Rise Up Designs

​ It may still be hot outside, but if you’re a small business owner, somewhere in your brain it is already November. At least that’s how it feels for me. The holidays may seem far away, but this is the time I start thinking about them. Not because I want to rush the season. Not because I’m ready for Christmas music in August. But because holiday prep takes time. I’m already thinking about what products make good gifts. What can be bundled together. What inventory I need to reorder. What packaging I want to use. What signage needs to be updated. What markets I want to participate in. What sold well last year. And maybe just as important…what I do not want to repeat. That part matters. Every season teaches you something. There are products you thought would fly off the table that barely moved. There are things you almost didn’t make that customers loved. There are packaging ideas that looked cute but took way too much time. There are products that were great individual...

  This week was all about reflection —a natural follow-up to last weekend’s pop-up. After all the excitement, it was time to slow down, take stock, and make sure everything was in order. I started by going through all my inventory—double-checking counts, making sure nothing was damaged, and seeing which items sold the most. It’s a simple process, but it matters. Because knowing what worked (and what didn’t) helps shape what comes next. What I Focused on This Week: ✨ New bundles: I’m already planning and creating new sets for the upcoming pop-ups in October, November, and December. Customers love when things come together—like a complete set or a ready-made gift—and I love giving them a great deal. 🎁 ✨ Craft party prep: I’ve got craft parties lined up for October and November, so staying organized now means less stress later. ✨ Oopsie listings: I even pulled a few imperfect items from Etsy—ones missing a lid or with a small tear—and listed them at a deep discount. It’s a gr...