by Nicole Ouellette | Dec 30, 2009 | This Week In Business
Happy Holidays! This is always a fun time of year where books are closing, final bills are going out, and businesses (and individuals come to think of it) are otherwise getting ready to begin again with a clean slate.
Here’s what’s been going on the last two weeks:
I am starting to draw a salary on January 1.
Since the official full time start of my business in May up until this moment, I have been living entirely on savings and income from my part time jobs (the inn this summer and very sporadic French tutoring in the present). I’ve been putting all business money into a business account (DBA) and using this account only on occasion to buy things for my business like web hosting or a new printer.
by Nicole Ouellette | Dec 29, 2009 | Too Cute Tuesday
Too Cute Tuesday (TCT) is a weekly event on the Breaking Even blog that involves friends, crafting, and cocktailing. Every week it’s a different, inexpensive craft to make and a different, fun cocktail to keep things social. If you have an idea for a craft or otherwise want to participate,contact Nicole.
This Tuesday was a quiet one here at Craft Central. With everyone out with family, or on dates, or just staying inside and safe from subzero temperatures and strong winds here in Maine, I (Nicole) crafted alone this evening.
Realizing earlier in the week that we had an abundance of glass beads in our stash, I tried unsuccessfully to think of a creative way to use them. Stuck, I took the predicament to the Facebook page for ideas. Jodi of Living The Road Less Traveled recommended I make bookmarks, sun catchers, or decorative glass tags (for parties). Kelly at Almost Frugal seconded the notion of wine glass tags, suggesting I use hook earring bases as the part that loops onto the rim of the glass. TCTers are so smart!
by Nicole Ouellette | Dec 29, 2009 | Marketing Monday
Know an individual or business doing something cool to promote themselves online? Let me know about it and they might be featured as part of Marketing Monday.
This week’s inspiration actually came to me as I was driving in the middle of a snow/ice storm back home from Christmas festivities.
A radio ad in the middle of the Maine woods had the familiar Marden’s jingle but urged me to join Marden’s on Facebook and Twitter. I especially perked up when they mentioned
to visit the Marden’s website to see the weekly flyer
before it got into the newspapers.
For those of you less familiar, Marden’s is a Maine institution, known in part for its cheesy catchy jingle “I should have bought it, when I saw it, at Mardens!” and for its great deals on everything. (If you don’t have to feed it, Marden’s sells it.) It’s a salvage store with locations across the state, meaning its inventory is not only location dependent but also constantly changing.
Marden’s would no doubt be a success in Maine regardless of publicity (Mainers are in general a practical people who love a deal) but all it’s promotional efforts have made Mardens the success it is today.
Here’s what Mardens is doing right:
by Nicole Ouellette | Dec 24, 2009 | About Us
Wishing you the happiest of holidays, whatever you celebrate, and the best for you and yours in the coming year.
by Nicole Ouellette | Dec 23, 2009 | Social Media
Friend and blogger Craig started a weekly personal finance chat on Twitter with
BudgetPulse last week. He was looking for cohosts and since I like Craig and talking about money, I offered to be a part of it.
Each week, the topic is different with the undercurrent of money (sound familiar?). Tonight on the Weekly Personal Finance Chat, we’re talking about dating.
What does personal finance have to do with dating. More than you’d think: Who pays? Is it more expensive to be single or in a relationship? Basically all things love and money will be all over Twitter tonight, and if you have a Twitter account, you can be a part of it!
