Susan's Biz Talk posts

Starting Over...Again

It's been 15 years since I started my first business designing and selling gift baskets. I had to learn how to get started the hard way...all by myself. There were very few women's business groups around. So I'm glad to find you on Biznik!

My challenge is this: I'm starting another business, from scratch! I want to sell my handmade cards to other people, including people in business. I'm thinking that special holiday cards would be something that a person could send to very special clients when they want their card to stand out among all the others.

I'm thinking about where to find clients. As I've already learned with the baskets, "everyone" does not want my product and it will not necessarily sell itself!

When I sold gift baskets I eventually narrowed it all down to selling baby gifts to people who were financial planners with insurance companies. Those clients have drifted away. I no longer have an email/mailing list, so I have to start all over again. I don't have good referral sources. Consider me isolated!

What's the best way to get started? I'm in several online networks that don't seem to be taking me anywhere. (Biznik not included!) Now seems to be a good time to be planning ahead for the holidays but I want to use my time well, not fritter around doing the wrong thing.

Starting Over...Again

When I started my first business it was over 15 years ago. Now I want to sell my handmade holiday cards to businesses. Problem is that I don't have a client base. I only have 2 clients from my former business. They are financial planners. I want to build another email and snail mail list but I don't want to make the mistakes that i did the first time. I want a "good" list, but I have no one to start with.

I want to build some new relationships, both in person and online. I feel like I am getting off to a slow start by going around in circles with this.

Any suggestions for how to get organized, steps to take, how to not put the cart before the horse?