Opinion or Fact

I came across a thread today that stated North Shore Clay is not making jewelry. Opinion or fact?

Everyone is entitled to their opinion, and of course, our constitution guarantees us the right to have our say, and say it however we choose.

Does the medium we use, whether it's clay, metal or anything else determine whether what we make is jewelry? Does the length of time it takes us to make the piece determine whether it's jewelry or is it the difficulty of making the piece. If any of the aforementioned statements are true then there is a lot of (non)jewelry out there that is not jewelry.

When we create something it is an extremely personal expression of ourselves. Often times I am relating something personal through my clay. I tell stories as I create my pieces. They may not be for everyone and that's okay. My pieces are not about glitz and glamour.

So what do you think? Is North Shore Clay making jewelry? Sounds like the stuff of a good hearty debate.

Contest Thursday!

Good Thursday Everyone! Go to my store TODAY http://northshoreclay.etsy.com and you will receive $2.00 off my already low summer prices. Remember that all of my pieces are handmade by me from start to finish and each piece tells a story! Find yours! This offer is only available to my blog readers! Thanks for visiting North Shore Clay and Craft Blog and be sure to check back soon! Namaste by friends! Craft on...

The Crash

The modem fried in my computer 9 days ago. I felt a sense of panic. All of the work I have been doing is in my computer. All of my pictures, all of my writing, all of my personal thoughts, struggles and visions for what I dream my little business would someday be. I called Toshiba and talked with Tech Support several times before realizing that I would have to send my laptop off for repair.

I back up my computer once a week so everything is saved, and I am glad that I did. I finally got my pc back last night and everything is gone. My Toshiba Satellite is in original condition. No files, no pictures, no documents, nothing. I'm wondering at this point why all of my hard drive had to be dumped to change the modem? Is this a standard practice at Toshiba? I don't claim to be very computer literate and called my internet service provider (Surfbest) who walked me through getting back online and getting my email back up and running and has always been great in the customer service department. They always make you feel like you are the only person they have to deal with and are happy to help! A shout out to Wesley at Surfbest for great customer service this morning!

However, Toshiba customer service has some serious problems. They are rude and degrading. When I talk to a customer service technician I want to feel better about my problem when the conversation is over. I want to feel that the person that I have talked to cares about the product and the person on the other end of the phone. When I pay hard earned money for a big ticket item, I expect service to match.

Granted, Toshiba makes a good product, but they sorely lack in customer service.

This rant brings me to the reason for the post. Customer Service! As business people, our reputation is decided by how we treat our customers. Has Toshiba made me a repeat customer? No. Will my ISP (Internet Service Provider) get referrals from me for being so helpful and happy to talk to me this morning? A wholehearted YES! If you are having a bad day, don't take it out on your customers. If you don't care about your job, get a new one. If you have a bad attitude, change it, or someone will change it for you in short order.

Employees can make or break a business. Maybe you handle your business as it should be, but what about your employees? How are they answering the phone when you aren't there? Something to think about...

Minnesota Etsy Street Team

I've joined the Minnesota Etsy Street Team! I've still to learn all the benefits of this great team, but just by reading the digest for the past few days they have a lot to teach me. It appears that this group is a way to connect with other artisans from Minnesota or even more local and promote our Etsy stores. They are a source of support, inspiration and that dose of encouragement that we all need once in awhile.

Let me hear your Minnesota Etsy Street Team stories!

My hubby wants to know how I can belong to a street team when I live on a dirt road...sheesh