Social Media Etiquette: All Platforms

Navigating various social media platforms can be overwhelming.  Each one seems to have its own "rules" for posting and interacting.  Below, we've listed some general guidelines that follow an unspoken etiquette for social media.

• Think about the number of posts you make per day, don't inundate your followers.
• Straight-up self promotion should be kept to a minimum.
• Keep tagging to a minimum. Tagging shouldn't be used to encourage people to look at your posts. People like to control their own feeds.
• Tag only when giving credit to someone who played a role in the subject of your post or photo. (i.e. location, product, creative talent, etc.)
• Ask some questions privately that should not be public. (i.e. What is your wholesale rate? How do you make this? Why have you not responded to my email?)
• Do not point out mistakes publicly. (i.e. spelling, grammar, price, etc.) Instead, send a private message if you believe this mistake warrants attention.
• Refrain from giving unsolicited advice.
• Do not post anything with customer information, as in, showing a photo of an outgoing shipment that shows a postage label.
• Always credit the original owner if you regram or share a post.

If you have additional points, please leave them in the comments!  

Nutmeg Pets: Puddin'

Puddin' from the home studio of Jessica and Treefort Naturals.

Local Love: Karma Mala

I founded Karma Mala in January of 2014. After completing yoga teacher training, I wanted to wear a mala to enhance the spiritual connection I found in my practice. While wearing a simple mala that I bought, I soon discovered that the tassel quickly frayed and became ratty looking. I then taught myself the art of mala making, and made a mala with a prayer box pendant I found from Nepal for myself. That first mala got a lot of attention, and I realized that I might be able to make a small business of this. Having a desire to give back in some way, I decided to donate all profit to the Stop Girl Trafficking Program of the American Himalayan Foundation. Each mala sold keeps a girl safe from trafficking for one year by keeping her in their school program. There are over 10,500 girls in Nepal in this program today, and not a single girl has been lost to trafficking once they are in the program.

I create handcrafted designer mala beads, wrist wrap malas and gemstone tassel necklaces. The most popular items are my traditional malas, but the new wrist wrap malas are doing well, as they can be worn during yoga practice. I source beads and pendants through local stores, as well as online. I have been lucky to find one particular source, A World of Good, for handmade prayer boxes, prayer wheels and mandala pendants from Nepal. In additional to supporting the artisans in Nepal, the owner has also done great work there, most recently building a library.

As a one-woman, non-profit company I need to do it all. The sourcing of supplies, designing and creating of each mala is the "love" part of my business. As I work on each mala, I know that when it sells, it will save a girl from trafficking; so a lot of love goes into each piece. It motivates me to do what I do everyday. The business side has been a learning experience. Having never been a participant in social media before, I had to quickly get up to speed in order to engage today's audience. In addition to Facebook, Instagram and Pinterest, I had to build a website. This was the one area where I had to hire someone to help me. Everything else (i.e. bookkeeping, taxes, social media, order processing, trunk shows, etc.), I do myself in order to maximize the profit that I can donate.

The most amazing thing to me about this business is how it evolved, as if it were meant to be. When I decided to donate all profit from the business, there was not a specific cause at the time that I was connected to. While wearing that first mala I made with a prayer box from Nepal, I researched online for charities hoping to find a connection to something that would motivate me. Almost immediately I came across the American Himalayan Foundation. As I read about their Stop Girl Trafficking program, tears streaming down my face, I knew that I found it - but it was as if it found me. My goal was to save 100 girls my first year, and I'm proud to say that I have exceeded that.

Karma Mala

By appointment

karmamalallc@gmail.com or 914-768-3285

A selection of malas can also be found at 

Wishlist, 606 Post Road East, Westport, CT

Find Karma Mala on Instagram, Facebook and Pinterest.

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We love local businesses! 

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Get a feature by clicking here.

Know a shop that deserves a feature? Contact us at thenutmegcollective@gmail.com.

Packaging Evolution

Over the course of several years of wrapping up stationery for my (then) paper shop, the way I packaged my goods evolved. As my product line became more refined, and my cashflow more fluid, I was able to change the packaging to reflect those changes. I wrote about this a while ago over at Handmade Success, and thought it would be a good topic to revisit here on the Nutmeg Collective!

When starting out, I had limited funds for packaging, but I still made sure to keep my brand (logo) a focal point and the packaging clean, well fitted and pretty! I want to really stress "well fitted". Sloppy or ill-fitted packaging says a lot about you, your business and your care; none of them positive.

Initially, I used biodegradable clear bags with the sealing strip attached. Product information was printed on folded cards, included the product name on the front along with my logo, and on the back any further info like my website. I made sure to include the card topper inside the clear bag. This kept it clean (especially good if you're selling wholesale to other shops), helped the packaging look tidy and nothing additional was needed to secure it.

The next stage of my packaging came when I decided to change my logo. I started using biodegradable, one piece, clear boxes. I bought small hang tags from Moo.com and punched the holes myself. I tried to coordinate the ribbon with the image on the cards. The boxes were sealed with small round labels I purchased from the same place I bought the boxes. Sometimes I used twine and sometimes I used satin ribbon. The hang tags had my logo on the front and my website on the back. Clean looking and easy to manage.

The final stage of my packaging transformation was moving to linen-textured, two-piece boxes. This really made a statement. I always had lovely feedback on my packaging, but during this phase my product feedback went through the roof! Customers really appreciate a thoughtful package. I can honestly say, my repeat business also increased after I started using this method.

All the elements for my packaging: Belly bands for the produce, Italian cotton ribbon, hang tags I printed in studio and
a custom wax seal stamp I used on the hangtags occasionally or on the envelope of the handwritten note always included!

Belly bands, with my logo printed on them, kept the cards in place during shipment.

Linen textured box, Italian cotton ribbon and a simple logo hangtag.

Custom wax seal for the envelope of the handwritten note to the buyer.

Regardless of how much you can afford to spend on your product's packaging, you can always find a way to make it look professional. Your clients will appreciate it, and will notice the extra special touches you make to present a thoughtful purchase. A happy client will mean a repeat client!

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Patti Wunder of Easton Place Design Studio is the designer for this sweet studio. After her kids head to school, Patti creates logos, packaging, sell sheets, web elements and anything else her clients need for their businesses! Her sidekick, Aggie the Goldendoodle, is a great source of inspiration & reminds Patti to go outside a bit each day. Along with designing, Patti makes time for a pot of Irish Breakfast tea (one sugar & splash of cold milk), dark chocolate and music!  Website | Instagram | Twitter | Facebook | Pinterest | eastonplacedesigns@me.com

 

Shop Spotlight: Everything Glitzy

Meet Jenn Humphrey, maker of a wide variety of crocheted items for her shop, Everything Glitzy.

"I am a wife, mom, and full time nurse that loves to crochet and find it very calming, so I try to do it as much as possible. As the only girl in the house, I am inspired and love to create pretty things. I believe this comes out in the hats and materials I choose to work with in my Etsy shop.

I started crocheting about 10 years ago, just for fun. The first thing I made was a blanket, that I believe, is still sitting my closet at home. Life got very busy with work and having kids, so I put my crochet hook down for a while.

 

In 2012, I joined Pinterest and started pinning crochet projects that I wanted to make in my spare time. My first project was a pair of fingerless crochet mittens. I wore them to work one day and my co-workers loved them. This gave me the motivation to start my own Etsy shop. I have been pinning and making crochet items ever since."

See more of Jenn's work in his Etsy shop, Everything Glitzy.

or connect with her on Facebook.

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Would you like to be a featured in the Shop Spotlight?

Active Nutmeg Collective members fill out this form!

One Thing: Stop and Shoot!

If you are a maker or artist or a vintage curator, images of your process can give your audience a peek "behind the scenes."  While you're actually making, creating or curating, try to find a natural break in your process to take a photo or two of your work in process.  Yes, it is one more thing to think about and do, but you'll be happy that you planned to fit it into your day. A glimpse into your creative and work space will inform your audience and support your brand.

You can use the images you shoot in many different places, including social media, your blog, when you're featured or guest posting on another blog, and on your About Page.  Have you ever wished that you had one or two photos of your process? Then, you should definitely stop and shoot at your next opportunity!

Process Photo above courtesy of QueenVanna Creations.

Cyn Thomas is the illustrator, designer and pattern maker of RiverDog Prints. Her paper goods and gifts are guided by earth, animals, function, food and cocktails. You can also find Cyn canning in her kitchen, walking her dog, being outnumbered by her boys and husband or reading herself to sleep.
Website | Instagram | Twitter | Facebook | woof@riverdogprints.com

Treasurypalooza: Winner!

We have a winner!

Huge congratulations to Jennifer from Nutmeg Naturals and The Felt Haus for the second month in a row for her winning March treasury collection Modern Home.   It was super close this month, with Jennifer winning by just one vote!

With its bright and funky colors, this collection features the following Nutmeg Collective members:

Designer Dwellings

andMorgan

RiverDog Prints

Hockman Photography

And make sure and visit Jennifer's Etsy shops, Nutmeg Naturals: your one-stop-shop for all things clean, featuring 100% wool dryer balls, natural laundry soap powder, cold-process soaps, and more; and The Felt Haus: home to fun and original needle-felted wool creations and felting wool in a rainbow of colors.  Everything in her shops is handmade in Connecticut, and Nutmeg Naturals is a professional member of the Handcrafted Soap and Cosmetics Guild.