When does a ‘copyright’ begin? Copyright begins the moment that a work is created and put into tangible form. Tangible form isn’t restricted to something you can touch but also includes works that can be perceived using a machine or other device. A text document created and saved using a computer or a photograph recorded using a digital camera are examples. Neither has to be printed to be considered copyrighted. Registering a copyright isn’t required to establish the copyright. However, registering a copyright is important if you wish to pursue legal action for copyright infringement of your work.

What about copyright in other countries? The US has copyright agreements with most other countries, but not with all. For a list of countries and descriptions of US copyright relations, please take a look at International Copyright Relations of the United States.

What are some common copyright issues that are reported on Zibbet? There are two main types of copyright issues that are reported to Zibbet Support. One is the sale of copyright images, both in the form of digital image sheets and in the form of finished items. Please note, unless you purchase a license from the copyright owner that specifically states that you have permission to sell the images or items containing those images, you are probably violating copyright laws. Disney, Hello Kitty and Twilight as well as college and professional sports team logos and photographs of celebrities are just a few examples. You may purchase a kit that contains Disney images to be used in making bottle cap pendants. The company who manufactured that kit paid Disney for a license to create and sell the kit. Unless the fine print on the kit specifically grants the purchaser permission to sell the items made from the kit components your use of the images is limited to personal use. This means that you can make the items for yourself or to give as gifts but you can’t sell them.

The second type of copyright issue reported to Zibbet is PDF copies of books, magazines, etc. You can sell the printed form of a document if it fits into either the Supplies or Vintage category. However, you cannot scan a document and sell the PDF unless you are the author of the work and own the copyright.

When a copyright infringement question is reported to Zibbet, our normal procedure is to ask the owner of the reported items/shop to provide a copy of a license agreement that allows the sale of the items in question. Our followup actions are determined by the response to this request.

A great place to go next for educating yourself about copyright is Copyright Basics published by the US Copyright Office. For answers to specific copyright questions, please consult an attorney who specializes in intellectual property law.

Best wishes for much success on Zibbet!

Let’s Talk Business | Your Business Investment | More About Money | Business Organization | Legal Matters | Copyright | Insurance

Vicki is committed to assisting her fellow Zibbeters improve their shops for successful online selling. She is the owner of five Zibbet shops: LOC Design Studio, Denim and Pearls, A Stitch and a Prayer, Black Creek Crossing and Think Like a Fish. You can follow Vicki on Twitter and through her LOC Design Studio blog.

1. Brianna’s Buttons are listed in her mother’s shop Daresab $3: Brianna was the top winner in the age 6 and under category with her handmade buttons she created with polymer clay. Read more about the process she went through in the item listing. Brianna is 3 years old.

2. Dinosaur Crayon Art is listed in the mother’s shop Balasa Designs $5: This crayon art was drawn by a 9 year old boy and entered in the ages 7-9 category of the Zibbet Kids Art Challenge. The dinosaurs were drawn on 110 lb. card stock. Ready for framing.

3. Upcycled Calendar Horse Note Cards - Set of 6 are listed in the mother’s shop Luv’n Crafts $8: They were created by a 12 year old girl and entered into the category for ages 10-12. She created this set of cards with paper strips, an outdated calendar and stickers.

4. Ric-rac Rose Headband in Pink and Yellow by Bethany is listed in her sister’s shop Heavenly Princess $7: Bethany is 12 years old and tied for first place in the age category of 10-12. She entered several of her handmade headbands in the challenge and you can see and purchase them in her sister’s shop.

5. Granny Square Daisies in Spring Crocheted Wrap/Shawl Teen is listed in the mother’s shop Luv’n Crafts $30: This beautiful shawl was made by a 14 year old girl, and entered in the age category of 13-15 year olds. She used 3 colors of soft yarn in white, vanilla and bone.

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Special thanks to Barbra, Dawn, Giani, and Eleanor for volunteering your valuable time to be art jurors for the Kids Art Challenge on Zibbet. Please support their shops.

Judy writes the ‘Fantastic Five‘ column where she features 5 Zibbet items every week. She is the owner of four Zibbet shops: Portable Graffiti Graphics, Portable Graffiti buttons, Proofreader, and Wild Goose Chase vintage, crafts and supplies. You can follow Judy on Facebook.

It is a time consuming art as she has to cut sheets of glass into small sizes and various shapes, then layer them on a background glass, fire the piece to 1500 degrees, smooth and shape it with a grinder and fire it again. The end result is a beautiful piece of wearable art.

Please enjoy the interview, leave Judy a comment, and then use the Share Tools so others can read it, too. Please spread the Zibbet Love!

1. Tell us a bit about yourself?

   I am a retired family counselor and I had a private practice in IL.  My husband and I and our 2 Welsh Pembroke Corgis moved to Scottsdale,  AZ from Arlington Heights, IL 5 years ago.  I also was a USPTA tennis pro in my younger days.  I graduated from Lake Forest College with a B.S. in Psychology and received my Masters in Counselor Education from Northern Illinois University.

   My husband and I have been married for 47 years and have a son, daughter-in-law, and 2 beautiful grandchildren, who also live in AZ.

2. Apart from being ‘creative’ what do you do?

   I love to play tennis, golf and ride my bike.  I enjoy reading and spending time with my friends and my Corgis. My favorite way to spend a day is being with my son, daughter-in-law and my grandchildren.  It’s a special treat when our grandchildren spend a few days with us.  We are loving AZ!

3. What inspires you to do the kind of work you do?

   I am inspired by nature and color.  The colors of AZ are brilliant and there’s nothing like dichroic glass for sparkle and beauty.  It has a reflected and a transmitted color so it changes color depending on the lighting and the angle of viewing.  So it mimics the sun and shadows we see in nature.

4. Do you look up to anyone? Who? Why?

   I look up to my mother in many ways.  We didn’t always get along, but when I became an adult, we became best friends.  She could do anything. She was an excellent seamstress.  I should say designer because she didn’t need a pattern.  She knitted and crocheted beautifully.  She designed gift cards and made gorgeous Christmas ornaments and Easter eggs, which I still have.  And she could always make me laugh.  She lived to the age of 98, 30 years after my Dad died.  She was so strong and independent and definitely danced to a different drummer.

5. What other passions do you have in your life?

   My greatest passion in life today is my two grandchildren.  I learn so much from them and I hope they learn from me.  We have so much fun together.  They make me a child again.

6. What do you like most about Zibbet?

   I find Zibbet to be very user friendly.  I’m not the most internet savvy person and it’s very easy for me to use.  I also find that when I have a question, it is answered almost immediately.  People seem nice on the forums, too.

7. What ‘new’ things would you like to see added to Zibbet?

   I’m happy with Zibbet as it is.

8. How do you promote your work?

   I use facebook and twitter and I’m trying to figure out how to blog.  I know I need to learn new ways and welcome any suggestions.

9. How would you recommend other Zibbeters make the most of Zibbet.com?

   Love what you do and promote.

10. In the future I’d like to be…

    Younger

What is the procedure for registering my business name? Sole proprietorships in Florida are supposed to file a fictitious name registration with the Division of Corporations if you are conducting business under a name other than your own name. The process involves advertising your ‘doing business as’  or DBA name in a local newspaper prior to submitting a registration application to the state. State registrations are renewable every five years.

Do I need a business license? Licensing requirements are usually handled at the county and/or municipality levels. My county doesn’t require a license for my type of business although other counties in the state may.

Am I required to collect sales tax? There’s a popular misconception among sellers that online sales are exempt from being taxed. In Florida and most other states, online retail sales made within the state are supposed to be taxed. Registration to collect and submit sales tax in Florida is handled through the Department of Revenue. When registering for craft shows in Florida, applications will remind you that you are responsible for collecting sales tax. It’s advisable to have a copy of your sales tax certificate with you at shows.

A good place to find answers to these and other questions about business requirements for your state is a local office of the Small Business Administration (SBA). The purpose of the SBA is to provide small businesses with information, workshops and assistance. Most SBA services are provided at no charge.

Best wishes for much success on Zibbet!

Let’s Talk Business | Your Business Investment | More About Money | Business Organization | Legal Matters | Copyright | Insurance

Vicki is committed to assisting her fellow Zibbeters improve their shops for successful online selling. She is the owner of five Zibbet shops: LOC Design Studio, Denim and Pearls, A Stitch and a Prayer, Black Creek Crossing and Think Like a Fish. You can follow Vicki on Twitter and through her LOC Design Studio blog.

For the musician I found a wonderful loomed guitar strap and some amazing guitar picks.

For those who don’t play but like to dance I found a vintage record with a great melody, vintage cuff links that would make an awesome Valentine gift and the Beatles pot holders to keep you whistling while you work.

After reading about today’s Fantastic Five on Zibbet, find more items with these search words: music, musician, instrument, song, dance, orchestra . You’ll find music related home decor, jewelry and gifts galore for Valentines day.

1. 2″ Green and Black Striped Adjustable Guitar Strap - Handwoven by C2Creations $38:  I love this woven guitar strap. The photo makes a person want to take up learning to play. The handcrafted guitar strap is 100% cotton and leather. It was made on a 4 harness floor loom.

2. The Beatles Potholders - All You Need is Love by Cinders at Home $19:  Hang these pot holders in your kitchen and I’ll bet you’ll be singing or humming your favorite Beatles tunes as you work away washing the dishes or creating a culinary delight. And the best part is, the extra large size means you can use them as hot plates or potholders.

3. Vintage Anson Sheet Music Cufflinks Music by Sweetie2Sweetie $12.99: Any melody maker you know and love would enjoy getting these vintage cuff links for Valentine’s Day which is coming up soon. They are a gold tone cufflink set from the 1950s. Buy them for your favorite disc jockey or for yourself.

4. Dinosaur Bone Guitar Pick by Guitar Pickman $60:  One-of-a-kind guitar pick made from dinosaur bone. The guitar picks in this shop are beautiful, handmade by the seller. They can be enjoyed as a collector’s item or used to pick your guitar. Each guitar pick is unique, so don’t hesitate when you see the one that calls to you.

5. Love by Harry James Vintage Record by Texas Eagle $5:  Here’s another great musical item from Zibbet found under vintage. “Love” by Harry James and his Orchestra, this Columbia LP record’s bright red label with the word “Love” would make a neat Valentine gift.

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very top image - Raccoons Playing  Bassoons by iOTA iLLUSTRATION $18

Judy writes the ‘Fantastic Five‘ column where she features 5 Zibbet items every week. She is the owner of four Zibbet shops: Portable Graffiti Graphics, Portable Graffiti buttons, Proofreader, and Wild Goose Chase vintage, crafts and supplies. You can follow Judy on Facebook.

In addition to her own photography and artwork, she also features post cards with the art of young members of her family, like the bicycle drawing seen below.

Please enjoy the interview, leave Pam a comment, and then use the Share tools to “Spread the Zibbet Love.”

1. Tell us a bit about yourself?

   I’ve been doing document layout for a long time (since pre-Windows days). I love the look of type on a page and enjoy putting text and images together. As an old-time letter writer and amateur photographer, a postcard business seemed a natural way to go for me. When the idea finally occurred to me, I was really excited. It’s been a challenge, but fun, finding a way to pull it all together – finding a commercial printer and the right paper for what I wanted to do – getting the colors of my photos to make it all the way through the printing process. Finding the right online marketing tool and display site.

2. Apart from being ‘creative’ what do you do?

   Right now, I’m partially retired. I’ve been moving around a lot, to be near family and to actualize a few long-time dreams. I actually use the internet as a kind of center to my wanderings.

3. What inspires you to do the kind of work you do?

   I’ve got a real urge to communicate (informally) with photos and writing. I like the challenge of trying to find the right medium for the message. Getting out to see the neighborhood or find new neighborhoods usually gets me inspired. I have more to say when I’m interacting with what’s around me.

4. Do you look up to anyone? Who? Why?

   There are lots of people, but someone I looked to in my early desktop publishing days was Jan V. White (Graphic Design for the Electronic Age). A very nice guy who believed in open communication. He kept things simple. I also like a book by Robert Hirsch – Light and Lens: Photography in the Digital Age. He looks at photography from a historical, philosophical and practical perspective. And I admire Jamie Thomson (Silver City, NM), an amazing youth and bicyclist advocate. Some of my best pictures were taken on his rides.

5. What other passions do you have in your life?

   I’m a bike commuter – just getting around town can be an extreme sport. I used to walk for transportation which I thoroughly loved, but now that I’m older, the bike is better. Because I was always hitting a wall of traffic when I walked, I started looking at urban and transportation design in political terms. That really opened my eyes. I still have trouble finding my place on the road, but now I try to just enjoy my ride and resist the urge to get involved. I get too crazy when I see myself as an advocate.

6. What do you like most about Zibbet?

   I love Zibbet. I did the hard work of putting up several shops at various sites, but I ended up closing all but Zibbet. Either the sites went out of business or the community or management didn’t feel right. Aside from my personal photo site, Smugmug.com, Zibbet is the only one I kept because it felt really comfortable. Transparent. There don’t seem to be any hidden agendas.

   The shop structure is open enough to allow a personal style, but simple enough that I can manage things on my own. When I have technical questions, I’ve always gotten an immediate response from the staff or administration. This really impressed me. Who can know what goes on behind the scenes in any online company, but the consistent feeling I get from Zibbet is that the company cares. They have helped me whenever I’ve needed it.

   I also like the community, the people I’ve met in Zibbet forums. They’ve been friendly and supportive without being insincere.

7. What ‘new’ things would you like to see added to Zibbet?

   Zibbet has so much, I’m not sure I can answer this. It seems to be getting more eclectic. I see more risk-taking and unusual imagery (which inspires me to be more creative).

8. How do you promote your work?

   I’m afraid I’m very laxed about this. Zibbet gives me good promotional tools, but I haven’t really used them. I created the Zibbet shop more as a logical last step in the creative process than as a money-making venture. I wanted to generate a dialogue with other chroniclers and correspondents about using cards and photos as a way to communicate. I also needed a way to sell my cards, but mostly because I wanted to talk to the people who might buy them. I have found Zibbet forums to be friendly. People have gone out of their way to be supportive.

9. How would you recommend other Zibbeters make the most of Zibbet.com?

   As a business, you’d want to use Zibbet’s marketing tools and get involved in their online community, to get the word out about your shop. Visit other shops and respond to the vendor’s work. (I need to follow my own advice.)

10. In the future I’d like to be…

    a better photographer and know my camera better; braver with my cards and picture-taking (right now, I’m pretty conservative because I just want to get things down on paper); involved in an ongoing lively discussion about the arts; a permanent resident in an interesting neighborhood.

Sole proprietorships have one proprietor, or owner. The owner of the business has unlimited liability for the debts incurred by the business. Unlimited liability means that a sole proprietor’s personal assets may be seized to repay debts incurred by the business.

Partnerships are owned by two or more people, with each partner having unlimited liability for the debts incurred by the business. There are three types of partnerships: general partnerships, limited partnerships, and limited liability partnerships, also referred to as limited liability companies or LLCs.

Corporations have privileges and liabilities that are distinct from those of its members and are distinguished from sole proprietorships and partnerships by having limited liability for debts. This liability is usually limited to a fixed sum, most commonly the value of a person’s investment in a company.

When deciding to start a business, it’s important to carefully choose how your business will be legally organized and the costs and potential risks associated with each option. How is your business organized?

Best wishes for much success on Zibbet!

Let’s Talk Business | Your Business Investment | More About Money | Business Organization | Legal Matters | Copyright | Insurance

Vicki is committed to assisting her fellow Zibbeters improve their shops for successful online selling. She is the owner of five Zibbet shops: LOC Design Studio, Denim and Pearls, A Stitch and a Prayer, Black Creek Crossing and Think Like a Fish. You can follow Vicki on Twitter and through her LOC Design Studio blog.

This is a Zibbet shop you will want to take your time browsing through to see if you can find the faeries. In Sylvie’s words: “If you look very carefully as you wander through, you might catch a glimpse of a little faerie or hear the tinkling sound of her laughter, like chimes in the breeze, as she flits here and there between the shimmery treasures.”

Please enjoy the interview, leave Sylvie a comment, and then use the Share Tools so others can read it, too. Please spread the Zibbet Love!

1. Tell us a bit about yourself?

   The love of handmade is in my blood.  The first ancestor on my paternal grandmother’s side was named Olivier Quesnel.  He was a master armorer who emigrated from St. Malo France to Montreal, Quebec in the late 1600s.  I am a direct descendant of a long line of people who worked with their hands.  My father is a master carpenter and my mom is a seamstress.  My grandmother taught me how to crochet when I was 9.  My mom taught me to sew around the same time and I made all of my own clothes until I was in my early 30s when my time became occupied with raising 3 little boys under the age of 4.  I have been married 28 years and my 3 sons are now young men. My hubby and I live on a very peaceful 8 acres in the country just outside a large metropolitan city in Western New York.  My studio loft is surrounded with windows overlooking the woods on two sides of the house.  It is where I am most at peace and content.  It’s where I spend everyday.  I truly am blessed.  Life is good.

2. Apart from being ‘creative’ what do you do?

   If I could, I would spend just about every waking moment in my studio making ’stuff’.  But I do have a life.  A life that includes a lot of outdoor activities.  Walking, hiking, kayaking, riding my bicycle…my pink beach cruiser with whitewall tires.  And a basket.  I drive a Jeep Wrangler and wouldn’t want to drive anything else.  My husband has a Harley motorcycle and as soon as the weather permits, we ride every chance we get.  I even took the class and got my motorcycle license.  I just haven’t decided yet, if I really want to drive on the road in traffic.  We love to entertain and according to our friends and kids, give the best parties.  And now the boys are grown and our schedule permits, we are starting to travel.  Last year I went to visit a friend in Brisbane, Australia.  As amazing as it may sound, I had never been off the continent.  So this was a BIG trip for me and I loved it.  Except the 14 hour flight over the ocean.  I’m not the best at sitting still for very long.  Our idea of a great date night is a long leisurely dinner at a nice restaurant.  And I love ‘redecorating’ my living environment.  We seem to have a habit of taking on renovation projects.  When finished, we always say, that’s it!  No more.  Then the next thing I know, I’m looking at something else that “would be fun to do”.  Hubby shudders when he hears these words:  “I saw something on HGTV that I think….”  It’s safe to say that we like to keep busy and love to relax.  I will never be without something to do.

3. What inspires you to do the kind of work you do?

   I don’t know where my inspiration comes from.  Maybe that’s because it’s everywhere I look, everything I see.  Somehow when I look at something, I just see another way to make it.  Sometimes I pick something up and keep looking at it trying to figure out how could I incorporate this into what I make.  Most of my creations simply evolve.  I pick up some materials and just start working with no vision of the final product.  I start, then keep adding to it until I think it’s finished.  Mostly, though I am inspired by nature.  I can think of nothing else that is as beautiful as nature.  Leaves have always and still are a big part of my works.  Whether I’m using an old leaf brooch as a clasp on my wire crochet cuff.  Or I’m using natural leaves I pressed.  I have an unexplainable affinity for leaves.  They seem to define my work more than anything else.

4. Do you look up to anyone? Who? Why?

   As cliche as it sounds, my hubby is who I look up to.  He has been my biggest supporter.  Not only for my Albina Rose business, but for everything I take on in life.  He truly is my best friend and understands me better than anyone else on the planet.  He gives me encouragement when I’m struggling.  Great advice when I ask for it.  Kudos when I achieve a success, no matter how small that little accomplishment may be.  And lets me dip into our house checking account when I’m in the red.  And lets me know when he thinks I’m wrong.  Howard is always there for me when I need him and even when I don’t.  He is and always has been my rock, my anchor, my guiding light.  We have three grown sons who have brought us the most love, joy, stress, pride, challenges…they are the best thing we have accomplished together.  Our biggest success.  And Howard has worked hard with more tenacity than anyone else I’ve ever known, to support our family and allow me to be a stay-at-home mom.  To allow me to pursue my passion.  He is the one person I look up to, admire and respect more than any other.

5. What other passions do you have in your life?

   Entertaining. Cooking.  Being outside.  Those are my favorite things to do, if I’m not in my studio.  I especially love to cook for our guests.  My specialty is breakfast.  Creating something delicious, out of the ordinary, and the presentation of the food…seeing people enjoy it and the smiles on their faces.  Makes me smile and feel good to know I can make others feel good. Being outside is heaven to me.  Even on the cold winter days of Western New York.  Breathing in the fresh air, experiencing the dead silence in the woods, feeling the wind on my face…that’s when I feel the freest.  And that explains why I love driving my jeep with the top down on a gorgeous summer day.

6. What do you like most about Zibbet?

   Oh there are a few things I love about Zibbet.  The first one that comes to mind is the ability to customize our shops so we can better express our own brand rather than the venue’s branded image.  You do have to be a Premium seller to have that capability.  Paying an annual fee rather than listing fees.  My sales so far have already paid for my fee and then some.  I like that.  I also enjoy the fact that Zibbet admin respond immediately to concerns and issues.  That is like icing on the cake.  And I would be remiss if I didn’t mention the Zibbet community.  It’s very upbeat and the members are some of the most helpful I’ve ever met in any other online venue.  You do feel a real sense of community that is not like others.  My Zibbet experience has been very positive and I have been enjoying it.

7. What ‘new’ things would you like to see added to Zibbet?

   As much as I love Zibbet, I do have a wish list.  But it’s short!  At the top of my list is a guest check-out.  I know this is not likely to happen due to the type of venue.  And I understand quite well why having this feature would defeat a part of the purpose of a marketplace.  But I have heard from enough people that they don’t like having to sign up online to make purchases, that I see it as a possible detriment to our businesses. I must repeat  though, I do understand the nature of a marketplace is different than an online store who offers this feature.  The other thing on my wishlist is a different forum format.  I find it a little cumbersome as it is set up now.  Maybe if it were not separated from the marketplace.  I find it a little confusing trying to keep up with replies that are within a reply, within a reply…but my husband would also tell you that I am easily confused sometimes.  Other than those two items, I’m quite happy as far as features within the site.

8. How do you promote your work?

   Aaaahhh…how do I promote my work?  I haven’t been the best at offline promotion.  Like the business end of business, I do it only because I have to, not because I like it.  I would prefer my time be spent creating.  But.  The reality is, there does have to be promotion.  So, I have all the usual suspects lined up.  Facebook, Twitter, Blogger…I hand out business cards, I have a link to my shop in my email signature.  I give away little freebies.  My biggest offline promotional efforts are having home jewelry parties.  I usually have a couple big ones a year.  I’m always adding to the mailing list so attendance does improve.  But I have to say that my biggest promotion are my friends and family who tell everyone they know about me. In the end it is a combination of all the above.  And quite honestly, I should be doing more.  That is one of my goals for the upcoming year.

9. How would you recommend other Zibbeters make the most of Zibbet.com?

   How to make the most of Zibbet.com, I think, is the same answer to making the most of anything in your life.  Get to know the site, its features, everything it has to offer.  Pick and choose those that you feel would most benefit you and your business.  Then make it a habit to use them on a regular basis.  I enjoy getting to know members of the community so I will spend time in the forums when I have the free time to do so.  I learn alot from interacting with other artisans.  I have customized my shop as much as possible to reflect my brand.  I have tweaked and tweaked over the past few months til I couldn’t see straight.  But I finally have a look that best reflects me and my creations.  I think making the most of anything, including Zibbet, will be different for each individual.  The trick is finding what works best for you.  Maybe, that means, my answer is use the site to its full potential to your best advantage.  Tailor it to fit you.

10. In the future I’d like to be…

    In the future I want to be exactly who I am meant to be. There is a saying “It takes courage to grow up and be who you really are.”  It’s taken me 56 years to get that.  I like who and where I am.  I’m exactly what and where I’d like to be.  Now and in the future.  But this doesn’t mean I’m not open to a new adventure or anything like that.  I’m always open to new ideas.

After reading about today’s Fantastic Five be sure to check out the Valentine Gift Guide on Zibbet. Shopping for him or her? Check those gift guides. Also search for hearts, romance, valentine and some very interesting items under cupid. Gosh I would love you all for sharing this feature to spread the Zibbet Love!

1. Pink Glitter Hearts Layered Glycerin Soap in Fragrant Black Raspberry Vanilla by AlaiynaBSoaps $5: Who’s on your Valentines Day shopping list? Grandma, mom, your sisters, a friend at the office, a favorite waitress…these heart-shaped glitter soaps would please just about anyone. And so affordable you should order them for everyone on your list.

2. Handmade Recycled Glass Wall Pocket, Miniature Wave by Steider Studios $18: How romantic! Don’t just give a bunch of flowers on Valentines Day. Make someone’s heart pitter patter with any one of Steider Studio’s handmade wall pockets made with recycled glass. Elegant! Many more to choose from in her shop.

3. All I ask of you is to forever remember me as loving you Heart Bowl by PattyMara $15: What a special Valentine this bowl would make. It features the words from a Sufi song of peace. The sweet bowl is hand painted, glazed and fired to 1800 degrees, making it food safe and dishwasher friendly. Someone you love will treasure it.

4. Red Satin Lightning Red Velvet Back Men Panties by Creations620 $12.99: Is there a man on your Valentines Day shopping list? These red undies were designed for men. He’ll love the lightning bolts and they are sure to make your Valentines Day very romantic.

5. White & Black Gift Bags Set of Three with Fabric Flowers & Handpainted Leaves by Peppercorns $7.50: Once you find those special Valentine gifts on Zibbet, be sure to wrap them up a romantic way. These fancy gift bags would get the heart pumping even before the gift is opened.

Only 21 Shopping Days Until Valentines Day! Shop NOW on Zibbet!

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very top image - Valentine Love Hearts Explosion Box by Inkspirational Designs $15

Judy writes the ‘Fantastic Five‘ column where she features 5 Zibbet items every week. She is the owner of four Zibbet shops: Portable Graffiti Graphics, Portable Graffiti buttons, Proofreader, and Wild Goose Chase vintage, crafts and supplies. You can follow Judy on Facebook.

Computer Equipment - The specific components needed will vary depending on your business. However, we all need a computer and printer. I recommend that you include an uninterrupted power supply (UPS) and an external device for data back up as part of your hardware configuration. Computers can fail unexpectedly for a multitude of reasons. The loss of data can be devastating to any business. Be careful!

If you participate regularly in craft fairs, a portable computing device may need to go on your list of ‘must have’ equipment. Being able to accept credit card payments is a convenience that can lead to increased sales at shows. The most affordable credit card processing option available, Square, requires either a tablet computer or smart phone. Square doesn’t work with a notebook or desktop computer.

Computer Software - You’re going to need a program to keep track of your income and expenses. You may choose to use a spreadsheet or a more complex accounting program. Special purpose software needs will vary depending on the nature of the products you create.

Internet Access - Obviously, you can’t sell online without Internet access and an online storefront. Zibbet’s Premium account offers an excellent value, with allowing an unlimited number of products making it well worth the price. The cost of an annual Premium subscription is less than the expense of participating in most one day craft shows.

You should also consider purchasing a domain name for your business even if you don’t plan to have a separate website. Your domain name can ‘point’ to your Zibbet shop and potentially increase traffic there.

Imaging Equipment - In order to sell your products online, you must be able to present excellent images of those products. A digital camera is a must for photographing most products. Part of your camera investment may need to include a basic photography class. A scanner is another device that can prove invaluable in the creation of product images.

Advertising - Business cards are a ‘must have’ promotional tool–don’t leave home without them! Project Wonderful and Google Adwords are two popular avenues for online advertising.

This in’t an exhaustive list of everything you’ll need to purchase for your business. However, it provides a place to start thinking about how you should be spending your business dollars. What are some of your basic business expenses?

Best wishes for much success on Zibbet!

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Vicki is committed to assisting her fellow Zibbeters improve their shops for successful online selling. She is the owner of five Zibbet shops: LOC Design Studio, Denim and Pearls, A Stitch and a Prayer, Black Creek Crossing and Think Like a Fish. You can follow Vicki on Twitter and through her LOC Design Studio blog.