After leaving traditional employment five months ago, Pete’s primary attention has been to grow our online stores. We’re proud of the fact that he’s achieved “Pro Seller” status on Zazzle, where we have our main retail presence: YourShopofShops.com. Recently, Pete won a Design Award in the political category for a bumpersticker, and his products are pretty regularly pulled out and featured by the company. Over the summer and early fall, Pete increased the number of products in our stores to just over 13,000, and sales for October were at 161% of the same month last year, and up 20% year to date. Additionally, at the end of October, we’d exceeded all of last year’s sales, with the lucrative months of November and December yet to occur, and 22 products sold for the very first time. If we were traditional retailers with a brick and mortar store (and thank God we’re not!), we’d be dancing in the aisles.

It is time, we agreed, for a Christmas Catalog. As is usually the case with small businesses, a great idea comes and needs almost immediate priority. This is one of the reasons I love working in an organization of two: you can pivot easily and punt a new objective into play by reassigning importance to tasks. Pete set out last week to make the catalog happen and put in 10 and 12 hour days to finish it. We think it’s beautiful, and we hope you like it, too! Click the image for an easy PDF download for yourself.
Forward Our Catalog via email to a friend or colleague.

Right in the middle of all the work for the Christmas Catalog, Zazzle rolled out some new products. We’d long awaited the opportunity to provide these items and Pete was just waiting to access his design skills in a new context. Here are some of our favorites. Check out the ornament, coaster and calendar categories in the store for more.

And, just because we love ya, here’s an early Christmas present: a $10 discount on your Zazzle order of $35 or more! Click this link to get it.

But wait, there’s more!

One of the less prominent aspects of what we do is ongoing work for clients. Our longterm client, THE original basket boutique (OBB Gifts), is a global company (North America, Persian Gulf and Australia), whose franchisees provide gourmet gifts for business clients and individual customers. Betsy has designed an award-winning email newsletter subscription program resource for the company, and provides ongoing services as their Director of Communications and Global Development.

Recently, we’ve been involved with the rest of the OBB Executive Team in a re-vamping of the OBB franchise structure. This is a marvelous opportunity for would-be entrepreneurs – you literally deliver good taste and happiness! We’re proud to have contributed to these improvements by designing a series of free informational resources folks who are contemplating a career in the gourmet gift industry can receive by email. If you, or anyone you know, is intrigued by the prospect of business ownership with a more traditional model, check THE original basket boutique’s franchise information website out. Or order a yummy gift basket for someone special!

We’re continuing with additional projects for other clients, and we’re beginning our strategic plan for 2012 for additional aspects of our travel business, the online stores, and our valued clients.

But before the holiday season really heated up, we decided we’d share a bit of what we know by offering our first Local Workshop for new “Zazzlers.” This will occur here in the Minneapolis area on the Sunday after Thanksgiving (November 27) from noon to 3 pm. We’re very limited on space and as of this writing, we’ve got 3 openings left. If you’d like to start or continue down this particular avenue to residual income, email me: betsywuebker AT gmail DOT com: for details.

Thanks for reading. We’re grateful beyond measure for all these wonderful opportunities, thankful for each of you, and wish you the best as we begin the happiest of holiday seasons.

Related articles from Passing Thru

• Making Money Online: Be the Tortoise, Not the Hare
• RELIANCE
• Looking Ahead
• PLAY OFFENSE WITH YOUR LIFE’S WORK
• FINDING VALUE IN UNCERTAINTY
• TRAVEL IS NOT JUST FUN, NOW IT’S OUR BUSINESS
• Laying the Keel
• You Never Know What Someone is Going to Buy
• What the Heck is Going On Here?

An Update with a Couple of Firsts is a post from: Passing Thru

Photo by Pete Wuebker

O thou that tellest good tidings to Zion, get thee up into the high mountain;
O thou that tellest good tidings to Jerusalem, lift up thy voice with strength; lift it up, be not afraid; say unto the cities of Judah, Behold your God!

Wishing you and yours a very Merry Christmas!

With love and appreciation , Betsy and Pete

BEHOLD! is a post from: Passing Thru

Merry Christmas!

Photo by Peter Wuebker

And the glory of the Lord shall be revealed, and all flesh shall see it
together: for the mouth of the Lord hath spoken it. (Isaiah 40:5)

AND THE GLORY OF THE LORD SHALL BE REVEALED . . . is a post from: Passing Thru

Photo by Pete Wuebker

I saw three ships come sailing in
On Christmas day, on Christmas day;
I saw three ships come sailing in
On Christmas day in the morning.

And what was in those ships all three,
On Christmas day, on Christmas day?
And what was in those ships all three,
On Christmas day in the morning?

Our Savior Christ and His lady,
On Christmas day, on Christmas day;
Our Savior Christ and His lady,
On Christmas day in the morning.

Pray whither sailed those ships all three,
On Christmas day, on Christmas day?
Pray whither sailed those ships all three,
On Christmas day in the morning?

O they sailed into Bethlehem,
On Christmas day, on Christmas day,
O they sailed into Bethlehem,
On Christmas day in the morning.

And all the bells on earth shall ring,
On Christmas day, on Christmas day;
And all the bells on earth shall ring,
On Christmas day in the morning.

And all the angels in Heav’n shall sing,
On Christmas day, on Christmas day;
And all the angels in Heav’n shall sing,
On Christmas day in the morning.

And all the souls on Earth shall sing,
On Christmas day, on Christmas day;
And all the souls on Earth shall sing,
On Christmas day in the morning.

Then let us all rejoice amain,
On Christmas day, on Christmas day;
Then let us rejoice amain,
On Christmas day in the morning.

PRAY WHITHER SAILED THOSE SHIPS ALL THREE . . . is a post from: Passing Thru

Photo by Pete Wuebker

O holy night! The stars are brightly shining,
It is the night of our dear Saviour’s birth.
Long lay the world in sin and error pining,
‘Til He appear’d and the soul felt its worth.
A thrill of hope the weary world rejoices,
For yonder breaks a new and glorious morn.

Fall on your knees! O, hear the angels’ voices!
O night divine, O night when Christ was born;
O night divine, O night, O night Divine.

Led by the light of Faith serenely beaming,
With glowing hearts by His cradle we stand.
So led by light of a star sweetly gleaming,
Here come the wise men from Orient land.
The King of Kings lay thus in lowly manger;
In all our trials born to be our friend.

He knows our need, to our weakness is no stranger,
Behold your King! Before Him lowly bend!
Behold your King, Behold your King.

Truly He taught us to love one another;
His law is love and His gospel is peace.
Chains shall He break for the slave is our brother;
And in His name all oppression shall cease.
Sweet hymns of joy in grateful chorus raise we,
Let all within us praise His holy name.

Christ is the Lord! O praise His Name forever,
His power and glory evermore proclaim.
His power and glory evermore proclaim.

LED BY THE LIGHT . . . is a post from: Passing Thru

Merry Christmas!

Photo by Pete Wuebker

Some children see Him lily white,
the baby Jesus born this night.
Some children see Him lily white,
with tresses soft and fair.

Some children see Him bronzed and brown,
The Lord of heav’n to earth come down.
Some children see Him bronzed and brown,
with dark and heavy hair.

Some children see Him almond-eyed,
this Savior whom we kneel beside.
some children see Him almond-eyed,
with skin of yellow hue.

Some children see Him dark as they,
sweet Mary’s Son to whom we pray.
Some children see him dark as they,
and, ah! they love Him, too!

The children in each different place
will see the baby Jesus’ face
like theirs, but bright with heavenly grace,
and filled with holy light.

O lay aside each earthly thing
and with thy heart as offering,
come worship now the infant King.
‘Tis love that’s born tonight!

SOME CHILDREN SEE HIM . . . is a post from: Passing Thru

The lyrics of this favorite carol , “do you hear what I hear?” and “do you see what I see?”  were written under very different circumstances.  Yet, they transcend by making us think how under-appreciated God’s creations can be unless we stop and take notice.  Merry Christmas!

Photo by Pete Wuebker

Said the night wind to the little lamb,
“Do you see what I see?
Way up in the sky, little lamb,
Do you see what I see?
A star, a star, dancing in the night
With a tail as big as a kite,
With a tail as big as a kite.”

Said the little lamb to the shepherd boy,
“Do you hear what I hear?
Ringing through the sky shepherd boy,
Do you hear what I hear?
A song, a song, high above the trees
With a voice as big as the sea,
With a voice as big as the sea.”

Said the shepherd boy to the mighty king,
“Do you know what I know?
In your palace warm, mighty king,
Do you know what I know?
A Child, a Child, shivers in the cold;
Let us bring him silver and gold,
Let us bring him silver and gold.”

Said the king to the people everywhere,
“Listen to what I say!
Pray for peace, people everywhere,
Listen to what I say!
The Child, the Child, sleeping in the night,
He will bring us goodness and light,
He will bring us goodness and light.”

A SONG, A SONG HIGH ABOVE THE TREES . . . is a post from: Passing Thru

Denali National Park - August 2008 by Pete Wuebker

I wonder as I wander out under the sky,
How Jesus the Savior did come for to die.
For poor on’ry people like you and like I…
I wonder as I wander out under the sky.

When Mary birthed Jesus ’twas in a cow’s stall,
With wise men and farmers and shepherds and all.
But high from God’s heaven a star’s light did fall,
And the promise of ages it then did recall.

If Jesus had wanted for any wee thing,
A star in the sky, or a bird on the wing,
Or all of God’s angels in heav’n for to sing,
He surely could have it, ’cause he was the King.

AS I WANDER OUT UNDER THE SKY… is a post from: Passing Thru

Midwinter Geese by Pete Wuebker

Angels from the realms of glory,
Wing your flight o’er all the earth;
Ye who sang creation’s story,
Now proclaim Messiah’s birth:
Come and worship,
Come and worship,
Worship Christ, the newborn King!

Shepherds, in the fields abiding,
Watching o’er your flocks by night,
God with man is now residing,
Yonder shines the infant Light;
Come and worship,
Come and worship,
Worship Christ, the newborn King!

Sages, leave your contemplations,
Brighter visions beam afar;
Seek the great desire of nations,
Ye have seen His natal star;
Come and worship,
Come and worship,
Worship Christ, the newborn King!

Saints before the altar bending,
Watching long in hope and fear,
Suddenly the Lord, descending,
In His temple shall appear:
Come and worship,
Come and worship,
Worship Christ, the newborn King!

WING YOUR FLIGHT O’ER ALL THE EARTH… is a post from: Passing Thru

This is the Little Cedar Spirit Tree, revered by the Ojibwe, on our beloved Minnesota North Shore.  We were fortunate to be escorted by a member of the Grand Portage band to this holy site  where the tree, hundreds of years old, grows from rock, sustained by the Great Spirit.  Merry Christmas!

Spirit Tree, Lake Superior 2007, by Pete Wuebker

O Christmas tree, O Christmas tree,
How faithful are thy branches.
O Christmas tree, O Christmas tree,
How faithful are thy branches.
‘Tis now alone in summer’s glow,
But thro’ the winter’s frost and snow.
How faithful are thy branches.

O Christmas tree, O Christmas tree,
I can but love thee dearly.
O Christmas tree, O Christmas tree,
I can but love thee dearly.
How many times on Christmas night,
Thy beauteous gifts have brought delight!
O Christmas tree, O Christmas tree,
I can but love thee dearly.

HOW FAITHFUL ARE THY BRANCHES . . . is a post from: Passing Thru