NEVER FORGET

I was in 8th grade when my love of history really took off. My interest in World War II was especially sparked when one of my teachers brought in a survivor who escaped from the death camp of Sobibor. I was enthralled, fascinated, horrified, and hooked on the history of how something like the Holocaust could take place.

Fast forward to my high school years and my family made a trip to Washington DC where we visited the Holocaust Museum. My cousins were bored to tears but I couldn't stop looking around at everything and marveling at the horror of it all. We all received "passports" of a real human being who was alive at the beginning of the Nazi reign of Germany. We were to turn a page of the passport on certain floors and "our" story would unfold. Of the 8 people in my family, none of us survived. All eight of our people were killed by the Nazis. I still have my passport all these years later.

I am shocked and slightly disgusted that nowhere did I hear that April 25 was Holocaust Remembrance day. [Of course, I have been so busy and I forgot.] Not on the radio (which I listen to all day). Not on the TV news. Nowhere. Have we forgotten? We cannot forget the horror which was implemented against people simply because they were Jews, mentally or physically disabled, Gypsies, or otherwise not good enough to deserve life.

I just recently learned that in my family history are Jews from what was once known as Prussia. I am a Christian, but for most of my adult life I have felt a deep need to learn and feel the pain that so many millions of people were forced to endure. I don't know why this issue touches me so...but it does.

Let us never forget. And let us remember this poem, which touched my heart when I first read it while visiting the Holocaust Museum...

First they came for the Jews
and I did not speak out
because I was not a Jew.
Then they came for the Communists
and I did not speak out
because I was not a Communist.
Then they came for the trade unionists
and I did not speak out
because I was not a trade unionist.
Then they came for me
and there was no one left
to speak out for me.

Written by Pastor Martin Niemoller

Please take time to remember those who were murdered in cold blood for being less than human in the eyes of the Nazis. And remember those who currently threaten the state of Israel for the "sin" of being Jewish. And those who threaten our own way of life and who deny that the Holocaust ever occurred.

Visit Atlas Shrugs for a fabulous memorial post and current information on those who deny what happened.

And at Gates of Vienna they have a moving tribute.

NEVER AGAIN!

Great Article - What NOT to do

This is a great article about things NOT to do at a craft show.

10 Mistakes to Avoid Selling Crafts

I especially like the 'Taking Negative Comments Personally' ... I actually haven't experienced any too horrible comments. I did hear a "gawdy" comment in reference to one of my pieces but that didn't bother me too horribly. I would've once thought the same thing! But tastes change and so do styles.

I've heard a suggestion to the comment "I could make that" ... I'd say, "I'm sure you could. But will you?" With a smile of course. I have gotten the comment "My (sister, aunt, daughter, mom) makes this stuff." Ouch. That one bugs me the most. But...great answer..."What shows do they do?" Most will say that their relative/friend doesn't do any shows. It pretty much puts the conversation back under your control and can steer it back toward your work.

Spreading the Love

It's been a few days since my last post. Things have been crazy busy lately and then it was my turn to grandma-sit over the weekend (she's on hospice at home and can't be left alone so we're on shifts). Hopefully this week will be less crazy.

But I thought I'd share some of my favorite online vendors.

The first one is EdieCastle...a sweet woman who makes wonderful Satin pillowcases. I bought one for myself and my husband kept trying to steal my pillow. So I had to buy him his own! LOL She makes other things too but I love these pillowcases!

Next is Canadian Wood Crafts who makes hand carved wooden items from spoons to shelves. I bought my husband a right handed coffee spoon and he really liked it. The work and detail is amazing!

Oh So Retro is a super groovy gal. I bought a fabulous fabric business card case that has gotten many compliments. Great crafts-woman-ship.

I bought my mom a handpainted silk scarf from Crrysstall. Good thing my mom doesn't read blogs! It's a gorgeous scarf.

I've purchased half a dozen things already from Martinsville Emporium...from candles to chapstick. Hubby was burning one of her candles just last night and the smell just permeated the whole room and down the hall. I love that! And I've been using my Pina Colada chapstick ever since I got it. Even her soap smells good! Our bathroom always smells yummy just from the soap.

I just love buying from indepedent artists and small businesses. It's so much more personal than heading to Target. Don't get me wrong, I love Target. But it's much more rewarding to make a purchase that means as much to me as it does to the person I'm buying from. This list is by no means exhaustive so I'm sure I'll have more Spreading the Love posts...I like the shop. :)

To Take or Not to Take

This question I see coming up quite a bit. Should you take credit cards? For my first two years I did not accept credit cards...mostly because I didn't know how and a little because I was too nervous. I had quite a few customers ask if I took credit cards those first two years. I am sure that I lost some sales because I didn't.

So, last year I took the plunge and started researching how to go about accepting credit card payments. It is SO overwhelming to just do a Google search on this topic. It's nearly impossible to just start at the first link and figure it out. I searched on a couple of forums for advice and read around online.

Some people have found great success with ProPay. I have not personally worked with them, but as I understand it you can process cards over the phone at your show in about 2 minutes. Or you can process the card when you get home (after gathering all the important information at the show) using their online terminal. There is a limit to how much you can process each month.

Another person recommended 1st American Card Service who they use and said "they have low fees, no app fees, no contract term length, no cancellation fees." I've had no experience with this vendor either.

I ended up using iPayment Merchant Services...I won't even go into how I finally ended up with them but it was the long route, I assure you. I wouldn't say that they're the easiest to use, but now that I'm used to the process it makes sense to me. I take all card information manually, at shows and online. I have a terminal at home that plugs into the phone line...I punch in the information, hit send, and off it goes. And eventually money gets deposited into my checking account.

My fee is $9.95 per month plus a percentage of sales...they take a higher percentage for American Express and the lowest fees for Discover card (Visa & Mastercard are in between) but none of them are higher than 3.5% of the sale price. I know there are better fees out there but this one is also flexible enough for me. There is no minimum amount that has to be charged each month, nor is there a long contract. In fact, I could cancel at any time with no penalties.

One important thing to remember when taking credit card information...ALWAYS get a phone number. Always. I rarely ask for a driver's license number but I do always ask for the home/billing address even when taking the card in person. Make sure to check the expiration date and get the security code (3 digit number on the back of all cards except Amex where it's 4 numbers on the front).

Accepting credit cards at craft shows made a HUGE difference in sales. It always paved the way for me to get up the nerve to finally get a shopping cart on my website. But that's a whole 'nother issue.

If you have a great merchant provider let us know! :)

More Craft Show "Stuff"

Learning about craft shows has been a very popular subject on several forums where I participate. I'm sure that's because the summer season is going to be here faster than we realize.

One person who had some absolutely FANTASTIC insights is JOYouz from Quill Chick on Etsy. I want to give her full credit for these ideas and suggestions because they are so great.

"I love having my pocket apron at shows. It's the bib kind withvarious sizes of pockets along the bottom. I always felt better when I kept my cash (bills) in one of its pockets. I attached a ribbon to the zipper pull of a small pouch and pinned the ribboninside one of the pockets. That way I never got distracted and absently mindedly laid it down somewhere. I never invested ina cash register and have now quit doing shows."

I have invested in a small cash box. It locks and is fairly handy. I do have a bit of stress if I have to step away from my booth but so far (knock on wood) I've been just fine. I lock it and have the key on one of those cheap stretchy plastic bracelets so I keep it with me. I do like the idea of an apron though. Especially for supplies. I could keep my pen and calculator in the pockets. I tend to lose both of them.

JOYouz also made some additional supply suggestions, which I loved:

• Wet Wipes / Baby Wipes
• Small Screw Driver
• Tape Measure
• Tape (clear packing tape)

Great ideas! And even better than bringing 'stuff' is bringing a good attitude. JOYouz continues:

"Bring your best smile and be sure to make quick eye contact and nod hello to each shopper then let them browse. "If I can help you, let me know" is better than "Can I help you?"

This is a FABULOUS point. I purchased a CD on selling crafts from Bruce Baker called "Dynamic Sales and Customer Service Techniques. It is wonderful! He makes the point that you never ever ask a person a question where they can answer "No".

So, if you ask someone "Can I help you?" ... They can answer... "No Thanks...I'm just looking." How obvious is that and yet it never occurred to me! Much better, as JOYouz suggests is "If I can help you with anything, just let me know." This lets the customer know that you are there for them but they are in charge.

"Smile even when they say, "I could do that." Suppress the urge to say, "Well why didn't you?" And it is *not* considered good seller etiquette to kick 'em in the shins. :(" [Emphasis mine]

This is too funny...I haven't had *too* many people say this, but I have had a few. And another thing I've had is other jewelry people come into my booth to 'browse' for ideas. I honestly don't mind but please don't pretend to be a customer. I have shared so much with beaders who come in are honest up front. I've even written down vendors and sources for them. I appreciate honesty. But it does bug me just a tad when someone picks up a piece that I've worked really hard on and is examining it from every angle...obviously trying to see 'how' so they can go home and do it. I haven't kicked anyone in the shin...yet.

"Decide now if you are going to lower prices near the end of the day (and if you are, on what products?). Savvy buyers realize some some vendors do and may ask. Deciding ahead of time will help you avoid having to make that decision on the spot."

Sometimes I do and sometimes I don't. It depends on the item and it depends on the show. Generally if an item is something I've had for awhile I get tired of it (isn't that horrible!) and am more flexible on the price.

"Use it as a learning experience. Stress as little as possible. If people aren't buying, remember it all the fault of our economy and not yours. ;o) Good luck and most of all, have fun! "

I think JOYouz provides us all with some great food for thought and ideas to make our shows more successful. If you have more to add or any questions, feel free to leave them in the comments section.

Our Typical Soldier

This has nothing to do with jewelry or crafting in general. My neighbor is in the Army and served a year in Iraq (thankfully now home safe and sound). My husband was in the Coast Guard. His father was in the Navy. My grandfather was an MP. And many of my husband's co-workers are former and current military...some who are or have been stationed in Iraq or Afghanistan.

This amazing tribute was e-mailed to me. I have no idea who wrote it or where it came from but it rings true for almost every military person I've known and met. God Bless them!
----------------

The average age of the military man is 19 years. He is a short haired, tight-muscled kid who, under normal circumstances is considered by society as half man, half boy. Not yet dry behind the ears, not old enough to buy a beer, but old enough to die for his country. He never really cared much for work and he would rather wax his own car than wash his father's; but he has never collected unemployment either.

He's a recent High School graduate; he was probably an average student, pursued some form of sport activities, drives a ten year old jalopy, and has a steady girlfriend that either broke up with him when he left, or swears to be waiting when he returns from half a world away.
He listens to rock and roll or hip-hop or rap or jazz or swing and 155mm howitzer. He is 10 or 15 pounds lighter now than when he was at home because he is working or fighting from before dawn to well after dusk. He has trouble spelling, thus letter writing is a pain for him, but he can field strip a rifle in 30 seconds and reassemble it in less time in the dark. He can recite to you the nomenclature of a machine gun or grenade launcher and use either one effectively if he must. He digs foxholes and latrines and can apply first aid like a professional. He can march until he is told to stop or stop until he is told to march. He obeys orders instantly and without hesitation, but he is not without spirit or individual dignity. He is self-sufficient. He has two sets of fatigues: he washes one and wears the other. He keeps his canteens full and his feet dry. He sometimes forgets to brush his teeth, but never to clean his rifle. He can cook his own meals, mend his own clothes, and fix his own hurts. If you're thirsty, he'll share his water with you; if you are hungry, his food. He'll even split his ammunition with you in the midst of battle when you run low. He has learned to use his hands like weapons and weapons like they were his hands.

He can save your life - or take it, because that is his job. He will often do twice the work of a civilian, draw half the pay and still find ironic humor in it all. He has seen more suffering and death then he should have in his short lifetime. He has stood atop mountains of dead bodies, and helped to create them. He has wept in public and in private, for friends who have fallen in combat and is unashamed.

He feels every note of the National Anthem vibrate through his body while at rigid attention, while tempering the burning desire to 'square-away' those around him who haven't bothered to stand, remove their hat, or even stop talking. In an odd twist, day in and day out, far from home, he defends their right to be disrespectful.

Just as did his Father, Grandfather, and Great-grandfather, he is paying the price for our freedom. Beardless or not, he is not a boy. He is the American Fighting Man that has kept this country free for over 200 years. He has asked nothing in return, except our friendship and understanding. Remember him, always, for he has earned our respect and admiration with his blood.

And now we even have women over there in danger, doing their part in this tradition of going to War when our nation calls us to do so.

This is a Prayer for our military...

"Lord, hold our troops in your loving hands. Protect them as they protect us. Bless them and their families for the selfless acts they perform for us in our time of need. Amen."

Please stop for a moment and say a prayer for our ground troops in Afghanistan, sailors on ships, and airmen in the air, and for those in Iraq.

This can be very powerful.......Of all the gifts you could give a US Soldier, Sailor, Coastguardsman, Marine or Airman, prayer is the very best one.