Product Competition - Style 'n Wrap

Our competition starts today, please add your comments, "good, bad, or other". We want to get the word out about the Style 'n Wrap.

Click on this link and leave your comments:

11-9-09 Style 'n Wrap - Competes for Your Attention

 
Have you heard about the website developed by Jeff Gawronski?  Jeff is an inventor who felt a passion for those who invent.  Jeff knows first hand what is involved to build a business around an idea.  In his "About Us" page, Jeff explains:

YAK ABOUT IT–featured products all started off as ideas, ideas culminated from ordinary people like you and me. The people behind these inventive products had the courage to change their lives as they once knew them and take a risk on their dreams. This vision to bring a product to market and to start a company is not all-encompassing; it’s not a dream shared by everyone. The learning process, hard work, cash investment and time make it all the more special for inventors and independent entrepreneurs when their ideas are brought to market. The problem is that once a product is ready to sell doesn’t mean that a sale is guaranteed. It’s not that the invention or creative product is useless; rather, the product lacks awareness.

Today is the day that Geneva Girls Designs competes for your attention.  As I work the marketing plan that I've set in place to bring the Style 'n Wrap into the market place, I've identified seven markets that I'm focused on. 

1.  Traveler

2.  Hospitality Industry

3.  Career Woman

4.  Home / Safety

5.  High School or College Bound

6.  Beauty Industry / Cosmetology School Students

7.  Performance - Backstage  (Theater, Dance, Music, Competitions, Pageants)

You will begin to see my storyline on YouTube with links here in this blog.  Let me know your thoughts about the effectiveness of our advertisement.  Give us any ideas you may have on how to improve the message.

Featured Seller - Bags and Purses

Geneva Girls Designs will be a featured seller in the category of Bags & Purses on Tuesday, October 6, 2009. Several items in my etsy shop have been tagged for this feature. When the top listing sells it is replaced by the second feature selection on my list. My goal is to sell at least half of my featured listings and gain excellent exposure for the Christmas shopping season. I've inlcuded a mini-etsy link on the left column of this post so that you can see what is for sale in my shop.

Style 'n Wrap on Buy Mom site

If you haven't heard the buzz, Kim Lavine (a.k.a. Mommy Millionaire) has established a new online store for Mom's like me to sell their products. If you are interested in learning more about this opportunity, click this link to see what it is all about.

http://www.greendaisy.com/sell/

UPC, SKU, GTIN, understanding Acronyms

Like everything else in business, small business owners have many opportunities to learn. Today was one of those days.

Based on where my business is heading I have arrived at the time when I needed to investigate getting product identification codes. This allows me to break into the major retail markets and advance my business from an independent retailer. Exciting, yes, scary of course! Here's what I learned. Initially I thought I needed SKU's or stock-keeping units. Each product revision whether it be fabric covering, color, or size constitutes the need for a unique code. After searching Google, I quickly learned that I didn't need SKU’s; I needed UPC or Uniform Product Codes which are made up of twelve digits which are called GTIN or Global Trade Item Numbers.

The first 9 digits of this code, for the first 100 codes will contain the same number which is assigned through a membership certificate issued by the UCC (Uniform Code Council) or GS1 US as they are called today. You must first fill out an application and pay the associated fees to acquire your UPC numbers. This generally takes 1 business day, and the membership kit can be expedited if you are in a hurry. Fees are based on your annual gross revenue (sales) figures as well as the number of individual SKU’s that you require. The SKU is actually the tenth and eleventh digit of the total GTIN identification. Regardless of whether you need 1 or 100, the fees are the same, but once you’ve crossed the 100 code requirement fees will increase because you will be assigned a new nine digit identifier.

There is only one website where you can acquire a membership certificate that assigns your unique number and that is http://www.gs1us.org/. Once your fees are calculated you will see how much your initial cost will be. They will also inform you of what your annual renewal fee will be based on your original order. The renewal fee will be less than the initial cost unless you increase your need for UPC numbers.

If you are in need of UPC codes for your products/business, the application process is easy, but plan ahead, the minimum fee you can expect to pay is $760. Use this cost with caution, like anything else fees increase so the only way to truly know your cost is to fill out an application. The resource information I read indicated $500 and was published in 2007.

New ETSY Site

Geneva Girls Designs has launched a new ETSY shop. Our products are now found at http://www.genevagirlsdesigns.etsy.com. Although our previous site continues to exist http://www.rwgeneva.etsy.com, the new shop is currently focused on customized totebags.

Not only are we making customized tote bags for children age 1 to 10, we are now making bags for Moms, Grandmas, Aunts, and Teachers too. Help us increase our offerings and let us know what you would like to see on a tote bag.

Tote bags are made from canvas and fully-lined in cotton fabric. The handles are reinforced with nylon webbing which has been covered by the same fabric which lines the bag. When the bag is turned inside/out, it becomes a beautiful reversible bag.

Check out our new logo too.

On ETSY - Customized Totes for Tots

The newest venture for Geneva Girls Designs has officially been launched. It is customzed Totes for Tots.

To link to our site, click here.

Or click on a specific square below to go the a specific product.

Phone Assistance on the Road

Did you know that google offers a new service to help you locate businesses when you're on the road. here is a quick link to their Google 411 free service. Add this number to your cell phone and no matter where you are, they can provide operator assistance. 1-800-GOOG-411

http://www.google.com/goog411/