Forums: Discussions for entrepreneurs and small business.

Hi... Fairly new to the Nation...

Announcing my personalized and original art clock products.

New and original art work on the face of a clock, or let me digitally create a work of art from your photo memories.

FYI... I am trying to make a go of this hobby-turned-business. Out of necessity I have used it to make it through the months while looking for work. The economy in Michigan is down the tubes and in less then a month I will be homeless. I am planning on relocating from Kalamazoo Michigan to So. Bend Indiana and staying at my brothers for a couple of months ....

I am basically broke and really have no way to promote my business. My landlord has decided to sell the property and that is going to force me to pull up stakes as I have no steady income and no one will rent to me.

I have had some successes. I recently got my Western Michigan Football clock design officially licensed with the help of the Asst. Atheletic Director... getting sales is another problem.

I have had a number of sales to customers across the country via the internet and my websites...but can`t afford real promotion...what I have is via word-of-mouth and it is growing slowly.... Part of what I do is very unique and depends upon artistic values and ability....my customers love my work and I have a growing page of testimonials....

I am looking for ways to promote my business, for investors, outlets, etc. Because of the financial ordeal and joblessness of the last couple years...my credit is terrible, and I am on the verge of bankruptcy...but I have faith in my personalized clock business and will continue working towards it success.

You can check out some samples of the work I do at my websites... be fore-warned...they are under construction... so for specific info or details contact me via email at:

sbasly@sbcglobal.net

I have personalized products, and original art items. From personal to military to college sports...you name it. Here are the sites under construction with some samples:

www.picturemyheart.com
www.militaryclocks.us
www.wmuclocks.com
www.firefightergifts.net
www.christianclocks.net

and a link to my testimonials page:
http://www.freewebs.com/picturemyheart/testimonials.html

Well that is a little bit about me and what I do.

If anyone has suggestions, referrals, or what ever...email me at
sbasly@sbcglobal.net

Thanks,

Stephen

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Regards,
Stephen

Stephen M. Basly, Pres., Picture~My~Heart
sbasly@sbcglobal.net

More Than A Clock... It`s ART! ClockART by Picture-My-Heart (www.picturemyheart.com).

I create Original Art,and Custom Personalized Clocks & Framed Prints (from your photo`s or digital images, forming a composite design with text and background).
THE GIFT FOR GIVING! Very UNIQUE!!
www.picturemyheart.com

Stephen,

Have you thought of partnering with some of the military organizations for the military clocks? Do a research on them, most of them are ran by mom`s and wives of military personnel.  Most of them have their own e-commerce sites and forums perhaps they can carry your product.  It`s worth a try.

Good luck!

LT


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http://www.face2facevideocard.com
"videos can say it like it is"
09-21-2007

www.senatinproperties.com
real estate investments

I personally can relate to what you are going through. Welcome to the world of Entrepreneurs. Stay the course if you beleive in what you are doing and are passionate about it. Here`s a link from another posting I made that may help:

http://www.startupnation.com/forums/7248/1/1

We`re in the same boat.

First thing, get yourself into Google Analytics. It`s free, and although their instructions leave a lot to be desired, you basically put a file in your root folder for each domain. They give you code to put into each page you want tracked (same code on each page of a particular domain).

Then use Startup Nation to keep your name alive, perhaps with a signature link to your main Web site. SuN gets crawled a whole lot (they really push this, and it`s a fantastic opportunity!). Be sure to have your tagline at the start of your SuN profile, because that too gets crawled a whole lot. Don`t forget to put yourself into the Marketplace too!

Investigate SEO writing, and there`ve been numerous threads here on the forums, with an entire topic devoted to it. Go through your site, put in the key phrases wherever you can, including your Alt-Text tags.

Then open up some other free sites that get crawled a lot. Look at Squidoo and put up a lens. Sell on eBay because that has a whole lot of visibility. Put yourself up on Etsy.com, although we`ve not had a whole lot of success there.

Register on Alexa.com, and some of the other big search sites (MSN, Yahoo!). All these are free, taking mostly your own effort and work.

More importantly, focus on ONE Web site...not a bunch. Your product looks fantastic, and you should focus your concentration and efforts into a central "hub" where a customer can find you 1 time, then explore the many options you have available.

We hooked up with PrestoSell.com, which for $10/month gives you an entire order-taking process. Take a look at IB Designs, USA on their example page, to see what you can do with the system. It took me a week to figure out some of the ways to sell customized products, but it`s doable.

If you can`t afford a merchant account, go with PayPal Premier or Business. That`ll give you credit-card payments, although not as simply or elegantly as having an actual merchant account and shopping cart.

Hello and welcome, Stephen. Don`t forget to put up your Marketplace Listing.

I am in agreement with some of what Craig has said. I think maybe focusing on just one website would be helpful. Concentrate your money on one website, making it the best website possible to showcase your product. Invest some in basic SEO. Don`t give up if you really feel the passion for your business!


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Thanks Guys...

I appreciate your suggestions.

I`ll never give up...but right now have to probably move to Ind. or Ohio with a relative. There are no jobs around here and this business isn`t going to support me until i can get a job and afford to pump some cash into it.

I have looked for web design and graphics jobs as well as/400 RPG application development jobs...even factory work.  I even got turned down from a McDonalds because they were cutting back...and a Burger King cuz I was over qualified!  

NOW THAT WAS DEPRESSING...

Anyway it looks like I wil have to move and setup another base of operations.

I think I have to also work on clearing up my financial mess from the past befor proceeding.... medical bills that were incurred without insurance coverage, some credit card bills, etc... all have my credit rating in the toilet and I have a 6-figure debt.

I had to use my 401K in 2003 - 2004. It has just been survival mode since then...If I used my head I would have left this state several years ago when the economy and job market started to fall...but hey...hindsight right!

It looks like bankruptcy may be the only way out. I sure can`t repay anyone while I am now practically homeless...maybe some day down the road when and if the biz takes off and I can become profitable...then maybe I can work on repaying my debts... but for now I need a clean slate so I can start over...

I have been prolonging this for several years now...and for all I know the bad credit may also be impacting my ability to get a job...

And I need to work on filing my fed. taxes. Just a couple years behind...but after a divorce, losing jobs due to the companies closing down or mergers, moving several times and being on the verge of homelessness and penniless...I don`t even know which boxes have which receipts...just a big mess which I let happen from depression, illness, and discouragement....

Well I have decided that is all behind me... I am like a butterfly ready to emerge from a cacoon... I have come up with some products, honed my skills, and after cleaning up this mess will be ready to go...and basically startover.

And I have found an attorney who is willing to take on my case for the price of one Football Clock from the School he went too!  Can`t beat that.

Well that is probably more than I should have shared... but any advice, comments, suggestions, words of encouragement will all be appreciated...

I am also thinking about posting another topic...not quite sure where... but would like to do a posting to have people review my websites and comment on them...maybe give me some criticism or direction on how to proceed and create something the public or my target market...(It seems like middle-age ladies with a good income) would like to look at....

Right now they are under construction/re-construction... and I am aware that a lot of the links are dead ends...but I am working on it as time permits in between the 100 other things I am trying to do (jobs, sales, product design, housing, bankruptcy, my multimedia "E-Books" on CD for Children...etc.)

Anyway here they are...have alook...tell me what ya think... and let me know where a good place would be to post on this forum so I can get people to review my sites...

Contact me via email at:

sbasly@sbcglobal.net

or through this forum.

I have personalized products, and original art items. From personal to military to college sports...you name it.

www.picturemyheart.com
www.militaryclocks.us
www.wmuclocks.com

Thank you all!!!

Stephen

-------------------------

Regards,
Stephen

Stephen M. Basly, Pres., Picture~My~Heart
sbasly@sbcglobal.net

More Than A Clock... It`s ART! ClockART by Picture-My-Heart (www.picturemyheart.com).

I create Original Art,and Custom Personalized Clocks & Framed Prints (from your photo`s or digital images, forming a composite design with text and background).
THE GIFT FOR GIVING! Very UNIQUE!!
www.picturemyheart.com

Hi Stephen,

There is a site called daddydolls. The concept of the site is for kids to have apillow made of the shape of there dad with the dads picture on it, maybe they can help you pull in some customers, or advertise with them.

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Our Goal Is Your Success!
Founder Girls with Goals

Stephen, try not to give up hope. I`ve been where you are, including the credit problems, tax problems, medical bills, and so forth. Yes, bankruptcy sounds awful, but it`s not when it`s used strategically.

If you have to move, then so be it. In modern society, only three things are fundamentally necessary: an address, a phone (and usually computer line), and a vehicle (transportation to work or markets). If you can hold onto those three things, you can dig yourself out of just about anything.

You have a great product, and if you`re selling some right now, then it`s only a question of trying to hang in there until you sell more. Take it one day at a time, and do the best you can. There`s always hope. :-D

CraigL, Stonesledge, Christina, ELCEO, Ltressel, and

Thank you all for your great advice and encouragement. You recommendations and suggestions will be put in to effect as soon as I can get to it all.

I appreciate your interest and taking the time to respond... There is just a lot going on right now and it seems like the whole world is falling apart... if not for the future potential of this personalized clock business and other related items and products I have in mind...I would have nothing left....

But with the skills God has given mem I am finally going to do what I want to do, or always felt I should be doing.... sometimes it means staying committed and losing everything in order to start over....I never had a direction before, or really knew what I wanted to do....but I knew even though programming was profitable, it was only one outlet for my creativity...or a pacifier to for what I reall wanted to be doing....

After the last company I worked for went out of business, I started training myself using graphics programs such as Paintshop Pro.... I have been working at this for over 3-4 years now.... and finally having to use what was a hobby as a business and a means to pull be through  has shown me that there is a sincere interest in what I do!... I have sold a few...

And as time goes by, the sales have been increasing with the times of "drought" are decreasing.... and I get testimonials backall the time.

But it is not enough to fully support myself yet....maybe relocating and getting at least a part-time job in another state will allow me to fund some promotion...

I am not giving up and I am not really that discouraged... I can see a distant light in a long tunnel... I have faith that the Lord is leading me in a direction that is best for me, and once the financial problems are behind me...I am anticipating some exceptional growth ... it is just a matter of getting what I do out in front of the people....

Hope... Oh Yeah... I have plenty of it...along with persistence... I just don`t give up on things that i guess only I believe will someday suceed...  I have had so many people tell me to just let iot go and give it up...on the other hand I have also had many tell me to never give it up that it is a good idea....

But it is funny how it is the strangers that you come across that can give you valid advice...and how in times of adversity you find out how many real friends you DO NOT have...the one who you thought were with you or believed in you... hey...that`s life...but at least I know have alot of it figured out...

I know what I want to do, what I want to pursue. My skills have continued to improve over the years and about a year ago I broke through into a new level of skill and creativity, and have been building from there...

Of course it would all have been a little easier if I had a job!!!  The last 3 years here in Michigan have been nothing but a nightmare....lost jobs, emergency surgery for a collapsed lung, broken relationships, and creditors up the wazoooo...

Anyway I have rambled enough.... again thank you all for your responses and suggestions, and your website advice, etc....  I do look forward to implementing the suggestions, and to talking to you more about what I do and the product I produce... maybe I can pick your brains further  in the future..or maybe you might even be able to help connect me with potential contacts...

The next two-three months are gonna be topsy turvy....once it is behind me and I can settle down...then I can get back to going full-steam ahead on this.

God Bless and every one have a great weekend.

Stephen
sbasly@sbcglobal.net

 

-------------------------

Regards,
Stephen

Stephen M. Basly, Pres., Picture~My~Heart
sbasly@sbcglobal.net

More Than A Clock... It`s ART! ClockART by Picture-My-Heart (www.picturemyheart.com).

I create Original Art,and Custom Personalized Clocks & Framed Prints (from your photo`s or digital images, forming a composite design with text and background).
THE GIFT FOR GIVING! Very UNIQUE!!
www.picturemyheart.com