Peggy's Bits & Grandad's Bobs

Nearly a year on.

2008-04-05T02:42:00.003+01:00

It has been a whole year since I first began the Totally Shameless Self Indulgent Forum. I had no idea whether it would succeed or fail but I had an open mind and wanted to see if I could fill a gap. There didn't seem that was many forums out there that were designed to help small business owners wanting to create their own independent web sites.
Today we have over 200 members, over 10000 posts and many great members willing to help other store owners realise their dream of owning their own store. I could not be more proud of the the Tssif members for their help and commitment to the Tssif forum and I look forward to another great year of growth, help and success.

Happy New Year

2008-01-23T23:34:00.000Z

Gosh, what a crazy year 2007 was!!! 2008 is slightly better so far but not by much...lol.
I did manage to relocate back to the UK, I did manage to find somewhere to live despite the flooding leaving the rental market choked with more tenants than houses. I did manage to find part time employment and I am finally finding the time to finish off the 3 stores I started to build before I left the USA. Things didn't turn out exactly as I expected them to but they rarely do anyway. (I should know this at my age :))but it hasn't deflated my enthusiasm or swerved me away from my goals..I just need to work that little bit harder.
One thing that has been a positive for me is the online selling forum I created last April. It now has 154 members and continues to grow, despite my sporadic appearances. It is true that we need more active posters but the most encouraging thing is that we are getting new members weekly from somewhere. There is no doubt in my mind we are getting exposure (the stats confirm this) but we need more if we are to continue to grow. If you are interested in selling online and need some advice, or, if you have already succeeded in your online business and want to share your knowledge with others, then drop by and spend some time getting to know the members on the forum.
It is an easy place to be. Hope you decide to stay! Check out the forum here!

Even more members

2007-11-28T00:16:00.001Z

The forum is really starting to take off. I wrote that we had 119 members just two weeks ago and now we have 131 members. The word is getting out! We have a friendly forum where any member is willing to help out any other member with questions about "selling online" and if we don't know the answer, we will certainly try and find it!

A couple of months ago I joined our local "small business advice center" and I am pleased to say they have lots of valuable information and resources that can help any person wanting to sell online. In the area that I live there is also an opportunity to apply for a grant from the local council to help with 50% of the cost of start up business equipment. Make sure you check in your area for what might be available!
That's all for today but don't forget to check out the stores on the forum for Christmas bargains exclusive to the tssif members!

2007-11-11T18:51:00.000Z

I cannot believe I have not "blogged" since June! So much has changed since then.
I have moved back to the United Kingdom and I am trying to re-establish myself. I knew it wasn't going to be easy but I didn't realise quite HOW hard, it was going to be. In my spare time I am continuing to build my three new stores which have become quite a challenge too. I am using the open source shopping zencart and it isn't for the faint hearted or the newbie!!! I am both of those but I forbid myself to be beaten by this. This determination I have is one of the reasons I opened my forum http://tssif.com To help others like myself, to share information and support each other in our endeavours to have our own online shopping cart no matter how challenging that might be!!!
I am really pleased with the continuing success of our online selling resource forum. We now have 119 members and tons of helpful tips, links, resources, opinions and information. It has only been 'live" for seven months and has completely exceeded my expectations. Lots of friendly people willing to help one another and have fun at the same time.
Now things are settling down for me a little I am in better position to write more and share my "breaking news as it happens".....LOL

70 Members & Counting

2007-06-23T01:03:00.000+01:00

Here I was, only a few days earlier, getting excited about the fact that we had 50 members already..Today we have 70. We must be doing something right :). I do know I have some really knowledgeable and committed moderators and I think that is a big part of our success. It is only just over two months old. So far we have a blend that seems to be working. Come on over and see what YOU think of us. http://tssif.com.
It was created for online store holders to network and share resources and tips but EVERY like-minded soul is welcome!!!!

Totally Shameless & Self Indulgent

2007-06-12T23:44:00.000+01:00

I had a bit of an identity crisis with my new forum. I called it Totally Shameless Self Indulgent Forum, which I loved but the domain it resided at was peggybob.com.....
So there began the crisis.
I knew it didn't flow :( it was case of either associating the forum name with a new forum domain, or going full pelt with "peggybob"!!
I have a personal affection for peggybob, which may be uncovered in my ramblings at a later date :) but I already had a blog "hinged" to it so I think I knew that wouldn't fly!
I put the question to the members "shall we stick with "peggybob" or would something like "tssif" be more appropriate?"
We were divided!!!
Some liked peggybob because it was easy to remember and now familiar!
and some preferred tssif, as it "connected" with the forum more and was better from a marketing standpoint!

It took a couple of days to ponder but commonsense prevailed and I logical chose tssif rather than peggybob ahhhh

So behold...my new..."well adjusted" forum at http://tssif.com !!!!

I "launched" my forum on 15th April with 6 members, dragged off the streets :)
Today June 12th we have 49 members, which isn't too shabby as I didn't start promoting until recently just because of the issue of the identity crises....

So if you are a non-auction store holder or you own an independent shop online, then stop by and register so you can advertise your store and help to get tssif on the map.

Alternatively, if you don't have a store and you just want to be "Totally Shameless & Self Indulgent" then stop by and be just that!!!!!

My Allotment Journey Begins

2007-04-19T17:25:00.000+01:00

I have just required an allotment plot in Yorkshire UK. It was a surprise for Christmas from my daughter,(you can read about that here www.tssif.com/forumbut i wont be able to do much as I am only here for two weeks. I shall return before the end of the year and throw myself into it. It is full of weeds and the old greenhouse needs attention but I cannot wait to get started. I went today and mapped out the boundry with some string and wood posts and I took some pictures. Unfortunately I had my camera on the wrong setting so shall remedy that tomorrow when I return. I would dearly love to go fully organic but I don't think I know enough about it yet. I am hoping I get some really great advice from some seasoned organic gardeners!!
I am going to create a web site solely for the purpose of my allotment journey so look out for that. If anyone knows of any good resources for what I am about to embark on then please let me have them!!!!

My new Forum

2007-04-15T18:17:00.000+01:00

So far so good for Godaddy, they seem to have really good customer support and there is nothing that I am unhappy with up to now.
I have been working on my new website for my new store and alongside that I have created a new forum for networking and my general interests.
It is in it's infancy but take a look and if you like the "flavour" then please join us and offer your advice and suggestions.
Apart from boards about online selling, we have other topics which include, history, crafts, seo and RSS feeds, picture framing, photography, gardening & allotments to name a few.
We are looking for moderators for the various boards so if something peaks your interest then let me know and we shall see what we can do!!!

This linkwill take you straight to the forum,
and this link will take you to the enter page

Finally moved over to Godaddy

2007-03-30T21:15:00.000+01:00

After feeling a little frustrated with my old hosting company. I decided to take a leap and move to Godaddy.com!
I had heard good and bads reports about them but mostly good.
So far I am completely content.
What I do like is the fact that I am able to have some of my domains added to my main domain that appear as independent websites and show all the page urls. I know the disadvantage of that can be that I could run out of space. If that happens, then I must be doing well and should be able to afford to buy hosting for my other domains :).
I have been able to get through to godaddy's support on the phone every time I have called and everything they have done, or told me to do, has turned out to be the correct thing to do.
I love the fact that I have been able to install wordpress blog, zencart open source e-commerce solutions and simple machine forums, effortlessly and seamlessly through godaddy.
I have already been working on my forum so if you want to stop by and join then here is the url http://peggybob.com/forum

How I spend my day!

2007-03-19T03:11:00.000Z

It is a good job that I don't have a 9 to 5 job with my health yoyoing as it is at the moment!
I actually work more than 8 hours each day but do it when my health allows me to, rather than within a certain time frame!
I am not going to bore people with my health issues at this time but would like to focus this post on my daily existance.
I run two businesses at the moment. We have a property rental business and a 'young' online store. I have sold some things since I began and I am getting better at marketing my online store every day. My knowledge base is growing in leaps and bounds and I see online selling as the key to my future. I am already making plans for a new store called Store Revolution to operate out of the UK, whereas LJ Stores is currently operating out of the US.
I am the process of changing over my hosting company and transferring some of my domains to another registrar that I hope will better serve my needs.
Another thing which has been uppermost in my mind just lately is importing things from the US to the UK or vice versa. I have done a lot of searching in google.com and google.co.uk and it is amazing what it can teach a person about the demand of certain products.
I do have some really cool products which are vintage and collectible in nature so if your are a collectable freak then be sure to bookmark my store www.ljstores.net and keep a look out for new and unique items.

Frustrations and the web!

2007-03-15T04:48:00.000Z

I have spent the last 4 days trying to get my Blog situated in it's own little corner of the world.
I feel very let down by my web host and registrar. I have advocated the services of webmasters.com for almost 2 years and given them repeated business but I feel utterly let down by them.
I have been their advocate almost from the moment I joined, telling people they were the ultimate in customer service! I realise after all this time I have just been lucky.
I am not technically minded and I have loved the fact that any issues I have had in the past, have been sympathetically and comprehensively attended to.
Not so just recently.
I have found out that it is more about these folks wanting to "strut their stuff" rather than actually reading your emails and answering your specific questions directly.
I am fatally disillusioned and have moved on!
I really hate to criticise people/things but feel I no longer have a choice!
Lets look upon this as a review (I can handle that)
If you do decide on webmasters.com to register your domain or host your site then you cannot go wrong by asking for John De Santis.
He is Gem!
To all the guys that alerted me to the fact that my blog showed an "error" I thank you!
It's still "erroring" to the public right now but that does not stop me from venting!!
Happy Webmastering!

Here is a snippet into the history of the last 4 days............
http://groups.google.com/group/blogger-help-howdoi/browse_thread/thread/53a3e35e77cabf65

Web Design & Imaging

2007-03-11T21:34:00.000Z

Web Design & Imaging
I absolutely love building web sites for myself and my family.

I am on to my 8th web site which I hand coded but unfortunately I am not that good at it.

I am acutely aware of my limitations and know that this is something I am desperate to rectify as soon as I can get myself in one place to start a course.

Here is my Totally Shameless Self Indulgent Blog post for my ramblings on web design & imaging and useful related resources.

Crafts

2007-03-11T21:30:00.000Z

Crafts
I love crafts, just like a lot of people but yet again, I have not had the time to hardly do anything 'crafty'. I have lots of crafting materials and I collect interesting objects and textures all the time, just waiting for the day I get settled.

I love polymer clay and would love to make my own paper, candlemaking, pottery, crochet and knitting are all things I would love to have a go at amongst others.

Here is my Totally Shameless Self Indulgent Blog post for my ramblings on crafts and useful related resources

Photography & Picture Framing

2007-03-11T21:25:00.000Z

Photography & Picture Framing
I am a rotten photographer but it doesn't stop me from appreciating the work of others. I am very envious of people who can churn out one decent picture after another.

It is my desire to learn the fundamentals of photography in the very near future.
When I first left school I got a a job in an art and picture framing shop and I always loved it. I used to help out in the picture framing dept and I have always wanted to do it again.

Last year I returned to the UK in the hope of starting my own picture framing bus' but because of circumstances beyond my control, I had to return to the USA before I could get set up.

Here is my Totally Shameless Self Indulgent Blog post for my ramblings on photography & picture framing and useful related resources.

Gardening & Allotments

2007-03-11T21:18:00.000Z

I have always loved gardening but haven't been able to do it for the last 4 years because of various reason to do with the climate here in America, in the South.

Mosquitoes love me, I don't like snakes and when you can't breath because of the heat, you tend lose your enthusiasm for gardening!

Here is my Totally Shameless Self Indulgent Blog page for my ramblings on gardening & allotments and useful related resources.