Two fabulous new treasuries

Two of my PeriDot by Duni items made it into these new treasuries on Etsy!

A bright and colourful treasury by  bijouxdellostregato a.k.a. Priscilla, who lives in Rome...

...and a spring fashion forecast by Canadian mixed media artist WhisperingFen

Thank you so much, ladies!

Small/home businesses require business plans too

A few years ago while planning my online selling (ad)venture I sat down at the kitchen table and wrote a business plan - starting with a mission statement. Then, being the neat person that I am, I put the sheets in a colourful file and placed it in my desk drawer rarely to be looked at again! Maybe I should have, and I was reminded of this big time when I came across this blog post on writing a business plan on Etsy recently. Tricia McKellar, the author of this post has even more great tips on her blog and I recommend any aspiring indie seller with an Etsy shop sign up for her free Etsy Shop Tune-Up.
I did, and now I receive essential information in a compact format in my inbox every couple of days, which also serves to remind me to focus on the important stuff and stick with my plan (recently revised I might add)!
I also read the book The Boss of You, which is geared toward women entrepreneurs and written by two lovely and funny ladies who also have a highly informative website. If you're serious about starting your own business I believe there is no such thing as too much information. The important thing is is to weed out the superfluous and retain the relevant; network and don't be shy to ask for help or advice from experienced sellers if you need it! There's no denying that starting your own (small) business and becoming your own boss is hard work and challenging, but I find it's far more rewarding and gives me greater satisfaction than any activity as an employed person. And you know what else? It's fun!

Pretty in Pink

Pink is my favourite colour. It's cheery; it makes me smile; it's such a positive colour and brightens up the dark days of winter, which we (over here in Germany) are currently experiencing. I was delighted when my Pink Pajama Set was included in this gorgeous pink Etsy treasury curated by Anna of Anna's Adornments. This collection is put together beautifully. Thank you Anna!

While I'm waiting for brighter days - no, actually at this point I'll settle for a bright hour or two - in order to take adequate photos, I've been thinking a lot about my blog and the direction it's going. The title seems a bit off now that I've expanded my product line. New visitors will probably be a bit confused! Taking my cue from Erika, who has done an awesome job with hers (I learn so much from her), I will be making a couple changes to this blog in the next few weeks, starting with the blog title. I've been brainstorming a bunch of titles, but my favorite one "Duni Designs" is unfortunately copyrighted by a well-known German napkin supplier! So, I'll have to think a little longer on this one.

until next time,