tell us what inspires you:
My family. I strive to make great products that are gentle enough for all of them to use.

♥ Please share with others, your best marketing techniques:
Facebook and coupon codes.  Interact with your fans and keep your page or group active. Also, put a coupon code out there. It is a great way to get new people to try your products.

♥ What do you love most about your business?
Being able to do what I love.  I feel so blessed that I get to stay at home with my babies and work from home.  I am doing what makes me happy and I'm loving it!

♥ Please tell us why have chosen Craft Café as a venue for your business?
When I heard about CC I jumped on it!  I get more profit because I am not having to pay a fee for listing the item or a fee when the item sells.  I made back the yearly fee within my first few sales on CC. I also love how Traci puts so much time into promoting the artisans.  You don't see that with a lot of the big online shops out there.

♥ What advice can you give for crafters/artisans just starting out?
Research, research, research, test and repeat.  Take pride in the product that you have created, don't sell yourself short.

♥ Where do you see your business in 5 years?
I would love to be making products full time and hire a helper.  I also hope to have my products in a few more shops here locally.

♥ Lastly, would you like to offer our readers a special or coupon code for your Craft Cafe shop?
Yes! Please use code: "ccblog" for 15% off your entire purchase at my Craft Cafe Shop.{Expires March 31, 2013}

♥ ***PLEASE NOTE: Craft Cafe is experiencing cart issues at this time. If you would like to order from Amber, please message her directly from her shop with your order and she will be happy to send you an invoice.

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

Be sure to visit Skinny Dip Soaps soon ♥ ♥ Craft Cafe Shop / Facebook

Promote Yourself With Confidence

HI HO there!  This is Krissy from PiixlWix Candle Company, and I am thrilled that Craft Cafe invited me back to write another blog post!
As an owner of 2 small businesses, PiixlWix Candle Company and as a hair color specialist/make up artist, I have had to promote myself unabashedly for about a decade.  Now, that is not to say I was always comfortable with it, but in order for my businesses to thrive (and for me to eat) I had to tell people what it is that I do.
And that is what we are talking about today.  How do you let EVERYONE know about your fabulous Craft Cafe shop and feel good about it?  How do you tell people that you do not even know that you make the most beautiful things, that are so close to your heart, things that you have poured your soul into and you feel like are your babies? AND that you sell these precious items, and they will think they are awesome too if they take the time to look at them?  AND to do this in a way that you don't feel like a snake oil salesman?
Here are some tips on  doing just that.  Here we go!

1. Create a script for your business.
Plan out what you want other people to know about what you do.  Write it out.  Rehearse it.  Make it your second language.   Practice on your adoring family or long suffering dog.  That way, when you are going about your day, it can come up naturally in conversation. And you can tell them with confidence. Trust me, the more you rehearse the more it will come up.

2. Everyone you meet is a potential customer, yet no one wants to be sold to.
And you are not going to do that.  YOU are not selling anything.  Yes, you have items for sale, but it is really the process of creating the things you make that you love.  Talking about where they can find your glorious things, like your Craft Cafe shop, simply is how you let them know where to find you.  And that leads us to number 3....

3. ALWAYS have a business card (or 12) with you.
When you are talking about your creative business, the best way to close a conversation is with asking if they would like your business card.  It is so weird how having something tangible, like your card, validates your conversation.  It makes it seem official, but it puts the sales ball in their court.  And it takes that pressure off of you personally.  The card holds all the information to your business that they need and you don't have to sell them anything.  WHEW!

4. NEVER, and I mean EVER, take rejection personally.
WOW!  Wayyyyyy easier said than done. Ask yourself, "What does rejection mean to me?" Does it mean not getting a sale?  Does it mean not getting a wholesale account? Or not getting any likes on your Facebook post?  Does it mean that no one seems to need or want what you are offering?  You are the only one that can weigh the value of your craft.  And you are the only one that can soothe your bruised artistic soul.  Find out how you do that best and it will empower you to move on.  Fear of rejection is one of the biggest hurdles you will have to jump in learning to promote yourself and the best way to figure out how is to simply JUMP.  JUMP!

5. Give yourself permission to share what you love.
Passion for creating!! That thing that drives you to late nights in your studio, your extra bedroom or your kitchen table (you wish you could eat on) will help you in all areas of self promotion.  As artists, crafters, and creators, we may have a hard time letting other people into our world.  After all, what we are making has a little bit of our souls in it.  That can be difficult to share, but allowing others to enjoy your items too will enrich your life as an artist.  As will allowing your self to just talk about it! So, start with this blog post.  Tell me in the comments what you are in love with creating!

Thank you again to Craft Cafe and to all you creative rock stars out there for reading my post!
I hope this helps with self promotion and if you have any questions feel free to ask away.  And don't forget to tell me what you love in the comments below!

Blog On :)
Krissy

"Pastel" Feature Favorite Post & Vote Winner - Quilted Keepsake Ornaments

"Pastel" Post & Vote Winner!
Quilted Keepsake Ornaments

Butterfly Quilted Ornament - Pastel Daisies Accented In Aqua Blue

This quilted ornament is adorned in pastel daisies with a solid aqua blue accent. It is sweetly embellished with tiny silk flowers that are attached with corsage pins, white ribbon for hanging and an organza butterfly. 

All ornaments come in a white gift box for storing or gift giving.

Ornament Size: 2.5" in diameter

Be sure to visit Quilted Keepsake Ornaments Today!

Craft Cafe / Facebook / Twitter / Pinterest 

"Green" Feature Favorite Post & Vote Winner - Bent Tree Crafts

"Green" Post & Vote Winner

Bent Tree Crafts

St. Patrick's Day Leather Wrap Bracelet

Show your Irish pride with this beaded leather wrap bracelet featuring a celtic knot button and unique pewter clover beads. 

The leather is a rustic, dark brown and the pewter beads are silver and green and have a rustic worn look to them. 

This is a great bracelet to wear alone or along with other bracelets to stack and make a statement!! The bracelet is finished with a unique antique silver metal celtic knot button.

The bracelet measures 7 inches in length, from the loop to the button. 

Be sure to visit Bent Tree Crafts Today!

Craft Cafe / Facebook

Craft Cafe Artisan Chat - Lather Rinse Clean

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Meet Patty Asfour from Lather Rinse Clean

♥ Please tell us about yourself: 
I’m happily married to a wonderful man named Sam. We have been married for 3 years and have built our marriage in a deep rooted faith in God. We don’t have any kids right now, but we do have a cat named Meow Meow.

♥ How long have you been in business?
I’ve been in business for a little over a year.

♥ Please describe your business:
I would have to describe my business as being fun, I really enjoy what I make. From food soaps with fun shapes and scents, to long lasting beauty bars and pampering lotions and sugar scrubs.

♥ Tell us what inspires you:
I’m inspired by the everyday things I see, especially cute and delicious things. I love to make fun, cute stuff that will bring a smile to everybody’s face and a grumble to your stomach.

♥ Please share with others, your best marketing techniques:
 Social media and recognizing my customers by sending them thank you cards and getting feedback from them on how they liked the products.

♥ What do you love most about your business?
I love that I can make my own products.

♥ Please tell us why have chosen Craft Café as a venue for your business?
I chose Craft Café because of its low monthly fees and there are no listing/sales fees. They also advertise my business on their Facebook page and because of all the support groups they offer, I feel that with these support groups my business can really grow.

♥ What advice can you give for crafters/artisans just starting out?
The most important thing to remember when starting a crafting business is to do what you love, don’t worry if you don’t get sales at first, they will come in time.

♥ Where do you see your business in 5 years?
In 5 years, I hope to have expanded my lines of soaps and I hope to see my soap in shops around the country.

♥ Lastly, would you like to offer our readers a special or coupon code for your Craft Cafe shop?
Yes, use coupon code: 15OFF for 15% off your entire purchase from my Craft Cafe Shop. {Expires 4.1.13}

♥ ♥ ♥ ♥ ♥ ♥ ♥ ♥ ♥ ♥ ♥ ♥ ♥ ♥ ♥ ♥ ♥ ♥ ♥ ♥

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

Be sure to visit Lather Rinse Clean soon ♥ ♥
Craft Cafe Shop / Facebook / Twitter

Craft Cafe Artisan Chat - Quilted Keepsake Ornaments

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Meet Renee Osborne from Quilted Keepsake Ornaments

♥ Please tell us about yourself: 
My name is Renee and I am married to my husband Kurt.  In fact we just celebrated our 20th wedding anniversary.  We have a son Cameron who is turning nineteen very soon.  We also have a dog and cat who for the most part get along pretty well.  I worked in the corporate world for twenty seven years until I was laid off in 2011.  I have been unemployed since.  My family and I are originally from Southern California and now live in Olympia Washington due to my husband’s job relocating.  We’ve been planning this move for three years and it finally happened this past June.  It’s a beautiful state and I’m enjoying the changing seasons that you just don’t get in Southern California, but the one thing I miss the most is my family and friends back home.  I can’t wait for them to come up to visit us.

♥ How long have you been in business?
I’ve been an online seller since 2006 when I was making rag quilts, but then in 2009 I ventured into making quilted ornaments after being introduced to this beautiful technique a year earlier.  After making the first one, I was hooked and just kept making more and more of them.  My goal was to improve my technique to where I felt they were ready to sell to the public.  So in June of 2009 Quilted Keepsake Ornaments was opened for business.

♥ Please describe your business:
I make and sell novelty Christmas ornaments by applying beautiful fabrics, ribbons and embellishments to Styrofoam ball forms.  It’s a gorgeous technique that requires patience, precision and lots of passion which is why I love it so much.  Even though Christmas ornaments are seasonal, my shop is open every day for those who are looking to buy a unique gift for family and friends throughout the year.   I also specialize in photo ornaments.

♥ Tell us what inspires you:
My family and friends!  I’m so blessed to have such a wonderful family that supports and encourages me in my business.  Their positive energy keeps me inspired to do what I absolutely love to do, and it shows in my work.  Aside from that, I have this love for fabrics.  I get inspired just looking at all the beautiful patterns and colors that are available to me.  My favorite fabric pattern is the Paisley design, and I hope to get more ornaments with this design into my shop very soon.

♥ Please share with others, your best marketing techniques:
I use Facebook, Twitter and Pinterest.  I recently received two custom orders from separate individuals who saw my ornaments on Pinterest.   That was pretty cool!  I also have a YouTube video that gets a lot of daily views and visitors to my website.  It’s a great medium to advertise your business and showcase your beautiful work, so I highly recommend a video on YouTube.

♥ What do you love most about your business?
I love everything about my business.  Aside from making my products, I love the whole behind the scenes of taking the product photos, listing them and keeping up with all the social media stuff.  It’s a lot of work, but I enjoy the challenge.  I’m always looking for new techniques or improvements to old ones that will give me that competitive edge.

♥ Please tell us why have chosen Craft Café as a venue for your business?
When I heard about Craft Café opening a new online venue back in the spring of 2012, it piqued an interest.  I liked what I had read, the pricing structure was the best I had seen compared to other venues and after being here now for seven months, the level of service from the staff members is top notch.  The sellers here are nice too!

♥ What advice can you give for crafters/artisans just starting out?
First of all congratulations in making your dream come true!  When I started out in 2006 I had no clue what I was doing.  If it wasn’t for the community of sellers where my website was being hosted at the time, I probably wouldn’t have learned as much as I did in that first year.  So I guess my advice for someone starting out would be to join a community where you can also learn and get great support from other sellers.

♥ Where do you see your business in 5 years?
I have a few ideas brewing in the back of my mind that I’m hoping will come to fruition within a year or two.  If it’s successful, it should bring in a new customer base for my business.  I also want a new updated craft room with a color palette that is calming and inviting, like blue and white which are my two favorite color combinations.  We are renting right now, so therefore I am stuck with plain ol’ white, blah!

♥ Lastly, would you like to offer our readers a special or coupon code for your Craft Cafe shop?
Yes, I would like to offer a 15% discount on everything in my Craft Café shop, including custom orders.  Please use coupon code ccLuV15 during checkout.  This offer expires end of day on 2/14/13.

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

Be sure to visit Quilted Keepsake Ornaments soon ♥ ♥ Craft Cafe Shop / Facebook / Twitter / Pinterest

"Orange" Feature Favorite Post & Vote Winner #2 - Ceardannan

"Orange" Post & Vote Winner #2!
Ceardannan

Flower Earrings

Flowery button earrings.
Lovely blue and coral lampwork button shaped beads teamed
with carribean opal swarovski bicones and wire wrapped
onto handforged elegant earwires.

Be sure to visit Ceardannan Today!

Craft Cafe / Facebook

10 Tips For Fabulous Customer Service and The Whole Shebang

Hi there!  My name is Krissy and I am so happy to be a guest blogger here at the Craft Cafe blog!
I am the owner of PiixlWix Candle Company, the home of fine fragrance and candles that ROCK.  I am also a full time hair stylist/make up artist in Leavenworth, Wa.  So, because I run 2 small businesses, customer service, above all else, IS my biz. 

(That's me and my candles that ROCK!)

Craft Cafe invited me to write about customer service and how important it is to your online business.
These tips can also be applied to other aspects of your business, but I am going to focus mostly how to give your customers in your Craft Cafe shop not only an awesome product, but to have an awesome online buying experience as well.  Let's call it "The Whole Shebang".  Don't you want that too when you use your hard earned money to buy something?  I know I do.  I always want that whole darn shebang!

I hope these tips will help you deliver that Whole Shebang experience to your customers and keep them coming back for more.
Lets get started!

1. Believe in yourself and what it is that you make.
Try and know everything you can about your craft. Care enough about what you do to be as much of an expert as you can in your field.
It will make answering customer questions second nature and instill trust in your customers or potential customers.  An excellent experience begins with trust.  Trust your knowledge and your customers will trust you.

2.  Let the customer know who you are.
 Online purchasing can be a little impersonal.  Personalize it by completing your profile page and let them know that there is a person behind your shop front.  Also add your thoughts on how you care for them as a customer.  Treat your store front message as if you had a brick and mortar shop and they are a customer walking through your door.  You are brilliant!  You have added to the tapestry of the universe with your amazing craft and tell the people all about it!!

3. Make it easy for customers to shop with you.
Take amazing pictures.  Provide complete details and product information in your listings.  Use every descriptive word you can(get that thesaurus out!) to make your product something to fall in love with.  The better you describe your lovely item, the more that potential customer is going to trust YOU.  Be sure that the delivered product either is or closely reflects(if you produce more than one of a kind items) what they fell in love with in your listing.  Always include a business card with EVERY order.  Be sure to include your Craft Cafe url on your business card.  Make it as easy as possible for them to return to your shop for more of your awesomeness.  
*side note: we will soon have a complete blog entry on how to take the most wonderful, shop worthy, customer grabbing pics ever*

4. Be prompt in answering questions.
This again is a customer trust thing.  Quick responses help customers trust your business and your professionalism.  Thinking of your shop as a real live store that you can walk right into will help you with this.  Can you imagine if you were in a shop and needed to know if there was a certain ingredient in that hand cream you just loved the smell of, and the shop owner could not answer your question until they had taken a shower and walked the dog and had a second cup of coffee?   You would shop for that hand cream elsewhere.  And that is what potential customers do if their questions are not answered in a timely manner.  They are clicking away on other shops and products.  Be quick like a fox!!!

5.  Ship orders quickly.
Customers know they are shopping online.  They know they have to wait for shipping.  You know they don't really want to wait.  So don't make them. Get those orders out!  If you make custom items, communicate to the customer when they can expect shipment and stick to it.  It is a deadline that you have set for yourself, so meet it. In any shopping experience, customers want as close to instant gratification as they can get.

6. Go the  extra mile.
A customer needs an item they are going to give as a gift shipped today?  Try your darndest to get that baby out to them.  Someone wants something gift wrapped?  Use a simple stamp to dress up a piece of kraft shipping paper to wrap it in.  Include a hand written note that is separate from your business card and the invoice(that should always be included with their item).  Those hand written thank you notes are a little, unexpected treat that personalizes a purchase.  They are not going to get that when buying from a large retailer.  That is what makes handmade different.  Try and meet your customers needs as best as you can at all times.  Do it out of love for your craft and gratitude for your customer.  Plain and simple.

7. Always give the customer the benefit of the doubt.
GASP!!!!  There is an issue with your perfect product?  The size wasn't right?  The color was not what they thought it would be?  The fragrance made them sneeze?  From time to time you may encounter some trouble.  That is normal in business and that is part of customer service.  Showing concern with what concerns them is the first step to smoothing out that little bump in the handmade road.  Then put yourself in their shoes.  Think to the last time you had trouble with a purchase you made and got excellent customer service that helped you resolve your issue.  Even though you may have been annoyed that those jeans maybe didn't wash as well as expected, the smile and courteous words of the person helping you made driving back to the store in the rain and traffic a little bit better and, hey, you got an iced mocha latte frappa-whatever on the way.  And you got a different pair of jeans that you won't wash on extra hot this time.  That is what YOU do.  Deliver resolution to a problem with a smile, courteous words, humble attitude, and a frappa-frappa(if you can swing it).  Customers are just looking to have their needs met, like you.  So do it.

8.  Be social on Social Media.
WOOOSH!  And there went the post that you spent 15 minutes of your life on.  Social media happens fast.  As fast as you can scroll on a smart phone.  It is truly the best place to interact with your customers and fans.  And you do have them.  Engage them.  Not only post about your latest and greatest, ask them what they think.  Do THEY like the color?  What do THEY think about the new name you came up with for the most awesome fragrance ever?  What did THEY cook for their families for dinner?  Make it light and fun.  Please try your hardest to refrain from talking about what has bothered you on that day.  Reserve that for your personal page and try and keep your business page and your personal page separate. Your customers want to know you but, they want to know you and your lovely business that they are going to go browse to unwind from THEIR hectic, crazy, jeans returning, day.  Distract them with your handy dandy crochet wash cloths that will get their dishes cleaner or your giveaway that they might win by answering a silly question.  They will love you for it.

9. Thank you goes a long way.
Gratitude.  Humbleness.  Thank you, attached to everything that happens in a transaction will  make that customer remember you.  And even if they forget how gracious you were, you will always know.
Your mama taught you to say please and thank you because she loved you.  Return that love to your customers with a humble Thank You Very Much.

10. Remember that you are a retailer.
Meet your customers expectations by treating your business as such.   Your customers have found something that they love in your product.  They have found something that they need.  They may not have known that they needed it, but now they do.  They think you are an expert in it.  Don't let them down with slow service, ungrateful attitudes, and general unprofessional-ism.  You are so capable of that Whole Shebang service.  So smile first, and ask questions later :).  You are a Craft Cafe shop owner and that rocks!

Wow!  I had so much fun writing that out for you guys!!  Thank you for taking the time to read all they way down to this point.  I hope that it will help you out with giving a most excellent customer service experience.
Feel free to contact me at: http://craftcafe.co/shop/piixlwixcandlecompany/ if you have any questions or comments or just to tell me you think I am off my rocker...
Thank you again to Craft Cafe for letting me get on with my bloggy self.  

Peace~
Krissy

Craft Cafe Artisan Chat - Key West by Palms Soaps

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Meet Kathy Rojas from Key West by Palms Soaps

♥ Please tell us about yourself:
I was raised in tropical Key West.  We now live a little farther north of the island but remain in South Florida.  We enjoy the outdoors with our son, dog and African grey parrot.  I work full-time managing a boat surveying company and part-time I enjoy creating beautiful handmade glycerin soaps.  I love fishing, gardening and spending time at my son’s ranch with the many animals of his petting farm.

♥ How long have you been in business?
Key West by Palms Soaps has officially been in business for two years.  Prior to officially opening for business I spent a year making soap for myself, friends and family; who prompted me to start selling soap.

♥ Please describe your business:
I make handmade glycerin soap products for men, women and children and specialize in tropical fragrances and bright cheerful colors for my individual customers, wholesale accounts and wedding, birthday and shower gatherings.

♥ Tell us what inspires you:
Seeing and hearing they enjoy the feel, fragrance and appearance of the products I create.  I love the challenges of creating something new all the time.

♥ Please share with others, your best marketing techniques:
The best marketing technique for me have been social media and word of mouth from others who enjoy using my soaps.

♥ What do you love most about your business?
There are so many things I love about my business but a few include the enjoyment of creating beautifully appearing and smelling soaps, the feedback from my customers, participating in vendor events and meeting new customers (several of which have gone on to be friends), etc.

♥ Please tell us why have chosen Craft Café as a venue for your business?
Craft Café is awesome!  They do not overwhelm you with fees, are always there for me with any questions no matter how trivial, are helpful with promoting everyone’s individual store and they make you feel like you are family with their attention for your wants and needs.

♥ What advice can you give for crafters/artisans just starting out?
Never give up.  It takes time to establish a client base and it does not happen overnight.  Always provide excellent customer service and no customer is too small.

♥ Where do you see your business in 5 years?
I hope to be able to quit my day job and be able to just make soap and/or even open a brick and mortar store.

♥ Lastly, would you like to offer our readers a special or coupon code for your Craft Cafe shop?
I would like to offer 20% off all orders (excluding shipping); use the coupon code CAFE20 in my Craft Cafe Shop

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

Be sure to visit Key West by Palms Soaps soon ♥ ♥ Craft Cafe Shop / Facebook / Twitter / Pinterest

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