This online party stuff is a lot of work.  I think it's party such a pain because I have it going on in two places at once.  I liked the feature of doing it on my regular facebook page and then the business page but I think next time I'll just do it on the business page and link to it.  Having to keep both updated AND the google+ updated is a chore.  Next time one place and link and invite to that place in the other venues. Lesson learned :)

I've posted to my personal facebook, irresistible charms origami owl facebook, and google+ and added a new picture for the online jewelry bar.  People are joining the parties (it took almost 24 hours before that really started to take off).  I emailed everyone in my contacts a link to the parties.  I texted the link on my phone.  I've pretty much covered all the bases of my contacts and hopefully haven't annoyed anyone too much.  Next is to beg my close friends and family to share it along.  I'm also sending a couple of catalogs to my out of town family members who are not quite as tech savvy as most.

Meanwhile I've made a new locket and posted the picture to my parties.  This one is pretty fun, I call it "Wine and a Good Book"  This is the Medium Silver Crystal Origami Owl Locket with red wine, crystal heart and love to read charms.

Oh and one thing I did learn. When doing an event on a facebook business page, be sure to set it for the LAST day of the event. Otherwise it will drop off after the first day.  I wasn't able to set it for a span of days which I think is a major flaw.  What if someone was inviting people to a weekend event or a week long sale?  Ahhh well, lesson learned there.  On the personal facebook you can do a span of days, much better I think.

Origami Owl Online Party Facebook Google+ and Beyond

Okay so I posted my first Origami Owl Online Jewelry Bar.  I'm still overwhelming myself with too much technology.  Aside from setting up Google chrome the way I want it, and Google drive (because I've been going back and forth from computer to computer lately) and setting up Google+ and Twitter and changing my Facebook to a Business Page and integrating with my personal page... whew....

I wasn't sure how I wanted to do the online party thing. I thought I'd do it on my Facebook Business Page, and that is where I started.  The thing is, my business page is so new, I don't have a lot of "fans" on it yet.  So I went ahead and created an event on my personal page as well. And then an event on Google+.   I uploaded a boat load of pictures to each event so the visitors will have something to look at. Then I sent an email with a link to the events to the contacts on my phone.  That SHOULD cover everyone.

So I guess it's official.  I have my first party underway. With any luck I'll see something soon.  Fingers crossed.  Prayers said.

Personal Facebook Event
Business Page Event
Google+ Event

As always, my store front is here: http://www.irresistiblecharms.origamiowl.com

Today I'm wasting WAY too much time trying to figure out what the difference is between a personal Facebook page and a business page.  I had created an irresistible charms Facebook as a personal page, which I guess was in violation of their terms of use (oopse).  But I was reading about the business page and why it's important so I decided to transfer the personal page into a business page.  Unfortunately Facebook stopped referring to me as "irresistible" every time I posted, that was kinda fun.  At any rate, it's as if the personal page never existed.  It pulled any friends that I had and turned them into "fans" of the page, but I'm not seeing where I can see who my fans are, or how many I have.  Meanwhile I had a ton of friend requests for my personal page which, while accepting, seemed to just go nowhere. Hopefully it added them as fans... who knows.  So I went ahead and linked my REAL personal page to the new business page.  Which I really didn't want to do. I was trying to keep my business stuff and personal stuff separate.  I'm still trying to grasp the concept of how I communicate with my fans or encourage them to "like me" or become a fan.  It's all very confusing at the moment.  The good news is, I believe I found where I need to go to start an event, which is what I'm going to use for my online party.  I'm about to go research online parties, and then get in touch with my mentor because I do believe in the process of transferring my page I lost access to my upline facebook group. Ooopse... Gotta do something about that.

Visit my store at: http://www.irresistiblecharms.origamiowl.com

My Perfect Origami Owl Locket

If I keep this up, I will have nothing left to sell!  I've swapped out my original locket for the large crystal locket.  I LOVE that the crystals are Swarovski. I have a ton of Swarovski jewelry.  Believe it or not, I prefer it over diamonds.

I decided to procure the large silver "Blessed" plate for myself and added the white enamel flower.  I obviously kept the two charms that Gerry bought me.  I wore it to work and everyone loved it, but suggested a longer chain, so of course I attached it to the long flat oval chain and it was a big hit.  I'm telling myself that wearing the jewelry is good marketing ;)  Whatever I need to do to make myself feel better about keeping stuff for myself!

This is what I feel is the match for me and Origami Owl, my love for the product.  It's easy for me to "sell" it because I can't stop talking about how cool it is.  While the concept is pretty simple, it's an amazing idea.  The options of what you can do are endless.  I myself have decided that I will have a set of charms for every holiday and swap them out.  I'll be slipping in the four leafed clover charm for St. Patrick's day of course.

Now back tot he business and marketing aspect.  I was successful in switching my facebook page to a business page.  I'm still messing around with it and have sent invites to the page to everyone in my email and  on my personal facebook page.  Once I get everything ironed out I'm going to have my first online party.  Wish me luck!  Obviously I'll report on how I'm doing it and the results.  See you soon, hoot hoot!

Business Package Arrived!

I received my origami owl business package the day before yesterday. I tore into that sucker like it was the coveted Red Rider BB gun!  And, I would like to go on record to say...I was WRONG. Yes you heard right.
In my last post I mentioned that I didn't feel the $140 business package would have enough items to hold a party. Boy was I wrong. I THINK that the package information listed at origami owl
is more of a guideline, because I received four lockets (large silver crystal, med silver crystal, large silver and med silver), 36 charms (no duplicates), two plates (large silver blessed and medium rose faith), 4 ball station chains, two different length ball chains,  one long flat oval chain, a silver extender, two dangles (clear crystal and silver life is) a gift, one empowerment tag, one inspiration tag, three accent tags and a pearl earth element. I also received five votives, three tweezers, two plastic charm trays, four fortune cookie jewelry cases, 12 "O" jewelry bags, five take out boxes, 25 order forms, 25 take out menus, 25 save the date invitations, 25 business cards, five 4x6 pricing display cards and a tote bag.  Phewww
Obviously enough to play with at a party.  Being a perfectionist, I have decided all I really need is a rollo chain, large silver survivor and dream plates, blue and pink baby feet charms, police, american flag, sister and grandma charms to be a little more flexible with designs to display at a show. I would obviously like to have a lot of stock on hand but I promised myself I would not spend any more out of pocket. If I can't make enough to add to stock I will assess if this is the right opportunity for me.
I have a very positive outlook and am really excited about origami owl and hopefully that will translate into sales!

Journaling My Journey

This is my official Origami Owl at a local coffee shop that my fiance and I frequent. My now mentor Crystal, had a stategicly placed table that caught our eye while waiting in line for our java fix. Gerry and I were so taken with the product that we purchased one of the display models instantly. This "I love you locket" as Gerry calls it, consists of a ball station chain, a medium stainless steel Living Locket and two starter charms--a crystal heart and cross. I also picked up a catalog so I could build upon my locket in the future. I planned to purchase charms, plates and dangles for every holiday and special occasion, While perusing the catalog my attention was drawn to a page detailing the opportunity to become an Origami Owl Designer. I quickly pulled out my phone and began scouring the website. I mean, if *I* love this locket so much, I can't be alone right? I figure all of my friends and family are going to want one! And if they don't buy from me, they'll buy from someone else? Or if they don't buy at all, what a great Christmas gift idea. Heck, if all else fails, I get some really great jewelry!!! So I called Crystal the very next morning, which in hindsight was much earlier than I probably should have on a Sunday, getting her out of bed. We had a quick conversation, exchanged email info, and by days end I had put in my application to become a designer. Again Origami Owl had virtually sold itself! The next two weeks as a designer in waiting...waiting to be promoted, my excitement only increased. I had received so many complements on my own Living Locket and promises to buy or host a jewelry bar, when I received my welcome letter on February 12th I did a happy dance. On February 14th (yeah, that's Valentine's Day!) I officially became an Origami Owl Independent Jewelry Designer! Yay me!

Now for the nitty gritty: I purchased the smaller business package at $140. I will admit I was not exactly thrilled by the fifty plus shipping and handling and taxes, but I still felt this was a small price to pay for a business opportunity. And the fact that I barely skipped a beat indicated how much I believe in the product. (At press I have been told that the shipping rates are being reduced.) Regardless, I believe I can recoup my cost by at least the second jewelry bar.  Oh, and there was a larger package and I had actually toyed with getting but honestly, they don't tell you what charms and plates you're going to get, you can't pick them yourself. My concern was spening over $500 (including taxes and shipping) to get all "nana" plates and soccer ball charms. Not that I have anything against soccer or my Nana, but you get my point. I wanted the ability to have more control over my starting inventory. Instead I will pick a few pieces here and there and build my own package.

As to that, I do not intend on having my launch party until have enough product. The business package only comes with one chain and a few lockets and charms, not enough to have people touch and play with. I think that will be key in the launch party. I do however fully intend to market the bejesus out of my business on the internet and will hopefully be able to recoup some expenses and buy some more goodies.  I'm excited about it and I think that will help keep me motivated in the marketing area.

The good news is my excitement also seems to be contagious and I already have one friend willing to have party for me, which meets my business plan goal of booking one party by February. And yes, I have a business plan. I think it is very important to set out goals and expectations. This way you have something to strive for are better equipped to gauge whether you are meeting your goals. DO THIS... I may be a young OO desinger, but I've been in the business world a minute and I do have some skillz to bring to the table ;) So now I sit and wait to see what goodies come in my business package. I've also set up my facebook account, twitter account, this blog, a gmail account with my business name (yes i also have a business name), and I've got a start on my own website. I know there is a portal for people to buy from me http://irresistiblecharms.origamiowl.com/ but hey,   I am a webdesigner by trade so you know I have to have a site of my own, hopefully driving traffic to my portal where people will buy tons of stuff or join OO themselves and become a part of my team.  Hopefully those people will be as motivated and exited as I am!

So off I go to wait for my business package and do some internet marketing.  Social media here I come!