New products

These are just some of the new products that I've added to my store. If you like what you see, please feel free to stop by Wild Rose to see what else is available. Let me know what you think, I love getting feedback :)

Confession

Okay, I confess. I started a CafePress store. *GASP*

Wait. Most of you probably had a CafePress shop, too. So let me elaborate: I made an account on CafePress after spending a couple of years on Zazzle. Now gasp!

I know that CP has declined significantly in popularity over the last couple of years, but while I never understood the negative feedback, I was quite content with my Zazzle shop. So what reason did I have to start a CP store? One word: Twilight.

Yeah, that's right. I'm a Twilight fan. And as you Zazzlers know, we cannot sell Twilight merch. Designers on CP, however, can. The books and movies had left me inspired with numerous designs, none that could be published legally in my Zazzle store. The next logically step was to create a CP store just for my Twilight designs. And you know what?

I hate that site.

[full-fledged rant has been omitted by the FCC]

With that said, I've given up on CP. I guess I'll just have to promote my Zazzle shop harder in order to bring in the extra funds. Bummer.

Off the beaten path

Hiking is one of my favorite past times. Although I love the challenge of a new trail, the sights along the way is what makes a hike most enjoyable.

I've revisited this particular site on numerous occasions, and it still possesses an immediate, calming effect. Do you have a favorite place outdoors? Is it a beach, valley, forest, or something else?

Following followers

It has been brought to my attention that this blog acquired some new followers during my hiatus. I was able to return the favor to some of the new readers, but some of you have hidden the link. If I haven't added you and you would like a follow-back, please leave a link to your blog in the comments section. I'd hate to be missing out on a substantial blog. :)

Weird phenomenon

A little more than a month ago, my internet presence was quite prominent. I was active on the Zazzle forums, updated this blog regularly, constantly added new products to my store, and tweeted like mad. Being sick for a month obviously changed that. I'd lost the rhythm I had found.

The thing is, the most that my persistent advertising got me was an increase in view counts, not sales. It wasn't till a few weeks after I dropped off the grid did I finally break the dry spell with some sales.

I know that advertising is important, but it can be discouraging when you don't see its immediate effects. Have any of you shop owners experienced something similar? What do you say is the most effective method of advertising?

I miss Ireland!

Marketing Monday: hosted by Trendy Treehouse



It's hard to believe that this time last year I was in Ireland. It was a country that I'd always dreamed of visiting, and to live there for five weeks was nothing short of amazing. I got to meet great people, practice my Irish, try new foods, and visit breathtaking sites. Words cannot adequately describe the beauty that is Ireland, so I'll leave you with a few photos. Hope you like them!

Note: I foresee more Ireland-related posts in the upcoming month, as I will probably be spending a great deal of my time reminiscing the experience.

Feature Friday: LisaDHV

This week's featured artist is LisaDHV. The products posted here are just the tip of the iceberg for she many lovely products in her store. Don't just take my word for it-- go check it out and see for yourself.

Calling Zazzle artists!

Do you have great products for Father's Day? Do you want free and easy advertising? For one final push for holiday sales, just add your link below and let the shoppers come to you. 

 

<a href="http://wildrosegifts.blogspot.com/" target="_blank"><img alt="Zazzle Sellers" src="http://i494.photobucket.com/albums/rr309/FugitiveFireFly/Zazzled/blank-11.gif" /></a>

 

 

Feature Friday

This week's featured designer is someone who I've been a fan of for awhile: Creative Taylor. It's artists like Taylor that make me wish for some drawing ability (sadly, mine peaked in 5th grade and then, somehow, grew worse. Figure that one out). Below are some of my favorite products, but I encourage you to check out her store. You might just find your own favorites :)

Wordless Wednesday

Are yinz a yinzer?

Yinzer: A Pittsburgh native who speaks Pittsburgh English (aka Pittsburghese) fluently.

Some common Pittsburghese words and phrases include:

So, are you a yinzer? Or know someone who is? Check out more Pittsburgh gifts here.

I'm back!

My deepest apologies for I am a horrible blogger. I started a contest, asked you all to participate and then disappeared off the face of the earth. In my defense I had been sick off and on, and my family had me running all over town doing errands. But enough with the lame excuses for I have good news to share: I finally have the products I mentioned in my previous posts! Thanks again to everyone who submitted their captions, they were all great. It was so hard to choose that I could not just pick one, so the two that captions that were selected were from Witchie and Midday Escapades. Congrats to you both!

And as an added bonus:

Thoughts? Opinions? Spread the word? In any case, I am officially back and into the swing of things. You can expect more posts, more tweets, and most importantly, more products coming from me in the near future. Hope you all have a wonderful weekend!

Only a few days left!

I want to thank everyone who has suggested a caption for this photo. So many of them made me laugh! If you haven't captioned this yet but would like to, please do so by Saturday May 8th. Anything submitted afterward will not be considered for the new product.

Hope you have a great week!

Your help needed!

I've been wanting to add this photo to a product for some time now, but I can't for the life of me think of worthy caption. Any suggestions? Winner will receive credit :)

Wordless Wednesday: Spring has sprung

I'd rather be in Ireland!

The time to relax is when you don't have time for it.

- Sydney Harris 

"Oh don't worry, you're winding down now," says mom. Winding down? Psh! The last month of the semester is always the worse. It's not like high school where the workload decreases as the end of the year approaches, instead the workload multiplies. In the next three days alone I have to two papers to write, an exam to bs take, a quiz, too many syntax problems, and a presentation. Really? Needless to say that my current stress level is at its peak right now.

Oh how I wish I could be in Ireland right now. I miss the food, the people, and the peaceful countryside.

If there were a place like this here, I would be there right now. Enjoying the view, breathing the fresh air, hearing the silence. Do you have a place you like to go to when you need to relax? Where is it and why do you like the place?

Wordless Wednesday

Kicking Old Man Winter to the curb

I don't know about you, but I sure am happy that winter is finally over. With all the snow that we had received, I had started to forget that lawns are green, not white. I had also forgotten just how wide and non-lethal sidewalks are. It have may have taken a few weeks, but the 40 inches of snow finally melted, revealing a life full of colors and small critters.

It wasn't easy trying to stay warm while shoveling out driveways and commuting to and from work. But you did it. You survived the Snowpocalypse of 2010. That, my friend, is something to brag about. And you can do so with buttons and bumper stickers. 
 
Spring products soon to come!

"Every mile is two in winter," - George Herbert