Starting an on-line Business

[Bev Busby]

Feburary 2012
I've decide to start an on-line business - Why? Why not? I've always liked the idea of working from home. I've always done sewing and knitting. Being short of money over the years, I've had to make Birthday and Christmas presents for friends and family. Oh and the children's teachers at the end of term!! I've made clothes for my children (when they were small), winter jumpers, fancy dress, party frocks and Wedding outfits. I also make the Baldricks for my Husband and Son's Morris team,'The Chalice Morris Men'.

So why not give it a go. The big nudge, there is always one, was when a neighbour moved out and said I could have her 6ft x 8ft shed. I've never been able to get into my Husbands shed. So we move the shed into our garden, and I started to plan.

March 2012

First, after the shed was finally put together, I decided that I would need more light. Having a Husband that never throws anything away, meant that the glass from the old patio doors, could be put into the end wall of the shed.

What about the winter weather? Next insulation and hard board lining. Electrics, well short term that would have to be a long extension lead through the cat flap from the house. It still is by the way.

I managed to pick up a desk from ebay(99p). It just fitted across the end wall of the shed under the new windows. A long piece of wood for a shelf, acts as home for all my books, collected patterns, many sketch and note books. Fabric and wool are stored in two canvas chest of drawers, also from the neighbour (Thanks Heather).

My DAB radio was taken from the kitchen and various baskets, boxes and bags, from all over the house were packed into my shed. A deck chair with plenty of cushions made a comfy seat. I was set up, good to go.

April and May 2012

Life happened. A very close relative  became ill and die suddenly. Thanks to all the staff at the Beacon Centre, Musgrove Park Hospital.Taunton.

 June 2012

When we started having the good weather, remember there was some. I realised that the shed was on the only really sunny spot where we could sit in the garden. So the flower bed next to the shed was dug up, all the flowers kept of course, everything was taken out of the shed,ready for the move. My Husband and son, ( it alright he's a grown up now), spent the day moving the shed 6ft down the garden. Yes there was a lot of swearing and "Couldn't you have put this here to start with"?

Finally they got it in just the right place. As I had to keep reminding them ,"I am female and allowed to change my mind as often as is necessary!"

So with everything back in the shed I started planning, again. But how to get started? I Googled "How to start a business on-line?" Looked though alot of hits, and I mean lots, I  finally found Chris Farrell.(www.chrisfarrell-online.com) Bingo! Everything in idiot proof language. I read through he ebook, and news letters, all free, and finally I was ready to make a website.

July 2012

With a lot of shouting at the laptop, my website went on-line on 9th July. The content wasn't good, just test pieces I'd been told to put on from the e-book. After this I designed my logo, Yes it my own work, but you could really tell that. I then put on my contacts, and wrote all this. It did take me a while to link the pages! So here it is so far.

[Bev Busby]

Thanks, I'm glad I'm not the only one who is spending more time on the lap top, than anything else at the moment.

[Gail Cadogan]

Good for you Bev. I hope that your new venture goes well. I am just getting involved in all this 'online marketing' I find I am spending more time on that than I do creating. I have 3 boys non of them big enough to move a shed! My 'space' is protected with child safety gates!