I didn't manage to take any photos today. I normally set up my portable photo studio (point and shoot camera, patio table and slate tile) on my balcony, but today we seem to be experiencing a bit of Hurricane Earl. Winds are gusting strong enough to blow the BBQ cover off, it's raining, and it's damn COLD! Try taking pictures while your earrings are shimmying to beat the band. I don't think the motion stop feature is THAT effective.
Last time I blogged (I love that verb--it sounds like a euphemism for clogging the toilet by vomiting into it too much) I had figured out the ins and outs of Canada Post, written my shop policies and a bio, and signed up for PayPal. As luck would have it, my kids, (I'll call them Rampaige and Helliam,) were being spirited off to the ancestral family home in rural New Brunswick by the grandparents, bless their misguided souls, for two whole weeks! That meant I would have extended periods of uninterrupted time to concentrate on setting up my Etsy shop. Pure luxury!
Saturday, September 4, 2010
A Store is Born Part II
Classroom finally ready! Bulletin boards decorated, deskplates on desks, lockers assigned--all ready for Tuesday. I'm hopeful that I can get some photographing done this weekend so I can list some new items on my Etsy shop.
Back when I was preparing to open my Etsy shop, one of the things I had to research was shipping. Before I could write my shipping profiles, I had to figure out how I was going to ship items to the buyers. Up to this point, my experience with Canada Post consisted of sticking a stamp on an envelope and dropping it in the mailbox, or opening my crammed mailbox and struggling to extract the bills without destroying them. I needed to know how to wrap the packages, how long shipping would take, and how much to charge buyers. I tried to navigate Canada Post's website, but it was about as easily navigable as a meerkat family's den. Instead, I went to the post office with a sample of a typical package, and asked the clerk how much shipping might cost to mail that package anywhere in Canada, the U.S., or internationally. Apparently, the package has to fit into a 2 cm plexiglass slot, or it costs more. Armed with this knowledge, I was ready to fill out my shipping profiles. All that was left was to sign up for a PayPal account, write a bio, hammer out my refund and exchange policies, and write some descriptions for my jewellery.
I'm falling asleep at the wheel here, so I'll continue this thread next time. Good night, all.
Back when I was preparing to open my Etsy shop, one of the things I had to research was shipping. Before I could write my shipping profiles, I had to figure out how I was going to ship items to the buyers. Up to this point, my experience with Canada Post consisted of sticking a stamp on an envelope and dropping it in the mailbox, or opening my crammed mailbox and struggling to extract the bills without destroying them. I needed to know how to wrap the packages, how long shipping would take, and how much to charge buyers. I tried to navigate Canada Post's website, but it was about as easily navigable as a meerkat family's den. Instead, I went to the post office with a sample of a typical package, and asked the clerk how much shipping might cost to mail that package anywhere in Canada, the U.S., or internationally. Apparently, the package has to fit into a 2 cm plexiglass slot, or it costs more. Armed with this knowledge, I was ready to fill out my shipping profiles. All that was left was to sign up for a PayPal account, write a bio, hammer out my refund and exchange policies, and write some descriptions for my jewellery.
I'm falling asleep at the wheel here, so I'll continue this thread next time. Good night, all.
Thursday, September 2, 2010
A Store is Born
Hello, blogreaders. Just got home from work, where I spent twelve hours moving my classroom, organizing my stuff, and setting up for the first day of school. I don't understand why, despite the fact that I've been doing this for fifteen years, this process never gets any easier or quicker. I must be working hard, but not working smart, as they say.
Last I blogged, I had just done a business name search and chosen the name Bead Planet. I paid for and received my Master Business License, Business Registration number, and Vendor Permit. Now everything felt official. The next step was to figure out sales tax. Before July, 2010, Ontario businesses had to collect and remit 8% sales tax as well as 5% GST on taxable goods, such as jewellery. If your annual sales will be less than $30 000.00, (ha, ha) you are exempt from the hassle of collecting and remitting GST, but not PST.
Last I blogged, I had just done a business name search and chosen the name Bead Planet. I paid for and received my Master Business License, Business Registration number, and Vendor Permit. Now everything felt official. The next step was to figure out sales tax. Before July, 2010, Ontario businesses had to collect and remit 8% sales tax as well as 5% GST on taxable goods, such as jewellery. If your annual sales will be less than $30 000.00, (ha, ha) you are exempt from the hassle of collecting and remitting GST, but not PST.
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