My Newest Best Friend in Marketing

July hasn't been the most productive month of 2010 for my candle business. I got distracted by a new project of mine... poetry. At least once a week I post a new silly rhyme to my blog about something I saw on the internet or TV, in magazines, or better yet, in real life. Once I had my first 5 or so poems, I decided to send one to my favorite local newsletter, edhat.com. They send out a free newsletter every day with links to pertinent news, questions & comments from readers, event photos... all kinds of fun stuff that (for me) makes it feel like the new millenium version of a little old town meeting. And, ever since I sent my first blog link, edhat has been sharing my poems with their readers each Sunday. Thanks to blogger stats, I know that quite a few people have clicked through to Rhyme Me a Smile from edhat links.

This week I decided to finally getting around to sending out those prizes I displayed in my last blog post. I had intended one for edhat and one for someone else, but in the end decided to offer both to my new best friend in marketing. This week's newsletter already has a fantastic free ticket opportunity, but soon you shall see Homemade by Hoyt products being given away. It has turned out to be an even better marketing strategy than I expected. In exchange for the prize donations, edhat made me an advertisement for free and posted it to their website. It popped up earlier today at the top of the browser page while I was trying to figure out why the sheriff's hellicopter was flying around the Noleta neighborhood. It was pretty exciting to get answers to my breaking news question and see my brand new personal advertisement simultaneously! If you live in Santa Barbara, San Luis Obispo, or Ventura Counties, I highly recommend signing up for your local edhat newsletter and advertising through them if you are a business owner. If you don't live in the area... well, start searching for your best friend in marketing. He's out there.

"Nights" at the Santa Barbara Museum of Art

Tonight I was fortunate enought to venture out to an interactive art party at the Santa Barbara Museum of Art. I recently became a paid subscriber to the edhat.com newsletter so that I could enter their contests for free tickets, etc. and I already won my first prize! It was two V.I.P. passes to "Nights" at the Santa Barbara Museum of Art and I am feeling oh-so-lucky to have won entry to this experience!

I have been in quite a creative lull lately. I haven't made any candles or soap... nor have I done any work to promote my products. When I saw this event listed on edhat's newsletter, it immediately sparked my interest. I had hoped the interactive art would get my creative juices flowing again... and I definitely feel a bit more energized now than I have for a while.

The galleries were open from 5:30 - 7:30 PM and within them activities and music had been set up. You could listen to an excellent band while having your nails artfully decorated or as you create a piece of art. I chose the latter and was instructed to either brush water colors over my sheet to create a colored background or use nothing if I prefer plain white. Then, I took squeeze bottles of colored paint to decorate my paper as if I was making a smiley face with ketchup on top of my hamburger. To finish, I put a piece of clear plastic on top, squished my squeezed on acrylic paint and taped the edges. It was a simple way to create art which quickly brought out my childlike spirit. I will definitely do it again on my own.

Outside the patio was packed with fun: DJ Jeremy Sole kept the party lively as we spun art on what I think was a pottery wheel (with tape to hold down the paper). If ever there was an activity to inspire me to create candles with vibrant color... THIS is it. I think this activity may have had the highest participation rate because I saw a multitude of amazing color combinations. I believe many people took their paintings home like I did.

I would definitley say this is an event worth attending. It doesn't matter if you're looking for a swanky party to wear your new fur coat or an artsy get together where sandals and tie dye are the main groove... "Nights" merged those festivities into one. Furthermore, it is a reasonably priced event, all amenities considered. Tickets are $25, $35 or $50... I recommend the $50 VIP ticket. There are additional appetizers in the special people's section and the drink tickets are cheaper! (All the non V.I.P. people don't know it, but they missed out on a truly amazing dessert... berry skewers drizzled with multi colored peruvian white chocolate. YUM! We also sampled lamb skewers wrapped with spaghetti strands of cucumber and dipped in a yogurt sauce.) Though I must say... the appetizers I tasted in the art gallery also proved Chef Brenda Simon's ability to create tasty flavor combinations.

If you are reading this now and sad that you missed it... stay tuned to edhat.com or check the Santa Barbara Museum of Art's website for information on the next "Nights" in August. Perhaps I will see you there.