The Adventures of Cindy Li

Fused Candy: Biz Idea

October 15 , 2005

This is an ongoing project between my coworker Leah K. and I .  We started making fused glass jewelry earlier in the year all because of Had.

She explained how to make glass jewelry. We loved it so much that we decided in our spare time to create a business based around it. So we’ve bought a domain name, and we’ve been in our spare time been fusing each night on tuesdays to head out to a church in Alexandria, VA to fire up the glass. The problem was that we worked in Dulles, VA.  The trip out there took around an hour and usually too exhausted and starving by the time we got out there.

So recently last month, my parents gave me an unexpected surprise. They gave me money to buy the kiln (an early christmas present) so that I could start this venture with Leah. Leah also got some money and bought a grinder, money from her family. All birthday presents.  :D we have really nice and generous families. .

So now I’ve set up a studio.

So here’s the research I did from another blog I had started but I’m going to delete so that I don’t have to manage more than one site…

fusedCandy

Leah and I are starting a company. Trying to. We’ll see where it goes.
First we have to meet to get our acts together. We’ve got a name. That’s it so far. So exciting!!!!

We’re trying to think of a slogan that goes with
FusedCandy. I think that’s the name we’re going with…

Things to do:
Create Logo
Create a tag-line: Been asking for some suggestions
Create page to post
Figure out how we divide the money
Create more designs of jewelry
Been working on the business idea.
Should we incorporate? What’s the best way
How we divide the money up?
Packaging
Shipping
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Logo development:
Things we associate with our branding
sophisticated, modern,
bubbly, fun,

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unique selling point:
What makes our stuff so cool?
What direction do we want our company to go?
What is it? It’s handmade glass jewelry. Fired in a kiln. Each piece is original.
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Audience:
http://www.tutor2u.net/business/marketing/segmentation_bases_demographic.asp
Geographic:
� Region of the country:N/A
� Urban or rural:Urban

Demographic
� Age, sex, family size: ? Not ready to answer yet
� Income, occupation, education: ? Not ready to answer yet
� Religion, race, nationality: All

Psycho-graphic
� Social class
� Lifestyle type: Active
� Personality type: Experimental, Fun,

Behavioral
� Product usage - e.g. light, medium heavy users
� Brand loyalty: none, medium, high: Medium
� Type of user (e.g. with meals, special occasions): Everyday wear, and usage
Who buys?
� How do they buy?
� When do they buy?
� Where do they buy?
� Why do they buy?

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Tag-line: Found this site (http://www.adslogans.com/samples/index.html)
Jewelry tag-lines:
Asprey: For the art of giving.
De Beers Consolidated: A diamond is forever.
Garrard: The Crown Jewellers for 150 years.
Mikimoto: The expression of pearls.
Soul Stone Gems: Currency for the soul�

Famous food slogans:
Rolo:Do you love anyone enough to give them your last Rolo?
Altoids: Curiously strong!
Philadelphia: A little taste of heaven.
Spam: Too good to be forgotten.
Whiskas: It’s why cats purr.
Wispa Bite: Wispa. But a bit louder.
Nothing says lovin� like something from the oven, and Pillsbury
says it best.�
� �Virginia is for lovers.�
� �You don�t have to be Jewish to love Levy�s.� [Levy�s Rye Bread]

FusedCandy Ideas: (keep in mind I’m brainstorming so streaming…)
Wanted something more cheerful, bubbly, maybe tongue in cheek, with a sense of humor
Help brighten up your day with fused candy
eye-candy that brightens your day:
Heavenly eye candy
Jewelry that changes as much as you do
FusedCandy for every diet!
A treat to wear (Erin Murphy’s suggestion)
A treat for every sweet tooth
A treat that satisfies every sweet tooth
100% fat free (think I’ll have to sneak this onto the packaging somehow)

Fits every diet!
Tickling your taste buds
For every palette
wearable art that is 100% fat free

The only sweet that won’t give you a cavity
Jewelry for every meal!
Jewelry to satisfy every sweet tooth!

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Hosting:
Already spoke w/hosting company. They are ready to set up the site once we have the domain name.
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Shipping/Packaging:
1. Are we shipping w/necklaces?
2. Are we developing branding+Packaging?
3. What’s the best way to ship?

Found a site that had a similar policy that we might think of using: I changed some of the text to reflect what we would want.

Shipping: All shipments will be made via U.S. Postal Service with delivery confirmation; fusedCandy will not be held liable for lost shipments. Please allow 4-6 weeks for delivery.

Exchange policy: In the event you are dissatisfied with your purchase, you may exchange it within 10 days from the date of its receipt. Refunds will not be granted. fusedCandy is not responsible for lost shipments.

Note: Each piece is handmade. Each piece of fusedCandy is made just for you. There are no two alike. That’s what makes them special!

G Suggestion:
With CLick/Ship.. USPS Priority mail includes free delivery confirmation (a little different than tracking… doesn’t tell you where it’s at in route, but does add a measure of reliability)... If you’re not liable for lost shipments, I would also give the option for the customer to insure the package.

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Payment:
We’ve been thinking about how to do the storefront. http://www.paypal.com
Definitely the easiest cost for us and to set up. It’s been around long enough so that would work.