When Online Sales Are Made and Completed

When Online Sales Are Made and Completed.


Hello, and Welcome to LilacsNDreams! Glad to have you stopping by. 


Every Seller does things differently when it comes to the completion of a sale made. How do you handle things yourself as a seller? What kind of routine, or system do you have set up? I myself have a routine of once a sale is made I like to send a note to the customer thanking them for their purchase, and to please notify me if there are any changes with their mailing address so that I can note it. Sometimes a customer will already have paid right away once they have made their purchase too. That is always good too. If they do this, then I send a note thanking them for their purchase, and their quick payment they made. Once I have delivered the box to the post office I will then notify the Buyer that their box has been shipped, and I will also include the tracking information for them at that time. I ship everything Priority Mail including insurance, and the tracking number is always included with this method. Other methods of shipping are done upon request. Keep in mind not all sellers will use priority mail. It depends on the items bought, and if they offer other methods. 

That is a smooth, and fun sale when things can go like that. Sometimes there is the issue of a purchase made, but it is unpaid. How do you then treat this? How long do you wait before you relist the item for sale again if this happens? I always allow up to 7 days for payments to be made. So, by this time if I have not received payment I am generally listing it for sale right away. Prior to that I have generally gotten a response from a Buyer, and correspondence has been shared. This is helpful with making a sale. Sometimes you have Buyers who do not respond, but still pay quickly, and things are good. Then, there are those who do not respond at all during this 7 day period that I myself allow for payments to be made. Keep in mind there might be explainable reasons for this too. Something might have come up, there has been an unforeseen emergency, and so on. Generally if I have not heard anything within 3 days from the Buyer I do send a small reminder asking if they received the invoice ok, asking if there is a problem, etc. More than likely I will hear from the Buyer. Then...there are those that do not respond at all. They have changed their minds, decided they do not want the item, and do not respond. This is not fun to work with, but a part of doing sales too. 

The biggest thing that all parties can do is Communicate. Having Communication is one of the best things to have with the procedure of sales online. I know that sometimes the notes I email to customers might be a repeat from what the systems from some of the market places themselves are already sending out automatically. I don't mean to spam anyone, and it is not my intentions of doing of upsetting anyone with this procedure. But, sometimes the systems have glitches with things being sent in a timely fashion to the customers, and I have no way of knowing this. So, to be safe, and more secure I still send my minor notes to the customer just to make sure we are connecting.

Something I like to remind customers about is if you have any questions, or any problems to please contact me. I am friendly, and easy to work with:) Hope this helps some of you understand a little bit of my procedures I use for when the sale is made. There is more, but this is one of the steps of the process. I have never been taught a true correct way, or told if there is a right or wrong way that is a rule to follow. In my mind Communication is the biggest thing that should be shared, and this I am a firm believer with when doing Online Sales.

Thanks for visiting with LilacsNDreams, and see you again soon! You are Welcome to share, and comment with this subject. I always like hearing from everyone, and enjoy the things you share too. Make sure to say Hi when visiting so I can come visit you as well too. Take care everyone till the next time. Have a super weekend!:)

     

Use Search Engines in Searching For Products and Stores

Use Search Engines in Searching For Products and Stores. 

Welcome to LilacsNDreams! Glad to have you visiting here. I was thinking of something the other day, and thought maybe it might be helpful to share this thought with you as well. When you are searching for treasures you want online, how are you searching? You go to the computer, sit down, and what do you type into the keyboard to look first when searching for items to buy? I think many people assume they should just go straight to Ebay. There is much more out there to see. People, Buyers, and Shoppers should also learn to go to the search engines when you are shopping, or searching for things. Your common search engines to use are Google.com and Bing.com. Sometimes searches are done with Yahoo, and actually other small places too. 

When you have a specific item that you are looking for use the search engines to shop with. By using the search engines you will get a nice variety of things to choose from, and you will see and realize the other market places that are available to shop with too. Sometimes prices can be better because a fee structure for a seller is so much better than what is offered to them with Ebay, and other places too. Also, you will find different payment platforms that can be offered for you to pay with. Not all places are Paypal only. For instance, with Artfire I offer Paypal, and Amazon Payments, and try to note that I can invoice you with Google Checkout at Artfire too. Some of the other sellers there also offer pro-pay with their stores too. At Ecrater I offer Paypal, and Google Checkout. Remember, I can also invoice with these places if you would like to contact me separately from the market places to purchase too. You know, like if you seen something of interest in my LilacsNDreams Shoppe page. 

With search engines if you know the name of the shop, or store you wish to look for you can also connect with that name too. Once the pages with that name come up you will see all the places they are associated with, and sell with. Give it a try. Google, or Bing my name of LilacsNDreams. You will see my blogs, my stores, along with different places I am also associated with too.

Hope this little tid bit of information was found to be helpful to all you reading, visiting, and stopping by LilacsNDreams. You have any questions, don't hesitate to ask them. You are more than welcome to comment, and share here too. Don't forget to say Hi so that I know you visited, and I can hop over to see you as well. 

Thanks for dropping by everyone, and see ya'll again real soon. Take care, and have a wonderful Day/Evening!:)

 

Buying Searching Junking and Preparing For ReSelling

Buying Searching Junking and Preparing For Reselling.

Hello, and Welcome to LilacsNDreams! I was curious about something. Once treasures found are brought home with you, what do you do next? I am sure we all have different ways of doing things, and we all do what we feel to be best for our sales.  Of course the wonderful decisions of are we keeping it, or will we sell it?...LOL:)

I love shopping Thrift Stores, Yard Sales, Auctions, Estate Sales, Flea Markets, and Yes! Junking too! Once I get items home I set all the pieces out, and I make my notes of the items bought, where bought from, dates bought, and prices I paid for things too. Then...comes the fun part. Gently washing, and cleaning all the items to the best of my abilities. I always worry about damaging things so I am careful with all pieces, do them one by one, and take my time with them. Since they are pieces that will be resold as is, or used in repurposing I still thoroughly look all the pieces over carefully. During this time I will note any faults, knicks, markings and stamps of brands, and so on. Once I have completed this I will then get out my notebook, and start my research on pieces to see how many others are also being offered. I like to get an idea of average sale prices that are offered, and what they have sold for as well. Some of these treasures may also be researched with different books to learn some of their history, and values for in today's market too.

Doesn't seem like much of a procedure with this step of preparations, but it can be time consuming. I enjoy it as I learn the pieces, and connect with them by better viewing them in a different way from their purchase. 

Hey, if you have something to add with this, or would like to share something please know that you are welcome to do so. Just hit the old comment button below, and share with us all. Love hearing from all of you, and I even enjoy seeing ya'll say Hi to me too!:)

Thanks so much for visiting with LilacsNDreams! Take care, and see you all again soon!:)

  

Happy Valentines Day From LilacsNDreams Treasures of Vintage, Collectibles, Repurposed

HAPPY VALENTINES DAY from LilacsNDreams! Am wishing all of you a splendid day, and a great evening too. 

So, anyone have any big plans for today, or tonight? Sorry, not me....hubby is out of state with work, so am on my own this year. Hmm....maybe I will treat myself tonight since I will be home alone...what should I eat, what should I buy....Hmmm.....LOL:)

Some might receive gifts today, and some will have gifts on their way yet too. If shopping for someone special, and it is hard to know what to get them. Remember, it does not always have to be red, does not always have to have hearts on it, but that it is something special they have been looking for, have wanted, and something to say....Just Because:)

Stop by to visit my stores to see if there would be something of interest whether it is big, small, vintage, collectibles, or repurposed treasures. Lil bit of something for everyone. Artfire ~ Ecrater ~ Etsy ~ I ship everything priority mail with insurance included with shipping for a more secure delivery. 

Thanks for stopping by LilacsNDreams Everyone. I wish you all well, and have a beautiful day!!:)

 

Optimizing Blogger Blog and Achieving Traffic

Optimizing Blogger Blog and Achieving Traffic. Welcome back to LilacsNDreams, and glad to have you here! I started a post last week as a refresher of what I had done about Blogs, Blogging, Platforms to choose from, etc. Today will be about what to do with your blogs to better help you with traffic which can also help in making some money if that is what you are choosing to do. 

1) Blog Title is an important part of applying proper SEO techniques. A reminder that SEO stands for Search Engine Optimization. Choose a title that will use keywords other might use to search with, and make sure it reflects on what your top will be at that time too. 

2) Blog Description is a significant part of a blog for Search Engine Optimization, or also known as SEO. You want your description to be appealing to visitors, and at the same time using keywords that you are targetting in search engines. Remember, the keywords will vary for everyone because it depends on what you topic is at hand. Some keywords that I try to use for things that pertain to my blogs, what I blog about, what I sell, and what I discuss would be like vintage, collectibles, handmade, homemade, hand altered, repurposed, upcycled, glassware, and things like that.  

3)  Comments is something that you would like to allow with all your blog posts. Allowing comments can help enhance value of your blog post, and it also helps to update your content as well too. Along with this it will assist in helping to improve your search engine rankings. 

4)  Quality Content is a must for your blog success. When you can, or able to post quality content that people like to read this in turn will help improve your traffic to your blog. What you have started your blog for in regards to topics, themes, business, etc...If you can stay within some kind of a rythmn of it that people will be interested in they will stop to visit you, read with you, and hopefully comment and share things too. 

5)  Submit Blog to Search Engines and Directories. Submitting your blog to these things will give you a better search engine rankings as well too. When I myself submit my blogs I submit my domains that are directed to them, but I also submit their blogspot url addresses they have too. It helps since people will use both url addresses to come visit with you. 

6)  Use Keywords in the Anchor Text of Links. Using keywords in the anchor text of links is of vital importance to get some of your best SEO results with. Use your primary, and secondary keywords in anchor texting of links. Again, words I generally use for me are vintage, collectibles, handmade, homemade, repurposed, upcycled, altered, and things like that. When clicking on these different keywords you will be directed to 1 of the 3 stores I have items listed with. Also, keep in mind not to over due it too. Google, or the search engines see it being over done, or an over kill of it they will ignore you. It then will become considered spam, and that is something all search engines try to avoid.


I hope this little bit has helped some of you with things you do with your blogs. It also works for your websites, and can work with where you list your items for sale too. I can honestly say by doing some of the things I have noted for you over time, it does help your views with your blogs, and when I check my Google Analytics I am seeing results there too. I honestly can get more views with my Blog than I do with my stores. My long term goals...I hope it keeps working this way for me too:)


Thanks so much for visiting with LilacsNDreams, and wishing you all a Happy Hump Day! You take care now, and see you again soon. Later . . . . . 

Blog Blogger Blogging Social Media Networking of Today

Blog Blogger Blogging Social Media Networking of Today.

Hello, and Welcome to LilacsNDreams! Happy to see you here, and everyone is always Welcomed to visit with LilacsNDreams too. 

I came in here today with an idea in mind to discuss with all of you, but along the way changed my thinking and thoughts. Ever happen to you? Heck, I can even walk across a room sometimes, and either forget what I was going for, or also change my thought along the way there too...LOL:) I know I have talked a little bit before about Blogging, and Social Media or Social Networking. I have decided to cover this a little bit again for everyone, and touch base with it a bit. Why? Social Media, and Networking is growing fast, and is still predicted to be something good to use with all that you do with online sales, marketing, your brick and mortar stores, and etc. 

So, the question is Why Blog? Many reasons for it. I'll try not to bore you all, and keep it simple. 1) Social Media or Networking is one reason for it. Blogging is another form of Social Media like Pinterest, Facebook, Twitter, Google+, and so on. 2) Another reason to Blog is it gets you published. How you ask? By working with certain things in mind in regards to your SEO you will get noticed in search engine rankings, and etc. 3) Another reason to Blog is that you get your message out that you would like to share with others. There is no right, or wrong message to put out there. It is up to you what you wish to share, and what the message is that you would like others to relate to. 4) Blogging is another way to share tips, tutorials, questions, and answers too. 5) This has become a great way for Teachers and Students to share work, class notes, pictures, and etc. 

Blogging is not just for one form of profession, but for many and all forms. Online Sellers, Brick and Mortar Store Owners, Big Companies, Small Companies, Journalists, Photographers, Publishers, Writers, and many many people are turning to the forms of Blogging as the Social Media Networking area grows. 

Choosing the right platform is a task that you yourself will have to cover, and determine. Your main, and popular platforms are with Blogger.com and also with Wordpress.com. Another growing platform is also with Tumblr.com. Choosing the platform that works for you depends on what you want to do with your blog.

1) Tumblr is a platform for Social Networking of simple, and quick posts. Some themes are free, some are paid for premium themes. No plugins are used to add additional features onto your blog. This is a nice place to use for the casual internet presence. 

2) Word Press is a more serious professional blogging used. There are 2 forms with Word Press which is WordPress.org, and with WordPress.com. The .com of word press is the hosted service of software, and has your basic features for free. It displays ads on your blog unless you want to purchase ad-free upgrade. The .org is the home of software. You get complete control, and flexibility here. You can download the software that must be installed on a web hosting server to work like Blue Host, Go Daddy, and etc.

3) Blogger of course is another free service used by many. You do not have to have certain plugins to do different things. You are allowed up to 10 pages with them, and those are static pages. You can have as many blogs, or blog urls as you wish....up to 100 I believe is the limit there. Like Word Press it has pros and cons to using it as well. 

Well, as you can see....I use Blogger, and love it here! I do have a blog at Word Press, but do not use it as often. I am use to blogger with the ease of use of things here, find it easier to navigate around here, and if I work things right I can make it show with the search engines as word press shows too. That will be the next discussion for you with optimizing your blogger blog. 

Here we are going into the weekend everyone. I wish you well, have fun, enjoy, and please be safe too. Enjoy it, and see you all again soon LilacsNDreams. Remember, you are always welcome to leave a comment, share something you know to contribute with this, and of course most of all....Please say Hi so that I can come visit with you too. Take care, and see you again soon everyone. 

 

Buying Handmade Homemade Hand Altered Online and Local

Buying Handmade Homemade Hand Altered Online and Local. 

Hello everyone, and Welcome to LilacsNDreams! Glad to have you here, and that you stopped by. Thought I was ready with my topic, but I did a little bit more research, and it is amazing what everyone says, trying to find definitions to help with the meanings of words, and etc. 

Why buy Handmade Homemade? After researching a bit I will use both of these words. Handmade is considered made, or prepared by hand rather than by machine. Made by hand, or a hand process, and made by people using their hands. Individual pieces, or materials that compromise a finished item. Paint, wire, pieces combined to create a final item. Projects with a lot of hand work.

Hand Altered seem to have a little bit more suggested for it. Glued, nailed, screwed, sewn, whittled, affixed, stapled, embroidered, mixed, inscribed, painted, drawn, photographed, etc. Any alteration, or embellishment to an item by hand, or by machine controlled by hand, or via traditional art or craft method. Hand Altered is also referred to as hand embellished, or hand assembled.

Homemade can be referred to pieces that are repurposed. I also found made, or prepared in the home, made by oneself, and crudely or simply made. Creative touches, quality supplies, ingredients.

So, why buy pieces like this?

1) Find something unique. You are not wearing what everyone else is wearing. If maybe you like to keep up with the trends you can fix it up with a one of a kind accent piece. 


2) Super Craftsmanship. Handmade items get individual care, special attention, focused with details, quality control, and etc. Also, there is no assembly line with unskilled workers. 


3) Putting money into good hands. When you pay an artist, or craftsman for their work, they are actually getting the profit from it. You are not paying a CEO of a major company, their over head, and so on. You can also improve the economy, and make a difference by shopping this way with Handmade, Homemade, and Hand Altered.


4) Better Customer Service. Oh, yeah! That is something we all really love to have. Buying this way you get individual attention from the Seller. When you receive your products you might have a hand written note, thank yous, and sometimes some will give a freebie tucked with your item too. If you have a problem with some kind of mix up, lost or damaged in shipping, maybe item received was faulty, it is almost always taken care of effectively. Buying this way you will have a better chance with a refund, replacement, or sometimes a return too. These sort of issues though happen less frequently due to the care, and the concern Sellers strive for in having Happy Customers. 


5) End Slavery. I am not saying this in a bad way, or no punt intended with this please. What I am referring to is buying this way you are not supporting industries of sweatshops, child labor, and some of the different industries like those in China.  People are not factories.


6) Go Green. Smaller scale operations will produce less waste, use recycled materials, found objects, industrial salvage pieces, etc. All items that could have gone to the landfills, but with these techniques of Sellers they are spared and used. 


7) Get Custom Items and Alterations. It's great having things made just for you. It's a pleasure to receive one of a king items, and maybe to help complete a vision you might have of something not out there yet. Also, if you don't have the skill to make it yourself, there is someone out there who does. 


8) Make Somebody's Dream Come True. Many of us dream about quitting the day job, becoming your own boss, and doing what you love to do all day, and everyday. Whether it is for you, or helping someone else with this, it is very inspiring.


               "Do What You Love, and the World Will Follow . . . ."


There are many categories that fall under these topics I have mentioned. Jewelry, clothing, accessories, home decor, housewares, vintage, used, soaps, lotions, bath products, but they all have something in common. Start from scratch, or connect things or pieces making something for you. 


So, there you have what I have been reading about, and researched a little bit for this. There are some wonderful sellers out there doing all kinds of work. They take much pride in what they do, and like many others work very hard at what they do to make their items to be offered to you. When shopping please don't forget about them, and I would suggest if you have not already bought something like this . . . give it a try. You will be very surprised at what you get, and will want more. It's addictive!:) Artfire is one of the market places online that has sellers selling such items. Another place to also visit would be with Etsy as they are offering the same things within their market place too.


Thanks for visiting with LilacsNDreams, and hope you all enjoyed it. Take care, and see you again soon.

LilacsNDreams Vintage Collectibles Repurposed Upcycled Altered

LilacsNDreams Vintage Collectibles Repurposed Upcycled Altered Informational, and sharing Blog. 

Welcome to LilacsNDreams, and as always glad to have you visiting with me! I apologize to everyone in blogland, this has been one of them off weeks for me. I have slowly been working on things to list in my stores, and to show with my page here too. But, by the time the day passes with other things I have been dealing with I seem to have lost a little of my spit, and fire that keeps me going at night. Hopefully this weekend I get things moving a little bit more again...that is a goal I am setting for me to do.

It is almost 3 a.m. my time, and I am going to finish my late night with this blog to start your weekend. I have a renewal that is due soon with one of my domains that I have. I honestly have never really liked the domain using that .co. Sorry, but to me it is too close to the .com, and I sometimes feel it is confusing. Don't you think? So, this week I have thought about things, made some notes, and finally decided it was time to do it. Gonna make a few minor changes, or adjustments if you will. Gonna see if maybe I can get things rolling a bit more for me with the changes, and have it work to my advantage. 

You will notice at the top of this page the tabs I have for other pages that come from this blog. Of course my 2 main pages are first this main blog page of LilacsNDreams for ya'll to come to, and that you are now visiting. My other one is what I am now calling LilacsNDreams Shoppe page. From this main page it is your choice if you wish to read more by visiting those pages. Also, remember you can always leave comments, and say Hi to me when visiting any of my pages so that I can come visit you too:) Ok, the minor change I have made, (if you have visited the page before you will see the change made) is with my other LilacsNDreams page which is now called LilacsNDreams Shoppe. If you can remember it was LilacsNDreams Store. Sorry, besides the change of the domain with the .co I did, using that 'store' word was just not jiving with me. Just felt a little blah for me. So, the page  is now called LilacsNDreams Shoppe. I also have a new blog address for that page which is LilacsNDreamsShoppe.blogspot.com AND the new domain which should now be working is LilacsNDreamsShoppe.com.

With this Shoppe/Store page I had the .net domain directed to it. But, again, a minor change I have made:) I will be dropping the .co for my website, and directing my .net to my website instead. Makes more sense to me, and hopefully not so confusing with a more well known domain used for the website. 

Ok, I honestly hope this all makes sense with my babbling everyone....Please forgive me. It is getting late, and I know I love to talk, but I need to give it a rest for the night too. Thanks so much again for visiting with LilacsNDreams! Make sure to say Hi so that I can come visit with you too. Hey, comments are also welcome here too!:) Take care everyone, and see you again soon!:)

   

Vintage Collectibles Repurpsoed Upcycled Altered

Vintage Collectibles Repurposed Upcycled Altered are things I enjoy, and am passionate about. I wanted to stop by, and leave you all a small note. A reminder that you all are Welcome to visit with my tabs I have above that would interest you as I try really hard to post with some of my others pages here too. When visiting make sure to say Hi so that I can come visit with you too. Also, make sure to visit my LilacsNDreams Store page tab above too. On that page is where I will share items of interest with the online world of selling. I will show pictures for items of mine, where they are offered, I sometimes will feature another seller with some of their items, and etc. Along with the pictures I show I will share the links to the items being offered. Remember, if you see something you like, have questions about, want to know more...visit the link provided. If you are interested in buying it, and do not want to visit the site contact me to invoice you separately myself. 

I hope all of you are going into having a great weekend. Thanks again for stopping by. Take care, have fun, enjoy, and best of luck with all you do. See you again soon.

 

USPS Postal Increases Coming Soon

USPS Postal Increases Coming Soon!


Welcome to LilacsNDreams, and as always glad to have you visiting with Me. We have pretty much gotten through our 1st 2 weeks of the year, and time is just rolling don't you think? With this month speeding by us I wanted to give you a quick note here, and a reminder about our Postal Services shipping increases coming to us. Effective January 22, 2012 the postal rates will be increasing. A stamp that costs .44 now will then cost .45. Boxes for over night delivery will be to anywhere in the country for 1 price regardless of the weight. Of course that weight is up to 70 lbs. Express Mail Flat Rate box will be debuting on January 22 as well. Flat rates for Priority Mail will be as such: Small boxes $5.35, Medium Boxes $11.35, and Large Boxes will be $15.45.  There is going to be a flat rate box that will ship over night, anywhere in the country, regardless of the weight...up to 70 lbs.


As for the regular postal rates for Priority Mail...since that is generally how my items are shipped I cannot seem to get in to find an updated chart, or the prices for this change. Will have to keep watching for it. If you would like to read a bit more about this, see more prices, and to better understand the changes visit the USPS Postal Site for this, or Google it for some answers too.

I will be going through my stores of vintage, collectibles, repurposed, upcycled, and making the corrected adjustments for the shipping I have quoted. I use priority mail which also includes the insurance. Till I can get some definite prices for these I will have to leave them as they are, but hopefully will soon have these changes made for the price changes that go into effect on January 22, 2012.

* * * Also....on Monday, January 16, 2012 the United States Post Office will be closed for Martin Luther King Jr. birthday. Make notes to yourself about this everyone. * * * 

Hope everyone has had a great week. Tomorrow is Friday....the 13th....Hmm. I am not superstitious about this, but know that others might be. Just another reminder of what day it is. Well, time for me to call it a night. Get up tomorrow, and hopefully be more productive getting things done since I will be home, and no scheduled appointments. 


Thanks for stopping by, and visiting with LilacsNDreams everyone! Make sure to say Hi so that I can come visit with you too! Take care, and see you again soon.

After Holidays Organizing Cleaning Inventory Control

After Holidays, Organizing, Cleaning, and Inventory Control. 


Welcome to LilacsNDreams everyone, and happy to have you here. Well, here we are into our second week of the new 2012 year already! Holidays are over, cleaning has been done, things put back into their places for decorations, and now we are moving onto catching up on the computers, and with our online stores. I LOVE selling online, meeting other people, learning from others, sharing thoughts and ideas with others, and all of that wonderful stuff. 


Over Christmas I was able to spend a few hours with a very good friend of mine. MaryLouLavender*s. If you visited my LilacsNDreams Store page here with my blog you would have seen some of the items she had listed with her ebay store recently. It was great seeing her, and as always never enough time to go over everything, share everything, and cover all we would like to do, see, and talk about.

During our conversations we were discussing blogs, things we sell, ideas, and just all that sharing that feels good to do. The idea of organized inventory was brought up. How do you organize everything? What works, what doesn't work, and where do you begin? I know this is something many many of us struggle with in our homes to organize for our online stores, and also for just around the home too. How do you organize this, how do you organize that, what is the best way, and so on. 

You know, these are good questions and thoughts to be asking. As we grow with our online businesses our inventory becomes more, and there has to be a neutral way that is acceptable, and workable to keep organized, and to keep peace of mind with ourselves. Having it organized makes it so much easier to locate for when items sell, for when we list, doing inventory, and etc. I decided to look around a little, and see what others had to offer of what they do, and how they do things. Keep in mind, some of these ways do not always work for everyone as all of us have different kinds of inventory, and things that we sell. 


One of the popular ways I am seeing is to use tubs, and some shelves for each category, and items. Some use this sort of system for each month as they list. Some of the shelving was done with wire racks that are bought from Costco. Some found things with their home to repurpose, and use. The tubs could be colored, or some will use see through ones which enables them to better see what is inside the tub too.  Some mentioned that they used boxes as well.


On the top of the shelves some will use by putting their bubble wrap there, envelopes, USPS boxes, their supplies. It is best to keep enough in supplies for what is needed to help in organizing, and controling your system you have. On the tubs some will use removable address labels as stickers to notify what is in the tubs, or using a numbering system. Item tags are used on some with a bin number system. Along with the bin numbers some will also note the price paid for the item. Then, some will note the tubs with the item title along with the listing number too. Some will use print outs...like an inventory sheet for each tub notifying what is in it. Some sellers will choose to keep their items together by brand, and in alphabetical order. Then there are some who will mark their tubs, or their boxes with dates of when they listed items too.Yet another thing that was mentioned was to put a picture with each tub of what is in there also. Many many ways, and this is something for us all to find our way that works for us.

When placing the boxes, or the tubs on the shelves many noted to keep the spacing right between each one so that it was easier to slide the containers out like drawers when they had to be accessed. I did find that some who had large amounts of inventory would use storage units. They would use units that had set access times to them, video surveillance cameras on the property, tall chain link fences, and some have an access code you have to use to get through the gates to the units too. With the units they not only kept their inventory there, but would also have the tables set out with shipping supplies there for them to box, wrap, package too. Interesting, isn't it?

Many did mention having an inventory spreadsheet for their inventory too. Some would map their inventory from organizing, and labeling. Interesting, huh? When you bring more products home it is best to group items together, and then to organize them. 

Organizing our inventory, and having control with it is an everyday task. Can give us a headache too. Hopefully some of the methods mentioned will help you with your thoughts of what will work for you, and organizing your inventory. It is always nice to get some ideas of what others do to help you in organizing what will work for you. 

Good Luck with all your organizing everyone! Thanks for visiting with LilacsNDreams, and I hope your new year is treating you well so far. Take care, and see you again soon!

 

Happy New Year Bloggers Blogland Website Visitors

Happy New Year Bloggers, Blogland, Website Visitors! 

Welcome to LilacsNDreams, and glad to have you here always. Well, did you all survive Christmas? I know some still celebrate after the day too. Families, Friends, Schedules, and trying to fit everyone in to have time with all. Festivities, and the rush of have everything done. Work so hard for that big day, and like that it goes too, doesn't it? 

End of the year, and trying to get things in order here. Going through files to delete what is no longer needed. Taking products from one store, and adding to another store to be offered for those to buy. Removing maybe a few pieces of inventory, marking the books with all the changes, and prepping for the new year. I still have some products that have been completed that I have not listed yet for those to see, and buy. I still have a few things to complete that I would like to add small items with them, or show for decoration to help with some of those creative ideas too.  Make sure to visit LilacsNDreams at Artfire, and to also visit LilacsNDreams at Ecrater. Between the 2 I will be offereing vintage, collectibles, repurposed, upcycled, altered, and so on. I do still have some things that are listed with LilacsNDreams at Etsy. In fact I made my first purchase of an item from Etsy couple of days ago too. At Etsy I have some vintage pieces listed along with a few of my repurposed items as well. Trying not to keep all the eggs in one basket, but yet not too far spread out that I cannot give the proper attention to the stores, and customers too.

So, now that Christmas is over I hope to try, and work on some of that the next few days, and nights. Hopefully I get something accomplished for this weekend to start offering in the stores. Make sure to visit LilacsNDreams to keep updated on what I am offering, and to make sure you check my LilacsNDreams Store tab at the top. In my store I show pictures, and links to visit to see items being offered. Not only do I show my own products, but I have started showing products of other sellers being offered, and will continue this too.

Hoping everyone had a sweet Christmas, and it was all you wanted it to be. Wishing everyone a Happy New Year with much success, sales, and everything wished for. Take care, and see you again soon everyone. 

 

Merry Christmas Bloggers Website Visitors Holiday Shoppers

Merry Christmas Bloggers and Website Visitors! Glad to see you at LilacsNDreams, and hope ya'll have been having a great week so far. 

So, how is everyone doing with the Christmas preparations? Got the shopping done? Is the food all bought? If not having your friends, and loved ones in your home will you be traveling. If so, are you preparing for this as well.

I know, so many things to do, and so little time to do them. And, now, the rush will be on to get everything completed by the end of the week before places are closed to enjoy their Christmas as well. How many bought gifts this year? How many are treating those special to you with handmade gifts? Did you know there are a lot of handmade gifts, repurposed and upcycled gifts being given this year as well. Not only the economy, but others are seeing that they can make it more personable by doing so. Sometimes a little bit of this, with a little bit of that, and doing it this way is found to be much better than the store bought items too. 

For those who are still shopping, and maybe doing Christmas on another day....not the traditional one....you will still have time to shop, and to also get your items shipped to you as well. Not only supporting your local stores to find what you need, but also supporting the artisans of all kinds is a great thing to do too.

As we all know with this big Holiday things will be slowing down just a bit with our stores, our blogs, and websites as we ourselves also prepare for this joyous and meaningful holiday. I wanted to stop by, and wish you all well, and thank you again for visiting with LilacsNDreams! I wish you all well. Enjoy your Holidays. May they be merry, fun, happy, and filled with much enjoyment. Take care everyone, and MERRY CHRISTMAS TO YOU!! 

Repurposed Dressers for Home and Organizing

Repurposed Dressers for Home and Organizing. Remember that Everything Old can be New Again!

Hello, and Welcome to LilacsNDreams! As always glad to see you here. Besides selling online I do a lot of roaming of the internet looking at things, getting ideas, seeing what others are doing, and just LOVE some of the things I see, don't you?! For a very long time now I have been enjoying viewing how things are repurposed, and upcycled. So many things out there, so many things being done, so many creative people, and it is wonderful seeing how everything old becomes new again! 

For a couple of weeks now I have really enjoyed pictures being shared by many on their blogs, websites, pinterest, and so on. Repurposing dressers is sooo neat! Many things that can be done with them. Like anything else...don't throw it away because there is always a way to reimagine it, and find another use. I have seen dressers repurposed, and upcycled for not only in the bedrooms, but also for the kitchens, dining areas, bathrooms, entry ways, for outside with gardens, and so on. Some will take the drawers out from the dressers and use them as shelves on the floor and walls, wall mounts, under bed storage, and for many organizational things too. 

I have seen some dressers, and desks too repurposed into a bathroom vanity. Oh, so neat too! Some have been made into a desk, baby changing tables, planter boxes or containers for the garden, labeled basket storages, a kitchen island, a bench in the entry way, television consoles, and even a place to organize with the kitty litter box containers and supplies too. It's amazing what creative minds can do, and knowing that many of the pieces are from our homes, or things that maybe someone is throwing out too. Don't forget to check your thrift stores, and second hand stores for dressers to have for your re-dos. Sometimes with the condition of them you can get them pretty inexpensive. Then, depending on the condition and what you want done you do a little bit of sanding....and sometimes no sanding I have seen done too. Strip varnish, add some varnish, paint, add tile tops to them, maybe do some mod podge with some adorable paper, maps, materials, and you have something old that is new again. 

 Here is a dresser that was repurposed as an island, or a stand in the kitchen. Pretty neat huh? And, who would have guessed you could do that, right? This is from apartmenttherapy.com.

This one became a bathroom vanity, and is shown by justinetaylor.tumblr.com I have seen some that used the raised, or table top type sinks too. Hmmm.....love it!

Here is showing how you can use the top drawers on your walls for wall decor. I have seen some that use them as shelves for maybe books, and some drawers have been cut and attached to the walls that you could see the front of the drawers giving it a bit more character too. This picture is something that I found on pinterest.com that came from bhg.com

Here is yet another repurposing idea from MakinItHappen found on JunkMarketStyle.com Great way to organize things for the craft room, baby room, and any room in the home. If I remember correctly the top done on this was done with some tile to add to the decor of the dresser too.


There is so much more out there to be seen with the repurposing, and upcycling of dressers. When you can visit pinterest.com to see more, visit the places noted with the pictures, and you can even Google it for Repurpose Dressers to see more too. 

This is definitely something for me to consider to help with some of my organizing projects I have in mind....when the house is back into order again, and the contractors aren't coming in and out:) Hope ya'll enjoyed this, and thanks again for visiting. You are always welcome to share ideas with everyone here, make a comment, and of course....don't forget to say Hi too!:) Thanks for stopping by, and see you again soon.

Social Medias Facebook Google+ Ning Groups

Social Medias Facebook Google+ Ning Groups, and so on. Which ones do you use if any?


Hello, and Welcome to LilacsNDreams! Always glad to see you visit with me. Social Medias, and their uses. Social Medias, and how many of you use them. Are they beneficial to us, or are they just another thing to spend time with, and fill our days. Actually, Social Media is another good thing for us as Sellers to use, and be involved with too. Did you know that the more you are involved with a place, and the more others get involved, it truly does help the ranking for that site? Also, Google and your search engines will see "activity" happening, and they will go in to check it out, and see if it is time to place it with page rankings as well too. 


I belong to a few Social Medias myself, and I do enjoy them. Not only do they help my rankings with different things, but I get to meet other people selling from the same venues I use, meet others with some of the same interests I have, learn from what others share, offer what I know to others, share pictures of what you sell and maybe projects you are working on too. Generally if there is a question, or a problem with something I can go to one of the sites I belong to for me to read about it, or ask about it as well. Everyone is great in responding back, sharing, and most of all helping too.


At one time I did belong with too many sites, and I had to take time one day, and weigh my options, views, feelings, and remove myself from a few of them. Not that I don't like some of them, but I needed to find a way to better organize my time spent with them, and spend more time with those I seem to be getting more benefit from as well. Some of this is visible when I go to Google Searches. I just go there, and put in my business name of LilacsNDreams, and watch the pages that come up. Once that happens I will start looking through those listings to see what places is helping my name become visible on the internet. Remember, each time you check with search engines rankings for different things can change, what is on page 1 could later be on page 2, and so on. But, some of the places I have learned pretty much where they are staying at, and have noted this so I know where to focus some of my energy. 


The Vintage Village has been a good one for me. Not only does Lora have the Vintage Village that keeps growing with members, but she has also started a sister site to it which is called Vintage Rising. Then there is ESN for Ecrater Store members, and from there you can go to Online Sellers. Another place for some of the crafters, and repurposers to collect at is called Creating the Hive. Some of the other places I also like to associate myself with is of course the big one Facebook, but I have also found I am enjoying the new Google+ too. There is Twitter which I do not sign into much, but do have things being posted there that have been set up from different places as well. So, while I post something at one place, it is not only seen there, but with twitter as well. Along with this one I also am signed with LinkedIn. Another place that is showing up on Google Searches I have noticed when researching with different pieces is Pinterest. That place is very addictive, and when you see something you like that you would like to share with others you "pin it", save it to one of the "albums" you have set at Pinterest, and others will view items, pin them again which others will see, and so on. Very addictive little place to belong to as well.  If you would like to see some of these places make sure to look in the right side bar of my site here, and find the clickable buttons to take you there.


I know that Social Medias seem like such a waste of time to some, but it has been proven that others have gotten higher views from such places, and some have made sales because of some of these places too. The more exposure, the more your name is seen, the more you can benefit from it. Using these places are a great way of promoting your stores, blogs, websites, links to you, and so on.  Remember, I am not saying you have to sign up to all of them, and belong to a long list of them, but associating yourself with a few of them is good for you, and your business. Just like blogging.....google and the search engines like fresh content which helps them to know to crawl there, and check things out. So, next time you are out roaming the internet, and looking for ways to show your name more, keep in mind that Social Medias are a good thing to be involved with.

I want to thank everyone for visiting with LilacsNDreams, and hope I was able to share some things with you as well. If you have any question, would like to comment, and most of all maybe share something with the rest of us, please do so. Love hearing from everyone, and don't forget to say Hi letting me know you stopped by too.

Anchor Hocking Forest Green Glass Ruffled Rim Vase

Anchor Hocking Forest Green Glass Ruffled Rim Vase 1950 to 1957. Welcome to LilacsNDreams, and always happy to see you here! 

The Hocking Glass Company had been started in 1905 by an Isaac J. Collins. Isaac had been named after the Hocking River which was near Lancaster, Ohio. That location had previously been a carbon company. When Mr. Collins purchased this property, the building at that time was black with soot which had been from the previous owners. The locals then would call the Glass Plant the "Black Cat". Unfortunately, the Black Cat was destroyed by a fire in 1924. A new plant had then been built, and Hocking had continued on. 


The Forest Green had been manufactured by Anchor Hocking from the time of 1950 to 1957. The vase you are seeing is one of four from this Green Glass Line. 


The vase is about 3 1/2 inches tall, has an adorable ruffled rim, and then the wide or expanded body. Many uses for these pieces, they have a great transparent green color, use as a mini vase with some flowers, set on your window seals, use in table arrangements, set by themselves in places that fit with your home decor, and for those who like to repurpose and upcycle there are uses for it too. If you will visit my post prior to this one, you will see how I am showing this with a Repurposed Glass Cloche that was done by Me. Watch my LilacsNDreams Artfire store for this vintage piece accompanying the glass cloche. 

Thanks so much for visiting with LilacsNDreams! Any questions ask, you are welcome to share something with all of us here, leave a comment, and please don't forget to say Hi so I know you were here too. Take care, and see you again soon.

 

Glass Cloches Bell Dome Decorative Home Decor Serving

Glass Cloches Bell Dome Decorative Home Decor Serving. Welcome to LilacsNDreams, and glad to see you visiting with Me! Above the pictures you are viewing are all Glass Cloches that I have repurposed so far. The top left pink one is listed with my LilacsNDreams Artfire store, and is the first one that I made. The other two are ready to be listed with my store. Slight delay this week, but is a working progress. 

Some people will ask, What is a cloche? A cloche is french for bell. Cloche jars were originally hand blown jars used to protect plants from cold, and frost. You will also find that they may be referred to the following as well.
• Bell instrument especially with music. A restaurant Bell shaped cover for plate of food used to retain warmth. A dome shaped clay oven used for baking single loaf breads.
• Row Cover: a covering which is for protecting plants from cold temperatures
• Cloche Hat: close fitting hat/womens which is worn by flappers in the 20s


Basically a Cloche was, and still is one of the latest rages in home decor. There are websites that sell these. Some of the prices from these sites are quite spendy. I myself prefer not to pay some of them prices which I am sure others feel the same way too. So, I have been making my own that I will be offering with my store at Artfire. I have seen others who have made these as well, and some of them are just gorgeous with what they do, and how they present them! Sometimes vintage glass pieces are used, and sometimes a more modern piece is used as well. After viewing websites, and what others have to offer I started to watch different Thrift Stores for pieces that I could also use myself. I also would check through some of my own belongings at home, other pieces of inventory I have, and etc.

Cloches have many uses for them. They are pretty, and can be paired with many different things in order for you to get a variety of looks. They look great adorning mantles, counters, tables, knick knack shelves, using woodland floral arrangements, single flowers, succulents, showing precious photos, collections of seashells, vintage objects, ornaments, and many many possibilities. Can be used for everyday, holidays, special occasions, gifts, and so on. They are versatile because of what you choose to put under it. 

Thanks for visiting with LilacsNDreams, and hope you enjoyed your visit. Remember, you are always welcome to share with everyone here, leave a comment, and don't forget to say Hi so I know you visited with me too. Love hearing from everyone. Make sure to check out my store, and watch for others that I am completing and will be listing too. Take care everyone, and see you again soon. 

Anchor Hocking Glass Company Bubble Pattern 1937 to 1965

Anchor Hocking Glass Company Bubble Pattern 1937 to 1965.


Hello, and Welcome to LilacsNDreams! As many know I do sales online with different market places. When listing treasures that are found by thrifting, yard sales, flea markets, estate sales, and etc I often research before listing them. I like to see how popular others listing same item at the time, read in my books for information if I have one to help, and a lot of research is done online with other sellers of like items. My passions are with vintage, collectibles, glassware, reused, repurposed, recreating, and things like that. 


This item Anchor Hocking Milk Glass Bubble Pattern Bowl is listed with my store at Artfire. Here is a little bit of research that I was able to find on it. Collectors are calling this pattern "Bubble". I have also seen it referenced as Bullseye, and Provincial too. Anchor Hocking Glass Company which is of Lancaster, Ohio first produced this pattern in 1937. 


There are different Bubble colors for different years which are:
1937 - crystal, forest green, sapphire blue
1959 - white milk glass 
1963 - pink which was in a very limited number, and the royal ruby
There is also iridescent which is rare, vitrock, amber and other hocking colors


The exceedingly, orbicular bubbles have managed to be timeless in blending as well as with today's decorating themes as they did when they were first issued. 


Hope you enjoyed the little history lesson with this Anchor Hocking piece I have listed, and found something useful for you to use as well. Thanks for visiting with LilacsNDreams, and see you again soon. Take care.

Repurposing Your Favorite Treasures For Home and For Selling

Repurposing Your Favorite Treasures For the Home and For Selling too. 


Hello, and Welcome to LilacsNDreams! Always happy to have you visiting with me! There are many things that many of us do with crafting items. Some of us make completely handmade, some of us use items and alter them, we paint, we glue, we cut, we design, and a little bit of everything comes together for us who like to do this. All of these treasures are made with love, thought, and are not mass produced. One-of-a-kind pieces that are special in many ways. I enjoy, and think it is fun to see creativity, and the excellence of so many very talented people. I am in awe with so many things I see on the internet, through different market places, and am intrigued by all of it too. 

So, What are some of your favorite things to craft? What are some of your favorite things to use, and craft with? Do you just work with one area, or are your interests spread with many things? I myself enjoy repurposing pieces of different things I find. I love glassware, and enjoy using some of that to work with. I enjoy the different plates I find, the colors, the designs, and enjoy putting these pieces together to make one-of-a-kind treasures for others to enjoy. Many of the pieces I find are lonely pieces, some are pieces from broken sets that did not sell in one of my online stores, many are gently used pieces, some are vintage pieces, some of the pieces might have a slight flaw with them, but are still very usable too.  I find my pieces with thrift stores, good wills, junking, yard sales, and just about anywhere that someone has something to offer.

There is so much out there I want to do, want to work with, and try to create. Right now I am in a rut of making cake plate stands, candle holders, jewelry holders, candy dishes, soap dishes, catch alls, and pieces that fit with many home decors. I enjoy making these pieces because they are versatile, and have many uses. 

I adore cloches, and have made a couple of them myself. My 1st piece was ok, but I enjoy the second piece I made from a glass vase, and hope to get it offered into my Artfire store this weekend too. I have about 4 cheese plate cloches here that I have painted the wood bases...all a different color. They are dried, one I will add a candle holder to it painted the same color to raise it, make it a pedestal for it. Then, on couple of them I want to add some tea or coffee stained music paper to the inside of the bases. Found myself doing too much at once:) I have 4 different sized wooden pedestal bowls that are all painted, and I am working on getting those offered in my Artfire store too. Although....one I might keep for me....LOL:) 

I have another piece that was a kitchen utensil of sorts. I have it primed, and painted, and here it sits. A doilie I thought would work great with it....I want this piece to be a wall hanging.....but the doilie was not as I had planned on with this piece. So, I have to look through some of my inventory at home here to find another one, find some paper to mod podge with it, maybe add some lace, buttons, and you know....something like that.  When the mood hits right, and I get inspired is when it will be completed. I have some pieces for yet some others projects I have in mind...should be fun! But, I first want to complete what few pieces I have here now before I become overwhelmed with all of it.

Anyway, I am sooo enjoying this, and find myself at peace when working on different things too. I enjoy painting the smaller things, gluing, light sanding, putting things together, and just a little bit of everything. I enjoy seeing the work of others, and learning from many who have shared things along the way too. But, enough of me now. What do you like to do? What are some of your favorite things you have made, repurposed, altered, and so on? Would love to see what others have been up to. Please share with all of us when you have the chance:)

Hope everyone has a great weekend.....Tomorrow is Friday already! Where did this week go? Take care, and Happy Crafting everyone!:) See you the next time.