Halloween Is In The Air

Halloween is fast gaining popularity in Australia, and each year we see more and more Halloween decorations and costumes creep into the stores and on the shelves. Admittedly I love to look at the houses decorated in their spooky themes, tombstones, witches and all.

Trick-or-treating is become quite the norm in many Australian suburbs and streets, and watching horror movies and bobbing for apples (also called dunking) are fast becoming a holiday tradition. While Halloween has its firm fixtures in Christianity and mythology, trick-or-treating never really took root until the 1930s in the USA. And it took many more years for it to become popular over here. We are familiar with the event due to the American television programs and movies which aired on our little and big screens but up until recently it was always something which we acknowledged was done "over there". But now times they are a-changin'!

If you plan to get into the spirit of the holiday, how do you know which houses to knock on? It is best, of course, to stick to houses which look like they are decorated in celebration of the holiday, have a bowl of lollies left out for you to sample, or at the very least, have an orange (or other coloured) balloon out the front. Sticking to people you know is also a common tactic as Australians, as a rule, still frown on the idea of knocking on stranger's doors to ask for lollies (and quite rightly so!) As it is still quite new in this part of the world, not everyone appreciates getting disturbed in the middle of their favourite tv program either if they aren't expecting it.

Do you think Australians should be celebrating Halloween?

A Merry Christmas From Rainbow Designs

Well this will be the last blog post for the year as we close our doors on Friday 19th December.  So if you intend to purchase your Christmas gifts from us, I implore you to order before then, otherwise they will not be sent until we reopen in February 2015.

Christmas is an extremely busy time of year for all involved, we are working super hard to fulfill all the orders and our couriers are working overtime to deliver them all.  For this reason we ask that you order as soon as possible to avoid as much stress as possible.

If you have still not placed an order, we recommend you do so now - today - to guarantee your choice of gift.  Many of our Christmas gifts have sold out already.

How has your year been?  Was it as good as you had hoped?  Are you taking any time off over the festive season?

Ours, as always, has been full of ups and downs but that is all part and parcel of life.  Thank goodness for chocolate, right?

So from all the staff at Rainbow Designs, we wish you a wonderful Christmas and the most awesome New Year that you can possibly imagine.

Here is a great thought to keep you going through Christmas and beyond...

"I will honour Christmas in my heart and try to keep it all the year." - Charles Dickens

May all your dreams come true, and more!

Gifts $30 and Under

We understand that sometimes you are on a budget or just need a little gift as a way of saying thank you, congratulations or well done.  $30 doesn't seem to go as far as it used to and more often than not when you buy a gift online the postage is an added extra which might just push you over your budget.

All our gifts in the Under $30 section include postage so you know exactly how much you are going to spend.  Ranging from $20-$27, those with a sweet tooth will be delighted with the gift which arrives on their doorstep.

3PM Pick Me Up Gift

I know the feeling - 3pm rolls around and you are feeling like you need a little energy boost.  This pick me up gift features 300g of mixed lollies and chocolates to keep you going until the end of the day.

Just Chocolates

The name says it all!  Half a kilo of yummy chocolates including Clinkers, Bullets, Caramel Buds, Cobbers and Jaffas.  And if your budget allows, for an extra $10 you can add a coloured teddy bear of your choice.

Just Lollies

For those that prefer just lollies - this gift is for them.  500g of Chicos, F1 Race Cars, Pineapples, Milk bottles and more.  Again add a teddy bear of your choice if you wish.

Spotty Treats Gift

Our spotty gift box is very popular and is perfect as a get well or thank you gift.  This box includes a scrumptious mix of chocolates and lollies - 500g of deliciousness.

So don't let your budget stand in the way of letting a loved one know how much you care.  A little gift can go a long way and can really make someone's day.

And if you order before 3.30pm, they will be sent out the very same day for next business day delivery.

Last Chance To Purchase Your Christmas Gifts

What a fantastic year it has been and I must admit that I will be enjoying a cold one come Tuesday afternoon when we shut up shop until the 6 January. And I must say well deserved it will be too - phew - what a week it has been!

On Thursday last week, we shipped out 220 gifts to destinations all over Australia - our Big Lolly Box high on the popularity list.  And the rest of the week wasn't far behind in terms of popularity.

Have you ordered your gifts yet?  Don't forget we will be closing tomorrow at midday so we recommend ordering your gift now so there are no issues and you don't miss the deadline.  We would hate for your recipients to go without.

Here are a couple of last minute recommendations:

It's Christmas Chocolate Tin
Rudolph Sweet Tooth Gift Box
Nuts About Christmas
Rosey Apple Xmas Gift
Rudolph's Delight Hamper

If you have ordered, or even received a gift, we would be extremely grateful if you would take the time to review our services on WOMO.  Thanks to the reviews already received, Rainbow Designs won a 2103 Service Award for which we are very proud.  We try very hard to offer quality customer service at all times and are extremely proud of our service history.

"Every time I purchase from Rainbow Designs I'm always impressed by how quick my order is sent. The family and friends to receive the gifts are really surprised and delighted by their gift." - Nicole

"Excellent communication - I was kept up to date with the entire order and delivery progress the whole way. Super quick delivery. Faultless! Will definitely use again!" - Christina

To all of our customers - past, present and future - we sincerely hope you have a wonderful Christmas and magical New Year spent with those you love.  We look forward to helping you with your gift giving in 2014.

December Traditions

I love December for many reasons, not only because of summer and Christmas (although they are both pretty awesome!) but for the traditions which families recreate year after year.

• Do you start decorating on the same day each year or put your tree up on a specific day?
• Do you use specific decorations or have a special way in which you decorate?
• Do you drive around the neighbourhood to view the Christmas lights and decorations?
• Does the elf on the shelf appear to monitor your children's behaviour?
• Do you attend your local "Carols By Candlelight" concert every year?
• Do you use an advent calendar in your house?
• Do you have a Christmas CD which makes an appearance every December?
• Do you leave out milk and cookies for Santa?
• Do you hang stockings in your house?
• Do you donate a gift or your time to a particular charity each year?
• Do you bake traditional Christmas cookies or treats to share with your family?

These are just some of the traditions which families enjoy and experience together each year creating great memories and traditions to pass on to future generations.

And some of you have even added Rainbow Designs into the mix as part of your traditions for which we are very grateful.  We have many customers who order a gift box or two of lollies or chocolates each year as a special way to treat their family and friends.

Do you have any particular traditions which you or your family participate in every December?  Please share as we would love to hear from you.

It's not about the money, money, money

Running your own small business is definitely not about the money, I can certainly vouch for that!! It's more about doing what you enjoy, love even, and maybe even working when you want. Having said that, it doesn't mean you can decide to only work Mondays but more being able to fit personal life into your business life better. You are the boss afterall but this also means, the buck stops with you! You ARE the business so sometimes it might seem that all you do is WORK WORK WORK but hopefully it is something you're enjoying so it's not quite so bad!

I've been running my business for about 9 years now, it started off as part-time while also working (at the ATO of all places!) and then once things picked up a bit I was able to leave the ATO and focus solely on Rainbow Designs. The main problem I am facing at the moment is Rainbow Designs burn out. I have only even worked in the same company for as long as running Rainbow Designs once and that was my very first job, a LONG LONG time ago!! I'm trying to way up my options. Should I sell, close down, work part time somewhere else, hire staff....?? I've actually set myself a deadline and if things haven't changed (in a good way) things WILL change, good or bad! I think you can get stuck in the same old same old and even though you're not 'really' enjoying it, it just seems like too much hard work to do something different - this is where I think things can really go down hill. Just in the last few months I have seen over 5 small businesses, who have been running for about as long as mine, close up doors. Why I wonder?

I think times are tough at the moment in the retail sector (particularly small online businesses) but not tough enough that you can't make a living from it - I think you just need to work smarter and give yourself permission to have some time out. Maybe working part time somewhere else could help, even if it is just to feel like you can contribute to another business other than your own. It may even help with getting a fresh look on your own business. Volunteering is also another way to go - it need only be a few hours a week but something that can not only help others but help yourself feel 'worth it' - which is something running your own business can drag down. If you hit a rough patch it can make you feel like YOUR not good enough - it is your business afterall so it does feel very personal when things aren't all rosey.

One thing I do know, if I wanted to be assured that all the bills were going to get paid each month I wouldn't run my own small business - being employed is the way to go if you're just in it for the money I'm afraid!

When all things are said and done and business is getting me down, there's always chocolate:

Until next time,

eat some chocolate!!

Jacqui