Monday, December 26, 2011

Ultimate Entrepreneur Giveaway Submission


Thursday December 1, 2011 I sat at my computer after a long day of filling holiday orders. It was around 1:00 am and I still had to catch up on emails. I couldn’t complain because as a business owner the holiday rush is something I excitedly await and prepare for all year. I came across a giveaway post and I did not believe what I was reading. I couldn’t have been more excited to see a contest for something that would help my business grow tremendously! I started by asking myself the question, how could I share with these people all of the things that I have been working so hard on throughout these past four years?




The story of LoveLeeSoaps begins when I was only 18 years old. My mom, knowing my love for all things crafty and handmade, surprised me with a soap-making kit. I was amazed at how much fun it was, and quickly realized the possibilities were endless. I hail from a family of creative entrepreneurs, many of whom manage their own business, and I have been crafting since I was little. As I experimented with soap-making, my mom pushed me to start a business. I was only a senior in high school and was hesitant about taking on such a commitment. I knew it would be difficult but I decided in October 2007 to try out Etsy. Every item I sold drove me to make more. With that motivation, my business began to grow.


To my surprise 2008 was a year of huge success. Etsy provided me with wonderful opportunities that I will always be thankful for. I kept active by promoting my products on forums, and in February I was contacted to have my soap featured on the Martha Stewart Show. This was the first time I truly felt like my hobby was turning into something more, something bigger then I had ever hoped for. Later that year, Etsy asked me to be featured seller. The three days in December that my interview was posted I sold 5000 soaps. I was in my first semester of college, and it was finals week (of course). Without the amazing support and help from family I don’t know how I would have gotten through. With hard work and determination (plus copious amounts of coffee) everything went perfectly.


It was 2009 before I knew it. My business continued to grow, and so did the opportunities. I reached out to an editor at Seventeen Magazine to pitch my story in hopes of sharing my success with other teens. I wanted to show that anything is possible, no matter your age. The editor liked my story, and before I knew it I was having professional photos taken and being interviewed. I was ecstatic for the opportunity! A couple of months later, however, I was told my story was not going to be used after all. I looked at the situation positively and realized what an honor it was to even be considered. I learned that you have to work through the ups and downs of being a business owner, and I resolved to keep trying no matter the outcome. A few months later I was contacted by Urban Outfitters for wholesale. I realized that even when one door closes, another one opens, only if you think positive and work hard to make it happen.


I was off to a fresh start in 2010. I felt this year was a good time to expand my business. I stumbled across the designer Aeolidia. I was speechless. Everything that Aeolidia and her team created was astounding. I wanted to jump right in and start working on a website that day! I was floored by their designs, and so excited to build a brand for my company. I was deep into my college courses, so I had to balance my business needs and school requirements carefully. I wanted to focus on school and gain from the experience, so I created a portfolio to organize my website thoughts, questions, and ideas that popped up.  I knew I would be working hard until graduation in August 2011. I kept studying, while Aeolidia pulled at my creative strings in the back of my head. Aeolidia was no doubt my motivation to make it through school and get my Graphic Design degree. I can’t be more thankful for the inspiration I have received from Aeolidia and her team, and I am anxious to begin working with them!

    
I am so excited for what 2012 brings. A major thing that I’ve learned as an entrepreneur over the years is that time is valuable. Every second counts and things must get done. You must stay focused, be dedicated, and willing to sacrifice. Most importantly, you must learn from your mistakes and feedback from others is golden. By having the drive to succeed, and keeping a positive outlook, you can accomplish anything. I hope to continue expanding my business and winning this giveaway would make 2012 the year that I have been working so hard for. I would love the opportunity to have my future dreams and goals come true! In the next coming years I plan to achieve more wholesale accounts, employ an assistant, and successfully pitch my products. I will maintain my connections through Facebook and Twitter to continue promoting LoveLeeSoaps. I am working towards having a successful company that allows me to take in and enjoy all of the things that life has to offer.


Thank you so much to everyone that contributed to this amazing contest!

Saturday, December 24, 2011

Surprise!

Dear Santa,

Don't worry about dropping off any presents for me tonight. 
I will take mine on January 2nd!


Friday, December 23, 2011

Help!


I have learned a great lesson that should never be left out when writing a story this week. That lesson is to ask for other peoples opinions. After my submission was all finished I emailed it to a few close people to read. The feedback that I received from doing this was amazing! There were so many details that would have been left out that I did not think to include. The hardest part now is getting is it down to 800 words. For the past few days I have been fixing, tweaking, and reading my entry over and over. Everything should be perfect and all ready to post in the next couple days!

Monday, December 19, 2011

New year?

Boyfriend: "Hey, what do you want to do on new years this year?"
Me: "Sit at the computer and refresh until the giveaway winner is posted!"


Saturday, December 17, 2011

Exciting!

I am especially excited because I can finally say that my contest entry is completely finished! I am so happy and confident with the way everything turned out. I feel that my submission truly expresses who I am and what LoveLeeSoaps is all about. I have just sent it off to a few close people to get some feedback, double check spelling errors, and punctuation. After I hear back I will be posting it here on the blog for everyone to see!

Friday, December 16, 2011

Encouraging words and another sneak peek!

I just came across some encouraging words on the blog in a comment from my mom!

You will do great. You have a lot of drive and determination for someone so young and you have worked so hard to get where you are now. Just remember the little train and keep saying "Yes I can, yes I can" and you will do it. Good luck and love you. 
Mom 

There is no better feeling than having your parents support you!
Thanks for everything mom and dad. 
I promise to continue to work hard and make you both as proud as I possibly can.

p.s - Here is another sneak peek of my contest submission! Everything is almost finished!

Wednesday, December 14, 2011

New year! New goals!



Today I have decided to share 10 goals that I have set for my business in 2012. 
I am so excited for another year and watching my business continue to grow. 

2. Build a website with Aeolidia
3. New wholesale accounts
4. Successfully pitch products to websites, blogs, magazines, and submit book idea
5. Lots of new soap designs
6. Do a huge giveaway on Facebook
7. Reach 20000 sales on Etsy
8. Start blogging more often
9. Purchase this fabulous printer and upgrade packaging designs
10. Offer more party favor packages

Tuesday, December 13, 2011

Success!

Perfect thing to read first thing in the morning! Ready to start my day!
Today I will be filling holiday orders and continue to edit and fix my submission. I hope to be all finished today so that I can start having others read and share opinions before I post the final outcome.

Have a great day!
Leeana ♥

Monday, December 12, 2011

Featured Seller

This day in 2008 I was featured seller on Etsy. This was such a huge opportunity that I am incredibly thankful for. I had absolutely no idea what I was in for before the interview went up. I stocked up on a few different popular designs and thought I was all set to go. The interview went up and stayed on the front page for 3 days. In those 3 days I sold around 5000 soaps! At this time I was enrolled in college and of course it was finals week as well. I was amazed, shocked, and terrified all at the same time. If it was not for the help and support from my family I could not have made it through all those orders. I would make the soaps, my boyfriend packaged them, my mom filled the orders, and dad would make two trips to the post office each day. Being featured seller helped me learn what it takes to sell my products in bulk. I saw a whole new world to organizing and preparing. I had record selling holiday sales, tons of exposure, and the most touching emails from fans and customers explaining that the soaps brightened their day. 



Sunday, December 11, 2011

Countdown Begins!



 .
Time is getting closer and closer to the end of the contest! Honestly I could not be more excited. My story and pictures are all finished. Now I am moving on to editing, spell checking, and putting the finishing touches on my submission. I want everything to be just right before I submit for everyone to see. 



Friday, December 9, 2011

My soap studio

Come on in! 
Today I will be sharing some photos of my soap room. This is probably my favorite place to be and definitely where I spend most of my time. It is hard not to be inspired when you are in there. It is constantly changing and growing along with my company. When my mom kept pushing me to start an Etsy shop with my bath and body products. She didn’t tell me that it would take over my life (and the house). I think she’s having second thoughts now.






Thursday, December 8, 2011

Crafty + Creative = Childhood ♥



For my essay entry I definitely want to talk about where I came from and what it was like for me growing up. My childhood is a big part of my inspiration for LoveLeeSoaps and also the person who I am today. I have been crafting ever since I can remember. I am so fortunate to have had such a great childhood. My mom is an entrepreneur also that worked from home my whole life. Having her home and being able to spend time with me when I was younger truly meant a lot. It is something that I cherish and dream to be able to do with my children one day as well. One of my greatest memories growing up is crafting with my mom. I come from a family of creative entrepreneurs and many of them manage their own businesses so I think it's in my blood. Being the owner of a business is not an easy task but I would not change my job for anything!

Wednesday, December 7, 2011

Glittery Sneak Peek!

I have been filling soap orders around the clock! When I finally got caught up the other day I was so excited that immediately started working on my entry for the contest. This is a sneak peek of the supplies that I used to make them. I was really inspired to use glitter when I was reading the contest post and it said  

"bust out the glitter and rose colored glasses, it's your time to shine!"
 
These will go along with my essay that I am writing. 
I can't wait to show you all the outcome of them because they came out great!
I made two different designs and used four different fun colors.

Can you guess what I made?
 
Photo originally uploaded by Oh So Glam
                                                                                                       

Monday, December 5, 2011

Well hello there!


Thursday December 1, 2011 I sat at my computer after a long day of filling holiday orders. It was around 1:00 a.m. and I still had to catch up on customer emails. I couldn’t complain because as a business owner the holiday rush is something I excitedly await and prepare for all year. I came across an amazing giveaway post including a prize package from my favorite designer Aeolidia and the fabulous Oh My! Handmade Goodness. I truly did not believe was I was reading. I couldn’t have been more excited to see a contest for something that would help my business grow tremendously! I started by asking myself a simple question. 

How could I share with these people all of the things that I have been working so hard on throughout these past four years?

This blog will be a place where I share my thoughts, get advice from others, post photos, and most importantly in the end share my story in hopes of winning the ultimate prize package that would change my business forever!

 
*Ultimately if I win the contest I would continue to blog and share with others the advice that I am given and new journey I would be on for 2012.*