site.sparkle-plenty.com Blog

Ever Have A Bad Hair Day?

2010-06-03T20:40:23Z

“I’m having a bad hair day” at one time or another, and if you never have uttered those words, lucky you!

Well, for those who need a cute fix for your “BHD” the masters of bling at Sparkle Plenty Designs understand, and has just the ticket! In fact, they say, face it head on (pun intended) by sporting a sparkly Bad Hair Day crystal cap and tell the world you will win this battle with your tresses — tomorrow.

Sparkle Plenty’s Bad Hair Day caps are stars in their own right, as they were recently featured in a fun music video by Shannon Perry – you can check it out below – we think you’ll enjoy it!

To browse the array of sparkly crystal and rhinestone shirts, tanks, tees and caps, please visit Sparkle Plenty’s website. Accessories, crystal body tattoos, caps and much more can be found here.

Bling your House!

2010-04-15T14:34:57Z

For quite some time now, the use of Swarovski crystal as a form of decorative embellishment for clothing and accessories has been hugely popular (think shirts, hats, bags, shoes and so forth). Just about every woman loves sparkly things, so it’s no surprise that crystal decoration continues to grow in appeal. Just ask Sparkle Plenty Designs, which specializes in crystal and rhinestone bling.

But why stop at apparel? The aesthetic appeal of crystal needn’t be limited to just clothing. After all, if you really love bling, you’d probably love to see it on more than just the occasional shirt or accessory.

Consider the décor of your house or living space – the first things you notice are the objects or accents of beauty that give you a sense of joy and appreciation. They’re always within view, pleasing to the eye, and comforting to the soul. They reflect your aesthetic and you’re proud when people tell you so.

So ~ what if you could add a touch of sparkliness to your home? Well, you can!
Imagine some crystal pillows or sofa cushions:

What about crystal linens, crystal tablecloths, or even crystal drapes? Absolutely!! It can be done, and Sparkle Plenty Designs does it.

And, with Swarovski’s newest Crystallized™ product innovations, incorporating fabrics and crushed crystals for even more brilliance, the possibilities are endless and the look is, as always, stunning.

The best part? You get to enjoy it every day!

Would You Vajazzle?

2010-03-05T19:13:18Z

Yes, she Vajazzles!

Jennifer Love Hewitt does it and swears it makes her feel just fabulous! The girl next door is doing it for a hot Saturday night out, spas and salons around the globe are doing it to women by the dozens, and sexy wives are doing it to spice up date night with the hubby.

So, what is it?

It’s Vajazzling.

Come again???.

Yes, the art of the Vajazzle is simply “bedazzling” your bikini area with sparkling Swarovski crystals. It’s only temporary, as the crystals have a medical adhesive backing which will last on the skin for a few days – even during playtime. We think it might be a good idea to stay on the softer, gentler side, just in case.

So, go ahead and bling yourself – down there — it’s not for everyone, but it is HOT this Spring. You can choose your look with crystal designs ranging from pretty butterflies to stars, Valentine hearts to Saturn.

If your salon or spa is not offering Vajazzling as a service, grab some friends and purchase a collection from Sparkle Plenty Designs, (or just ask your waxing guru to add this service to the menu, and call Sparkle Plenty – it’s a fabulous add-on service).

If vajazzling is a bit too bold a step, you can use the crystal body embellishments on your shoulder, hip, arm, face, etc. – not all body bedazzling need go south for the springtime.

Customers, retail shops, spas and salons around the world purchase Swarovski body crystals from Sparkle Plenty Designs, who offers an assortment of sparkling motifs, and can even create customized designs.
(Please note: minimums apply).

We say, enjoy a bit of bling this Spring, and sparkle yourself anywhere you’d like!

Burberry’s Spring Bling

2010-03-03T15:49:59Z

Burberry's Crystal Trench

As mentioned in Marie Claire “spring glitters with elegant crystal fashions” – loved it! The magazine went on to state, “Perhaps seeking divine inspiration for their spring collections, designers set their sights on the heavens. At Burberry, a crystal-encrusted trench hit the runway like a meteor shower. The message to shoppers? Catch a falling star and put it in your closet — never let it fade away”. – Loved it more!

We at Sparkle Plenty Designs couldn’t have said it better ourselves, as our lives revolve around making people sparkle in our line of dazzling Swarovski crystal and rhinestone apparel, jewelry and accessories. “Blinging” logos, ideas and people to life in sparkling crystal or rhinestone apparel is our mission, and we love hearing kudos from our customers — it’s what keeps us ticking, and makes us feel all warm and sparkly inside!

Yes, this fabulous (maybe a bit over the top) Burberry trench is very hot this season for sure, but if it seems like too much of a good thing to you, you may wish to test a touch of bling to ease into your spring look. Maybe a simple tank will do, or perhaps a pretty little Swarovski tennis bracelet or crystal anklet is more your style. Browse through t-shirt looks ranging from inspirational messages to rhinestone margaritas to Swarovski crystal Twilight fan shirts, plus Sparkle Plenty’s online boutique offers plenty of affordable, (and fun) jewelry at Sparkle Plenty Designs.

Also, if you have an event, fundraiser or business and you’d like to find out what your custom design would cost in rhinestone or crystal, we’re happy to offer you a complimentary price quote, so call us at 215.389.1877. We’ll even offer you promotional ideas as well.

Enjoy your spring ~ and ~ as always,
STAY SPARKLY!

The Little Black Dress – Crystallized

2010-02-09T00:29:42Z

CRYSTALLIZED™ – Ways to Say Black

One year ago, CRYSTALLIZED™ – Swarovski Elements commissioned 22 of
fashion’s leading designers and most promising talents to create one
very special black dress each. Now, along with Phillips de Pury &
Company, the leading auction house for contemporary art and culture,
CRYSTALLIZED™ offers these unique pieces up in a way they can do the
most good.

In September 2010, at Phillips’ New York gallery, at 450 West 15th Street, all 22 dresses will be sold at auction to benefit the American Cancer Society and la Ligue nationale contre le cancer in France. One hundred percent of the proceeds will go to the two charities, as well as all profits from the sale of the book CRYSTALLIZED™ Ways to Say Black.

To see the full gallery of dresses, please visit: The Little Black Dress.

If you need a little bit of sparkle in your life – at a great price – please visit Sparkle Plenty Designs. Sparkle Plenty Designs specializes in creating sparkling Swarovski Crystallized logowear and apparel, “blinging” your idea to life through custom design (from apparel to linens to totes). Sparkle Plenty Designs will make your special event, business, brand, fundraiser, staff or YOU look – and feel gorgeous!

A custom crystal shirt by www.Sparkle-Plenty.com

Are You A Busy Bee?

2010-02-01T20:01:43Z

This is a fabulous guest post by Katrina Sawa – perfect lessons for any entreprenuer — so read on and enjoy!
~ Sparkle Plenty Team

In my business, I am constantly redefining myself, my services and my products in order to stay ahead of or at least keep up with the ever changing industry of marketing. If I don’t bring fresh new ideas and material to my clients and contacts on an ongoing basis, then someone else will.

To stay at the forefront, I spend a significant amount of my time working “on” my business, not just “in” it. That means, instead of always consulting with clients, I lock myself up with my computer and write up my ideas, products, figure out how to market them, get them on my website or decide how to offer them to my clients.

I wanted to bring this to your attention this week because I see hundreds of small business owners and entrepreneurs each month who are struggling to “get it all done”.

You know what I mean.

What I’ve found is that most entrepreneurs are not taking the time to work “on” their businesses, only struggle and stress out “in” it.

These same entrepreneurs are not open to learning new techniques about marketing, learning new industry standards, keeping their website and marketing materials current or even get out and meet new people to build relationships with to further their business. Or it may be that they’re open to it but they don’t see it as a necessary enough thing to fit into their schedule.

Hopefully this doesn’t sound familiar to you. But if it does….

I’m here to tell you I’ve seen a large percentage of those businesses go OUT OF BUSINESS by not focusing on the BIG PICTURE.

We all know the stats on how many businesses go out of business these days but with all the great info out there now (including my own resources – some paid, some FR.EE), it boggles my mind why they don’t do something about this.

Here are some action steps you can take to work more “ON” your business, easily and immediately:

1. Schedule 1 day each month as “Creative” Day
this day you will do nothing but sit and write down all the ideas that come to mind about how you can update or increase your business, who you know that you can work with on joint ventures, etc.

2. Schedule another day each month as “Implement” Day
this day you will do nothing but put those ideas into action – updating the text on your websites, writing and sending out a press release, planning your next workshop with flyer development, etc.

3. Contact 2-5 other professionals
these are people that you trust and ask them their perception of your business and ask them for ideas or feedback on what you could do to update it, freshen it up, revise it, change it or add to it

Furthermore, if you want help with learning if you are a worker bee, I would suggest signing up for one of my Private Coaching Programs, however you can always start out with a complimentary Getting Acquainted Session too if you want to ’see’ what’s possible first but I do take these very seriously so please only serious entrepreneurs apply. If you’re more of a do-it-yourselfer, check out my JumpStart Your Marketing(TM) System or other products online at http://www.JumpStartYourMarketing.com/products .

Katrina Sawa is an Award-Winning Author, Speaker and International JumpStart Your Biz Coach who’s helped hundreds of small business owners take dramatic steps in their businesses to get them to the next level in business, revenues and their personal life. She offers one-on-one coaching, group coaching and do-it-yourself business-building products. She’s been featured on various news talk shows and radio shows including Oprah and Friends XM Radio. Go online now to get started with her Free Entrepreneur’s Success Kit at Jump Start Your Marketing.

Please remember, if you need some sparkle to bring, or should we say “BLING” you brand to life, please visit us at Sparkle Plenty Designs for beautiful custom crystal and rhinestone shirts & apparel.

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Hot Promotion Idea for Bars, Restaurants & Nightclubs: Think Sparkle!

2010-02-01T20:03:03Z

What do NASA, the Dallas Cowboys Cheerleaders and Mexico’s Top Model have in common? Answer: Sparkling custom rhinestone logo wear from Sparkle Plenty Designs.

Sparkle Plenty Designs specializes in “blinging” your company’s message or logo to life in Swarovski crystal or rhinestone – a look that’s guaranteed to get attention all around, particularly from women (think staff apparel for clubs and bars; promotional apparel for staff marketing brands at tradeshows). Apart from your logo, custom design work can be focused on events ranging from Valentine’s Day to Mardi Gras, to St. Patty’s.

Match that oh-so-seducing sparkle to a flattering, fitted ladies shirt, and you’ve got a promotional item that will have patrons clamoring for giveaways, but more importantly, you’ll have a perfect impulse purchase. The aesthetic appeal alone is enough to seal the deal, often regardless of what’s on the shirt. And because women love bling, and are tuned in to the fashions of other women, your sparkly logo wear creates more attention for your brand, as in “walking billboard”.

In addressing the needs of promotional buyers, Sparkle Plenty has found a balance between quality custom design work and cost efficiency. Options for promotional items range from clothing to caps, totes, and even skin – yes, crystal body tattoos are hot! Relatively inexpensive with one size for all, this is an item that’s easy to work with, and sure to please. Not to mention, they can also be applied to glasses and bottles – perfect for liquor brands’ promotions. These are perfect for Spring Break and beach events.

As recently pointed out by Wearables Magazine – the authority for the promotional apparel industry – in a trend alert titled, Bring Out The Bling: “….metallics and shiny apparel remain ‘in’ no matter what the season”.
For more information about Sparkle Plenty Designs and a complimentary quote, please call (215) 389-1877 or email: info@sparkle-plenty(dot)com.
~ ~ ~

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‘Tis the Season for Sparkle

2010-02-01T20:12:36Z

It’s the time of year when shimmer, glitter and sparkle rule, and nobody does sparkle quite like Swarovski crystal. This year, Swarovski’s CRYSTALLIZED™ brand has teamed up with New York’s legendary Fifth Avenue boutique Henri Bendel this holiday season, to bring its customers an extravagant array of glittering delights.

Some of the eye candy includes: mannequins wearing crystal-encrusted jump suits and masquerade masks decorate the windows; twinkling LED crystals create a starry night sky; a custom-made crystal curtain, inspired by that used at the 2009 Academy Awards, frames the main entrance; chandeliers made with Swarovski crystals, and a three story-high, CRYSTALLIZED™ tree graces the atrium.

If your love sparkle, and would love to have some to call your very own, be sure to visit one of Swarovski’s CRYSTALLIZED™ branding partners,
Sparkle Plenty Designs. Sparkle Plenty specializes in creating custom logo-wear and apparel for promotions, staff, retail shops and corporate branding, etc., – and – they offer a vast selection of crystal and rhinestone tee shirts, jewelry and sparkly accessories for retail shoppers.

We think you’ll like what you see!
HAPPY HOLIDAYS!

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Pink Sparks Interview with Lee Romano Sequeira of Sparkle Plenty Designs

2009-11-24T18:35:35Z

Spotlight On: Sparkle Plenty Designs
Name: Lee Romano Sequeira
Business name: Sparkle Plenty Designs
Company website: www.sparkle-plenty.com
Description of your business mission:
Our specialty at Sparkle Plenty Designs is creating custom logowear for promotions, special events, spas & salons, fundraisers, staff wear, retail sales, etc. We take our customer’s idea, event or logo and bring “bling” it to life in sparkling crystal or rhinestones.

I love to say we make people “sparkle” when they wear our shirts, and when you feel good on the inside, you always look good on the outside.

Sparkle Plenty’s first priority is to provide premium quality crystal and rhinestone embellished products to all our customers. Our choice of high-quality garments have a flattering fit, and a unique look that’s appealing, while standing the test of time and wear.

How long has Sparkle Plenty been in business?
10 years

How did you start/fund your company initially?
I actually was buying crystal tees and apparel from Sparkle Plenty Accents for my online gift, bath & body accessories boutique, GoodtoBeYou.com. I first saw them in 2004 at a beauty tradeshow in New York City.

When the owners mentioned they were parting ways and wanted to sell the business, my husband and I decided to take the plunge and acquire the company, which we renamed Sparkle Plenty Designs. Business loans helped us with our plan.

Do you have any employees or do you use freelance help? If so, can you tell us where you found your help?
Besides me and my husband Andrew (whom we affectionately call “Captain Crystal” who handles custom design work) we have the following on our team: Michelle handles online promotions, Jonelle assists with art and heat pressing the garments, Lorry helps us with customer contact and we have our Swarovski artists available to help us with our ideas for new products. This is a nice benefit of being a Crystallized branding partner with Swarovski crystal.

I used word of mouth and advertised on Craigslist for a couple of the positions. We also have a few independent sales reps across the U.S.

What’s the one online marketing activity you feel has worked the best for your business?
Our sites are key. People love our websites, they are beautiful to look at, and I must give credit to our web designer Liz Ross of Webweavers (Liz is so talented!) She and I worked out the initial concepts for both sites GoodtoBeYou.com & Sparkle Pleny Designs and Liz made all of my ideas come to life – and really sparkle!

As for gaining our new custom clients, we really talk to our customers and are happy to offer ideas for their design. We even like to offer promotional tips for their business.

Are you active on any social networking websites such as Twitter, Facebook or Linkedin?
Yes, very. I love staying social with Facebook, Linkedin and Twitter, and also try to stay active in a few specialty b-to-b networking sites — I just wish there were more hours in the day (like most of us women entrepreneurs do).

If so, how do you manage your activity on these sites? For instance, do you interact randomly, when you feel like it or do you have a strategic plan?
I log in almost daily and keep business and personal mixed. Since we “are” business and interact closely with our customers, I like to keep a casual, upbeat and friendly vibe…we are talking about fun sparkly apparel after all.

How do you manage to balance family life, personal time and business?
Sometimes it’s all a blur, and I slip into my “workaholic” mode, but I really like what I do, so that’s a plus.

I do get to the gym a few times a week, and I’ll take a break during the day with Andrew to take our two terriers out for a walk, and enjoy some fresh air. We also have a weekly night out with a close circle of friends — perfect to decompress, and getting out does the trick of getting me away from the laptop.

Do you have any advice for other women wanting to start their own businesses?
Do something you love, take it slowly, but act — action is key.

Always be sure to give back. Whether it’s advice, time or donations, the more you give, the more you’ll get. Keep a positive attitude and realize every day is not going to go as always planned, so you just have to roll with the ups and downs. Also, take time for yourself – do things you enjoy: read, meditate, play with the dogs/kids and be sure to take time out to exercise a few times a week.

Anything else to share?
Let’s connect!
Please add us at Sparkle Plenty to your network:
Facebook: www.facebook.com/sparkleplentydesigns
Twitter: @sparkleplenty1

Insuring a Profitable Holiday Season for your Spa Business

2009-11-16T20:01:12Z

by Dori Soukup, Executive Director of InSPAration Management

Holiday Spa & Salon Promotions

Yes, it’s November already and you know what that means — Thanksgiving, Christmas, the entire Holiday Season is just around the corner. You know the old saying “if you don’t have a plan, you are planning to fail”, so don’t postpone your success! Here are a few KEY steps to insure a profitable holiday season for your spa or salon.

“8 Steps for Success” Plan:
1. Merchandising MIX
2. Gift card packages
3. Decorating the spa
4. Holiday event
5. E-news Marketing
6. Special client gifts
7. Team targets
8. Team party

1. Merchandising MIX
Decide what new gift items you want to offer and order them now. Create a festive way to package them. Bundling a few items together is a good idea, but make sure the packaging is attractive and irresistible. You want low, medium and high price points in order to appeal to different clientele. Run reports to determine what sold very well for you last year and do something similar. Don’t get stocked up on only skin care. Combine skin care with other items like CD’s, bath products, accessories, candles, books, etc. Get creative and involve your team in the process. If they are sold on the items, your team is more likely to promote and sell them.

2. Gift Card Packages
Gift card sales are always a big hit during the holidays, but here is a tip on how to maximize your gift card sales. Don’t sell gift cards alone. Create three to four packages of gift cards and include product gifts within each one. So instead of someone just buying a gift card, they are able to buy a gift with the card. Create a flyer featuring 3 or 4 packages and make sure they are at different price points. Display the gifts in a prominent area within the spa to attract attention and make people aware of the packages. This really works! You can increase your gift card sales tremendously.

3. Decorating the Spa
Make the spa ambiance festive, but keep it simple. Remember less is more. Include your products within the decorations. A simple thing to do is to display beautifully wrapped packages with ribbons especially by the gift card area. Have fun and get creative!

4. Holiday Event
What a great way to thank all your clients and generate revenue at the same time!
Planning a Holiday party should involve the whole team. I can write an entire article about this topic alone. But to summarize, you will need to do an invitation, barter all your food and drinks, decide on which treatments you want to feature in each room. Most importantly, set a target as to how much business you want to generate. One key point is to give each guest when they walk in “spa dollars” that are good only during the event. Spa dollars are used towards a variety of items you are offering on that day. At events like this, depending on how many people you invite, thousands of dollars in sales can be generated.

5. E-news Marketing Prepare and send out gift card promotions via e-mail. Inform your clients of all the fun and exciting things you have going on this season. Include some spa cuisine recipes and tips on how to stay healthy during the Holiday season, and of course promote your gift packages. If you don’t have an e-newsletter check out, we have the “Ready-to-GO” Spa E-news, please visit our site InSPAration Management for details.

6. Special Client Gifts
We all have special clients that spend a lot of money. You want to show your appreciation to them with some sort of gift. Let them know they are special to you! One way to give a beautiful gift AND advertise your brand is with a rhinestone shirt from Sparkle Plenty Designs can create tees with your logo and/or name in attention-getting crystal or rhinestone — a gift your customers will enjoy wearing (and they can chat up your spa when people notice their sparkle-wear).

7. Team Targets
Set team targets for service, retail, and gift card package sales. Make a contest and give the winners or whoever reaches the target something special. Get the team excited about the opportunities they have.

8. Team Party
A Team appreciation party is a must! Do something special to let them know how valued they are. Lee Romano Sequeira, co-owner of Sparkle Plenty Designssays, “If you have a business or a team which needs to work together, or create a brand image for your company, giving your employees custom crystal or rhinestone apparel is terrific to build a sense of team spirit and camaraderie. It shows your staff that they are part of something.”

Go ahead and get started. We found the best way to get these things done is to schedule them into your calendar and begin working on them. If you start now and don’t procrastinate, you and your team will have a great Holiday Season.

If you own or manage a Spa, or wish to find out more information about coaching services to ignite your operation for dynamic spa performance please visit InSPAration Management.
InSPAration management specializes in delivering a full spectrum of proven-effective spa consulting solutions to ensure your spa’s success. Whether you have an existing spa or are opening a new spa, InSPAration offers professional spa consluting from pre-opening to grand opening…and beyond.