Just the thing!

Many years ago we had the option of ordering a single type of lolly or chocolate but after a few changes to Rainbow Designs these were removed until now!

After a prompting from a couple of lovely customers we have added some Single Selection gifts, from just $29 (including gift tag and delivery of course!).

We have Just Smarties, Just Jellybabies and Sugar Coat It (Jubes!) - they are available as half a kilo or kilo sized gifts and are ready now! Just in time for Christmas!

We love hearing from our customers with feedback, suggestions and ideas. It's so nice to know that they care about our business and what we do, makes the hard days (and there are many) worth it.

Christmas is just 18 days away and there are only 11 more delivery days left! (nb: some couriers are delivering on the weekend but it's not guaranteed, it's so they can keep up with the amount of parcels flying about this time of year) If you are still after some gifts and dread the thought of tackling the shopping centres and carpark why not shop online. We are here to help make your gifting fun and easy.

Our yummy gifts start at $29 and all include fabulous goodies, gift tag with your personal message and Australia wide delivery by either Fastway Couriers or Australia Post.

Christmas Bubbles - $50 delivered

 We look forward to helping you now and into 2017! We've got the Christmas carols blasting and the santa hats a wearin', we're in full Christmas mode :-) Merry Christmas!

We do Corporate Gifting!

A quiet start to the festive season means I'm busy finding new ways to promote and advertise, on a very limited budget might I add. It's such hard work and quite often with little or no reward at the end. I've been doing this for around 12 years and it never gets easier. I wish it would but so far it hasn't.

Sweet Selection Gift Hamper - $70 delivered

 I'm loving all of our gift hampers we have available and think they're just fabulous for business and corporate gifting, I just need to let all the businesses know about them! We've had a few previous customers place some orders, which is always fabulous, but I need a lot of new customers to help keep this business ticking over.

Christmas Cheer Gift Hamper - $190 delivered

There's so much competition and so many amazing people and businesses out there I'm competing with it's hard to find the point of difference and extra specialness and to promote it. Apart from shouting from the roof top I'm at a loss. Oh, we do Facebook and the occasional Insta post plus emails but that's about it and that's about all I can afford at the moment. Money is tight, eek!

Sweet Celebration Gift Hamper - $100 delivered

So, if you or your business or the company you work for are in need of gifts for Christmas and/or the New Year we can help!! We can!! Our gifts start at $18 and work they way up to over $400 (it is a doozy - simply fantastic!). We'll deliver all of your gifts and include your personal message - sweet and savoury, wine and beer, cheese and crackers, there's something for all of your staff and customers to enjoy!

Executive Gift Hamper (red or white wine!) - $110 delivered

For all single orders over 30 gifts you will receive a super 10% discount - woo!

Lolly and Chocolate Gifts - $18 for min 20 or starting at $29 individual includes delivery.

Thanks for your support and have a yummy festive season. Don't work too hard!

Four Seasons Luxury Gift Hamper - $299 includes delivery

Gift Hampers for Christmas 2016

It's time to order your Christmas gifts! I know right, how fast has this year gone. October just disappeared in a blur and November is looking to be the same. I keep having to double check the date as I can't believe it's mid way through November already. I'm sure I missed a few weeks somewhere!

Sweet Selection - $70 delivered

With only about 6 weeks left until Christmas Day it is definitely time to get your Christmas orders in. We have traditionally found that the 2nd week of December is SUPER busy with last minute corporate orders coming in and forgotten family members who need a gift being sent asap! So don't wait too long, we want to ensure your gifts arrive before Santa does. This time of year always means that the couriers are extra busy and I mean BUSY so deliveries will take a little longer than normal.

To be on the safe side order your gifts within the next couple of weeks - not only will it mean you've got less on your to do list but it will ensure your gifts will make it under the Christmas tree ready to be opened on Christmas Day!

Some gorgeous, festive and yummy gift hampers that will make you the favourite of the family and with your work mates:

Our $29 lolly and chocolate gifts are perfect for friends and family with a bit of a sweet tooth.

Medium Sweet Tooth Box - $29 delivered

For under $50 you can bet that you will impress those worth impressing and wow those who didn't think you had it in you to buy the PERFECT gift!

Christmas Bubbles - $50 delivered

Now for your big families or group of friends our gifts over $150 will certainly hit the spot. These hampers aren't just a hamper they are a whole load of Christmas cheer! Filled with gourmet delights, chocolates, beer, wine, champagne, cheeses and dips even a fabulous ice cream maker with all the trimmings!

For All To Share - $200 delivered

We can't wait to receive your orders, our elves are standing by! CHRISTMAS DAY is Sunday, 25 December 2016 - NOT LONG!!

First Christmas Order!

Happy days! We received our very first Christmas 2016 order last week - from a very organised person indeed, great to see.

Just Lollies

 As you may (or may not) know things at Rainbow Designs have been very quite these last few months, actually pretty much this whole year has been quiet. I'm not sure what's caused things to quieten down. I've tried to keep my online presence active and relevant. I update Facebook regularly and am trying hard to blog semi regularly. I don't like blogging just for the sake of it but sometimes nothing's happening so I blog about anything and nothing!

I was so excited to see an order come through last week for Christmas, it gave me a little boost (which I desperately needed!) and hope that things will start to pick up in the coming weeks and we'll have a super busy festive season. Christmas and Easter have always been our busiest times, no surprise there I guess, but it is hard to stay positive and up beat when things have been a struggle this year.

Christmas Bubbles

I've updated the website and also added a bulk and corporate discount for all single orders over 30 gift hampers. 10% if you're wondering :-) Large orders are great and I always try and ensure we are offering the best hampers with the best price so it does make it difficult to discount them. I know businesses expect a cheaper price when they order larger quantities hence the discount offer but in reality for me my costs are exactly the same as is the delivery charges. No discounts for us. Being a small business has its advantages but also disadvantages, none more so than not being able to compete price wise with the bigger companies. Our buying capacity is not in their league. Our bulk buying is their every day buying! Having said that though, I believe we still offer very competitive prices and some people have even said our prices aren't higher enough! From the very beginning I always wanted to have gifts that were affordable and at prices I would be happy to pay myself. In doing this though it means my profit margins are extremely low and make it all the more important to keep a regular flow of daily orders coming in. Unfortunately this currently isn't the case but I'll keep plugging away!

For All to Share Hamper

Thank you to everyone who has ever ordered with us and thank you to everyone who continues to order from us - we maybe struggling to make ends meet but we are still enjoying running our little business. A private jet may never been in our future or even business class but as long as I can keep paying my bills
and eating chocolate I'm happy!

Have a sensational week everyone and don't forget to think of us whenever you need a gift, we are here to help you!

ps: Christmas is less than 7 weeks away!!

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 ($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 :-)

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 :-)

Coffee to Tea

I've always been a coffee drinker right from when I started work oh so long ago! Never got into tea even though my mum and nan were big tea drinkers. Not sure why really, I love the smell of brewing coffee. Tea just doesn't have that same aroma does it?

About 18 months ago I had health issues and had to have surgery and, do you know what? I went off coffee. Weird. I just didn't like the taste of it any more and it didn't seem to like my body any more either. So what's a girl to do but try tea. I love a hot bevvie in the morning and couldn't give it up just because I didn't like coffee any more. I started with green tea. I like green tea but it's just doesn't have that same aaahhhhh feeling as a yummy coffee did. So I tried a 'normal' tea - black tea with milk and surprisingly I liked it! I like it strong but milky, if that makes sense! I bit like my coffee actually.

Off and on I've been drinking coffee but mostly if I'm out and can get a yummy barista made latte. I don't like instant coffee at all. I tried some recently, when I was away, from a coffee machine, eewwwwww. Not nice at all so I stuck with tea.

Funnily enough, this coffee machines coffee wasn't too bad.

Camomile tea is now my thing for the evening as I have trouble sleeping well and thought this might help. Not sure if it is or not but I've got into my little ritual of having a camomile tea just before heading to bed to read - I'm a real nanna now ;-)

Green tea is meant to help with digestion, thought I'd test that theory!

I had thought that drinking much less coffee and more tea it might help with my sleeping but it doesn't appear to have made any difference, obviously caffeine wasn't the cause of my bad sleeping. Although, I would never have a late night cup of coffee as that DID have an adverse affect of sleep. Makes sense though.

Occasionally when I'm out and about I'll shout myself a barista made coffee never a tea, I don't mind paying for a coffee but not for a tea. It's a tea bag and they still charge the same as a yummy coffee, why is that? Mum found out that on the train (xpt) you can bring your own tea bag and just buy a cup of hot water for $1 instead of $3.50 plus if you bring your own mug (with lid) you get the hot water free! I guess you could also do that with coffee and just bring a coffee bag.

So even though I don't drink as much coffee as I use to I still like to start my day with a hot drink, not sure if I'd get much work done otherwise!

Are you a tea or coffee drinker? Maybe neither?

ps: Happy birthday mum. xx

The Glamorous Life of a Small Business Owner

Ha ha, glamorous, now that is funny! The most glamorous thing about running my business is wearing a necklace while I unpack tissue paper.

Friday I generally schedule in 'clean and tidy' in amongst 'dirtying and messying'. I do try and keep relatively tidy during the week and put things back in their place but things still get a tad untidy come the end of the week. I also work from home so it's basically just my weekly housey clean with the work room and office area included.

Today I've started with vacuuming as it is my most detested job of all. Hate vacuuming with a passion only surpassed by my hate of ummm nope nothing comes close to vacuuming hatred :-)

Next up is desk tidying, although I have to say I am pretty good at keeping my desk clean. I just stuff everything in a drawer or two ;-)

Final clean is the workroom. Time to track down all those rogue lollies that flung themselves off the bench and rolled away like a ninja turtle.

It's a good little workout (not sure if good is quite the right word) but a workout none the less. I do a full on 'spring' clean once every 6 weeks or so and by that I mean I move my furniture! The work room is the only one I do this a lot more regularly - gotta keep that place spick and span. It isn't quite so bad or important currently as I am not actually packing the lollies in there but I may again in the future so want to ensure its clean and tidy when I start back again.

My place is pretty small so it doesn't really take me long at all to get it clean, thank goodness, and I don't have any stairs. These are a nightmare to vacuum (hey dad!).

After everything is all shiny and new again I'll plonk myself down in front of my laptop with a cuppa and a choccie bikkie or some M&M's and blog about it ;-)

Glamorous life indeed!

The Inspirational Paralympics

Who watched the Paralympics? I had the TV on most mornings. LOVED IT. They are amazing and certainly kept me in check the last few weeks. It made me DO things I would make excuses as to why I can't do them. I saw swimmers with no arms, a table tennis player with no arms and they were DOING IT. There were blind runners and bike riders. The word got used a lot during the paralympics but they are INSPIRING.

I hope I can keep this feeling of 'I CAN' long after the games have ended. It was nice having them on in the background. I used them as my own little cheer squad. I think I cried every day I watched them. They were all just so honest and had so much self belief, I wished I could absorb some of it!

Our paralympians did Australia and themselves PROUD. I only hope I can be half as strong and humble and caring and amazing as they are.

I'm glad that it was shown on television in a much larger way than it even has been. Ch7, Jo Griggs and the whole team did an outstanding job. They are the sort of people you dream about working with. Hard working, caring with a sense of being lucky and priviledged to be able to work on the Paralympics. 

Coooweeeeee to you all. I'm going to miss watching you and cannot wait until Tokyo! 

I've been having a horrible time with my business and have been really struggling with making it work. It's really getting close to not being a business any more and I worry constantly how I am going to pay my bills BUT after watching the Paralympics I know there IS a way. I just need to find it and believe in myself that I can do it. It's going to be hard, very hard and to be honest I am not sure if I am strong enough but I will keep reminding  myself of the athletes I watched and dig deep like they all did. They didn't give up, they pushed themselves and their bodies to do things most people would say, 'you can't do that'. I know everyone is different and not everyone could cope when faced with such loss and hard work and change BUT a lot of people can! 

Onwards and upwards, stronger, better, happier.

One Step Forward Two Steps Back

It's been one of those weeks, again. Every morning I get up and make myself think of good, happy cheery things. Think of what needs to be done and what things I should be focusing on to get Rainbow Designs making money again.

It starts well, with a coffee while my computer fires up and writing down any ideas I had overnight but then...............blah. The emails come in and in the 'orders' folder there's zero or one and in the 'customer enquiry' there's one. What will that 'one' be? Maybe them thanking me, for once, or maybe it's another one chasing up their parcel.

Why is it that couriers find it so hard to do their job properly?? Why why why?? To be honest, over the last few weeks I have had very few orders but I have had to still chase up parcels. It is so frustrating and disheartening. It makes me and my business look bad when I have done everything I can do. Process and send the order as soon as humanly possibly and then I get let down, again and again, by the couriers. My customer doesn't care who is to blame as they order with me, with Rainbow Designs. So in their mind 'we' have let them down and it's true, we have.

Couriers take no responsibility with late deliveries, with damaged deliveries, with no deliveries, with incorrect deliveries. It is an absolute nightmare chasing things up with them and even if they do finally get back to you it's almost always too late and not good enough. No refund is ever offered. I think maybe once or possibly twice I have received an refund, well partial refund, over the last 12 years and I can tell you I have unfortunately had far more then two wrong deliveries made!

Delivery prices have gone up A LOT over the last few years and I have always absorbed these cost, now to the near detriment of my business. I honestly believe if I have any more orders that get stuffed up by courier companies and my customer requests a refund I will be out of business.

So pull your fingers out Fastway Couriers and Australia Post and do your friggen job. I am tired of having to deal with problems caused by you. I am tired of dealing with your so called customer service staff and their indifference. I am tired of having to wait WEEKS for anyway to even bother to look into an incorrect delivery! Do you think MY customer is happy waiting this long?? NO THEY ARE NOT. My deliveries are GIFTS which generally mean they are time sensitive so LATE or WRONG deliveries mean that the gift is no longer needed or wanted.

I am currently trying, unsuccessfully so far, to chase up an express parcel that was scanned by Australia Post as delivered but was never received. Why is this such a hard thing to do. It's not like they are new to the business of delivering parcels - surely they should have a better system in place for chasing up parcels. What's the point in tracking? What's the point in paying extra for express if it never gets there anyway?

So I am ending this week with a big fat loss, thank you Australia Post and thank you Fastways. Not only am I losing money I am most definitely losing customers. You don't think that my customers will ever order with me again when they have had so much trouble with their last order? It doesn't matter now what I do, they're not coming back and more than likely they'll tell many people, possibly even online, not to use Rainbow Designs.

Jacqui ~ disheartened Rainbow Designs owner

A Chocolate a Day

I started Rainbow Designs way back in 2004 with an idea of filling noodle boxes with lollies and/or chocolates and maybe eating some myself. Things have changed over the last 12 years but lollies and chocolates and me eating them still remain the same!

Currently I don't physically pack the gifts, giving my body a break from all the standing and bending, but I still eat chocolate and do everything else that comes with running Rainbow Designs. Processing orders, updating orders, tracking parcels, following up couriers, paying (many, many) bills, emailing, texting, online marketing, blogging etc. I'm currently focusing on Christmas. For the most part the gifts will be the same but will be updated with Christmassy loveliness.

Christmas Bubbles

Sometimes I do miss the day to day of filling boxes and packing orders but then my body gives me a little warning sign when I've pushed myself a bit too much and I am thankfully that I have some wonderful people doing all of that work for me :-) The noodle boxes may have gone but the theme and first idea of lolly and chocolate gifts is still there. I've tried to keep Rainbow Designs as close to how I pictured it way back when as I can. Times do change of course and gifts need to be tweaked here and there to keep up with peoples likes and expectations - I think I've been able to do that.

Little Sweetie

I still love to have some chocolate daily and for the most part you will always find some type of chocolate either on my desk or stashed at the back of the fridge. Don't want the 'kit kat' incident to happen again! Currently my stash consists of m&m's (of course, always a favourite), a mix of choc buds and the occasional block of cadbury.

Rainbow Designs may never have become a million dollar business or a household name but I do hope that it will continue to run and thrive and enable me to pay my bills and occasionally have some r&r, into the future. I don't know how I would cope if I didn't have Rainbow Designs in my life. Something I do know though is that I really need to focus on marketing, promotion and advertising. Even with basically no budget for this it NEEDS to be done. Online business really relies on being found and being found fast and easily. If you don't show up on page 1 or 2 in google you may as well not be in the search pages at all. Unfortunately Rainbow Designs isn't doing too well on that front and it is something I HAVE to work on if I want to stay in business (and pay my bills!).

It's all about the chocolate (and lollies!)

I have a lovely life but know it won't take much for it to change for the bad and end up with nothing or worse minus nothing so WORK WORK WORK is what I must do. I'm sure that sounds familiar to most of us! ;-)

Enough talking (writing) time for another coffee (or maybe tea, I've just started drinking tea and finding I quite like it. Not as heavy on the belly as coffee and doesn't give you coffee breath).

Wishing you a day, week, month of things going as you want, need and hope for! Here's to us :-)

Jacqui ~ chocoholic owner of Rainbow Designs

Smooth Chocolate Festival

I have been looking forward to this weekend since last year! CHOCOLATE FESTIVAL, what's not to love?? I went in 2015 and as soon as it was announced it was on again in this year we booked our plane and hotel and counted down the weeks! It's a great event to use as 'research' while getting to enjoy the beautiful Sydney Harbour and chocolate in so many forms.

Lindt Chocolate

We arrived in Sydney on Friday morning to gorgeous blue skies, lucky as we had to walk from the station to our hotel. The Chocolate Festival starts on Saturday so we had Friday afternoon to get our bearings, make our plan, go to the TOP of Sydney Tower and get cream puffs!

Sydney Tower Skywalk

In April I was in Sydney with my gorgeous niece and we stumbled across a little hole in the wall in Chinatown selling these amazing cream puffs, needless to say we went back numerous times and planned to go back again next time we were in Sydney! They were as yummy as we remembered.

I surprised the kids, I say kids but they both tower over me, with a Sydney Tower Skywalk. It was amazing!! We all really enjoyed and got some fabulous photos. If you're in Sydney I recommend the Skywalk.

After our Skywalk we headed over to Chinatown with a pit stop at City Markets, a factory outlet place above Paddy's Markets. Chinatown was busy, busy, busy. I think that's while I like it, so full of energy and food! We went to the food court downstairs and it was BUSY. The food was delicious.

Chinatown Food Court

Next morning we woke with a plan EAT CHOCOLATE. Another gorgeous day greeted us, we were SO lucky with the weather as a few weeks earlier it was rainy and freezing in Sydney town. We caught a train from Museum Station, what a cool little station. Loved all the old posters on the walls.

The Chocolate Festival is held at The Rocks near Circular Quay and it was shaping up to be busy. We got there at about 10am, right when it opened and went in search of something to eat. Our first choice was chocolate dipped fruit, strawberries and watermelon. So good (and healthy!?). We did a walk around the whole festival to see what was on offer and made notes of where we wanted to head back to. The number one stop was the Lindt Tent where you could get your very own personalised chocolate bar, yes please!

I think my business, Rainbow Designs, sells one of the most POPULAR products ever, CHOCOLATE. Going by the crowds there are a LOT of chocoholics around, makes my heart sing and my mouth water. Where to head to next?? Maybe a donut or an icecream?? Icecream sounds like a plan - Gelato Messina and the 'Robert Browney Junior', chocolate, fudge, more chocolate, mmmmmmmmm. A glazed donut from The Donut Shop and lots of samples. Lindt balls, coconut and dark chocolate and Darrel Lea chocolates. To see how popular both of these areas were made me think I might need to add these brands to my hampers???

The very popular Lindt Lounge

For the rest of the day we did some touristy things and headed over to the Opera House to look for seals, didn't see any. After that we caught a ferry over to Luna Park. I hadn't been to Luna Park in a VERY long time but I don't think it's changed much at all, very 'back in the day' cool. I didn't venture onto any of the rides but the other two went on a 'vomit inducing' ride and the funky roller coaster. They loved it!! (and didn't throw up, bonus).

Luna Park

More chocolate was on our minds so we ferried it back over to Circular Quay and over to the festival to check out the stands again. What to have? So many choices! There was a very groovy container truck turned into pizza shop called 'Happy as Larry' that we just had to try. Margeritta pizza, so good that mr 14 went back and got another one for dinner! Miss 16 and I had some yummy satay chicken skewers. We were going to get another donut but they had sold out, like many of the stands. I think they underestimate how many they'll need. There will be some very late nights tonight making up more for Sunday! Zumbo's stand had sold out of two of their products - we didn't end up trying any but they looked amazing!

We trained it back to Museum Station and back to our hotel, after picking something up for dinner, and relaxed. It was a long but super fun day. Miss 15 was leaving early on Sunday back home while Mr 14 and I weren't leaving until Sunday afternoon so we had another day at the festival plus I had organised a jetboat ride for us!!

After getting up at the crack of dawn to walk miss 16 to the station, mr 14 and I watch a bit of the paralympics and slowly got ready for the day. After checking out of the hotel and leaving our bags for collection later in the day we headed to the train and circular quay. Chocolate Festival here we come. We made a pitstop at Starbucks for a coffee/ice chocolate and a bit of sustainance for the day ahead. While sitting enjoying our breakfast we realise we didn't check the fridge in our room before we left. Shock horror, mr 14 has left his chocolate in it! Luckily, after ringing the hotel, they were able to grab it for us so we could pick it up when we got our bags. Brekky down and first stop was the instagram photo machine to print out some fabulous photos, go and get our personliased Lindt chocolates and then over to the Jetboat wharf.

The Jetboat was FUN! We got drenched, luckily we were wearing a fetching purple poncho. What an amazing way to see Sydney Harbour - highly recommend!

Our weekend in Sydney was coming to a close so we did one last lap of the Smooth Chocolate Festival before making our way back to the hotel to collect our bags and then onto the station for our flight home. I had such a fun weekend. The weather was near on perfect and the company was pretty great too!


I highly suggest visiting the Choc Fest next year and in the mean time check out our chocolate filled hampers to help tied you over until then ;-)

nb: Unfortunately my camera card failed so most of my photo's didn't work. :-(

Father's Day 2016 - Sept 4

I'm lucky enough to be relaxing on a deck chair in the middle of the Pacific Ocean with my wonderful dad on HIS day! We're currently heading back to Sydney after spending a few glorious days sailing around Papua New Guinea. Told you I was lucky!

Dad says he's not that great a fan of cruising but it didn't take much twisting of the arm to go on this, or the one last November :-) I think he's hooked, maybe not as much as my mum and I but I'm sure if any is!! If I won lotto I think I'd just travel the world on board a cruise ship, actually scrap that, I WOULD travel the world! What's not to love, food, views, new places, food, someone makes my bed, great company, food.....

I left my business in very capable hands and have know doubt that everything is running smoothly. Hopefully they've been run off their feet with Father's Day orders, a bonus is on their way if they have! We've got quite a few gorgeously yummy gift hampers I just know any and every dad would love to receive. My dad included and maybe he just will ;-) We've got a beer hamper I know he wouldn't mind finding under his cabin bed on Sunday - shame he can't drink the beer until we leave the ship but I'm sure one of the many bars on board will be able to help him out!

I've seen many Father's Day come and go since opening my online gift shop and it still makes me smile when orders come in and sometimes even brings a tear to my eye when I read some of the gift tag messages. Such a special privilege to be part of people's special occasions and events. Let me tell you it never gets old. So thank you from the bottom of my heart for entrusting us at Rainbow Designs to provide that special someone in your life with a very special gift just made for them.

Happy Father's Day, love you dad.

It's What's Inside That Counts

We've used noodle boxes for our lolly and chocolate gifts since the very beginning, way back in 2004 in fact! Gosh, I feel old now :-) A few years back all our suppliers stopped stocking or making the extra large noodle boxes that we used for our kilo gifts so we switched to other tins or boxes. We've now also changed our half kilo gifts from noodle boxes to fabulous windowed satchels.

Just Chocolates

It's a bit of and end of an era I guess but it's also great to have a bit of change and spice things up a bit! I love our satchels and think they look really great (although I maybe a tad bias!) and having the window at the front means you can see all the yummy goodies inside! We have used these satchels before in a couple of other gifts we brought into our range a few years back. Unfortunately these gifts didn't prove popular enough for us to keep them on. If things don't sell fast enough we just end up eating everything! Whilst we don't mind doing this it isn't great for our bottom line or our bottoms ;-)

Just Lollies

Changes are always needed in any business. You need to improve and adapt and that's what I hope we are doing. 2016 has been a year of big changes not least of which is that our gifts are all lovingly packed and sent from Melbourne now. I've worked with these people for many, many years (feeling old again) and am happy and confident that they will continue producing and providing excellent gifts. The confectionery may vary slightly from what we have previously  used but I am always checking and getting feedback from customers on what is used and ensuring we are still making delicious lolly gifts. I can understand returning customers may find things a bit different to what they have previously order but we are confident and I am happy that the gifts are still just as good (if not better if that's possible!).

We at Rainbow Designs always strive to do our best and look after our wonderful customers so appreciate any feedback and constructive criticism or praise as this is the only way we can ensure we are providing products and service that our customers need, want and expect.

Medium Sweet Tooth Gift

Thank you to everyone who has ordered from us and who have sung our praises and who have given us feedback, we appreciate it and need it to continue. It's been a tough year, to be honest a tough few years but I am determined to make Rainbow Designs a success both in the happiness stakes and profit stakes :-)

Jacqui ~ determined and thankful Rainbow Designs boss lady who occasionally over indulges in M&M's.

Flat

Well yet again my car has a flat battery! Grrrr. I hardly use my car any more as I walk to just about everywhere and if I go further a field I'm usually with my sister and she drives. The lovely NRMA guy that helped me once before with my flat battery did suggest starting my car at least once a week and let it run for an hour or so. Easier said than done. Ha ha. I had a flat a couple of weeks ago and my sisters lovely boss came to the rescue and helped me get it started. I sat in my car for an hour and revved and revved but then didn't try and start it again for almost 2 weeks and........flat. It almost started but no cigar.

It's a metaphor for my business at the moment, flat. It's been a very flat and uninspiring year so far and currently doesn't look like it's going to unflatten. I know it is all up to me but it does get a bit frustrating when, after 12 years, Rainbow Designs is not ranking very well on Google. I just don't know why?? I try and update the website regularly and have even been trying to be a bit more regular wit blogging (well sort of) plus Facebooking but to no avail. I will keep persisting and not give up yet but I can only keep doing it for so long. Bills done get paid with wishing and hoping and finger crossing, pity really.

Now I just have to go and get a new car battery and jump start my business. Maybe I should put my laptop in the car and be a mobile gift hamper business. Just drive around all day possibly taste testing donuts and coffee along the way. Now there's an idea!

Jacqui ~ flat as a tack Business and car owner!

One thing

Have you ever gone into a shop with the aim of buying one thing and left with many more things? On occasion I have been known to do that :-)

This morning I had to pop down to the post office to drop some parcels off and thought I'd also pop into Vinnies, which is next door, and see if they had any snow gloves. My nephew has a school trip coming up which involves snow (how lucky is he??) and is after some gloves. So, being the loving aunt that I am, I went in search of some. I have been trying very hard to not buy any books as my house is looking more like a library than a home of late but, it's an op shop, what's a girl to do??

You can see where this is going, can't you?? I left the op shop with two egg cups (for my sister, she collects them and her birthday is coming up) and (sssshhhhhh) seven books. I know, I know but I love reading :-) BUT I also found some gloves, YAY!! So my excuse for buying the books was to celebrate the fact I managed to find some fabulous snow gloves, ha ha. I don't really need an excuse to buy books just be thankful I didn't buy any nic nacs (or dust collectors as my dad calls them!)

Next time I go to the post office I think I might have to leave my purse at home! Now, I'm off to find a sunny spot and read one of my (seven) books ;-)

Jacqui ~ Book loving, bargain hunting, opshopoholic, Rainbow Designs boss lady.

Day of the Donut

How did I miss this? Day of the Donut is on in Sydney on Saturday 30/7 and I've only just heard about it. I have checked out the flights down to Sydney but alas there are no bargains :-(

My niece and I love a good donut and would have loved to have checked this event out luckily for us we're going down to Sydney in September for the Festival of Chocolate!

We got truly hooked on donuts when I came across a facebook page for Doughheads Donuts in Newcastle. For months and months we would tag each other with images of delicious looking donuts. Finally, about 6 months worth of drooling, we made it to Newcastle! Unfortunately I wasn't very well and only got a bit of a Top Deck donut (which was yum) but the others enjoyed a couple of donuts including the original glazed and said they were definitely worth the drive!

Doughhead Donuts - Glazed and Top Deck

We're continually on the lookout for new donut places and have had a few since our Doughheads doughy - some good, some disappointing. Many donut places have popped up over the last 12 months so it's no wonder there is now a Day of the Donut!! In Sydney we came across Short Stop Cafe who had a yummy range of donuts on display - so what's one to do but try one. We had the Boston which is a donut filled with delicious vanilla cream custard topped with chocolate ganache, yum!

Short Stop Cafe Barangaroo - Boston Donut

Are you a donut fan? I think they've come a long way since the traditional cinnamon donut became popular. I still don't mind a hot cinnamon doughy but do find them a bit dense and quite often but they are nice with a hot cup of coffee or hot chocolate.

What's your favourite donut? Do you have a regular donut shop you visit?

Jacqui ~ Rainbow Designs head donut lover

National Pyjama Day

Apparently today is national pyjama day* which means you can wear your pj's all day without guilt or recrimination! :-) My nephew asked me the other day, just as we were heading out, if I was going to change out of my pyjamas? I wasn't wearing my jammies but he quite bluntly said 'well it looks like you are'! (note: I didn't change!) So today I'm fine, I can wear my REAL pj's out into the real world and no-on can stop me!

I have to admit I don't particularly want to wear my pj's outside my own house but I would be very happy to laze about in them all day! Jammies are so comfy aren't they?? In having said that though, I did buy a pair of pants the other week which 'technically' are pyjama pants but I wear them as 'real' pants. No-one will know right? Right??

Have you ever just stayed in your pj's even if you had to go out? I've read many a story of mum's picking up their kiddies in the pyjama's. I'm sure the kids LOVED that! ha ha

Jacqui ~ head pj wearing honcho at Rainbow Designs

* By wearing your favourite PJ’s and by making a donation, you’ll be helping to make a difference to the lives of  foster children.

Who ate my Kit Kat?

Do you ever buy yourself a treat, especially when you're at the supermarket and they're half price, and put it in the fridge or cupboard for later? I have been known to do this :-) I always like to have a special sweet treat awaiting me and even better is when you forget you bought it and come across it when searching for something yummy to eat! It's like Christmas.

The other week I bought a couple of sweet treats and left them in the crisper of my fridge (that's what it's there for right??) one being a Kit Kat. I quite like Kit Kats and I kept it there for a 'special treat' and had planned on eating it on Sunday evening while relaxing in front of the TV. Do you know what happened?

I'd been thinking about it all afternoon, wishing the time away, dreaming of the moment I will get my little mitts on in. It was a loooooong afternoon ;-) So you can guess, by the blog title, how guttered I was when I finally allow myself to go to the fridge and get my crispy Kit Kat from the crisper and find (well not find actually) it GONE!! I searched every inch of the fridge, even looking in the freezer, to no avail. Someone had eaten my Kit Kat! Who would do such a thing??? I was sad and then annoyed and maybe a little bit angry. I had been so good all week and resisted eating it so I could really enjoy it on Sunday evening only to find some little bugger had already beaten me to it!! The hide of them.

I have a VERY good idea on who STOLE my Kit Kat and have since found a different place for MY chocolatey treats.

So have you ever had anyone steal a special treat that you had been saving for yourself? It's heartbreaking isn't it :-(

Jacqui ~ hider of chocolate

Cadbury Lamington - New

I've just received my weekly roll of 'junk' mail and inside was something amazing! The Woolworths catalogue, not amazing in itself, but inside the Woollies catalogue was an ad for a NEW Cadbury chocolate bar!! Last week it was Coles with the Apple Crumble (which I did partake in and was very underwhelmed) and this week it's the Lamington block! Sounds delicious and definitely something I'll have to get my little mitts on! Not sure if it's just available in Woolworths, will have to pop into Coles and IGA and see if they've got it too.

I love trying new flavours, although I didn't rush out and buy the Vegemite one! I did have a taste of it from a family member who bought it, not my thing. Not awful but I'd rather plain or black forest any day. I guess it's a great marketing ploy more than anything and it appears to work, especially with the Vegemite flavour, that went off on social media!!

Have you tried it yet? Verdict. Better than the Apple Crumble? What flavour would you love Cadbury to make?

3 Ideas for Keeping Warm

I feel the cold. Possibly because I'm of a slim build but I just know that I have always felt the cold. My hands are always cold even on a nice warm day, bad circulation most likely.

Anyway, 3 things I have found to help keep the cold a bay for me and am currently doing or using daily at the moment!

1. Clothing (obviously!) - socks (knee high), singlet top and a light long sleeve top under WHATEVER I am wearing, slippy boots (for home only - never for public!)

2. Sunny spot - open the blinds/curtains as early as possible and let the rays inside
2b. If there is no sun a steaming hot cup of coffee/tea hits the (sunny) spot and is also great for warming your hands!

3. Heat pack - these are wonderful, possibly just like a hot water bottle. I have one which I've had for ever and use it on those really cold days where I just can't get warm. Especially on those cloudy, rainy days where the sun doesn't make an appearance. I heat mine in the microwave for 3-3 1/2 minutes and the warmth lasts for hours! This is also great for evenings when I'm snuggled under my blanket on the lounge - the blanket holds in the heat all night. Sometimes it's so toasty I don't want to go to bed!

Hibernating

I feel like I've gone into hibernation, not intentional, well I don't think it is. I've been spending a lot of time in my own company and must admit that I'm a bit over it! This is one of the things that can take a bit to get use to when you work for yourself and don't have staff, as such. I do work with a group of lovely people but not in the face to face kind of way. Pretty much all communication is via email. A benefit of this is it doesn't matter what I'm wearing or how bad a hair day I'm having :-)

Sometimes I just need some 'human' contact so head outside to the shops, generally just Coles, but that's enough. To feel part of the world and the town I live in can just mean walking down the main street, buying a custard tart and sitting in the sun by the river. Most days, I must admit, I just find a nice sunny spot indoors, grab my laptop and work away until I need a coffee or maybe some chocolate - there's always both of these in my place!

It is very easy to become very insulated and block yourself off from the world when you work from home and by yourself but try not to let this happen. It can be very hard to get yourself 'out and about' and you're liable to forget the art of conversation. I can go a week without actually speaking to anyone, all my communication is either online or by text. Sometimes I just have a little old conversation with myself just to make sure my vocal cords still work!!

I do love running my own business but I am very aware that I need to push myself to be involved in the 'real' world otherwise I will turn into a hermit and start talking to my rainbow teddy bears ;-) plus there's the great possibility that I'll find myself in Coles wearing my slippers!!

Do you love your own company or prefer the noise and constant chatter of other people around you?

Jacqui ~ Rainbow Designs head hermit

Gifts sent near and far

Now we've sent a lot of gifts over the last 12 years and it got me thinking, where is the most popular place they've been sent to? My guess is somewhere in NSW or VIC, narrows it down a bit but still a pretty big area. Another question I had was where is the most furtherest (yes, it is a word!) that one of our gifts has been sent to. I do remember a few years ago one being sent to Christmas Island, so I'm thinking that may be the gift that's covered the most distance but who's next? Somewhere in WA or NT I guess.

I started digging and doing some searching and this is what I came up with:

Most popular area: Seems to be the inner suburbs of Sydney - seeing as so many people live in that area it's not a huge surprise.

(2nd) most furtherest: Port Hedland in WA is approximately 5,313km from Murwillumbah! Google says it would take me about 35 days to walk it, not likely lovey!! It's approx 11hours by plane and 57hours by road - plane it is :-)

and then I thought it would be fun to see if we had sent a gift from a to z - ie a gift to a town starting with a, b, c, d etc You get the idea??

My findings were very interesting. I love a bit of useless trivia :-)

We've sent to all letters of the alphabet except one, can you guess which one??

X!

If you know anyone who lives in Xantippe WA how about you send them a lovely hamper from us ;-)

Far and wide our gifts do travel, I wouldn't mind travelling along with some of them and seeing more of our lovely country. Might head north and make my way around the top of Oz, zip down the middle and checkout Ayres Rock, then across to Perth and follow that around to Adelaide and over to Melbourne and then back up to NSW. Just need a chauffeur now, any takers??

Music to work by

I always have music playing while I'm working, helps keep me moving. It can vary to what I listen to. Lately it's been Double J (using my TV) and as I don't have a radio, one day I'll get one, the other musical option is my phone. I generally just put it on random and let it decide what my musical day should sound like. I've got a few Triple J compilations, some pop compilations, Kasey Chambers, Linkin Park, Powder Finger......... a bit of a mix really. My mood can dictate what I feel like listening to, sometimes I'm in a bit of a funk, so I go with it and play hard, aggressive music and other times it's nice to have some fluffy pop music :-)

Do you like to listen to music while you work or prefer silence?

Beginning of a New financial year!

Really, a new financial year, really??? Why do some weeks seem to drag on but bas and tax time seem to come around so flippin' fast??? I don't have an answer, maybe it's because I always put them off so by the time I get them done the next lot is almost due!

I have been trying a lot harder to get my statements etc sent off to my patient bookkeepers on time or at least weeks not months after they are requested! On my part it's not actually that hard. I don't really need to do anything except download statements and email them off, no adding or calculating needed at all. So I don't really have any excuse for my tardiness except laziness and lack of motivation. Although a big old fine should be motivation enough!

My goal from now on is to stay relatively organised and ensure all my tax obligations up kept up to date. You can keep me accountable ;-)

I had a deadline for myself this year, which funnily enough was today, on whether or not I would close down Rainbow Designs. I thought it would make things easier to wrap up if I closed at the end of the financial year and not part way through. So, the time has come. What am I going to do? Is it the end of Rainbow Designs?

Click this link to find out if we're still around >>>>>>>>>> To be or not to be

On an even more personal note, thinking of you grandma. Miss you. xx

Public Service Announcement

As a kind and caring person I thought I would let you know, if you didn't already know, that Coles Supermarket has their Cadbury Chocolate blocks half price this week! Just warning you though, if you live near me you'll have to beat me there as I may purchase them all :-)

Also, drum roll please, they have Pineapple blocks YUM and a new one with apple! I must try this one, research you realise. Has anyone tried it yet? Thoughts? It's chocolate so it can't be bad.

Alrighty, I'm off. Chocolate is calling.....

Jacqui ~ Rainbow Designs only workerbee

Keeping on top of things

It is always a good thing to have people helping you within your business, especially the behind the scene stuff. I have a bookkeeper and an accountant for all taxy stuff and the like. BAS, blah but with someone else doing all the numbery things I can, sort of, stay on top of things.

I just got an email from my accountant saying that my tax return hasn't been lodged yet did I want her to do it? Yes, yes I do and thank you for following it up. It is so easy to forget to do things or ensure paperwork is filed or lodged or bills paid so having someone reminding you is great! The longer you put things off the more time consuming and possible expensive they become. Not just the extra time your bookkeepers or accounts may need to spend on putting your bits and pieces together but also the possibility of a fine. eeek.

I got myself into a bit of a pickle a few years back now and have vowed never to let that happen again. Easier said than done but generally all my businessy type things, especially relating to the tax office and my obligations, are taken care of without too much input from me. All I need to do is send through my bank statements and few little details and voila my BAS arrives ready for me to sign and pay.

Even if your business isn't make much (or anything) if it is a business, solo, partnership, whatever you need to ensure you keep on top of your ato obligations. I recommend having a bookkeeper and/or accountant to handle everything for you and to remind you what's needed and when. It may cost a little bit but seriously, the relief and weight off knowing it's all done is so very worth it!

It's almost the end of another financial year so this is your friendly reminder - get your accounts in order now so you're ready to lodge and have it all neatly tucked away and sorted for another year. There's always BAS to keep you on your toes! I do mine quarterly and it comes around so blinkin' fast!

So get to it peeps and be super organised this financial year - hopefully this will help give myself a kick up the butt and I'll actually do as I say :-)

Today is brought to you by the letter W and a bucket load of rain

I am very grateful that I do not need to venture outside today, boy is it wild and woolly out there! I feel for you if you had to head out, stay safe!

The rain started earlier this morning and at times is heavy, I can see some flooding happening along the Tweed River again. It was only a couple of weeks ago we had flooding, I guess it's the time of year for rain and lots of it. Glad I'm not out in it.

A very big perk to working for myself is not having to go outside in ghastly weather, especially now since I am not producing any of the gifts myself personally. Not only can a become a full blown hermit but I can still participate in the comings and goings of the world from the comfort of my office (and sometimes from my lounge!). In saying this I do have to live very frugally as the pay isn't quite so hot, bit like the weather.

I'm not a fan of winter as I really feel the cold but sometimes (only if I don't have to go outside) it is nice to just snuggle up under a warm blanket and watch some trashy TV or Doctor Who!

Do you like cold, rainy days or prefer the heat and sunshine?

Chocolate, in the name of research

The other evening I was relaxing on my lounge, watching House Hunters and eating chocolate. Nothing earth shattering there but I noticed or thought I did that the taste of the chocolate was different. Still yummy just different. Have you ever noticed any difference in a family block of Cadbury milk chocolate and a bite size share pack?

I'd never really thought about it before or noticed it really but I generally only buy the family size :-). The other week at IGA they had their Favourite on a 'too good to not buy' special and in this mix are small packs of our, well favourites! This is where the taste testing started. I had a block of Cadbury Dairy Milk at home that I'd bought the week before when they were half price. Can't go passed a special like that. I actually bought a 'few' blocks ;-)

This brings us to the 'this tastes different' research, ahem. There is definitely a difference. I found the larger block nicer and a bit smoother. I wonder why that is? Or is it just me? I might have to buy the share size, snack size, family size and the larger 350g size and do a blind tasting - all in the name of research of course! I wonder if I can get some government funding?

Have you ever noticed a difference? I do know that the UK Cadbury's is slightly different to ours as we need to have a higher melt temperature, so that effects the texture/taste a bit. I just don't know why the size of a chocolate bar would change the taste. Oooo, another thought, I wonder if other brands have the same taste difference - the research expands! I like this kind of research ;-)

Let me know if you've done any research on this topic and what your results were. A fun fact finding mission if ever there was one.

Chocolate, same but different or all in the head? I'm off to find out....

Our Top 5 Gifts of ALL Time

12 years, that's how long Rainbow Designs, the small business that could, has been around! Who'd have thought? I had hoped but you just never know when starting a business if it (or you) will go the distance. It's been a big old marathon, let me tell you, with many, many ups and downs but Rainbow Designs has survived. Sometimes it's been hanging on by just a thread and other times it's been getting gold medals and high fives. As the old cliche goes 'it's been a roller coaster ride' and I am sure will continue to be!

Over the years there have been many gifts to come and go, some just never popular and some so popular our suppliers ran out of stock but then we've had our 'old faithfuls' that have stood the test of time. Rainbow Designs started very small, with just 3 gifts all based on lollies, and over time expanded to include some glorious hampers. Some didn't worked but many found a place here at Rainbow Designs and some even became our all time favourites!

So, without further waffling, here are our Top 5 Gifts of ALL Time! (dramatic much??)

Coming in at number five with a very impressive display of modesty and chocolate goodness is:

Choco-Lot Gift Hamper - it's had a couple of changes over the years we've sold it but still remains a firm favourite, both with us and our customers!

Next up in position number 4 is:

Sweet Selection Hamper! Yay! This hamper has been with us since almost the beginning and never ceases to delight. We love this hamper!

Coming in at number 3:

Big Lolly Box! This little beauty has been with us since the VERY beginning and not surprisingly, given it's LOLLIES, is Mr Popularity! 

Number 2 is another stayer and been with us since the beginning:

Medium Sweet Tooth Box! Well done you - lollies and chocolates, who would love to receive this gift??

Drum roll please....brrbrrbrrrbrrr. Rainbow Designs' ALL time NUMBER 1 gift is:

Sweet Celebration Hamper!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! HIP HOORAY, for he's a lolly good fellow, for he's a lolly good fellow and so say ALL of us (and you!)!

As you can see our amazing customers are amazing sweet tooths! Lollies for as far as the eye can see or the belly can eat ;-)

It doesn't surprise me at all that our Top 5 Gifts are all lolly or chocolate based, that's what our business has been all about and the owner is a big sweet tooth herself!

Here's to many more chocolates being consumed and sent all across Australia to be enjoyed - thanks everyone for keeping Rainbow Designs alive, her owner appreciates it like you would not believe.