It’s COLD Outside (but Not for Long)
Wow, can you believe February is over half over? Soon spring will be upon us. Considering the high today where I am is a “balmy” 2 degrees Fahrenheit, March cannot get here soon enough! Still February does have its good points, business-wise.
For starters, Terre Vici was recently approved as a Faire shop! In the coming weeks wholesalers will be able to shop for a plethora of our most popular products, MADE IN AMERICA! We refuse to let any talk of tariffs affect our sales. As a Faire shop, too, we can reach out to many new markets. If you have a unique product niche, please let us know what you are in the market for.
This is also the time for fellow business owners to check their inboxes! I have been messaging the CONTACT US boxes for numerous local marketing firms, but nobody has responded. I don’t mean this to be a snide comment, but I log on and take my money! I am in desperate need of a product photographer, for example, so be sure to check those inboxes.
Winter is also a good time to reflect on what worked and didn’t work in the previous year. Sophomore slump applies to popup markets, too. I am not the only one who has noticed a pattern; book a shows that runs fabulously, rebook it for next year, sales are markedly slower, do we rebook again for a third year? Repeat customers are the life’s blood of a popup business, but everyone reaches their purchasing saturation point. So be sure your product offerings are fresh and that you are rotating your markets.
Speaking of repeat customers, definitely reach out to your regulars! This is the time to give them a sneak peek at your new products. Try an exclusive Facebook Live, or maybe an email or mailer of special products. Your loyal customers are your key to referrals as well as solid product sales, so treat them well. This applies to wholesale as well as retail clients.
Well, the cat overlord is demanding my attention - a forestalling detail of my day that I do welcome (to a point). Take care and happy February!
It’s Almost CON TIME!
Hello all! Old Man Winter is trying to get in his last hurrahs, but that is not stopping us from gearing up for some of my favorite events…. CONS! And no, I don’t mean running internet scams or starting a shady business, I mean CONventions!
Minicon both kicks off and closes my person con season. Each year, the Iowa Comic Book Club takes over Stoney Creek Inn in Johnston, Iowa for one Saturday in February and a Saturday in October/November to congregate and celebrate all things graphic novel. This event is open to the public and the perfect place to meet artists, test out your cosplay, find that perfect comic book for your collection, and (of course) buy some comic themed jewelry and accessories!
Something new for me this year is GamiCon: Selenium. Come on out to the Hyatt Regency the last weekend of February/beginning of March for 3 days of, you guessed it, GAMING! As a new vendor, I have a Veritable plethora of game-themed jewelry and accessories. I might particularly recommend my TETRIS earrings. Attendees get to participate in competition for exclusive prizes, test out new games, and offer input on products by meeting the actual game designers. This event has a HUGE returning audience, and I cannot wait to see everyone.
DemiCon is my next con event, and my third year in a row as a vendor and artist. DemiCon has been going on for 36 YEARS, and is a must-see for all genres of sci-fi and fantasy. The con takes place the first weekend in May each year at the Holiday Inn Express on Merle Hay Road, adjacent to Bennigan’s. Yum, Bennigans. This year’s theme is FANtasy, and offers 3 days of gaming, panels, LARP, interactive contests, art, merch, room parties, and more! Visitors can get a one-day or weekend pass, and all of your food, gaming, music, and more are included. Newcomers can also get a panel-level only pass to try things out. I cannot recommend this event enough; it is great for families, or sci-fi enthusiasts of all ages.
Planet Funk Con is the ultimate best-kept secret as far as cons. Come on out to Davenport at the end of June to meet your favorite actors, animators, artists, and celebrities. I cannot even list all the industry stars I have met at this event. Again, this is my third year, and I am showcasing a double-sized event space this year to ensure everyone gets all the fan merch they can handle!
Want to know the best part of all of this? Terre Vici has created a unique product line just for the events. Rolling out in 2025, we humbly present… FOOLISH MORTALS FANDOM JEWELRY!
That’s all for now, but keep on tuning in for the latest in show info.
New Year, New Gem!
Welcome back to 2025! Yes, it is Year of the Snake. And yes, many of us (myself included) are leery of this year; let’s face it, history repeats itself! However, knowing what we are up against allows us to move in the shadows and word the upcoming difficulties to our advantage. And what better way than getting to know the ideal stone for mind and body wellness.
It is my understanding that Serpentine is the perfect stone for this year, no play on words intended. Serpentine is associated with the heart and crown chakras. It clears blockages in the chakras, leading to a sense of rebirth and rejuvenation. Having serpentine on your person allows for mind-body-spirit cleansing and inner peace, and also offers powerful protection and energy detox against negative energies and people. In the end, the psychic debris is cleared away, making room for new beginnings!
Unsure where to find Serpentine accessories? Terre Vici is the ideal source for beautifully crafted bracelets, earrings, necklaces, brooches, keyrings, and bookmarks!
2025, The Year of the Snake
Happy Asian New Year! Yes, I know, the Year of the Snake. My knee-jerk is to think, “what’s happy about it?” For a few cases in point, please think of these previous snake years:
1917: United States enters WWI
1929: Stock market crash that sets off the Great Depression
1941: United States enters WW II
1965: Troops arrive in Vietnam, triggering the Vietnam War
1989: Black Friday and the fall of the S & L industry
2001: 9/11 terrorist attacks
2013: Boston Marathon bombings
However, not all snake years spell doom. For example:
1953: Korean War ends
1977: STAR WARS!
Yes, the Year of the Snake is more often a hard year than an easy one, but let’s not get bogged down in melancholia before the year even gets underway. The Snake year is not so much about struggle, but about shedding ones skin. It is difficult, but what emerges is something bigger and stronger in the end.
DID YOU KNOW? Creme Cupcake at 28th and Ingersol in Des Moines, IA has a limited-time display of Year of the Snake Jewelry make by Terre Vici? It’s true! Shop February 3-7 for delicious baked delights, delectable beverages, and of course, Asian Zodiac accessories! Details can be found at https://www.cremecupcake.com/.
Taxes are taxing!
Hello all!
It’s that time of year again; time for me to file my yearly sales tax. This is both a relaxing and frustrating task at the same time. Seriously!
For those of us who earn income by being creative, the mental load is exhausting after a while. Is this a good color combination? Will this land with my target audience? Is my price point too high? Do I need to showcase these under glass? Am I focusing on the wrong gems?
I actually do enjoy my ledger entries. It is a concrete, linear task that helps me clear my head doing a consistent task that produces steady results. But after I crossed a certain threshold of success, I started experiencing diminishing returns. I travel to events at least 35 weeks out of the year, so instead of just sales I have lodging, mileage, expense receipts, and depreciation to factor in. And then there are materials to enter. And working with high volume-low cost sales, I order ALL THE TIME! Do I over order? Under order?
It is getting to the point where I am sacrificing studio time for back office time. And this is a huge frustration for me because I can both see and feel the time waste. Granted, entering sales is necessary, but what takes me 2 hours could take a designated office worker one hour, meaning I am costing myself money in that the estimated hourly wage I factor in for myself for jewelry creation is more than I could reasonably pay a contractor to help out.
So where does that leave me? Shopping my options. I am not sure if I can find an online software solution, if I should outsource to a bookkeeping firm, or if I should hire a dedicated contractor. I am at the next step of growth, and scared to share my procedures with anyone else, but knowing I need to because I am growing and have to let people in who can help. It is scary to be losing control somewhat, and I am going to miss the cozy, simple, starting out days of easy calculations and small operations.
I have to do it, though. Because I HATE using the State of Iowa sales tax platform! I am so sick of the meta language and lack of user convenience. If I were to offer any advice to other crafters, and granted I AM NOT offering advice, just my own observation for informational use, make sure you know how to track your sales tax. It is a vital first step in preparing for tax season, and will help you track trends in your business. And bite the bullet and get to know your state’s online platforms. It will make the decision about whether or not to hand over control of your filings so much easier. While also making it harder. And very taxing!
Etsy seller, no more
Hello everyone,
Effective immediately, I am no longer a seller on Etsy. I do not wish to comment on the reasons why, nor do I wish to imply any hard feelings to Etsy or any of the sellers or buyers on the platform. I will just say that it is no longer a fit for me. I leave Etsy in good standing and wish all the sellers and buyers the very best.
However, I will be launching a new online ordering platform on August 1, 2023, and I am very excited about that. Part of growing my business is evolving the brand, not only in terms of quality, but in terms of availability and shipping options. I appreciate everyone for their support and patronage, and I promise this change will be short-lived in terms of inconvenience.
Wishing you all the best,
Sarah
Wow, six months have flown by!
Thank you to everyone for all of your support these past six months. Overall, it has been quite a success. But that is not to say it has been easy! I have made some wonderful new friends, some of whom are just starting out themselves. Here are a few things I have learned:
Put backs on your earring wires. There is nothing worse than trying to sort out three dozen renegade earrings that came loose during transport with only 10 minutes before your event begins.
Yes, you will do shows and boutiques with other jewelry makers. But this is not a bad thing! Why do you think there are food courts in malls? Everyone wants something different, but just being around it whets the appetite.
Whatever your craft, hone your style. Don’t try to be all things to all people.
Not every event will be a homerun, but if you don’t give up you will find out which events work for you.
Keep track of your books! Track every sale, regularly update your inventory receipts, track your costs. If you don’t know how to do this, find an accountant or software program that can help.
DON’T UNDERCHARGE! Do not price gouge your potential clients, but remember to add your labor, overhead, and unspecified expenses such as sales bags into your price. You might think undercutting your fellow crafters means easy sales, and it might, but at the cost of not making any money. And you really should be participating in these events to make money. Others depend on this income and try hard.
Remember that this is supposed to be fun work, not just labor. If you are not enjoying yourself, ask why. Are you doing too much? Are you spending more than you want to? Be sure to center yourself and remind yourself not to do too much, too soon
In my upcoming posts I will address some of these topics. In the meantime… are you SURE you have enough jewelry?
Happy Thanksgiving!
Did anybody else notice that the same people who complain about the war on Christmas are the same people who complain that we start marketing for Christmas too early, i.e. no Christmas music till after Thanksgiving! You know who I blame for this? Abraham Lincoln.
Think about it; if ol’ Honest Abe hadn’t declared the fourth Thursday in November Thanksgiving, none of this would be happening. In Canada they celebrate Thanksgiving on the second Monday in October. And most other countries celebrate their own versions of Thanksgiving earlier in the autumn or late summer, too.
So all those other countries embrace November as the Christmas shopping season, no conflicts of interest involved. But us as Americans, we are left to forever duke it out… is it too early to celebrate… is it not early enough… is Thanksgiving being overlooked… how dare anyone sing Jingle Bells while the cranberries are cooking!
Sigh… we are truly a house divided.
Thank you to all our Veterans
Let’s take time to remember our Veterans today. The members of our armed services are willing to lay down their lives to protect our country. Even if you are not happy with the way things are going in the United States right now, it is still our homeland, and they are sworn to protect it so we can rest easier.
Let’s stop the in-fighting. Veterans are not out there risking their lives to come home to a country where it is red versus blue, and the term political opponent has been replaced with the word enemy. Let’s remember that some people may say they are willing to kill people in the name of our country, but they are not swearing to die for it. That’s a dangerous imbalance.
Terre Vici has a commitment to our planet and everyone who lives on it. That’s why, earlier this year, we held a fundraiser at two of our shows. I will have a final tally of donations for you soon, but it is good! The money will be donated to the DAV and the Gary Sinese Foundation, two charities that work hard to promote the health and well-being of the members of our armed forces.
We thank you all for your service, Veterans. And we are working hard to make this country the example of compassion and equality, because you are doing the same.
Halloween is almost upon us!
Are you ready to have a SPOOKtacular Halloween? Same here. I have spent the month watching scary movies and listening for things that go BUMP in the night. I have also been very busy getting ready for my November events!
So far I have two HUGE events for November on the books, as well as a big farewell to October this weekend. I had a wonderful time earlier this month with the USUI Reiki Center Healing Fair, and I hope everyone comes out for this delightful event. But then I need to get busy! Terre Vici will be at booth 217 for the Des Moines Holiday Boutique; I encourage everyone to come out and see me! And show me your Iowa Wild ticket for the November 5th game for 25% off your purchase! After that I will be part of the Beaverdale Holiday Boutique, a time-honored tradition in my home ‘hood of Beaverdale. This event is in its 44th year!
I want to thank everyone who has reached out to me for an online purchase. I want to let you all know that my nephew Hunter will be helping me webmaster in the upcoming season to ensure you have plenty of options to choose from when it comes to online shopping. Be sure to check out my Christmas lines, too. This year our themes are Hard Candy Christmas and Sugar Plum Fairies. And yes, they are a delight.
Finally, I am also finishing up my Veteran’s Day fundraiser. We have raised over $120 for the Gary Sinese Foundation and the DAV! Over Christmas I will be reaching out for your support of the Salisbury House; an internationally-recognized landmark in need of our assistance to aid in restoration of its many treasures. More to come on this amazing event soon!
Farewell summer, hello Autumn!
Thank you to everyone for making my first month and retail sales an overwhelming success. I had a lot of fun at the white eagle Powwow, made some great new friends in Saint Ansgar and at the red barn craft show in Jefferson, and finished off with an amazing event at the Iowa State fairgrounds in their fall craft spectacular. Special thanks to Tom Callahan for the wonderful event space. I would also like to send a special thanks to David Regan and everyone at the greater Des Moines Botanical Garden. David is retailing TerreVici in there retail store. So if you ever want to shop and can’t wait for the weekend, you know where to get your fix of Terre Vici.
So what does October have on the horizon? I kick things off with an amazing event promotor; Tami Sue Hartwig is organizing Boone‘s fourth annual craft show October 2-3 at the CITR center. Check out my events page on the website for details. She is an amazing promoter and I know it is going to be a wonderful show. And after that you can see me at the Ramada Inn in Cedar Rapids for the metaphysical fair on October 9 and 10th. At this so you will get to see a different side of terror of each year. We will be focusing on healing crystals and elements, items that help you set your mind body and spirit.
This is also the month when I launch my Christmas line. And let me tell you, if you thought TerreVici jewelry was eye-catching before, check back next week to see the items on sale for Christmas. Here are a couple of hints: 14 karat gold, Garnet, pearl, lapis lazuli…
Talk to you soon, and keep checking back at my events page on my Facebook page to find out where I am going to be next!
Powwow, what a weekend!
It all begins with an idea.
September 6, 2021
Wow, am I winded! My first vendor show took place this past weekend, and what a way to break the ice! I set up at the White Eagle Pow Wow in Jester Park here in Central Iowa.
I gotta admit, September 3-5 had me nervous. First, I had NEVER done a vendor show before. Second, I had NEVER let someone who wasn’t a friend look at my jewelry. Third, Friday started off with a rainstorm at 3am that lasted off an on through the whole day. Finally, and the hardest to grapple with, I had no idea if my designs could live up to my sister’s expertise.
I shouldn’t have worried.
Despite the rainy Friday, the pow wow was an overwhelming success. I had never been to one such event before. Not only did I learn a lot about Native American culture, but I got to meet people from all over the world. Did you know that “drum beat” we hear in all the westerns is actually made up by the motion picture industry? Yeah, Hollywood can be really stupid sometimes. But fry bread is absolutely awesome, the dances and songs are mesmerizing, and the stories they told really resonated with everyone there. And yes, the jewelry was a hit.
So many of us go through life with our eyes focused on only one path, the life that we think is set before us. This weekend I got to take my blinders off and see the world from a new perspective. I made a lot of new friends this past weekend, and encourage everyone to visit WhiteEaglePowwow.com to get the details on next year’s event. I will definitely be there, and hope to see all of my new friends soon, too.