It is September – and that means the winter holidays are just around the corner. If you haven’t started thinking about your holiday marketing yet, you CANNOT put it off any longer. Now is the time to get crackin’. Here are some tips to help you get a plan in action:

• Craft Shows - We are heading into a very busy season for craft shows. It’s best to start this process early. Some shows ask potential vendors to apply and there is a selection process that follows. If you area shows do not have a selection process, I still recommend calling and getting all relevant info in advance. You don’t want to wait until the last minute and find out that all the tables are gone! To find upcoming shows, look in your local paper, on community bulletin boards and http://www.indiecraftshows.com/
• Shopping Parties – Take a cue from direct sales and hold your own shopping party! Invite your friends, family, co-workers, neighbors, etc. Have your products set out on the table (hint – create a nice display!), have a few appetizers if you want to, and let everyone mingle, shop, and have fun! If you choose, you can ask them to hold a party for you, where they invite their friends, and you give the hostess a certain amount of your product for free…
• Shopping Sites - There are lots of great shopping sites and blogs out there, and getting listed on them can offer you great exposure! Contact the site owner / blogger and ask send them a letter, explaining why you think their audience would be interested in your product. If you have a press release, go ahead and send that, as well as the link to your electronic press kit (if you have one). Some of these people may ask for a sample. Know upfront that you may not get that sample back, so do not send anything you cannot afford to lose!
• Get Social – Get active on social networking sites like Facebook and Twitter.  Build relationships and establish trust. These people may become your customers – or they may refer you to some!
• Partner Up – Partner up with other business owners and help promote each other! There are many ways to do this, and you are only limited by your creativity. You could mention each other on your blogs, write a review of their product or service and have them review one of your products or services, enclose each other’s business card or other promotional items in your orders, etc.

You can find more holiday tips in Part 2 of this post, which is found on my personal website, by clicking here!

** Don’t forget about getting listed in the Indie Biz Chicks Holiday Gift Guide! Your ad will include a 125×125 graphic and a 50 word description, all for only $35. The guide is filled with articles, recipes, and more! It will be distributed to over 12,000 people through email, and also distributed virally via Facebook and Twitter. Click Here to purchase your listing now.

This edition of Friday Finds is all about Totally Free Tuesday! It happens this Tuesday, September 8. Consider it the ‘work at home orientation day.’

White it is geared to moms,  anyone who attends will definitely learn a thing or two. There are free webinars all day long,  free gifts through email and special giveaways.

Click Here to register! Remember – it’s all FREE.

10 Crafty Questions With Megan Green of Stinky Bomb Soap

1. What kind of art or crafts do you make? My husband and I have a mom and pop shop named Stinkybomb Soap. We have created a line of bath and beauty products that take irony to it’s sudsiest form. Our soaps resemble hand grenades and our cassette tapes appeal to anyone over the age of 10 who remember tape decks. All of our soaps are created by us by casting molds from their real life counterparts, therefore carrying all the detail that the original product contains into our soap. Our beauty products appeal to the ladies but continue our militant theme with products like bath bombs and napalm lip balm, which is vegan friendly. My husband, Rob, makes all the molds and while he is a silent partner, he offers support and continued inspiration.  I manage the day to day operations, handle all the production, marketing and sales.

2. When did you get started – and when did you realize this could be a business? I should state that I have all ways been a crafty minded individual.  My grandmother gave me my first lesson with a sewing machine. I’ve dabbled in candle making, beads, and created a line of plush dolls.  It wasn’t until after the birth of our daughter that the Stinkybomb line came to be. I should also divulge that Rob has a side business where he makes replica knives and grenades out of resin. He had a bunch of old grenade molds lying around the house and I just kept telling him that I thought those molds would make some sweet bars of soap. So with nothing but time, and diapers to change, I went to work sourcing out different soap bases.  Once the recipes came to be, then it became searching out containers and creating labels. As soon as I started telling my friends I knew from their response that we were really going to have a lasting product and brand.

3. Where do you get inspiration for your projects? Our inspiration comes our general interest, Rob’s being military history, mine consisting more of pop culture and movies. A good deal of ideas come from our friends. We saw an artist friend speak the other night about her body of work, she resculpts and transforms plastic baby dolls into sculptures. It immediately gave us the idea of baby doll head soaps. It took less than two days for Rob to come back with a mold ready for soap production.

4. What do you like best about selling through more traditional venues (craft fairs)? First, would be the networking of other crafters and artist. I spend so much time in my work room or behind a computer, I love getting to talk them in person and seeing what they have been creating.  Next, is seeing the look on people faces when they walk by my booth. People either fully embrace our Stinky personality or walk away in disgust. I love engaging with those people in particular. They tend to walk away with a better idea of what this whole indie art movement is all about.

5. Now, what do you like best about selling online? Attempting to work from home while my daughter explores the house.

6. How do you price your work? This is always so hard. I do take a mark up from my cost of supplies. Every item used for the creation of one soap has been measured. From the colorants to the crinkle paper used in our packaging. I then have timed each step of the production process, that includes pouring soap to shipping. All of this factors into the product cost.

7. What has been your biggest struggle with your business? How did you overcome it? My husband plays such an integral part to Stinkybomb but it comes down to him finding time to create new products for the line. I am currently starting to learn more about his process so I can rely less on him and start making my own molds.

8. What has been the most rewarding part of your business? Hearing customer feedback. People love our soaps but are not likely to use them as the shape gets washed away with each use. So when people actually use them regularly and rave about the soap itself, I get warm fuzzies. REALLY PEOPLE: wash, rinse and repeat!

9. What is something you wish you knew when you were first starting your business? It takes time to grow a business, nothing happens over night. Also constantly apply yourself. Oh and relish in the parts of the process you love most.  I guess that was three things.

10. Do you mind sharing a business goal that you hope to accomplish with your business? We hope in a years time to attend a wholesale mart as a vendor. A very scary thought for many reasons but one that could lead to an exciting new place.

Summer is drawing to a close…. This is your last chance to grab The Summer Biz Sessions and the Summer School package! Here is what you’ll be getting:

Summer Biz Sessions
This summer, we talked to some very savvy women (and one man), covering a lot of interesting topics! If you missed ‘em, don’t worry – we recorded them!

You’ll be hearing from Jennifer Perkins, Jenny Hart, Casie Metcalf, Laura Allen, Claudine Hellmuth, Danny Orendorf (of Renegade Craft) , and myself on topics such as getting a book deal, giving good blog, participating in a large craft, pitching yourself, setting up workshops, balancing your business with your family, creating a sense of community around your business, and more!

Normally priced at $14.95, we’re offering them at 50% off. Click Here To Grab Them Now For Only $7.48

Summer School Package
Are you ready to learn something new? The Summer School Package includes 6 workbooks and audios, covering topics such as:

• Low Cost Advertising
• Creating Your Own Affiliate Program
• Starting Your Own Podcast
• Defining Your Target Market
• Connecting With Your Audience
• Social Networking

Normally priced at $65, Click Here To Grab Them Now For Only $30

- OR – Click Here To Grab BOTH The Summer Biz Sessions & Summer School Courses & Audios For Only $35

If you live in Michigan or the surrounding area, you may be familiar with the Detroit Urban Craft Fair. Held annually each November, this is arguably one of the largest craft fairs in the area.

This year’s event will be held on November 21 at The Majestic Theater in Detroit.  (of course it’s in Detroit, right?)

Applications are now open and will be accepted through September 11, 2009. If you would like to apply, click here.

This week’s edition of Friday Finds is all about books. I don’t know about you, but I love, love, love books. I am the type of person who can spend hours in a bookstore or library. Here are a few you may want to buy, or borrow, today!

Sublime Stitching: Hundreds of Hip Embroidery Patterns and How To by Jenny Hart: Jenny is well-known in the craft world, and there’s a reason for it. Well, there’s a few reasons. She’s talented, business-savvy, and has a great style! If you think embroidery is for old ladies, think again. Jenny’s designs are totally cool. Your friends will love to get some holiday gifts embroidered with these designs. So get crackin’!

The Naughty Secretary Club: The Working Girl’s Guide to Handmade Jewelry by Jennifer Perkins: Again, this woman is well known in the craft world (hey.. she has had a couple TV shows…). If you’re the kind of person who likes cute, unique jewelry, this book is for you. If you want to wear diamonds and look like you’re a soap opera star, don’t buy it.

Collage Discovery Workshop – Beyond the Unexpected: New Techniques Using Color, Personal Imagery and Creative Surfaces by Claudine Hellmuth: Claudine has a great style – it’s whimsical and really, really cute! Learn how to use your photographs to make some adorable art.

Sharing Your Story: Recording Life’s Details with Mini Books by Ali Edwards: If you’re a scrapbooker, you may be familiar with the author’s monthly column in Creating Keepsakes Magazine. She is a self-described “life artist” – and I must say, I love that term! It doesn’t matter what your art or craft is, you will find inspiration with this woman’s creations. I gaurantee it!

Martha Stewart’s Cookies: The Very Best Treats to Bake and to Share by Martha Stewart: If you’re going to be doing a lot of reading (or crafting), you will need snacks. I suggest cookies. They’re easy to eat, they’re tasty, and, in my opinion, they’re fun to make!