The Business Plan Before the Buisness Plan

I've been working on my business plan for Young Writer's Studio. I took a small business class with Score (). I started a computer file to begin filling in the blanks of my plan. I've spent time researching, making phone calls, surfing the web to add the information I need to my knowledge bank. I even have a large binder with sections. Each section is devoted to a different part of my plan: the business plan itself, store design and layout, programs, services, gift services, and more. I've been typing up everything in detail, printing it out, and placing it in my binder. I believe it's important to figure out my policies, procedures, and generally how I'm going to run things.

During the last couple of weeks, I've taken a business plan break. I've been working on setting up online businesses to generate income to place in a savings account. This account will be my seed money to start YWS. I've opened up shops with Cafe Press, ecrater, and Amazon. I also have items to sell on Ebay. You can find a list of links to my different shops on the side of this blog. The efforts I'm putting in now will hopefully begin bringing me profits soon. I hope you will visit my shops, bookmark them, and tell a friend about them! I'm working hard to organize on online ventures. Please visit my other blog: .

Get these products at Apple Boutique!

My Online eStores are Open!

I've been working hard to open up and recreate several online ventures. I hope you will drop by and visit my online stores. Let me tell you a little about each of them.
First I would like to introduce Apple Boutique. This little venture began as a t-shirt shop for teachers, but quickly expanded. My writing shirts and products are the most popular! I've added lots of great new products. I'm especially proud of my "journals" section. I have some great covers. Come by and see for yourself.
Since you are surfing around etown, take a stop at my new Bottega eBooks shop. I finally found a place to host all of my ebooks (and my unique Epages - The One Page Wonder) in one spot. I plan to add new titles soon. Please keep in mind that my ebooks are NOT a bunch of sold/resold garbage. I write each one on topics I know about.
If you are in the market for books, please visit Bottega Books. This shop is powered by Amazon. Lots of books for kids and teens. I've even put together book and movies - read the book, watch the movie!
For the collectors out there you will want to stop by Bottega Once Loved Books. I am a one woman treasure hunting machine. I'm also a teacher who needs to clear out her classroom! So teachers - stop by for a bargain.
Looking for toys for your kids? Please visit Imagination Toys powered by Amazon. Shopping through me doesn't cost you anything extra, and your check out experience is an Amazon experience!
Okay girls- I put together everything a girl could want in one place: clothes, accessories, jewelry, cosmetics, hair & skin care, health & fitness books, and even romance novels. Stop by Uptown Girls and shop till you drop!
Now you know where to hang out and shop, please bookmark my sites and visit again. Come visit my blog again soon. I promise - I won't always talk about shopping! LOL! Have a great day!
P.S. All of the links to my shops are on the side of the blog. Scroll all the way down and see my Bottega Ebooks widget.

Bottega New Books

Check out Bottega New Books! It's a store populated by me and run by Amazon. I've focused on books for kids and teens, and books with movies for now. I'll populate it with adult books as well.

Bottega Once Loved Books

The word "bottega" means "the studio of a master artist, in which lesser artists, apprentices, or students learn by participating in the work". I like to think of books as the writer's own personal studio of master artists. Bottega Once Loved Books is a collection of books I found (find) that were once loved and are looking to be loved again. You never know what gem I will find and place in my Amazon powered storefront. Please visit Bottega Once Loved Books often. I am always searching for antique and collector editions, so consider this a treasure hunt for the reader's heart. The link will stay on the side of the blog. Thank you for supporting my dream!

Announcing the Grand Opening of Apple Boutique

I've maintained a Cafe Press store for a few years. I am in the process of revamping the store. I am adding lots of great new designs to t-shirts and other products. My store sections include teachers, writers, kids and teens, holidays, just for fun, and journals. Please come by and check it out (and tell your friends and family).

FREE SILVER JEWELRY

I know this sounds too good to be true, but I actually found out about this site through Woman's Day magazine. You can get free, genuine silver jewelry with gemstones for only $5.99 shipping and handling. Now why would I tell you about getting something free when my purpose is to raise funds for my dream? Well, I signed up for their affiliate program. It doesn't cost you a thing to link from me, but it supports the future of YWS. I will post a link on the side, but for now, go take a look!

It All Began With A Dream

I have a passion for writing and teaching writing. There is always the one student with a special light in their pencil, and in my dream I give them more than what is offered in school. In my dream I give them supportive instruction in order to improve the quality of their writing and create an excitement and passion for words.

My daughter takes dance...ballet, point, tap, jazz, hip hop. As a parent, I spend a lot of money each month to give her the opportunity to explore her gifts and pursue her dreams. Today kids participate in karate, sports, art, cheerleading, music, and so much more. The opportunities are endless. I want to add one more opportunity to the list...writing and publishing. My dream gives young writer's their chance on paper.

My dream has evolved over time. I had to look at the practical side of business. I had to step out of my own ideas and into an open box. In the end my dream expanded into the idea of a writing studio and children's bookstore. I want to create a trendy, contemporary environment where kids can explore books and stories and the written words. Young Writer's Studio & Bookstore will be a place for family, educators, and the community to come together to celebrate literacy and language. I will offer products, services, and programs which will enrich the lives of children in my community.

I've spent a great deal of time researching and planning. I am beginning to formalize my plans. I'm going forward into my future. I've created something special, something magical...on paper. Now I need to take it a step further and bring it to life. I have a realistic two year plan. I will continue researching, learning, and planning as I work to make my dream come true.

But...

There's always a "but", isn't there? Money. Of course. I'm willing to work to make it happen, but I have to work on the side. I've thought of some ways to begin raising the seed money I need to open my doors in 2010. This blog is only the beginning. Join me on my journey to create a buzz. My first project is to set up an Amazon powered bookstore to generate funds. I'm only earning commission folks, and the commission is going straight into the business savings account. It doesn't change the world if you buy on Amazon anyway, but it could change mine (and eventually touch the lives of young writers and readers). I'll put together the store and provide the link on the blog list. If you purchase your books by following my links then you know a percentage of profits go to a dream. It doesn't cost you anything extra. I'll set the store up with different categories (similar to how I dream of setting up my YWS Bookstore), plus an adult section. If you don't see what you are looking for then you can contact me and I will add it. Your support is appreciated. Please share this blogsite with everyone! Help me create a dream.

Please come and shop and talk and watch a dream grow...