A Lesson Everyone Should Learn

If you know me, you might know that I love to save money. Times are tough. I don't really care who you are, everyone has been affected by the recession in some way, shape or form. With college coming up, so are a lot of expenses, some vital, some necessary, some that seem like one of the other two, the list goes on. One of the best ways to save money in college is going to be in your ID slot.

Your college ID can save you loads of money. No joke!

For example, I was in the Plato's Closet on Dawsonville Highway and saw where they give a 10% discount to Brenau, Gainesville State, and North Georgia students. I know it doesn't seem like a lot at the time but every little bit counts. Even more so if shop there a lot.

If you're the crafty type, JoAnn's has a 10% off discount card for college students. It's good on every purchase you make and doesn't expire for a year (or something like that).

I was a local thrift store and asked if they had discounts for college students. The cashier said they didn't but gave me one anyway!

Moral of the Story: It never hurts to ask. The worst they can do is say no. 

I'm eager to try this at Starbuck's and I know there are lists out there of restaurants that also give discounts.

This lesson also goes the High School students as well. JoAnn's summer program I mentioned earlier was specifically for High School students.

A Change of Plans

Everyday, I start leaning more and more towards pursuing my business for my Mentorship as opposed to Accounting. 

With this in mind, I searched for an article about the future of Small Businesses. I searched through Galileo and found one I could really sink my teeth in to.

The article I found is titled, 'But Where Did the Money Go?' and it's written by David Port.

In this article, Port interviews Karen Mills, the head of the Small Business Administration about what the SBA is really doing and if it is really helping small businesses.

The main goal of the SBA is to aid small businesses, mostly financially. They have counselors and advisers to help small businesses develop the business plans so that they can present better to banks and investors. In addition to this, they, and many intermediaries, provide microloans to small business owners.

Despite all they do for small businesses, the SBA has many critics. The large majority of their criticism come from the belief that the businesses they help aren't really 'small.' In reaction to this, Mills simply says, "This is a program for small business, it's not a program for big business masquerading as small businesses," (Port).

What I learned from this article is that, should I have trouble getting my business REALLY off the ground, there are agencies that I can turn to for help.

Work Cited

Port, David. "But Where Is The Money." Entrepreneur 38.8 (2010): 84-89. Business Source Complete. Web. 6 Dec. 2012.

Second Time Around

Dec 1, I did my second Craft Show. I felt a lot more confident going into this one, being my second time around.

This show was part of the Lighting of the Oaks program at Lanier Charter Career Academy at the Oaks in Oakwood, Georgia. Also a part of the program were performances by various groups, a Creative Christmas Tree Contest, a Gingerbread House Contest, a silent auction, and, of course, The Lighting of the Oaks.

This time my Mom and I went in together 50-50. She was selling Christmas bows while I sold my usual wares. 

I had actually set up some of my merchandise in the student run Gift Shop there. For the show, I simply moved them down the hall and set them up on my tables. 

This time was oh so different than my first Craft Show. 

There were people coming in and looking around while most of us vendors were still setting up. This really irritated me because I didn't have everything out and if they didn't see something they liked then, they would have no reason to come back and see the rest of my merchandise. It was just really unfair to everyone involved. 

Speaking of unfair things, as a performer myself, I felt uglier than pooting in church, talking and carrying on while all the different groups were singing. We were all in the same room with the performers and audience on one informal side and the Craft Show on the other informal side

I felt like there were a lot more people at this show than at my last one but, no one was buying. They said all my stuff was cute and neat and such a great idea but never bought. My Mom brought to my attention that most of the people coming through were probably the parents of those who were performing and probably didn't know that there was going to be a Craft Show going on. Needless to say, they wouldn't be prepared to spend money on all of our wonderful products.

I also REALLY disliked the set up of the tables in the space. They were basically set up in L's. We chose an L in the middle of the room. We thought we could get some good traffic this way but I soon found that I had my back to customers a good deal. I would follow my customers as they went around the table then back around as another customer came by. I spent the whole night going in circles. 

Despite all these issues/problems/concerns, we broke even and profited a tiny bit monetarily. I say it like that because another vendor told me about another show in Cornelia that takes place for three days, two weekends in a row, $30 for all six days. I feel like this show could be a really good fit and could do well for me. 

As I have said before, God takes care of his children. In more ways than one.