Rebecca's Biztalk posts

Blog Question

I started our blog in December of 2005...it is now almost December of 2007....

Question.... how many months/years of blogging do you leave in your archives? 1 year? 2 years? 5 years?

Widgets - Desktop?

For fun I just created a widget from my blog on www.widgetbox.com I installed it on our myspace page. (dont really need it there but what the hey..) I can also install it on our website but I have a direct link to our blog already so I dont think thats necessary...

Now.... In using widgetbox.com it doesnt look like they have a way to put the blog/widget directly on a persons desktop and in looking at www.desktop.google.com/plugins it looks like they have ready-made desktop widgets but none that you can customize as your own.

Any suggestions on where to make a custom/company/blog widget that people can have on their desktop?

Widgets - Desktop?

For fun I just created a widget from my blog on www.widgetbox.com I installed it on our myspace page. (dont really need it there but what the hey..) I can also install it on our website but I have a direct link to our blog already so I dont think thats necessary...

Now.... In using widgetbox.com it doesnt look like they have a way to put the blog/widget directly on a persons desktop and in looking at www.desktop.google.com/plugins it looks like they have ready-made desktop widgets but none that you can customize as your own.

Any suggestions on where to make a custom/company/blog widget that people can have on their desktop?

Need 3 trees removed..any recommendations?

We have three trees in our front yard that I would love to have taken down.... Does anyone know of someone/business who does tree removal that is licensed and bonded and gives free estimates?

For those of you who purchase for resale...

Im curious...(since this is a public forum you can answer me privately if you wish...)

for those of you who purchase items for resale.... how do you determine the retail price?

Do you keystone (is this done anymore??) Do you use the MSRP? Do you have your own formula? Do you charge what the market can bear?

For whatever method you use do you use it on all products or do different products require different methods?

Many Thanks!

Have a product pricing question...anyone in this field?

I have a couple of questions on pricing products... I have an accountant but I dont think he is the right person to ask... What profession does this? I am at a loss of what search terms to use!

Anyone here on biznik that can help privately????

Anyone know Zencart-Looking for reward/points program

Is anyone familiar with zencart??? I dont know if there is a module for what Im looking for or not (Ive posted over there and waiting for an answer)

Im looking for a reward/points system that can be integrated into my zencart/website.

A person earns xxx amount of points for ever dollar spent. Then they can use those points as payment or part of a payment on their next order.

Suggestions???

Free Subscription to Inc. Magazine

I love this magazine... subscription is only $10.00 I am renewing mine and I can give away 1 free subscription. If you are interested email me (sales@countrymeadowltd.com) or pm me here with your name and email address.

http://www.inc.com/

Free Oki C5150 LED Printer

Here's the deal... I have an Oki C5150 led printer (similiar to laser) that is approx. 2 yrs old. Main use was to print heavy card stock (80 lb)... worked but not as professional looking as what I wanted...(doesnt take card stock very well)

In my frustration (I have a low tolerance for any type of machinery malfunction) at trying to fix a printing issue I inadvertantly dumped black toner into the front part of the printer...

I have cleaned it the best as I could but it is now giving me an error message related to the black toner cartridge.... Oki people tell me it might just need a new black toner cartridge but since I was looking at a new printer anyway I didnt want to spend the money for a new toner.

I have since purchased a printer that actually does the job I need and do not need the Oki anymore.

If anyone is into restoring/fixing or otherwise interested in taking the Oki off my hands to see if you can get it working again please feel free to contact me. You can have it for free.

I think three of the color toner cartridges are new (I still have one in the box). I paid between $400-$500.00 for this printer but at the time I was not printing the media that I am now.

I really really hate the thought of tossing/recycling it if someone local wants to try their hand at getting it to work again...especially if it only needs a new black toner cartridge.

You can come and get it during any weekend just send me a message!

Note: It is a relatively big printer and is sitting in my dining room on the floor. I wont want to keep this for very long so if you are interested give me a hollar.

Anyone here deal in bulk food oils..specifically coconut oil?

Im looking for a new source of bulk coconut oil .. Im currently purchasing it in Seattle but am looking for a more wholesale source for a cheaper price. Need a min of 50lbs or more on a regular basis. Cant seem to find anything at the wholesale level by googling. Preferably in the Everett-Seattle-MLT-Edmonds area?

Does anyone know anything about phplist?

I have phplist for one of my newsletters. Last week my isp went in and throttled my sending (90 per 15 min) to prevent crashing their servers (so they say) and preventing spam (this was AFTER they suspended my account before notifiying me of anything!!!)

Last week I also attempted to add a second 'list' and it seemed pretty straight forward and I thought I had it done.

Yesturday I logged into my phplist account and tried to send a newsletter to one of the lists....but when I click on Send a Message it takes me to my website instead of giving me a choice of lists to send the message to.

I dont know if I did something wrong or my isp when they went into my account and did their thing. I have emailed them and they have not responded...which is not like them..ususally they respond within an hour.

Any suggestions on what to check?

What do you do when your handwriting sucks

My handwriting has always been not so good and now that I have arthritis its even worse... Im sending out marketing letters and custom dictates that I personally sign the letters. (right?)

Since I dont want to look like a dork is there any other acceptable method of 'signing' a letter other than a full signature? Would initials do? (I can do initials!!)

Hey all you eco-earth friendly people...how to dispose of cd's?

I have several old computer cd's... old programs that are useless to me (old printer, etc) Are cd's (of any kind) recyclable? I detest the thought of having to throw them in the regular garbage...I just cant see them breaking down and disintigrating! (please dont tell me to make a mobile out of them and hang them from a tree) :-)

Meet, Eat & Greet....Join Us Won't You?

Join us and other local merchants August 25 & 26 at Central Market - Shoreline for their annual Meet, Eat & Greet.

Held every year Central Market features locally produced products and the people who make them! Meet them face to face, ask questions about their products and enjoy free samples.

We will be handing out free samples of our SpaLusion and Umoja soaps and will be reintroducing our Fall Harvest soap for the upcoming fall season.

We will be available Sunday, August 26th from 12:30-2:30pm in the Natural Resource Center. Please stop by, say hi and get your free samples…and don’t forget to check out the soap bar deli and slice off a little piece of fall!

Rebecca Country Meadow

Adding guest bloggers??

To provide more relevant content (I dont always have time to blog) for our blog readers/customers I was thinking of having a few (2-3?) guest bloggers that could post monthly or every other month on our blog. They would have authoring abilities (providing I can figure out how to add them) to log in and post their article. They would not have the ability to change our blog in any other way. I would have a separate catagory on our blog for guest bloggers and a link back to their site/business.

Our target market (talking retail here not wholesale): women 29-59 middle income who appreciate the finer things in life and are conscience about their health and beauty

So I would need people/businesses that are related but not competing like: makeup, healthy eating, women exercises and any other 'women' subject. No resellers/ mlms would be accepted.

Good idea? Bad idea? Anyone here have a related business?

Need new phone system with voice mail..suggestions?

Note: This is not for me personally but for a business owner I know.

Stated business is using phones that are very old (like 15-18 yrs old) with NO voice mail. Company has 3 lines (that trunk over), a Seattle line plus a dedicated fax line. Company has both Quest and Verizon phone numbers that are redirected (or whatever).

Owner of said business has stated that he is ready to upgrade to new phones that are voice mail capable. Business is located in Lake Stevens.

Question: Is this a phone company issue? Do we contact the phone company to purchase the phones and install them, making sure the voice mail works?

Or is this a private company issue? and if so who?

Needed: Compelling Ad Copy/Barter for Spa Products?

Im in need of compelling ad copy... You know... the catchy headline followed by what we can do for you ending with a call to action

Will trade for spa products

An event on how to write good ad copy?

Maybe there have already been events/meetings on how to write good ad copy but if not is there anyone willing to host such a thing....perhaps in the N Seattle/S. Everett area?

Totaly off topic! Canines in Need and You can Help!

I'm making my post here brief... Please see our blog for the total article and cute pictures! www.countrymeadowsoaps.com/blog

In a nutshell...

Cuddly Canines (based in the La Habra Heights are of California) rescues dogs and puppies from kill shelters, rehabilitates, fosters them for re-adoption. To earn money they are having a silent auction Aug. 25th and are looking for donations to auction off to help earn money to pay for medical expenses for the animals. (Im sure they are willing to also take monetary donations if you are so willing).

They are also looking for loving homes for these animals so if you know anyone in the California area that may want a dog please send them to http://www.cuddlycanines.com/

See our blog for more information.... and dont forget to check out their website and the most adorable dogs you have ever seen!

Where or should I post something like this......??

Im an admitted pushover for animals and kids....and it seems like I am always promoting or sponsoring some kind of event or another regarding the above....

Is there a place on biznik (or should there be???) that we can post stuff like this: www.countrymeadowsoaps.com/blog See todays post under: Canines in Need, Can You Help

Seems like there could be a place on here that we can post subjects like this.... I know I like to help out when I can and I figure the more the merrier.