I know that this has been a record winter in much of the US. Here in Albuquerque, we had three months of below normal temperatures, but little snow. The surrounding mountains had plenty of snow. Now temps are hitting the 60s and Spring is coming, regardless of how many cold spells we get.
We just received a shipment of colorful rayon clothing from Karuna Arts. These colorful tops, catans and banners scream Spring. Check out the Karuna section on our webpage.
On the political front, I remain a little optimistic that some form of health care reform will actually pass congress. At best it will be a half-step. At worst, nothing will change and 30 plus million American will still be uninsured. The vested interests (basically the health insurers) have succeeded in scaring people away from reform with their ad campaigns.
After watching politics for 50 years (yes I supported John Kennedy in 1960 when I was too young to vote), I am still amazed how a few deceitful ads can scare people away from a good idea. With that idea I will close this post.
Since I last posted a blog, some new people have signed up to follow this blog. Welcome!
This blog has promoted our business Cinnamon Dazzle, and also has included my generally liberal opinions. Running a small business and being liberal are not inconsistent. The proper role of government is to ensure a level playing field for all businesses large and small. Without government intervention, the big businesses will gradually change the rules to their benefit and squeeze out small businesses such as Cinnamon Dazzle.
The Federal government’s role as an impartial regulator has been compromised by the excessive influence of the corporations, who can afford expensive lobbyists and campaign donations. They have gradually packed the regulatory commissions with supporters. Enough said.
On another topic, we are actively updating the Cinnamon Dazzle web store (www.store.cinnamondazzle.com) & are ordering new clothing , jewelry, statues & trinket boxes for the upcoming vending season. The showroom at our house on Madison St SE is also open by appointment (Call 505-268-9159).
The past week I have updated the Cinnamon Dazzle webpage to make it more current. Once again I have started to learn more about SEO. Some ‘experts’ are claiming that a simple computer program can do all the SEO you need for a fraction of the cost of real SEO workers. I still want to learn more SEO, since our webpage depends on it.
On other topics, what are so many people afraid of real change? Every tiny country in Europe has universal health care. Here the profit making interests of the private insurance companies trump universal health care. Making more money is their goal, and denying coverage to those who might actually need their insurance is the best way to achieve this goal.
Our outdoor vending season ended in September. But you can still shop with us indoors at our house on Madison St SE, Albuquerque.
Better yet, many items are on sale at up to 50% off. You will save by shopping where we live. At home we can offer the best prices around for our style of Tribal Belly Dance & Gothic clothing, jewelry, statues, and banners.
Some sale items (50% off) include: Clothing, staues, magnets, jewelry and more. Many items can be unique gifts for Yule, Christmas, or Hanukkah.
Contact us at505-268-9159 or email us at info@cinnamondazzle.com for an appointment. You can find Cinnamon Dazzle on Mapquest.
You can see pictures of us and comments by us by going to www.facebook.com/cinnamondazzle. That’s the page for me, James Heyser. Madeleine has her own page.
Several web gurus suggested that I use ’social networking’ as a means of promoting Cinnamon Dazzle. I am not quite comfortable in mixing my personal and business lives.
For years, Madeleine and I have not done any hard selling to friends. Some of them never buy from us. Others do for a while and then stop. Anyway, it does not matter. If we offer goods you like, please consider buying from Cinnamon Dazzle. Our opinions of you, however, do not depend on how much you purchase.
If you would like to become a Facebook fan of Cinnamon Dazzle, you may add your name. If you prefer your privacy, we understand that too.
One last thought. We will be again going to a Pagan festival in Colorado in early August. We enjoy the vacation and the people there have really supported our business. Thanks! We hope to see many repeat customers and new ones as well.
It’s been way too long since I last posted to our blog. Now Madeleine and I are taking a month off from weekend vending and I want to update you on our activities.
We have vended at belly dance, SCA, Pagan, Gypsy and Gay events since February first. On the business side, our sales are down about 10%. Everyone, who asks me about 2009 sales, comments that we are lucky they are only down 10%.
Several people have visited our home-store (which you can locate on Mapquest). It is easier for us to sell from our house, and everyone has paid less there than they would have at our weekend booth.
We have had some web sales, and again for the umpteenth time, we plan to increase our web presence. Finding a suitable promotion company is not easy. We get all sorts of commercial spam from people claiming to do SEO, but they have vague email addresses and no listings of their company’s webpage. Not a reliable source, I think.
If I had more time, or made more time, I could gradually learn the SEO game using keywords derived from using commercial sources. However, after vending all weekend, I am just too tired to put in the extra hours learning SEO. That’s been my decision, but it may change as I age.
This July I turn 64 and it is getting physically harder to vend at events as much as I would like. Maybe it’s a good time for me to stop, before I get too personal. My life has been good, and early retirement freed me up to do a vending business I love.
Today is the start of a new era. Cinnamon Dazzle is a profit making and nonpolitical business, but still Madeleine and I have high hopes for a better future under our new president.
We want to live in and do business in a society where all people truly are equal. We want economic security and access to quality health care. All these goals will take time, but today, at least, we have made a start.
On the business side, we have been ordering new jewelry, banners, sarongs and more. Our first vending event this year is Amaya’s Oriental Potpourri on February 7 & 8. You can visit the vendor area without paying an entrance fee. Attending the belly dance workshops and/or evening show requires a fee. For more information call 505-281-4492 or email maria@amaya.com.
We hope to see you. You can also visit the store in our house by calling 505-268-9159 and making an appointment. We also plan to keep adding new merchandise to our website (www.cinnamondazzle.com). Shipping is free within the United States for all purchases $30 or greater.
Let’s hope 2009 is turning point for our economy and country. A majority of the Americans who voted last November made it clear that it was time for a change. Sill, regardless of who is president, our economy is likely to linger in recession for a while.
Cinnamon Dazzle (as with other small businesses) completely depends on the economy. Last year, we saw fewer people making small purchases, but those with stable incomes spent about the same as in earlier years at our booth. It’s a two-tier economic system I think. Haves and have-nots to put it in simple terms.
We , of course, want everyone to continue spending as before, but we are realistic. Only when the economy improves, will our business likewise improve. In the meantime, we will keep on offering our unique and quality goods at moderate prices. We do not have the overhead of the larger stores located in business districts.
We will continue to expand and keep current our web page (www.cinnamondazzle.com). Shoppers are welcome at our in-house store at 1101 Madison, SE; Albuquerque, NM, but please contact us first at 505-268-9159 or cinnamon@swcp.com for an appointment.
Our next vending event is Amaya’s Oriental Potpourri held on February 7 & 8 at Albuquerque’s South Broadway Cultural Center . We hope to see you there.
We have decided to join the trend and offer Free Shipping within the Unites States until January 19, 2009. Our reasoning is simple. Everybody is offering big discounts this holiday season.
Unlike many of the big box chain stores, we plan to be in business next Spring, so there is a limit to the discounts we can offer.
For those of you who stop by our store at 1101 Madison SE, Albuquerque, we offer a 20% discount on purchases $30 or greater. That discount is in addition to the 50% discount off on some of our clothing. Many other items are discounted 10 to 30%.
This year has been interesting. Our business was good through the outdoor festival season, which ended on September 21.
We don’t do well vending in cold or wet conditions. Imagine that! People do not want sarongs and other light weight clothing when they are freezing.
We will vend at Oriental Potpourri in Albuquerque in February
Let’s all hope that a new year and Federal administration will bring a return to the good times we now miss.
I know that this has been a record winter in much of the US. Here in Albuquerque, we had three months of below normal temperatures, but little snow. The surrounding mountains had plenty of snow. Now temps are hitting the 60s and Spring is coming, regardless of how many cold spells we get.
