small business – Page 7

December 29, 2016December 11, 2016

Petals | Small Business Feature

It’s time to feature Decatur’s number one location for custom-personalized EVERYTHING! Petals is a full-service gift shop and they specialize in personalization (especially birthday t-shirts!). Monograms, team spirit, you name it they can do it!

The Details: Kari Calhoun, Owner of Petals | In Business: 8 years

Hours: Monday-Friday 10:00am-5:00pm & Saturday 10:00am-4:00pm | Location: 1351 Hickory Point Dr Suite C Forsyth, IL

Tell us about your business… What do you do? We are a full service gift shop. We not only sell fun women’s clothing and accessories, gifts for men, school spirit wear and gifts for all ages we personalize these gifts for you. Monogram your items, create fun tshirts for baby to adult, embroider most items or let us design rhinestone shirts for fun or your school. Birthday shirts are our specialty.

What makes your business unique/special? We create custom personalized items. Infant, toddler, youth and adult. From special 1^st birthday outfits to a funny tshirt for grandpa.

What item/service on your menu or in your shop do you just LOVE and think everyone needs? We love our custom birthday items. Tutus, diaper covers, bow ties, hats, banners, t shirts and onesies. Another fun item is our custom t-shirts. Funny sayings to business logos. We love helping you design something unique, fun and just what you want.

Tell us about YOU… WHY did you choose to do what you do? I decided 8 years ago to open a gift shop after leaving the medical field. It has evolved into a gift shop with personalization over the years. We grow each year and are very thankful for our repeat customers and organizations. I am married to a wonderful man that shares my passion for Petals and creating new products.

When did you know you wanted to go into this business? It was just the time for me. I had always wanted my own business and I was in a position to change jobs or create my own. I chose the latter.

In what way have you gone above/beyond in the past for a customer? We help them get exactly what they want. Sometimes you have an idea and we can make it become a reality. Taking a gift and making it personal sets it apart from everything else.

What is the coolest thing you’ve ever had a client do for you? Become a friend. After 8 years in business some of my customers have become very close friends.

What tool/equipment/or other vendor could you not imagine doing business without? I could not do what I do without my embroidery machines, vinyl cutter, rhinestone software and sewing machine. All these tools help me create customer orders

What other local business do you just LOVE? Why? I would have to say Dels and Giggles. I love knowing I can go to either one of these and find exactly what I am looking for. As a small business owner, I have no time and hate shopping online. It’s great to know I can get great gifts local with wonderful businesses.

What are you passionate about outside of your business? My family and friends. Owning your own business is 24/7 job and when you create and make 80% or more of the items you carry, it really becomes your life. My friends and family understand this and will even come and work with me to spend time with me. It very important to have a support system.

Describe your PERFECT day… I think my perfect day happens very often. Honestly not all days are great, things go wrong, stress happens and it is hard wearing so many hats in a business, but I love what I do. Opening my shop every morning and sometimes looking around and seeing how far I have come makes a perfect day.

Introduce us to your STAFF…

Morgan Ground. High School Senior Maroa-Forsyth

Jessica Eastwood. Our newest employee who is skilled on creating embroidered items for our customer.

See the latest news at:

http://www.petalsgiftshop.com/

See our other past small business features to connect with more businesses in our area:

See more on our Facebook Page and follow us on Twitter @sjanephotog, Instagram @sjanephotograhy, and Snapchat @sjanephotog.

December 1, 2016December 1, 2016

| Tarrant Family Portraits | Decatur IL |

Katlyn was one of our stunning 2016 senior clients (See here session HERE) and this fall it was time to get the whole family in front of the camera. These girls are the sweetest and I had a blast hanging out with Katlyn and her mom for her portraits so I was thrilled to meet the guys in their lives for this go round.

Fall was a little odd this year so surprisingly this late October session is rocking a lot of green foliage but I think it ended up working perfectly with their olive wardrobe! Plus, despite some crazy wind we caught a lovely sunset.

Don’t forget to check them out on our facebook page to show the love with your likes, comments and shares.

November 22, 2016November 16, 2016

| Tory | Senior Class of 2017 | Decatur IL |

Look who’s up on the blog today! Tory was so much fun to photograph. Not only did we create a few classic looks in the studio (even including her and my favorite color purple!) but we absolutely had to show off her soccer skills on the field and then my favorite part…. we headed out to a friend’s land which was unbelievably beautiful with tree line, field and even little lake!

We had a beautiful sunset which was perfect for images with her truck and she was even brave enough to hop in the water for a few.

Don’t forget to hop over to our Facebook Page to show Tory some love with your likes, comments and shares!

October 31, 2016October 31, 2016

Photographers! TODAY is the day: Registration is OPEN for the Reset Conference

Hey photographers! This post is for YOU!! Are you a seasoned photographer looking for a way to spice up your portfolio or reinvigorate your business? Are you in your first years of business and still ironing out the kinks and looking for ways to streamline your workflow and make sure you’re on the right path? Or are you a new photographer with a passion for the art but still green in the inner workings of how to turn your love into a career? Well, then this conference is the place for YOU.

There are instructors here who specialize in everything from newborn to wedding portraits, business, art and even video! I’ve spoken in the past at The Reset Conference about studio lighting and this year I’m excited to speak on the business side of things. I know that pricing and sales can be intimidating… but they can also be the things that make or break your business. There are SO many questions when evaluating your pricing and sales process that it can feel overwhelming and scary. Are you charging enough to cover costs on every product? Are you charging enough to earn a living yourself? Can you afford to outsource/grow at these rates? Does your pricelist make sense? What does it say about you/ your business? Does it help you make a sale? Are you making the sale you need from every client?

My goal is to make your pricing (and your pricelist) work for you, to make sales easy, fluid and even FUN (yes I swear it can be FUN for you and your clients!). AND the best part is my pricing and sales classes should combine to make sure you leave the conference with a product line and price list that represents YOUR business brand/style and the confidence that you can sell your work without having to be salesy.

I cannot wait to share this content with you all AND as a special bonus I’ll be doing facebook LIVE videos to critique/review 5 attendees pricelists (since we won’t have time for this during the classes). Email/message me for your chance to have your pricelist be one of those reviewed (don’t worry it’s done anonymously if you prefer!)

Registration for Reset just opened today and spaces are very limited so go to https://events.r20.constantcontact.com/register/eventReg?oeidk=a07ed8s78sy6147b19c&oseq=&c=&ch= to sign up now AND use the coupon code SARAHJANE to save $75 off!!!

October 27, 2016October 27, 2016

Shop On Main | Small Business Feature

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I have a fabulous local business to share with you today!! I’ve had the honor to work with Cindy, the owner of Shop on Main, in a number of ways in my time here in Decatur. She’s designed beautiful wedding decor for a few of my brides and just a couple years ago I had the chance to photograph her and Mark in their beautiful home. But today, I’m even more excited to be able to show off her boutique located right in the heart of our city. Shop on Main is really the perfect store for all things lady; clothing, stunning jewelry, handbags, accessories, décor, gifts…. ladies if you want it, this shop has it (and I guarantee you’ll find things you didn’t even know you needed, but you do, you so do!).

So enough gushing from me… read on to hear more about this shop straight from Cindy herself (and get out those Christmas lists ladies, you’re going to want to take notes).

The Details: Cindy Deadrick Wolfer, Owner at Shop On Main | In Business: 39 years

Hours: M-F 10-5, Sat 10-4 By Appointment | Location: 407 N. Main, Decatur, IL | Phone: 217-422-2674

Tell us about your business… What do you do? We are a unique boutique featuring women’s clothing, accessories, gifts and décor.

What makes your business unique/special? Our boutique is special in many ways:

We do not “over order” meaning that we order just a few of each item.

We work with our clients to make sure the items they select are used in a fashion that reflects their personality.

We carry special lines of accessories that are only available at our location and in one local store

We have great customer service, including private shopping, client “wish lists for special occasions, gift wrapping, delivery and shipping.

We have plan “special events” including Sip and Shop Saturdays and informal modeling at the Wildflour on the last Thursday of each month.

What item/service on your menu or in your shop do you just LOVE and think everyone needs? I love the south so I love the Hilton Head inspired Spartina Collection of purses, jewelry and accessories. These linen and leather handbags are awesome.

In what way have you gone above/beyond in the past for a customer? We have private shopping for those that just can’t get in during regular hours. Our dedicated staff also makes sure that our clients are thanked and called when a particular line of item arrives at Shop On Main.

What is the coolest thing you’ve ever had a client do for you? Let us decorate their home for the Holiday using our wonderful Holiday décor.

What other local business do you just LOVE? Why? I love each of the boutiques downtown because they each have their own personality. As store owners, we try hard to carry a variety of lines so that the same item is not seen over and over.

Tell us about YOU… WHY did you choose to do what you do? I have always wanted to be in business for myself and I have loved retail forever. Displaying the merchandise is my favorite part of working at the Shop On Main

When did you know you wanted to go into this business? Early early early in my childhood. Wanted to have the ability to be creative on a day to day basis.

What are you passionate about outside of your business? My family and my community.

Describe your PERFECT day… Every day is perfect in some special way.

Introduce us to your STAFF…

Paulette– wears about 6 different pairs of shoes in a day and is a dynamo when it comes to serving our clients.

Madalyn– only works one day a week, but is great with putting together a “special individual look” for our clients.

Cathy– creates awesome displays and unique combinations of attire to make a “statement”.

Donna– knows everyone and often has people stop in to see her newest “look”.

Renee-plans our events and style shows using her knowledge from her modeling days.

See the latest news at:

https://www.facebook.com/ShopOnMainIL/

See our other past small business features to connect with more businesses in our area:

See more on our Facebook Page and follow us on Twitter @sjanephotog, Instagram @sjanephotograhy, and Snapchat @sjanephotog.

SMALL BUSINESS OWNERS – We’re looking for new businesses to feature in 2017-2018 and we’d love to talk with YOU. These features are FREE and you can contact us at mail@sjanephotography.com now to get yours scheduled.