Shopping Bags, Jewelry Boxes and Stickers. Oh My!!

So, I ran out of these about a week ago:

Which is a good thing!!  That means I've been selling my inventory!!!

Well, since I ran out of them I've been using these (on hand for just this occasion!):

About 2 weeks ago I placed an order for this:

Just as a trial for the Christmas Gift season.  My plan is, if they do well, then I will carry them full time.

So I needed some of these:

Specialized jewelry boxes (with my business logo hot stamped on them) are a little A LOT out of my price range for something that is "a test product." Their kinda boring though aren't they?  Just wait...

My Hot Stamped shopping bags, which (once again) are these:

Take about 3 weeks to get to me.

I can't NOT have my business's logo on my shopping bags.  This is another opportunity for advertising that I HAVE to take advantage of.

So I needed to kill two birds with one stone.

Or Should I say sticker:

Apparently 1000 stickers are faster to print and ship than 100 bags.  That math doesn't really add up for me.  But what do I know - I married a CPA so that I don't have to think about pesky things like 2+2.

But look what they do:
















You order 1000 of these puppies (that is the minimum amount allowed), pay for 1000 of these puppies and then they make it where you can't use at least 3 of them!  Normally this would not be a big deal, but, if you haven't noticed, we just recently ended a major recession (though I still need to see proof!) so I am still counting my pennies. Literally. But don't worry, I was able to finesse the annoying, defacing top-sticker off without any damage to my labels. Phew!!

So this was my project for the day:

I couldn't decide how I wanted the jewelry boxes to look, so I submitted this photo to various friends and family members for voting.

This was the outcome:
























These bags will do nicely until I receive my new shipment on Monday.  And I really like how the jewelry boxes turned out - I think this might be the permanent look for these!!

And if my bags arrive earlier, then my "sticker bags" can double as Trick-Or-Treat bags for the neighborhood kids.  Nothing like free advertising, am I right?!?!

Oh, and the jewelry - it's doing some serious butt-kicking!  I think it's proven that it can be a permanent department!!!

Thinkpoint Virus

Sunday I (or rather, my computer) contracted a virus.  The infamous Thinkpoint Virus.  It doesn't do any damage - at least that I have found - but it is quite annoying.  From my research (a.k.a. Googling) I have learned that it affects Windows 9x, 2000, XP, Vista and Windows 7.  (I've never even heard of 9x!).  When I purchased this computer four months ago, I installed the "best" (according to current ratings) antivirus software that I could find; so I've felt pretty safe.  Daily, I get messages that it is tracking and deleting cookies, stopping threats and, basically, holding down the fort. 

Well, Sunday it failed.  The walls were breached. 

Here's how it went down:  I had some down time so I was engrossed in an online article detailing past celebritie's Halloween costumes.  Did you know that Pink went as clown in 2008?  You didn't?  Well, now ya do - happy to enlighten you!  Anyway, I was deeply entrenched in my article when all of the sudden my browser closed!  What the heck?!  How dare it?!  I was only on number 7 of 50 - I hadn't even gotten to Kim Kardashian yet!

Before I could call my husband to complain, my antivirus software (or what I THOUGHT was my antivirus software) popped up and told me I was being attacked by a Trojan Horse and to click NEXT for it to proceed in burning the horse and all those pesky Greeks hiding inside it.  So I did; my software hadn't failed me yet - I trusted it!  Well, dang-it, the Greeks won and Troy was breached (but not destroyed! HA!).  (Homer was a great story teller, wasn't he?!) Well, the thing about a Trojan Horse is... IT'S A TROJAN HORSE.  DUH!!

Two seconds after I clicked NEXT I had doubts, but I still believed in my antivirus software; so I pushed those doubts to the side.  "It'll protect me if I'm doing something wrong," I thought.  Well, I thought wrong; to say the least.  The next thing I knew a window popped up saying "Windows Thinkpoint Is Not Functioning, Click To Learn More."  Yeah Right!  Fool Me Once and all that jazz...

At that point I realized that it was not my antivirus software that had popped up to warn me of an attack, but instead it was the virus itself saying "Hello Everybody."  I had gone ahead and downloaded the virus.  (Thinkpoint disguises itself as your antivirus software). 

Come right in, Mr. Serial Killer - would you like some milk and cookies before you chop my head off? 

AGHHH!  I WAS SO ANNOYED WITH MYSELF.  You have NO idea.  My dad has an obsession with computers.  I was setting at his desk learning how to double-click a mouse when other kids were learning to spell their names with crayons.  I KNOW what to look for!!

So, realizing my stupidity; I stopped everything and began closing out of my Point of Sale program (normally I would just force shutdown, but I run my business from this computer and had credit card sales to batch out.)  PROBLEM:  This virus plops a big blue box smack-dab in the middle of your screen so you can only see about two inches around it.  So it took some minimizing and maneuvering, but I was finally able to close my Point of Sale, batch-out my sales and shut down.  (Upon further googling, I learned that Thinkpoint is known for "prohibiting restarting or turning off your computer."  Lucky for me, I was able to shut down without any problems).

My next step was to call Geek Squad (they are expensive and the only reason I called them is because I have my computer under warranty with Best Buy - so they are the ones I have paid in advance to fix any problems).  Well, come to find out - my warranty only covers hardware and NOT VIRUSES!  And to top it all off - it's going to cost me $300.00 to fix!  This is totally not my day - but the kicker is... It totally WAS my day, I was kicking butt in sales.  And then this happened.

So, as you can imagine, (and not blame me for - right, honey?!) I am in extreme freak-out mode by this point and have begun pulling out my hair.  You can ask my husband how bad it was - he had on full riot-gear in self-defense.  Sorry, babe :(

After he calmed me down - not an easy task - he told me he had been Googling on his iPhone and there were tons of blogs and websites talking about this virus and they are all giving the same explanations and directions of how to remove this virus. 

Side note: In the past, he has not been the most computer savvy person - he successfully deleted Windows from his family's home computer in High School.  I don't even remember what he was trying to do, but it defiantly wasn't that! 

Side note #2:  I wrote the above side note really small on purpose, so that maybe he won't see it and get mad at me for revealing an embarising family secret!

So, to say the least, I was wary.  But, "What the heck,"  I thought.  "My computer is already shot and I had an appointment scheduled with Geek Squad for early Monday morning.  If he completely wipes out my hard drive, my scheduled Geek will fix it."

Well, the kid has learned something.  After about an hour he successfully removed Thinkpoint and my computer is non the worse for wear!  So I stood-up my Geek-date (not really, I had to give a 24 hr cancel notice) and got to keep my $300.00!  Woo Hoo!!

There were many websites and blogs that we read, but here are two that we kept coming back to: www.precisesecurity.com/rogue/think-point/
and
www.forum.avast.com/index.php?topic=65312.0

Disclaimer:  I am not guaranteeing this will work for you, but it did for me.  Read everything VERY carefully!

So... The moral of this story is think before you click.  So, that being said...  Happy Clicking!!

Goat Milk Stuff

Not too long ago, while blog hopping working, I learned about a company that makes soap and other bath and body products from goat milk whey.  "Interesting," I said to myself.  I had to find out more; I am really starting to get into this "natural" thing - and that is exactly what this company is all about: Natural!  Upon further investigation, I learned that this company, Goat Milk Stuff, is a Husband and Wife team along with their 8! children - amazing in itself.  And they offer their products for sale in a wholesale program in order to sell their very cool "stuff" to companies just like Room 5!  Perfect!!! I am always looking for unique companies and products to put in Room 5... and I've definitely found another one!!  (I totally just patted myself on the back... again. ;) )

I just received my first, of what I hope will be many, shipments.  I am so excited about these products and I wanted to make sure you all knew about them!

This is what my display looks like.  I have it set up right next to my register so that everyone will get a chance to see it.

And now for the details!

These Lotion Tubs are 4oz of pure bliss! 

The scents available at Room 5 are: Oatmeal, Milk & Honey; Lavender; Luv Spell; and Honeysuckle.

Ingredients: Soybean Oil, Beeswax, Cocoa Butter, Shea Butter, Vitamin E, and Fragrance.


Lotion Tubs: $18.00





Lip Balms: So Delicious!

Flavors available at Room 5: Vanilla, Honey, Peppermint, Black Cherry and Unscented

Ingredients: Soybean Oil, Beeswax, Sunflower Oil, Cocoa Butter, Shea Butter, Vitamin E and Flavor Oil.



Lip Balm: $3.50

Lotion Sticks: .5 ounses of Smooth!  The perfect size for airplane travel!

Scents available at Room 5: Honeysuckle, Lavender, Clean Cotton, Pink Sugary, Nautical, Luv Spell, and Oatmeal Milk & Honey.

Ingredients:  Soybean Oil, Beeswax, Sunflower Oil, Cocoa Butter, Shea Butter, Vitamin E, and Fragrance.



Lotion Sticks: $8.00

Bath Bombs:  OMG - 'nuff said.

Scents available at Room 5: Pink Sugary, Lub Spell, Honeysuckle, Cold Relief, Oatmeal Milk & Honey.

Ingredients: Baking Soda, Citric Acid, Sweet Almond Oil, Goat Milk Whey, Fragrance, and Witch Hazel.



Bath Bombs: $3.50

Last but not least:  The Soap!

Scents available at Room 5:  Clean Cotton, Rosemary Spearmint, Chardonnay, Cool Citris Basil, Cranberry Spice, Cucumber Melon, Honeysuckle, Lavender Essential Oil, Lemongrass, Luv Spell, Nautical, Pink Sugary, Purity, Sandlewood, Tea Tree, Lilac, and Oatmeal Milk & Honey.

Ingredients: Raw goat milk, Saponified natural fats, coconut oil, olive oil, soybean oil, and Fragrance.



Soap: $7.50



Each Soap fragrane has its own soap color.  And they all smell fabulous!

I expect to be placing another order soon, as these puppies are FLYING off the shelves!

Disclamer:  Sorry, the above pictures are not scratch-and-sniff, so save yourself the trouble of buying a new computer monitor due to fingernail scratches, and just stop by to check it all out!  ;)

417 Magazine Ultimate Shopping Package Giveaway

Good Afternoon!  Here is an exciting Shopping Giveaway that I wanted to let everyone know about.  417 Magazine is featuring local businesses during the month of October by hosting a Shopping Package Giveaway.  I have attached images of their website where they announce the Giveaway so that you all can see exactly what great businesses are involved.  Scroll through to check it out!  There is a link at the bottom where you can sign up.  Do it - its totally FREE!!!!

Your entry will qualify you to win one of the three packages.  Shopping packages contain one $25 gift card to each location featured in their respective packages.  417 Magazine will draw three winners throughout the month of October.

Room 5 is featured in Package 3 - The Ozark Package.  I'm listed with great company!!!

Well, there ya go!  Be sure to sign up for it!  Remember:  It's FREE!!!!!!

Here is the link:

http://cdn.shoutlet.com/server/widget/10625

417 Magazine Savvy Shopper Article

The October Issue of 417 Magazine is here!  And so is the article they wrote on me (I mean Room 5)!!  I told you guys all about it in this post. 

Below is the Digital Edition of the October issue.  Just click here to move directly to their digital edition website, there you can read the whole magazine for free.  Don't worry, I'm not stealing anything from them - their magazine is always free online!!

I have been anxiously awaiting the arrival of this issue and I am so excited that it is finally here!!