So, here we are, and it's gone past the longest day. That means that 2012 is half way done. Every year (for the past 20 years or so), it always surprises me when Christmas comes so fast as I have a habit of thinking half way through the year is really September time.

But having a really seasonal business sellling gifts, helps to focus my mind. My spring range has looked  great on the site and I'm looking forward to exhibiting at Harrogate Home and Gift in July with the new range. I feel like maybe I have now sorted out the sort of range and gifts which sell really well, so it should be good! But I am already thinking of the Christmas range and have some great ideas already in the process.

As for today, I'm putting finishing touches to the new labels for the new ranges. Getting to grips with my design software has tested the old patience...but I finally have it sussed, so am  nearly finished. Then, to be honest, it's tools doon (as they say up here). This time next week I'll be heading west...way west, to Vancouver and the Rockies - can't wait! A few weeks R&R, I really am so excited. So the business reigns passed to Number One Daughter and Number One Son and their Respective Partners to hold the fort while I am off - they also have dogs, chickens, chicks, fish and a hamster to take care of! I'm sure they'll manage, they know the business inside out, and the cleaner has full instructions.

All the work I've pulled together over the past two months will gently fall into place and when I return to head straight to Harrogate for a few days (with one day off to attend Number One Son's graduation - 2:1 MEng - clever boy), I will be at home for a few weeks before a little jaunt to France - oh la la!

New gift ranges for Spring

I'm very excited this week. We're having lots of new arrivals daily being delivered.

Last week our new bamboo socks arrived and are now on the website for sale. I tested these socks out on all my relatives at Christmas so everyone got an extra present of a pair of socks! The feedback was amazing, everyone just loved them, they are so comfortable, with extra padding on the sole and they are light yet warm at the same time. So check out our new SockTins.

So what else in new? We've just delivered our latest corporate branded order to Egger UK, for their customer golf day at the fabulous Close House in Northumberland, they were very pleased with the gifts, and so different from the usual boring stuff you get at golf days, well done Egger for thinking of giving something memorable to their customers to remind of them of the day long after it's gone.

So today is delivery time for our new GardenTins. One for Her, one for Him and one for Kids - lovely gift ideas for those friends and family who love to garden and you;re just lacking in inspiration of what to buy them this year for their birthday! GardenTins will be launching in the next two weeks.

And last, our new ScentTins will launch this weekend. Two pretty sachets and two magnetic radiator clips.....with the most beautiful fragrances for your home or office. The sachets provide a beautiful aroma and then when the heating comes on you get a burst of fragrance - wonderful. And to complete the gift, you get a matching, soy candle in the same fragrance. The ScentTins are really a fab gift for teachers end of year, house moving, job leaving, birthdays - you name it, they fit the bill. We'll wrap in our GiftTins, and even deliver for you all in the price.

Happy Gifting everyone!

Anne

Well, it's almost half way through April, how did that happen?

Harrogate Home and Gift is starting to loom large and I have ordered and designed all my new ranges for launch at the show. All I have to do now is design and print a new catalogues, review labelling - what a trouble that is in my life - why is packaging and labelling so difficult!! Then I have to find a lovely friend to work the stand while I am at my son's graduation one day, while my daughter is erecting and manning the stand for two days....it's all go - but good!

I'm in a good routine now as I only work three days each week, then I can spend four days a week in the business which is starting to pay dividends - more orders, more marketing and selling, more creativity and meeting some great new people on Twitter - I'd like to know how many exactly, small businesses run by less than five people are out there in the UK. I believe we're a very entrepreneurial nation, and it would be fantastic if we could all be stored somewhere in a directory which was free and very accessible - one day...

But for now, I am awarding myself the afternoon off, so it's back to uploading details for Amazon, and packing 50 GolfTins for a corporate golf day - logo'd towels arriving this morning!

Wishing the world a great weekend.

So, it's Monday morning, bright and breezy (which is slightly odd for me...). I have been up since 6am packing off my first deliveries for today for Mother's Day on Sunday - all men clearly buying for their Mums, that's so sweet, and Mums will be so happy with all the beautiful handmade bath bombs and blasters coming their way!

Tonight I'm at Poplar Tree Garden Centre just South of Durham for a special evening shopping event - with Sunday coming up for last minute purchases. It looks a fantastic garden centre so I may well be tempted to do some shopping myself!

The rest of the week will involve updating my business plan and financials - I can't divulge why, but it's quite an exciting development - more news to come! I also need to be ordering my news ranges, get my new brochure sorted and start thinking about letting my wholesalers know of the new products we've got available from April - lots to do - but first of all, it's off to the day job to help others with their businesses!

Happy Monday!

Well that's simply ridiculous that we were so busy last autumn I never posted a blog after September!

So now it's 2012, a New Year with many plans for developing Giftinatin into its fourth year.

We now have 12 retailers stocking our GiftTins with reports of good sales over the Christmas period.

We've also launched our new Mens Grooming Tins which feature Jagger handmade best badger shaving brushes and handmade, natural organic shaving soap and face creams - a really amazing gift for the man in your life - a really fantastic shave, and beautiful products to heal and treat the skin. Of course they all come presented in our unique GiftTins which the man in your life can then throw all his bits and bobs in rather than leaving about the house!

So this yea we welcome Annette Roberts in Scotland who is visiting retailers and offering them the opportunity to retail GiftTins. If you're interested get in touch and I'll ask Annette to pop in.

In the next few months we'll also be setting away our Party Planning side of the business too. If you fancy it, or know of anyone who would like to work part time hours, loves gifts and would like to earn some commission, let me know!

We have now recovered from the all the Christmas fairs of 2011. This year we will be concentrating on mainly B2B sales - I may cave in a do a couple of local Christmas Fairs if the price is attractive and I can sleep in my own bed!

Now I am in my day job just three days a week, it leaves me four days a week to drive the business - so onwards and upwards campers, much to do, to source, to price, to deliver...Happy New Year!