1. Describe your
business: type of business, where you're located, how
long you have been in business, website URL's, etc.
We are a family owned
business in the Pennsylvania coal region. We have been
in business for 8 years now, everything is handmade by
me, woodcrafts by my husband. We have a fine selection
of handmade candles, tarts, woodcrafts, dolls,
stitcheries, a new line of linens, and braided rugs. We
sell country, primitive, and folk art items - perfect
for any decor, so hop on in and check us out!
Candles & Crafts online
business. Shamokin, Pennsylvania - 8 years in business!
www.brownbunnypatch.com
2. How did you decide on your business name?
My name was simple, I love Bunnies and my
last name is Brown! So the Brown Bunny Patch was born!
3. What were the first things you did to get your
business going?
First thing I did was have family and
friends try my candles, then my sisters would take them
to work and sell them for me. I think this really helped
start me out, because of so many people liking them, I
decided to open a site and the rest is history!
4. How long did it take you from the time you decided to
open your business to your Grand Opening Day?
It took me about 4 months, from thought
to opening, and sometimes I wish I would have taken a
little longer, took better pictures, etc. but all in all
I was happy with my look and my opening.
5. What was the best thing you did to get your business
going?
Best thing I did was put up flyers and
take out ads! Promote, promote, promote!! The best
things you can do, any type of banner site or top site
is the best, even doing the ads in the local newspaper
or putting up flyers is a great way to get your name out
there.
6. What was one thing that you did
that you would advise others not to do?
Rely on your site to bring in traffic on
it's own, the web is too big to hope people will just
pop on without advertising.
7. How do you network? What do you find works
the best?
Exchanging links and attaching my site
URL in emails works great!!
8. Do you advertise? If so, what type of advertising works the
best for you business?
I think sites like this one that Debbie has is
an awesome way to get your site seen. I do a lot of banner
exchanges and top sites also, anything that gets people
seeing your site is a positive.
9. Do you have any
advice to give someone thinking of getting into their own
business?
Make sure you
really want a business, and then get all your paperwork down
and done. Next set money aside to advertise and make
supplies. Have a nice amount of product ready to go when you
are ready to open.
10. What type of products do you find are 'hot' right
now?
Candles are
always a good thing, and now go with seasonal, never can go
wrong that way. I have a lot of fall orders now, anything
that has to do with fall or Halloween. Not the time to be
selling Spring items, ya know, so as long as you make for
the time of year, you will be fine.
