the past 10 years, I have worked as a private music teacher, specialising in teaching flute, piano and singing. I have also done a lot of work as a piano accompanist, and am a published composer. I’ve also done quite a bit of freelance writing, and have recently launched my own range of unique musical greetings cards. All these individual bits of work go to make David Barton Music (http://www.davidbartonmusic.co.uk) what it is today (it is now fashionably called a ‘Portfolio Career’!).
I’ve been entering #SBS for a few months now; I’ll admit that the entries have been made when I remember rather than on a religiously regular basis: after all, like most entrants, I never expected to win. But, in the end, persistence paid off. I sent the message as usual just after 5pm on Sunday night. I didn’t expect to hear anything, then just after 9pm, my phone started going mad with Tweets. At first I couldn’t understand it, and then realisation dawned that I must have been chosen (although I still didn’t see the original Tweet!). My Tweet, highlighting David Barton Music, was chosen and promoted to Theo Paphitis’ 161,000 followers. We beat around 1,000 entrants to be selected as one of the six on the 21st August.
The ‘SBS’ selection came as the icing on the cake, coinciding exactly with the 10th anniversary of my first day of teaching. I felt very lucky and hugely excited to be chosen. There is a common misconception that private music teachers such as myself only teach ‘on the side’; Theo’s backing of small businesses such as David Barton Music hopefully dispels such a myth.
So, with the coveted #SBS in hand, what next? Initially, I wasn’t sure what to do: like many winners, I hadn’t really thought of what comes next! The most important thing initially was to try and get to grips with the hundreds of Tweets and messages flooding in. I gave up trying to reply to them all quite early on! So far, I’ve gained just over 100 new followers from all over the UK. It has been good to chat, and indeed, ‘network’ with them over the past week. They represent so much of what is good about small business in the UK, and denote a diverse and exciting array of different setups.
I suppose the initial phase of an #SBS ‘win’ is about numbers. With an increase in followers, also came an increase in website hits: nearly quadruple the number of the previous week so far, and we’re still counting. I suppose the burning question for everyone is, does it translate into business? Well, that’s something only time will tell. I have learnt that Twitter is more than anything about awareness. People get to know you and what you offer; even if they aren’t interested, they might recommend it to someone who is. I am lucky in that the things I offer will appeal on a local, national and international level.
On the advice of the wonderfully enterprising ShellyBobbins, I issued a press release to local newspapers and websites – something which had not occurred to me as being worth doing! The next day, I had a phone call from a reporter at the Express & Star who was very excited about the news; they have also asked me to follow it up in a few weeks to let them know the impact of the #SBS: they may even run a follow-up story. Today, an article appeared in another local paper, the Lichfield Mercury. It is all good publicity and getting the message out there about what you do is hugely important to small businesses.
I’m sure it won’t be long before my website sports its special #SBS badge, and with two days of the #SBS week still to go, who knows what will happen! I am very grateful, as no doubt all winners are, to ShellyBobbins for offering such prompt and entrepreneurial advice!
With over 5,000 lessons and at least 150 pupils ‘under his belt’, I am looking forward to my 11th year of teaching with renewed vigour, helped by the support, albeit virtual, of a certain BBC Dragon.
On Sunday 14.08.2011 I sent a text for #SBS (Small Business Sunday) by Theo Paphitis as I’d done a couple of times before and settled down to watch TV with the family.
Suddenly my phone started going crazy with message after message on Twitter. When I checked it, I couldn’t believe my eyes – we were #SBS Winners and all the messages coming through were new followers and messages of congratulation from fellow #SBS Winners and other well-wishers on Twitter. Theo had re-tweeted my message to 158,000 followers! Incredible... My phone carried on beeping all evening and in the end I had to put it on silent so that we could get some sleep! Being very new to Twitter at the time, I still didn’t really realise what this meant for us.
Over the following week we had an increase of more than 250 new followers and it’s been a real in-sight into how to use Twitter and the power it has.
Winning #SBS has introduced us to at least 20 new website customers who didn’t know http://www.itsnutfree.com/ existed. We’ve also had 5 enquiries from larger commercial companies which could result in some larger orders in the near future. Our website hits have gone through the roof to such a degree that our web company rang to find out what we’d been up to!
Having spoken to ShellyBobbins, I got to work and issued a press release which we sent to key customers as well as newspapers and the thousands of people on our database who receive our regular newsletters. On Shelly’s advice we had an #SBS Winners badge designed and placed on the front page in pride of place on our website (http://www.itsnutfree.com/).
To celebrate winning, we launched our celebratory #SBS Chocolate Hamper and that’s been really popular on our website (http://www.itsnutfree.com/sbs-chocolate-hamper). We sent one to Theo to say thank you and his office say he’s delighted!
Our press release was printed in newspapers throughout Yorkshire who were delighted to see a local company win something on Twitter like this.
I started It’s Nut Free ten years ago as a result of my eldest daughter’s nut allergy and the need for safe nut-free products that are delicious for everyone. We’ve had a website from the beginning but have only recently started a Facebook page and a Twitter Account. When I sent that tweet last Sunday, I had no idea of the power of Twitter or the amount of interest winning #SBS would create. It got our company name in front of hundreds of thousands of people – something that would have taken us much longer to do.
I would recommend any small business enters #SBS on Sundays between 5.00 – 7.30pm. The #SBS Winners Club is a fantastic club to be in and I’m over the moon that we entered, we won and we got such good advice from Shelly - thank you to everyone who follows us, all those lovely people who sent us messages, Theo Paphitis for taking the time to support Small Business like this – and Shelly for teaching me how to make the most of this. We’re very proud of our #SBS win!
It was such a pleasure to help you I loved every minute, thank you for your kind words & telling us all about your amazing #SBS week !!! Im sure everyone will enter now after reading this !!
You know I love to share & make people smile, I love to colour !! I dont know if its because im just a big kid whos never grown up or just the fact im very creative ! So ive asked the question, please Bonn my wonderful designer can I please have some colouring sheets on my blog so everyone can download & then we can all colour in !!!
This is the first one of many !!!! "Bobbins House"
Guess what she said ~~~~ YES !!!!! yiphee ive been dancing around waiting as I wanted quite afew the Bobbins House of course ! the rag dolls, halloween, christmas too !!
As you can see at the top of my blog "Free Colouring Sheets" click the tab and choose a picture to download and print off ~~ couldnt be easier
I hope you love my idea ;0) & enjoy colouring in as much as I do,
PS Dont forget Id love to see your colour sheets you've coloured in my emails at the top too (contacts) I cant make a file on facebook for all the pictures you send me dont forget to tell me your name too.
Hello Welcome to heart of the month this competition will run every month for a whole year, what I'd like you to do is very simple 'Just write a comment' and 'Nominate'
Nominate someone you think deserves shellys heart of the month, maybe your sister, your mum, It could even be someone you've never even met but get to know either through twitter or facebook,
Its nice to be nice, smile at someone, or simple just send them a message knowing you care, life is really too short, so take just a couple of mins to nominate someone - make them smile xx
A winner will be chosen at random on the 28th August 2011 at 6pm I will announce the winner on here, facebook & twitter too - I will then need there name and address to send there heart & certificate out in the post by recorded delivery
Its so nice just to give, doesnt matter how much it costs, how big it is, where its from, designer or not, handmade or bought. Making someone smile and feel special ~ cant get any better than that xx
This will be your gift Its been handmade & embroidered too, the certificates lovely with nominated by .... so don't forget if your the winner to include your name too. then ....a space for the nominees name & also signed shellybobbins
Its a lovely gift, its rolled up & sent in a tube
PS. please no nominating yourself x
With Love Shellybobbins xxx
Ive been asked if people can nominate loved ones who have passed away the answer is yes, I would get the certificate laminated xx
We have just opened the door to a huge parcel what a fabulous surprise and wonderful to send shellybobbins a box of goodies !!!
Firstly I want to congratulate you on winning #SBS and being a Theo Paphitis winner, and secondly what a fabulous company you have !!!
Our daughter has a nut allergy, shes also allergic to peas, white beans (soya), red beans & green beans, chick peas, lentils, split peas, and anything containing these foods, for example soya flour, pea protein, pea fibre (which we also found in an ice-lolly after our daughter had a reaction)
Our daughter now has to carry an epipen around with her, and we have to check everything we buy which can be really difficult, even just going out to buy a loaf of bread.
She wanted to join the RAF as a Chef but cannot due to the severity of her allergies (they're airborn so everyone else having peas or beans with a meal is very rare)
She started at Carlisle College in Sept 2010 studying Hospitality and Catering. The college have been so helpful, ordering other sauces and stocks (as Steph was allergic) for her to use, and giving her other things to do when other students had to make Lentil soup as part of the Curriculum. It's amazing how the college have understood her allergies and adapted they're procedures so she has the same chance of learning as everyone else.
http://www.itsnutfree.com/ Angela has sent our family some gorgeous goodies to try without nut !!! YIPHEE
Flapjack & fudge ! yummy
Safe Cereal as we call it no rubbish, just full of goodness
This is will be eaten in no time at all !! how yum
Ive claimed these, as soon as I open the box ha ha xxx
today we have been tucking into fudge flapjack and loved it !!! cant wait to tuck into more and its great to find a company that has nut free products
I'm 7 weeks and 4 days, went to the hospital on the 9th Aug for an early scan to make sure everything was OK this time and baby had grown too, I was so nervous, the nurse switched the sound on so we could even here baby's heart beat too ~ how amazing
Ive got another blog http://www.shellybobbins-babybobbins.blogspot.com everything will be put on here about baby bobbins, so if you would like to click this link and follow the story that would be lovely, I will need all the comments & help, ideas from you, our girls are 19 & 14 so I'm out of practice, I know you wouldn't mind helping Shelly & Mr bobbins along the way xxx
I do love my new logo thanks to Bonnita Graphics for creating a fabulous logo and great ideas too
I wanted to use the old dolls house my grandad had made for me as a child, this wasn't a problem at all, next thing it had changed colour and on my shelf !!! YIPHEE !! (top left)
My postcards have been made to ready to send off to the printers all matching this is the back
and this is the fronts of new postcards
"I Love Them"
My fabulous and very proud to have a Small Business Sunday badge #SBS for short
Which Bonnita has put on a trophy shelf !
I'm sure Theo will love just as much as I do !!
Folksy Banner looks amazing & my Etsy shop Banner too also my facebook with a gorgeous welcome page also coming soon, ribbons packaging stickers all to match
"I love it when everything matches"
Bonnita Your Fabulous !
thank you for creating this brilliant looking blog xx
Name Ruth Altham, aged 36 , an ex art and design student, who fell into the corporate career in order to support my family and daughter.
I began making soap as a hobby to relax, and began making soaps and beauty products for family and friends. When I started to get really good feedback and began to help people with particular skin complaints or issues, I then began to study for my cosmetic safety licences.
Having passed these and set up as a limited company I started my own business this year.
Making individual bespoke soaps for clients, wedding favours and limited edition soaps.
The business really took off, and I began to supply local businesses with ranges for sale and also local beauty salons to use LoveScrub products in their treatments.
I now have a regular market stall in Lancaster Outdoor Saturday Market
LoveScrub is committed to quality and uses only the very best in pure and natural ingredients.
Here is a little more about the company
LoveScrub has spent years making soap, bath and beauty products for individual clients, and during that time, we have invested heavily in researching each and every ingredient to ensure that our products make a difference to our clients that continue to use our products.
All our ingredients are tested to ensure safety and have been certified for cosmetic use.
We truly hand make every single bar of soap, every scrub, lotion, bar, bath bombs , cream, moisture bar and organic product. We make our products not in mass volumes but in careful handmade batches, we care about the quality of products.
Our website has been launched to help meet the demand for our ranges, and to provide our clients with a safe and secure on line ordering process that delivers your fabulous order directly to your chosen delivery address
These gorgeous soaps & bath bombs I have had the pleasure of reviewing this week !! Bobbins HQ has smelt divine, the Minis & I rolled our sleeves up opened the boxes ~~ the smell was amazing we filled a huge glass bowl with warm water ! and the fun began hahahahaha
Raspberry & goats milk I really wanted to eat this !
It really did lather up the smell was amazing, just like real raspberry's too, soft on the skin, and very creamy.
Next was Oats So Goodness
Wow it even has real oats in it !! didn't feel rough on my skin at all, great smell of Honey !! my skin was really soft too loved this x
Peppermint how gorgeous is this blue !
Just look at all these suds !!! Minis couldn't believe the lather Oh the smell was amazing too
Had to post another picture as it looked like cream !!
NEXT BATH BOMBS !
These smelt amazing just reminded Minis & me of refreshers sweets !
Kiwi & Lime
I'm holding the bath bomb in water & Mini's taking the picture through the side of bowl.
I loved this bath bomb. zesty & smell was unreadable !!
How beautiful rose bath bombs even has a dried rose in the top too !!
English Rose
this water was still clear after it had dissolved too ~ essential oils where gorgeous in this,
So anyone visiting http://www.lovescrub.com/ 9th August, will get 20% off their order, and there is no minimum order value at all! ( even better !) all you need to do is add the discount code, at checkout , the discount code is - ShelliBobbins
All payments are taken using paypal's secure payment system. You don't need to have a paypal account either. When you go to pay you can either enter your debit or credit card ( processed via the paypal site) details or pay using your paypal account.
I am adding lots of new soaps on tonight that I have made this week, so lots more to choose from too! All orders are dispatched next day
Thank you to the lovely Ruth for sharing her story and sending the most amazing soaps & bath bombs for our family to review, we've had so much fun doing this.
My name is Aycin Wateridge from the New Forest, Hampshire. I’m the founder of the multi award winning company B Organic Skincare (http://www.b-organic.co.uk/) which was created out of necessity because of my daughter’s severe eczema, which she has suffered since birth. Using plant-derived, certified organic ingredients, we put together a range that is so very gentle and avoids harsh nasty chemicals, so it won’t dry the skin. We only use ingredients I am happy to use on my daughter, which is why mums love my luscious organic range. I set up my company on a shoe string budget but since we started trading I’ve been awarded Womenpreneur of the Year 2011, Also selected by Theo Paphitis from Dragon’s Den for Small Business Sunday (#SBS) and our organic skincare have been awarded TIPS, Right Start and Natural Beauty Awards. Our great range includes shampoo, body lotion, body wash, facial skincare and soothing balms for babies to adults and due to demand recently launched our Men’s range.
Gorgeous Double giveaway !!! Competition question is:- Has the lovely Aycin won Small Business Sunday ? or #SBS for short ?
Double winners will be picked on the sunday 7th Aug at 8pm !! good luck
Thank you Aycin for being shellybobbins guest you have worked very hard you & your family, hard work pays off ! you are such a determined person and so lovely to tweet too, and always ready to support others too.
This is the first one of many !!!! "Bobbins House"
This will be your gift Its been handmade & embroidered too, the certificates lovely with nominated by .... so don't forget if your the winner to include your name too. then ....a space for the nominees name & also signed shellybobbins
Flapjack & fudge ! yummy 
Safe Cereal as we call it no rubbish, just full of goodness 
This is will be eaten in no time at all !! how yum 
Ive claimed these, as soon as I open the box ha ha xxx 
today we have been tucking into fudge flapjack and loved it !!! cant wait to tuck into more and its great to find a company that has nut free products 
How lovely & I get just as excited as the customer, I customer more like ~~ lovely friends now xxx
Cant wait to get feedback from your sister ! I'm sure she will love it ! yiphee 
I wanted to use the old dolls house my grandad had made for me as a child, this wasn't a problem at all, next thing it had changed colour and on my shelf !!! YIPHEE !! (top left)
Name Ruth Altham, aged 36 , an ex art and design student, who fell into the corporate career in order to support my family and daughter. 
It really did lather up the smell was amazing, just like real raspberry's too, soft on the skin, and very creamy.
Next was Oats So Goodness 
Wow it even has real oats in it !! didn't feel rough on my skin at all, great smell of Honey !! my skin was really soft too loved this x
Ive had A lovely time last week making a gorgeous gift for a lovely lady, her friend has had a little girl 
A gorgeous card too !! 
