On my way to 100

For 2012 I decided I want a double 100. To have 100 items for sale in my online shop and to reach at least 100 sales (I'm actually at 67).

I started my production, photo shooting and listing... I wish I had more time to reach my 100 items for sale more quickly! Almost half way there - I have 45 already and maybe 30 ready to list. I also added a new setting for my photos: I re-created an eastern Canada beach with black sand, pebbles, sea wood, seaweed... It gives a new look to my listings of usual grey background photos.

If you want to help me on my way to 100 sales, please share!

Totally new cool option!

I've been thinking about trying a different color of wire for my jewelry for a while and finally decided to do something about it. So I bought this beautiful antiqued bronze wire and I'm also waiting for chains and charms, also in bronze color. It looks amazing with seaglass! Can't wait to try it with rings and bracelets, too. That will change the look of my shop and will give a cool option for those who want something different. I think that can even look good on men.

What about you? What do you think?

Focus: Branding

Ok, I'm done with the inconsistent labelling, arty-crafty packaging, weak and valueless branding.

I'm taking this business more and more seriously and I have work to do in order to make things right. I read a lot lately about business plans (and why you need one) and that is definitely something I should've done earlier. Same goes for branding.

First thing first, I finally defined my niche! After asking the question "what would you love to do for the next 20 years?", I decided to concentrate on everything seaglass and beach pebbles from now on - reason why I added the tagline "treasures of the sea" to my logo. My new colors for ZC will be grey and turquoise, colors of the ocean. I'll be working on my packaging next as I was doing a lot of improvisation since I started to sell online. I really need consistency! I also ordered 2 different rubber stamps to make tags and business cards, so no more handwritten, home-printed stuff.

As much as I hate to do paper work, this business plan has to be done and you know what, I'm going to do it!

I'm so excited!!

Oh my, oh my, after nearly 10 years of existence, Zamzam Design has finally its own website! I know, I took me way too much time to make it but I can finally check this from my to-do list (yes, I have items on my list that can stay there for years!).

Anyway, enough said, go to www.zamzamdesign.com and let me know what you think!

Couldn't resist

...so I'm back on Etsy. It was just too tempting! I wanted to give it a try. We never know. It seems that customers are more comfortable with Etsy than iCraft in general so... incha'Allah it will work better!

I was not always satisfied with Etsy, and you can read a lot about what's wrong with it elsewhere. But hey, do we have a lot of options when we want to sell online?? As long as I don't have my own shop and can't generate my own traffic, well, I guess that's the option. Let's see now if I can sell something despite the millions of other items that will probably bury mine :).

Don't worry!

Don't you like that pure lemon rare sea glass color??

If you've been to my iCraft website lately, you saw only one item. Almost everything I had in stock went to Artistri or was sold to people I know. Victim of my success ;). Reason why my shop is empty. Almost!

I also have some more great news but I'm keeping the secret for now. I need to create in the next days and will be back with the news. Incha'Allah wa taala!

I'm even considering going back to Etsy - well didn't someone said only fools don't change their minds? Oh and you know me (well most of you!), I change my mind constantly. We can say I'm quite... flexible :).

So, mind-boiling, hands-hurting, heart-beating, lips-smiling, I'm going back to my workshop. Got no time to waste!!

Another important step for Zamzam

I've been trying to get my jewelry and magnets sold in physical shops around Montreal and had an appointment last week with Jennifer Lonergan at Artistri. She agreed to take my whole Ocean collection and almost all my new magnets in her beautiful shop located at 5319 Park Avenue.

Al hamdolillah! This is an important step for me. People will now be able to see my creations 'live' and to appreciate them, even if they don't personally know me. Artistri is an amazing shop that supports women and sustainable development practices, where you can find treasures made by women from all over the world. I really feel blessed to be part of this communty of talented women!

If you're in Montreal, why not go and have a look - not only for Zamzam but also for the truly beautiful creations you can find there.

Magnets!

They are back, they are ready, they are in my shop! I have 50 new colorful magnets with your favorite patterns... You asked for them, well here they are!

I'm running out of pebbles and I have to go on a treasure hunt to find some more because they are very popular. I made about 100 last year and they are almost all gone...

Have a look at the magnets section of my boutique to see what I have in store.

Now Open!

photo credit: Tidefan

Finally!

I'm back with a new shop, and I decided to go with iCraft. Etsy was a real pain for me in the end and I really wanted to make a new beginning. Exposure might not be as good but for now, anyway, my goal is to reach potential clients by myself and to have a place where I can send people who ask me (or my clients) where they can buy Zamzam stuff.

I'd love to hear you about my shop. Everything you feel like saying, just tell me. After all, well, this is not my shop. It's yours.

*If you want to pass the link to your friends, the web adress is : http://icraft.ca/zamzamdesign*

What about iCraft?

Do you know iCraft.ca? Anyone selling there? If you never heard about it, what is your first impression? I'm considering trying to sell from there. I'm very reluctant to start back with Etsy. I really feel like starting anew. ICraft is Canadian, and doesn't work exactly like Etsy. It seems much more easy and simple. If you want more details, this review by EtsyBitch is nice.

I took loads of photos in the last few days, I'm ready to launch my 'new' shop and I'm very excited. I'm also planning to contact some physical shops where I could sell my sea glass jewelry and pebble magnets.

Will keep you posted!

Wondering

Photo credit Reigh Sierra

if I should think about re-opening my Etsy shop, again.

Things are going so well for me these days and I have lots of requests. But Etsy is very demanding too. Taking photos, croping, adjusting and uploading them, creating listings, going to the post office a few times a week... Would it be worth it?

Maybe I could just try to have my 'own' shop, not linked to Etsy or the like...

Comments, suggestions anyone?

Make your price!

Decisions were made. Actions are taken. My Etsy shop will close its doors as soon as all my items will expire.

I have loads of stuff in my workshop and would like to sell off most of it if possible. I wanted to state sales prices on Etsy but I'm so not into it, I prefer you make me an offer and if it's reasonable I will let it go.

I have some nice painted wooden mirrors, about 70 painted pebbles magnets, glasses, boxes... If you would like to see some photos, send me an email to zamzamdesign (at) sympatico (dot) ca. Otherwise you can go to my Etsy shop and if you like something, again, convo or email me and state your offer. And pass the word...

Many thanks to all of you who believed in me and in my business. And don't worry. I'll still create and paint. For me.

Running around in circles

Photo credit: Juliana S.

Maybe you are. Wondering. Why I don't list new stuff. Why I don't Twit, Book, blog as I used too. Maybe not.

But during all this time, I was. Wondering. Again. And I'm still. But if I'm here to talk about it today, it's because I'm less and less wondering. I asked. I receieved. Some answers were really hard to take and to swallow. I had to experience human meanness, to go through my own emotive roller coaster again, to face it. It is not worth it. I know, you remember. I said it before. Sometimes it takes time. To understand. To really understand. To stop fantasizing about something that is just not realistic, possible, or I don't know what.

But I'm getting tired. I'm getting fed up. Running around in circles. Wasting energy, time, sanity, money on the way. I think that is enough.

Not sure how/when I'll end this exactly. The mass-production of hijab pins and painted glasses. Etsy. The hope of making billions with painted pebbles transformed into magnets. But I know it is coming.

Now... now... I feel something new inside. Possibilities. Freedom. I see a door in front of me. Leaving. But entering.

I'll let you know what's on the other side.

Boxes and stickers

I'm preparing for a 5 days exhibit in August and ordered last week some custom pillow boxes from LilithEvy and ZD stickers from Pixel by Pixel. I received both and they look awesome - all orangy and fuchsia! 

I was a bit upset at myself because I forgot to mention I wanted round stickers and ended up with squares, but they still look good. I'm wondering now if I'll just cut some of them in circles... Prefer round than square in everything!

Moroccan Treasury

My painting is featured in an amazing treasury! You still have 2 days to view it and click on each item! Imight buy the Moroccan Lamp + Mosaic prints... They would go well with my Moroccan style kitchen...

Welcome to Artsyville!

Have you seen these amazing drawings? I'm so crazy about them - the colors, the doodles, the messages... Everything is perfect in my artistic eye. 

I found Aimee's art through her Artsyville blog first, then discovered her Etsy shop and thought all her doodleprints are  interesting. This is the kind of stuff that really catches my attention. Very inspiring, too. Triple love!

Why not?

Brian Yerkes, Owner and Creative Director of Brian Joseph Studios, posted a blog asking for the Business Cards of Bloggers. I thought it could be fun to join, even if the the best part of it, aside from the self-promo ;), will be the pleasure to peek at the ongoing gallery of logos and cards.

You have a blog and a card? Just follow the instructions and voilà!

A question of taste

I designed a press kit for my brother's quintet. I was so excited with the first proposition I created... He wasn't. Not representative, too 80's (?) ... So I had to make something much more 'sober' and classical. The result is not bad, but I loved the first one so much (and it took me hours to make!!!). 

A question of taste, he said. Of course.

Double Sale

To give me a little hope. Sold 2 pieces I particularly like, a bracelet and a box.

Some people are still willing to buy stuff from me. I guess it's a good sign. Well at least it gives a wee bit of motivation. 

Should do some more. Maybe. When I get better. Like in April or something. 

I'm on Fire

Art Fire, in fact. I felt like seeing something else than Etsy. My whole world revolves around it since April... I'm getting a bit bored sometimes!

I didn't feel like going through all the trouble of double paying, double listing, double everything but Art Fire was tempting for 2 main reasons: a verified account is only $7/month for life (and a basic account is free), and it is much more easy and quick to list your items. There are great features available like stats (can you imagine!!), sub-domain name, currency conversions, etc. I think they still have some work to do (still some bugs - but I can see they are fixing things quite quickly!) but I gave it a try, so we will see... 

My Art Fire shop