Deciding on a Business Structure

There are several ways you can structure your business legally here in the U.S. It can be a Sole Proprietor, Partnership, LLC, LLC Partnership, S Corporation, or  C Corporation.

Logo Design

I apologize for my absence. I've been working hard to get Excelsior Events, my event business, off the ground. You know, that other creative business. I've been focusing mostly on building my brand, logo and website. People when I tell you to get help with these things, get help. I designed my own logo and it took forever. There are too many options and I went way off the image I wanted to have (well not totally). Now I'm wondering if I should start over. I wound up editing my slogan to better explain my logo but then I didn't feel like it fit my business name. So I shortened it. The full version and explanation are in my business plan of course but I was recently reminded that too much information confuses people. 

That aside, I did a pretty good job. Its not completely original art but its distinctive enough. I used Gimp, a program I didn't have much familiarity with but I found its similar enough to photoshop, with its many features, and its free. It moves slowly on my old computer but that's the price I pay. With some instruction reading and lots of youtube video watching I got what I wanted.

My hesitation in changing the logo is because I don't think my other idea will translate well for more serious and sober business events clientele. Also my website launch date has long passed. Thinking about keeping it at this point doesn't feel like settling. More like a good business decision. Maybe one day I will have a pro update it. For now, I am quite proud of my creation. And I am happy with its versatility.

It is easily blown up or downsized. I have a black and white version for when necessary. 3 colors can get expensive when printing but not beyond what I am willing to pay. I also think it looks pretty enough for potential wedding clients as well as meeting clients.

Check it it below. Tell me what you think.

~Lashette
  Excelsior Events
  Scarlet Moon Creations

Happy New Year

New Year, New Me? Ha! I don't think so. That only works for me on my birthday. Its just the continuation of my story. That being said, I am just continuing my story here from a few weeks ago. I had planned to have blog posts in January but doing stuff took priority over writing about it. January is National Creativity Month and Get Organized Month. Oddly, without knowing this I proceeded to do both. Maybe its symbol of art imitating life.

We had the first of four mercury retrogrades in January. Everybody I know was preparing for and/or cursing it. I ignored it as usual but I now have to wonder if my mindset of continuing what I had already started last year rather than thinking of it as the start of something new was worked. I don't normally have any issues during mercury retrograde so I can't be sure. Whatever works though.

The plan for January was to focus on Excelsior Events but in the beginning that was hard. I don't actually think I accomplished that fully. In December I received a critique on my product photos for Scarlet Moon Creations and asked for more advice from others. Since then my brain had been worried about improving so that I can get more sales. I also came up with a posting plan for SMC on Facebook so I've been trying that out. I've also been renewing listings and the gods know what else.

Meanwhile, for Excelsior Events I have finally typed up my business plan and have been designing a logo like crazy. All in between trying to get hired as a wedding officiant. I added my business listing to yellow pages and have been outlining my marketing plan. Next is to do the same with my financial plan. Put it all together and go up to the business solutions center for help with the next step.

Personally, I've been looking for a job to help me pay for all the things I want to do with my businesses. I also started doing the Grimoire Challenge on tumblr. Its been very helpful personally and professionally. Thanks to this challenge I discovered One Note which I now love. I also finally finished reading the Mabinogi and two other books. I've also found myself taking on more responsibilities with PBN. Oh, I have to make a post about PBN. They are amazing. I took an ad out with them in a pagan magazine last month. I'll be trying again this month too.

As for what happened to the blog, well I didn't have the urge to blog with all that other stuff going on. I actually wrote this post on the 31st. Now I have ideas for new topics and the need to get those I've already written out there. So expect more blogging this month. Topics such as analytics, logo design, business plan writing, bath magic, hair magic, PBN, photography and more to come.

Happy New Year and thanks for staying for more,
~Lashette
Scarlet Moon Creations

A look back and a glance ahead

As 2015 is coming to a close we all naturally look back at the year we've had as well as look forward to the new year ahead. This year for me was very hyper-focused on moving ahead and moving on. I did something very scary and huge which was quit my job. I didn't have another job lined up and neither did I immediately go out looking for one.

My goal was to work on my businesses and myself. And I did. My family was very supportive in that and I found various new friends to support me online as well. This I am grateful for because after taking this plunge I was able to research and finally write a business plan for Excelsior Events. I was also able to drastically increase my sales for Scarlet Moon Creations. Not only those tangible changes occurred but I was able to improve my mindset and emotional state. So I am good and I have a positive outlook for my future.

With 2016 about to start I am nervous and excited to see what the future holds but I have a plan so that it is not completely unknown. More importantly I believe this plan is doable by none other than myself. For Scarlet Moon Creations, that plan is to continue promoting my products with a consistent social media schedule. Product-wise, I will first be bringing back some older products with better photos. I will try to work in some outdoor photos as well as more dynamic photos of my products in use. This will happen over time since I now have 70 products. Then, I plan to start pushing more gift sets for various purposes and to hopefully get two new product lines out there. The first being the long awaited handmade books. The second being Bath Magic, a line of intentional and mood altering bath and body products.

Meanwhile, my main focus next year is to launch my successful event services business, Excelsior Events. I've already been working on draft #2 of my business plan and cementing the image I want this business to have. I'll be buying the business license very soon maybe even before the year is out. From there its designing the logo, finishing the website and creating all the forms I will need. Then marketing myself and my business. I hope to have at least 8 clients next year.

That's a lot but I know now that I can do it. This will be my last post of the year. I figured I would give us all a break next week and come back with new stuff on the 4th. For me the holidays started already but no matter what your beliefs I wish you and yours a Happy Holidays and a Happy New Year.

~Lashette
Scarlet Moon Creations

Aromatherapy Laws in the U.S.A.

As promised I am back to talk about the recent Aromatherapy webinar I attended and its outcome regarding my business plans.

A few weeks ago, thanks to a great Facebook post by The National Association for Holistic Aromatherapy, I found out about a free webinar they were hosting along with the East West School for Herbal and Aromatic Studies. The webinar was about the labeling of aromatherapy products for sale. I have been having an issue deciding what I should include on my own labels so this webinar was timely.

Out turned out to be very informative in a way I was not expecting. I signed up for the webinar in hopes of getting ideas for label design as well as what I should include on my labels. There was no label design elements but there was tons of information on what could and could not be included on an aromatherapy product label as per the laws in the US, Canada and Europe. But since I live, make and sell in the US, that's the information I am going to share here. Its the most complicated as well.

Required label information included: brand name, product name and net size/weight on the front facing labels. Business name and location as well as a list of ingredients should also be included on your product label but can be put on side or back panel labels. Ingredients should be in order of amount used; greatest to smallest; and use their INCI (International Nomenclature of Cosmetic Ingredients) names. INCI was set up back in the 70s by the Personal Care Products Council and is maintained and updated by them. This system is followed here in the US as well as in many countries around the world. That concludes the MUST HAVEs for your product labels; now on to the DO NOTs. What you are not allowed to use are drug claims in your descriptions. This was the hot topic and the one that brought me to a very important business decision.

To explain what drug claims are and why they are not allowed on aromatherapy labels, I will need to explain the drug, cosmetic and aromatherapy laws in the US. So bear with me and do click the links so that you can get a fuller picture. Here in the US, there is the FDA (Food and Drug Administration), who mostly oversees the Food, drug and cosmetic industries. There is some overlap with the the USDA (United States Department of Agriculture) and the FTC (Federal Trade Commission) though. These government entities have stricter laws and rules for the creation, manufacturing, promotion and sales of food and drugs. This is for multiple reasons; the two most important in this instance being fair competition in those industries and also so that consumers have choice and variety without subterfuge. Basically, it's to make it easier for the average Joe to buy what they need and knowing it works as the labeling and marketing says it will. That being said, the cosmetics industry does not have those same rules nor the same amount of oversight. Probably because it is a newer industry comparatively.

FD&C Act, Sec 201(i)

As for products in the even newer aromatherapy industry, those mostly get categorized under cosmetics as far as the law is concerned. One specific law in particular specifies whether a product is the Food, Drug & Cosmetic Act which defines cosmetics and drugs by their intended uses. Even though essential oils, which make up most of the aromatherapy industry, have therapeutic qualities that have been known for centuries, they are at most used in the alternative medical fields. Which is to say most people think of them as a last resort in most cases there. Anywho, I will speculate that this is because essential oils cannot and do not give the same results all the time to most people so they were never seen as big money makers to the pharmaceutical companies. So they were relegated to aromatherapists and massage therapists. Not that there is anything wrong with either of those professions but both are required by law to go through more training than say your average bath and body product maker since they use essential oils for therapeutic purposes which classifies them as working with 'drugs.' 

This all leads us back to what is allowed on aromatherapy labels and what is not. Because the cosmetic industries, which includes aromatherapy, does not have the rules that the Food and Drug industries do, it makes it simultaneously easier and harder to make a living in these areas. It is easier because there is less oversight and almost anyone could start a home business because the fair business practices are suggestions rather than requirements as in other industries. The FDA does not have to approve products before they go on sale. They do not inspect labs or products nor do they require companies to register with them or get any licensing. This is a bit scary as a consumer since it explains people getting infections from some lipsticks and things like that. But on the plus side prices for aromatherapy products that can be used for therapeutic purposes are cheaper than most medications.

FD&C Act, Sec 201 (g)(1)

Now, for the negative side of this from a business owners point of view. We are not allowed to make drug claims on our packaging, websites, etc. The FDA is on the internet too. Drug claims include pretty much any of the therapeutic qualities of essential oils. For example we cannot use the words, antibacterial, antifungal, antiviral, which most essential oils are. You are not allowed to claim that your product has any altering affect on the body, particularly internally. For example, relieves aching muscles, removes scars, expectorant, soothes stomach upsets, suppresses coughs, removes acne, etc. These are all drug claims. You would be claiming that your product does what a drug would do without having followed any of the rules and practices required for selling a drug in the US. There is this huge long list if things you cannot say if you run an aromatherapy business.

Now, there are a few alternatives. You can say things like soothes muscles, reduces the look of scars or acne, refreshing, comforting, etc. Sound familiar? Now you know why every cosmetic ad and commercial sound and look the same. You're welcome. What can and cannot be put on your labels is covered by the FDA under the FP&L (Fair Packaging and Labeling) Act. This is also where the FTC and USDA come in as well. The FTC regulates all advertising of products with the FDA and the USDA regulates the term organic and any organic products under its National Organic Program (NOP) regulation 7, CFR 205. Some of this all goes for the use of herbs as well. Herbal supplements are classified as drugs by the FDA.

Its frustrating that once you've created something that you can only use about a dozen words to describe it, none of which can go in depth about the ingredients true qualities and all of which every other business even remotely similar to yours uses as well. That being said, I understand why. However, as I reiterated back during my first blogging 101 post, I had plans to write ingredient posts giving my followers and customers a look into why I use certain items and their benefits. With the rules about drug claims, I would not be able to do that. I already do not do that in my Etsy product descriptions since when I joined Etsy, they decided that all if their sellers should follow FDA rules.

Now, I was assured that the FDA is not going to come arrest every small business owner during this webinar. Most companies just get a warning or a fine. They don't have time to look for and find everyone. But, some of the big, popular essential oil companies have gotten warnings or fines. After this webinar, I had a choice to make. As many of you know, I have a Scarlet Moon Creations shop on Etsy from which I sell the physical things I create, the majority of which are bath and body products. I use all natural ingredients which means I fall into the cosmetic/ aromatherapy category. I created this shop for a bit of extra income.

What you do not know is that I have struggled with how much of myself to put into this business. You see my ultimate career love goal is to have my own event services business. My bath and body products were to simultaneously help soothe my need to physically make stuff while funding my startup. I've been working as if this business was my end goal and putting my all into not only creating but researching for the benefit of my customers. I'm an all or nothing kind of girl and I want the best for everyone. But, this could be classified as a hobby and if so I would not feel obligated to keep information from my potential customers in order to follow business rules. Honestly, I don't really make a profit on this business and I have decided to just keep the Etsy shop in the hobby category. This way I can focus more on my plans for event services. That webinar really clarified my personal priorities.

Moving On and Moving Up

The last few months has been full of my ending yet another phase of my life as well as preparing for the next one. I quit my day job. I had agreed to do work with my boss for two years minimum and that time is up. I felt ready to move on. And also, ready to work on achieving my dreams.

I knew this time was coming so I took part in the Daily Prompts Blogging 101 course for this blog to help update it as well as improving my blogging content and frequency. In addition to this, I have improved upon my promotional process for Scarlet Moon Creations.

However, my main goal; my dream, to start my own event planning business is well under way. I have named my business and come up with my business model. From here I have but a few more steps to make it official. I'll document that process in upcoming posts.

Blogging 101 has helped me find a few great blogs and bloggers whose interests sometimes dovetail with mine in both the crafting and event communities.  Many have become and inspiration to me and have helped me feel strong enough to take this step.

But I cannot forget my recent boss. He has taught me a lot both directly and indirectly. And of course, we met each other when we were both in unstable positions in our lives. I am as grateful for his help as he says he is with mine. So this is not an ending but a new beginning.

Other Business

Early on in this blog I mentioned that I had plans for another business. A two-pronged event services business. Event planning is where my heart is. Not that I don't love making and selling my own products. This is just another business where the goal, or at least my goal, is to help people and make them happy. Events just have all my loves in one place so to speak.

Event planning has both the creative elements as well as the practical ones. Plus there is the variety, the deadlines, the stress (yes, I love stress), and the almost constant gratification. I could do three events a day and that would give me that high of a job well done and a client being happy three times. Just knowing that I did a good job and everything went well and that the client is happy, makes me happy . Plus event planning has a definitive outcome. You know what your purpose is and can actively work towards it.

So, this business I want to start is an event services business that would cater to mostly personal and business events; meaning personal life events like weddings, vacations, etc and business meetings, lectures, etc. The two-pronged part comes in because I am Pagan. Pagan event planning is an unexplored niche that I'd like to take advantage of. That sounds bad but there are so many people and events in the pagan community that I would like to lend my event planning experience to to help make things easier on the hosts and help build a bigger more successful community. The two parts of this business would be named the Pagan Event Planner and Excelsior Events. And hopefully there will be some overlap in clients since for me its all one and the same. I want to help everyone equally, and get paid for doing what I love. I can even offer some of my products for certain events.

As far as this blog is concerned I will be making event business posts as well as event ideas and interest boards, so please look out for those. Also, for those who may be confused, please remember that this is my business blog and I did mention from the first post that I would include posts about both businesses. There is some overlap but I will keep each clearly marked on this blog with tags. Also there will be no event business posts open the Scarlet Moon Creations Facebook or Etsy pages.

So please lock forward to my event planning posts.