42 of 52 - Christmas Shipping Reminder

At the moment, all of my stores are still open for business and shipping is continuing within 24 hours of purchase (except on a weekend, items are posted on a Monday). 

My stores are on Etsy (dollars), Folksy (pounds), Gift Wrapped and Gorgeous (pounds) and Dawanda (euros).

If you don't already know, we're expecting our very own Baby Bear at the end of November.  Right in the middle of prime Christmas shopping time for all my lovely customers.

This means that my postage schedule will not be it's normal turn around.  I also plan to close the shops for two weeks when the baby does arrive.  I think I'll have my hands full enough!  So, you need to get your orders in early.  I will advise on when your bear is on it's way on an order by order basis.

If you're purchasing in the UK, the last postage date is Tuesday 21st December but don't leave it that date as your bear may have already gone to a good home and I don't know how well I'll be able to keep up with any that I have to make to order.

If you're purchasing in the US or other worldwide destination, you need to order by Monday 6th December.  Now this is where the dates prove tricky.  If Baby turns up on time (like that's ever going to happen) I'll be closed on this date.  So, if you're not in the UK, please order by Mid November.  If you miss these dates, please do drop me a convo or message via Etsy or Folksy and I will do my best to arrange something.  But I really don't want to let anyone down so order early is my advice to you.

I will also not be taking any more custom orders until January 2011.

I'm looking forward to hearing from you during the festive period!  Have a good one everyone!

33 of 52 - Automatically tweeting shop listings and blog posts

Now this is one of the best tools I found for making twitter (and Facebook) nice and bearable.  We all want to use these gadgets for making our lives easier, but what is the best system to use.

I know of two systems that take your RSS feed in your shop and then feed it into Twitter or Facebook.

There is TwitterFeed and Dlvr.it.  I have used both and I prefer Dlvr.it.  It has been more reliable but both work in very similar ways.

In order for both to work you need to sign up to an account with them.  I'm going to show you how to setup dlvr.it but Twitterfeed is similar and you should be able to set that one up in a similar way.

First you need to locate your shop RSS feeds.

On Etsy, it's here

and on Folksy it's here

This will give you a webpage covered in text and numbers that apparently makes no sense.  The important part you need is the URL or web address at the top of the screen.  Once you have that, you can add the feed to dlvr.it.  

Click 'add route'and it will be added to the main screen.

You have two things to do next, set up the source (so where your feed is coming from) and set up the destination (where the information is going to).  Click the add button next to 'Sources' and select 'New' for the feed.  Paste your feed into the Feed URL box.  Then click 'save source'.

To add a destination, click the add button next to 'Destinations' and you can select the various accounts you want to feed into.  To set up Twitter, select 'new' next to the twitter icon.  This will then prompt you to log in and authorise your twitter account.  Then click 'Save'.  This will do the basics of sending your URL and title to Twitter.  To add your Facebook (or other accounts) click 'Add' next to 'Destinations' again and add the next account.  You can add to Tumblr or multiple twitter accounts or any number of social networking sites.

There are some options that you can do to add text to each tweet but the amount you can add is limited.

To edit a Source or Destination, click on the pencil icon next to each item.  As you can see from the above image, I send my shop feed to Facebook and Twitter.  I also have specified that I want it to go to my Facebook fan page rather than my personal page.

So, when you list or relist on Etsy or Folksy, it will automatically tweet your listing.  You need to set up a route for each shop and I have even got it set up for my blog.  So when this publishes, you may just have read it, because of this tool.

Thanks for reading and if  you have some questions about Dlvr.it, ask me in the comments!

32 of 52 - Christmas Orders for ClareBears

Yes, yes, yes, it's only just turned October but in the world of retail that firmly makes it Christmas.

So I need to make you all aware of my Christmas schedule.  If you don't already know, we're expecting our very own Baby Bear at the end of November.  Right in the middle of prime Christmas shopping time for all my lovely customers.

This means that my postage schedule will not be it's normal turn around.  I also plan to close the shops for two weeks when the baby does arrive.  I think I'll have my hands full enough!  So, you need to get your orders in early.  I will advise on when your bear is on it's way on an order by order basis.

If you're purchasing in the UK, the last postage date is Tuesday 21st December but don't leave it that date as your bear may have already gone to a good home and I don't know how well I'll be able to keep up with any that I have to make to order.

If you're purchasing in the US or other worldwide destination, you need to order by Monday 6th December.  Now this is where the dates prove tricky.  If Baby turns up on time (like that's ever going to happen) I'll be closed on this date.  So, if you're not in the UK, please order by Mid November.  If you miss these dates, please do drop me a convo or message via Etsy or Folksy and I will do my best to arrange something.  But I really don't want to let anyone down so order early is my advice to you.

I will also not be taking any more custom orders until January 2011.

I'm looking forward to hearing from you during the festive period!  Have a good one everyone!

26 of 52 - The Gonk Tales

A few Gonks have ventured out into the big wide world.  And a few of them are having adventures along the way!

The first one I heard back from was Diego, who went on a walking holiday up in Scotland!

And he sent us back this postcard from John O'Groats.  I did hear that Diego tried to jump into the sea at John O'Groats but he was held back by his heroic owner.  Diego lives in Newcastle with my Father in Law and is often off on camping trips now.  Diego's adventures will continue :)

The next adventures is from the laydee's man of the gonk family!  The aptly named 'Bonk' (don't ask!).

(Click the image for a bigger version)
He got all spruced up for his date with a ClareBear!  The ClareBear in the photos was made over 12 years ago for a special birthday present.  Oh how they've change in all that time!  You'll be glad to know that the Gonk and Bear are currently living happily together in Northumberland.

This blog post was brought to you with the help of the complete mentalists that are Malcolm Freemantle (My Father In Law) and Allen Hurst (My Dad).  Thanks xx

24 of 52 - Bags of Bears!

And I don't just mean that I have bags of bears hanging around (though I do, it can get a bit scary round here sometimes).  I mean that my bears now come with something comfy for them to travel in!  And possibly live in, if you so choose.

Each of my bears will now come with it's very own printed (by me!) ClareBears drawstring gift bag.

And there will be a certificate of authenticity to confirm that your ClareBear is 100% original.  Get you bears in bags from all of my stores!