Small Business Perils

So apparently I haven't been all that good about blogging...it's been awhile! I even set up a friendly little Outlook reminder for once a week... but I have hit snooze on it more than I ever have my alarm clock!

When you own a small business, everything is your responsibility. From the big things like purchasing, merchandising and sales, accounting and marketing to the little things like cleaning the floors, sink, windows and shelves (where is all this dust coming from???) and making sure we have enough trash bags, ink and paper. Somewhere in the midst of all of this comes managing the website and blogging which, while very important, seems to be easy to hit the snooze button on!

So I will try hard to make this a priority once again... and for those of you reading right now, thanks for sticking around!!

Meg

New and Amazing!

I'm so excited about three new lines I picked up at January's Gift Market in Atlanta!

The first one is Pick Up Sticks. This is a fun and whimsical line of pendants created by a couple of cousins in New Mexico. The vintage look and girlie feel are simply wonderful whether you are 15 or 50. If you like several, just stack 'em! I have great sterling chains as well as suede and silk cords that these are fantastic on! The large pendants are $16.50 and the small "word candy" ones are $12.50. I have more than 35 different designs in stock!

Next we have Robin Goodfellow Designs. This designer makes the most delightfully sweet beaded necklaces! Wood Sprites are dainty little beaded drops on a pretty nylon necklace. The dragonflys are incredible and ornate with sparkles and iridescent wings and the pixie necklaces are simply adorable with their renaissance flair. These necklaces are affordable and like nothing you have ever seen! Wood Sprites are $20, Dragonflies are $28, Pixie necklaces are $44

Finally... Zulugrass is here!! This is an incredible line of jewelry with a wonderful story. The jewelry is handcrafted in Kenya by the Maasai women. After a terrible drought in the area, the people of this region were devastated. Philip and Katy Leakey, who live among the Maasai in the Kenyan bush, wanted to help their neighbors and to provide work opportunities without changing their culture. They came up with an imaginative idea that would utilize the excellent beading abilities of the Maasai women, and it used grass, an available sustainable resource, as the primary element. Read the rest of the story here.

The jewelry is amazing - colorful, sparkling and versatile. Each piece can become a necklace, a bracelet, an anklet, a hair accessory and so many other things. Pieces can be combined for dramatic color effect. You can use your own pendants with this line or purchase one of the adorable clip on pendants/charms to go with your pieces. You are only limited by your own imagination!! Click here for all the ways you can wear this remarkable product! Zulugrass is $9 per strand or 5 strands for $40.

Come check these great new lines out in the store when you can! I hope to get a few pieces in the online store sometime soon as well!!!

Meg

Valentines Day Specials!

Don't forget your special someone on Valentine's Day! Sparkle! has lots of items online and in our retail store that will let her know you care without breaking the bank!

Online specials - Use code Vship for FREE shipping on any purchase made online OR use code Vneck for 10% off any necklace item. Both offers good through Feb 14. Your purchase will already come in a box, ready to wrap. Need us to wrap it for you? No problem - just send us an email and we'll wrap your gift, free of charge!

In store special - get 15% off any "heart" item you can find in the store. If it has a heart on it, it's part of the promotion! Gift wrapping for your Valentine's purchase is free! Special is good through 2/14.

Don't forget to use the wish list online or the Honey Helper cards in the store to make sure your special someone knows what you like!!!

Remember to Sparkle! Whenever Possible!
Meg

Upcoming Events & News

I'd thought I'd let you know some of the things we are doing here at Sparkle! to help spread the word about our cool new shop!

The Gwinnett Ballet Theater has their annual gala fundraiser this weekend and we have donated a $50 gift certificate to the shop which will be part of a large "Downtown Lawrenceville" raffle prize package. This will be held at the Historic Courthouse and should prove to be a really fun and interesting evening!

On Feb 9 & 10 I'll be at the Gwinnett Civic Center with the great folks from the Gwinnett Daily Post. The event is called Family Fest and usually has a pretty large (10K) attendance. For a few hours each day we'll be helping kids make free beaded necklaces and handing out flyers and discount coupons for the shop.

The Aurora Theatre has a special Valentines Canteen on Feb 14. They have put together some great Valentines packages with add ons from various downtown merchants. You an add on dinner at a variety of restaurants, candy, flowers, a massage and of course a gift certificate for Sparkle! We are also currently advertising in the Aurora Theatre programs for their current show, Dial M for Murder.

In Feb 14 a group called 4:4 No More, a ministry of the North River Community Church is sponsoring a Wedding Vow Renewal event. They have put great packages together from donations from the Downtown Lawrenceville merchants including Crafty Confections, Huff's Flowers, The Aurora Theater, Hair Riddle's, Body Boutique and The Window Shoppe. The great packages include a vow renewal ceremony at Crystal Crane Bridal shop and a great gift basket which will vary based on the price paid for the package. For the large baskets Sparkle! has donated two beautiful sterling silver heirloom charm bracelets with a sterling heart shaped photo charm and two sparkling Swarovski crystal hearts. We have also donated 10 of the Sterling heart photo charms for the smaller baskets.

Of course we continue to put flyers out in various locations and we also send them home with our happy customers who have volunteered to spread the word! We appreciate each of you who have done a little something to let someone know everything that Sparkle! has to offer!

Remember to Sparkle! Whenever Possible!

Meg

Focus on: Doodlebug Dezines

I just spent the better part of the morning cropping and putting photos together for this fabulous line of handcrafted purses that I carry in the shop.

For the uninitiated, Doodlebug Dezines is the pseudonym/label of Laurie Wright, an amazing artist and all around talented lady who resides in Auburn, GA (just down the road!). I met Laurie through a lady who attended one of my jewelry shows in the early days and I am so grateful!

Laurie is funny and warm and genuine and so modest about her insane talent. Her humor is evident in the fun touches she puts on all of her purses (check out the cute button on the back of this purse!) She has a great eye for color, loves trying new things and just bubbles with enthusiasm. I am always excited to see what she will come up with next!

Here's Laurie's "bio" that I have posted in the shop:

"I began tinkering around with sewing as a child by hand sewing dolly dresses from the rag drawer. When I married, my motivation to sew was to save money on curtains and have matching bedspreads. My CREATIVE outlet was pencil drawing. After my first sewing conference, American Embroidery Conference in Atlanta 2004, I began to seriously sew for the fun of it. My creative outlet became making purses. I attended a Babylock conference in October 2005 and purchased an embellisher after a class with Paula Scaffidi (see Fiberella.com). I’ve enjoyed merging all the creative aspects of machine sewing with my enjoyment of pencil drawing. I work full time and have 4 boys (This number includes my hubby because he is a big kid, too). I’m never bored! LOL! Some places you can see my work posted....

http://www.fiberella.com/html/visitors_gallery.html

www.absolutearts.com/portfolios/d/doodlebugdezines/

sadiasews.com/blog1/2007/04/11/fiberarts-and-machine-embroidery/

So anyway, I spent some time going through the purses I currently have in stock and listing them on the website so that more folks can see the specialness that is Laurie's work. I had a lot of fun looking at each piece with new eyes as I described them for our online customers! More than once I thought, "I should just buy this one myself!"

Each piece has been made with such attention to detail! The fabrics chosen for just the right contrast, the little embellishments - buttons, crystals, ribbons, chain, beads - that make each bag literally "Sparkle!" and scream for attention, and the artwork, my heavens! I never knew that it was possible to "draw" with a sewing machine but sure enough, she can do it.

If you are in the market for a really special gift - or just want to carry a new bag that will have everyone green with envy since yours will be a ONE OF A KIND, check out the cool bags I have available from Doodlebug Dezines.

Meg
http://www.sparkle-ga.com/