DBMB is ALMOST Ready to Launch!

My final buying purchase was just submitted for Fall 2010! (Unless I find something I can't live without in the next few days which is more than likely bound to happen, hehe.) As long as everything goes smoothly, I should be launching August 1st or 2nd! I'm SOO excited! All I have left to do is fix a few minor things with the website, and get a few more packaging materials, and wa-la! I'm officially an open business!

 I got invited to do a  guest post on Southern Love's blog on Monday, and I'm really excited! If you haven't, make sure you check out her blog, and go back on Monday to see my post. Thanks Marlie!

Today I also got Paypal Verified! Woo Hoo! This means that I'm legit (well of course I am! haha) and gives my buyers a piece of mind that they are buying from a good merchant.



Woo Hoo!

Again, thank you to all of you guys who have been supporting me! Even those who have been reading the blog who I don't know, or those friends I haven't talked to in a while who read, I appreciate every single one of you!

xoxo - Mandi

Overcoming Obstacles

"Success is often achieved by those who don't know that failure is inevitable. "
Coco Chanel

So yesterday I blogged about the obstacles I have been facing recently in developing my business, Designs By Mandi Boutique.  Today I'm going to share with you some of the ways that I deal with these obstacles. 

#1.  Research

Research, research, research! I'm the queen of teaching myself how to do new things.  If I don't know the answer, or protocol for something google becomes my best friend as I try to find out the answers I need.  I have researched everything about starting your own business, because honestly, I knew nothing about it when I started this adventure.  Sure I had some entrepreneur classes in college, but its not like I really paid attention in any of them!  Research is the key for me to overcome my obstacles, because learning and educating yourself is essential for survival in the business world.

#2. Inspiration

For me, Coco Channel is a huge inspiration to me.  I remember the first time I saw her biography on the history channel - I was literally moved to tears. (This was also the moment I knew that fashion was in my blood.  It was destined to be a part of me, and always will be.)  I could feel her passion, triumphs and tribulations. Coco was an orphan raised by nuns, who opened a hat boutique in her 20's. She then eventually started sewing her own clothing, and ta-da, an Empire was born.  So when I'm feeling a little down, and my confidence is starting to fade I always remember dear Coco. If Coco had obstacles and hardships, then we ALL will!  Sometimes I'll even go online and watch the biography, or head to the library to read more about her.  There's something about Coco's spirit that puts me to ease, and makes me realize - I can do this!
#3. Role Models

People who have "been there, done that" can help a lot. Although my mom doesn't have her own business, she is a fantastic business woman.  She is always giving me new ideas, and tips she has learned from being in the business world.  I would probably be a mess without her! My marketing boss at my "job that pays the bills" is also a good role model.  He has been in the marketing field for years, and has taught me a lot. I also look up to a lot of my blogger friends who have their own businesses. 

#4. Believing in Yourself

When things are though, sometimes it can get really hard to keep believing in yourself.  I have learned that a positive outlook on everything in life is essential to be successful and happy.  When I get down in the dumps, or I'm losing confidence in myself, it helps me to take a look at how far you have come in my life.

 Growing up I was not a very good student.  They tested me for learning disabilities, and I was constantly having to go to special reading and math groups and tutors. I didn't made the honor roll like the other kids, and my horrendous fourth grade teacher used to torment me by making me do long division on the board in front of the whole class, until I started crying. (Funny now, considering I LOVE to read and I'm basically my own accountant with DBMB.)  Eventually I started gaining confidence in myself, and I just started learning "my way." (I'm visual, and back then the schools I went to did not teach in a way that was easy for me to learn).  A lot of the reason I made it through, was my dad.  He pushed me, spent countless hours at the dinning room table helping me with math equations, and told me that if I put my mind to something I could do it.  Once I started believing this, things changed drastically.  I got into college, moved hundreds of miles away from my home, met new people, and became myself.  I've truly come a long way, and I still have a long way to go to complete my dreams and goals in life. During this process, I've come to the conclusion that sometimes, remembering the past can give you strength to take the future by the horns and run with it.

Until tomorrow, xoxo.

My Obstacles of DBMB

OK, so I just wrote a WHOLE blog about obstacles, and wouldn't you know, I hit a key on my laptop and it deleted the whole thing.  I cant freaking believe it! Anyway - lets try this again... 

Obstacles. 

 Websters dictionary defines an obstacle as, "Something that impedes progress or achievement." We all have obstacles in different aspects our lives, but sometimes they rear their ugly faces all at once, and it can be overwhelming.  That's the way this week has been for me - in more ways than one. This post, however, I will be sharing just DBMB obstacles I have faced recently.

Obstacles, when opening your own business, can be overwhelming.  You have to worry about every single aspect of the business you are trying to create, and it can be utterly exhausting.  Most of the time you have to do everything yourself, with your own money and time.  There can be a million things that stand in your way, but I'm going to share with you guys just a couple of mine.

#1. Indecisiveness

The biggest challenge I face in opening DBMB is the buying process.  I am, by nature, a very indecisive person.  This is not a great quality for a buyer! When buying merchandise you must be able to make good decisions, and stick with them.  I am still struggling with this.  I will look at a piece of jewelry and think, "wow this is amazing!" and then the next day, when I go to buy it I'll think, "wow..I wonder if anyone will buy this? Maybe I should look for something else."

 Opinions from friends and family help sometimes, but  most of the time it makes the process even more tedious.  Everyone has their own opinion, and likes and dislikes.  I've come to the conclusion that you cannot please everyone, and to be a good buyer you must keep your target market in mind at all times.  People are going to love some of my items, and they are going to hate some of my items, and I'm just going to have to deal with it. 

...which comes to another obstacle - myself!

#2. Perfectionism

I am a HUGE perfectionist, and it affects every aspect of my life.  Sure, being a perfectionist can be a great thing sometimes.  I'm productive, accountable, and organized.  But perfectionism can be toxic too.  A lot of times it leads to indecision, and obsession.  Nothing and no one is ever perfect, and I have to remind myself of this all the time. I am not perfect, I will never be perfect, and nobody else is perfect!  

#3. Money

I'm not going to lie, it takes some money to start up a business.  You have to buy your licenses, merchandise, websites, domain names, packaging..the list goes on and on.  Right now I am trying to figure out my budget for purchasing merchandise. How many types of necklaces should I have when I launch? This ring or that ring? How many of this design, and that design? Can I afford that?Am I going to be able to pay my bills after this?! (haha, just kidding...kinda.) I have had to keep a very tight budget through this whole process, and record every single expense.  THIS can be very scary and overwhelming.

#4. Confidence

It is imperative to have confidence in yourself and your product when  you start a business.  Most of the time this is not too much of a problem for me, but every once in a while I have that whisper in the back of my head asking me, "Mandi, what the heck do you think you are doing? You can't do this! What makes you think you can live your dream?! Your still that shy, bookwormish awkward girl you were in 7th grade. Give it up."  It's times like these I have to remember that girl, look at where I am now, and say to that voice, "I am NOT the same person.  I can do this, and I will. So screw you."

 And then I move on.

 I think everyone has times where they think they can't do something, and they loose their confidence for a little while.  It can be tough to overcome, but it can be done. 

Tomorrow I will post how I overcome some of these obstacles.  It can be very challenging, but I'm a work in progress, and so is Designs by Mandi Boutique.  So until tomorrow...

xoxo.

My Weekend, Blog Hoppin, and DBMB Update

I spent this weekend with my very best friend - my mama!

She came down here to Columbus from Troy to stay with us, and boy did we have fun! We spent all weekend shopping and cooking, my two favorite things to do.  Mom and I LOVE to thrift shop.  There's something about finding treasures in a pile of junk that's really addicting.  We also made an amazing dinner for my boyfriend Ryan.  Chicken, green beans, red skin potatoes, and cheese fondue.  It was amazing! (Thanks to one of my favorite Food Network chefs, Sandra Lee for the amazing recipes!) To top off our amazing dinner I made peanut butter fudge cookies. 

 They were delicious, and I think Ry finished them off in about two hours. :)

I hope all of you had as great of a weekend as I did! All you fellow bloggers, don't forget to stop by Southern Reflections to join the blog hop today!

Oh, and a quick DBMB update:  My tentative website launch with merchandise is August 1st! Lets hope I can get everything ready by then! Wish me luck :)