1 00:00:00,200 --> 00:00:05,550 Gift biz unwrapped episode 255 So I was on Facebook and 2 00:00:05,550 --> 00:00:08,370 I saw these beautiful desserts and I'm like, 3 00:00:08,430 --> 00:00:10,440 Oh, they look pretty cute. 4 00:00:10,730 --> 00:00:13,040 I think I can maybe do something like that. 5 00:00:14,270 --> 00:00:15,500 Attention gifters, 6 00:00:15,530 --> 00:00:19,700 bakers, crafters and makers pursuing your dream can be fun. 7 00:00:19,940 --> 00:00:23,390 Whether you have an established business or looking to start one 8 00:00:23,390 --> 00:00:26,060 now you are in the right place. 9 00:00:26,300 --> 00:00:28,670 This is gift to biz unwrapped, 10 00:00:28,880 --> 00:00:32,510 helping you turn your skill into a flourishing business. 11 00:00:32,810 --> 00:00:36,350 Join us for an episode packed full of invaluable guidance, 12 00:00:36,470 --> 00:00:40,490 resources, and the support you need to grow your gift biz. 13 00:00:40,730 --> 00:00:43,220 Here is your host gift biz gal, 14 00:00:43,370 --> 00:00:44,570 Sue moon Heights. 15 00:00:46,010 --> 00:00:46,370 Hi there, 16 00:00:46,400 --> 00:00:48,840 it's Sue And I'm so happy to have you here with 17 00:00:48,840 --> 00:00:49,500 me today. 18 00:00:49,800 --> 00:00:52,560 I'm going to start off with a quick announcement if you're 19 00:00:52,560 --> 00:00:55,830 in or around the Chicago and Wisconsin area. 20 00:00:56,220 --> 00:00:58,920 I want to make sure that you're aware of the Lakeside 21 00:00:58,920 --> 00:01:03,680 women's conference happening in Lake Geneva the second week of March. 22 00:01:04,060 --> 00:01:07,770 If you want to take in solid business building information while 23 00:01:07,770 --> 00:01:11,580 meeting other women who get you and understand your struggles and 24 00:01:11,580 --> 00:01:14,100 drive, you'll love this event. 25 00:01:14,730 --> 00:01:18,270 Actually you don't even have to be driving distance at all. 26 00:01:18,490 --> 00:01:21,310 Last year we had women flying in from all over, 27 00:01:21,460 --> 00:01:24,670 including the speakers in addition to myself, 28 00:01:24,760 --> 00:01:25,690 Nikki Rousch, 29 00:01:25,840 --> 00:01:26,620 Abby Herman, 30 00:01:26,830 --> 00:01:27,790 Bobby Baney, 31 00:01:28,000 --> 00:01:30,580 who are all past podcast guests here. 32 00:01:30,870 --> 00:01:33,300 We'll be there and you can meet and learn from us 33 00:01:33,360 --> 00:01:34,290 in person. 34 00:01:35,010 --> 00:01:37,800 Robyn puts on the most amazing event. 35 00:01:38,050 --> 00:01:39,940 It's in a beautiful lodge, 36 00:01:40,000 --> 00:01:41,230 but most important, 37 00:01:41,410 --> 00:01:44,880 the group of women she attracts provides for a safe, 38 00:01:44,940 --> 00:01:50,460 open and supportive environment and Lake Geneva is an adorable tourist 39 00:01:50,460 --> 00:01:51,240 area, too. 40 00:01:51,440 --> 00:01:55,350 Full of cute shops and the best restaurants for all the 41 00:01:55,350 --> 00:01:59,880 details. Go to women's business workshop and look under events. 42 00:02:00,090 --> 00:02:03,430 You can use the code Sue 100 to get a hundred 43 00:02:03,430 --> 00:02:04,570 dollars off your ticket. 44 00:02:04,940 --> 00:02:06,380 Let me know if I'm going to see you there. 45 00:02:06,990 --> 00:02:09,930 And now speaking of girl power and energy, 46 00:02:10,200 --> 00:02:13,230 that is what my guest this week is all about. 47 00:02:13,690 --> 00:02:16,180 I tell the story of how we met in the interview 48 00:02:16,180 --> 00:02:17,650 so I won't go into it here, 49 00:02:17,920 --> 00:02:21,200 but this lady I'd hang out with any day. 50 00:02:21,600 --> 00:02:24,330 What I want you to listen to throughout our talk is 51 00:02:24,330 --> 00:02:28,860 specifically how the business got started and then evolved. 52 00:02:29,510 --> 00:02:31,520 It didn't begin as it is now. 53 00:02:31,580 --> 00:02:32,570 There were learnings, 54 00:02:32,570 --> 00:02:37,580 adjustments and revisions to make things work and fit into Dee's 55 00:02:37,580 --> 00:02:39,950 life. She took it step by step, 56 00:02:40,250 --> 00:02:42,260 saw what was working for her, 57 00:02:42,410 --> 00:02:45,690 made adjustments and is now added a brand new stream of 58 00:02:45,690 --> 00:02:49,530 income as her skills and industry knowledge grows. 59 00:02:49,930 --> 00:02:52,630 This show is full of all types of goodness. 60 00:02:52,810 --> 00:02:53,800 Let's get right to it, 61 00:02:53,800 --> 00:03:02,620 shall we today I am so excited to introduce you to 62 00:03:02,620 --> 00:03:07,650 Dierdre Drakes of eight to three treats Dierdre known to her 63 00:03:07,650 --> 00:03:11,070 friends as D is a true Southern girl born and raised 64 00:03:11,070 --> 00:03:13,110 in the small town of Enfield, 65 00:03:13,110 --> 00:03:14,670 North Carolina. 66 00:03:14,670 --> 00:03:18,120 In 2005 she settled in Charlotte and has since made it 67 00:03:18,120 --> 00:03:19,210 her home. 68 00:03:19,210 --> 00:03:22,690 She's a self-taught chocolate based treat maker, 69 00:03:22,690 --> 00:03:25,570 proud army wife and mom of two. 70 00:03:25,570 --> 00:03:30,280 These custom design edible creations have a long record of precise 71 00:03:30,310 --> 00:03:33,410 execution for large companies and customers alike. 72 00:03:33,410 --> 00:03:37,030 Her who's who list includes NBA players, 73 00:03:37,030 --> 00:03:38,280 NFL players, 74 00:03:38,280 --> 00:03:40,660 government officials and celebrities. 75 00:03:40,660 --> 00:03:45,340 Her highly sought after domestic and international classes where she graciously 76 00:03:45,340 --> 00:03:46,210 teaches her techniques, 77 00:03:46,300 --> 00:03:50,080 sell out at the 350 and up price point, 78 00:03:50,200 --> 00:03:52,540 making her not only a gifted treat maker, 79 00:03:52,630 --> 00:03:54,190 but a respected teacher. 80 00:03:54,670 --> 00:03:57,130 Her work has been featured in VH1, 81 00:03:57,460 --> 00:04:02,850 Bravo, Fox 46 and has been published in a national magazine. 82 00:04:03,100 --> 00:04:03,970 Oh my gosh, 83 00:04:04,000 --> 00:04:06,940 Dee, welcome to the gift biz unwrapped podcast. 84 00:04:07,150 --> 00:04:08,680 Oh, thank you so much. 85 00:04:08,680 --> 00:04:11,500 I'm so excited to speak with you. 86 00:04:11,680 --> 00:04:13,060 Me too. 87 00:04:13,120 --> 00:04:17,710 I met you at the ultimate sugar show and I saw 88 00:04:17,710 --> 00:04:18,340 you in a room. 89 00:04:18,340 --> 00:04:20,050 He had that fun little competitions, 90 00:04:20,080 --> 00:04:23,470 one of those first nights and you were so bubbly and 91 00:04:23,470 --> 00:04:24,670 so energetic. 92 00:04:24,700 --> 00:04:25,510 And I am like, 93 00:04:25,510 --> 00:04:30,790 who is that girl I need to know is crazy girl 94 00:04:30,790 --> 00:04:31,420 in the corner. 95 00:04:31,870 --> 00:04:32,830 I love it. 96 00:04:32,890 --> 00:04:33,520 I love it. 97 00:04:33,520 --> 00:04:36,310 You just attract people like a magnet just because of your 98 00:04:36,310 --> 00:04:39,340 passion. There's no question about that. 99 00:04:39,760 --> 00:04:40,510 Thank you. 100 00:04:40,570 --> 00:04:41,140 Thank you. 101 00:04:41,200 --> 00:04:43,330 So over and above our intro, 102 00:04:43,360 --> 00:04:46,240 I like to have you share who you are in a 103 00:04:46,240 --> 00:04:48,880 little bit of a creative way and that is through a 104 00:04:48,880 --> 00:04:50,110 motivational candle. 105 00:04:50,320 --> 00:04:53,710 So if you were to tell everybody and describe a candle 106 00:04:53,740 --> 00:04:56,080 that really resonates with you, 107 00:04:56,080 --> 00:04:58,580 D, what would the color be and what would be a 108 00:04:58,580 --> 00:05:01,580 quote or a motto that would be on your motivational candle? 109 00:05:02,060 --> 00:05:04,610 Ooh, I like this question. 110 00:05:04,820 --> 00:05:07,250 I would really have to say that if I had to 111 00:05:07,250 --> 00:05:07,820 choose the color, 112 00:05:07,820 --> 00:05:09,260 the color would definitely be white. 113 00:05:09,260 --> 00:05:12,770 I just think it goes with Amy aesthetic and a white 114 00:05:12,770 --> 00:05:17,090 candle just brings purity to the room and also if there's 115 00:05:17,090 --> 00:05:20,000 any blemishes it shows and I'm okay with that. 116 00:05:20,000 --> 00:05:21,230 Like I'm an open book. 117 00:05:21,560 --> 00:05:26,000 My motivational quote would definitely have to be my favorite Bible 118 00:05:26,000 --> 00:05:29,330 verse, which is Proverbs three five and six. 119 00:05:29,570 --> 00:05:31,760 Trust in the Lord with all your heart and do not 120 00:05:31,760 --> 00:05:34,310 land on your own understanding in all your ways. 121 00:05:34,310 --> 00:05:37,420 Acknowledge him and he will make your path straight and that's 122 00:05:37,420 --> 00:05:40,510 just because I'm blindly doing all of this through the faith 123 00:05:40,540 --> 00:05:41,320 and will of God. 124 00:05:41,560 --> 00:05:42,670 I couldn't do it without him. 125 00:05:43,070 --> 00:05:46,200 I love that you are going to have to go back 126 00:05:46,200 --> 00:05:46,530 and listen. 127 00:05:46,530 --> 00:05:49,590 If you haven't already to one of my podcast, 128 00:05:49,590 --> 00:05:53,400 which is just a couple weeks back with good measures because 129 00:05:53,400 --> 00:05:56,520 he had an experience there that I think you'll really be 130 00:05:56,520 --> 00:05:59,840 interested. It totally blends in with what you're talking about with 131 00:05:59,840 --> 00:06:01,130 your Bible verses. 132 00:06:01,300 --> 00:06:02,200 So you'll have to do that. 133 00:06:02,200 --> 00:06:03,130 You might've heard it already. 134 00:06:03,130 --> 00:06:03,610 I don't know. 135 00:06:04,480 --> 00:06:07,270 Definitely. We'll make sure I relisten if I have already. 136 00:06:07,660 --> 00:06:09,220 Okay. And you know, 137 00:06:09,340 --> 00:06:12,640 I really like your explanation of the white candle. 138 00:06:12,640 --> 00:06:13,930 At first I thought you were going to say, 139 00:06:13,930 --> 00:06:17,230 cause that's like a nice clean palette on which I can 140 00:06:17,230 --> 00:06:19,060 design all whatever. 141 00:06:19,060 --> 00:06:20,740 I'm going to design my beautiful cakes. 142 00:06:20,980 --> 00:06:22,900 But what I really liked is where you said, 143 00:06:22,900 --> 00:06:23,080 you know, 144 00:06:23,080 --> 00:06:24,820 if there's blemishes that's okay. 145 00:06:25,080 --> 00:06:26,730 And that to me, 146 00:06:26,850 --> 00:06:28,350 not knowing you a whole lot, 147 00:06:28,350 --> 00:06:30,540 right? Because I'm going to find all about out about you 148 00:06:30,540 --> 00:06:31,050 right now. 149 00:06:31,270 --> 00:06:34,510 But that's why you can just be so free and fun 150 00:06:34,510 --> 00:06:36,370 because you're just going to be who you are. 151 00:06:36,400 --> 00:06:38,320 You're not worried about what other people are thinking. 152 00:06:38,700 --> 00:06:41,600 Exactly. So take us back. 153 00:06:41,840 --> 00:06:45,380 Have you been baking and enjoying making cakes all your life? 154 00:06:45,380 --> 00:06:46,340 Or where did that start? 155 00:06:46,690 --> 00:06:50,860 No, actually I just stumbled into this industry and I have 156 00:06:50,860 --> 00:06:51,510 loved it. 157 00:06:51,770 --> 00:06:53,510 I started out as an event planner. 158 00:06:53,510 --> 00:06:55,340 I did weddings and parties. 159 00:06:55,580 --> 00:06:58,370 My last event was I was seven and a half months 160 00:06:58,370 --> 00:07:00,080 pregnant in heels, 161 00:07:00,110 --> 00:07:01,070 moving tables and she, 162 00:07:01,250 --> 00:07:03,020 because I do not know how to sit still, 163 00:07:03,170 --> 00:07:04,010 that I have seen, 164 00:07:04,580 --> 00:07:05,480 as you have seen, 165 00:07:05,480 --> 00:07:06,710 I can not sit still. 166 00:07:06,920 --> 00:07:08,330 So after this wedding, 167 00:07:08,330 --> 00:07:11,540 my husband and I just had a conversation about how taxing 168 00:07:11,600 --> 00:07:14,870 that industry is with me going into becoming a first time 169 00:07:14,870 --> 00:07:17,480 mom and I decided to just step back. 170 00:07:17,660 --> 00:07:19,160 Well, as we all know, 171 00:07:19,160 --> 00:07:22,250 being a new mom is an amazing experience on its own. 172 00:07:22,250 --> 00:07:23,360 But as a creative, 173 00:07:23,750 --> 00:07:26,750 being a new mom and that first month it was extremely 174 00:07:26,750 --> 00:07:27,790 boring. I like, 175 00:07:27,790 --> 00:07:28,810 I love my baby, 176 00:07:28,810 --> 00:07:29,620 don't get me wrong. 177 00:07:29,650 --> 00:07:30,760 He's the best thing ever. 178 00:07:30,760 --> 00:07:32,020 He's the cutest thing. 179 00:07:32,320 --> 00:07:35,260 But it was periods where he was just doing nothing but 180 00:07:35,260 --> 00:07:39,130 sleeping. And I as a creative was going crazy. 181 00:07:39,410 --> 00:07:43,670 So I was on Facebook and I saw these beautiful desserts 182 00:07:43,670 --> 00:07:44,150 and I'm like, 183 00:07:44,210 --> 00:07:46,250 Oh, they look pretty cute. 184 00:07:46,520 --> 00:07:48,830 I think I can maybe do something like that. 185 00:07:49,010 --> 00:07:52,280 And I just blindly went out and got some supplies and 186 00:07:52,280 --> 00:07:56,300 I made a candy Apple and it was delicious and I 187 00:07:56,300 --> 00:07:56,720 was like, 188 00:07:56,750 --> 00:07:59,240 okay, this is not going to be good for me because 189 00:07:59,240 --> 00:08:00,950 I am a sweet tooth person. 190 00:08:00,980 --> 00:08:02,060 But I did it. 191 00:08:02,060 --> 00:08:04,130 It was great and my friends loved it. 192 00:08:04,310 --> 00:08:09,590 However, the medium of like heart candy was not really suitable 193 00:08:09,590 --> 00:08:11,960 for me as a new mom because I don't know if 194 00:08:11,960 --> 00:08:12,440 you have, 195 00:08:12,440 --> 00:08:15,080 but I know maybe some of your listeners have known that 196 00:08:15,080 --> 00:08:17,270 once the candy reaches the breaking point, 197 00:08:17,300 --> 00:08:19,070 there is no coming back from that. 198 00:08:19,260 --> 00:08:23,160 And I found myself wasting a lot of product because my 199 00:08:23,160 --> 00:08:27,450 newborn son of course took priority over me looking at the 200 00:08:27,450 --> 00:08:30,600 thermometer, making sure my candy is at the right temperature. 201 00:08:30,600 --> 00:08:34,650 So I stopped taking candy apples and I came across the 202 00:08:34,650 --> 00:08:38,040 medium of chocolate and I fell in love because it was 203 00:08:38,040 --> 00:08:39,000 so forgiven. 204 00:08:39,260 --> 00:08:42,410 If I had to step away and attend to my child 205 00:08:42,410 --> 00:08:45,710 or do anything and the chocolate came back into a heart 206 00:08:45,710 --> 00:08:47,780 state, I could simply remelt it. 207 00:08:48,040 --> 00:08:50,590 So I asked one of my friends if I could make 208 00:08:50,590 --> 00:08:54,070 some chocolate covered Oreos for this event that they had coming 209 00:08:54,070 --> 00:08:55,120 up and Sue. 210 00:08:55,170 --> 00:08:57,210 I had never made one ever. 211 00:08:57,210 --> 00:08:57,870 I just was like, 212 00:08:57,900 --> 00:08:59,070 I think I can do it. 213 00:08:59,340 --> 00:09:00,840 Okay, I'm going to try it, 214 00:09:00,840 --> 00:09:02,790 and I'm so glad it worked out because I would have 215 00:09:02,790 --> 00:09:06,270 hated to not come through for this event for her, 216 00:09:06,520 --> 00:09:07,720 but as soon as I did it, 217 00:09:07,720 --> 00:09:10,720 I fell in love and it has just wit above what 218 00:09:10,720 --> 00:09:12,370 I thought coming into this, 219 00:09:12,430 --> 00:09:13,690 it would do Well. 220 00:09:13,720 --> 00:09:13,990 You know, 221 00:09:13,990 --> 00:09:18,010 I love how your explanation was with the candy first and 222 00:09:18,010 --> 00:09:20,950 how it morphed into something that fits your lifestyle because if 223 00:09:20,950 --> 00:09:22,090 you were to decided candy, 224 00:09:22,090 --> 00:09:24,790 you probably would have stopped by now because it just wasn't 225 00:09:24,790 --> 00:09:26,440 a mix for you at that point. 226 00:09:26,830 --> 00:09:28,690 Exactly, exactly. 227 00:09:28,750 --> 00:09:29,650 Yeah. All right, 228 00:09:29,650 --> 00:09:32,650 so you just blindly stepped out and said, 229 00:09:32,650 --> 00:09:34,660 okay, I'm going to do these chocolate covered Oreos. 230 00:09:34,660 --> 00:09:37,330 You ended up seeing success and isn't it great when people 231 00:09:37,330 --> 00:09:38,080 come back and say, 232 00:09:38,110 --> 00:09:38,620 Oh my gosh, 233 00:09:38,650 --> 00:09:39,430 they're so good. 234 00:09:39,430 --> 00:09:41,530 You did such a good job that just fuels you to 235 00:09:41,530 --> 00:09:42,130 keep going. 236 00:09:42,330 --> 00:09:43,740 It made me feel so good. 237 00:09:43,770 --> 00:09:45,450 I felt like I had won a trophy. 238 00:09:47,320 --> 00:09:48,970 So what happened after that? 239 00:09:48,970 --> 00:09:51,550 So you had that one event and it went really well. 240 00:09:51,610 --> 00:09:53,600 Then what happened After that? 241 00:09:53,600 --> 00:09:54,620 And I saw that, 242 00:09:54,620 --> 00:09:56,840 Hey, this is something that I can do. 243 00:09:57,230 --> 00:10:00,380 I just started buying supplies like we always do. 244 00:10:00,380 --> 00:10:02,330 I had to cut myself off at some point, 245 00:10:02,590 --> 00:10:07,180 but I just started like thinking of ideas and practicing more. 246 00:10:07,180 --> 00:10:08,170 I honestly did. 247 00:10:08,170 --> 00:10:08,500 I was like, 248 00:10:08,500 --> 00:10:10,780 okay, if I did it great without practice, 249 00:10:10,810 --> 00:10:14,140 let me try to invest some time in really figuring this 250 00:10:14,140 --> 00:10:14,890 thing out. 251 00:10:15,010 --> 00:10:18,460 And I just fell in love and it kept motivating me 252 00:10:18,460 --> 00:10:20,860 because I loved what I was doing. 253 00:10:21,230 --> 00:10:23,750 So were you considering it still a hobby at that point? 254 00:10:24,100 --> 00:10:24,970 I was. 255 00:10:25,000 --> 00:10:28,030 It was just something because I was planning on returning back 256 00:10:28,030 --> 00:10:32,140 to the corporate world a little after having my son and 257 00:10:32,140 --> 00:10:32,500 I was like, 258 00:10:32,500 --> 00:10:34,780 okay, well this will just get me through to keep my 259 00:10:34,780 --> 00:10:36,520 creative side because you know, 260 00:10:36,520 --> 00:10:37,900 we can never lose that. 261 00:10:38,210 --> 00:10:42,590 And I wound up becoming a stay at home mom and 262 00:10:42,860 --> 00:10:46,550 I continued to get more requests and it became a legitimate 263 00:10:46,550 --> 00:10:47,360 business for me. 264 00:10:47,950 --> 00:10:50,860 So you started buying supplies because let's face it, 265 00:10:50,920 --> 00:10:53,380 if we have a passion as a hobby, 266 00:10:53,410 --> 00:10:54,850 we're still going to buy all the things, 267 00:10:55,990 --> 00:10:56,680 all of them. 268 00:10:57,040 --> 00:10:59,530 Yeah, maybe not in the big sizes that you need, 269 00:10:59,560 --> 00:11:02,110 you know if you're baking or designing in mass, 270 00:11:02,110 --> 00:11:04,790 right. But you got to have all the fancy tools and 271 00:11:04,820 --> 00:11:08,090 start perfecting your skills and you know all of that. 272 00:11:08,180 --> 00:11:10,790 At what point was it that you consciously said, 273 00:11:11,060 --> 00:11:11,450 all right, 274 00:11:11,780 --> 00:11:14,180 officially this is going to turn into a business. 275 00:11:14,680 --> 00:11:19,930 I think it was when I was getting requests more frequently 276 00:11:20,380 --> 00:11:24,730 and I had to kind of plan out my day and 277 00:11:24,730 --> 00:11:26,830 my time and my week that I was like, 278 00:11:26,860 --> 00:11:30,370 okay, this can really work out for me and bring in 279 00:11:30,460 --> 00:11:31,950 additional income for my family, 280 00:11:31,970 --> 00:11:34,540 can replace my event planning business. 281 00:11:34,720 --> 00:11:37,660 So once I've got the customers coming in, 282 00:11:37,780 --> 00:11:38,980 well even the requests, 283 00:11:38,980 --> 00:11:40,150 because let's face it, 284 00:11:40,180 --> 00:11:44,200 every person that requests doesn't become a customer. 285 00:11:44,420 --> 00:11:48,440 But I was just so intrigued and so motivated by the 286 00:11:48,440 --> 00:11:51,320 request that it made me focus on, 287 00:11:51,320 --> 00:11:55,720 let me make this into a passion turn business. 288 00:11:56,040 --> 00:11:56,550 Got it. 289 00:11:56,610 --> 00:11:58,170 Okay. Two questions for you. 290 00:11:58,200 --> 00:11:58,920 What do you mean? 291 00:11:58,920 --> 00:12:01,050 Every request doesn't turn into a customer? 292 00:12:01,050 --> 00:12:01,800 What does that mean? 293 00:12:02,140 --> 00:12:04,270 Well, every person that contacts you, 294 00:12:04,420 --> 00:12:06,970 they will not always buy. 295 00:12:07,130 --> 00:12:07,730 Oh, gotcha. 296 00:12:07,750 --> 00:12:10,220 So they're calling and inquiring and they may order. 297 00:12:10,220 --> 00:12:10,970 They may not. 298 00:12:11,260 --> 00:12:15,490 Yes. But I'm still very appreciative of the consideration because that 299 00:12:15,490 --> 00:12:17,890 lets me know that people are thinking about my product. 300 00:12:18,000 --> 00:12:19,440 Yeah. And they might the next time, 301 00:12:19,770 --> 00:12:19,950 you know, 302 00:12:19,950 --> 00:12:21,480 it might not be a fit for what they need. 303 00:12:21,480 --> 00:12:22,350 Right. At that point. 304 00:12:22,990 --> 00:12:24,220 Yes, exactly. 305 00:12:24,710 --> 00:12:27,350 And then at what point did you start charging? 306 00:12:27,760 --> 00:12:28,720 I started charging. 307 00:12:28,750 --> 00:12:31,750 Honestly, after that first ordered I did for my friend, 308 00:12:31,980 --> 00:12:36,780 it wasn't necessarily the amount that probably was a profit, 309 00:12:37,110 --> 00:12:41,220 but because I came from a business and I transitioned into 310 00:12:41,220 --> 00:12:41,730 another one, 311 00:12:41,730 --> 00:12:45,060 I knew the benefit of me not doing it for free 312 00:12:45,420 --> 00:12:46,110 at that point. 313 00:12:46,110 --> 00:12:48,900 But let's talk about my event planning business now. 314 00:12:48,930 --> 00:12:51,000 That was a lot of stuff done for free, 315 00:12:51,250 --> 00:12:53,560 but with this one I just came in after my first 316 00:12:53,560 --> 00:12:54,370 one. I kind of said, 317 00:12:54,370 --> 00:12:56,830 okay well I'm going to charge this amount and it was 318 00:12:56,890 --> 00:12:57,880 totally pennies. 319 00:12:57,940 --> 00:13:00,430 I think I was probably paying and then the order from 320 00:13:00,430 --> 00:13:03,540 me, but at least they had an idea of value on 321 00:13:03,540 --> 00:13:04,740 my business and this. 322 00:13:04,920 --> 00:13:07,470 Right, and then you just increased your prices as you went. 323 00:13:07,740 --> 00:13:08,910 Yes. You know, 324 00:13:08,970 --> 00:13:12,540 I always am teaching people that right from the get go 325 00:13:12,630 --> 00:13:14,940 you want to be charging a price where you're going to 326 00:13:14,940 --> 00:13:17,730 make at least some type of a profit cause you're not 327 00:13:17,730 --> 00:13:18,960 in the charity business. 328 00:13:18,960 --> 00:13:20,220 Right, exactly. 329 00:13:20,370 --> 00:13:20,880 Let's face it, 330 00:13:20,880 --> 00:13:22,080 a lot of people don't know, 331 00:13:22,110 --> 00:13:22,380 you know, 332 00:13:22,380 --> 00:13:23,910 if they've not been in business before, 333 00:13:23,910 --> 00:13:24,780 they don't know. 334 00:13:24,810 --> 00:13:25,680 I'm like thrilled. 335 00:13:25,680 --> 00:13:28,940 Just to know that someone's even charging and then they can 336 00:13:28,940 --> 00:13:31,040 learn what the right price is down the road. 337 00:13:31,100 --> 00:13:34,490 Yes. But as you started raising your prices to what you 338 00:13:34,490 --> 00:13:35,690 felt was, 339 00:13:35,720 --> 00:13:38,630 let's just start with the proper price because now I am 340 00:13:38,630 --> 00:13:41,360 quite sure you're much higher price because of your skill level 341 00:13:41,360 --> 00:13:43,430 and your reputation and all of that, 342 00:13:43,570 --> 00:13:47,650 but did you see any trouble in increasing your prices to 343 00:13:47,650 --> 00:13:50,900 customers who had purchased from you before Thing? 344 00:13:50,900 --> 00:13:54,860 Whenever you make an increase in price on my site, 345 00:13:54,920 --> 00:13:57,860 there's like sort of a guilt in the beginning. 346 00:13:58,190 --> 00:13:58,910 Oh, guilt. 347 00:13:59,150 --> 00:14:02,750 Yeah, and I take that especially from a repeat customer because 348 00:14:02,780 --> 00:14:06,140 I feel they are used to a certain price and when 349 00:14:06,140 --> 00:14:07,940 they come back with a new price, 350 00:14:08,180 --> 00:14:11,330 me being the kindhearted person I am is kind of like, 351 00:14:11,390 --> 00:14:12,050 Oh my goodness, 352 00:14:12,080 --> 00:14:14,810 I put myself in a personal aspect instead of a business 353 00:14:14,810 --> 00:14:17,700 aspect. So I don't relay that to my customer, 354 00:14:17,700 --> 00:14:18,420 but I do, 355 00:14:18,420 --> 00:14:18,660 you know, 356 00:14:18,660 --> 00:14:19,290 we all like, 357 00:14:19,350 --> 00:14:21,570 Ooh, are people going to perceive this price? 358 00:14:21,570 --> 00:14:23,130 Are they still going to buy? 359 00:14:23,700 --> 00:14:25,740 But it's a necessity. 360 00:14:25,770 --> 00:14:26,730 We have to do that. 361 00:14:26,730 --> 00:14:27,690 Because like you said, 362 00:14:27,690 --> 00:14:28,650 we're not working for free. 363 00:14:28,650 --> 00:14:29,250 I have bills, 364 00:14:29,250 --> 00:14:30,030 I have kids, 365 00:14:30,210 --> 00:14:31,500 this is my livelihood. 366 00:14:31,820 --> 00:14:34,100 Well, and you only have so much time unless you're going 367 00:14:34,100 --> 00:14:35,420 to hire on other people. 368 00:14:35,480 --> 00:14:39,020 You only have so much time to make whatever it is 369 00:14:39,020 --> 00:14:39,740 they've ordered, 370 00:14:39,740 --> 00:14:42,920 so you can't get five orders and do them all in 371 00:14:42,920 --> 00:14:43,880 the same amount of time. 372 00:14:43,880 --> 00:14:46,190 You only can do however the production goes. 373 00:14:46,190 --> 00:14:47,210 You know what I can get in at, 374 00:14:47,240 --> 00:14:49,310 but you have to be able to command a price that's 375 00:14:49,310 --> 00:14:51,230 going to make you money or you're just going go out 376 00:14:51,230 --> 00:14:51,860 of business. 377 00:14:52,390 --> 00:14:54,040 Yeah, that's exactly right. 378 00:14:54,190 --> 00:14:56,740 Or I'm going to not pay a bill and that's not 379 00:14:56,740 --> 00:14:57,310 going to happen. 380 00:14:57,730 --> 00:14:58,720 That's not happening. 381 00:14:59,950 --> 00:15:01,120 No. No. 382 00:15:01,330 --> 00:15:04,120 Okay. As we're just starting to talk and still in the 383 00:15:04,120 --> 00:15:05,800 intro time now, 384 00:15:05,830 --> 00:15:09,100 you'd like of the introduction of your business being created, 385 00:15:09,130 --> 00:15:10,690 how did you land upon your name? 386 00:15:11,350 --> 00:15:14,080 I love explaining my name. 387 00:15:14,110 --> 00:15:14,890 Oh, good. 388 00:15:14,890 --> 00:15:15,640 Good question. 389 00:15:15,640 --> 00:15:17,170 Yay. Yes. 390 00:15:17,560 --> 00:15:20,790 So my name originally was August, 391 00:15:20,790 --> 00:15:24,970 2030 events in trees and I created the handle eight to 392 00:15:24,970 --> 00:15:26,020 three treats just because I'm like, 393 00:15:26,020 --> 00:15:28,030 no one's going to want to type out the full thing. 394 00:15:28,290 --> 00:15:31,740 August 23rd is my wedding day. 395 00:15:31,740 --> 00:15:34,710 That is the day I married my husband. 396 00:15:34,920 --> 00:15:38,400 Yeah. And when I was first thinking about business names, 397 00:15:38,400 --> 00:15:41,430 that was the first thing that came to mind because it 398 00:15:41,460 --> 00:15:42,930 was such an important day in my life. 399 00:15:42,930 --> 00:15:45,750 My husband and I have been together since I was 14 400 00:15:45,750 --> 00:15:47,310 so he's like my life partner. 401 00:15:47,430 --> 00:15:49,200 I love him dearly and I don't want to cry. 402 00:15:49,200 --> 00:15:50,130 I really love that guy. 403 00:15:50,400 --> 00:15:51,900 And now all the world has heard. 404 00:15:51,900 --> 00:15:52,710 Isn't that fun? 405 00:15:53,190 --> 00:15:55,800 All the world knows my love for him. 406 00:15:55,860 --> 00:15:59,460 Um, so that has just been my business name. 407 00:15:59,760 --> 00:16:01,830 It's shortened to eight to three treats. 408 00:16:01,890 --> 00:16:03,120 And I always tell my husband like, 409 00:16:03,120 --> 00:16:05,670 you can never leave me because I'm never changing my name 410 00:16:05,970 --> 00:16:07,080 and my business name. 411 00:16:07,440 --> 00:16:07,770 You go, 412 00:16:07,830 --> 00:16:10,290 well he sounds like he's a huge supporter of what you're 413 00:16:10,290 --> 00:16:11,700 doing. He does. 414 00:16:11,700 --> 00:16:13,080 He does support me very well. 415 00:16:13,080 --> 00:16:15,840 I mean sometimes to tell me to move my stuff out 416 00:16:15,840 --> 00:16:16,230 of his way. 417 00:16:16,230 --> 00:16:17,010 But other than that, 418 00:16:17,010 --> 00:16:18,360 he's very well. 419 00:16:19,350 --> 00:16:19,940 Well that's okay. 420 00:16:20,060 --> 00:16:21,090 I mean you can't be too perfect. 421 00:16:21,090 --> 00:16:26,790 Right? How did the business progress in terms of orders and 422 00:16:26,790 --> 00:16:29,760 size? And you've gotten to a point where you have some 423 00:16:29,760 --> 00:16:31,710 pretty prestigious customers. 424 00:16:31,930 --> 00:16:33,910 And one of the things that I always find Dee, 425 00:16:33,910 --> 00:16:35,920 that people are asking all the time is how do I 426 00:16:35,920 --> 00:16:38,620 get more business and how do I get the customers that 427 00:16:38,620 --> 00:16:41,050 I need the right customers who will pay the price that 428 00:16:41,050 --> 00:16:43,570 I'm requiring because of my skill level? 429 00:16:43,600 --> 00:16:46,450 So I'm curious how you started to build your customer base. 430 00:16:46,990 --> 00:16:50,410 Well, it did help me that I came from an event 431 00:16:50,440 --> 00:16:53,830 fields. So in my industry I kind of knew what the 432 00:16:54,430 --> 00:16:57,370 buyer was expecting from an event treat. 433 00:16:57,550 --> 00:17:03,370 Also I utilize social media for what is worth for business. 434 00:17:03,670 --> 00:17:05,470 I mean I've put hashtags, 435 00:17:05,470 --> 00:17:08,950 I've found out how many hashtags can I put on a 436 00:17:08,950 --> 00:17:11,710 post and I maximize that. 437 00:17:12,040 --> 00:17:15,250 And I started just trying out different things with those hashtags 438 00:17:15,250 --> 00:17:19,840 because hashtags are little search engines and when people search for 439 00:17:19,840 --> 00:17:22,180 word, I want my business to come up. 440 00:17:22,440 --> 00:17:24,150 So those are some of the things I did. 441 00:17:24,150 --> 00:17:27,240 Just knowing like researching the industry that I'm in, 442 00:17:27,270 --> 00:17:30,570 staying true to who I am because sometimes people find a 443 00:17:30,580 --> 00:17:34,860 value in you being true to who you are as in, 444 00:17:34,860 --> 00:17:36,090 Hey, this is my price. 445 00:17:36,360 --> 00:17:38,790 I really appreciate you respect in that. 446 00:17:39,020 --> 00:17:41,300 If I'm not currently in your budget, 447 00:17:41,330 --> 00:17:42,470 that's fine. 448 00:17:42,860 --> 00:17:47,030 I will love to buy a $5 million house right now, 449 00:17:47,030 --> 00:17:50,130 but that's not in my budget and we're with that. 450 00:17:50,130 --> 00:17:52,320 So Those are some of the things that I did too. 451 00:17:52,320 --> 00:17:53,740 Do you stay true to that? 452 00:17:53,770 --> 00:17:56,080 Right? I mean your prices or your prices? 453 00:17:56,080 --> 00:17:56,830 That is correct. 454 00:17:56,830 --> 00:17:58,360 My prices on my prices, 455 00:17:58,360 --> 00:17:59,560 especially in this industry, 456 00:17:59,560 --> 00:18:00,880 any creative industry, 457 00:18:01,270 --> 00:18:04,480 you have to quantify your time because we spend a lot 458 00:18:04,480 --> 00:18:08,020 of hours on these crafts or cakes and things of that 459 00:18:08,020 --> 00:18:12,210 nature and that's valuable For sure. 460 00:18:12,360 --> 00:18:16,580 So many people don't account for their time and then you're 461 00:18:16,580 --> 00:18:18,980 still almost doing it for free because your time, 462 00:18:18,980 --> 00:18:19,550 let's face it, 463 00:18:19,700 --> 00:18:21,590 you also need time just for yourself. 464 00:18:21,620 --> 00:18:24,950 So anytime you're producing or you're working on your business in 465 00:18:24,950 --> 00:18:28,250 any way is time being taken away from something else you 466 00:18:28,250 --> 00:18:29,030 could be doing. 467 00:18:29,540 --> 00:18:31,700 So it should be paid for, 468 00:18:32,020 --> 00:18:32,170 you know, 469 00:18:32,170 --> 00:18:33,640 and the way it's going to be paid for is in 470 00:18:33,640 --> 00:18:35,260 the price of your product that you're selling. 471 00:18:35,540 --> 00:18:36,080 That is correct. 472 00:18:36,110 --> 00:18:38,480 And I have a son who's four and a daughter. 473 00:18:38,480 --> 00:18:39,170 She's one, 474 00:18:39,360 --> 00:18:40,290 but her name is Corey, 475 00:18:40,290 --> 00:18:41,160 like my husband. 476 00:18:41,170 --> 00:18:42,210 So it's okay. 477 00:18:42,210 --> 00:18:45,910 Unisex names That works. 478 00:18:47,010 --> 00:18:48,450 The other thing I want to point out, 479 00:18:48,450 --> 00:18:51,390 and this is really for you guys give biz listeners is 480 00:18:51,420 --> 00:18:54,120 Dee was just talking to a minute ago that per other 481 00:18:54,120 --> 00:18:57,570 industry had been event planning and she had context and knowledge 482 00:18:57,600 --> 00:18:58,620 from that industry. 483 00:18:58,830 --> 00:19:00,960 You right now might be working at a bank, 484 00:19:00,990 --> 00:19:03,870 you might be working in a corporate office in the marketing 485 00:19:03,870 --> 00:19:04,740 department, you know, 486 00:19:04,740 --> 00:19:07,140 whatever your nine to five job is. 487 00:19:07,200 --> 00:19:09,750 If you have one right now and you're building your business 488 00:19:09,750 --> 00:19:10,590 on the side, 489 00:19:10,820 --> 00:19:14,180 think about whether there are opportunities there with context that you 490 00:19:14,180 --> 00:19:16,520 have through a totally different way. 491 00:19:16,520 --> 00:19:20,180 Your full time job right now that could help you advance 492 00:19:20,180 --> 00:19:20,870 your business. 493 00:19:20,870 --> 00:19:23,780 This is not the first time I've heard people having their 494 00:19:23,780 --> 00:19:27,170 first customers be people who came out of connections from a 495 00:19:27,170 --> 00:19:28,010 full time job, 496 00:19:28,040 --> 00:19:29,630 so huge opportunity. 497 00:19:29,830 --> 00:19:33,430 I'd also say school events while your kids are too young 498 00:19:33,430 --> 00:19:36,650 yet I guess D but school age children when there are 499 00:19:36,650 --> 00:19:40,370 events and charities and all the things you get into sports 500 00:19:40,370 --> 00:19:42,140 organizations, dance clubs, 501 00:19:42,170 --> 00:19:44,210 all of that are opportunities. 502 00:19:44,690 --> 00:19:47,480 Yeah. A lot of people ask me sometimes like how do 503 00:19:47,480 --> 00:19:48,530 you make the connections? 504 00:19:48,530 --> 00:19:51,620 How do you network and network is so fluid for me 505 00:19:51,620 --> 00:19:53,630 because I am a people person, 506 00:19:53,660 --> 00:19:57,500 but if I wasn't just putting yourself in a position where 507 00:19:57,500 --> 00:20:01,190 people, we come in contact with people every day and just 508 00:20:01,190 --> 00:20:04,430 speaking and my business always comes up when I'm speaking to 509 00:20:04,430 --> 00:20:06,770 someone honestly and not the first time. 510 00:20:06,770 --> 00:20:08,840 The second time is it has to, 511 00:20:09,320 --> 00:20:10,670 was it like that from the beginning? 512 00:20:11,120 --> 00:20:12,530 For business and personal. 513 00:20:12,530 --> 00:20:13,600 Yes, Sue, 514 00:20:13,600 --> 00:20:14,650 I'm sorry to say this, 515 00:20:14,650 --> 00:20:16,180 but in school, 516 00:20:16,180 --> 00:20:18,340 in grade school I used to have those little notes that 517 00:20:18,340 --> 00:20:20,560 says detox too much in class. 518 00:20:20,620 --> 00:20:21,820 She does excellent work, 519 00:20:21,850 --> 00:20:22,720 but she talks too much. 520 00:20:23,070 --> 00:20:24,000 I believe that. 521 00:20:24,000 --> 00:20:25,830 But it's working in your favor now. 522 00:20:28,950 --> 00:20:31,950 No, I asked that and bring it up because I also 523 00:20:31,950 --> 00:20:35,000 know a lot of people here and it's the fear of 524 00:20:35,000 --> 00:20:35,720 failure, right? 525 00:20:35,720 --> 00:20:38,330 And putting yourself out there want to start a business, 526 00:20:38,330 --> 00:20:40,400 but they don't want to tell people who are close to 527 00:20:40,400 --> 00:20:42,020 them until it's successful. 528 00:20:42,360 --> 00:20:45,960 And the fallacy in that is the people who are closest 529 00:20:45,960 --> 00:20:49,990 to you are probably your best first Customers and forgiving, 530 00:20:49,990 --> 00:20:50,230 you know, 531 00:20:50,230 --> 00:20:51,370 if something goes wrong, 532 00:20:51,370 --> 00:20:54,790 like if your shopping cart on your website goes down or 533 00:20:54,820 --> 00:20:57,100 the product isn't totally up to par yet. 534 00:20:57,130 --> 00:21:00,370 They're great testers and working through all the systems. 535 00:21:00,370 --> 00:21:03,400 But a lot of people won't do that because the business 536 00:21:03,400 --> 00:21:04,120 is just starting. 537 00:21:04,120 --> 00:21:05,290 And what if it doesn't work? 538 00:21:05,320 --> 00:21:07,150 Then they have to go back with their tail between their 539 00:21:07,150 --> 00:21:07,960 legs. Yeah, 540 00:21:08,170 --> 00:21:09,550 it happens to us all. 541 00:21:09,550 --> 00:21:10,630 But that's a good point. 542 00:21:10,840 --> 00:21:14,350 I can count how many times that I've had a family 543 00:21:14,350 --> 00:21:16,900 member order and maybe something went wrong, 544 00:21:16,900 --> 00:21:19,600 but it was such a great learning lesson and I'm glad 545 00:21:19,600 --> 00:21:23,440 I could learn it with someone who knew me and I 546 00:21:23,440 --> 00:21:26,230 would say the era of some sort and it was a 547 00:21:26,230 --> 00:21:28,900 good learning moment for me from someone who I knew wasn't 548 00:21:28,900 --> 00:21:31,630 going to like blast me and put me in a bad 549 00:21:31,630 --> 00:21:32,830 light to the public. 550 00:21:32,860 --> 00:21:36,940 Right. So definitely the idea right from the start of letting 551 00:21:36,940 --> 00:21:39,130 people know and you were just bringing it up in casual 552 00:21:39,130 --> 00:21:40,300 conversations then, 553 00:21:40,510 --> 00:21:41,200 right? Yes. 554 00:21:41,230 --> 00:21:42,220 You know what's going on? 555 00:21:42,280 --> 00:21:42,910 Oh, you know, 556 00:21:42,910 --> 00:21:44,590 I've started doing a business. 557 00:21:44,590 --> 00:21:45,280 Here's how it happened. 558 00:21:45,280 --> 00:21:47,110 Chocolate covered Oreos or whatever. 559 00:21:47,330 --> 00:21:48,650 It was just conversation. 560 00:21:48,650 --> 00:21:50,420 It's not really promoting your business. 561 00:21:50,420 --> 00:21:53,240 It's just letting people know exactly. 562 00:21:53,240 --> 00:21:57,260 Just so seamless that it was just normal conversation and as 563 00:21:57,260 --> 00:21:57,590 you said, 564 00:21:57,590 --> 00:22:00,200 casual and you started getting business from that. 565 00:22:00,590 --> 00:22:01,370 I did. 566 00:22:01,370 --> 00:22:03,830 I was so amazed at how many people, 567 00:22:03,830 --> 00:22:05,510 as soon as they saw a picture, 568 00:22:05,790 --> 00:22:06,870 and that's I think, 569 00:22:06,870 --> 00:22:08,190 I don't know if we're going to get into that, 570 00:22:08,190 --> 00:22:11,280 but that's why it's so important to have like either a 571 00:22:11,280 --> 00:22:15,000 website or social media presence because with crapping things people buy 572 00:22:15,000 --> 00:22:15,870 with their eyes. 573 00:22:16,100 --> 00:22:17,420 So they saw a picture and it was like, 574 00:22:17,510 --> 00:22:20,930 Oh yes I am interested in this because it looks nice. 575 00:22:21,420 --> 00:22:23,310 So do you have it on your phone where you can 576 00:22:23,310 --> 00:22:23,790 pull it up, 577 00:22:23,790 --> 00:22:25,620 right? If you're in a conversation with someone? 578 00:22:26,080 --> 00:22:30,220 Yes. My Instagram page is by far the first app on 579 00:22:30,220 --> 00:22:33,490 my phone and I click it and just show a couple. 580 00:22:33,490 --> 00:22:36,310 You don't want to be too aggressive and making sure they 581 00:22:36,310 --> 00:22:36,820 go like, 582 00:22:36,820 --> 00:22:37,900 Hey here's a couple. 583 00:22:37,900 --> 00:22:38,290 You know what? 584 00:22:38,290 --> 00:22:39,370 If you have social media, 585 00:22:39,490 --> 00:22:41,320 look me up or if you have your phone out, 586 00:22:41,320 --> 00:22:42,520 go to my website real quick. 587 00:22:42,670 --> 00:22:45,580 So it just gives them that part in their mind to 588 00:22:45,640 --> 00:22:46,680 do. Right. 589 00:22:46,710 --> 00:22:49,230 And so let's get into that then because this is another 590 00:22:49,230 --> 00:22:50,400 big topic all the time. 591 00:22:50,400 --> 00:22:53,180 Social media and let's just talk Instagram cause I have a 592 00:22:53,180 --> 00:22:54,800 lot more I want to get into with you. 593 00:22:54,990 --> 00:22:56,700 So we've talked about hashtags a little bit, 594 00:22:56,790 --> 00:22:58,170 like there are many search engines, 595 00:22:58,170 --> 00:22:59,220 right? Yes. 596 00:22:59,610 --> 00:23:06,210 And when you started posting on Instagram and adding hashtags, 597 00:23:06,210 --> 00:23:09,600 keeping in mind who your preferred customer would be, 598 00:23:09,660 --> 00:23:12,570 right? So that you're attracting the right people in. 599 00:23:12,720 --> 00:23:15,510 Did you start seeing sales off of that that you equate 600 00:23:15,510 --> 00:23:18,690 directly back to Instagram or did it take awhile to build 601 00:23:18,690 --> 00:23:20,280 or what was your experience there? 602 00:23:20,830 --> 00:23:23,020 When I started using the hashtags, 603 00:23:23,230 --> 00:23:26,830 I was doing it because I knew what it was for 604 00:23:26,830 --> 00:23:29,740 and I wasn't paying attention to in the beginning. 605 00:23:30,000 --> 00:23:33,750 But once I really started focusing on the hashtags that I 606 00:23:33,780 --> 00:23:37,650 was using and looking at different things and I started asking 607 00:23:37,650 --> 00:23:39,270 people how they found me, 608 00:23:39,570 --> 00:23:42,300 I could really see that they were working for me because 609 00:23:42,300 --> 00:23:43,470 I had a lot of people say, 610 00:23:43,560 --> 00:23:45,030 well I found you through Instagram. 611 00:23:45,290 --> 00:23:46,760 I was searching the hashtag X, 612 00:23:46,760 --> 00:23:47,600 Y and Z. 613 00:23:48,170 --> 00:23:48,680 And I was like, 614 00:23:48,710 --> 00:23:49,520 Oh, okay. 615 00:23:50,140 --> 00:23:51,400 Oh interesting. 616 00:23:51,670 --> 00:23:52,660 This really works. 617 00:23:52,690 --> 00:23:57,000 Yeah. That's how actually I got my first celebrity client was 618 00:23:57,000 --> 00:24:00,870 through. They found me on Instagram by searching one of my 619 00:24:00,870 --> 00:24:02,830 hashtags. Oh that's crazy. 620 00:24:03,010 --> 00:24:05,770 And they came across my profile and they liked my work 621 00:24:05,770 --> 00:24:06,700 and they reached out to me. 622 00:24:06,700 --> 00:24:07,750 Yes. Wow, 623 00:24:07,750 --> 00:24:08,770 that's cool. 624 00:24:09,040 --> 00:24:10,150 It was so amazing. 625 00:24:10,270 --> 00:24:10,750 And so I'm like, 626 00:24:10,750 --> 00:24:11,260 they work. 627 00:24:11,980 --> 00:24:14,260 I bet after that did they call you then to talk 628 00:24:14,260 --> 00:24:15,040 about an order? 629 00:24:15,400 --> 00:24:17,110 They did and it went through. 630 00:24:17,110 --> 00:24:19,240 It was like the craziest thing. 631 00:24:19,240 --> 00:24:20,920 One of those ones where you have to mute the phone 632 00:24:20,920 --> 00:24:21,310 and like, 633 00:24:21,340 --> 00:24:22,660 okay, is this really happening? 634 00:24:22,840 --> 00:24:25,720 And then go back into the professional voice like okay I'm 635 00:24:25,720 --> 00:24:28,550 back. That's why I was asking cause I'm thinking when you 636 00:24:28,550 --> 00:24:30,770 got off the phone and hung up you were probably like 637 00:24:30,800 --> 00:24:31,910 major happy dance. 638 00:24:31,910 --> 00:24:33,530 Like Oh my goodness. 639 00:24:33,680 --> 00:24:35,690 Screaming, calling my mom. 640 00:24:35,720 --> 00:24:37,400 That was the first question you have to call someone. 641 00:24:37,500 --> 00:24:38,570 I knew the button mom, 642 00:24:38,570 --> 00:24:40,490 you will not believe this. 643 00:24:40,880 --> 00:24:42,650 And it was crazy. 644 00:24:42,830 --> 00:24:44,150 That's so awesome. 645 00:24:44,400 --> 00:24:45,510 So now today, 646 00:24:45,540 --> 00:24:47,820 how often are you posting on Instagram? 647 00:24:48,310 --> 00:24:50,830 Well I try to post once a day, 648 00:24:50,890 --> 00:24:52,390 at least something once a day. 649 00:24:52,600 --> 00:24:54,490 If not on my profile, 650 00:24:54,820 --> 00:24:58,240 I really try to post the my stories and I have 651 00:24:58,240 --> 00:25:02,110 learned the value of using your Instagram stories to connect with 652 00:25:02,110 --> 00:25:02,860 your followers, 653 00:25:02,860 --> 00:25:04,270 your potential customers, 654 00:25:04,390 --> 00:25:06,880 or just people as your peers, 655 00:25:07,120 --> 00:25:08,140 so at least once a day. 656 00:25:08,140 --> 00:25:09,970 I'm trying to post in somewhere, 657 00:25:10,000 --> 00:25:11,050 somewhere, some way, 658 00:25:11,350 --> 00:25:12,520 somewhere, some way. 659 00:25:12,730 --> 00:25:13,810 Okay, got you. 660 00:25:17,320 --> 00:25:19,570 We're going to hear more about D's posting plan, 661 00:25:19,720 --> 00:25:21,850 right after a quick word from our sponsor. 662 00:25:23,100 --> 00:25:24,690 Yes, it's possible. 663 00:25:24,840 --> 00:25:27,510 Increase your sales without adding a single customer. 664 00:25:27,720 --> 00:25:31,170 How you ask by offering personalization with your products, 665 00:25:31,440 --> 00:25:34,560 wrap a cake box with a ribbon saying happy 30th birthday, 666 00:25:34,560 --> 00:25:38,010 Annie, or at a special message and date to wedding or 667 00:25:38,010 --> 00:25:40,470 party favors for an extra meaningful touch. 668 00:25:40,590 --> 00:25:43,860 Where else can you get customization with a creatively spelled name 669 00:25:43,860 --> 00:25:46,590 or find packaging that includes a saying whose meaning is known 670 00:25:46,590 --> 00:25:49,320 to a select to not only are customers willing to pay 671 00:25:49,320 --> 00:25:50,490 for these special touches, 672 00:25:50,610 --> 00:25:53,640 they'll tell their friends and word will spread about your company 673 00:25:53,640 --> 00:25:54,420 and products. 674 00:25:54,660 --> 00:25:58,020 You can create personalized ribbons and labels in seconds. 675 00:25:58,110 --> 00:26:01,410 Make just one or thousands without waiting weeks or having to 676 00:26:01,410 --> 00:26:03,480 spend money to order yards and yards. 677 00:26:03,600 --> 00:26:05,700 Print words in any language or font, 678 00:26:05,910 --> 00:26:06,630 add logos, 679 00:26:06,750 --> 00:26:08,520 images, even photos. 680 00:26:08,760 --> 00:26:12,600 Perfect for branding or adding ingredient and flavor labels to for 681 00:26:12,600 --> 00:26:13,410 more information, 682 00:26:13,410 --> 00:26:14,160 go to the ribbon, 683 00:26:14,160 --> 00:26:15,540 print company.com 684 00:26:17,130 --> 00:26:18,030 What types of things, 685 00:26:18,030 --> 00:26:20,910 do you have any plan or a structured system to make 686 00:26:20,910 --> 00:26:23,010 sure that you do that or is it just always top 687 00:26:23,010 --> 00:26:23,370 of mind? 688 00:26:23,370 --> 00:26:25,140 This is one thing I have to get done today. 689 00:26:25,680 --> 00:26:27,840 No, my followers know this. 690 00:26:27,870 --> 00:26:31,350 I am a big advocate for the app sheet, 691 00:26:31,410 --> 00:26:35,260 auto posting app or any auto posting app so I can 692 00:26:35,260 --> 00:26:36,070 schedule posts, 693 00:26:36,070 --> 00:26:38,710 especially the posts that are going on my profile because my 694 00:26:38,710 --> 00:26:41,740 profile is basically just my business. 695 00:26:41,890 --> 00:26:45,270 My stories is where you get to see the craziness of 696 00:26:45,270 --> 00:26:48,950 me. D so I'm using auto-post app nine times out of 697 00:26:48,950 --> 00:26:51,140 10 is it called auto-post? 698 00:26:51,470 --> 00:26:52,790 It is called app. 699 00:26:52,870 --> 00:26:54,520 She in S a P. 700 00:26:54,520 --> 00:26:55,690 P. H. 701 00:26:55,810 --> 00:26:58,550 I. It does have a free mode as well, 702 00:26:58,550 --> 00:27:01,760 which I love and I utilize the most in the beginning. 703 00:27:02,220 --> 00:27:05,370 And then they do have some subscription plans that you know 704 00:27:05,370 --> 00:27:08,040 as you need to post more because the free plan I 705 00:27:08,040 --> 00:27:10,890 think only allows you to post like 10 or 12 posts 706 00:27:10,920 --> 00:27:11,460 a month. 707 00:27:11,840 --> 00:27:13,520 So as you need to post more, 708 00:27:13,700 --> 00:27:15,950 you can go into a plan that would probably benefit your 709 00:27:15,950 --> 00:27:19,770 business. And will it automatically post over to Instagram? 710 00:27:20,040 --> 00:27:22,710 I'm using another scheduler and it still has to go to 711 00:27:22,710 --> 00:27:25,230 my phone and then I still have to actually put it 712 00:27:25,230 --> 00:27:26,490 onto Instagram. 713 00:27:26,910 --> 00:27:28,290 No, it auto posts, 714 00:27:28,290 --> 00:27:31,140 like I have most of my posts scheduled for seven o'clock 715 00:27:31,140 --> 00:27:34,140 in the morning and I'm not a morning person and thankfully 716 00:27:34,140 --> 00:27:35,310 my kids are not either. 717 00:27:35,310 --> 00:27:37,950 I'm still asleep at seven I wake up to like a 718 00:27:37,950 --> 00:27:41,220 ton of notifications because the app has posted and I honestly 719 00:27:41,220 --> 00:27:44,850 forget sometimes and it has benefited me when I'm on vacation 720 00:27:44,850 --> 00:27:47,700 too. I can still go through business and I literally do 721 00:27:47,700 --> 00:27:51,060 not have to touch my phone or go into the app. 722 00:27:51,090 --> 00:27:52,650 It does it automatically for me. 723 00:27:52,830 --> 00:27:55,370 Oh, I didn't know such a thing existed yet. 724 00:27:55,560 --> 00:27:58,200 Oh, Sue is the best thing ever. 725 00:27:58,440 --> 00:27:59,010 All right, 726 00:27:59,010 --> 00:28:00,540 I'm going to be checking that out. 727 00:28:01,270 --> 00:28:03,040 And what's your handle while we're talking about this? 728 00:28:03,040 --> 00:28:04,030 So everyone can go luck. 729 00:28:04,580 --> 00:28:08,940 My handle for Instagram is eight to three treats and that's 730 00:28:09,070 --> 00:28:12,310 T R E a T S eight two three trees. 731 00:28:12,430 --> 00:28:16,210 Okay, so let's keep talking about the evolution of your business. 732 00:28:16,210 --> 00:28:19,720 So we're talking about you providing all types of treats, 733 00:28:19,720 --> 00:28:21,550 right? But more bakery talk. 734 00:28:21,550 --> 00:28:22,750 Glut specific. 735 00:28:23,020 --> 00:28:24,840 Yes. What's your specialty? 736 00:28:25,020 --> 00:28:27,540 Chocolate. Chocolate and more chocolate. 737 00:28:27,630 --> 00:28:28,980 That's my specialty. 738 00:28:29,400 --> 00:28:30,870 Chocolate dip things. 739 00:28:30,870 --> 00:28:34,560 So I really started my business off the chocolate Cub Oreos 740 00:28:34,650 --> 00:28:37,890 and they are still like my main product that I produce. 741 00:28:38,220 --> 00:28:41,730 I have grown to love my chocolate dip pretzels. 742 00:28:42,150 --> 00:28:44,220 They're like my favorite treat to me. 743 00:28:44,250 --> 00:28:46,590 And now this new wave of cake, 744 00:28:46,590 --> 00:28:48,180 Sickles. And I'm not sure, 745 00:28:48,270 --> 00:28:50,460 someone may call it a cake pop still, 746 00:28:50,460 --> 00:28:52,650 but it's in the form of a little Popsicle. 747 00:28:52,650 --> 00:28:55,410 And those things are just so cute and I love making 748 00:28:55,410 --> 00:28:56,180 them. Yeah, 749 00:28:56,180 --> 00:28:57,590 they are so cute. 750 00:28:57,590 --> 00:28:58,310 You're right. 751 00:28:59,320 --> 00:29:00,380 And it's just enough. 752 00:29:00,450 --> 00:29:01,880 It's not a big piece of cake. 753 00:29:01,910 --> 00:29:02,840 It's just enough. 754 00:29:02,840 --> 00:29:07,430 You don't feel totally cheating on whatever diet you're on. 755 00:29:07,430 --> 00:29:08,360 If you have just one, 756 00:29:08,930 --> 00:29:09,950 if you have just one, 757 00:29:09,950 --> 00:29:11,150 if you have just one, 758 00:29:11,660 --> 00:29:13,400 cause I can never like Pringles, 759 00:29:13,400 --> 00:29:14,570 I can never eat just one. 760 00:29:15,500 --> 00:29:18,020 So this is a really big point. 761 00:29:18,050 --> 00:29:21,320 You've stayed very narrow with chocolate. 762 00:29:21,380 --> 00:29:22,610 Like everything is chocolate. 763 00:29:22,640 --> 00:29:24,560 There's different things under the category, 764 00:29:24,590 --> 00:29:25,910 but it's always chocolate. 765 00:29:26,300 --> 00:29:30,620 Exactly. Because that works for me and I've tried to add 766 00:29:30,620 --> 00:29:34,550 other things to my menu and I've done some reevaluation of 767 00:29:34,550 --> 00:29:37,760 it and either it's not selling or I honestly don't enjoy 768 00:29:37,790 --> 00:29:38,330 making it. 769 00:29:38,330 --> 00:29:41,500 And if you're in a creative space and you don't making 770 00:29:41,500 --> 00:29:43,300 something, it doesn't make you happy. 771 00:29:43,300 --> 00:29:46,000 So I just stick to what I like to do that 772 00:29:46,090 --> 00:29:49,260 I will always be happy or when I'm working really late 773 00:29:49,260 --> 00:29:49,740 at night, 774 00:29:49,770 --> 00:29:51,360 the end game of this, 775 00:29:51,480 --> 00:29:54,360 I'm like excited about it because I get to see it. 776 00:29:54,770 --> 00:29:55,490 Right. No, 777 00:29:55,490 --> 00:29:57,560 I think that that's really smart because I think a lot 778 00:29:57,560 --> 00:29:58,370 of people would say, 779 00:29:58,370 --> 00:30:00,140 okay, well I've got chocolate down now, 780 00:30:00,170 --> 00:30:03,680 but I'm going to be able to attract more business if 781 00:30:03,680 --> 00:30:05,570 I add in something else. 782 00:30:05,870 --> 00:30:08,630 And that's not always the case because now you with target, 783 00:30:08,630 --> 00:30:11,060 you're known as the chocolate specialist then right? 784 00:30:11,060 --> 00:30:12,470 Like this is your thing, 785 00:30:12,470 --> 00:30:13,160 your product, 786 00:30:13,160 --> 00:30:14,150 you know everything about it. 787 00:30:14,150 --> 00:30:14,390 You know, 788 00:30:14,390 --> 00:30:15,230 all the designing, 789 00:30:15,230 --> 00:30:15,950 all the styling, 790 00:30:15,950 --> 00:30:17,270 all the flavoring, 791 00:30:17,300 --> 00:30:21,410 all of that versus if you also did marshmallow candy apples, 792 00:30:21,410 --> 00:30:22,820 like all the other things. 793 00:30:23,090 --> 00:30:24,720 Right, Exactly. 794 00:30:25,140 --> 00:30:26,130 It works for some, 795 00:30:26,130 --> 00:30:27,360 it does work for some, 796 00:30:27,450 --> 00:30:28,350 but like I said, 797 00:30:28,350 --> 00:30:30,150 you have to figure out what works for you. 798 00:30:30,540 --> 00:30:35,040 Alright, so tell me how this extension of teaching came about. 799 00:30:35,590 --> 00:30:37,780 I honestly love sharing this as well. 800 00:30:37,780 --> 00:30:40,720 Sue. So from my candle, 801 00:30:40,840 --> 00:30:45,820 I have a really great relationship with Christ and it was 802 00:30:45,820 --> 00:30:47,080 the weirdest thing ever. 803 00:30:47,080 --> 00:30:51,040 Sue, I was laying in bed and I was told I 804 00:30:51,040 --> 00:30:53,740 need to teach a class and I'm just looking around like 805 00:30:54,040 --> 00:30:55,810 who may like me? 806 00:30:55,840 --> 00:30:56,800 Who are you talking about? 807 00:30:57,000 --> 00:30:58,380 Just like came into you. 808 00:30:58,510 --> 00:30:59,710 Yeah, it just spoke. 809 00:30:59,950 --> 00:31:04,510 I was faithful to that and I have seen crazy growth 810 00:31:04,600 --> 00:31:05,710 from my classes. 811 00:31:06,110 --> 00:31:07,760 Okay. But that's too big a jump. 812 00:31:07,790 --> 00:31:08,690 I need to know more. 813 00:31:09,110 --> 00:31:10,170 Okay. Okay. 814 00:31:10,220 --> 00:31:12,590 So my first question is, 815 00:31:12,830 --> 00:31:14,720 did anything cross your mind like, 816 00:31:14,720 --> 00:31:15,440 well, wait a minute. 817 00:31:15,440 --> 00:31:17,870 I don't want to teach people my techniques because then they're 818 00:31:17,870 --> 00:31:20,090 going to copy me and then my business is going to 819 00:31:20,090 --> 00:31:20,540 go down. 820 00:31:21,100 --> 00:31:22,570 Honestly, if I'm speaking, 821 00:31:22,690 --> 00:31:24,070 I have not came across that. 822 00:31:24,070 --> 00:31:27,640 However, I have had peers come to me who wants to 823 00:31:27,640 --> 00:31:30,190 start teaching and they say, 824 00:31:30,400 --> 00:31:31,300 well, I want to teach, 825 00:31:31,330 --> 00:31:34,090 but I'm scared that in my community that I'm going to 826 00:31:34,090 --> 00:31:35,050 lose business. 827 00:31:35,320 --> 00:31:36,370 And for me, 828 00:31:36,460 --> 00:31:40,180 I feel like you can't get into teaching something if you 829 00:31:40,180 --> 00:31:43,210 are not prepared for someone to do what you're doing to 830 00:31:43,210 --> 00:31:43,960 make income. 831 00:31:43,960 --> 00:31:46,150 That's the whole purpose of teaching something, 832 00:31:46,150 --> 00:31:48,780 right? We do have students that take it that just want 833 00:31:48,780 --> 00:31:51,510 to have a fun night out or learn something new. 834 00:31:51,750 --> 00:31:54,090 And I'm also a big advocate that if it's not, 835 00:31:54,090 --> 00:31:56,460 your gift is not going to flourish. 836 00:31:56,760 --> 00:32:00,000 So you can teach anybody to do anything, 837 00:32:00,000 --> 00:32:00,990 but you're still you. 838 00:32:01,470 --> 00:32:04,020 Right. I'm totally of the same opinion. 839 00:32:04,020 --> 00:32:06,570 And I also think to your point about if it's not 840 00:32:06,570 --> 00:32:07,170 your gift, 841 00:32:07,260 --> 00:32:09,090 you're probably not going to keep up with it. 842 00:32:09,280 --> 00:32:12,000 I think what often happens is people think I could make 843 00:32:12,000 --> 00:32:13,290 this just as well. 844 00:32:13,320 --> 00:32:14,760 You're buying the talk, 845 00:32:14,760 --> 00:32:16,230 let's let's say chocolate covered Oreos. 846 00:32:16,230 --> 00:32:17,340 Let's just keep with that theme. 847 00:32:17,680 --> 00:32:19,360 Oh, I could do that just as well. 848 00:32:19,420 --> 00:32:20,050 Well you know what, 849 00:32:20,050 --> 00:32:21,910 maybe or maybe not, 850 00:32:22,000 --> 00:32:24,340 but then they see all that goes into it too. 851 00:32:24,460 --> 00:32:27,040 It's not just a onetime one afternoon, 852 00:32:27,040 --> 00:32:28,150 let's make chocolate Oreos. 853 00:32:28,180 --> 00:32:29,080 It's a business. 854 00:32:29,080 --> 00:32:32,860 Right? And so they might do it initially and then at 855 00:32:32,860 --> 00:32:33,700 the end say, 856 00:32:33,700 --> 00:32:34,120 you know what, 857 00:32:34,120 --> 00:32:36,670 I really love the A's but I don't have time, 858 00:32:36,700 --> 00:32:38,440 nor do I want to be making them. 859 00:32:38,530 --> 00:32:39,590 And I love D. 860 00:32:39,590 --> 00:32:41,210 So then they end up buying from you again. 861 00:32:41,210 --> 00:32:43,520 Anyway, It has happened. 862 00:32:43,550 --> 00:32:45,170 It has exactly happened. 863 00:32:45,470 --> 00:32:45,860 All right, 864 00:32:45,860 --> 00:32:49,220 so you buy into this feeling cause you know where it's 865 00:32:49,220 --> 00:32:51,590 coming from and you decide you're going to teach. 866 00:32:51,820 --> 00:32:56,110 How did you pursue actually making that as an extension of 867 00:32:56,110 --> 00:32:57,160 your business? 868 00:32:57,520 --> 00:32:58,840 Like where was the first place you taught? 869 00:32:58,870 --> 00:32:59,470 Let's go with that. 870 00:33:00,010 --> 00:33:00,570 The first one, 871 00:33:00,870 --> 00:33:01,950 I was here in my city, 872 00:33:01,950 --> 00:33:06,420 Charlotte, it was on May 25th and I sold out my 873 00:33:06,510 --> 00:33:07,680 class. Keep in mind Sue, 874 00:33:07,680 --> 00:33:08,220 I'm like, 875 00:33:08,220 --> 00:33:09,870 who's gonna take my class? 876 00:33:09,870 --> 00:33:14,370 I feel like I'm like nobody sort of say and my 877 00:33:14,370 --> 00:33:17,460 class sold out within 48 hours and I was just like, 878 00:33:17,640 --> 00:33:18,840 Oh my goodness. 879 00:33:18,840 --> 00:33:22,230 And I added an additional class like two weeks later and 880 00:33:22,230 --> 00:33:26,560 my city Charlotte and that sold out I would say within 881 00:33:26,800 --> 00:33:27,490 three days. 882 00:33:27,770 --> 00:33:31,400 Was it a chocolate treat making class or was it a 883 00:33:31,400 --> 00:33:32,390 business class? 884 00:33:32,620 --> 00:33:35,770 It was learning how I make five of my trees. 885 00:33:36,010 --> 00:33:39,730 So you're just learning the intro of making those from my 886 00:33:39,730 --> 00:33:43,820 perspective. And was it connected with any organization or did you 887 00:33:43,820 --> 00:33:46,790 just rent out some space cause you've got that event planner 888 00:33:46,820 --> 00:33:50,160 expertise? It wasn't connected with a venue. 889 00:33:50,220 --> 00:33:52,830 Actually I wanted to host it in my home, 890 00:33:53,040 --> 00:33:55,380 but I have kids and you know, 891 00:33:55,890 --> 00:33:57,330 let's keep it honest. 892 00:33:57,360 --> 00:33:59,340 I didn't know who was coming in so I didn't want 893 00:33:59,340 --> 00:34:00,960 people like knowing where I live. 894 00:34:01,020 --> 00:34:03,360 I had a house that I rented out to do the 895 00:34:03,360 --> 00:34:04,170 class for. 896 00:34:04,630 --> 00:34:06,160 Oh, very cool. 897 00:34:06,700 --> 00:34:09,310 So you knew a house that was vacant at the time, 898 00:34:09,340 --> 00:34:12,490 or someone who was willing to let you use their house 899 00:34:12,490 --> 00:34:15,790 or however that went down actually use Airbnb. 900 00:34:16,180 --> 00:34:17,920 Oh, what a good idea. 901 00:34:18,350 --> 00:34:19,790 Yeah, it was so cool. 902 00:34:19,790 --> 00:34:20,270 I was like, 903 00:34:20,300 --> 00:34:21,620 eh, I'll use that. 904 00:34:21,840 --> 00:34:25,590 And the biggest thing with that was just contacting the host 905 00:34:25,830 --> 00:34:28,980 and being upfront about what I was doing there so they 906 00:34:28,980 --> 00:34:30,210 could approve it or not. 907 00:34:30,270 --> 00:34:32,580 And all of my posts have been like, 908 00:34:32,580 --> 00:34:33,900 yeah, I want to take a class. 909 00:34:34,110 --> 00:34:37,940 So come on in Such a good idea. 910 00:34:38,030 --> 00:34:39,440 Oh, I might steal that idea. 911 00:34:39,440 --> 00:34:41,000 D take it. 912 00:34:41,180 --> 00:34:45,200 Yeah, it's free of charge because it's also an intimate atmosphere 913 00:34:45,200 --> 00:34:46,040 too, right? 914 00:34:46,070 --> 00:34:47,810 It's almost like being in a home kitchen, 915 00:34:47,810 --> 00:34:50,060 which is where everyone would be cooking anyway. 916 00:34:50,210 --> 00:34:52,850 If you had things to talk about before you actually started 917 00:34:52,850 --> 00:34:54,020 getting into the techniques, 918 00:34:54,020 --> 00:34:55,640 you could be sitting in the living room, 919 00:34:55,670 --> 00:34:56,210 family room, 920 00:34:56,210 --> 00:34:57,170 whatever. Oh, 921 00:34:57,230 --> 00:34:58,100 excellent idea. 922 00:34:58,280 --> 00:34:59,000 Really good. 923 00:34:59,380 --> 00:35:00,400 I love the space. 924 00:35:00,400 --> 00:35:02,860 It really does feel good and we feel like a little 925 00:35:02,860 --> 00:35:03,850 family. While we're there. 926 00:35:03,850 --> 00:35:04,960 So I like it. 927 00:35:05,170 --> 00:35:06,340 Yeah, for sure. 928 00:35:06,490 --> 00:35:08,110 And so how did this progress? 929 00:35:08,530 --> 00:35:12,430 Well, once the classes in Charlotte did so well, 930 00:35:12,430 --> 00:35:16,240 I had so many inquiries from people to come to other 931 00:35:16,240 --> 00:35:19,750 cities and I found some connections there. 932 00:35:19,750 --> 00:35:20,800 Like I went to LA, 933 00:35:20,890 --> 00:35:22,570 but I have a great friend. 934 00:35:22,630 --> 00:35:23,980 When I met her through the business, 935 00:35:23,980 --> 00:35:24,760 it was so crazy. 936 00:35:24,760 --> 00:35:27,190 She was a vendor of mys and we found out that 937 00:35:27,190 --> 00:35:30,460 we had kids literally a week after each other and we 938 00:35:30,460 --> 00:35:32,950 just became more and more friends and she was like, 939 00:35:32,950 --> 00:35:35,170 well, you can come out to LA and I can host 940 00:35:35,170 --> 00:35:35,860 your class. 941 00:35:36,140 --> 00:35:39,080 So just making connections and I've Went to LA, 942 00:35:39,110 --> 00:35:43,400 my international class was in Barbados and that right there was 943 00:35:43,400 --> 00:35:44,870 so crazy because Sue, 944 00:35:44,870 --> 00:35:49,580 my husband is from Barbados and I would have never thought 945 00:35:49,580 --> 00:35:52,280 that I would be going there to teach without his knowledge, 946 00:35:52,280 --> 00:35:53,630 without any connections from him. 947 00:35:53,990 --> 00:35:54,350 I'm like, 948 00:35:54,350 --> 00:35:57,590 dude, I'm going to your country to teach what I do. 949 00:35:57,590 --> 00:35:58,550 Isn't that crazy? 950 00:35:58,880 --> 00:36:00,080 So yeah, 951 00:36:00,080 --> 00:36:01,100 it's just been a while. 952 00:36:01,100 --> 00:36:04,010 Right. I'm going to say there was some divine intervention in 953 00:36:04,010 --> 00:36:04,670 there for that one. 954 00:36:04,670 --> 00:36:06,320 Yeah. Whores. 955 00:36:06,350 --> 00:36:07,010 Of course. 956 00:36:07,010 --> 00:36:07,310 I'm like, 957 00:36:07,440 --> 00:36:08,990 we were meant to be, 958 00:36:08,990 --> 00:36:11,480 you see all of this coming back full circle. 959 00:36:11,900 --> 00:36:14,140 We were meant to be for short. 960 00:36:14,140 --> 00:36:15,620 So does he still have family there? 961 00:36:15,950 --> 00:36:17,570 Yes he does. 962 00:36:17,570 --> 00:36:19,610 So I was able to see some of his family and 963 00:36:19,610 --> 00:36:19,930 like I said, 964 00:36:19,940 --> 00:36:22,310 what was so crazy going back to the Island without him, 965 00:36:22,310 --> 00:36:25,760 but I was very comfortable there and I'm like, 966 00:36:25,760 --> 00:36:26,450 I know where I'm going. 967 00:36:26,450 --> 00:36:27,380 No one can kidnap me. 968 00:36:28,250 --> 00:36:28,640 So yeah, 969 00:36:28,640 --> 00:36:31,910 he still has family there and we visit maybe every other 970 00:36:31,910 --> 00:36:32,690 year or so. 971 00:36:33,070 --> 00:36:33,790 I love it there. 972 00:36:33,790 --> 00:36:35,770 We had our honeymoon in Barbados. 973 00:36:36,070 --> 00:36:36,550 Oh look, 974 00:36:36,550 --> 00:36:38,980 it's many years ago now. 975 00:36:39,010 --> 00:36:41,110 But we also over my other business, 976 00:36:41,110 --> 00:36:43,060 the ribbon print company also, 977 00:36:43,060 --> 00:36:45,700 we have customers in Barbados as well who have these ribbon 978 00:36:45,700 --> 00:36:47,140 printing machines that we sell. 979 00:36:49,120 --> 00:36:51,940 Yeah. Anytime we get an international customer like, 980 00:36:51,940 --> 00:36:54,250 well would you like to pay for hand delivery? 981 00:36:56,080 --> 00:36:56,560 I know, 982 00:36:56,560 --> 00:36:58,900 right. It's only another $2,000 983 00:36:59,650 --> 00:37:00,850 no biggie. 984 00:37:01,030 --> 00:37:01,840 No biggie. 985 00:37:02,320 --> 00:37:03,370 No problem. 986 00:37:04,120 --> 00:37:08,860 So how are you balancing the two teaching versus selling products? 987 00:37:09,040 --> 00:37:11,230 How does that look in your overall life? 988 00:37:11,350 --> 00:37:12,860 That is a good question. 989 00:37:13,100 --> 00:37:15,470 It took me a while to figure out a good balance, 990 00:37:15,740 --> 00:37:18,590 especially with me also balancing my home life. 991 00:37:19,160 --> 00:37:24,230 But now I actually can focus more on my teaching because 992 00:37:24,710 --> 00:37:26,270 I like to give knowledge. 993 00:37:26,270 --> 00:37:28,220 I like to be around people. 994 00:37:28,280 --> 00:37:31,070 I am like the definition of an extrovert. 995 00:37:31,130 --> 00:37:32,780 Like I love people. 996 00:37:33,010 --> 00:37:35,800 So I do kind of focus more on the teaching and 997 00:37:35,800 --> 00:37:41,170 I take orders to where it fits into the teaching schedule. 998 00:37:41,410 --> 00:37:41,890 This that makes, 999 00:37:41,890 --> 00:37:42,630 yeah. Yeah. 1000 00:37:42,630 --> 00:37:45,930 So teaching is the primary right now. 1001 00:37:45,990 --> 00:37:49,050 And then you'll take orders as you can based on schedules 1002 00:37:49,050 --> 00:37:52,140 and how complex the order is and quantity and you know 1003 00:37:52,140 --> 00:37:52,710 all of that. 1004 00:37:53,040 --> 00:37:54,270 Yes. Got it. 1005 00:37:54,480 --> 00:37:57,120 Okay. And as we talked about in the beginning, 1006 00:37:57,120 --> 00:37:59,640 I met you at the ultimate sugar show. 1007 00:37:59,760 --> 00:38:01,020 Were you teaching there? 1008 00:38:01,570 --> 00:38:02,050 I did. 1009 00:38:02,050 --> 00:38:05,110 I taught two classes at the ultimate sugar show. 1010 00:38:05,140 --> 00:38:06,940 I taught two demo classes, 1011 00:38:06,970 --> 00:38:09,340 one how to do live face with fondant, 1012 00:38:09,550 --> 00:38:12,700 and the other one how to do a little cake topper. 1013 00:38:12,930 --> 00:38:16,290 Perfect. And so people in your classes where people who are 1014 00:38:16,350 --> 00:38:19,020 also in business or they just also wanted to know the 1015 00:38:19,020 --> 00:38:20,460 skill for personal use. 1016 00:38:20,640 --> 00:38:23,070 Do you know A lot of them were in business. 1017 00:38:23,190 --> 00:38:24,030 It was so crazy. 1018 00:38:24,030 --> 00:38:26,700 In my first demo of the lace with one of my 1019 00:38:26,700 --> 00:38:28,980 students that I had in Charlotte, 1020 00:38:28,980 --> 00:38:30,000 she's from Ohio, 1021 00:38:30,300 --> 00:38:33,150 she was in that class in Atlanta and she was like, 1022 00:38:33,270 --> 00:38:34,680 I didn't think you were going to remember me. 1023 00:38:34,680 --> 00:38:34,980 I'm like, 1024 00:38:35,050 --> 00:38:37,650 I don't remember everyone. 1025 00:38:38,710 --> 00:38:41,590 So it was a lot of people that were already in 1026 00:38:41,590 --> 00:38:42,250 the tree industry, 1027 00:38:42,250 --> 00:38:44,140 but it was so strange that the majority of them did 1028 00:38:44,140 --> 00:38:44,950 not follow me. 1029 00:38:45,220 --> 00:38:47,710 So that was pretty interesting to me. 1030 00:38:47,890 --> 00:38:49,810 They didn't follow me on social media, 1031 00:38:50,050 --> 00:38:51,730 they just wanted to learn that technique. 1032 00:38:51,760 --> 00:38:52,840 But then I got them in the fall. 1033 00:38:52,870 --> 00:38:54,680 Yep. Well of course they follow you now, 1034 00:38:55,520 --> 00:38:56,600 that's for sure. 1035 00:38:57,060 --> 00:38:59,340 So is that another strategy for, 1036 00:38:59,400 --> 00:39:00,900 I guess it's just exposure, 1037 00:39:00,900 --> 00:39:03,030 right? Cause they're taking classes from you there. 1038 00:39:03,090 --> 00:39:05,760 And this is a show where each of the classes will 1039 00:39:05,760 --> 00:39:07,530 also cost money. 1040 00:39:07,860 --> 00:39:10,020 So this isn't a show where when you go into the 1041 00:39:10,020 --> 00:39:12,410 show, and I'm talking to our listeners now where you go 1042 00:39:12,410 --> 00:39:15,440 into the show and then you have availability to go into 1043 00:39:15,440 --> 00:39:16,550 any of the classes. 1044 00:39:16,580 --> 00:39:18,200 These classes all cost money. 1045 00:39:18,640 --> 00:39:19,480 I teach, 1046 00:39:19,480 --> 00:39:21,250 it shows that do both. 1047 00:39:21,250 --> 00:39:23,980 And most of my classes are business development classes, 1048 00:39:23,980 --> 00:39:24,820 starting out, 1049 00:39:24,880 --> 00:39:26,710 learning how to start a business properly, 1050 00:39:26,710 --> 00:39:27,250 you know all that, 1051 00:39:27,310 --> 00:39:28,840 the businessy type things. 1052 00:39:29,190 --> 00:39:30,540 And I do both, 1053 00:39:30,540 --> 00:39:30,780 you know, 1054 00:39:30,780 --> 00:39:31,920 at the ultimate sugar show. 1055 00:39:31,920 --> 00:39:33,870 And then here in a couple of weeks, 1056 00:39:33,870 --> 00:39:35,790 this will be passed by the time this airs. 1057 00:39:35,790 --> 00:39:38,010 But the Philly candy show we do at different, 1058 00:39:38,210 --> 00:39:40,250 anybody who has a ticket to the show can go to 1059 00:39:40,250 --> 00:39:41,780 any of the classes that they want. 1060 00:39:42,070 --> 00:39:44,020 And I'm not sure which is better, 1061 00:39:44,050 --> 00:39:46,270 but I kind of feel like when someone has to pay 1062 00:39:46,270 --> 00:39:46,840 for a class, 1063 00:39:46,840 --> 00:39:49,480 they're more vested in the information. 1064 00:39:49,960 --> 00:39:50,650 What do you think? 1065 00:39:50,900 --> 00:39:54,170 I really think that once you pay for something, 1066 00:39:54,170 --> 00:39:55,160 you're invested. 1067 00:39:55,700 --> 00:39:59,350 Who wants to just throw their money away so when they 1068 00:39:59,350 --> 00:40:00,400 are paying for a class, 1069 00:40:00,430 --> 00:40:03,160 I feel like they're gonna really pay attention. 1070 00:40:03,220 --> 00:40:06,100 Really try to go back and apply this knowledge to their 1071 00:40:06,100 --> 00:40:07,030 business or craft. 1072 00:40:07,720 --> 00:40:08,770 I agree with you there. 1073 00:40:09,040 --> 00:40:12,460 Okay. So as you think about your business or you think 1074 00:40:12,460 --> 00:40:16,000 about people who have been in your classes or your own 1075 00:40:16,000 --> 00:40:20,830 experience, have you found any common mistakes that people make or 1076 00:40:20,830 --> 00:40:24,520 maybe warnings for our listeners if they're looking at following a 1077 00:40:24,520 --> 00:40:25,690 similar track as you, 1078 00:40:25,690 --> 00:40:26,950 maybe not chocolate, 1079 00:40:27,130 --> 00:40:28,660 some type of a handmade product, 1080 00:40:28,850 --> 00:40:30,740 but do you have any advice for those people? 1081 00:40:31,330 --> 00:40:33,280 I would definitely say we talked about this, 1082 00:40:33,310 --> 00:40:34,270 the charging, 1083 00:40:34,360 --> 00:40:36,880 you want to make sure that you are putting in a 1084 00:40:36,880 --> 00:40:38,740 price on your work. 1085 00:40:38,980 --> 00:40:42,130 That's the main mistake that I see a lot of us 1086 00:40:42,130 --> 00:40:45,880 entrepreneurs or crafters or treaters coming into the industry with. 1087 00:40:46,190 --> 00:40:49,610 Also trying to do multiple things at one time. 1088 00:40:50,090 --> 00:40:53,840 Really focus on a few things and get those down Pat 1089 00:40:54,260 --> 00:40:55,910 before you move on to something else. 1090 00:40:55,910 --> 00:40:58,130 And it's not saying you shouldn't add additional things, 1091 00:40:58,370 --> 00:41:01,460 but really trying to focus on perfecting a few things first 1092 00:41:01,520 --> 00:41:04,850 before you put like 50 things on your menu or in 1093 00:41:04,850 --> 00:41:05,480 your store. 1094 00:41:05,810 --> 00:41:07,310 Good advice for sure. 1095 00:41:07,800 --> 00:41:10,170 So in terms of attracting business, 1096 00:41:10,200 --> 00:41:11,130 social media, 1097 00:41:11,130 --> 00:41:14,580 yes. Communicating with people in conversations. 1098 00:41:14,700 --> 00:41:18,180 Yes. Those are your two primary ways of getting business. 1099 00:41:18,800 --> 00:41:22,250 Those are my two because honestly I have a website I've 1100 00:41:22,250 --> 00:41:24,170 been paying for my domain for over five years. 1101 00:41:24,170 --> 00:41:27,590 I just told my followers this and I have not launched 1102 00:41:27,590 --> 00:41:29,810 it and this year that is my goal. 1103 00:41:29,810 --> 00:41:31,370 But it hasn't been a thorn for me. 1104 00:41:31,370 --> 00:41:35,660 Not having an actual website cause social media is very important 1105 00:41:35,750 --> 00:41:38,660 nowadays. But in case social media goes bit, 1106 00:41:38,990 --> 00:41:41,090 you want to have your own website. 1107 00:41:41,090 --> 00:41:44,900 So that's why in 2020 I'm focused on launching my website 1108 00:41:44,900 --> 00:41:47,910 fully. I am so glad you said that. 1109 00:41:48,240 --> 00:41:50,370 I was getting a little nervous when you were saying the 1110 00:41:50,370 --> 00:41:51,560 line on Facebook. 1111 00:41:51,810 --> 00:41:52,260 What was it, 1112 00:41:52,260 --> 00:41:53,730 March, I forget the date now, 1113 00:41:53,730 --> 00:41:57,240 but March of this past year in 2019 do you remember 1114 00:41:57,240 --> 00:42:01,680 when Facebook and Instagram went down and like the whole world 1115 00:42:01,710 --> 00:42:02,850 was freaking out? 1116 00:42:03,080 --> 00:42:06,690 Yes. And if that isn't a wake up call to all 1117 00:42:06,690 --> 00:42:10,650 of us who aren't keeping contact information of our followers in 1118 00:42:10,650 --> 00:42:11,670 some other way, 1119 00:42:12,270 --> 00:42:13,950 I don't know what is right, 1120 00:42:14,200 --> 00:42:16,180 Exactly. That's what scared me. 1121 00:42:16,180 --> 00:42:16,450 I'm like, 1122 00:42:16,480 --> 00:42:17,080 you know what, 1123 00:42:17,260 --> 00:42:19,060 it's time to get off of this. 1124 00:42:19,060 --> 00:42:19,990 Because anything could happen. 1125 00:42:19,990 --> 00:42:22,780 They could honestly wake up and say the application is just 1126 00:42:22,780 --> 00:42:23,820 closed. Right. 1127 00:42:23,820 --> 00:42:27,330 And then like all those followers you had are gone. 1128 00:42:27,640 --> 00:42:29,770 You didn't obtain any information. 1129 00:42:29,940 --> 00:42:31,210 Also use MailChimp. 1130 00:42:31,210 --> 00:42:33,970 A data collecting application. 1131 00:42:34,090 --> 00:42:34,870 Good, good, 1132 00:42:34,870 --> 00:42:36,310 good. So I like that. 1133 00:42:36,340 --> 00:42:37,000 Yep. Okay. 1134 00:42:37,000 --> 00:42:37,870 So you're using MailChimp. 1135 00:42:37,870 --> 00:42:41,140 So you're collecting emails from followers in some way. 1136 00:42:41,350 --> 00:42:42,700 Is it just your customers? 1137 00:42:43,000 --> 00:42:45,190 No, these are from followers. 1138 00:42:45,190 --> 00:42:46,110 For my classes though, 1139 00:42:46,110 --> 00:42:47,470 I haven't did it for my customers. 1140 00:42:47,470 --> 00:42:48,340 I need to do it. 1141 00:42:48,550 --> 00:42:48,970 But these, 1142 00:42:48,970 --> 00:42:51,640 I'm getting emails if they want to be notified of like 1143 00:42:51,640 --> 00:42:53,740 where I'm at and things of that nature. 1144 00:42:53,980 --> 00:42:56,800 So I've got a really good subscriber list for that. 1145 00:42:57,560 --> 00:43:01,070 And in MailChimp you can also divide who are people who 1146 00:43:01,070 --> 00:43:04,220 are coming to your classes versus who have purchased product, 1147 00:43:04,430 --> 00:43:04,640 you know, 1148 00:43:04,640 --> 00:43:05,990 so you can talk to them differently. 1149 00:43:06,020 --> 00:43:08,390 So really good initiative for this year. 1150 00:43:08,750 --> 00:43:11,420 Yes. So guess what day we're all going to hold you 1151 00:43:11,420 --> 00:43:15,380 accountable to this because when you have your website up, 1152 00:43:15,440 --> 00:43:16,970 I want you to let me know so we can add 1153 00:43:16,970 --> 00:43:18,110 it to the show notes page. 1154 00:43:18,530 --> 00:43:20,000 So we're going to can go back and look at it. 1155 00:43:20,750 --> 00:43:22,190 Okay. I will. 1156 00:43:22,190 --> 00:43:23,270 I definitely will also. 1157 00:43:23,420 --> 00:43:25,160 Okay, you've just told us all. 1158 00:43:26,540 --> 00:43:27,800 Okay, I'm nervous now. 1159 00:43:29,210 --> 00:43:30,800 This is accountability baby. 1160 00:43:31,340 --> 00:43:36,720 Yes. Bring us to a point that wasn't so great. 1161 00:43:36,930 --> 00:43:39,720 And the reason I asked this question is I think a 1162 00:43:39,720 --> 00:43:44,070 lot of our listeners will feel like if everything isn't successful 1163 00:43:44,130 --> 00:43:45,420 right out of the gate, 1164 00:43:45,680 --> 00:43:47,180 they think I'm a failure. 1165 00:43:47,210 --> 00:43:48,500 I'm not cut out for this. 1166 00:43:48,530 --> 00:43:52,390 I see other people who are doing so great and obviously 1167 00:43:52,390 --> 00:43:55,240 I can't because something has gone wrong for them. 1168 00:43:55,300 --> 00:43:59,560 Right? So share with us something that went wrong for you 1169 00:43:59,590 --> 00:44:02,650 just by demonstration that it's not all roses. 1170 00:44:02,830 --> 00:44:04,540 You don't land it every single time. 1171 00:44:05,400 --> 00:44:09,130 How many examples do you want me to give Because I 1172 00:44:09,130 --> 00:44:11,560 want you to get the biggest one. 1173 00:44:12,010 --> 00:44:13,300 The jaw dropping one. 1174 00:44:14,170 --> 00:44:16,500 Well, I think this, 1175 00:44:16,530 --> 00:44:18,180 and I was very established. 1176 00:44:18,180 --> 00:44:19,470 I felt in my career, 1177 00:44:19,590 --> 00:44:21,510 I had had a customer, 1178 00:44:21,870 --> 00:44:23,820 this was a repeat customer actually, 1179 00:44:23,820 --> 00:44:26,190 so this was a kind of a tricky one. 1180 00:44:26,190 --> 00:44:27,750 It was very emotional for me. 1181 00:44:28,020 --> 00:44:29,340 I had a new baby, 1182 00:44:29,490 --> 00:44:30,990 my daughter at the time, 1183 00:44:31,500 --> 00:44:34,590 and I did this order and I mean Sue, 1184 00:44:34,620 --> 00:44:37,710 I put so much time into this order. 1185 00:44:38,040 --> 00:44:40,710 I did not go to sleep because I had a new 1186 00:44:40,710 --> 00:44:44,820 baby, so I was up without sleep working off of caffeine, 1187 00:44:45,330 --> 00:44:48,120 and I looked at my final product and I was extremely 1188 00:44:48,120 --> 00:44:49,470 happy because again, 1189 00:44:49,530 --> 00:44:52,560 I've been established for some time and I went and made 1190 00:44:52,590 --> 00:44:53,820 the delivery one. 1191 00:44:53,850 --> 00:44:55,170 The delivery was late, 1192 00:44:55,260 --> 00:44:56,130 all my fault, 1193 00:44:56,520 --> 00:44:59,610 and that was the first part that really kind of set 1194 00:44:59,610 --> 00:45:00,150 the tone. 1195 00:45:00,150 --> 00:45:02,880 I think I could not make my delivery on time and 1196 00:45:02,880 --> 00:45:05,340 I'm usually very punctual with my deliveries. 1197 00:45:05,690 --> 00:45:08,810 Two, I met the customer and I gave it to them 1198 00:45:08,870 --> 00:45:11,060 and they were in a rush. 1199 00:45:11,090 --> 00:45:12,590 They had to get to where they were going, 1200 00:45:12,590 --> 00:45:13,820 which is understandable. 1201 00:45:14,330 --> 00:45:17,620 Well, about an hour after that transaction, 1202 00:45:17,630 --> 00:45:21,350 I get a call and the customer was completely disappointed with 1203 00:45:21,350 --> 00:45:22,160 my order. 1204 00:45:22,460 --> 00:45:25,910 They said that I didn't interpret the vision properly and they 1205 00:45:25,940 --> 00:45:27,860 honestly said that they could have did this, 1206 00:45:27,860 --> 00:45:31,880 order their self talk about a knife in the heart. 1207 00:45:32,330 --> 00:45:34,340 Those are exactly the words I was thinking, 1208 00:45:34,640 --> 00:45:38,510 Oh, I was in Chick-fil-A's drive through line and I cried. 1209 00:45:38,510 --> 00:45:40,370 And Chick-fil-A being the amazing people, 1210 00:45:40,370 --> 00:45:41,840 they gave me free food. 1211 00:45:41,990 --> 00:45:42,350 You know, 1212 00:45:42,350 --> 00:45:43,640 that was a completely cool, 1213 00:45:43,640 --> 00:45:45,200 but because the lady was like, 1214 00:45:45,200 --> 00:45:45,920 why are you crying? 1215 00:45:45,920 --> 00:45:50,780 And I was uncontrollably crying because I dedicated so much time 1216 00:45:50,780 --> 00:45:52,760 to that and I was really happy with the order. 1217 00:45:53,270 --> 00:45:54,530 But again, 1218 00:45:54,620 --> 00:45:55,940 it's not always about us. 1219 00:45:55,970 --> 00:45:57,890 It's about how our customers perceive us. 1220 00:45:58,220 --> 00:45:59,840 And the customer wasn't happy. 1221 00:46:00,170 --> 00:46:00,590 Like I said, 1222 00:46:00,590 --> 00:46:01,850 when they said they could have made it there, 1223 00:46:01,850 --> 00:46:03,170 so I just lost it. 1224 00:46:03,200 --> 00:46:03,590 You know? 1225 00:46:03,590 --> 00:46:04,430 That's not true. 1226 00:46:04,670 --> 00:46:04,880 You know, 1227 00:46:04,880 --> 00:46:06,590 that was their emotion talking. 1228 00:46:06,920 --> 00:46:10,490 I really think so because I was looking at that and 1229 00:46:10,490 --> 00:46:11,750 we want to stay in our head. 1230 00:46:11,750 --> 00:46:12,710 Of course we say all this stuff, 1231 00:46:12,710 --> 00:46:13,490 I, you try it, 1232 00:46:13,580 --> 00:46:14,570 why don't you try it? 1233 00:46:14,600 --> 00:46:15,320 But you know, 1234 00:46:15,340 --> 00:46:16,040 I couldn't take away that. 1235 00:46:16,040 --> 00:46:16,940 That's how she felt. 1236 00:46:17,240 --> 00:46:19,370 Right. But it also just was like, 1237 00:46:19,550 --> 00:46:20,480 Oh my goodness, 1238 00:46:20,480 --> 00:46:22,220 I thought everyone likes all of my work. 1239 00:46:22,220 --> 00:46:26,240 But it was so humbling one and it just really made 1240 00:46:26,450 --> 00:46:28,820 me kind of think about going forward, 1241 00:46:29,060 --> 00:46:31,640 how am I getting the information from the customer to make 1242 00:46:31,640 --> 00:46:34,580 sure that I am kind of meeting the Mark with their 1243 00:46:34,580 --> 00:46:39,620 expectations and also letting customers know that I have creative freedom 1244 00:46:39,620 --> 00:46:41,630 as well and interpreting the design. 1245 00:46:41,990 --> 00:46:44,060 So those are some things that I learned from that. 1246 00:46:44,210 --> 00:46:47,270 Right. Well I love that you kind of adjusted your systems 1247 00:46:47,270 --> 00:46:49,040 to try and prevent that in the future. 1248 00:46:49,130 --> 00:46:52,520 Plus I'm thinking this is another place where your Instagram account 1249 00:46:52,520 --> 00:46:55,940 comes into play cause they see your type of style demonstrated 1250 00:46:55,940 --> 00:46:58,550 there. So different types of things that you've done. 1251 00:46:58,730 --> 00:47:00,650 They have to buy into your style and then new to 1252 00:47:00,650 --> 00:47:04,910 your point about creative flexibility because they don't want their treats 1253 00:47:04,910 --> 00:47:07,010 probably to look like everyone else's anyway. 1254 00:47:07,460 --> 00:47:10,520 No, they want custom and that's what customer is different. 1255 00:47:10,520 --> 00:47:11,000 So yeah. 1256 00:47:11,410 --> 00:47:11,920 Oh my gosh. 1257 00:47:11,920 --> 00:47:14,590 So if that were ever to happen to you again, 1258 00:47:14,680 --> 00:47:15,970 how would you handle it differently? 1259 00:47:15,970 --> 00:47:18,670 Or what would you say to yourself differently than crying? 1260 00:47:19,210 --> 00:47:21,040 Oh, or would you cry again? 1261 00:47:21,040 --> 00:47:21,490 I don't know. 1262 00:47:22,270 --> 00:47:22,750 I don't know. 1263 00:47:22,750 --> 00:47:23,910 I think I will probably cry. 1264 00:47:24,110 --> 00:47:24,790 I really don't know. 1265 00:47:24,790 --> 00:47:25,330 It just depends. 1266 00:47:25,330 --> 00:47:28,180 I was kind of hormonal too at that point with the 1267 00:47:28,180 --> 00:47:31,840 kids and just working off of no sleep and now having 1268 00:47:31,840 --> 00:47:32,620 some mom mode, 1269 00:47:32,650 --> 00:47:34,060 so it was just a lot of stressors. 1270 00:47:34,330 --> 00:47:36,850 I really think in this part of my business, 1271 00:47:36,850 --> 00:47:38,890 if that was to happen again, 1272 00:47:39,670 --> 00:47:42,490 I would definitely have a conversation with the customer. 1273 00:47:43,660 --> 00:47:46,870 If a customer was to tell me that I missed the 1274 00:47:46,870 --> 00:47:47,920 Mark on their order, 1275 00:47:48,340 --> 00:47:49,060 I would kind of say, 1276 00:47:49,090 --> 00:47:50,020 ask the question, 1277 00:47:50,560 --> 00:47:52,420 what were you expecting? 1278 00:47:52,420 --> 00:47:54,970 Kind of putting it in their court and saying, 1279 00:47:54,970 --> 00:47:56,500 what about my work? 1280 00:47:56,620 --> 00:47:59,110 Did you see like trying to direct them back to my 1281 00:47:59,110 --> 00:48:02,230 page? Like did you see any of this in the work 1282 00:48:02,230 --> 00:48:08,050 that I already provided because this is my tone or my 1283 00:48:08,050 --> 00:48:09,730 style. I don't know. 1284 00:48:09,880 --> 00:48:12,010 I don't even know if this is a good answer. 1285 00:48:12,670 --> 00:48:14,350 Did you ever talk to that customer again? 1286 00:48:15,040 --> 00:48:15,970 To be honest too, 1287 00:48:16,000 --> 00:48:16,450 I have. 1288 00:48:16,450 --> 00:48:21,250 They tried to order from me three times and thankfully I 1289 00:48:21,250 --> 00:48:27,160 have been busy each time because in my mind I'm kind 1290 00:48:27,160 --> 00:48:30,640 of scared to actually go back to do that. 1291 00:48:30,640 --> 00:48:32,770 I don't feel like I can meet your expectations. 1292 00:48:32,770 --> 00:48:34,300 And at one point I did tell her, 1293 00:48:34,570 --> 00:48:34,780 I said, 1294 00:48:34,780 --> 00:48:36,070 I would really like to take this order. 1295 00:48:36,070 --> 00:48:39,370 Unfortunately I'm busy this weekend and I really want to make 1296 00:48:39,370 --> 00:48:40,750 sure your expectations are met. 1297 00:48:41,540 --> 00:48:42,160 Oh that's good. 1298 00:48:42,200 --> 00:48:44,300 Like your analogy in the past and you're going to do 1299 00:48:44,300 --> 00:48:44,780 your best. 1300 00:48:44,810 --> 00:48:46,280 Cause you know what I'm wondering, 1301 00:48:46,460 --> 00:48:48,530 maybe it wasn't what she envisioned, 1302 00:48:48,530 --> 00:48:51,380 but when she actually laid it out for the event because 1303 00:48:51,380 --> 00:48:52,340 it was the design work, 1304 00:48:52,340 --> 00:48:54,950 it wasn't the taste or the flavor or anything. 1305 00:48:54,950 --> 00:48:56,240 Right. It was the style. 1306 00:48:56,420 --> 00:48:57,440 It was the creativity. 1307 00:48:57,640 --> 00:49:00,250 And so maybe it didn't align with what she was thinking, 1308 00:49:00,280 --> 00:49:03,580 but she might've gotten great feedback from her guests. 1309 00:49:03,860 --> 00:49:04,610 She did. 1310 00:49:04,610 --> 00:49:07,670 I actually saw it on my feedback on my social media 1311 00:49:07,670 --> 00:49:10,820 was like through the roof on that order. 1312 00:49:10,820 --> 00:49:13,340 So it was really just a personal thing. 1313 00:49:13,340 --> 00:49:16,220 And with any crafting or creative thing, 1314 00:49:16,340 --> 00:49:19,340 it is personal interpretation from you and from the customer. 1315 00:49:19,610 --> 00:49:22,370 So I have grown from that and I've learned not to 1316 00:49:22,940 --> 00:49:24,320 take it with a grain of salt, 1317 00:49:24,320 --> 00:49:27,980 but purposefully with a grain of salt that you won't be 1318 00:49:27,980 --> 00:49:32,210 able to meet everyone's expectations or interpretations from the time. 1319 00:49:32,700 --> 00:49:34,830 Yeah. You do your best doing your best. 1320 00:49:34,890 --> 00:49:36,390 Yeah. You also have to know, 1321 00:49:36,390 --> 00:49:37,110 I think that, 1322 00:49:37,230 --> 00:49:38,970 I guess it's not in all cases, 1323 00:49:38,970 --> 00:49:40,980 but I'd say in this case because it's not like you 1324 00:49:40,980 --> 00:49:43,110 provided a bad product at all. 1325 00:49:43,140 --> 00:49:46,170 Right. It would be different if the chocolate was all melted, 1326 00:49:46,170 --> 00:49:48,450 like there were was an issue with the product. 1327 00:49:48,730 --> 00:49:49,990 We all have to remember this, 1328 00:49:49,990 --> 00:49:51,700 that when clients are like that, 1329 00:49:51,820 --> 00:49:52,060 you know, 1330 00:49:52,060 --> 00:49:54,220 it might not really even be about the product. 1331 00:49:54,220 --> 00:49:54,400 You know, 1332 00:49:54,400 --> 00:49:56,140 they might've had to just a fight with their husband. 1333 00:49:56,140 --> 00:49:57,820 There might be other issues going on. 1334 00:49:57,820 --> 00:49:58,990 They may be hormonal, 1335 00:49:59,260 --> 00:49:59,680 you know, 1336 00:49:59,770 --> 00:50:00,520 and I was late. 1337 00:50:00,520 --> 00:50:01,630 There was so many other things. 1338 00:50:01,630 --> 00:50:03,730 It's just you're the one while you were late and you 1339 00:50:03,730 --> 00:50:04,240 own it. 1340 00:50:04,300 --> 00:50:06,270 Right. You own that Owned it. 1341 00:50:06,330 --> 00:50:09,210 So I could have added to that frustration and it just, 1342 00:50:09,240 --> 00:50:11,310 I look back at the pictures and I don't know if 1343 00:50:11,310 --> 00:50:12,990 this will make the podcast, 1344 00:50:13,220 --> 00:50:16,100 but I actually looked back at the pictures and my trees 1345 00:50:16,190 --> 00:50:18,860 went exactly with the party. 1346 00:50:19,560 --> 00:50:20,700 It was crazy. 1347 00:50:20,760 --> 00:50:22,890 They went exactly what the party. 1348 00:50:22,890 --> 00:50:25,830 So it was just some additional factors that I'm not going 1349 00:50:25,830 --> 00:50:27,090 to hold her accountable for. 1350 00:50:27,110 --> 00:50:27,680 So yeah. 1351 00:50:27,940 --> 00:50:29,290 Good attitude for sure. 1352 00:50:29,550 --> 00:50:33,240 So where do you think you're going in the future with 1353 00:50:33,270 --> 00:50:37,620 eight to three traits In the future for this business? 1354 00:50:37,710 --> 00:50:42,900 I honestly see me teaching more because I came into this 1355 00:50:42,900 --> 00:50:47,400 industry, I would say by happenstance it was purposeful, 1356 00:50:47,760 --> 00:50:51,780 but by happenstance it wasn't my ultimate Passion. 1357 00:50:52,270 --> 00:50:56,890 So I love pouring back into people that really want to 1358 00:50:56,890 --> 00:51:00,910 grow and maybe open up a shop or do things of 1359 00:51:00,910 --> 00:51:01,720 that nature. 1360 00:51:01,960 --> 00:51:04,900 So I really see me just teaching more people learning the 1361 00:51:04,900 --> 00:51:08,290 skills and learning the basics to grow their business. 1362 00:51:08,810 --> 00:51:09,950 Okay. Love that. 1363 00:51:10,100 --> 00:51:10,520 Love that. 1364 00:51:10,520 --> 00:51:12,230 So we're going to have to keep an eye out for 1365 00:51:12,230 --> 00:51:15,890 you. Maybe there are some other aspiring treat makers who should 1366 00:51:15,890 --> 00:51:17,300 be taking some of your classes. 1367 00:51:17,740 --> 00:51:18,760 Come on, 1368 00:51:18,760 --> 00:51:20,410 come to the sweet side, 1369 00:51:20,570 --> 00:51:25,010 Come to this sweet side and we're, 1370 00:51:25,190 --> 00:51:26,630 I think I already know what you're going to say, 1371 00:51:26,630 --> 00:51:29,840 but if you were to direct someone online where to come 1372 00:51:29,840 --> 00:51:30,710 find you, 1373 00:51:31,040 --> 00:51:32,300 where would that be right now? 1374 00:51:33,050 --> 00:51:35,030 Right now it will be Instagram. 1375 00:51:35,360 --> 00:51:37,400 Where else is it going to be in the future? 1376 00:51:37,850 --> 00:51:38,530 Your website? 1377 00:51:38,540 --> 00:51:41,260 Yes. It's going to be where you can go to www 1378 00:51:41,260 --> 00:51:44,360 dot dot com Okay. 1379 00:51:44,360 --> 00:51:45,650 We're going to be watching for that. 1380 00:51:46,550 --> 00:51:49,130 And one final thing I want you to talk about just 1381 00:51:49,130 --> 00:51:49,940 really quickly, 1382 00:51:49,970 --> 00:51:53,430 you mentioned it in our pre chat once we're done with 1383 00:51:53,430 --> 00:51:54,090 this interview, 1384 00:51:54,090 --> 00:51:57,330 you're hopping in your car and where are you off to? 1385 00:51:57,600 --> 00:52:04,870 I am Off to Atlanta to attend the bee collective awards. 1386 00:52:04,930 --> 00:52:10,360 I have been so humbled and so honored to be nominated 1387 00:52:10,660 --> 00:52:15,760 for the 2020 best dessert artists and I've been going down 1388 00:52:15,760 --> 00:52:20,050 there to celebrate and just being nominated and celebrating all of 1389 00:52:20,050 --> 00:52:21,610 the amazing people that's there. 1390 00:52:21,610 --> 00:52:24,220 So that's why I'm going right after this interview. 1391 00:52:24,220 --> 00:52:29,430 I'm so That is so exciting and I've seen a few 1392 00:52:29,430 --> 00:52:32,270 of your designs and they're so awesome. 1393 00:52:32,270 --> 00:52:34,880 I'm not surprised at all and I just, 1394 00:52:34,880 --> 00:52:38,000 I congratulate you on the fact that you're being acknowledged for 1395 00:52:38,000 --> 00:52:39,590 your beautiful work as well, 1396 00:52:39,830 --> 00:52:42,200 so can't wait to hear the outcome of that, 1397 00:52:42,200 --> 00:52:43,310 but I love your attitude. 1398 00:52:43,310 --> 00:52:46,580 Just being nominated and getting to be part of that whole 1399 00:52:46,580 --> 00:52:50,000 thing has to be be awesome and just feel fabulous. 1400 00:52:50,650 --> 00:52:51,160 It is. 1401 00:52:51,160 --> 00:52:52,360 Thank you so much for that. 1402 00:52:52,360 --> 00:52:53,890 So I really do appreciate that. 1403 00:52:54,130 --> 00:52:56,200 You're welcome and thank you so much. 1404 00:52:56,230 --> 00:52:57,910 All this information has been great. 1405 00:52:57,940 --> 00:53:00,040 I have loved learning your story. 1406 00:53:00,260 --> 00:53:02,150 I can't wait to see you again. 1407 00:53:02,210 --> 00:53:02,510 I know. 1408 00:53:02,510 --> 00:53:03,920 I'll see you at the ultimate sugar show. 1409 00:53:03,930 --> 00:53:06,830 Don't know if we'll cross paths before that, 1410 00:53:07,130 --> 00:53:08,030 just not sure, 1411 00:53:08,060 --> 00:53:11,360 but thank you again for all your information being very open 1412 00:53:11,360 --> 00:53:14,270 and giving us a peek behind the scenes in your business. 1413 00:53:14,270 --> 00:53:16,190 I know it's going to help a lot of people out. 1414 00:53:16,530 --> 00:53:17,220 Thank you. 1415 00:53:17,220 --> 00:53:18,060 Thank you so much. 1416 00:53:18,060 --> 00:53:21,430 Enjoy this whole experience and I can't wait to connect with 1417 00:53:21,480 --> 00:53:22,770 some of your listeners. 1418 00:53:22,860 --> 00:53:24,240 Yay. Wonderful. 1419 00:53:24,240 --> 00:53:27,750 I'm sure they'll connecting with you on Instagram for sure. 1420 00:53:28,320 --> 00:53:29,340 Have a great day. 1421 00:53:29,760 --> 00:53:31,050 You did a same Sue, 1422 00:53:33,960 --> 00:53:36,660 so now are you as in love with D as I 1423 00:53:36,660 --> 00:53:40,110 am, I can't wait to watch the progression of eight to 1424 00:53:40,110 --> 00:53:44,520 three traits and as it applies to your business development, 1425 00:53:44,950 --> 00:53:46,630 if something popped out to you, 1426 00:53:46,690 --> 00:53:48,520 please make yourself a note. 1427 00:53:49,120 --> 00:53:53,020 I love that you're listening and hopefully subscribe to this podcast, 1428 00:53:53,350 --> 00:53:56,380 but I also want you acting upon what you learn. 1429 00:53:56,720 --> 00:53:59,420 It's the action that brings results, 1430 00:54:00,350 --> 00:54:03,930 but what if you're nervous about starting or worried that you 1431 00:54:03,930 --> 00:54:07,530 don't know what your first step or next step should be 1432 00:54:08,060 --> 00:54:09,650 in working with many of you? 1433 00:54:09,800 --> 00:54:12,140 I know fear is a huge concern. 1434 00:54:12,620 --> 00:54:13,970 Fear of not knowing, 1435 00:54:14,150 --> 00:54:15,710 fear of being judged, 1436 00:54:16,010 --> 00:54:17,270 fear of failure, 1437 00:54:17,990 --> 00:54:19,550 confronting and moving through. 1438 00:54:19,550 --> 00:54:22,160 Fear is the topic we're tackling next week. 1439 00:54:22,580 --> 00:54:25,220 I look forward to all of us being together again then. 1440 00:54:25,560 --> 00:54:26,280 Bye for now. 1441 00:54:28,830 --> 00:54:31,500 I want to make sure you're familiar with my free Facebook 1442 00:54:31,500 --> 00:54:34,020 group called gift is breeze. 1443 00:54:34,410 --> 00:54:38,220 It's a place where we all gather and our community to 1444 00:54:38,220 --> 00:54:39,450 support each other. 1445 00:54:39,910 --> 00:54:42,030 Got a really fun post in there. 1446 00:54:42,030 --> 00:54:43,410 That's my favorite of the week. 1447 00:54:43,410 --> 00:54:46,290 I have to say where I invite all of you to 1448 00:54:46,290 --> 00:54:47,700 share what you're doing, 1449 00:54:47,850 --> 00:54:49,410 to show pictures of your product, 1450 00:54:49,560 --> 00:54:51,690 to show what you're working on for the week, 1451 00:54:51,900 --> 00:54:56,100 to get reaction from other people and just for fun because 1452 00:54:56,100 --> 00:54:59,520 we all get to see the wonderful products that everybody in 1453 00:54:59,520 --> 00:55:01,140 the community is making. 1454 00:55:01,530 --> 00:55:05,340 My favorite post every single week without doubt, 1455 00:55:06,030 --> 00:55:09,630 wait, what aren't you part of the group already? 1456 00:55:10,260 --> 00:55:10,890 If not, 1457 00:55:11,070 --> 00:55:13,860 make sure to jump over to Facebook and search for the 1458 00:55:13,860 --> 00:55:16,050 group gift biz breeze. 1459 00:55:16,380 --> 00:55:17,160 Don't delay. 1460 00:55:17,640 --> 00:55:20,820 Come join us in gift biz breeze today.