Website URL: KraftOutlet.com

Q. Give a brief description of your business. What product(s) or service(s) do you provide?
My site is Kraft Outlet and we are your source for Brown Kraft Labels, Kraft Papers & Cardstock, Hang Tags & Unique Crafting Supplies!

Q. How did you come up with your business name? Does it have any special meaning?
The name represents the products we specialize in and lets you know we offer competitive prices.

Q. How long have you been in business, and how did you get involved in this business?
Kraft Outlet opened in 2004 and we have been the owners since 2009.

Q. What was your most successful idea?
Kraft Outlet came about because of our other website, Print Me Prim, many customers were contacting us wanting to purchase the product we printed on. As a “do-it-yourselfer” I understood the need for selling the paper, labels, envelopes and tags that I had in stock.

Q. What are some of the pitfalls one faces when owning one's own business?
I own three website businesses and the biggest pitfall I see is under estimating the amount of time you will spend getting your business off the ground. It is very time consuming to start a successful business. It takes a good year to start making money from online sales and you always need to advertise. It takes money to make money!

Q. What is the best business advice you've received?
Believe in yourself, ask for help when you need it and always keep your business fresh and up with current trends.

Q. What would you do differently if you were starting all over?
I would rethink how much time I would be spending on my business. I expected this to gradually grow into a full time job, but I was completely taken by surprise by how fast Kraft Outlet has blossomed into a site for paper crafters, artists, brides and businesses world wide.

Q. What are your future plans or dreams for your business?
Kraft Outlet has tripled in sales in the last year and we are looking forward to the coming year. We feel like we have developed new sales opportunities and are excited about the fabulous Design Team that is working with us to get our name out there. We hope to have fun things happening this year on our blog, www.thekraftjournal.blogspot.com, like more paper craft tutorials, design challenges and of course more GIVE AWAYS!

Q. Tell us an inspirational or humorous story about your business?
One of the most unusual stories about Kraft Outlet is that time was closing in on Christmas and I had decided to set a cut off date for orders so that we could make sure and fill on the orders before the holiday. We had been really slammed with orders and were working very hard to get all the open orders out. I sometimes have a hard time telling people “no” so I was going to be firm. I wanted a holiday break. This woman called and begged me to ship her a package full of cardstock. She explained that she would do or pay anything just to get that cardstock to her in a few days. I explained that I was closed for the season and that I was sorry I couldn’t help. She was really frantic and in the holiday spirit I asked what she needed and decided to fill the order. I was getting the payment and shipping information when she explained that she was in charge of making invitations for the Library of Congress. Since then I have had the pleasure of working with many big name companies like Disney, NBC and Universal Studios. That is one of my biggest pleasures, meeting so many people from all over the world that all have something in common.

Q. What advice would you give to someone who wants to go into business?
Analyze your customers; look at who they are and what they want to purchase. Never get so attached to your products that you make bad business decisions. I see sites all the time that keep the same old products, even when they are not selling. Be willing to change and don’t be afraid to take a chance.
 

www.KraftOutlet.com