*SPOTLIGHT*

Our *SPOTLIGHT* of the week is Stacey!

She is the owner behind Krafty Candles!

Stacey's favorite food has to be her chili cheese chips or fries. Maroon is her favorite color and she loves to experiment with candles!

She was born in Missouri but moved back from Alaska in 2003, and her & her husband started their own Tree company. Thus, she decided last year she needed something girly in her life and that's when she started making candles!  She's been married to her husband for 13 years and have 2 children, and a dog named Kodiak. Big family, and doing what she loves.

Favorite Quote is "Live and let Live!"

Fan page facts:
100% handcrafted soy candles/ecowicks with unique scents!

They have over 23 regular scents and Coco Cola is one of them! :)

700 + fans

Don't forget to stop on by and leave some love! :) Tell her MTB sent you!

*SPOTLIGHT* of the WEEK

GOOD MORNING! Today is a new day, and a new week here at MTB :)
Sharing stories of those whose passion who have turned into their calling/fate or what they desire to do!

Meet Kellie at "BOW"dacious Boutique!

Her favorite foods have to have spice.  Pink is the color! Her hobby has to do with Bow making.
She started her boutique a little over a year ago and have been completely amazed at how much it's grown! Her inspiration to start making her own bows and girly things were her two beautiful daughters. Her passion is anything girly.

Her motto is "At "BOW"dacious we are often imitated but never duplicated!"

Some facts about "BOW"dacious {taken from the Facebook Fan page}
Founded: October 30, 2009
18 reviews :) All 5 stars!
In the about section: Handmade Fashions for kids of all ages.... even Grandma!

Thank you for sharing your story with us Kellie! "BOW"dacious Boutique everybody!
Be sure to stop on over and let her know you saw her on MTB.

Networking? What is that?

Question came in a few days ago!

"I don't understand how to gain fans? Some people who don't have really 'great' work have a 1000 or more fans, and I am just curious are they really selling anything or just get the numbers to seem like they have customers?"

Honestly, it shouldn't matter if you have a lot of fans or not, just fans that are purchasing your product, but exposure is always a GOOD thing. I bet a lot of our boutiques out there maybe wondering about something similar to this, or this exact question.

When you are scanning through the many pages of Facebook, just browsing and jumping from pages to pages, keep in mind 'Networking' is a key importance of having a successful fan page. :) You want that exposure and you want to bring in that interest to your fan page and list why your product is GREAT, why should they purchase from you. Don't know what networking is here's the definition...

network - communicate with and within a group {source: http://www.google.com/search?hl=en&defl=en&q=define:networking&sa=X&ei=svdLTd3fKcnpgAemsaAs&sqi=2&ved=0CBYQkAE} 

These fan pages you see with 1000+ fans, definitely know how to network. Networking to find a common ground of how you can work with other pages.

You as a business should network, don't waste a majority of your time on a page if you aren't networking and getting exposure. At first of course, but if your number is at a stand still of +4 or -4, it might not be worth your time to keep updating constantly if there's no feedback!

Feedback also plays a good key in knowing if you are getting anywhere with your page as well. Fan numbers can tell you a lot or very little but feedback let's you know who can see your posts, and who is most likely to respond.

A good thing to do is network with those either who make the same products, or network outside of your circle and find your ground, that will help you gain fans. :)

There are networking sites, for instance Meet the Boutique! Send in your boutique to the Trusted Seller's, Get a review, Donate for a Giveaway, or Read a story or 2 about other boutiques. Or do all of the above! Meet others and get to know each other! :) Use your resources.

Keep warm!

Spotlight of the Week!

MTB'ers, I'm setting up the Spotlight of the Week instead of one everyday.
That way the reeping benefits would be a whole week, with your story told, and shoutouts! :)
{Don't forget that you will get added to the Trusted Seller's list automatically, but you must maintain 5 reviews. If you do not have 5 reviews after the 5th day of being posted, it will come down, and you re apply again.}

Now on to our SPOTLIGHTer! :)
Meet Ashlie~

She's the owner of The Hook Up by MC!
Chocolate is her favorite food! {who doesn't love Chocolate?}
Colors can't beat her Purple, & Lime Green! {rad colors!}
Hobbies she can't contain are the Crafting, Photography, and of course Design!

This is her story, she started The Hook Up because of her wonderful Uncle. Her Uncle was diagnosed with Stage 4 Colon Cancer and after going to his treatment center in Chicago, he asked her to knit/crochet some hats that he could take and add to the box. She did, and then posted them on her Facebook profile. Her family and friends encouraged her to sell her items. Hint hint, The Hook Up was born on October 23, 2010. She would not have done this without the support of her Uncle, family and friends.

"You are one in a million" - Uncle Mark Cotten

{click the photo above to redirect}