Laboring Day

[ellenmillion]

Had an awesome weekend. Took Saturday and Sunday OFF OFF OFF... didn't do anything but watch TV, eat, clean the house and do laundry. Mmm... delicious-smelling laundry. (Yay, washer!)

Monday, I did orders. I didn't get 50 done. (*laughs weakly*) But I did get more than 20 done, and all but two of the non-pre-orders that needed-needed-needed to be out. Massive-looking pile of boxes and envelopes by the door to be carried to the car. Out of boxes again, and out of wrapped Elder soap. (Note, folks... I'll almost certainly be sold out by Christmas, so don't put off ordering them too terribly long...)

Our weekend accomplishment for the house was two-fold: our septic tank has been insulated in anticipation of the 'W' word. And, I have front steps!! I don't know if you ever squinted at any of the pictures I've posted of the front of our house (I don't post many because it it unpainted, un-trimmed, and frankly, ugly...), but we've always had thrown-together wobbly log steps. You had to step in the middle of them, or they'd try to throw you, and they were odd heights and not quite level. Now: REAL steps! It's quite astonishingly nice!

Printing the last of the orders I'll get out today, weighing and labeling, then I'll have some lunch and go in to the day job grind!

Eep! And land taxes are due today! Eep!

Comments

[jeliza]

Got to say, the soap totally rocks. I will enjoy the big stack perfuming my clothes closet until it comes time to wrap it up and send it off for Yule.

[ellenmillion.livejournal.com]

Doesn't it smell heavenly? I'm glad I'm not the only one who likes them!

[selinafenech.livejournal.com]

50 Orders! Phroar I would have been very impressed if you made it through them. 20 is still impressive. The most I ever did in a day was 60, but that was almost entirely calendar orders (pick calendar, put in envelope, put on label) easy stuff. Plus I had help that day.
I'd love to compare business running processes and tips with you some day!

[ellenmillion.livejournal.com]

I think I did ~100 orders in two days last year - does that count as 50 a day? They were calendars (Oh, I LOVE calendar orders - pop 'em in the envelope with the invoice and you're done!), and I invoiced and packed 'em up one day and labeled and posted 'em the next. Took ALL of both days. With paypal's multi-ship function available now, I could probably do 200 in a day, it just - bam! - batchprints all the labels for flatrate, and I went ahead and ordered my calendars pre-wrapped with cardstock in the middle for an extra $.14 (or something) apiece. SO worth $.14. Do you have the paypal mailing option there? and do you get your credit card orders through paypal? I do now, and it has SO simplified the whole order fulfilling process! Especially considering all the extra mail security in place right now - I am SO happy I don't have to wait in post office lines.

I may have to write out a how-it-happens article so we can compare notes. :)

[selinafenech.livejournal.com]

I don't know about the paypal shipping options... I do my CC payment with paypal, but run everything else through mals mOrders program, which runs off all my invoices and shipping labels, also handles emails to customers... but I still have to hand write all customs/security forms and things for shipping though. But my post offices stock me up with all the forms I need, and accept stamps on most of them too :)
I'm DYING for paypal to offer "payments PRO" services for Aus, with the virtual terminal and all.
Hrm... maybe we could both do a write up, edit them together into an article for your ezine on two different working processes. I'll take some notes next order filling day (or next one I'm not still playing catch up anyway!).
I know I've done so much in the last year to speed things up and simplify. I fill more orders now in the same time I would have taken for just a few a year ago.

[piotrov.livejournal.com]

I love how you say you didn't do "anything", but you you accomplished so much. :D [shakes fist in envy of productivity...]

Best of luck with your septic situation, after all the fun you had last year... :)

[valdary.livejournal.com]

Ah... Safe steps and safe plumbing, fresh laundry.

There are wilder pleasures in life but it is so nice to have those solid little satisfactions behind you as a psychic bolster.

[metasilk.livejournal.com]

Pictures of your house..??? Oooh! Where? I remember bathroom ones... :)