Tuesday, December 9, 2008

myHandmadeRegistry.com - Not Just Another Networking Site



What I think sets apart successes from failures are those that find adversities and ADVERTISE them and those that find adversities and look for ways to make them ASSETS!

After half of a year dedicated to the idea that people really
are interested in the artisan community and then researching, promoting and marketing my jewelry shoppes from various online retailing sites, I came to an enlightening conclusion that I had heard over and over again...

"These sites are really just SELLERS selling to SELLERS!"


After all, before
I learned about them from another seller, and joined to sell, I had never heard of them either!

And so I started researching about how I could get
BUYERS to find MY STORE of handmade goods and I stumbled across a couple of interesting blog posts...

"I wish I could register for my wedding at Etsy.com!"


"Oh, I'd LOVE it if everyone would get me Etsy.com stuff for my baby shower!"

After searching for several days, I found ONE online registry where registrants could add Etsy.com
item numbers to their wish list of goods along with the likes of Macy's, Bloomingdales, ToysRUs, etc.

I thought,
"Hey! I CAN DO THIS!" : a Handmade Registry - a place where everyone can create a personal page with a list of their favorite items from only HANDMADE RETAILERS!

Won't be able to find Macy's HERE!

Then the daunting task of figuring out HOW TO DO THIS! With neither the desire to wait what must surely take months to create, nor the funds to support it, I remembered a site that I was introduced to where members could customize their pages to create their own social networking site! And myHandmadeRegistry.com was born!

It's still in its infancy, but I believe it can grow into a powerhouse tool!

It is NOT just another Networking Group - our platform happens to be BUILT as one, but this is my vision...

Imagine the now millions of artisan shoppe owners that flood the gates of the
Handmade Community. Now imagine how many times just this past week each one of those members have been asked, "What do you want for Christmas? Hanukkah? Birthday? Anniversary?"

myHandmadeRegistry.com is designed for these shoppe owners to share their
Wishlist with their families and friends - especially those that have such a hard time shopping for them! Imagine the incredible relief husbands and boyfriends will feel knowing that there's a place where she has pictures of everything her heart desires and all they have to do is CLICK ON IT and it takes them right to the check out counter! (no offense guys - I KNOW there are many of you that are godsends! but let's face it - this is the promise land for most of you!)

This registry now opens up the artisan marketplace to so many more people!

But lets take this another step further...

I've created GROUPS within the community that I plan to market for
OUTSIDE OF THE ARTISAN COMMUNITY - for expectant parents, a house-warming group to share decorating tips on a budget and find that special accent piece, and my favorite :

my $5000 Handmade Wedding!

These days the Platinum Weddings we see on WE are becoming more and more of a fantasy to most of us...

But lately, I've been finding myself watching those shows and saying... "I can do THAT" and "oh! I saw something like that in the forums last week for 1/100th the cost!

My vision in this group is to link these dreaming brides with Handmade Retailers who can make those pictures come to life in quality and affordability!

Members of this group can create BLOG posts on their pages with images of the various ideas for their fantasy wedding with tags relating to the items such as "dress", "invitations", "jewelry", "favors", etc. Vendors who can provide those products or services can then find and leave comments on their BLOG where they can also attach images, sketches, estimates...

How wonderful will it be to have such an incredible resource at your fingertips - remembering first and foremost that the most priceless resource in any network is building relationships - someone will always know someone who can help you fulfill your dreams!

...A place where brides can take those black and white fantasies and turn them into vibrant rainbows of possibilities while keeping as much green in their pockets!


I look forward to a million more endless possibilities with this project and welcome any new ideas, suggestions, questions... but PLEASE COME JOIN US and share what an amazing community of artisans and talented business supporters we have among us!

siempre - dorana


20 comments:

  1. What a wonderful and inspiring idea! I LOVE it! :)

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  2. Thank you SO MUCH Periwinkle! We're THRILLED you checked us out! Make sure to spread the word!

    siempre - dorana

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  3. Great idea! Since I am focused on leadership, you are doing exactly what great leaders do--observe what isn't working and change it!

    Speaking as someone that strives to support artisans (you should see the pottery and glass we have in the house), I love what you've done. I'm telling my wife and daughters right now...

    All the best!

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  4. Dorana.....you rock!!! Thanks so much for giving me this venue to share my work!! Vickie

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  5. This a wonderful way to get handmade out there.

    So many people are tired of the same old expensive commercial junk.

    Count me in and I will be more than happy to spread the word everywhere I can :)

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  6. Bunny, Vickie, Roy - thank you SO much for your support and wonderful feedback! we really appreciate it! siempre - dorana

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  7. This is so very cool! A wonderful idea, I'm going to make my registry right now

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  8. Sounds like a great idea! I'll help spread the word!

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  9. Absolutely wonderful !!! An innovative, original, very needed web site !
    I'm going to send a link to all my friends and networks !

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  10. This is a great idea - I have just started a blog & i have an Etsy shop that I haven't as yet started up - this weekend is my target
    www.gbkdesigns.blogspot.com

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  11. Wow what a great idea. So excited to be a part of it. Thanks so much for your time and work.

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  12. thank you for taking the time to read and comment on my vision for mHR! we have a lot of projects in the works and special features that we're working on! thank you for your continued love and support! siempre - dorana

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  13. I've just joined MHR and I love the concept. I'll do my part to spread the word. Thanks so much for creating this wonderful site where sellers and buyers can shop for all handmade.

    Kris

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  14. kris THANK YOU! it really means a lot to me for you to have taken the time to comment and support us! we're thrilled to have you! siempre - dorana

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  15. What a wonderful idea! You've done a fantastic job with the site - kudos to you for helping promote the handmade artisan community!
    Grateful thanks from this Indie Biz & Etsy Shop Owner!

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  16. Such a great idea! It is indeed what we need, to have the other world to know us!!!

    Elena
    http://fashiontouch.etsy.com/

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  17. Just what I was looking for - a way to promote handmade to people outside of the selling community. Most of my sales are to people without their own shops and it is hard to find somewhere to advertise or promote where you are not just reaching other sellers. Thanks for the opportunity.

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  18. SO glad to have you in our community! please make sure to share and thank you for supporting handmade!

    siempre - dorana

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