Thursday 27 October 2016

Shop Local with American Express

We've been accepting American Express cards pretty much since the day we opened our virtual doors. When we were in the processing of organising our banking and online payment gateway we thought it would be best to be able to accept all forms of credit cards, not just Visa and Mastercard. In general most people have a credit card or at least a debit credit card and most businesses use either Diners or American Express with Amex being slightly more popular. The fees in accepting these last two cards are higher than Visa and MC but generally when used are for larger orders, woo!

Just Chocolates - $29 delivered
Just Chocolates - $29 delivered ($19 with $10 cash back!)


American Express have been running a campaign throughout the year where they are trying to promote and help small businesses, like us! Their current promotion starts on 31st October and ends 30th November and provides a $10 cash back with every order you place with a small business valued over $20. Pretty good I think. This doesn't just apply to online businesses but bricks and mortar as well.

It's hard work running a small business and being up against the 'big guys' so it's always a nice feeling when a big company wants to help out. We don't have a huge turnover and definitely wouldn't affect American Express if we closed down so it's wonderful that they're willing to help us out with no strings attached. How refreshing!

So, if you are in need of some yummy gifts or want to start your Christmas shopping early and you have an Amex Card, November is the time to do it! All orders over $20 paid for with an Amex card will be eligible for a $10 cash back from American Express. The cash back will be processed by American Express (and not Rainbow Designs) and will be credited onto your American Express card that you used at the time of purchase.

Thank you Amex and you, our lovely customers, for supporting small business - we appreciate it so much!! Sign up here to register your card - no strings attached this is just so American Express know you've shopped local :-)

Monday 17 October 2016

Show me the Orders

September has come to an end and hopefully the order drought has too. It's be one of the quietest months in a very, very long time. Not only have I not broken even but I'm pretty sure I spent more than I made - not a good thing. I've pulled in the purse strings as much as I can. I've tried to be more regular with blogging. I'm forever tweaking the Rainbow Designs website. I'm Facebooking semi regularly which seems to be losing likers instead of gaining more or at the very least entertaining and informing our current likers.

It's a slow decline but I am truly hoping that it'll hit bottom and start it's climb back up again very soon. I'm missing the busyness of my daily work life. It really messes with you confidence when your business, that you've been running for 14 years, is starting to fail in a big way. What went wrong? I'm happy to plod along and get a consistent amount of orders daily. Pay my bills and save a bit but I'm not even doing that. Paying my bills, just, no savings.

The last couple of weeks have been an absolute nightmare in terms of delivery. Both companies I use, Fastway Couriers and Australia Post have let me down big time. This does not make my business look good and costs me money. Money which I don't have.

I really need to start focusing on Christmas.We do have our Christmas Hampers on the website and I've got the Christmas labels already to go as well. We've got the Christmas wrap and tissue paper at the ready now it's just promoting and reminding people we're still here.



I have found a lot of people, even businesses, leave their Christmas gift ordering to the very last minute no matter how many times we remind the via Facebook, emails etc at least with Christmas falling on the weekend it does give us a few extra days with delivery plus Australia Post and often Fastways will be delivering on the Saturday before Christmas too - always a huge help. The often deliver on Saturdays all through December just because of the volume of parcels and letters they have.

Fingers crossed to a happy and busy festive season :-)