The SweetSavours Gogo Has Begun!

Hiya!

I've said it before, learning to make lotion let loose my “mad scientist” alter ego! I was finding healing solutions for those I care about, as well as for myself. A few years after noticing the remarkable difference in my skin, many of my friends and family began to buy my lotions. What began as the need to heal my damaged skin became a vision that has now transformed into SweetSavours Natural Body Care Apothecary. 

My goal is for SweetSavours to make its public debut on national Small Business Saturday, November 29, 2014 at the Phoenix Public Market in Phoenix, AZ.  There, I will also launch the newly formulated products that include body, lip, hand, and foot care.  Maybe I'm a little biased but I do believe the “savours,” the products I make are in a league of their own.  The SweetSavours standard is – "love infused, need-formulated, small batch, handcrafted, natural body care products." 

As do all businesses, SweetSavours has had its economical ups and downs and last fall I thought about shutting the doors of my business.  I got the advice I needed to hear when I was told to remember why and how SweetSavours' began, raise my expectations of what SweetSavours can be, establish new goals and determine what I need to do to make my vision a reality.

I realized early on that I can’t do this by myself. I believe "It takes a village to build a strong small business." From the owners of a company to its customers, it takes a multitude of people to make a small business grow and survive. When I realized I couldn't build my business by myself, I was thankful to have the answer made known. 

Crowdfunding has been around for a while but came more into focus in 2012 when the JOBs Act was signed into law. It is the practice of  funding a project or venture by raising monetary contributions from a large number of people, typically via the internet. This gives businesses, like SweetSavours, the freedom to ask its customers, friends and anyone who chooses, to contribute money to the business. The crowdfunding concept is NOT an investment opportunity. With every contribution a business receives, that business will give the contributor a "perk", or gift, in return.

The complete funding goal of the SweetSavours campaign is to raise $7,350 by November 30, 2014.  The funds raised will be used to purchase the ingredients and containers for the newly formulated products, increase social media and local publicity and help SweetSavours make its public debut on Small Business Saturday, November 29, 2014 at the Phoenix Public Market. I am asking for you to support SweetSavours and make a contribution that will help this business grow.

Your contribution will help make the vision of SweetSavours Natural Body Care Apothecary become a REALITY! Time is key right now and response to the crowdfunding campaign has been slow. The fact is, in order to keep SweetSavours operating and make it's opening on the 29th, I need to have at least $750 more in contributions by November 8, 2014.  With this amount in contributions, I can begin to work on what needs to happen before November 29th. The reality for SweetSavours is, if this portion of the campaign goal isn't met, I will have to close my business.  This is something I'm not yet ready to accept.

I'm asking you to take a look at the SweetSavours crowdfunding campaign by clicking the link, http://igg.me/at/sweetsavours.  You will see the full SweetSavours' campaign, learn more about SweetSavours, see the variety of "perks" SweetSavours has made available to its contributors and learn more about Indiegogo and the crowdfunding concept.

When you support SweetSavours and make a contribution it's not only about the money. Your contribution is a "sweet" gift! You will also become a “Savours’Sweet" and a member of SweetSavours' village. You will receive the perk you've chosen and you'll also be included in "sweet" opportunities like testing new products when the time comes; receiving samples of new products or fragrances to help us make "sweet" decisions; the ability to purchase the new products before the general public and advanced notice of specials and discounts SweetSavours may offer it's "Sweets." If you aren't able to contribute, may I ask you to share the campaign link with people you know?   

I am still believing for contributions to be made and for SweetSavours to not only continue operating but also to grow.  I really don't want to give up now.  Thank you for taking the time, looking at the SweetSavours' campaign and making a decision. 

As always, thanks for bloggin' by. I hope your days are "sweet" and that you "savour" every moment.

Sherri

A Dream CAN Become A Reality

Hiya!

This is a big week for "SweetSavours & Me" and thought I'd give you a glimpse into what's coming up.  I really do believe that with a steadfast mindset and hard work, a dream can become a reality.  With the mindset and working I think we also need to share our hearts and let the dream be made known and live outside of the walls of our minds. 

My body care making journey began with having to take care of my skin.  The vision of SweetSavours Natural Body Care Apothecary, the business, developed from inspiration from my family and friends.  I knew I needed to better define the vision in my head and develop a good, focused picture.  I thought of the SweetSavours' business personality and the kinds of products that will be offered.

SweetSavours will continue to hand make natural body care products that have been formulated to meet the needs of the people who use them in small batches. I will continue to research the benefits and properties to keep the products that SweetSavours will offer, useful and cost effective. At their root, SweetSavours products are; "love infused, need formulated, handcrafted, small batch natural body care products. 

I began with formulating a lotion that would help heal my damaged skin.  From there I needed something that would help my skin retain its moisture.  I set my mind on the line of products I wanted to make. I researched the need to be met, and found that soothing damaged skin and moisturizing dry skin were the two issues most often mentioned.  I kept this in mind and got to work. I reformulated some and updated other formulas. SweetSavours will have a line of 10 products that will address body care, hand care and foot care needs.

I know that doing everything by myself would limit the success of what I do with my business.  I am thankful I have a group of people who help me.  This group of friends and SweetSavours' customers are the "Savours'Sweets."  They give me the boosts I need and offer suggestions for me to consider.  One example is that in preparation for the new products, I reached out to the "Sweets." I let them know that I will offer SweetSavours products that will be available fragranced or fragrance free.  I told them that I didn't want the responsibility of deciding what people smell like but I did want the fragrances to be unisex, male and female. As I said they are "sweet." It was the local group of the "Savours'Sweets" who collectively chose the fragrances for the upcoming SweetSavours' line of products.  This multitude of assistance was a great benefit.

You might remember that my goal is for SweetSavours Natural Body Care Apothecary to make its public debut on Small Business Saturday, November 29, 2014 at the Phoenix Public Market in Phoenix, AZ.  Small Business Saturday is an American shopping holiday held on the Saturday after U.S. Thanksgiving during one of the busiest shopping periods of the year. It was first observed on November 27, 2010 and encourages holiday shoppers to patronize brick and mortar businesses that are small and local. Because this day is widely publicized and I will have some free publicity, SweetSavours will be able to take advantage of this opportunity, especially within the local market in Phoenix.

I chose Phoenix Public Market not only because it's local but also because of the atmosphere at that market. When I've been there before, I haven't seen any bitter competitions between vendors.  During my last visit I didn't see an abundance of body care providers either.  Comparatively, the Phoenix Public Market is more cost effective for SweetSavours and I believe this is a great market to begin with.

In a previous post, I mentioned that I funding is the big hurdle I have to cross with growing this business.  I admit that I did stress a little when I thought about what it will take to fund my vision. "It takes a village to raise a small business" isn't just a phrase, it's a statement of truth.  From the owners to the customers, it takes a multitude of people to make a small business grow and survive.  I really took the time to find sources of funding that will contribute to, not take away from, SweetSavours and its future. I will launch a crowdfunding campaign on Indiegogo.  I'd like give a little more information about this and clear up any confusion. 

Crowdfunding had been around for quite a while but came more into focus in 2012 with the JOBs Act being signed into law. It's the practice of  funding a project or venture by raising monetary contributions from a large number of people, typically via the internet. This gives businesses, like SweetSavours, the freedom to ask its customers, friends and anyone who chooses, to contribute money to the business. The company I have chosen to use is Indiegogo. Indiegogo approves donation-based fundraising campaigns for most anything — music, hobbyists, personal finance needs, charities and whatever else you could think of (except investment). They have had international growth because of their flexibility and broad approach. 

The crowdfunding concept is not an investment opportunity. With every contribution a business receives, that business will give the contributor a perk, or gift, in return. I've decided that with every contribution SweetSavours receives, the contributor will be given a "savour" in return.  On Wednesday, October 22, you can visit the site, http://igg.me/at/sweetsavours.  There you can learn more about the SweetSavours' campaign, see the variety of "perks" SweetSavours has made available to its contributors and learn more about Indiegogo and the crowdfunding concept.

Thanks so much for bloggin' along with SweetSavours & Me.  I hope I've appropriately shared my vision and dream with you. I hope you have a very "sweet" day.

Sherri