Well things are definitely hotting up around here, hence why I've not blogged for a little while !

This is the time of year when it starts to get busy with events for which I am extremely greatful.  So last weekend I had two booked in.  The first was a new baby and childrens market, only a short one but I was hoping it would be good.  Well, how wrong could I be, this one claimed the prize for the worst event I have ever attended !  Not only was I unable to sell anything or even engage in a chat with any of the potential customers, I couldn't even manage to persuade any of them to take a brochure with them either.  At least I know it is not worth booking any more of these types of event, and will just put it down to experience !

Luckily I had another more promising event to look forward to on the Bank Holiday Monday.  I'd booked Chobham Carnival and was definitely looking forward to it.  I had received a tip off about this one from someone who had attended before.  I contacted the organisers quite expecting find that they already had a trader attending but was very pleasantly surprised when they said that they didn't.  I booked it right away as these sort of things are always popular.  The sun had been shining for what seemed like weeks now, but the day before the wind decided to pick up and although it was sunny and warm it was extremely blowy !  Anyway, undeterred I packed my stock and the gazebo into the car and off I went.  I'd not been to the site before but manged to find it really easily and set about putting up the gazebo.  I knew I had plenty of time, which is just as well. No sooner had I got the gazebo up and started to put some stock on the table, there were several very strong gusts of wind.  It was odd as many of the other gazebos dotted around the arena didn't seem to be catching any wind at all but in the spot I had been allocated the wind howled and whistled and very soon threatened to take my gazebo with it.  So despite having got it all set up I decided I was probably better off taking it down again - and quick ! 

Once the gazebo was safely bag in its bag I set about getting the stock out. This also proved quite a challenge !  At one point I had to have someone holding onto the card rack so I could load it with enough weight to prevent it taking off !  Then everything else had to be put out in boxes and baskets as putting it out on the table how I normally would just wasn't an option.

Luckily the wind did drop for some of the time I was there and then it changed direction too which result in lots of the other stallholders rushing to dismantle their gazebos too !  All in all though it was a lovely day and and I am pleased that I persevered. I made lots of sales and it certainly gave me something to talk about.  Can't say I'd like them all to be like this one but I still enjoyed it.  When I got home it was out with the cream to soothe the windburn on my face too.  I hope to return there again next year so here's hoping for a slightly less windy day !

  www.chobhamcarnival.com

Things have been a bit quiet around here with everyone off for the Easter holidays.  Did go to a Baby and Childrens market on Saturday.  It was only the second time at this event but was still rather too quiet for my liking.  The next one clashes with another carnival that I  always attend so gave me a good reason not to re-book for that venue !

I try and look at quiet events positively as they sometimes do produce orders later or other bookings or events that I would not have heard of if I'd not been at the first one.

Now looking forward to the next one on Sunday.  It is a garden festival and one that I attended last year too.  This year I am particularly excited.  Bet you are all wondering why now?  Well it's like this, although I have been attending events for five years now, this one will be my very first time in a marquee !  What is that saying "little things etc." !!

Ah well at last it is the Easter school holidays so have managed a couple of lie-ins.  When I have been online I have spent most of my time trying to get my facebook business page going.  Have managed to be almost back where I was in terms of members of the old group in only a week.  I have also managed to attract one famous follower, would be nice if I could get a few more of those !

My girls have been having a clear out in their rooms so I have also gained one more storage unit that I can have to help organise my ever growing stock of cards.  I'm sure I will find plenty to put in there. 

The new cards coming out in May to help with fundraising for Childrens Hospices UK are all lovely too.  If anyone would like to see a sneak preview of these or place an order then please do get in touch. 

For most people Saturday might well be a day off.  For me today was not, though of course the choice is totally my own !

Today I attended a small table top sale at my local church.  I've not been there to one of these before, although I have visited the parent and toddler group who also meet in the same hall.  I didn't sell that much but as it is the first time they have tried a sale there, I think it went reasonably well.  There was no shortage of visitors which is sometimes an issue at other locations I go to.  I was happy anyway as it gave me another excuse to get my lovely cards out and talk to some new people.

On my return I was happy to find that my expected order had arrived and along with it was my gift from Phoenix in recognition of the last 10 years.  I was extra excited to find that I had qualified for four of the lovely gifts, a pretty jotter with Phoenix designs on four sides and a space for a pen, which was also included.  I will of course be keeping one of them myself, but that means I have some to use as extra special incentives for party hosts or team members.

 I have also completed my second round of christmas voting today.  It was good to see that the designs have now been narrowed down, but also that many of my favourites are still there.  Can't wait until August when we get to see the finished results.  Exciting too to see that the followers at my new Phoenix facebook page have also increased.  If you would like to follow the updates there too then you can by following this link   http://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=728733627&ref=ts#!/pages/Glenda-Hayes-Independent-Phoenix-Trader-15307/111809195568347

After all that I sat in the garden and enjoyed the lovely sunshine whilst also celloing some more cards ready for my next event.  It certainly made a change to be able to do this instead of having to do them whilst watching TV indoors.

So enough excitement for one day, and now time for some relaxation.

Well yesterday was another busy day mostly spent booking up new events for the next few months.  This part went fine and then I decided to do something that I've been putting off for a while - re-create my Phoenix facebook page.

When Phoenix first agreed that we could have facebook pages I was quite excited at the opportunity to connect with so many more people.  Although I'd used facebook for a while on a personal page I wasn't really an expert, so decided to set myself a group for my Phoenix business.  I thought this would be fine for what I needed.  Later on I realised that there were some things that you can do with a page that you cannot do with a group, and you cannot simply turn a group page into a normal business page, so was looking at the prospect of starting all over again !  I knew it would probably take me a good few hours so that is why I kept putting it off. 

Anyway yesterday I decided to bite the bullet and change it over.  On the whole it went very well, and is already beginning to look well populated and after less than 24 hours has several followers too.  Of course as it went so well I decided to persevere and add myself an email sign up tab.  Again this is something I'd been wanting to do for a while but couldn't all the time it was a group.  Perhaps I should have quit whilst I was ahead !  I do have the tab on the correct page but just cannot seem to get it to display the form that it should.

So you have guessed it, today's challenge is to get the email form to work properly.... this could take some time !

Well when I re-started this blog I did intend to try and update it often.  At least every couple or days or so I thought.  Didn't do so well last week, I thought about writing something on Friday but ran out of time and next time I looked it was Monday again already.  If this was a school report I would be writing "will have to try harder !"

Anyway last week was another busy one but most of the activity was behind the scenes type stuff.  I received a large order and cello'd all of that and was just smugly thinking "that's good I should be back to having most things in stock", when another order came in by phone and I realised I was still missing a couple of designs !  Anyway facebook group to the rescue this time and Niki sent me the cards I needed in the post.  At least that way I will still be able to get them to the customer without too long a delay.

My daughter helped me prep another 50 brochures to take out this week on a brochure drop.  Hope that it generates another few orders at least.  I quite enjoy doing them now that the weather is being kinder to us.  Have chosen a new area this time to try out.  Hope it turns out to be as good as the last one.

That's it for today !

Well you may have noticed that I've not updated this blog for about a week now.  That was as I was so busy at events last week I didn't really get the time.  If my phone worked better for such things I would have done it from there but to be honest I'd probably still be there now trying to type what I wanted to say !

So lots of sales, lots of brochures given out, so hoping they bring many orders in the days to come.

Yesterday I attended an event I have been to twice before, once last spring and again last christmas.  So far christmas had been the best one, but now after counting up yesterday has outdone that.  The format yesterday was slightly different to the previous ones and included lots of entertainment.  It was brilliant as my stall was right next to the stage, so I got lots of customers,  but also had a ringside seat !

One singer in particular was really good.  If you would like a listen too you can check him out here www.lewisdixon.com    Enjoy your day everyone.

I'm feeling a little bit sad today as I was due to be attending my first ever ET meeting today, but in the end I had to cancel as I was also invited to an interview today.  The job is part-time so doesn't mean that I would be giving up my Phoenix activities, just a shame the two had to clash !  Anyway the interview seemed to go quite well so at least I feel it was worth the sacrifice and if I get the job I will have more money which among other things will help me to be able to build my business. 

While I'm waiting to find out I have my market to keep me busy next week, now I'm just hoping that the weather improves, as its raining today, and that I get lots of customers.

Will keep you posted.

Well today began well when I opened the door to my Citylink Driver who was dropping off another box of goodies for me.  I have already dived in to have a look.  Most of it is more of the new designs as they have been so popular already that I have had to order more so I will have some for my stalls next week.

Last Saturdays event was rather quiet but I'm hoping next week will be better.  I don't have any sales this week but that will give me plenty of time to get everything ready for next week.  Oh and yes, you've guessed it I still forgot to order a couple of things - hoping I can manage without until next month, or a big pile of orders comes in, whichever is first ! 

I should have been attending some training on Friday but due to an unforseen commitment I have had to cancel that.  It is a shame but there will be another round of these training days fairly soon so I'm not too worried as I'll just make sure that I do make it to the next one.

Just thought I'd add a quick note on here today as my fundraising for the Rose Road Association is now up and running.  From now until the end of April I am donating 15% from all online orders to their charity.  More details can be found at http://www.roseroad.org.uk  Please help me to increase their funds by ordering all your greetings cards and stationery through my site at http://www-pheonix-trading.eu/web/glendahayes 

For those of you who prefer to see before you buy I will be at Alton Community Centre tomorrow (12th March) between 10am and 2pm with all my lovely Phoenix goodies for sale.

Today I am excited as I have just received my order - a big box full of goodies to be opened up as soon as I have finished writing this !  It should have in it all the new March products so will have lots of fun getting those ready to send out on sale later this week.  Tonight will be spent celloing in front of the TV and trying not to get glitter all over me !  Will post details of my favourite designs here tomorrow.

Well today is Sunday.  Normally on most weekends I would probably have been out at a sale or event on at least one of the days, but not this weekend.  It does make a change to have a whole weekend to do other things, though I do enjoy going out and spreading the Phoenix word too !

My latest order containing all the new March designs was despatched on Friday.  Normally they don't deliver on a Saturday but because I'd gone out, and it was coming with a different carrier they did :-(  Would have liked to have had the parcel so I can start celloing for my fair next weekend, and so I can go in to top up my permanent box in the local school staffroom.  The school are always keen to see the new designs.  Nevermind, as I wasn't actually expecting it until Monday anyway its not too big a problem.  Celloing will be done in front of the TV tomorrow evening - Who ever said that working for yourself was hard !

Well today is the first day since I added my blog back to the website so thought I'd better write something here !

Have had a busy "Phoenix" day though not in the traditional sense of the words.  Most of my work today has been in the background.  Checking my ads, contacting customers, confirming bookings and generally spreading the word about the business.  Not every day is like this you understand but they are all things that do need to be done in order to maximise the sales and hopefully attract new team members.  I am always happy to do the groundwork to acheive the results.