We SCOREd!

This evening, Ruth, Gracie and I walked up the steps of the Flamingo Library not knowing what to expect and feeling ill prepared. We had no idea that 15 minutes later we would be shaking the hand of a very helpful and knowledgeable man who gave us some very sound business advice. For free! Have you heard of SCORE ?

"SCORE is a nonprofit association dedicated to educating entrepreneurs and helping small businesses start, grow, and succeed nationwide. SCORE is a resource partner with the U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA), and has been mentoring small business owners for more than forty years."

Ruth and Gracie were told about SCORE's workshops at the Department of Taxation Basic Training class last week. So, we made an appointment and met Dr. Norman Brown. We gave him some basic info about Paper Dolls, our product and where we want to be in a year. He helped us sketch out our timeline a bit, gave us some funding advice (Gulp!), informed us of the entire SCORE schedule of seminars, and even offered to show his son our Etsy shop to get his advice on our niche! We will be meeting Norman again soon.

Its the beginning of another great relationship and we left feeling so grateful that there are so many resources and altruistic people around us that want to help! I guess Goethe was right: "At the moment of commitment, the universe conspires to assist you."


Click here to see the SCORE seminars available in Las Vegas. Happy Wednesday friends, fans and readers! Until next week.

-Lauren

So you better treat her right!

Paper Dolls has reopened the sweatshop. With a minor adjustment thanks to a Mitch Hedburg solution - air conditioning! We have registered for the Great Craft Festival, November 4, 5, and 6th at Cashman Center. Seeing as Santa's elves have been uncooperative in previous years, we don't really feel as though we can rely on them so, its up to us! We are breaking out all of the fall colors, papers, stickers etc. and the winter holiday supplies as well! Gracie has been burning her fingers to the bone with the glue gun making exploding cards, Ruth has been felting all the live long day, and me? I've been making wreaths. LOTS of wreaths.


Also, we are super official - we just got our EIN number! You have no idea how excited we were to see a legitimate document from the IRS that says Paper Dolls on it.

Finally, Ruth and Gracie attended the Department of Taxation Basic Training Workshop yesterday. They learned:

1. Document everything, keep all financial documents separate! Don't mingle business and personal.
2. Use your resources - there's a lot of information out there and its free. (http://tax.state.nv.us/ for starters!)
3. You don't want a visit from the tax man.
4. Everybody wants a piece of you - don't get attached to your money, its not really yours. Well, at least not all of it.

That's been our week - what have you been up to?