✨ Welcome + Introduce Yourself

[Ani_]

You made it! Welcome to Square’s togetHER community 🙌

Our purpose is for you to find connection, advice, encouragement, and community with fellow women in business and allies. This community is built for and by you, so make it your own.

First step: Introduce yourself in this thread! We want to get to know each and everyone one of you here. Stuck on how you should introduce yourself to other lady bosses? Here are some things to cover: Tell us who you are, what you’re working on and what type of business you own. If you have an online store, feel free to share with the group!

Our guiding principles

We all want productive, friendly conversation propelling us forward. Keep these in mind when posting:

• Share actionable information/material. We want this group to provide advice and actions that you can implement immediately to improve your business. Give context when asking questions and be detailed in your responses. Post about the difficult things so we can figure out an answer together as a community.
• Assume good intent. Tone on the internet is very difficult to convey. Let’s assume that everyone posting here comes from a place of good intention, so we can do the same. If anything feels amiss, please report it to our moderators.
• Treat your fellow sellers with respect. We all come from different backgrounds and may not always agree with one another, but we can always treat each other with respect. We have a zero tolerance policy for harassment or abuse of sellers or moderators because this should be a happy place on the internet.
• No spam or excessive self promotion. We’ve all seen those groups with the same people posting the same thing every single day. Let’s respect each other’s time and refrain from this type of excessive self promotion. But, by all means, when it’s time to celebrate you, shout that accomplishment from the rooftops!

Can’t wait to see your posts and celebrate you! 🎉

[katieand]

I love this @STVDesigns! How did you like illustrating for a book versus doing custom portraits, etc?  

[STVDesigns]

I found illustrating for the book a bit more challenging than creating a custom art portrait. It was more expansive, which I found exciting, due to creating several separate illustrations as opposed to just one subject in an art portrait. As an artist, I am always looking to achieve the ultimate essence in my artwork that outwardly expresses its intended purpose without any hesitation by a viewer. 

Sharon

STV Designs

[TrueNorth]

Hello!

My name is Michelle, and I own/operate True North Boutique in downtown New Albany, Indiana. There, I carry handmade goods made by the hands of over 50 artisans, as well as a few from further out. Our shop has a nature theme, with most products crafted from natural resources. I'm excited to check out the new square website look/options, our website has been a bit on the back burner, but I'm ready to beef it up! We have a few things up: www.shoptruenorth812.com

Love this community!

Michelle

[katieand]

Thanks for sharing @TrueNorth! I love your goods and the sliding barn doors are to die for. Do you source those or build them?

Also, I saw your retail store picture down at the bottom of your site? Do you tend to get a lot of foot traffic into the store?  

[artmango]

Hi everyone!

We’re a paint and sip BYOB studio located in Jersey City, NJ. Our customers come here to do a painting, we provide all the art materials and guidance by an art professional. 

[katieand]

Amazing @artmango! How do you source your art professionals? I know paint & sips have become very popular in the Bay Area 🙂 

[artmango]

So far I’ve been hiring my freelancer colleagues, in the future I’ll have to hire people to work temporarily and part time under contract.

[thesunnyside]

I just followed you on IG. I live in Jersey City, NJ. It looks fun and I have had so much fun at paint and sips. I may have to plan a date there! I am a licensed acupuncturist and herbalist in Jersey, City. I help people reach improve their health with acupuncture, herbs, and many other things Chinese Medicine offers. 

[GThomas]

Thank you for including me! 

I am all about helping people market themselves and their businesses with professional photography.

I believe that many businesses aren't doing themselves justice with their cell phone shots and stock photography on their websites and on social media. People can't see how great they really are and it's not building the trust they deserve.

My name is Glynns Thomas and I am a photographer that specializes in high-end headshots for individuals and companies. I also specialize in personal branding and business brand photography.

Nice to meet you all!

I am in the Sacramento area and serve clients all over Northern California. 

[katieand]

👏👏👏 Thanks for sharing your amazing mission @GThomas! What are some of your favorite headshot/business poses?  

[GThomas]

The ones of them laughing!! 🙂

[SandyDeet]

Hey Glynns, I grew up in Rancho Cordova.  I love the mountains of Colorado, but have to admit the Sierra Nevadas feel more like home!
Sandy

[marcellafriel]

Hi! My name is Marcella Friel, and I'm a mindful eating mentor who helps health-conscious women heal their struggles with yo-yo dieting, sugar addiction, binge eating, and chronic body shaming. I run a -month transformational mentorship program called the Women, Food & Forgiveness Academy. 

My first book is coming out April 16, and I'm deeply grateful to bring this work to a wider audience. 

Looking forward to getting to know everyone here!

M. 

[katieand]

So cool @marcellafriel! How did you find the process of writing a book? Congrats on its approaching release date! Are you going on a book tour?  

[SandyDeet]

Wow, can't wait to read your book.  Going to search for it now.

[kyliesimonton]

Hi there! I am Kylie Simonton. I am a products-based business. I create bags, wallets, purses, pouches, and many other accessories for everyday life. My business name is Lean Mean Sewing Machine.

I started my business at the end of 2014 in Tokyo, Japan. I now live with my husband and our two kids in southern Maryland. Craft shows are where most of my sales come from, so Square helps me a ton.

You can click here to view my work.

I am so excited that this community is now available for all of us! This is so great!

[katieand]

Welcome @kyliesimonton! How amazing that you create all kinds of handmade goods. Do you sew them by hand?

Also how'd you find the move from Tokyo to MD? I used to work for a Japanese company and it's so different than the US.  

[kyliesimonton]

I have a small, domestic sewing machine that I use for making my products. Sometimes, depending on the product, I'll have to finish it by hand, but that's not very often.

The move itself was stressful. I spent 2 months waiting on my household goods to arrive - including my sewing machine and all my materials. I essentially had to put my working life on hold during that time. It was not fun!

I'm happy now though! All is well! I do miss Japan though.

[robsrockindogs]

Hi! Thank you for the invite and the tag. My husband and I own Rob's Rockin' Dogs in Mandeville Louisiana. We are a gourmet hot dog restaurant that serves the best dogs, brats and burgers on the Northshore. We also have a food trailer and do lots of catering around town. We have been in business for three years now and look forward to growing our sales with Square!

[Token249]

Hi there 👋🏻

My name is Inger. I own two shops in PA. Token249 in Easton and Token in Allentown. 

I’ve been in retail all my working life and have had my own shops for 20 years now. 

Our focus is cards, jewelry and small gifts. (Hence “Token”) Glitter and four letter words. 😉

I would love to hear from folks about successful marketing and feedback on online shop apps like SHOPIFY and SQUARE I am ready to take the leap. 

[katieand]

I 😍 glitter too @Token249 

Thanks for flagging that you want more marketing + online shop advice. Have you found any successful marketing techniques thus far? You should also check out our Q&A with Mailchimp we did about a month ago. There might be some helpful advice for you in here.