The Brannon Factory

							The Brannon Factory
   Trena Brannon – CEO and Owner


     April 26, 2008
     GIGO Network



                                   1
what’s in this presentation….



                • My Business
         • Creating your own website




   April 26, 2008    The Brannon Factory   2
                        Naperville, IL
                 My Business




April 26, 2008       The Brannon Factory   3
                        Naperville, IL
a little history….
• Technical background
• Worked in Corporate America for over 20
  years
• Tried various businesses
• Always loved drawing and color and a
  “doodler”
• 2003 Introduced to stamping – was hooked
• 2004 SU! demonstrator
• Encouraged by friends and family to sell
  work
• 2006 TBF

   April 26, 2008    The Brannon Factory     4
                        Naperville, IL
getting started officially….

•     Will County Office– filled out form ($5) –
    note various options for type of business

• Advertised in local newspaper three days
  ($87)
• Opened separate accounts
• First focus vendor fairs, word of mouth
• Website
     – College student
     – me



       April 26, 2008                 The Brannon Factory   5
                                         Naperville, IL
the business today….

Two pieces
  1. Sales – vendor fairs, web site, word of
     mouth
  2. Teaching workshops– Creating greeting
     cards using stamping in craft stores
     and homes




   April 26, 2008   The Brannon Factory        6
                       Naperville, IL
future goals….

•   Short Term
    –       Continue with Two pieces
           1. Sales – vendor fairs, web site, word of
              mouth – enjoy creating pieces, networking,
              and socialization
           2. Teaching – add web based training and blog
           3. Cards sold in local stores
•   Long Term
    –       Independent designer in the crafting
            and art industry


        April 26, 2008       The Brannon Factory           7
                                Naperville, IL
         Creating your own website




April 26, 2008      The Brannon Factory   8
                       Naperville, IL
web site….thebrannonfactory.com

•   Yahoo note: Information shared at the networking meeting. There are
    many ways to acquire a web site. It’s a good idea to think about how you are going
    to use your website and check to see if the company you are getting your website
    from owns the address.

•   Hired someone in beginning
•   2007 - new WYSIWYG tool
    –       Flexibility on timing of updates
    –       See right away what it will look like




        April 26, 2008                  The Brannon Factory                              9
                                           Naperville, IL
web site….thebrannonfactory.com
home page




    April 26, 2008   The Brannon Factory   10
                        Naperville, IL
web site….thebrannonfactory.com
web host starter




      April 26, 2008   The Brannon Factory   11
                          Naperville, IL
web site….thebrannonfactory.com
what you see first




      April 26, 2008   The Brannon Factory   12
                          Naperville, IL
web site….thebrannonfactory.com
design choices




      April 26, 2008   The Brannon Factory   13
                          Naperville, IL
web site….thebrannonfactory.com
creating site pages




      April 26, 2008   The Brannon Factory   14
                          Naperville, IL
web site….thebrannonfactory.com
layout of each page




      April 26, 2008   The Brannon Factory   15
                          Naperville, IL
web site….thebrannonfactory.com
working with Dee – a take a chance story




      April 26, 2008             The Brannon Factory   16
                                    Naperville, IL
…lessons I learned…
• Research
  – read, competitors, survey potential customers,
    tax preparation, etc…
• Organize!! time, space, bookkeeping
• Keep your money separate
• Use tools to help you manager your
  business – i.e. excel and Quicken
• You can do more than you think you can, i.e.
  website



    April 26, 2008     The Brannon Factory           17
                          Naperville, IL
                 Questions?????




April 26, 2008         The Brannon Factory   18
                          Naperville, IL