Hey guys! I hope you are making the most of the festive season! Today’s post is a good’un I must admit. I have spoken to some amazing bloggers and small business owners, discussing the topic of blogging at Christmas and how to make the most of it. Without further ado, let’s get into it!
Questions asked:
Questions for Bloggers:
1. How long have you been blogging for and what made you start?
2. What is your favourite thing about blogging?
3. How do you manage blogging at Christmas?
4. Have you ever done Blogmas? – If Yes – How did you find it? Would you ever do it again? If No – Would you ever do it?
5. What would you say to new bloggers trying to manage Christmas and blogging?
Questions for Small Business Owners:
1. How long have you been running a small business and what made you start?
2. What is your biggest business achievement?
3. How do you manage your business at Christmas?
4. Does Christmas Impact your business? E.g. Demand, Product Range
5. What would you say to new business owners starting out around Christmas?
Marissa From marsybun
My name is Marissa and I’m a 26-year-old graduate from the University of Lincoln and I currently reside in Singapore. I run a handcrafted soap small business as well as a lifestyle blog. I’m in a long-distance relationship which means I travel to the UK twice a year and I hope to permanently move there soon!
Questions for bloggers
1. I have been blogging for more than a year now and my passion for writing was what made me begin. I did my masters degree in Arts Journalism and I never managed to get a writing job back in Singapore, so this was my personal outlet and I’m so glad I started it!
2. My favourite thing has to be expressing myself in whatever way I please. I love writing reviews, talking about life and my travels (when we could travel). The blogging community is great too! I’ve met so many amazing and inspiring people through blogging.
3. I usually try to put out 3-4 blog posts a month and I think I manage it quite well, even though I have a full time job that takes up 50 hours of my week. I have my brain buzzing with things to write about all the time which really helps. Sometimes I can only post twice a month but that’s okay – I believe in quality over quantity.
4. I’ve never done blogmas and probably won’t do it, but I really enjoy reading other people’s posts. I don’t do it because christmas isn’t very celebratory for me, it’s all religion based where I live and I don’t enjoy that. Gift giving isn’t very popular either, so I usually do that with my boyfriends family and I send them gifts from here.
5. Do it at your own pace! If you really can’t put out a post a day, don’t pressure yourself to!
Small Biz questions
1. I’ve only been running it since the end of September so barely two months! I used to work with a ‘popular’ bath product brand and I loooove pampering myself with nice bath stuff, however, they’re definitely overpriced so I decided to make my own!
2. I made over 150 soaps and sold them over Christmas!
3. It’s very very hard. Working 50 hours a week, handling a blog and making soap creations is very tough. I come back at 10.30pm after work everyday and I make soap until about 1am. But I also am aware that this is the christmas rush which will be the peak of my business! But I really enjoy doing it which makes it all worthwhile.
4. I released my Christmas soap range in mid october which sounds very early but it’s because I was open for international orders (which can take ages to come) and I had 3 types of soaps available. The demand is definitely good and I’m sad it’s the peak that will come and go.
5. This is the time to show off what you’ve got as people will be buying your products for other people which means a wider reach! Do your best, impress them and the sales will keep coming!
Blog – marsybun.com Twitter – @marsybun Instagram – @marsybun
Brianna From Brianna Marie Lifestyle
My name is Brianna and I run the blog https://briannamarielifestyle.com/ . I currently live in Canada with my fiancé Johnny and my cat Luna. My blog mostly features travel and lifestyle but will also have some fashion and blogging content. My blog is really everything to me. It’s what I do in all my free time and it’s all I think about when I’m not doing it.
I have been blogging just over 3 years now and I love it. Growing up my mom was always available for us because of her work and that’s something I wanted to be for my future children. I thought blogging sounded like so much fun and it would give me the opportunity to work from home and spend time with my future kids as well.
I love that I’m my own boss and that I can post whatever I want and my work hours are all up to me. I love to write and learn new things and there are always new things when it comes to blogging.
I actually start my Christmas content early for SEO purposes and plan out what I want to post so I’m not overwhelmed when the time comes. I’ve found this to be really helpful and will keep doing it this way.
I haven’t done blogmas before. I don’t see myself doing it in the future because I like to put the bulk of Christmas blog posts out in November to give them time to get around. However, if I ever decide to get more into YouTube I would be open to vlogmas.
Plan your content as early as possible. Schedule everything you can early so you have everything ready to go and aren’t stressed when the time comes. Do keyword research to find out what posts you have potential to rank for and only post those ones so you don’t waste time writing a post that won’t get seen.
Bella From Bella Wanana
Bella Wanana is a freelance writer. She is the owner of bellawanana.com, a personal finance and lifestyle blog. She loves sharing with her readers the best tips and tricks on personal finance and how to live a balanced but fulfilling life. She has been featured on sites like MSN.com, Reader’s Digest, The Financial Diet, Ladders, Inc., and Money Saving Mom.
I started blogging about 2-3 years ago, but I took a hiatus. My most recent blogging endeavor with bellawanana.com started in 2020.
I love writing and sharing my opinions with my readers. It has also helped me grown not just as a blogger, but also as a person.
(How do you manage blogging at Christmas?) I will stick to my schedule and publish at least once a week!
(Have you ever done Blogmas?) No, but I’d like to give it a try!
Christmas is fun. Spend time with your family, but don’t forget to remain disciplined and manage your time well so you keep the momentum going
Tash From A Girl With A View
I’m Tash – a third-year English literature student at university and the author behind A Girl with a View. I love to write about all things lifestyle, beauty, literature, student and travel-related over on my blog!
I’ve been blogging on and off since I was about 13 as I initially started as a book blogger back in the day! However, I really started to take blogging seriously again in March 2020 as I wanted something to do during lockdown and I fell in love with blogging all over again!
Definitely the community. When I first started blogging I never promoted anything but since starting to use Twitter for my blog a lot more I’ve loved engaging with everyone in the community. I love how there’s so much support and I’ve loved chatting to people and making blogging friends too!
I’m a very organised person so I try to plan a lot in advance so that I can have some time off during the Christmas break and so that everything is more manageable.
No – I’d like to do Blogmas but I’m not sure if I’d ever keep up or have enough ideas for posts! I admire anyone who manages to do it as I’m not sure I could. I’d love to try it one year though!
It’s okay to take time off. Christmas is a time for rest and taking however long you need away from your blog is more than okay! I think we often try to do too much and it’s so easy to burnout and struggle to switch off but I think taking time for you is so important, especially over Christmas.
Blog: http://agirlwithview.co.uk/
Twitter: https://twitter.com/tash__evans
Insta: https://instagram.com/agirlwithview_/
Jo From A Rose Tinted World
My name is Jo, and I am both a blogger and a small business owner. I started my blog in July 2018 – arosetintedworld.co.uk , and set up my Etsy shop last month.
When my little girl was born, I found working (as a dentist), being a mum and running a home all a bit too much. I decided to take a bit of a break from work until my little girl went to school. At the end of 2017 I stopped working, but also discovered a love of sewing at the same time. I considered setting up a little Etsy shop then, but actually decided also to start blogging about my sewing journey, and discovered that blogging was actually a lot of fun. Even if it is a bit of a learning curve!
My favourite thing about blogging is the statistics. I am a bit of a nerd, and have loved seeing my figures grow. I record my stats each month and it inspires me to keep on going.
I did do Blogmas the first year…and it was so stressful amongst all the rest of my Christmas bustle that I wouldn’t try it again. But that was probably because I left it a bit late when writing, and didn’t fully plan. My advice for doing it is to really plan ahead the topics that you are going to cover, and to get writing well in advance.
Managing blogging can be so difficult, and is doubly so at Christmas. I keep a notebook to write down every post idea that I have, and I have endless lists to keep me organised. But my best tip for new bloggers is to keep writing about the things that you are passionate about. Hopefully people will find your passion and keep following you for being you.
Twitter: twitter.com/arosetintdworld
Alek From 9to5Voyager
Hi, I’m Alek! I’m a native of Austin, Texas, currently living in Richmond, Virginia. When I was a kid, my family would go on road trips across the US, and I think that’s what sparked this wanderlust in me. I had been out of the country a few times when I was younger, but it wasn’t until I was about 26 that my love of travel really superseded all my other pursuits.
It’s been over a year and a half at this point. My inspiration for starting 9to5Voyager.com was two-fold: on one hand, I was 28 and didn’t really have much to show for it. I wanted something that I could say that I created. I had started to travel internationally in earnest, so I figured Okay, I’ll start a travel blog! In particular, I wanted to do a travel blog that would appeal to budget travelers and first-time travelers. This brings me to my second point: I realized fairly early on that my situation was very different from most people I met in hostels. Most people I met were European, and for the most part, Europeans get extremely good vacation packages. If I met a fellow American, they typically were either born into a certain amount of wealth, or had managed to acquire very high-paying jobs. Ever since graduation college, I was working generic office jobs that paid a decent wage, but nothing special by any means. They were typical 9 to 5 jobs. I recognized a large gap between the people I knew in my circles and the people I was meeting in the hostels. Almost no one I knew back home had ever been in a hostel or even knew how they worked. I believe travel is something that anyone can enjoy and benefit from, regardless of your economic background. So when I started my blog, I did it with the intention of not just showing off my travel experiences, but also inspiring others to travel in ways that minimized money and maximized memories.
Well, I actually recently got my first royalty check! That was pretty cool. It took me a very long time to get it, but I’m at the point where traffic is becoming consistent and I can count on earning money at a faster rate. Other than that, I just enjoy the craft of travel writing and blogging. There’s always something to improve on or add to the blog. I’ve recently been making YouTube drone videos and incorporating those into my articles. I like having something that I’ve created and that benefits others.
Despite the fact that I enjoy it immensely, sometimes finding the discipline and focus to sit down and write is very difficult. So, Christmas time really isn’t much different for me than any other time of the year.
I have no idea what Blogmas is but you have my attention! Haha
The best writers in the world will all say the same thing: You have to make time to write. Some have different metrics for what that is. Stephen King writes six pages a day, rain or shine. Haruki Murakami finished his first book writing one hour every single night, even while running a jazz club. Many other writers will say that if you can find the time to write even five minutes every single day, no matter what’s going on around, you will find your craft improving and you will learn to write under any circumstances. So, going by that logic, Christmas time isn’t too different from any other week. Yes, there is more to do. Maybe you only have five minutes to write instead of a whole hour. Just write something every day, no matter how small. Progress is progress.
Karen From Wildrose Healer
Hello, I’m Karen. I’m 24 y/o blogger and small business owner based in Miami, FL.
I started my small business in January of 2020 as a pet portrait artist and transitioned into pet products soon after. As a chunky cat mom, I wanted to do something where other pet parents could relate. In this case, it was selling a healthy pet treat. After successfully selling Wheatgrass Growing Kits, I decided I wanted to inform others about holistic health and herbs. So I began blogging in May 2020. I eventually narrowed down my niche to holistic pet health and wellness. Wildrosehealer.com is slowly growing into a well-round pet blog and small business. On December 28, it’s going to be 7 months since I started blogging. Since I haven’t been blogging for long, I only just learned about blogmas. From what I’ve learned, the best way to participate is to plan ahead, and because my posts involve lots of research, I decided to pass this year. Maybe I will participate next year. As a new blogger myself, Christmas is the best time to learn about blogging. A quick tip from a new blogger to another new blogger, take your time to write your posts, and don’t feel the need to write the same things everyone else is writing. Get creative and take your time, Christmas will come around again next year.
Happy holidays!
Karen T. Gonzalez
Instagram: @wildrosehealer
Twitter: @wildrosehealer
Wildrosehealer.com
Rei From Thatgalrei
My name is Rei Alexander. I’m a Blogger, Published Author, Reiki Healer, and a Clinical Mental Health Counseling Student. If I’m not tending to passengers on an Embraer Jet I’m likely curled up letting Netflix watch me while I write in my journal. Recently, I relaunched TGR Blog and began offering my services as an International Center for Reiki Training (ICRT) certified Level 1 & 2 Reiki Healer. My goal is for TGR Blog to be a Mental and Sexual Health platform as it is a lifestyle blog designed with wellness in mind by a traveling naturalista.
Questions For Bloggers:
I’ve been blogging since 2015 and launched TGR Blog in 2016. I started blogging as a requirement for a study abroad scholarship my senior year of college. After finishing up that experience I realized I missed writing to an audience and so I first launched TGR Blog as a natural hair diary to share my struggles with my hair and inspire others to embrace their natural hair. Since then I have grown both professionally and personally. Although I still touch on the same topics I addressed back in the day I am shifting TGR Blog’s focus more to Wellness.
Writing. I’ve loved writing since I was a kid. Having a platform where I can do what I love while talking about topics I love brings me peace.
In the past I tried following holiday trends. But this year I’m doing things differently. I relaunched on Dec 1st after accidentally wiping my entire site earlier this fall so besides sharing a few online stores and services that I know and love, I am being gentle with myself. I plan on slowly drafting a few more pieces but primarily taking break until after New Year.
I have not done blogmas on my blog per say but I participated in a blogmas IG Christmas challenge 2017 when a fellow creative tagged me. Would I ever do it again? The answer is a strong H E double hockey sticks NO! It’s too much to keep up with if your schedule is not flexible. And it put me behind on releasing content that actually pertained to my blog.
Be kind to yourself. You don’t have to follow the hype. Blog about what feels right to you not what seems trendy. Holiday blogging, in my opinion, should put smile on your face when you blog from the heart you naturally connect with your mutuals and readers.
Questions for Small Business Onwers:
I’m brand new at this actually. I have some experience I guess because I played around with selling products on etsy in the past but it was more of a hobby.
This time around I am inspired by building my professional identity as a Clinical Mental Health Counseling Student. I’m getting close to the end of my graduate program and wanted to find ways to combine my personal and professional interests. What I’m working on now will contribute to building my own private practice as a LCMHC in the future.
This year that achievement was hitting my first 50 views after relaunching. It doesn’t sound like much but it took me a year to do this when I first launched TGR in 2016. Reaching 50 viewers on my 3rd day after relaunching felt amazing!
I’m honestly figuring that out. My business is tied into my blog so I’m trying to balance that out. I offer Reiki Healing Sessions which can be scheduled on my blog so honestly it’s up to my clients needs.
I hope it will in the future! Reiki Healing would be great for helping people to relax during the holiday’s
We’ve GOT THIS! Affirm your goals! We are successful.
Twitter: @thatgalrei
Instagram: @thatgalrei
Pinterest.com/thatgalrei
Meredith From MLN Copyediting
My name is Meredith Nason. I run MLN Copyediting, a copyediting and proofreading business (mlncopyediting.ca). I’ve always had a love for languages, words, and turns of phrase and a drive to seek out how best to nourish my passion for language. Then I discovered by applying my industry trained editing skills, I can use my knowledge to help others. Win-Win! Contact me and I can help you with your work in progress and to achieve your goals!
Questions for Bloggers:
To be truthful, I’ve only been blogging for a few months as a part of my business. So far, I’ve really been enjoying it and am always learning new things! Years ago, I had a personal blog, but then life got in the way and I stopped. I’m very excited to be sharing my thoughts again.
What I like most about blogging is the flexibility. You can write whenever and wherever you need to, but more appealingly, you can talk about so many more topics than you can in formal writing. I think that’s a real pro in the blogging column. I also think a blog has the capacity to reach more people than say a classic article or magazine.
With a schedule! It’s hard to keep on top of blogging and a business at the best of times, but add holidays on top of that and it can be tricky. I think taking the time to sit down and plan what you really want to accomplish really goes a long way.
No. I would be open to trying it but would need to really think how to apply it so that it makes sense for me.
I would say, take the time to schedule, don’t fret if it doesn’t all go to plan, and if it’s stressing you out too much, taking time for yourself is more important. You can always post again later when things calm down. Nothing is more important than mental health.
Questions for Small Business Owners:
I’ve only been running my business, MLN Copyediting, for a few months but have done editing and proofreading in various capacities for a few years. I decided something good needed to come out of 2020 and launched my business.
I’m not sure I have “one” achievement, I feel pretty happy when I post anything! I think the whole process has been pretty exciting, and I look forward to doing more and expanding the kind of content I share.
The same way as my blogging: a schedule! I plan and schedule my heart out in advance so I can enjoy the important moments.
Somewhat. On the book writing side, writers have generally taken the year to finish their manuscript, and if they’re choosing to outsource their editing/proofreading, the Fall and into December is when editing demand increases. The same goes for bloggers who have massive amounts of posts coming out at this time of year to promote holiday specials, recipes, etc. so there’s a lot of opportunity there as well.
I would say whenever you start, it’s going to be hard. The added pressure of the holidays probably won’t make it any easier, but it’s also not going to make it impossible. Make sure you’re passionate about your business, have a plan, know your goals, and don’t be afraid if they change, morph, or expand along the way. Change = opportunity.
Kelly From The Kelly Diane Report
I have been blogging on and off for ten years. I had just left school and found that I missed writing. I had been watching Fleur De Force on YouTube where she had mentioned her blog. I went over, had a look and thought “I could do this”!
My favourite thing is definitely the community. Without it, I don’t think blogs would be half as successful. You can always find someone who is willing to help answer your question or even just for a chat when you are struggling.
I used to always do Blogmas at Christmas time but always found it so stressful. This year is the first in three years that I am doing it again but I’m so much more organised and prepared this time. I always find Christmas a great time to write because there are so many things you can talk about
As mentioned above, I’m doing Blogmas again this year after a break. I’m really enjoying it this time round and have found so many different things I want to write about. I would definitely love to do it again next year.
My advice would be firstly to write a list, with everything you’d like to do. Then work out how you can fit it all in. Can you do every other or do you need to do it daily is a question you need to ask yourself. Finally, and most importantly, get prepared in advance so that you can still enjoy the festive season without burning yourself out.
Izzy From Izzy Matias
I’m Izzy Matias, a full-time blogger, and I help content creators start and build a money-making blog through resources at izzymatias.com.
Questions for Bloggers:
I started my first blog over ten years ago as a way to document my concert experiences. I was a music blogger for more than 5 years before pivoting. I decided to start anew because I enjoyed writing about blogging, business and travel and helping fellow bloggers build a profitable blog.
My favourite thing about blogging is being able to connect with fellow creatives and writers.
I plan ahead using a digital content calendar I created. It helps me stay on track of things and set deadlines for myself.
I have not, but I would like to try it one time. Maybe next year
Blogging during Christmas can be hectic because it’s such a busy time, so in order to ease yourself of that pressure, start planning weeks or months ahead on what you want to post during this time and then work on that list as soon as you can.
Questions for Small Business Owners:
I’ve been running my blogging business for over two years now. After graduating from college and studying a short creative writing course abroad, I knew I wanted to pursue a career in writing while having the freedom to control my time and how much I earn, which is what led me to take blogging seriously and view it as a business instead of a hobby.
My biggest blogging achievement is launching my online course, “How to Start a Money-Making Blog (Your Creative Business)” and this course is one of the things that helped me with the decision to go full-time as a blogger later on.
I put my focus on money-making activities such as scheduling promotional tweets in advance and creating valuable content that attracts my ideal customers who eventually become my students or purchase one of my digital products. While it can be tempting to constantly work on my business during this time, I’ve also scheduled some time off because rest is part of the process.
The Christmas season definitely impacts my blogging business as I see an increase in sales during this period be it through digital product sales, affiliate sales or sponsored post opportunities.
Focus on money-making activities and opportunities, but don’t forget to schedule in rest too.
Deja White From Breakroom Buddha
Deja White is a digital storyteller that finds comfort in connecting with new people, uncovering hidden food gems, and binging the latest television obsession. She’s on a mission to inspire others to explore uncharted territories (aka traveling more), successfully navigate their career journeys, and prosper in their daily lives. You can keep up with all of her adventures and get inspired on her blog Breakroom Buddha, or connect via the Breakroom Buddha Twitter!
1. How long have you been blogging for and what made you start?
I’ve been blogging on and off for about 10 years. I’ve been blogging on Breakroom Buddha for a little over 1 year.
2. What is your favourite thing about blogging?
Connecting with my community! I love that we can connect on everything from tv, to food, to our common at-work challenges.
3. How do you manage blogging at Christmas?
This is the first time I’ll be blogging about Christmas-related things. But I’m lightly dipping my toes in. I’ll be doing mini-articles on the 12 days leading up to Christmas.
4. Have you ever done Blogmas?
Nope. I’m actually going to try it out this year.
5. What would you say to new bloggers trying to manage Christmas and blogging? Start off small. Blog about things that excite you. If you can’t keep up with daily blogging, that’s okay! Blog at your own pace.
Demi From Demi Le Huray
Hi, I am Demi, a 15-year-old mental health and lifestyle blogger. My passion is to help people, inspire others and make a positive change to the world. I do this by using my own experiences to create lots of guides, tips and more! You can find me at instagram.com/demilehuray and demilehuray.com
I have been blogging since August 2020. I have always wanted to help others through social media, so my friend who is also a blogger suggested creating my own blog! I absolutely love it!
My favourite thing about blogging is helping and supporting my audience. I really love it when I get positive feedback on how I have made a difference to their mental health and lifestyle!
This year I have given Blogmas a go! It is very manic, so I manage it by planning and scheduling posts in advance!
If yes how do you find it and would you do it ever again? This year is my first ever time! I had seen people taking part in it via social media so I wanted to try! Despite the stress of creating a post for every day of December, it really brings your traffic up and keeps you busy!
Christmas is probably one of the hardest and most hectic times for bloggers. Therefore I would suggest to new bloggers just to try your best and don’t overdo it! I am still a newbie to blogging but I would say to create your Christmas content in advance!
Carly From Anaphase Store
I have been an entrepreneur for 4 years when I started my business Anaphase Store in 2015, I struggled though my educational years with being dyslexic and dysbraxic but I have broken so many of those barriers down to live out my dreams. Since receiving help from the Princes trust in early 2015, I have become a successful business mentor and ambassador to give back and help other people who may have the same struggles and give them confidence to blossom. I have met Prince Charles along with many celebrity ambassadors; I was even personally been invited to Buckingham Palace – My business Anaphase Store is Online and based in Cardiff. Anaphase has won 10 business awards.
1. How long have you been running a small business and what made you start?
I left school at 15 with some GCSE’s but being dyslexic I was told I probably wouldn’t amount to much anyway so why bother. I got a job and I started at College for 3 years, which I did both full-time. I did hair and beauty for the first year and art and design for the last two. I wanted to become a fashion designer that was my calling in life, my room was always piled high with art books and designs, I was always making things and I just never knew what to do with them. I did all this while I became a manager at my job.
I continued working for a total of 6 years, but I started to lose interest; so, left to change my career. From that moment on I never really stuck to a job, I bounced around every 6 months to a new job.
I eventually became a mobile carer for the elderly, which I did kind of enjoy because I was always on the move and not stuck in the same place. I then lost my grandad and felt I needed to live my life, so I quit my job, packed my things and I moved up here to Cardiff in 2013. This was one of the most painful things I had to deal with and it really shock me up; I felt lost but I also look back at this time as an inspirational moment in my life as I started my life again and set up a successful business – I can’t even explain how I did this and thinking back now scares me how I just upped and left.
I met one of my friends soon after moving here and we did talk about my business ideas, but I didn’t know where or how to go about it, we had completely different businesses so he could only help me so far. So, I carried on with my day job, until one day I woke up and really wanted to pursue my dream. I bit the bullet and quit my job, I thought if I won’t do it now I won’t ever do it, so googled ‘how to start a business’, and one of the first results that popped up was The Princes Trust, so I called in and explained I wanted to start a business and asked if they could help me.
They explained they had a course called the Enterprise programme that I could go on and that’ll get me started. So, I accepted, what did I have to lose?
I wasn’t expecting much from the course but was pleasantly taken a back and surprised at how much information I didn’t know I needed to know to run a business; and the depth of the course was amazing. I came out with a new lease of life and excitement for my new journey. I worked with them to do my business plan and had weekly meet ups to go through all my information to make sure I had everything I needed before I went to launch group – I passed – which is like dragons’ den and so scary. My adventure began and Anaphase Clothing was born.2. What is your biggest blogging achievement?
My business was slow to start off with which did dishearten me a little, especially as I thought I’d be a millionaire by the first month. But I wasn’t ready to give up – so I got a full-time job to help with the costs and kept my business going on the side; it has picked up a lot and has been a bumpy ride, but I still see potential in myself.
The trust were always there for me for whatever I needed – willing to put me in contact with other mentors who would help me if mine couldn’t.
In 2017, I changed the business name to Anaphase Store as I wasn’t just selling clothing now, so it made sense to have store to cover the ranges I have. I have developed an online following on my social media accounts, I have my website that gets a lot of attention, I am verified on Facebook, The Tomorrow store that is run by The Prince’s Trust also stocked my items on their online platform – I was given a free shop on eBay to help with my sales, I was invited to eBay’s head office in London to attend a day on how to have the best postings; eBay then featured me on their home page on a day they raise money for the Princes Trust to share why they help the charity.
I was a young ambassador for The Princes Trust, so I would attend events and do speeches on how the trust has helped me; I am now a volunteer and business mentor. I was also contacted by my local council to join a programme that attends schools around the city to give inspirational stories to help children realise there is a life outside of school and anyone can do anything they put their mind to it. I get a lot of questions from the children about how I got so far in life and I am always honest and say I wasn’t always passionate about living life to the fullest but now I had that burst of life I would never left it go. Anaphase has taken me to Paris and Rome to sell in shops and a trip planned for New York in December for the same.
Along the way I have met Paul Mercer, he used to play for Portsmouth Football team, which my dad is a huge fan of, I asked him for an autograph which he was okay about until the whole room saw, rushed over and formed a line. He was stuck there for about 30 minutes, not sure if I left as his friend, also Dan Bigger and Kelly Hoppen. Kelly loved my ‘Don’t touch my hair’ sweatshirts and posted it on her Instagram along with Giovanna Fletcher who posted one of my candles on her Instagram story and Fearne Cotton with a t-shirt, which in turn sent a lot of people my way.
I have done an interview on BBC radio wales along with Radio Cardiff, Heat, Kiss, Kerrang, Planet Rock and Magic. I met prince Charles who laughed at my ‘don’t touch my hair’ jumper and told me he loves eBay, at the same event I met Luke Evans, who was really nice and was tweeting about some ambassadors during the morning. My business has also been shortlisted for 21 different business awards, we’ve won 10 of them, 3 in one day, an award being the enterprise award with the Princes trust awards – we became a multi award winning business all in one day. I was also invited by Buckingham Palace to attend Prince Charles 70th Birthday Celebrations, I have been listed as one of the 35 under 35 top business woman in wales 2018 and 2019, I have been mentioned in 63 new papers and magazines articles through my journey and its lovely to hear that people still find me just as inspiring, I now also have 2 paid staff members, 3 interns and 8 reps around the country working for Anaphase Store – I feel extremely lucky to have achieved what I have in such a small time. 3. How do you manage your business at Christmas?Our products change every year so all year long we come up with new, original ideas on how to keep fresh and relevant. We get all product photos and stock ready from about July and it goes live on the website as of November 1st, we then get set into advertising it everywhere. The orders can be absolutely manic and our customers are amazing with understanding we will send out your order as soon as possible and we greatly appreciate the sale. Our first year back when it was just myself, I got so stuck on sending orders out that I forgot to stock up the products, so now we have a system that if anything gets below 30 we need to manage making more things so we do run out; sometimes we do run out and that is all we had or all the stock we were able to get to make our products – we have sold out of 2 items already this year.
4. Does Christmas Impact your business? E.g. Demand, Product RangeWe get a lot of demand for gift boxes and wax melts, I would say they’re the most sought after items, we do try and keep a different range of products and options in but sometimes it isn’t cost effect for us to offer lots of different things in one item, for example jumpers, we have these printed as they’re ordered so we don’t waste product or send them to land fill, we offer a range of colours but some are more popular than others so we order them in as they’re sold which could delay it by a few days, then printing them etc we have found this is the easiest way to manage product ranges.
5. What would you say to new business owners starting out around Christmas? Always be prepared – I underestimated my first year and didn’t think many people would buy from me but I sold out of my Christmas wax melts with 2 days of launching my Christmas stock! I was not ready for that at all, so now every year I will make a load of everything and keep supplies to the side so I can make more in the evenings if I need to plus with wax melts, they can stay in storage until next year so we make these in bulk to hopefully never run out.
Maria From Maria Meets Korea
I am an ESL teacher. I just got to South Korea and am finishing up quarantine this coming week. I will be here for at least a year. I taught in Thailand for ten months and went back to the US in March. I love new adventures and different experiences! I am excited to learn Korean as well as learn their cultures.
I wanted to start blogging to keep my family and friends back home up to date with my adventures. I also want to help others with their experience of traveling during Covid19 and in general. Writing is so much fun and it makes me more creative. I hope to get better at it as I start blogging more. I really wish I started a blog when I was in Thailand because it was such an amazing experience.
I have never done Blogmas
And there we have it! I hope this helps to clear some misconceptions about Blogging at Christmas and some key tips from people in the field. Also thank you to all the bloggers involved in this post, I really do appreciate your input?
How do you manage Blogging at Christmas?
