Make Over for Snowberry Creek

Julie & I have decided to close the doors (so to speak) on Snowberry Creek Sample Boxes. We have enjoyed working with each of you and hope to stay in touch. We have shipped out the last of the samples in the boxes that left yesterday. If you have been sending us notices about your company's promotions, sales, etc. and want to continue to do so; that will be fine. I don't mind reposting them on our blog. Good luck to each and every one of you.

Julie & I will be revamping the site and embarking on another venture together. We are opening Snowberry Creek Emporium. This site will feature our items and it will be a varied lot. lol

We promised in the beginning that the etailers would always have a link on our website and we will honor that promise. As long as Snowberry Creek exists, the link to your website will be posted and available for our customers to find you. Same on the blog - no one's links will be removed from the blog. Please feel free to come by and say hi - leave us comment any time you wish. We will miss working with you, but feel that it is time for a change.

Mrs. Sterling's Bath & Body Boutique Newsletter

May 2010 Newsletter

Two New Fragrances















Raspberry Cream Cupcake













Champagne Sugar



Our Gift Set Giveaway was such a success last month introducing our new fragrances, we are doing it again this month.


You must enter to win.
No purchase is necessary.
You may enter to win both fragrances.

Each Gift Set will contain a Bath Bomb and Body Lotion.


How to enter: Visit our site

Click on: Enter to win Gift Set


Congratulations to the winners of our Gift Set Giveaway last month.


May Specials


Free shipping on orders of $35.00 or more.

Buy one Lip Balm receive one Free!


Visit us:
http://mrssterlings.com/


Lip Balm Flavor of the month

Champagne


Coming Soon!

Fizzie Bath Cupcakes

Aroma Buds



Contact Us
www.mrssterlings.com

352-989-2931

Email: mrssterlings@netscape.net

Blue Monday Wal-Mart Giveaway Winner

is.....(drum roll) Ye Olde Chandler of TX. Congratulations to you! Thank you for continuing to choose Snowberry Creek to promote your website, fantastic candles and soaps!

The boxes are on sale February 25th if you would like to sample some "goodies" from our talented e-tailers. Or maybe you know what you want - that's great! Just zip on over to the e-tailer's (of your choice)website and make your purchase. They all have some fabulous products!

Thank you, Ye Olde Chandler! Best wishes to you!

Blue Monday - Calling all E-tailers

This is my first Blue Monday post hosted by Smiling Sally, but I hope to participate regularly. I would like to bring you wonderful blue products from our e-tailers. I will work toward gathering some blue products from them to post next Monday.

.
















My Blue Monday post this week is an offer to our e-tailers who wish to participate in the February sample box. If your sample is sent in between Jan. 16th - Feb. 15th you will automatically be entered into a drawing for a $25 Wal-Mart Gift Card.

If you have any blue products you would like for me to use in the Blue Monday posts - please email them to me. This week's Parade of Creations will be coming soon. If you want to get one of your fabulous creations in the parade - send it to me!

A Heartfelt Thank You to Our E-tailers

Thank you for choosing us to promote your products. It has been a joy getting to know each of you and working to make the public more aware of your websites and products.

I have personally purchased from some of you and the ones that I haven't...well, I will be by to visit you soon. I have not received anything that I was not satisfied with. I recieved wonderful products, excellent customer service and quick shipping. You just can't beat that. I love the rapport you build with small businesses...they aren't just a company name...there really is a person there behind the products.

I am starting to post the e-tailers newsletters on our blog. This is another free service from us to you. You do not have to pay us anything for this. We consider you choosing Snowberry Creek to promote your products (by being in our box) enough payment as we don't have to pay for the blog. All it takes is a little of my time, and I thoroughly enjoy promoting small businesses. So, if you have a newsletter (and you are an etailer) and you want it posted - just send it to me. :)

Merry Christmas, Happy Holidays, Happy Hanukkah and Happy New Year's!

Lucky Winners of the Giveaways are.......

SBS Twelve Teas of Christmas - Lara
Mrs. Sterlings Giveaway #1 - Abitnerdy
Mrs. Sterlings Giveaway #2 - Carla W.
Ye Olde Chandler Candle Crock - LisaLisa
Delightfully Wed Bandana Ornaments - Linda G
Delightfully Wed Rope Ornaments - Ladell H
Delightfully Wed Western Soaps - Regina S
Snowberry Creek Sample Box - Reva Skie

Thanks to all who entered the various ways. We appreciate the time you took to enter - follow us - post on twitter, etc. Thanks to those who purchased boxes and thank you to those who sent in samples and giveaways. If you were a lucky winner, please send me your shipping address to snowberrycreek@hotmail.com and I will get your prize in the mail.

Merry Christmas, Happy Holidays to all!

Ye Olde Chandler "Fall Crock" Giveaway

The signs of fall...crisp, cool air; pumpkins for sale; turning leaves; pumpkin pie baking in the oven; thoughts of Thanksgiving. I'm sure you can add to this list. If you're wanting a bit of fall in your house - enter this free giveaway for one of Ye Olde Chandler's fall crocks. The crock is very nice - it is beige/brown with some green, yellow & orange. The flash makes the crock look white - it is mostly beige with brown accents. It is a glass crock decorated with leaves, pumpkins and acorns. The scent is vanilla spice and I can tell you that it smells very good (wish I could smell it burning...maybe I could just a little and the winner wouldn't notice! lol)

I purchased a fall crock from Ye Olde Chandler as part of a birthday present for my oldest daughter. She loves it! And her house smells sooooo good...pumpkin spice wafting through the air - makes me want to dash to the truck and speed home to bake a pumpkin pie! Well, actually my mom makes the best pumpkin pie...maybe I'll talk her into it.

The fall crocks are not on Ye Olde Chandler's website as they have a limited number of them left. We were very lucky that they so generously gave us one to give away. If you would rather buy one than take a chance on winning, please email them from their website Ye Olde Chandler.

Okay, now to the way to be entered into this wonderful giveaway sponsored by Faye and Lesli of Ye Olde Chandler.


Here's how you may win the Fall Candle Crock - (you will get one entry for each thing you do)

1. Buy a Snowberry Creek Sample Box

2. Comment on our blog about a Ye Olde Chandler product.

3. Post the link to a product from Ye Olde Chandler's website. May be something you've tried or want to try.

4. Make a purchase from Ye Olde Chandler - send me a copy of your order (snowberrycreek@hotmail.com) confirming it was purchased between Oct. 19th and Nov.3rd. You may email this to me at snowberrycreek@hotmail.com.

5. Follow our blog - post that you are a follower.

6. Post about our giveway on your blog leaving a link on your blog back to this giveway. Be sure to post the link here so we enter you.

7. Follow us on twitter - be sure to post on the blog that you are following us on twitter.

8. Post on twitter about our giveaway with a link to this blog post in your tweet. Be sure to put @snowberrycreek in your tweet so we will know to enter you.

9. Send in samples for our next box - samples due by Nov. 15

Many ways to enter - don't miss out!

DRAWING NOVEMBER 4th AT 9:00 CST - will notify you and ship out as soon as we have your address. Be sure to leave us your email address so we may contact you.

This great giveaway is open to everyone - including e-tailers...Julie and I are unfortunately excluded.

They have many specials and promotions during the year. The Christmas Crocks are currently on sale. You may want to add on of these to your Christmas decorations and fill your house or office with a wonderful aroma!













Be sure to visit Ye Olde Chandler - you'll find many candles and soaps that will be great for gifts or perhaps some stocking stuffers.

Wal-Mart Gift Card Winner Declared

During the month of August, the participating e-tailers were entered into a drawing for a $25 Wal-Mart Gift Card given away by us. The drawing was this afternoon. The very lucky e-tailer is Angelene of Lathered Up!
Angelene's gift card will be mailed to her on Monday morning. Thanks to all of the participating e-tailers. We appreciate you choosing our box to promote your samples and company.

If you are looking for a new company to shop with or looking for some handcrafted soaps, scrubs, massage oils, lip balms, wax tarts, votives, decorative soaps, wooden soap molds, display cases, bath teas, bath salts, perfume, body sprays, lip liners, mineral eye shadows, sugar scrubs, salt scrubs, body bars, salt bars, bath bombs, potpourri, primitive fixins, Christmas ornaments, and many other handcrafted products....try our e-tailers. They offer a wide variety of handcrafted products for your needs or for your indulgence.

Don't Miss Out!

It's not too late to get in on the special e-tailer drawing for August. Many e-tailers are taking advantage of this offer - to be included in a drawing for a $25 Wal-Mart Gift Card. We want to give back to our e-tailers. If you would like to be in the August box and eligible for the drawing, please contact us at snowberrycreek@hotmail.com. The samples/products must reach us by August 21st for you to be eligible for this offer.

We will be having other specials for e-tailers to be announced at a later date. Good luck to everyone who is already registered for the drawing.

E-tailer Drawing in August for Gift Card

As our way of thanking our e-tailers, we have decided to give away (drawing) for a $25 Wal-mart Gift Card for e-tailers participating in the August sample box. Since we've decided to do this, we have moved the due date of the samples from August 15th to August 21st. They must be here no later than August 21st for you to be included in the drawing. We will annouce the winner of the drawing on August 24th and send your Wal-Mart Gift Card to you right away.

If you want to be in the August box, please email us snowberrycreek@hotmail.com to let us know your intentions. We don't necessarily have to know what you plan to send in. Remember there is a minimum of 10 samples/products. You may send sample-sized, full-sized or a mixture. Make sure we have your banner and a write up of your products.

Hope to see you in the August box - good luck to all of you!

Mystery Prize Donor For July Box

The Soap Corner is the donor for the mystery prize gift for the July Box. The July box is on sale now. We will draw for the winner of the mystery prize on August 15th. You will be notified and your item shipped out promptly. We cannot tell you what Teresa's item is but we can tell you that you will be very pleased. All of The Soap Corner's products are top of the line.

If you don't know how to be entered for the Mystery Prize - I will be happy to tell you. We take each of the purchasers of a Snowberry Creek Sample Box and put them into a drawing for the prize. You will be entered into the drawing each time you purchase a box - so for those of you who purchase 2+ boxes; you are entered for each box.

Don't forget: If you have time - please go by visit our e-tailers, browse their stores. You may see something that you just cannot live without. One never knows when one of them may be offering a special, a discount, free shipping or they may be having a contest or giveaway on their blog. We try to keep up with all of this, but sometimes we may not know ahead of time.

Thanks for supporting our e-tailers - they are fabulous people with superior products.

Announcing the Winners from June

Congratulations to Linda from PA on winning the Mystery Prize - a full-sized item donated by Teresa of www.thesoapcorner.com. Linda your prize will ship on Monday, July 20 with an estimted 2-3 day delivery. May you enjoy your prize!

Kimberly of WA is the lucky receipent of a free Snowberry Creek Sample Box. Kimberly, your box will ship out July 27 with an estimated 2-3 day delivery. Hope you enjoy all of the "goodies" and find some new products that you love. Among our many talented e-tailers may you find a new store to supply the products you desire.

Thanks to all our the people who try our boxes and our e-tailers products. Our boxes have many full-sized items - can't guarantee all items are full-sized, but the e-tailers are very generous and want you to have an enjoyable experience with their products. Please take the time to let them know what you like or if there is something (constructive advice, please) you would like to see differently. You may contact all of the e-tailers directly off of their websites or post on any of our blogs.

Congratulations, ladies!! May you enjoy the item(s) you have won!

E-tailer Spotlight ~ Soap That Makes Scents

We are introducing one of our newest e-tailers ~ Karina of Soap That Makes Scents. She has some fantastic products. You will get to know Karina by reading her interview. Hope you find time to go visit her website and Etsy store - the links are below. I can tell you that you will not be disappointed to find her samples in your box. We will be posting her "Product Showcase" tomorrow. You will see her wonderful products - too bad you can't smell them!








How or why did you start your business? When I moved from Canada to the United States in 2004, it wasn't legal for me to work, but I still wanted to contribute to my family. I had been making and selling soap since 2001 and was able to continue that while the paperwork was processed to allow me to work in the U.S. Our daughter (who is now almost three) was born soon thereafter and I didn't want her to be in daycare, so I decided to stay home and raise her--Soap That Makes Scents went full time in 2006.



What kind of products do you carry or make? Soap That Makes Scents offers a lovely variety of handcrafted bath items including a vegetarian soap line, shea butter lip balms, and body souffle





What do you listen to or watch while you work? If I'm on the computer, I constantly have YouTube videos playing in the background..mostly Bon Jovi (yup, they are still rockin' out with new music!) or Richard Marx



Do you have a special or certain way you like to begin your day? Well, I'm a work at home mom, so first thing is to make sure my toddler is fed, and then while she's quietly playing I check my online sales and update my shop where needed. After that, I answer all waiting emails/convos, and then go over my To-Do List for the day..normally soap and heavy computer work (like label design) is created during my daughter's nap time; wrapping/cutting/labelling when she's up and about.



What do you do to unwind and relax? When I have the time, I love to read. I devour books in just a few days or so. Right now I'm reading the TruBlood saga (8 books in total--the 9th out this year), which is now a television series on HBO.



Do you have a storefront, sell strictly on-line or both? I sell online, as well as at craftshows and homeshow events.



Please list any websites and email addresses. http://soapsthatmakesscents.com/

Do you sell on Etsy, Ebay, Fuzzb or Made It Myself? If you do, please list a link to your store.

http://kreatedbykarina.etsy.com/

Do you Twitter? What is the url to your page? www.twitter.com/kreatedbykarina



Do you have a blog? Please list a link to your blog. http://kbyk.blogspot.com/



What or who inspires you? What really gets me going the most are scents...fragrances invoke memories and mindsets. Think about what the smell of sugar cookies fresh from the oven means to you, or the scent of coconut--perhaps it reminds you of your last tropical vacation. That's what I want to capture. I want to offer a slice of your life in every bar.


What advice would you offer to someone starting their own business? Promote like there's no tomorrow! No one will know about you or the great products you offer unless you tell them about it--and often.

Take Me Away ~ Just For A Moment!

In these days of fast living, hectic paced lives…stop; take the time to coddle your self. If you are feeling rushed, stressed, and overwhelmed, you will not be at your best. How can you expect to be the best role model for your children, the perfect partner for your mate, the best employee or employer when you are feeling out of control? Take the time out of your busy schedule and do something for yourself. You will feel re-energized and ready to go again! I’m not promising that the products of our e-tailers are a magic fix…we both know there is no magic fix. But, it does not hurt to take time out and pamper your self.







Perhaps, you need nothing more than a quiet moment with a relaxing cup of herbal tea. Maybe you need a tub full of hot water, a fragrant scrub, a moisturizing, full-lathering, aromatic bar of handmade soap. Many of our e-tailers have sent in full-sized bars of soap – you will receive at least two or more full-sized bars. Wait….I forgot the bath salts and bath teas; you may want to start with one of those. The products in this box presents so many possibilities that you won’t know where to start. Just jump right in! Oh, the candles, tarts, and melts are sure to satisfy your senses and the enjoyable aromas wafting through the air will be most pleasurable while you are immersed and soaking in your tub of delightful products.

Once you have completed your marvelous bathing extravaganza, you will be ready to slather your body with the many massage oils, lotions, body bars, or creams that are included in our box to soothe your skin. By this time, you should be relaxed and feeling gorgeous. Maybe it’s time for another cup of tea. Or perhaps, you would like to try some of awesome mineral eye shadow or a bit of the fantastic smelling perfume. Full-sized items abound in this box. There are many items in our boxes – they are FULL of outstanding, impressive, awesome, marvelous, glorious, beautiful, delightful, enjoyable, splendid, remarkable products created by our e-tailers. I think I did an ample job of describing their products – if not feel free to add your adjectives to this post.









Remember….lock the door….let Snowberry Creek Sample Boxes take you away from the hassles of daily life! Take a moment to reflect, get a new outlook or attitude – you will feel better and be able to deal more effectively with whatever comes your way. Now, this is not a proven fact – just my opinion and observations of my own life. Sample Boxes on Sale Now.

Positive Feedback Makes Us Happy!

We are so appreciative when a customer takes the time to let us know that they are happy with our e-tailers products. It makes the day even brighter when they tell us they intend to shop with our e-tailers.

Below is an email we received from a customer that purchased a box in April. This email is from LaDell of MS.

I purchase every sampler box that I can find because I love them. Yours was definitely the best of the best. It was filled with so many treasures. I love everything. There were so many large sized products that I could not believe it. It was awesome. I will surely shop at your e-tailers.

Thank you LaDell for choosing to purchase our box! We are so very happy that you were pleased with it and that you are enjoying your treasures. Thanks for supporting small business owners of America!

Today is the Day

Boxes go on sale today - full of wonderful, fabulous, luscious products from our talented, creative e-tailers for your pampering induglence. If want to try some new products or new companies without investing a lot of cash, this is a great deal. The shipping is included in the cost of the box. You will receive 18-20 samples (many of them full-sized products) for 22.95 - when you consider the cost of shipping is $9.85 then you are getting a great value for your money.

If you decide to purchase a box, you are automatically entered into 2 drawings - the drawing for the mystery prize donated by Ye Olde Chandler (this month) and a drawing for a free sample box (to be shipped out next month).
For more information, please visit us at www.snowberrycreek.com.

These will go fast - don't miss out - you may find a new product or company that will become your favorite!

What is Our Goal?

We started Snowberry Creek Sample Boxes to promote our businesess, along with any others who wish to participate. We've had a great time doing it and will continue on. We think we have been successful in reaching our goals. I cannot speak for each of the e-tailers who have participated, but Julie and I each own businesses and we participate each month. We have seen an increase in our sales and the volume of traffic to our sites. Many of the e-tailers have told me they have noticed an increase in sales and traffic volume, too.

Now, I know you are wondering why I am going into all of this. Well, I'll tell you. Today I was thinking about the sample box business and how many people are in that business. That's great...I think there is room for everyone and everyone has there own reasons for doing it. Then, I begin to think about our reasons. It was not to get rich. LOL Good thing, we didn't go into it for that because we have put more time and effort in this business than we will ever make. Not to complain, because it is paying off for both of us in our main businesses and that is our goal. To promote ALL of our e-tailers, along with ourselves.

Here's a list of our goals from the beginning:

1. To promote small independent business owners.
2. To help generate more traffic to their websites.
3. To provide the consumers with products they may never have heard of before.
4. Offer a box full of samples each month.
6. Provide the consumer a low-cost way to try many different products.
5. Try to come up with various ways to help the website owners promote their products without charging them extra money for our efforts.
6. Get our e-tailers more visibility on the internet.

The samples in our boxes do not arrive at your door all fancied up in pretty packaging, bows, bags, etc. Our boxes will arrive as a USPS Flat Rate (11x8-1/2x5-1/2) Postal Box full of fabulous samples (there will be some packaging to help insulate the samples). The price of our box includes the $9.85 for shipping. We charge actual shipping costs and do not have any handling charges. What we do provide is a no cost (except for their samples) way for our e-tailers to get their products seen, heard about and into the hands of consumers. We want everyone to get a chance to try their products.

We do value our time, but we feel this is a worthwhile cause - the promotion of small business owners who are just starting out or struggling to get recognition for their products.

Thanks to all of the e-tailers who have participated and sent in their creative, fabulous, fantastic products. We will continue to promote you to our utmost ability.

I, personally, have found some new places to shop. Hope you will visit some of the e-tailers websites and try out some of their products. I have received great products, excellent customer service and very timely shipping. I have not been disappointed in any of my purchases.

Our goal was never to make a fortune off of other people's samples and we have met that goal.

Our goal is to gain recognition for our e-tailers and their products while ensuring the consumer is receiving the best products available at a great cost.

Looking for a New Product for Your Store

Many of our e-tailers offer wholesale pricing, affiliate marketing or home parties. If you own a gift shop, boutique, gift basket business – online or storefront – you may want to take a look at some of the creative, handmade products. You may want to include some of them in your line of products.

Many times small business owners are faced with the challenge of finding time to search for new products. They do not have the time or resources to go to market or trade shows. And let’s face it, many times you see the same things over and over – they appear in all the stores. Why not look for unique, handmade products to carry in your store.

Maybe you don’t want to invest a lot of money in someone’s products without being able to try them out first. This is where we come in. Our Snowberry Creek Sample Boxes may solve some of your problems. You don’t have to travel, spend a lot of valuable time searching for new products or spend money on items you’ve never tried. Our boxes are full of unique products and delivered right to your door. You will be able to fully indulge yourself with the beautifully, handcrafted products. Some of the items are sample sizes and many are full-sized products including, but not limited to: fragrant, full-lathering handmade soaps; rich, moisturizing lotions and body butters; exfoliating sugar and salt scrubs; bath salts for your soaking pleasure; aromatic candles and tarts; decorative soaps; lip balms-tubes and tins; massage oils; lotion bars; bath teas; herbal teas; suckers; chocolate-covered cookies; shea butters; and many, many other fabulous items. Many times e-tailers send us their new products, the new rage, the newest, latest thing to hit the market....this may be something you are interested in or maybe something you have never heard of before. This could be the one product that will become a Big seller for you.

Just think of the time, energy and money you will save by having potential products arrive at your door. You will receive a box FULL of samples/full-sized items from many e-tailers. I’m sure you will find more than one product that will fit into your shop, boutique, store, or gift basket company. One of the great things about this is the fact that small business owners are supporting small business owners. Not everyone has the time or talent to make all of their own products, but that does not mean that you cannot carry handmade, handcrafted, creative, unique items in your store.

The shipping is included in the price of the box. We do ship internationally. Our boxes ship out monthly. We sincerely hope you will visit the e-tailers and continue to do business with them.

March Sample Boxes

The boxes go on sale March 25. This month's box is packed FULL (once again) of fabulous products for you from our very creative, talented e-tailers.

The Mystery Prize Donor for this month is Linda of Tuxedo-Enterprises. Can't tell you what she has sent in for the very lucky winner but I will tell you that the winner will be very pleased! In order to be eligible for the mystery prize all you have to do is purchase a sample box this month. You are automatically entered and will be notified if you are the winner. We pay the shipping so this is a FREE prize for you.

If you are an e-tailer and want to be a Mystery Prize Donor, just let us know and we will be happy to add you to the list. You may send in your item with your samples for the month.

Remember: We do give away a free sample box each month to one lucky person who purchase a sample box. The free box is shipped out the following month. It is totally free for the winner as we pay the shipping.

February Winners................

The winners of the February drawings are.......Misty of AL was the lucky lady to win the mystery prize from Candles and Woodcrafts. Misty's item has been shipped and should arrive any day.

A March Snowberry Creek Sample box was won by Valerie of PA. Your box will ship out on March 25th. Hope you enjoy the new items and the new e-tailers this month!

Thank you ladies for choosing Snowberry Creek and our wonderful e-tailers for your sampling pleasure. Please remember to shop with the e-tailers if they have a product that you need. I truly believe the "little" shops are the backbone of America. Let's work together to support one another.

Watch for the e-tailer spotlights - we have some new spotlight to post with some great giveaways for the lucky winners!