My first two orders of 2010 are out in the mail today - Thanks to S. and J. for their orders! I hope that you (and the recipients) like them. Please feel free to send in pictures of the little ones with the items if you'd like them posted on my website and be sure to post a review on my FB page if you are so inclined.

I forgot to take pictures of the finished items before getting them ready to mail, but I'll be sure to take pictures of all new orders. I'm hoping to get some new samples done this weekend and posted online – bibs and t-shirts with some new designs on them. I'm also on the search for kid-size tote bags and other fun items that would be cute with embroidery designs. I'm open to suggestions and requests, so let me know if there are any items you'd like me to find.

I'm still working out some of the nuances on the website. After S. placed his order, I discovered that I really need to modify the way the options are presented on the ordering screens. This is a learning process, and I'm definitely learning a lot along the way.

This Friday, I am planning on attending the ASI Roadshow in hopes of getting information from a whole slew of suppliers. Maybe even get some fun swag  :) who knows?

My next big mission is to try to figure out if there is any way for me to branch into screen printing. It seems like a logical next step, and I know it would be a good business move (especially on the corporate side of things), but right now the problem is space. I have NO idea where the heck I would put the equipment! Maybe I can make some space in the laundry room...
 
:D

Now my "blog" link won't lead to a blank page.

Until now, the "blog" graphic on the Terra Threads website just led to an empty shell of a blog. Not anymore! :D I'll probably be playing with the background, layout, etc. over the next few days/weeks, but the first concern was getting some content up!

I try really hard not to make "New Year's Resolutions." I don't like the word "resolutions" - I like to say my "goals" for the new year are X, Y and Z. To some, it might be the same thing, but The connotation of "resolutions" and that of "goals" aren't the same to me. The purpose of goals isn't to make you feel bad or guilt you into doing some behavior. They should be things that you are striving to accomplish, things that you want to achieve; they should be a positive experience. That's how I like to think, so that's how I plan for the new year.

So, here (in no particular order) are some of my Goals for 2010:

• Average at least 2 sales per week in the first half of 2010 (baby/kid items).
• Improve my digitizing skills so that converting designs doesn't take so many hours.
• Learn how to properly use Quickbooks.
• Average at least 1 commercial sale of 10+ items quarterly in the first half of 2010 (corporate items).
• Get (and keep) my sewing/work area neat and organized.
• Spend at least 10 hours per week actively working on my business - sewing, marketing, researching, etc.
• Blog here at least once a week.

A former boss of mine introduced me to the concept of a BHAG (Big Hairy Audacious Goal) - it's from some management book (I can't remember which one.) A BHAG is something big (obviously) that you really want. It can be something you want this year, it can be something that may take you five years, but it's something HUGE that will definitely take work. Apparently the original authors* say that a BHAG is a 10- to 30-year goal, but I'm trying to be more relevent to my own life and situation, so I'm thinking more like 2-3 years. I like to also have MFIGs (Medium Fuzzy Intense Goals - yes, I just made that up.) So, here are my MFIGs and BHAGs for Terra Threads:

MFIGs:

• Get mentioned on dooce.com and/or @dooce on twitter.
• Get mentioned on 2 additional "big" mom blogs. (list to be researched and added later)
• Get mentioned on 3 "big" parenting websites. (list to be researched and added later)
• Average 5 retail sales per week.
• Average 1 commercial sale per month (10+ items).

BHAGs:

• Average 10 retail sales per week.
• Average 3 commercial sale per month (10+ items).
• Break even.

* Ok, I went and googled BHAG - here's the wikipedia entry for it. I am leaving my original info further up b/c it was the though process I had while writing this entry.