Out in the Streets with Ashley’s Back to Nature Day 53

Today there was massive rain along with thunderstorms, so that kept me out of the streets selling Ashley’s Back to Nature aromatherapy products and the scared dog hiding underneath the bed. On the positive side, storms produce beautiful rainbows.

When I’m not out selling, I’m home doing something to keep this biz moving upwards. I called a local nursing home to see about selling my KureAll Skin Balm to help their patients with bed sores. The director was very receptive, but said before they can use a product, it has to be approved by the FDA.  She was generous enough to schedule an appointment for me to come to the nursing home to introduce my products to her employees for a couple of hours on their next payday. Nice lady! I’m sure I’ll make some good sales that day along with helping pick-up a few spirits.

After our conversation, I called the FDA, was on hold for around 30 minutes, then got someone on the other end of the line who immediately told me to go to the internet. Why is it every time I need help with something, I’m told to go to the internet? My usual self was persistent for answers instead of the run around, so she finally gave me another number to call. I got voice mail, left a message, no return call as of ten hours ago. I’ll keep trying until I get this KureAll Skin Balm approved and eventually turned into a household name.

The crazy thing is the FDA approves all these drugs and people die. Do you have any idea how many people succumb from drugs prescribed by doctors every year? Many, many thousands of people. Here I am, trying to get my natural and organic KureAll Skin Balm in nursing homes with ingredients coming from nature, the tea tree and lavender essential oils, along with beeswax from the bees, sweet almond, jojoba and wheat germ oil and vitamin E.  I understand regulations but at least return my call and screw the internet.

After the phone calls, I made many jars of Whipped Creme Body Butter Lotion, my biggest seller. I also made some Stress Relief Oil with lavender and peppermint essential oils, using sweet almond oil as my carrier oil. Although sweet almond oil is full of vitamins and proteins, I prefer jojoba oil because it doesn’t go rancid, it’s high in antioxidants and the oil is golden in color so it makes the perfume more visually appealing.

After making the products, I had the task of putting the labels and logo on all the jars and bottles. After labeling, I loaded my purple carrying case with my products so I’ll be ready to go door to door tomorrow.  It’s not suppose to rain, but will be freezing cold. I’ll bundle up well and do my thing.

Smiles til my next post,

Pamela  –  http://www.ashleysbacktonature.com

Out in the Streets with Ashley’s Back to Nature Day 52

Another day revolving around a car, so not much time spent on my aromatherapy business. I did deliver an order of “Lavender Air, Body & Linen Spritz.”  I surprised her with a gift of my freshly made “Healing Bath, Feet & Shower Salts” scented with lavender. I also gave her a KureAll Skin Balm to give to her mother. This lady is a very good customer, so it makes me feel good to give gifts to people who appreciate Ashley’s Back to Nature products and spend their hard earned cash with me.

I mailed the order I got from my website yesterday, sent her a gift of salts as well. Then I put labels on products I recently made. What I really need to be doing is working on how to get people to my website so they can buy my natural and organic products. For me, that’s drudge work and I can’t seem to make myself do what I truly need to be doing to grow this biz. The main reason is because I’m not sure how and when I start researching search engine optimization and things of that nature, I get bored quickly and don’t comprehend what I’m reading. I’d rather be making and whiffing perfume oils.

I’d be willing to pay someone knowledgeable to help me, but how does one find that person? I’ve tried a few times and have been disappointed. I don’t have money to throw away. I need results that will get mass amounts of people to my website. Any suggestions from anyone who may be reading this blog?

Smiles til my next post,

Pamela  –  http://www.ashleysbacktonature.com

 

Out in the Streets with Ashley’s Back to Nature Day 51

Today I had to wait on the frog man from Geico Insurance to write me a check to cover a fender bender that happened on News Years Day. A great way to start 2012. I was inside the Dollar Tree store searching for boxes to put my “First Aid Kit for the Winter” products, and while inside the store, I found out my car had been hit in the parking lot. Fortunately the man who hit my car didn’t run off like a coward.

Tomorrow I have to take the car into the body shop to be repaired, so that will be 2 or 3 days I won’t be able to hit the streets selling Ashley’s Back to Nature aromatherapy products. I’ll make some phone calls to prior customers and work on other business projects that have been nagging at me, like how to get people to http://www.ashleysbacktonature.com, but I’d much rather be out selling bringing in some cash flow. I’ve got to keep my momentum going.

I received an order today from my website and a big re-order over the telephone, so that made me cheerful. All I’ve got to do now is figure out how to get mega orders from my website and continue to get re-orders. I feel confident this will happen because of all the testimonials I receive and I know how amazing Ashley’s Back to Nature products work.

Smiles til my next post,

Pamela  –  http://www.ashleysbacktonature.com

Out in the Streets with Ashley’s Back to Nature Day 50

Wow, my 50th day blogging about Ashley’s Back to Nature natural and organic aromatherapy skincare products. My aim here with this daily blog is to let you know the ups and downs of running your own business and hopefully make people laugh out loud and maybe even learn a thing or two from my experiences. I’m also open to learning from you.

Today I made more bottles of  “Peace and Tranquility Perfume Oil” with bergamot, lemon, lime, blood orange, white grapefruit and eucalyptus essential oils. I used sweet almond oil as the carrier oil. It smells so refreshing and uplifting. I want to locate some exotic perfume bottles like one of the smart ladies I met here on this site, http://www.theperfumegarden.org. Her bottles are so enchanting, I like the scent before I can even smell what’s inside.

Out of all the products I make, I enjoy making the perfume oils the best. Probably because I become so captivated by the smells of the essential oils. It’s like a spiritual experience for me. At night when I’m chilling in front of the TV, I rub some of these essential oils on my feet, hands and pulse points and it’s intoxicating. I feel so lucky to have discovered essential oils.

Smiles til my next post,

Pamela  –  http://www.ashleysbacktonature.com

Out in the Streets with Ashley’s Back to Nature Day 49

I headed back out to Murphy, NC this morning to set up at Beckers Flea Market to sell my natural and organic aromatherapy products. The foot traffic was low, but that’s to be expected in the winter. I didn’t sell anything within the first two hours, but fortunately I had a nice big order and a medium size order in the third hour, so it was worth my time and gas. Plus, I got to see the cows grazing on grass on part of the scenic drive and they make me feel at peace. I love cows, they are so mellow. I don’t like to think about them becoming a hamburger.

All in all, a good week. I gathered 20 new customers in three days of selling. Making new clients/friends through products that nourish, protect and heal is a valuable experience and I don’t just mean money wise.

I had to order a lot of supplies this week, but as the old saying goes, “you’ve got to spend money to make money.” Trying out some new essential oils. Can’t wait til they arrive.

I’m itching to come up with a new aromatherapy product. Maybe I will dream about it tonight. I sometimes get ideas in dreamland. Hey, maybe I can make a sweet dreams spray or oil to chase away the nitemares.

Smiles til my next post,

Pamela  –  http://www.ashleysbacktonature.com

Out in the Streets with Ashley’s Back to Nature Day 48

I had an abundance of fun out in the streets selling Ashley’s Back to Nature natural and organic aromatherapy products today. The weather was exceptionally nice for this time of year, around 60 degrees and the sun was shining, no dreary clouds. People were in good moods. My energy level was high, so that always helps me sell better. When I’m tired, I don’t sell as well because I can’t think on my feet and my low energy comes across as bland.

It was well worth my 52 mile round-trip drive to Murphy, NC. I gained ten new clients/friends and one new wholesale account. My roll-on perfume oils are selling very well. I sold twenty 1/3 oz. bottles today, such as Peace & Tranquility with lemon, lime, blood orange, pink grapefruit & eucalyptus oils… Patchouli… Lavender… and Stress Relief with lavender & peppermint. One lady purchased 12 bottles. My perfume oils contain no alcohol which dries out your skin. I use either jojoba or sweet almond oil for the carrier oil in my perfumes. They nourish your skin and the essential oils make you smell like a breathe of fresh air.

I came home, checked out all my jars and bottles to make sure the labels were still in good order, a few will have to be replaced. I wish the labels weren’t such a challenge with the scrapes and smudge marks that happen in my travels. One day I will resolve this issue because my products have to be perfect on the inside and out when I hand them over to my clients/friends.

Smiles til my next post,

Pamela  –  http://www.ashleysbacktonature.com

Out in the Streets with Ashley’s Back to Nature Day 47

Today was not a money making day, but I did prepare for the coming days ahead. I ordered a good supply of essential oils from http://www.wellingtonfragrance.com. They supply 100% pure essential oils and I’m always pleased with their quality. I wanted to order some jasmine and chamomile, but we’re talking around $40-50 for a 1/2 oz bottle and that’s wholesale, so I had to decline for now.

In order for me to keep my prices affordable in a still shaky economy, I’ll stick with eucalyptus, peppermint, spearmint, lavender, lemon, lime, blood orange, patchouli, white grapefruit, pink grapefruit, bergamot, rose, rosemary, clove and tea tree essential oils. They are all gems in their healing properties and in the way they uplift the spirits.

I received my order of jars and bottles from http://www.specialtybottles.com, so they were all put away in their special place. I like their customer service and the quality of their products, so they are my number one supplier of my containers to put my babies inside.

Next, I loaded my purple carrying case with Ashley’s Back to Nature aromatherapy products so I can drum up some new accounts/friends tomorrow and uplift some more spirits. That’s the fun part about this job.

Smiles til my next post,

Pamela  –  http://www.ashleysbacktonature.com

Out in the Streets with Ashley’s Back to Nature Day 46

Finally, after the long holidays I was able to get back out in the streets to sell my aromatherapy products that uplift the spirits. I acquired six new customers going door to door to businesses. I sell like the Avon Lady to people on an individual basis, except my products are freshly made and mostly natural and organic.

I sold two bottles of my newly created “Get Rid of Germs” spray with eucalyptus, tea tree and rosemary essential oils that disinfect, so that perked up my spirits. My oils were popular today, especially the “Breathe Easy” for stuffy noses and the “Pink Grapefruit Happy Perfume Oil.”  No alcohols in my perfumes, instead… sweet almond or jojoba oil, full of vitamins and anti-oxidants that nourish your skin along with my exquisite essential oils.

It’s always rewarding for me when I leave a place of business and my customers are happy and smiling because of their new purchases from the Aromatherapy Lady Calling. I truly believe essential oils have a mysterious way to pickup up your spirits without you even knowing what’s happening.

I know you’ll think I’m weird, but every single jar or bottle of aromatherapy products I make are like my little babies. I search for a good home to put them in where they will be loved and appreciated. You’re right, I am a little on the bizarre side, but this definitely beats working for ugly corporate America where they train you to lie, cheat and steal with a big fat smile on your face.

Smiles (the real kind) til my next post,

Pamela  –  http://www.ashleysbacktonature.com

Out in the Streets with Ashley’s Back to Nature Day 45

It’s freezing cold up here in the North Georgia Mountains, the coldest day of this winter so far. Tomorrow when I finally hit the streets again, I will have to bundle up in warm clothing and make sure to take my “Breathe Easy” along for the ride to keep the sniffles away.

Today I took photos of my aromatherapy “First Aid Kit for the Winter,” adding my “Get Rid of Germs” spray to the kit (above photo.) The complete kit is $39, a savings of $11 buying all five pieces together. Every item in the kit has something wonderful to offer and can help chase away some of the winter blues. I use pure essential oils in all the products and they are loaded with vitamins, flower extracts and anti-oxidants that fight nasty free radicals. Everything in the kit nourishes, protects and heals your skin from face to feet.

Today I mailed out my $100 aromatherapy order to Pennsylvania, a gift for two ladies from my ex-boyfriend Michael. I’m sure they will be happy with their Ashley’s Back to Nature aromatherapy products. It was a nice gesture on Michael’s part.

UPS picked up the laser printer today. The fellow over the telephone told me it would be around a month before I’d receive my check for the returned printer, yet when I purchased it from Office Depot, the $254 was immediately deducted from my debit card. I understand they have to get the printer back in good order before issuing me a refund, but a month, come on. That’s corporate America for you. They’ll take you for every cent they can if you let them.

Now it’s time for me to go run some warm bath water to take a bath in my “Healing Bath, Feet and Shower Salts” scented with Peppermint and Pine. I’ll spray some Rosemary on top of the bath water and just sit for a few minutes to relax my tired, achy muscles, relax my nervous system and take some of the toxins from my skin cells.

When I get out from the relaxing bath, I’ll put on my “Whipped Creme Body Butter Lotion” to nourish and feed my skin and smell delicious. Then I’ll apply some “Rosehip Face Serum” and “Smooth as Slik Face Moisturizer” to nourish my face with vitamins. flower extracts and anti-oxidants that help fight the aging process. What more can a girl ask for?

Smiles til my next post,

Pamela  –  http://www.ashleysbacktonature.com

Out in the Streets with Ashley’s Back to Nature Day 44

Today I came up with another product to add to my aromatherapy “First Aid Kit for the Winter.” It’s  called “Get Rid of Germs.” It’s a disinfectant with tea tree and eucalyptus oils and will come in a 4 oz cobalt blue spray container for $8. You can spray the air if someone coughs or sneezes in your space, spray and wipe door knobs and anything else that may have contact with germs.

I’m anxious to hit the streets and start selling again which won’t be until Wednesday. Tomorrow will be the first day back at work for a lot of people, so they will be stressed trying to play catch up and in bad moods since they’re back at work after having a lot of time off. I also have to take care of a car issue, but Wednesday….. watch out because here I come.

I did get a $100 order today over the telephone, so that makes me feel perky. I have a good feeling 2012 is going to be a great year for Ashley’s Back to Nature. I’m looking forward to giving back some of what I make to people in need.

Laser Printer #3 waiting to be picked up by UPS, the third printer in a month. My labels are still smearing, so I’ll have to make do with my inkjet printer until I figure out a solution. I’m determined to have perfect labels for my fabulous products. Is there anyone out there who can guide me as to the most economical way to print my labels without them smudging or smearing? I can’t afford to have them printed professionally, especially since I have so many products with various scents.

Smiles til my next post.

Pamela  –  http://www.ashleysbacktonature.com