The desktop would be one of the few places that you would not think of making into a battleground. It is where you keep your office supplies, where contracts are drawn, where ideas are inspired and where magical things happen regarding the business. But it can also be a dangerous place to handle data in, especially when you aren’t specifically careful.

No, I’m not talking about miniature soldiers and make shift forts made out of staple wire cartons and colored pieces of paper and doodads. I’m talking about what’s in your computer. Yes, your desktop. If you aren’t keen and careful with your security, the data that is housed within your PC can be stolen. Data that could very well be essential with the normal procedures of your business, or even *gasp* trade secrets!

Thieves can come in from all shapes and sizes, from that suspicious looking old lady that discreetly slips in employee’s cubicles, to that hacker living in the basement of his mom’s house. Battles happen every day and it is up to you to be informed of the latest happenings so you don’t get caught in the crossfire.

In terms of physical protection, make sure to always update your computer with the latest passwords. Those that are hard to remember (but make sure you don’t forget it yourself). Observe a strict employees-only rule. Do background checks on your employees as well (you can never be too careful). Have your computers outfitted with screensaver passwords, or advise your employees to log out of their accounts if you keep a network system.

Employ a trustworthy IT expert to spot holes in your system, ones that hackers could exploit. Millions of dollars are usually lost in data theft, so it is a wise investment for you to try and be extra careful with your hard-earned data.

Earlier, we talked about having two options to make your life a bit more fulfilling than the drudgery of forced servitude in your everyday living and routine. It was either you find your dream job, one that would fill half the meaning as to what your life is about, or to create your own dream job, which means self-employment, investments and cooperation.

Yes, if you have a family, it’s not a solo thing. Although, being single does mean you don’t have dependents to hinder you, it also means that you do not have any support, and that means going into it alone.

Should you have a family that has a second say in everything that you do, you should have your family’s voluntary yes. An effort in your part, without the blessings of your family, would USUALLY crash and burn. Oh believe me. Sooner or later, it will; not without outside support anyway.

Doing so means bringing your interest into light. Share it with your family and see if you can pique your interest with your own. A family willing to help you means extra hands…err, I meant, more for moral support. Seriously, you will have an easier time investing your family’s money (remember, if you are a breadwinner, it’s not only your money in the wallet, it’s your family’s future. That means they have say on what happens to it).

At least work a compromise with everyone. I’m sure most generic people would have at least more than two interests working for them. You and your family could find something common in there. Start discovering and see what would work for everyone. Because if you can pull this off, your dream of finding the perfect job, would not be as far fetched as it seems.

Multi-tiered appearances also make for good appeal with prospective customers. The concept of placing multi-tier levels in your table is a bit of an optical illusion since it will give your display table a look of depth, quality, mystery and even evoke a bit of the customer or client’s curiosity. Arrange your products in a way that it will have the glorious depth of evoking the customer’s shopping hand.

With color coordination, it is important that you at least have a good color sense when coordinating stuff around the table. Contrast two different colors to bring each item’s good trait out. A good color combination will also bring people more to your table than some other display with drab designs and pale touches.

Your sitting height should be just as tall or at least taller than your table. Although it’s not for the writing prerequisite (like writing a receipt or a check), having a taller chair signifies confidence and will over all, and helps with the appearance of your table as well.

Have a separate space for displaying your products, transacting with customers and also for pay out and wrapping. It is quite hassling and disorderly to look at when everything is happening in just one table. Observe order and try to move everything to a different table (just don’t rent out another place or you might find yourself losing more money than gaining profits.)

Have samplers and free treats! That is one of the best ways to draw in customers, even if they’re just mildly interested. Don’t forget that it should be related to your craft wares (if it’s jewelry, seriously, think again). Business cards or colorful brochures ought to do for those which cannot be brought by samplers. Have at least a sampler for all age groups (or even species, like pets). You’ll never know when you’ll need it.

As a consumer like me I always want to get the best product on each purchase I have. I am fond of attending craft fairs as these are great venues where I can source cheap and useful finds. Craft fairs are the place where I find unique curios that are ideal for giving away as presents. I usually keep some of the things I buy and others I wrap and give as presents.

As a responsible consumer I always prepare well before any purchase. Before going out, I already have in mind the things that I need to buy in order to save time and effort. It is always wise to have a vision of the product that I want before going to a fair. In this case, I would be spared of the necessary impulse purchases that sometimes happen to shoppers like me.

Firstly, I look for quality products. For me, quality means a reasonable price tag for a product. I really dont mind spending more on an item which I deemed has the better or the best quality among its contemporaries.

Next factor I look for is the attitude of the seller or the merchant. I am one of the people who vouch that a sellers attitude is equally important with the product that she sells. Take a look at this example. If two products are balanced and have the same characteristics in terms of price and quality, one would choose to buy from someone she sees as a friend. That is the reason why a good relationship with your buyers is extremely important in the world of selling.

Now that some of these facts are laid out for us to know, as a business person it is always better to keep them in mind to be able to have a successful crafting business.

Having a successful table display requires not only the proper products but also the proper display to let the customer fully appreciate the product at hand. Remember my thing about making the first impression, the “best” impression. Well, this applies to almost anything (sadly, humans are more of a visuaphile, than a qualitiphile at first glance). Make a good image, and furnish a good impression. This not only includes color coordination, and a bit of light; but also coordination, flow, and impact.

First and foremost, table height. One would seriously want to avoid anything that is not level to their hip or at least to their hand’s level. People do not like to crouch over just to examine your stuff or product. I seriously would not. Do yourself, and your customers, a favor by at least raising your table height to a goodly level.

You can use anything that is sturdy, and appropriate for the job. A few bricks, a sturdy pot, some bed risers, anything that would not cause you fail is seriously fine.

Have a sign that says you are accepting credit cards as well, if you do. People tend to drift towards you if you have it. Especially shopaholics that cannot stand the thought of going into a craft fair to buy at least something, realize they do not have cash with them, and only have their credit cards as their source of currency. It’ll be heaven sent for them, that credit card machine of yours.

Make sure it works first, and that it is in tip-top condition. The last thing you’ll need is an irate customer hot at your heels because of your run down credit card machine. That, and the fact that it will seriously impede your profit machine. Money that has gone stone is not a good thing at all.

Going to your first fair outing can be a very good, or a very bad experience, depending on how you handle situations. There are things you need to plan before hand, things to prepare, things to look out for, how events will unfold tomorrow, who handles this and that and so much more. It can be a very stressful event, but with proper preparations and with the right execution of these; you can bet that you will easily breeze through the day just like any other.

Firstly, consider what you are going to sell in the fair. No, now is not the time to change mind and go for the other product. You spent weeks beforehand preparing those things. So pimp them up to sellable-looks and keep them safe until showtime. If they’re food, prepare them according to specifications. If they’re crafts, clean them and shine them so they have that sparkly sheen that screams “Buy me NOW!”

Consider your wardrobe for the whole day. Of course, most craft newbies would make the mistake of thinking they only need one change of clothes for the whole day. Depending on the environment, and the activity that you engage in while in the event grounds. Wear something comfortable, and at the same time appealing to both your customers and your clients. Bring a change of clothes as well, so you can fit in in any situation that may arise in the site.

Bring food and funds in convenient and easy to carry package. One that would fit in your pocket. Food should be refreshing, nutritious and adequate for your stomach. Avoid foods that react badly to wild temperature, and avoid fats and dairy products as well. Light snacks should do well. Avoid foods that cannot be eaten with fingers only, or may require utensils.

Preparing for a day in the fair would be easy. If you follow your own pace and incorporate these steps that I suggested.

Sure, in the end, you might find the whole thing of selling and meeting people both fun and enjoyable. But it is also, in its own way, very exhausting. As such, do not venture going into the field alone without any help or back up. You can only have so much of your brain, arms and legs. You will need help later during the day, when you have to take your needed breaks, or when you need to eat.

As much as possible, bring a family member along who is willing to support you in this endeavor. Save from the expense of paying them, and treat it as quality time spent together (unless it was a boring day). Closing your booth temporarily because no one was there to tend to it will make you lose out on potential customers.

Check the things you will need for your booth and for the whole day. Make sure to bring more than enough, but not too much that you’d have difficulty transporting them or setting them up for display. Also, don’t forget to bring chairs for you and your customers, another table, a calculating machine (laptop works for me), plastic or paper bags, business cards, flyers, pamphlets and the credit card machine for easy money transferring.

Another racket that could net your more customers is actual and live demonstration. People will always be innately curious, and by this, you can satiate that one curiosity on “how does he do that?” Create one of your doo-hickeys in your time when there are lots of people to view what you are doing.

Incite their interest, and engage their questions should you have one. Others might take the opportunity to buy your product on account that you could, maybe, “personalize” it. There are other things you can do to improve customer relations.

Yes, you have the tools and the finances needed to start your very own business, but what market will you start with? You often hear the terms “You should do what you love and do what you do best” or “Be in the know with what you’re doing, and do it for the sake of craft, and not for money”. Well, let me tell you something, the world is a bit more complicated than that which can be explained by a few quotes.

With the argument of doing something you like versus it’s profitability; let us take the universal truth, most people do not need trinkets and baubles. Perhaps if they have the money to spare, of if they have something they truly love; then they will spend money on it.

Not counting if your craft includes valued stones and gems (which are all good investments for the future), most people will not give in their money for something that would be seldom used or moderately valuable stuff. In any case, think as to the value and what your product can give to people. Educate and elucidate the use and practicality of your item in order to coax them to buy.

Belief and practicality are different. Your terms of people will buy this, is different from what actual people need. If the mass doesn’t need, or doesn’t like your product, don’t force it. Simply look for other markets that will readily accept your products. Forcing it will merely provoke reports of unintentional harassment in their part and yours.

When you do find your calling, give it your very best, like your business depends on it. Because it does! Improve upon your trade and give people the aura that it’s a good investment. And prove that it is a very good business to settle on. Create networks and socialize to enforce your craft.

Pork, peanut and pine nuts can be appreciated in a festival dedicated to it in Virginia. It is an excellent festival with nothing but only the three p’s, and spending the rest of the day with your family in it, can be described as one of the greater things in life. Welcome to the Pork, Peanut and Pine Festival in Surry County, Virginia.

It is a country festival located in the fields. A family day with nothing but nature, straight drinks, Blue Grass and country style music in the air, and the afternoon sun beating down on you and your family with a warm and comfortable glow. You can find yourself walking lazily under the shades of tall cedar trees that line the River Road. If you’re not comfortable with the sun, there are shades and refreshment stands for your enjoyment and comfort as well.

The barnyard in town is the hub for all exhibits regarding pork, peanut and pine. The festival is mostly headed on weekends so there’s no rush to get right back to work the next day. The venue is most found on Chippokes Plantation State park, where the crepes bloom at the same time. Crepe myrtle trees are some of the more stately trees donwn South, being heat-resistant and hardy. A symbolic tree for the stalwart people of the Southern.

Pine and peanut had always been the cash crops for the Southern folks for almost four centuries. Their art, craft, and culture revolves around these products. Not until ten years after that they had added the red meat into their roster of festivals. Pork has slowly evolved into what we know it is, today.

The County Civil will sell food and refreshments at the site. Craftsmen and registered artisans can also display their wares and products for exhibition and for purchase. Most of the craftsmen are returnees, with some as old as 1976. Regulars, in the local’s terms.

When you are considering going on that road to selling your crafts at a crafts fair, understand that you are taking a big step forward. Along with the risks, and challenges that are involved with this step. There are a lot of things to consider first, in order to systematically sell stuff, categorizes and put all things in proper order, and to mentally prepare yourself for this undertaking. Selling stuff is no easy walk in the park kiddies.

First, immerse yourself in crafts fairs around your locality and even in other places. There will come a time that you will have to move your market and discover new ones and other niches as well. Attend a few fairs and see for yourself, first hand, what is happening inside.

See both juried and non-juried shows, watch how judges rate crafts, see the quality you need to reach in order to deem your craft customer-quality passed. Find out which venue is also most suited for your craft, whether indoors, a fair, or a show or even a booth. Check the pamphlet provided to see the specifications of the fair, so you wouldn’t get confused later on when you make big decisions.

Do your research. Find out what the common costs are, what additional costs you might incur, your projected income, actual income from other vendors (if they are willing to disclose it), and profitability margin. Each show and craft fair will charge differently, with the normal ones usually being around 200 dollars to 300 dollars; the more expensive and exclusive ones could reach up to 500 or more. Of course, this comes with more benefits that the people that engage in these types of shows actually are willing to buy more and spend more.

Don’t forget to tabulate your material costs, labor costs, permits and licenses needed, and how many of your products are you going to bring to the craft fair (because seriously, you weren’t thinking of bringing them all now, would you?)