Betsy & Iya Jewelry


Archive for the ‘betsy & iya jewelry: The Biz’ Category

Google is spying on us!

Tuesday, August 31st, 2010

…if by spying, you can mean being invited into the shop to take pictures of everything because we’re soooo popular!

That’s right, folks.  We were selected by Google to be included in this program!  Basically, it’s the next step up from Streetview (where you can see a photo of the outside of a shop/house) and a clear indication that Google will be soon able to predict your thoughts and dreams up to three years in advance.  (Baby steps…)

But the coolest thing about this is the fact that we were picked because of YOU!  Google is starting by photographing the most popular businesses as determined by Google queries.  So give yourself a pat on the back and allow us to give you one, too: *pat pat pat*.  Thanks for making Google love us as much as you do!

***Song of the Moment: Neighbors, by Gnarls Barkley***

things I love about my new job

Tuesday, August 24th, 2010

As you may suspect, here at betsy & iya, we have a strict no-cubicle policy.  With a total office/studio/shop square footage coming in well below 300, we have found that cubicles make the following things difficult:

opening the door, seeing outside, closing the door, walking, being happy, sweeping, & finding appropriate storage space for our mountains of cash.


So, it’s easy to see why we liquidated our last cubicle ages ago.  This is a move I fully supported before coming on board and one of many things I love about my new job.  Here’s the full and growing list:

no paychecks: because the coolest thing about every other Friday should never be the larger number in your checking account. (ps, IRS: Lupe totally gets a regular paycheck.)

working through lunch: We ate lunch at 4:45pm yesterday.  Who knew caloric deprivation could be so satisfying?

making my wife snacks/eating snacks my wife makes: quickest way to a man’s productivity.

stealing kisses in the break room: shhhh… don’t tell Lupe.

dance parties in the morning: easier when you’re not wearing a tie.

my boss telling me she could care less if I shave: more time for dance parties.

grocery shopping at 10am: SO. MUCH. ROOM!

the whiteboard: SO. MUCH. ORGANIZATION!

but most of all: making up my own job and wanting to be the best at it. I mean, where else do you get to spend hours on Photoshop, use power tools, develop marketing plans, write blog posts, sweep and mop, pack up cars, have fun with sweet customers, drink a beer at 2pm, work until 1am, plan road trips, go on road trips… et cetera, et cetera, et cetera.

***Music Video of the moment: End Love, by OkGo.***

This weekend: shop hours and danish doors.

Friday, May 28th, 2010

Hi, friends!!  Dag Nabbit (channeling the grandaddy), I’ve missed you guys!!

I wanted to let you know that we’ll be in the shop this weekend!  We’ve had so many shows this month that I know several shoppers have popped by on Saturday only to find an empty shop.  But…NO MORE…well, at least for this weekend and next.  We’ll be here from noon to at least 4 tomorrow.

The shop is still on the up and up.  We plan on having a grand opening by the end of the summer (shwew!).  Little by little, my friends.  This weekend, we’re planning on finishing the miscellaneous drawer front counter wrap and the sliding door!  My design friends were in town last weekend and we took some huge steps forward.  We’ve been running with this white on white on white theme with rustic wood to offset it all.  Courtney called it Scandinavian.  When she said the words, my heart melted.  Some of my most favorite people in the world live there (or near there).

Come by and see us sweating through it all this weekend, say hello, drink a glass of wine, and shop your little hearts out.

big huge love.

-betsy

DISCOUNT: Taxes Shmaxes!

Friday, April 16th, 2010

Aren’t we all glad April 15th has passed!?!  If we’re not excited about a refund, we’re excited to have paid our dues and be moving on…or maybe we’re just excited to get the darn paperwork out of the way!

Me, Kim Werker, and Kari Chapin (author of The Handmade Marketplace) at Etsy in Brooklyn, NY.

To celebrate this momentous occasion, I am offering a special discount through Tuesday, April 20th.  Just enter “Taxes Shmaxes” into the comment box when checking out for a 20% discount on ALL ITEMS!!  After that, you can do one of two things:

a) wait for a revised invoice BEFORE you pay.  It will appear in your email inbox, click it, then pay.

OR

b) go ahead and pay and we’ll refund your discount money right away!

maybe you wanna celebrate by eating chocolate bacon??

or maybe by treating yourself to a new Peruvian Opal necklace, full of light and spring. Free shipping too!!

We work with an awesome woman who specializes in the complicated numbers from musicians, artists, indie boutiques, etc.  She has done a stellar job with our taxes; she’s affordable, fair, and fun (and who can say that about their tax person)!  I recommend her to everyone I know.

I hope you all have a lovely, beautiful, sunny, inspired weekend.  I plan on it!

***Song of the Moment: Plastis Wafers, by Of Montreal***