Trip to England: To others making their first trip to the UK--a couple tips I learned the hard way. The security at Heathrow and I suppose at other UK airports is VERY serious. They can't identify minis on x-ray (they don't think small VBG) so then they want to SEE everything. Coming back from the London show they unwrapped EVERYTHING. It was a nightmare. Don't know to this day if I lost anything. Next time I took ziplock bags, bubblewrap and shoeboxes. Bag individual pieces without wrapping them so they can be seen through the bag, then layer into showboxes with bubble wrap. They still unpack everything but don't open the bags so the pieces are bigger and easier to keep track of. Keep receipts together so when you fill out customs forms at US end you can list items with accurate prices. List EVERYTHING. Duty is cheap compared to the fines (this I learned from my boss who tried to get a ring in without paying duty). If you buy antiques which must be 100 years old (get the dealer to put it on the receipt). Keep those receipts together with your custom form so you can show them. Don't keep the receipts packed with the items :( this I know from experience.) This system has worked very well for me and I have had no losses or breakage nor problems with security or customs since I started using it. Have a great trip.

Susan in OR

Link for Room Boxes at Kay-Bee Toys: here is the link for the Room by Room sets at KB toys. There are 13 of them. http://www.kbtoys.com/w/l/snb.html?ls=default&searchDropDown=entire&txt=room+by+room+&formInfo=H%7CsearchDropDown%7C0+T%7Ctxt%7C0%7C50&formMap=

Marcie Van Deren

Picnic Ants: Years ago our club in Greensboro NC made a number of scenes to put in the existing miniature shop for the July 4th celebration. Many did picnics and of course all had the ants marching along....most made them by tying knots in 6 strands of black embroidery floss, cut them apart, then glued them down.

At the Show & Tell meeting, one of the gals just sat back with a silly grin on her face.....she had discovered some sugar ants on her walkway, sprayed them with insecticide, then picked them up one by one with her tweezers and glued them in place. Hey, it worked.

Dawnsminis

Ants, Bugs and Other assorted critters..I use black paint on plastic wrap... I dab dots of paint to resemble the bodies of bugs. Lay your dots over cat hair for legs, etc. when dry, pick it off carefully and infest what ever you desire.

Judie - Daytona Beach, FL

Picnic Ants: Copy a graphic of an ant. Reduce it in any print program and multiply it as many times as you wish. Print on one of the new transparent papers. Add tiny dots of black dimensional paint to the head and body. Cut your ants out in circle shape. With the translucent background you should then be able to glue them in place like a sequin. A small amount of matt acrylic sealer or Mod Podge will take away the shine of the paper. If you use Mod Podge, that could be used to apply the ant to the table or blanket as well. Haven't tried this, but I think it would work. Though Florida abounds with ants, I refuse, simply will not, never in this life time do I intend to trap the little devils and preserve them for posterity!

Becky Holliday

Sales receipts at a show: Aside from the other reasons given in posts, I would like to add something else. Make sure the customer's receipt has your name, address, phone and web site address/e-mail address. I have no idea how much repeat business I have gotten over my 20 years in miniatures from customers who called or wrote because they came across or dug out a receipt of mine. Sometimes it is even years later! If you don't opt for having your sales books printed (Nebs does mine), it is very easy to have a rubber stamp made and stamp a couple of  books before you go to the show. It's a little boring and time consuming but it pays off in the end. It's called FREE advertising:)

Bobbie Schoonmaker, IGMA Fellow

Sales receipts at a show: There is talk on small stuff of how to be a dealer at shows, about which I know little. But, like the hedgehog, I do know one big thing, and that is this - you MUST ensure that when purchasers leave your table they know your name and contact details. That is the only way to ensure a follow up sale, so you as dealer make more money. It is probably most easily achieved by stamping your name and contact details on the receipt.

The number of times I have bought good minis at Miniatura, the big British show, which is huge, got home and have no idea from whom I bought stuff.. it is very frustrating. And at a big show where there are so many people, how can one remember everyone? So make yourself known.

Helen from York, England

Sales slips: someone talked about wanting seller/artisan names on their copies of sale slips. AMEN!!

I either stamp the customer copy with a rubber stamp I had made for me or used address labels. Those come in the mail almost every day from various organizations free, requesting a donation which I am happy to send. It's simply a matter of going through your sales books periodically and pasting one on the original (customer) copy so they are all set for a show. I never bought pre-printed sales books, which saved money.

I always dreaded getting home from shows and finding a slip with no name or no slip or a calculator tape with no info, because I always recorded all of my purchases (and still do). I can't say it ever got me repeat business as a seller for having done this, but as a customer, I certainly appreciated it. I did not always remember which table I bought something from so checking with the dealer chart (if there was one) did not always help. To my mind, it is a courtesy to your customers.

Jeanette in Wisconsin

Business out of home: For some reason when we have a business out of our home, our customers seem to think that we have no other life aside from being at their beck and call. For those of you who are the 'customers' I certainly don't mean all customers.

There are ways to tactfully handle the little problems that arise for us. For instance, when we do have a customer come early and we are not ready, for instance our too short shorts!! PJ and our hair not done. We can politely say, well hi, you are a bit early, just give me a minute to change, shut the door and go and change. Be sure to take your time, and not feel rushed. You are on time, they may be early for what ever reason, you need to take that time so that you are calm and don't miss something (like two different colored socks). Remember that they should have phoned and said hey we made it to town early, would it be ok to come now. If they can't do that, then they will have to wait until you are ready to accept them early. Remember also, that if you go to a store that isn't open until 9 and you get there at seven that the store owner isn't going to open their doors for you. It helps to have a closed sign for the times when you are expecting someone. Put the sign in your door until 15 minutes before the appt time and don't answer the door. Remember, you could have stepped out to go to the doctor/grocery store etc. You knew when the appt was, who says you were going to be home prior to that?

Again when people are late, more frustrating than early. Remember once again. How long should the appt take? If someone is not there at the appointed time give them 15 mins or what ever you feel comfortable with, then close your 'store'. I and a friend have store hour signs. And the wonderful closed signs. When someone is late by 15 mins the store hours sign...(by appt. only) goes up and the closed sign. If I have someone coming and they say they are going to be here at 10:00 I know that an appt should take 30 mins to 45. I give the 15 min rule and then know that I can schedule or plan something for around 10:15. I have a life and can't wait for people to be late. Neither can any of you.

An at home business is a lot like the thoughts that people have of stay at home moms (I just happen to be one of them also)...we are always there to help. Do you know how many neighbors have put me on their to call list if their children need to come home and their mother isn't there? Five families have done this, one with asking. Don't get taken advantage of. People don't realize what our lives are like at home. Educating them does help.

Remember to use tact when addressing the issues that bug you with your customers. I wouldn't dream of being more than 10 mins early / late for an appt. Some people think nothing of it to come 1/2 hr either way. Kind words, in a non-offensive way often will strengthen your relationship with a customer.

Theresa

Polymer Clay Information: If you need to know more try http://www.glassattic.com   or http://www.polymerclaycentral.com  both these sites carry links to many others. Safety is common sense and information.

Jacquie Hall, Essex, U.K.