chalsoj-blog

[chalsoj-blog]

Lockdown 2021

Going straight out of the Christmas holidays and into lockdown was, to some extent, a relief. We’ve been able to enjoy winter in a way not usually possible. The biggest problem with winter in Scotland is the extremely short days. Under normal circumstances many working people and high school children leave before the sun rises in the morning, don’t get home until after sunset and spend most…

[chalsoj-blog]

Christmas 2020

What a year it’s been! COVID-19 has taken its toll on us all, one way or another, and now it’s messing with our Christmas shopping, big time!

Our excellent postal service has been put under extreme pressure. A dramatic increase in online shopping plus the altered working conditions due to COVID restrictions are resulting in extremely unpredictable delivery times.

https://www.instagram.com…

[chalsoj-blog]

100 days in Lockdown

100 days in Lockdown

It’s difficult to believe it’s been 100 days since the UK Lockdown started. We are now in Phase 2 of the easing of Lockdown process in Scotland but, things are still far from “normal”.

View this post on Instagram

The highlight of Week 11 was a walk in the countryside! First time we’ve all been out in the car for weeks and weeks. We went to Duncarnock Fort, just…

[chalsoj-blog]

Week 7 of Lockdown

I can't believe we're over seven weeks into lockdown due to the Covid-19 pandemic. The last week (week 7) was about checking in on our mental health and cheering the wee one up...

I can’t believe we’re over seven weeks into lockdown due to the Covid-19 pandemic. The last week (week 7) was about checking in on our mental health and cheering the wee one up. She was feeling a bit down and was missing school. The kids have barely been further than the garden since the start of lockdown and, lucky as we are to have it, we decided it was time for a change of scenery.…

[chalsoj-blog]

Wow, a lot has changed since my last post, and that is no exaggeration. We find ourselves in the midst of a global pandemic, the UK has entered “lockdown”, schools are closed and all but essential travel has ceased. People have been asked to work from home or, if that’s not possible, stay home anyway. The Government are building field hospitals in exhibition centres and there is an underlying panic running through everything.

There is a huge amount of uncertainty – how long will this last and how long can we manage without an income, where will we get money/food/loo roll from? But, people are stepping up, pulling together and supporting each other in any way they can.

  Community

One thing I’ve always loved about Etsy is the supportive community of sellers. I’ve found my online community a great source of friendship and support, now more than ever.

Over the last few years, I’ve been passing on the knowledge I’ve gained from setting up my own small business, in blogs and through the Glasgow Etsy Team meet-ups that I host. So, I’m obviously delighted to announce that I’ve been selected to be an Etsy U instructor!

Over the next few months I’ll be completing the Etsy U instructor training course. I will then be in a position to pass on the knowledge I’ve gained, mixed in with my own experience, in a series of online workshops. This is something I’m really excited about! Initially I’d hoped to host workshops in person and merge them into the Glasgow Etsy Team meet-ups. However, due to the current social distancing rules, it looks more likely that I’ll be hosting the workshops online instead. This is a bit more intimidating a prospect for me but, gives me the opportunity to reach out to a larger geographical area and include the I Heart Scotland Etsy Team members too! I’ve started to familiarise myself with Zoom and Facebook live and I’ve created my own Chalso Etsy U Facebook Group. Once I’m ready, I’ll open it up to members. To join, you’ll need to have an Etsy shop and an email address, so that Etsy can email you additional info to go along with the workshops. I’ll be announcing on social media when I open The Chalso Etsy U Facebook Group and sharing more info on the workshops, when they are ready!

  #GivingTuesdayNow

Anyone who’s followed me for a while will know I’m a big supporter of Giving Tuesday and donate money every year to Clyde Cash for Kids to support local families in need. This year, due to the exceptional circumstances we find ourselves in, there will be an additional worldwide day of giving, #GivingTuesdayNow on 5th May 2020, and I’ll be donating 10% of Chalso’s April sales to the Clyde Cash for Kids Coronavirus appeal.

http://www.cashforkids.uk.com/appeal/

  As for Chalso Jewellery…

The Chalso Etsy shop is still open for business! Everything is being sent in letter box-friendly sized parcels. Trips to the Post Office have been reduced by using the local post box whenever possible. UK orders are being sent by Royal Mail First Class, so do not require a signature. International items are being sent by regular Air Mail, unless the upgrade to Tracked is selected. As the shut down continues, there may be delays in the postal service, especially to overseas addresses, please be patient if your order doesn’t arrive as quickly as it would under normal circumstances. There may also be small differences from the photos of made to order items, due to disruption to my supply chain (eg. ear hooks may be a slightly different style).

I’ve been sharing daily updates since the lockdown started in Scotland on my Instagram and Facebook stories. You can see what we’ve been getting up to at Chalso HQ in my Stay Home Instagram Highlight.

Stay safe!

Sarah xx

  Find Chalso on your favourite social media

Chalso on Instagram

Chalso on Twitter

Chalso on Facebook

The Chalso Etsy U Facebook Group – coming soon!

  Previous posts of interest

How to craft a successful Etsy listing

Community and Charity

These are strange times, now more than ever it’s important to support each other in any way we can! Wow, a lot has changed since my last post, and that is no exaggeration. We find ourselves in the midst of a global pandemic, the UK has entered "lockdown", schools are closed and all but essential travel has ceased.

[chalsoj-blog]

November News

Etsy Made Local

Etsy Made Local – Glasgow is on again this year at The Briggait in Glasgow. This is the forth year I’ve appeared as a seller, I’ll be there on Saturday 30th November. Preparations are in full swing at Chalso HQ and I’m really looking forward to it as it’s the only sell-in-person fair I attend.

If you’re local to Glasgow, please come along and say “Hi”, if not, there’s sure to be…

[chalsoj-blog]

Here are some of the jewellery sets currently available in the Chalso Etsy shop. Click on the photos for more info on each item and the link to the Chalso Etsy shop.

  https://www.etsy.com/uChalso/listing/650879360/

https://www.etsy.com/Chalso/listing/662638864/

https://www.etsy.com/Chalso/listing/740088889/

https://www.etsy.com/Chalso/listing/737914623/

https://www.etsy.com/Chalso/listing/737909005/

https://www.etsy.com/Chalso/listing/684570236/

https://www.etsy.com/Chalso/listing/277778290/

https://www.etsy.com/Chalso/listing/469452619/

https://www.etsy.com/Chalso/listing/716615893/

https://www.etsy.com/Chalso/listing/607579349/

https://www.etsy.com/Chalso/listing/580325558/

https://www.etsy.com/Chalso/listing/670351021/

https://www.etsy.com/Chalso/listing/530828459/

https://www.etsy.com/Chalso/listing/644892300/

https://www.etsy.com/Chalso/listing/466211056/

https://www.etsy.com/uk/shop/Chalso?section_id=17613185

https://www.etsy.com/Amethyst/listing/682903273/

https://www.etsy.com/Chalso/listing/633732306/

https://www.etsy.com/Chalso/listing/466875398/

https://www.etsy.com/Chalso/listing/620080933/

https://www.etsy.com/Chalso/listing/562297642/

https://www.etsy.com/Chalso/listing/573342901/

https://www.etsy.com/Chalso/listing/507563832/

https://www.etsy.com/Chalso/listing/529661357/

Finished Bridal party jewellery

https://www.etsy.com/Chalso/listing/242646601/

https://www.etsy.com/Chalso/listing/220088764/

https://www.etsy.com/Chalso/listing/226606963/

https://www.etsy.com/Chalso/listing/448901776/

https://www.etsy.com/Chalso/listing/399366333/

https://www.etsy.com/Chalso/listing/653511474/

https://www.etsy.com/Chalso/listing/562297642/

https://www.etsy.com/Chalso/listing/254646120/

  https://www.etsy.com/uk/shop/Chalso

Chalso jewellery sets Here are some of the jewellery sets currently available in the Chalso Etsy shop. Click on the photos for more info on each item and the link to the 

[chalsoj-blog]

Fire Opal is perfect for October birthdays! This beautiful, ombré Fire Opal necklace is a popular gift at this time of year. Each one is a unique, made to order, piece.

https://www.etsy.com/Chalso/listing/530828459/

  You will find matching earrings as well as Yellow Opal and Ethiopian Opal necklaces in the Chalso Etsy shop.

https://www.etsy.com/Chalso/listing/608031494/

https://www.etsy.com/Chalso/listing/471798986/

https://www.etsy.com/Chalso/listing/644820615/

https://www.etsy.com/Chalso/listing/294553913/

Ethiopian Opal has flashes of red and green when it catches the light! Come on over and have a look! >>> see more in the Chalso Etsy shop.

https://www.etsy.com/uk/shop/Chalso

  Links of interest

Autumn portfolio

Birthstone Jewellery portfolio

Opals in the Chalso Etsy shop

Birthstone jewellery in the Chalso Etsy shop

  Opals for October Fire Opal is perfect for October birthdays! This beautiful, ombré Fire Opal necklace is a popular gift at this time of year. 

[chalsoj-blog]

Last week I had the privilege of accompanying my son on his first Climate Strike march. It was quite an emotional experience, one I won’t quickly forget.

On an unseasonably hot September morning, children from around the world left their classrooms and marched through the streets to demand action on climate change. The science of global warming has been clear for decades. I have been vegetarian all my life because my parents were aware of the role of the meat industry in global warming back in the 1970s! In 1987, the first talk I gave in my high school English class was on deforestation of the Amazon and the “greenhouse effect“. It is now 2019 and the issue is critical. The next generation have lost patience and are demanding action.

Why should we go to school if you won’t listen to the educated?

  View this post on Instagram

Went on my first march today with my son – in the unseasonably hot September sun. Quite an experience! #ClimateMarch #ClimateStrike #ClimateChange #globalwarming #doingitforthekids #Glasgow #Scotland #momentslikethese #savetheplanet #thereisnoplanetb

A post shared by Chalso (@chalsojewellery) on Sep 20, 2019 at 11:19am PDT

    Greta Thunberg

Greta Thunberg, a Swedish teenager fed up with all-talk-and-no-action over climate change, started the Climate Strike. Her aim is to force adults to address the climate crisis now and save the planet for future generations. We should all be helping her, don’t you think?

  Links of interest

Listen to Greta Thunberg and George Monbiot talk about climate change solutions here.

Greta’s speech to the UN General Assembly, September 23rd 2019.

View Greta’s YouTube channel here.

For the most up to date news on #ClimateStrike and #FridaysForFuture follow Greta Thunberg on Twitter.

“Kids are people too” badges (all profits go to Clyde 1 Cash for Kids).

https://www.etsy.com/Chalso/listing/593088025/

  Love Sarah x

        Kids are people too – Climate Strike September 2019 Last week I had the privilege of accompanying my son on his first Climate Strike march. It was quite an emotional experience, one I won't quickly forget.

[chalsoj-blog]

Sapphire is September���s birthstone and is generally a beautiful dark blue in colour.

I’ve managed to source some really beautiful and unusual Sapphires for this September.

The Sapphires used in this necklace are tiny, facetted beads, so they have a lovely flash when the light catches them.

https://www.etsy.com/uk/Chalso/listing/727253321/

https://www.etsy.com/uk/Chalso/listing/727253321/

  The Sapphires in this bracelet are rice-shaped oval beads and alternate with round Sterling silver spacers.

https://www.etsy.com/uk/Chalso/listing/716233028/

https://www.etsy.com/uk/Chalso/listing/716233028/

  These unusual earrings are made with smooth round Sapphire beads and Sterling silver.

https://www.etsy.com/uk/Chalso/listing/713385966/

https://www.etsy.com/uk/Chalso/listing/713385966/

  All the Sapphires I use are natural (not dyed) and all the silver is Sterling silver.

Whichever you choose and whether its a gift or a treat for yourself, you’re sure to be delighted with your Sapphire Chalso jewellery! 💙

Love Sarah x

  Shop Sapphires in the Chalso Etsy shop >>

More Chalso birthstone jewellery on Etsy.

  Related blog posts:

Summer Birthstones

Autumn gift ideas

Autumn days

Chalso birthstones portfolio

      Sapphire for September Sapphire is September's birthstone and is generally a beautiful dark blue in colour. I've managed to source some really beautiful and unusual Sapphires for this September.

[chalsoj-blog]

Chalso Chatter

Customer Feature

Chalso was recently mentioned in an amazing blog by Eleanor Crossland on the wedding resource website, Love My Dress.

The featured bride wore Chalso Moonstone earrings on the big day!

  https://www.lovemydress.net/natalie-max

  Share your Chalso pictures on Instagram

I love seeing your pictures of Chalso jewellery, and I’d love to see more! If you’re on Instagram, please share…

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Fancy staying in a treehouse on a farm in Scotland for your holiday this year? We did, and we loved it!

Glamping at http://www.harvestmoonholidays.com

On the East coast of Scotland, between North Berwick and Dunbar, you’ll find a little farm, with fields of crops, horses, goats, alpacas, chickens and… treehouses!

Situated next to the beautiful beaches of East Lothian and in sight of Bass Rock are the treehouses of Harvest Moon Holidays.

Our treehouse was set amongst trees, on stilts rather than actually in a tree. It consisted of two cabins, one being the octagonal kitchen/dining/living room, the other containing the two bedrooms and a shower room with a toilet. The two wings are connected by an outdoor covered walkway and decked balcony area with steps up to the deck from the ground. At ground level there are three swings connected to the treehouse, a hammock and a fire pit with wooden log benches.

  Treehouse kitchen with wood burning stove.

Treehouse dining area.

The kitchen was equipped with a wood burning stove which was a pleasure to cook on and kept the room toasty warm. The treehouse also had an electric kettle and hot running water. The table and seating area took up the other half of the room and could have easily accommodated six adults. Although we didn’t use it, the table and benches could also be converted into a bed.

The bedroom wing consisted of two small bedrooms with beds to sleep up to five people. The beds were made with fresh white sheets, duvets and pillows.

Close to the treehouses there were chickens and pigmy goats as well as larger fields with alpaca, horses and sheep. The farm has three alpacas which had been shorn not long before we arrived. They are beautiful animals and the kids loved going down to feed them with the farm staff.

Feeding the Alpacas

Free roaming chickens

Much to my delight there were lots of butterflies fluttering around the treehouse including Painted Ladies, Red Admirals, Fritillaries and The Cinnabar moth. On our walks around the farm I also enjoyed teaching my city kids about the different crops that were growing in the fields.

Flower, bird and insect guides

Potatoes in flower

The kids loved the way the Barley rippled in the wind!

Red Admiral butterfly

Painted Lady butterfly feeding on a thistle

The farm is right next to the sea, the beach is separated from the treehouses by just a ten minute walk around the horses field and over the sand dunes.

Walking back to the treehouse from the beach (you can see the treehouses at the top left).

This beach was just 10 minutes walk from the treehouse!

Bass Rock, seen here just off the coast, is home to a large sea bird colony. From the beach we spotted Gannets diving into the sea and Oystercatchers along the shore.

One day we enjoyed an afternoon walking around the farm and back to the treehouse along the beach. During our walk we encountered this amazingly intriguing, Truman Show-esque door!

The Door

  East Links Family Park

Just a few miles down the coast from Harvest Moon is East Links Family Park. We had a great day out there, we were lucky with the weather and the kids had a blast! The highlights were the peddle cars you could drive around the animal paddock and the Musical Maze!

Family fun on the swing

On the trikes

The Musical Maze

  Tips for glamping in the Scottish countryside

Be prepared for any and every weather! During our week’s stay in East Lothian we had sunshine, rain, high winds and thunderstorms! We used sunscreen and flip-flops one day then jeans and hoodies the next.

Take a kite and a deck of cards!

Cooking on a wood burning stove: Light the fire in plenty of time for it to get hot before you start cooking. Take a couple of one pot recipes with you as these work really well for a relaxed evening glamping!

Beware the midges and mozzies! If you are sitting outside by the fire of an evening, wear socks, trousers and long sleeves. Have some antihistamines on hand, just incase.

Be tick aware. Walking in long grass in shorts, especially where there are sheep, means there’s a risk of ticks. Make yourself aware of how to identify and remove ticks before you start your holiday. Having said this, we didn’t see any ticks, but it’s best to be prepared.

  Further reading and links to nearby activities

Harvest Moon Holidays

East Links Family Park

National Museum of Flight

Scottish Seabird Centre

Visit Scotland

  Related blog posts

Bonnie Scotland

Summer in Scotland

A Highland Adventure

    Fancy staying in a treehouse on a farm in Scotland for your holiday this year? We did, and we loved it! Fancy staying in a treehouse on a farm in Scotland for your holiday this year? We did, and we loved it!

[chalsoj-blog]

Moonstone, Rubies and Peridot

Beautiful birthstones for summer birthdays.

Hover over each picture for the link to the Etsy listing. You can find my full birthstone collection in the Chalso Etsy shop.

  Moonstone for June, or just because it’s summer!

https://www.etsy.com/Chalso/listing/278622962/

https://www.etsy.com/Chalso/listing/534283749/

https://www.etsy.com/Chalso/listing/565590586/

https://www.etsy.com/Chalso/listing/531787638/

https://www.etsy.com/Chalso/listing/507563832/

    Mouthwatering Rubies for July birthdays.

https://www.etsy.com/Chalso/listing/463884167/

https://www.etsy.com/Chalso/listing/463884167/

https://www.etsy.com/Chalso/listing/463884167/

    A pop of Peridot for August.

https://www.etsy.com/Chalso/listing/716148953/

https://www.etsy.com/Chalso/listing/277128590/

https://www.etsy.com/Chalso/listing/290298303/

    Related posts

Chalso Birthstones portfolio.

Chalso Birthstones blog post.

  Summer birthstones Moonstone, Rubies and Peridot Beautiful birthstones for summer birthdays. Hover over each picture for the link to the Etsy listing.

[chalsoj-blog]

So, there are a few things I get a bee in my bonnet about and homework is one of them. For the last four years we have been boycotting homework and this year is no different. At the start of each year I send a letter to the kids’ teachers telling them in advance not to expect homework from my children. Kids need time to be kids, the last thing a seven year old needs when they get home from 6 hours of school is more school work. It’s something I feel very strongly about, I believe homework for primary age children is deleterious and brings unnecessary stress into the home (this was certainly true for us anyway!).

Parents helping with homework can actually do more harm that good. Phrases like “this is how we did it when I was at school” and “that’s not what the teacher told us to do” can be the start of arguments that, more often than not, end in tears. I hear things from others parents like “I want them to do homework so I can check if they are having difficulties” NO. You will not get a true representation of their abilities if you are sitting them down to do homework, just before bed, when you’ve just got home from work, when everyone is tried and no one wants to be doing Maths anyway! You could be spending that time snuggling and reading Harry Potter together instead.

Even if your kids enjoy doing homework, you can broaden their minds by giving them different things to read, write and talk about rather than just repeating what they’ve done at school (or confusing them by trying to teach them how you did it when you were at school!). As parents, surely our role is to teach them things that won’t be covered at school and, as parents, the greatest thing we can give our children is a happy home and family life. As I write this I’m listening to the radio where they are talking about the current crisis in children’s mental heath. I’ve not been able to find any studies that have proved homework to have any benefit for primary aged children. However, a happy home life where a family spends quality time together talking (and listening) to each other, eating together, even watching a movie together, has be shown to be of upmost benefit to a child’s health and wellbeing. A child that feels valued and loved, and who knows that their opinions matter, is a happier child with a brighter future.

  Ideas for family activities

Things to do instead of homework:

Eat a meal together. We do this every evening. We chat about our day and have a strict “no screens at the table” policy. One of the most important parts of family life is a regular family meal. Start incorporating this event into family life as soon as possible and keep it going for as long as you can, even after the kids leave home if possible!

Cook a meal together. You don’t have to be a master chef, even preparing a simple soup and a sandwich type meal will do.

Snuggle on the sofa and watch the kids’ favourite show, ask them about the characters or storyline, anything that shows you’re interested.

Read a book together. Even older children benefit from sharing a book. My eleven year old and I are reading George Orwell’s Animal Farm together at the moment.

Draw/colour/paint. Don’t worry if you don’t have any artistic talent, all you need is paper and some coloured pencils. We’ve had great fun making squiggle pictures, it’s super easy, just draw a squiggle then colour it in! Even Dad joined in with this activity and we sat round the kitchen table colouring and chatting all evening!

  A family trip to the local swimming pool/park/beach. We recently ditched swimming lessons and decided to go family swimming once a week instead. Much more fun!

Gardening. Even if you don’t have a garden, you can plant some seeds in pots and watch them grow on a window sill. Grow some herbs in the garden or on the kitchen window sill to use in your family meals. Grow cress seeds on some wet cotton wool stuffed in a glass, if you sprinkle the seeds around the edges you will be able to see the roots grow as well as the leaves.

Family games night. Doesn’t matter what game, anything from Cluedo to Dobble to Mario Cart!

No tech Tuesday (or whichever day suits). An evening of no tech (and that includes you!). No iPhones, no PlayStation, no TV. It might be difficult in the beginning but, at least you’ll have something to talk about at family meal time “What shall we do this week on No tech Tuesday?”!

Walk to school. If you live close enough, walk to school or the local shops or the kids’ clubs. We walk to school and back everyday. We try to leave in plenty of time so we don’t have to rush in the mornings and we have some really interesting chats. You’ll be surprised what topics come up when you’re walking and talking. We walk and take public transport as often as possible, it means I can give the kids much more of my attention on the journey than if we were in the car. You can also discuss the things you see on the journey and teach them about road safety. I taught my son to spell and do mental maths while we were walking to and from various activities!

Having said all of the above, occasionally, one of them actually wants to do the homework assignment…. 😲

And then, well, it’s all hands on deck! 😉🚢

View this post on Instagram

Titanic update, in case you haven’t seen it in my #instastory. Lots and lots of painting, many coats later and it’s finally ready for the fine detail… My other daughter has joined in the crafty fun and is turning a Fluttershy into a My Little Pony version of herself… YouTube has a lot to answer for! (swipe through to see). #homework #homeworkproject #whenwilliteverend #titanic #modelbuilding #kidscrafts #craftykids #snowday #cabinfever #mylittlepony @mandapandatoycollector

A post shared by Chalso (@chalsojewellery) on Mar 2, 2018 at 11:54am PST

  Further reading

http://msue.anr.msu.edu/news/spending_quality_family_time_together_is_very_important

http://msue.anr.msu.edu/news/what_happened_at_school_today_nothing

https://childdevelopmentinfo.com/family-building/family-life-is-important-for-kids-mental-health-and-adjustment-to-life/#.XQPKqC3MzVo

  Related blog posts:

Bonnie Scotland

Summer in Scotland

September weekend at the National Museum of Flight Scotland

A Highland Adventure

  Why we boycott homework So, there are a few things I get a bee in my bonnet about and homework is one of them. 

[chalsoj-blog]

How to make your small business a little more eco-friendly

How to make your small business a little more eco-friendly

Lets face it, no one’s perfect. BUT, if we all make little changes when and where we can, all those little changes will add up to make a big difference. I’m not going to give you a hard time about all the things you’re not doing. I’d rather encourage you to celebrate the small steps you take and motivate you to continue looking for little things you can change to create a more eco-friendly…

[chalsoj-blog]

Circles are a symbol of eternity and, for this collection, everlasting love. Chalso Circles is a collection of Sterling silver, minimalist jewellery suitable for any occasion from weddings to birthdays and make perfect gifts for mums, daughters, best friends, sisters, daughters, girlfriends…. There is something for everyone!

View this post on Instagram

Chalso Circles make a great gift, whatever the season or occasion! 💝 . . . . . #ChalsoCircle #somethingforeveryone #giftideas #giftideasforher #weddinginspiration #jewellerygram #instajewelry #craftsposure #shopsmall #Glasgow #etsyfinds #iloveetsy #makersgonnamake #makersmovement #heytheremaker #justacard #girlboss #makersvillage #creatorslane #handmade #craftbuzz #creativelifehappylife #etsylovers #womaninbiz #etsyuk #ihsetsy #glasgowetsy #Chalso

A post shared by Chalso (@chalsojewellery) on May 4, 2019 at 3:46am PDT

  I love you

  https://www.etsy.com/Chalso/listing/511189432/

https://www.etsy.com/Chalso/listing/562297642/

https://www.etsy.com/Chalso/listing/598648678/

  A love made for two

  https://www.etsy.com/Chalso/listing/562297642/

https://www.etsy.com/Chalso/listing/524996905/

https://www.etsy.com/Chalso/listing/653511474/

  Family love

  https://www.etsy.com/Chalso/listing/524750571/

https://www.etsy.com/Chalso/listing/554827936/

https://www.etsy.com/Chalso/listing/592917158/

https://www.etsy.com/Chalso/listing/524730703/

https://www.etsy.com/Chalso/listing/512991568/

https://www.etsy.com/Chalso/listing/510917314/

  All Chalso Circles will arrive carefully gift boxed in high quality, slimline jewellery boxes that won’t cause tarnishing.

https://www.etsy.com/uk/shop/Chalso?section_id=17613185

Ready to post

  You can find the full Chalso Circles collection in the Chalso Etsy Shop. Custom orders are also, always welcome. This last necklace was made for a mum with four boys (the middle two being twins).

https://www.etsy.com/Chalso/listing/592917158/

  See you soon over at the Chalso Etsy shop!

Love Sarah xox

    Chalso Circles make perfect gifts Circles are a symbol of eternity and, for this collection, everlasting love. Chalso Circles is a collection of Sterling silver, minimalist jewellery suitable for any occasion from weddings to birthdays and make perfect gifts for mums, daughters, best friends, sisters, daughters, girlfriends....

[chalsoj-blog]

This blog post is a brief introduction to the importance of branding, and how to develop an online presence for your small business. Lets start at the very beginning…

Choosing a name

Choosing a name is one of the first and most important things you will do when starting your business. Keep it short, easy to pronounce, easy to spell and, most importantly, easy to remember.

How so? you ask. Well, you want to make it easy for customers to find you when they need you. You’re going to put a lot of hard work into promoting your small business on social media but, so is everyone else. Instagram and Twitter feeds are full to bursting. Not everyone who sees your posts will be ready to buy, there and then, so it’s important that they can find you again when they are ready. If your business name is easy to remember, they can search for you specifically rather than trying to hunt you down through their ever growing and changing feeds.

Tip  Before you make your final decision, do an online search to make sure your name isn’t already in use!

  Designing a Logo

A logo should be easily recognisable, high quality and present on all your online accounts and promotional materials. If you don’t have the time or skills to design your own logo, employ a professional to do it, it will be money well spent!

Tip  Remember to keep a master copy in vector format so that your logo can be resized when required without losing quality.

  Brand continuity builds trust

Now you’re in business, let the world know!

Use your business name and logo across all your social media, online shops and websites. Your potential customers should know they are in the right place as soon as they land on one of your pages.

Maintain professionalism on all platforms (this means no moaning, complaining or ranting!).

Update your social media, website and shop, regularly.

Tip  If you are short on time or inspiration, get into a routine of posting once a week or fortnight rather than making a huge effort to post daily, then running out of steam and not posting again for six months!

Following this advice will make you recognisable and reliable which builds trust in your brand and makes it more likely for a potential customer to make the purchase. By working on your social media presence you will become the “go to” whenever one of your followers is looking for whatever it is you sell.

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  A brief introduction to SEO

I’m no expert so, I’m going to keep it short and simple! I’ve added some “Further reading” at the bottom of this section for those who would like to look into this subject in more detail.

The main reason for SEO (Search Engine Optimisation) is to make it as easy as possible for people to find your shop. The most likely way a search engine will find your site in the first place is by following a link from another website.

To help search engines find and index your business;

Make a network of connections between all your social media, your website and your shop (external links). For example, on Twitter, add your shop link or an item listing link to each promotional tweet.

Form links between different pages within your website (internal links) and between different listings within your shop eg. “If you like this item, you may also like this… (add link to another listing)”.

Create original content that will appeal to your target audience or customer and avoid duplicating content. For example, don’t use the same titles or descriptions for multiple listings in your shop or pages of your website.

Search engines also index images from your website. Add titles and descriptions to all your images (replace generic IMAGE.jpeg titles with a relevant title for your picture). Fill in the alternative “alt” text which describes the image if it can’t be shown.

Add a link to your shop to the profiles of all your social media accounts. Add social media buttons to your website and fill in the “Around the web” section in your Etsy shop.

Tip  Linktree is a really useful way to add all your online accounts to your social media profiles via one link.

https://linktr.ee/chalsojewellery

  Check that search engines are seeing you. To do this, clear your browser history (before you do this, make sure you know all your passwords for online accounts that you may be logged into eg. Facebook, as clearing your history will log you out of everything!). Open your favourite search engine and enter your business name. What you’re hoping for is the top hit to be your online shop, followed by your website/blog and all your social media.

  Search engines take time to find, “crawl” and index new websites so don’t panic if you don’t show up straight away! However, if you continue to be absent from search engine results, you will need to look into SEO in more detail…

Further reading

Etsy Seller Handbook – The Art of SEO

Google SEO Starter Guide

Google Digital Garage

WordPress SEO Support

  I hope this wee introduction has been helpful? Good luck building your brand and online presence, it really will be worth the effort!

Sarah x

The importance of branding and online presence to your small business This blog post is a brief introduction to the importance of branding, and how to develop an online presence for your small business.