In addition to my dedication to my schoolwork, I am also committed to a one-woman entrepreneurial venture. Art has been my passion since I was a young child, yet I never thought I could earn my living selling beads or hand painted T-shirts. Casual visits to local flea markets suggested otherwise. Here in South Florida, there is a terrific market for seashore-related items. Tourists love handcrafted gifts that are decorated with seashells, animal prints and tropical motifs. Capitalizing on this theme, I started a small internet / mail order business to market my custom-made belts, earrings and necklaces worldwide.
I started with just a few hundred dollars and a Saturday afternoon kiosk at our local flea market. I made several samples and plowed all the profits directly back into the business. I also developed a fully-functional e-commerce web site to offer my goods to a global audience. During the past year, I've enjoyed brisk sales and have identified a few highly profitable product lines.
What's in the bag? Business of Software 2010
moo.com business cards
"moo business cards"Although I started the business as a way to pursue my passion for art, I quickly learned that there was much more to running a business than handling my glue gun. I learned how to source inexpensive supplies, negotiate volume discounts and handle customer questions and suggestions. I developed excellent time management skills, balancing the busy holiday season with my winter exam schedule. I also learned how paper-intensive my business is, filing a business tax return for the first time in 2000. While I enjoy the financial success of my venture, I am certain I have a lot to learn before I earn my first million! Yet I've definitely been bitten by the "entrepreneurial bug" and am eager to expand my current business. During my winter break, I will make more samples, print a glossy catalogue and solicit interest from local wholesalers in my area. I'll promote my work at trade shows and craft fairs, where national buyers often search for unique, one-of-a-kind pieces. I'll also beef up my web site, advertise on eBay and become a moderator for jewlery-related chat rooms. Although my free time is limited, I will exhaust every possible step to achieve entrepreneurial success and go to bed each night with the satisfaction that I gave it my best shot.
English: Screenshot of Chat Rooms in Paltalk Scene
English: Taken at a Chicagoland Flea Market. Rosem...
English: An article about Ralph Ginzburg's mail or...