Doree supplies me with the best MMU ever, Angie makes the beads that make my hear sing and Lysa makes me smell really, really damn good and a price point I can go a little crazy with.
The first thing that struck me about TMTM was the descriptions. As a soaper I appreciate the difficulty in describing a scent without sounding like some over the top beaker waving version of The Continental. Her scent write ups are spot on, I have ordered several samples and to a one, they have been what I expected.
My favs so far are Cleo and Drosta, ALL of them were great, just not particularly 'me'. Much to the delight of my massage therapist Amy who gets all the samples that aren't me. It may or may not be related but after she smelled all of them I got the best massage of my life (and she's always excellent) so I'm thinking gift certificate for Christmas for Amy.
Q: How did you originally get into the business of making things?
I have *always* made everything. Even a a child, I was never interested in store bought items. I would spend hours making something I could have easily bought down the street. But it was made with MY hands and that made it special. As far as perfume goes, the department store stuff was never my thing. By the time I was about 16, I had amassed quite a collection of perfume oils, and I mixed them daily tosuit my mood.
Q. What made you decide to sell your wares?
My hours were cut at work and I thought "What the heck?" At the time, I was in a steady relationship, so I had the support there in case I failed (I really hate that word FAIL - I've since cut it out of my vocabulary). I spent most of my savings on supplies and started very, very small.
Q: Tell us about your previous working situation:
I worked caring for people with developmental disabilities. Very challenging and rewarding work.
Q: When you first started selling, did you have dreams of quitting your day job?
Oh, no way!! I thought it was simply going to be a way to supplement my income while having fun at the same time. I actually never expected it to work. When I got my very first sale, I was like "Really?? Someone is interested enough to give me their money?? It was a slow and sometimes heartbreaking first couple months, but when that ball starting rolling, it *really* started rolling.
Q: Did you do anything to prepare ahead of time?
Unfortunately, no. I was completely unorganized. I really never thought it would go anywhere, so I didn't make the kinds of plans sensible people make. There were a lot of learning experiences along the way. (**note from me** This is really good advice as I find myself trying to get organised int he middle of a four year "oh, it'll never go anywhere' nightmare of neglect. Thing is, it is, and I'm not ready.**)
Q: What are the most effective ways you've marketed your business?
Word of mouth is extremely effective. I give away a lot of samples. I talk about my product to anyone and everyone. I do trades and swaps. I spent a lot of time in the Etsy community boards, learning from people who had been through it before.
Black Jack Solid Noelia Maximo Solid
Q: Walk us through your typical workday:
Up at 6am, COFFEE COFFEE COFFEE, answer emails, relist sold items, etc. After getting the kidlet off to school at 8:20, I turn the television to ID and work work work (I never have time to actually *watch* tv, so listening to it seems like a guilty pleasure). 2:30, kidlet out of school, so it's dropping orders at the the post office, then homework, laundry, dinner - the uber-fun domestic stuff. When she's settled down foe the evening, it's back to work until I'm about to fall asleep. Exciting, no?
Q: What do you enjoy most about being self employed?
Definitely the freedom. I don't have to miss Open House at school, parent/teacher meetings, etc. And if I decide I want to swoop her up for a movie matinee or dinner date, we can do that. Also, I was never really good with the public. :-)
Q: If you could go back in time, what advice would you give yourself?
BE ORGANIZED. Order supplies as far ahead of time as possible, even if you don't think you'll need them right away.
Q: What advice would you give someone else?
BE ORGANIZED. Plan to succeed. Live as if success is right around the corner and you are preparing for it!
Q: Is there anything else you'd like to share?
Thank you so much for thinking of me! :-)
This was a great interview. I've been reading a lot of reviews on The Morbid the Merrier and placed my first order yesterday. Excited to see the packaging and get the products, but (thanks to the great things said so far) I'm even more excited to do a proper review on my blog so I can share about her shop with others!
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