New Year's Resolutions 2016
2016 is here! What better time than now to reflect on my small business and create 5 goals for myself for the upcoming year. Krochet by Krystle has been open for just 7 months, but within those months I have grown so much. Professionally, I have created a business logo and branding, collaborated with other businesses, participated in a fundraiser, and was interviewed on a local TV station. Technical terms, I have learned new techniques for more efficient crocheting, learned more about textiles and the yarn industry, networked with other yarnies at Yarning for You (a local yarn shop), and improved my yarn stash! (Side note: I plan to discuss more on my yarn stash in a future post so stay tuned for that.)
So what do I want to accomplish this year?
1. Participate in more fundraisers.
I made and sold cup cozies for Breast Cancer Awareness Month and donated half the proceeds to Barbells for Boobs! I will continue with that this year. I wanted to make a difference and now it's contagious. I want to donate finished goods to charities. I plan to crochet scarves to donate to The ARC of San Diego for their Christmas events. I also want to find a fundraiser program for animal humane societies. It breaks my heart how some animals are given up for artificial reasons and selfish logic. Your animals are your FAMILY. You don't return a sister.
2. Master invoicing.
I create a lot of custom orders, and I have been figuring out how to keep track of it all! The best system I have right now is PayPal invoicing, and I need to use that tool more. Not only is it a great way to communicate to the customer what they are paying for, but it is also a way to keep track of sales and additional ordering information. Maybe somebody wants to re-order a particular item and doesn't remember what it was called. I can search their name and reference the notes on that particular order.
3. Sell at a fair.
I know a couple people who sell at our local Farmer's Market and they have been asking me to join their booth. I haven't been ready, but I want to be! I think it would be so great to showcase and sell in person so people can put a face to the business name.
4. Update my website and social media more frequently.
I just started my website and blog, but I still want to set a goal for it. I want to have regular scheduling of blog posting, whether it be as simple as twice a month, or as specific as every Wednesday. For social media, I want to be more transparent, posting more of my processes and in-progress projects. Creating a schedule will help with me balancing my full-time job with the work of maintaining a successful side business.
5. Shameless Promotion.
Okay, I was inspired by Amber Rosario's modeling goals and I stole this one (*teehee*), but it is so true. It is okay to promote yourself! How else will you communicate your brand to others if it weren't for the internet? By pigeon mail, billboards, newspapers, TV advertisements, or telemarketing? Those methods are not practical at all. Social media allows communication to a select group of people who are interested in you. If anyone thinks advertising your creations or promotions on YOUR OWN PROFILE is a nuisance rather than an update, they can easily unfollow your journey. :)
Thanks for reading my New Year's resolutions! I'd love to read the goal diversity, so comment below on your 2016 goals!