No More Phone Number

Why do I no longer list a phone number on my website?

Because I don't use it.  I don't ever answer it - my voice recording warned people of this - I rarely check it and this being an online internet business, I really prefer that people contact me via e-mail.  I had a phone number because that's what you're supposed to have if you're a business. People want to know that they can call somebody.

 Mostly that's because it's quicker.  If you don't want to go through the annoyance of typing in an order, searching the website, it's easier to call someone.  And when you're mad because you can't figure out something about placing the order, or because the order you placed Saturday morning  to be shipped First Class didn't arrive this Monday morning, typing just doesn't do it. That indignant frustration gets out quicker if you can yell in person at someone.

So, no more phone number because I'm just leading you on to think I'd answer it or call you back. I won't and I don't.

Everything else can be done via  e-mail, you know.  You can place orders via e-mail though you have to type stuff out.  You can type in caps and so yell at people, but sometimes it so much more satisfying to yell at a human being. I will answer questions and accusations, comments and all of that, via e-mail.  I'm as real in e-mail as I am on the phone.  Maybe realer.  Using e-mail, you just have to be patient - the replies will not be instant.  I'm not talking text messaging.


WHAT KIND OF A BUSINESS DOES THIS?  

Oh my.  Well, let me start by saying, despite the fears that some people have, it is not a business designed to rip off people of their hard earned $12.00 to $20.00 (average sized orders).

It is also not a business where a bunch of people sit by a phone all day, taking orders or making phone calls.  It's just me.

I've been advised to hire people to do that - answer the phone.  That's how my business will grow.

Yeah, no.

I'm a small time part time business now.  Got the bookplates, need to do something with the inventory.  And the money helps.  But - this is not set up to be a business that will grow every year, bigger and bigger.  At least not under my watch. I'm not a capitalist, I'm a Quaker.  A rude Quaker.

This is a tiny little on-line business that was designed to supplement my retirement income some 10 years ago, grown out of a need to be busy and a love of bookplates.


Still not fully retired, but the internet and I have both changed.  When I started, there was only one other site that sold bookplates on-line.  They took big orders, I did small ones.  Now there are a whole lot of bookplate businesses, plus a lot of places where the resourceful and/or creative can make their own.

Also,  I'm around less, I'm doing other things because I'm realizing how short life is, and how much I'd rather be living my life.  I long for the day when I can sell this little bookplate business and move on.  Or just toss out the inventory I have and shut down the bookplate section and move on.  That day is coming soon.

And then I will spend my time with grandkids, travel, friends and making stuff without having to do customer service, shipping, picking and packing and unnecessary complaints.

A Tarot Deck Fundraiser.....do you know Regretsy.com?

I have been selling some of my work on Etsy.com, a very successful and well known source for artists and those who make handmade products. It can be a great source for that special gift - although lately you have to be careful you're not buying something not quite up to par from what many of us expect there.

My favorite place to hang out these days is Regretsy.com - run by April Winchell (daughter of Paul Winchell) - it's a fund-raising site that pokes fun at some of the bloopers and crazy things you might find on Etsy. In addition, Regretsy provides the service of pointing out the too many rip off artists and resellers (buy it in Taiwan, ship it here and say you made it yourself, etc.) who are trying to take advantage of Etsy.

Which segues into the video I want to show you all. 25 of Regretsy's artists are working together under the care of fellow artist Wendy Sheridan to create a unique deck of 78 Tarot Cards. The art is based on the humor found at Regretsy.

Warning: this is adult humor. And I mean adult. Please don't visit Regretsy in the presence of children (I don't go there when my 10 year old grandson is in the same room) or if you don't find cussing or reproductive or bodily function humor amusing. This isn't juvenile humor - it's witty, snarky, very adult humor. You have been warned. (the video is fine)

Here's a link that will take you to our fundraising project on Kickstarter and our video. Or you can just watch my video (I'm only on the other one a little)... or my bloopers...

I'm also looking for feedback on which of the two designs I did should be used for my  contributing tarot card..if you want to take a look and pass a vote, please do!  Go here to look and vote!

Thanks for looking!

You have an account but are you gettting your discount?

   Are you getting your wholesale or returning customer discount when you order your bookplates from me?

  Lately I've noticed orders coming in from customers who are listed as faithful return customers or booksellers, librarians, teachers or other shop owners. I can see they have have faithfully logged into their accounts - but there is no discount showing.   Since others are getting their discounts, I thought the answer might lie in the peculiarities of my software system.

First you need to set up an account.  Then you need to let me know you've set up an account by e-mailing me (check out the website for how to do that).  Wait for me to manually set you up. Now, the important part.

In order to get your discount you need to FIRST sign into your account, then place items in your basket.  The discount will ONLY apply to items you place in your basket AFTER you have logged in to your account.

If you wait to sign in until the check-out process, the discount won't apply. 

This info will be tweeted, too -  when placing an order - please log in first!

On Vacation...sort of...

Vacation, these days, isn't what it used to be. Nowadays I squeeze it in where I can. Usually it has something to do with something that needs to be done as cost effectively as possible.

In any case, the website is still open for orders. These will be processed starting next Monday, upon my return from this mini-vacation. The same is true of etsy orders.

Of course anything ordered from the Booklover shop or Nana's Alley - these will be processed as usual, since I don't have to do those myself!

See y'all later.

Cats Books Life is Sweet Custom Jewelry from Zazzle.com

There's also booklover jewelry for sale on my Cafepress account - here's one example...

Cats Books Life is Sweet by friendlyspirit

Meanwhile, with spring coming it's time to do some yardwork and house cleaning. I'm giving some serious thought to having this be the last year for the bookplate section of my business, for reasons I will go into at another time. It isn't the most portable business...