; In this issue:
• Specials
• Jacki's Journal
• Biz-ness Bits
• Healers Almanac - From the Laptop of Patty Shaw
• Living with Moon Energy
• Storm Cestvani
  
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Specials & Announcements
April 2011 Specials – Type 40 Sales
What do the cards have in store for you? SALES!! April flips the tarot cards onto the table predicting a special on our Tarot Magic, Tarot Tools and Tarot Spells. 
Tarot Magic - $5.75
Tarot Tools - $3.50
Tarot Spells $7.25
This product line, launched last April has taken the Tarot world by Storm… literally. Storm Cestavani, tarot master and Jacki had entirely too much fun concocting the formulas and starting you on the path of Tarot Magic. Check out our YouTube channel for snippets from Storm and Jacki’s show talking about the uses if that Tarot line of candles. http://www.youtube.com/type40sales
“When I started designing the tarot candles, I kept thinking about how these are the bridge between the reading and magic. Many times in a tarot or psychic reading you come across information that you don’t like or uncover something that is blocking you from manifesting your ideal. The Tarot Magic products are the perfect bridge for customers or readers who may not be familiar with magic and intention work.” - Jacki Smith
If you are looking for simple ways to increase sales, get your store readers involved! Brain storm with your readers on ways they can recommend items already in your store to solve their clients dilemmas. Not all readings require a magical solution, but when they do, the client really appreciates the guidance and you really appreciate the sale. If the reader makes the recommendations they understand the nuances of the reading and can fine tune the magical work the client needs.
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 Jacki’s Journal
Action always beats inaction. Inaction is bred from the fear of mistakes - Robert Kiyosaki
My Facebook Friend Robert Kiyosaki (author of Rich Dad Poor Dad) posted that quote last month and it inspired this month’s introspection. I really started thinking about what stops me from taking action at times. Those who know me know that I tend to charge forward in many instances, especially business or other inspirations, but where I get afraid and inactive is in my personal life.
I admit that in my personal life, where I take care of myself is where my fears lead to inactivity; anything that has to do with my body and health bred inaction because that is where I keep and store all of my fears. I am courageous in most other areas, I am a chicken shit when it comes to my well being. It has taken me a really long time to uncover that – I know it seemed logical to you, but to me I couldn’t see it. I turned a blind eye to it and refused to address anything on that issue. Our core fears are some of the best kept secrets we have!
Where are your fears? Look at where you are inactive and where you stall out, you will start to see that thread of fear of you look closely enough. It’s interesting how we will sabotage ourselves to distract us from uncovering that fear, from dealing with it and healing it once and for all.
The day I wrote this, I was getting ready to light an Uncrossing candle for myself because I was starting to feel that sabotage raise its ugly head. I know that when I am hitting onto something good, it gets bad. Here I am standing with this Uncrossing candle in my hand, getting ready to do my magic and I start ranting about a few things going on. I rant and rave about what is really bothering me and then look down at the candle in my hand. I love it when magic makes itself so apparent – I was ranting, raving and getting it all out and into the candle for transformation.
Next time you see the inaction that is bred from fear, grab an Uncrossing candle, Banishing candle, Dispel Negativity or any candle that “clears” and rant right into it – then let the candle do its work healing the issue, once and for all.
Keeping it Magic!
Jacki Smith
Founder, President & Enchantress
Coventry Creations
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From the Laptop of Patty Shaw
Author of the Healers Almanac, Wisdom of the 21st Century Goddesses
Candle Goddess at Coventry Creations.
Can I Get a Hell Ya
By Patty Shaw
Guess what!? I’m not going to do another article on metaphorical/metaphysical spring cleaning.
Nope, I’m not going to talk about how organizing your closets, pulling weeds or tilling the lands is another way for me to sneak up on your soul to purify it. Instead I’m turning my attention to being good enough.
Stop, stop, stop picking on your wounds. Stop fixing. Stop judging yourself. You are good enough.
NO, this doesn’t mean you get to fill that void with picking on someone else either. Let go and let them be good enough too. “What kind of crap ass backward thing is that to say to me?” you ask? Chill my friends; I have no intention to offend.
I know you’ve spent your hard earned money on therapy (alternative and otherwise), self improvement books, and workshops with high priced gurus. You know the ones, where you finally find out what’s wrong with you so you can switch gears and realize/materialize that perfect reality/ body/ bank account that will clearly define for the rest of us that you ARE hot stuff. So let me say it here loud and clear YOU ARE HOT STUFF and well worth the investment you have made into yourself. So, we’re taking the month off, you’ve earned it. Let’s play!
There is an art to chill’in and to get into the zen of it, I recommend approaching it with attitude. So let’s start with an attitude adjustment. Sit up straight, take a deep breath and say with me. “To hell with being perfect. To hell with meeting others expectations. To hell with matching socks with shirts (unless it really turns you on).” I’m stopping here, but feel free to add a few more “To hell withs” if so inspired. Don’t take all day; we got some slacking to do... Do you have less tension around that big beautiful heart? Feel better? I know I do.
Now it’s time to get excited about blowing off the world. This may surprise you, but some of us are so over- responsible by nature that we’ve lost touch with letting go and having wild abandoned fun. For those who can relate, let me share with you my favorite way to get into a playful mood. I tap right into a childhood memory where I was doing something that took my breath away and gave me a thrill of a life time high. You only need one memory and I hope to god you have more. But pick one, and let yourself go there! Drink it in, laugh out loud and let that feeling blossom again in your body as you reflect. Mine is the first time I jumped into the lake off of a swinging knotted rope. For me, that experience fills all my requirements of joy. I overcame fear, I felt the exquisite freedom of flying and I made everyone laugh.
The feeling we’re going for in this little exercise is the one that will move you past enough internal objections so you can really start to remember the freedom there is in being good enough. When you get that, you are ready to take the month off from all of the things you do to improve yourself.
I want to make a point here. It’s not the workshops and self help stuff I’m challenging – it’s the reason you go there. I want you to take time off of fixing and just be…you. See if you can fall back in love with yourself just the way you are right now.
We’re slip streaming into a place where we begin to accept that our experiences, for better or worse, are part of the plan. Here, there are no mistakes, just events that cause us to pause and reflect on our choices, and get inspired to make new ones. These new choices give us the opportunity for different experiences and outcomes and we do this to learn, not to judge or demean ourselves.
For now, for the month of April, sit back, hit pause on the extreme makeover and breathe in deeply the beauty that is you. Smile at yourself and allow a chuckle as you say: I’m good enough.
It would truly be a disservice if I didn’t have a Coventry product suggestion for you.
Grab yourself a Tarot Magic Sun candle and let it help you get back in touch with happiness.
Needed Changes Blessed Herbal Candle will help you change the channel and go from I’m not good enough yet to Hell ya I’m good enough right now!
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Biz-ness Bits
April 2011 Bizness Bits
Ready for some spring cleaning? Of course a deep clean on your store is great for the spring, but I am talking about a spring cleaning on your expenses. When’s the last time you reviewed what you spent your money on? I think you may be a bit surprised.
Every year I sit with my accountant and go over our expenses and compare them to the last few years. We look at what has gone up, what down and what investments we made. I am always surprised and I always find room for improvement. If you were to compare your expenses over the past few years what would you find? Would you even know what you spent money on or would you have to pull out the banker’s box of receipts?
Do you know how much you spent in products last year in comparison to your sales? What your cost of goods percentage is? What your overhead is for the year? What your cost of sales is? Your cost of sales are those little pesky things you need to sell products; bags, cash register tape, cleaning supplies, tags for products, the costs of shipping products in, advertising, merchant processing fees, to name a few.
Every year look at your spending by category (cost of goods, overhead and cost of sales, etc.) and what % of the budget they are. That gives you a good indication if your are pricing your products at a profitable margin . It can quickly add up of you are key-stoning; 50% on products, 30% on overhead and 15% on cost of sales only leaves you a 5% profit margin or in many cases, the amount the owner takes home in pay. If monthly sales are $10,000, that’s only $500 to take home or reinvest. If you are only key-stoning, look at doing a bigger markup on products that can handle it. Stones, incense and small items can handle a 2.5 - 3 times markup; candles, statuary and oils can handle a 2.25 - 2.5 times markup. Books and music, you are stuck with how much you can mark them up due to the manufacturers pricing.
In your financial spring cleaning, look at your cost of sales purchases. Are you getting the best price? Are you buying in bulk or running to the corner store to buy cleaning supplies? Are you spending your advertising dollars wisely or spending any at all? Plot out your spending by month over the past 2 years and see if there is a pattern so you can anticipate and buy bulk when it is appropriate. Take a look at your merchant account fees and see if you can negotiate them down with your merchant account sales rep. Take a peek at your personal payouts, if there are a lot, just pay yourself a salary and stop dipping into the till to make yourself feel better. Check your phone bill, power bill and insurance, is it time to negotiate again? Don’t forget to look at how much you pay in interest in your credit cards, it may be time to pay them down and save hundreds of dollars every month.
Air out those accounts receivable and see what you can make grow into money for your pocket.
Happy Accounting!
Jacki Smith |
Oh That Damned Mercury…
by Storm Cestavani
I need you to do me a favor! Please remove all objects that you can throw away from the computer. Are you ready? Let me start off by getting to the point. Mercury is retrograde! I will now interrupt this article to allow you to rant, scream, use profanities, and curse for a moment. Let it out! Get it completely out of your system. Now, Breathe!
Fantasizing about what could possible go wrong during Mercury retrograde is rather useless. Plus, focusing on what “possibly could be” will only give you a headache. Even if we hide and try to ignore Mercury, he will still be retrograde, and it is better to take the bull by the horns than avoid life because of a planet.
So, let’s get the infamous Mercury Retrograde (Mercury is retrograde through April 23, but his energy will be prevalent until May 11) checklist out of the way:
Communication Blocks and Problems – Especially with Electronics
Avoid Signing Contracts
Do Not Begin Anything New
Do Not Move House or Location
Backup Computers and Smart Phones
Potential Problems with Automobiles
Possible Problems with Traveling
In astrology, Mercury is the planet of commerce. He rules conversation, thoughts, sales, advertising, customer service, quality control and our ability to take thoughts and ideas and manifest them into something tangible. Mercury allows us to see constructs, processes, and to discern whether or not “a situation” is good for us. Further, he goes retrograde 3-4 times a year (As viewed from the earth it appears that Mercury stops, and then begins to move backwards), which provides us with the unique opportunity to reflect and turn inward. Since this occurs frequently, we need to learn how to constructively use Mercury retrograde, rather than simply bemoaning its occurrence.
It’s easy for us to reflect inward when dealing with our personal life. We can make changes and adjustments based on our circumstances. However, it is often a bit more difficult to understand how to use Mercury with our businesses. So, how do we turn mishaps, miscommunications, general annoyance, employee problems, and frustration into something positive? There words – performance, feedback, and revision.
Being an astrologer, I often get questions from clients about their business. One thing that I have noticed the most (to the point that it is an epidemic) is that many business owners are very caught up in their own ideas (it is time to let go of that darned Ego) about what works for a business, and do not listen to the most important person in their business – the customer! The customer relationship is the most valuable part of your business. You can learn the most from them! They tell us what products sell, what products they would like to see, and how to make changes in our business that will makes them repeat customers. In other words, we see our product performance, we get constructive feedback, and we can revise our business based on the needs of the customers. Performance, Feedback, Revision!
Mercury retrogrades give us the unique opportunity to really get in touch with our client base, and analyze what their needs are and make revisions based on their recommendations. We should spend some time getting in touch with our customer base throughout the month of April. Find out about what your customers like about your business, and where you can make productive changes that lead to more sales. You can do this through a survey, questionnaire, contests or simply having discussions with your customers. Regardless, you will notice that when you make them happy your sales will dramatically increase
Let me know what you have learned from your customers and what changes you made.
Good Planning Days: April 11, April 19
Challenging Planning Days: April 22, 23, 24, 25
Good Action Days: April 3, April 6, April 20, April 27
Challenging Action Days: April 4, April 11, April 18, April 20
Good Money Days: April 2, April 22
Challenging Money Days: April 27, April 30
Storm Cestavani can be reached for comments and consultations at www.psychicfriendsnow.com
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