Goals (get a free pair of stud earrings)

Running a business is a lot of work, and not something that comes naturally to me. I love designing jewelry, and the business stuff is what allows me to do that, so I make myself spend time on the accounting, marketing, and other business-y stuff. When I started my business, years ago, I didn't really have a plan, except to make a website and try to get into some craft shows. I realized recently that if I want to grow my business and eventually do this full time, I needed a business plan. So, a few months ago I made some goals and wrote them all down. I made a 5-year plan to becoming a full-time artist and crafter, broken down to where I want to be in 3 years, 2 years, 1 year, 6 months, and then 3 months. Well - it's been 2 1/2 months since I wrote down these goals, and I am actually close meeting my goals! In the last 2 1/2 months I have obtained new gallery representation (at Worthington Gallery West in Pleasanton, CA), sold a few items from my etsy shop, almost doubled my blog readership (thanks! by the way - did you know you can subscribe to this blog by clicking the button in the left sidebar?), and come up with several product line ideas for things I can sell in my etsy shop I can make more than one of. [caption id="attachment_1070" width="150" caption="Argentium Sterling Silver Ball Studs"][/caption] Two three-month goals I haven't quite met yet are my sales goal for my etsy shop (but I only need two more to meet it) and figuring out some kind of shopping cart system I can use directly on my own website or blog. UPDATE: my etsy sales goal has been met. Yay! [caption id="attachment_1071" width="150" caption="Spiral Stud (Copper)"][/caption] The stud earrings pictured here are part of a new product line I'll be selling on etsy as well as through my own website. I'm just working out pricing and a few other details, but in the very near future I will have more than five styles of stud earrings available, most in your choice of metals. My inspiration for making stud earrings is having a baby who loves to grab at anything shiny. It only takes one yank on a pair of dangles to make many moms swear off earrings, so it occurred to me that a baby-friendly (read hard-to-grab) line of earrings would be perfect for moms like me, as well as anyone who likes to wear small earrings. I've always worn a pair of small studs in my second ear piercing, and for people who are more adventurous than I am and have more than two piercings per ear, the more stud styles, the better! So, why am I going on and on about stud earrings in a post about my business goals? Because I need a sale or two to reach my goal just met my sales goal and I'm excited and thankful for that. So, I'm offering a free pair of stud earrings to anyone who makes a purchase of $15.00 or more (not including shipping) in my etsy shop between now and Thanksgiving. Think of it as a head start on your holiday shopping - get something for yourself and something to give away! Just write "free studs" in notes to seller and I will contact you with information about the various styles you can choose from, including the two pictured here.