Good Friday to those who read this blog.

May you each have a great Friday and an even better weekend.

As we expand our baby sign offerings, we have decided to launch a new website and company for all of these different and exciting displays. Life is to much fun to offer just one. It will be a couple of days, or should I say a couple of weeks before we have this whole new site and company open for business. We will still be offering all of our designs and lawn displays for sale on either Clark Novelty Sign Sales, Inc, or A Happy Day Lawn Display, Inc and locally for rent on A Nete Idea. We are excited to offer this new way of offering our unique and wonderful designs for you the lawn greeter to offer to your customers for rent. Helping others to  rent special occasion lawn greeting displays is what we are all about. Celebrating life, by acknowledging newborns, birthdays, anniversaries, graduations, retirements, weddings, welcome home, get well, and other great times in ones life. If you have never rented a lawn greeting display for someone you know try it, and find out how much fun you can have celebrating life on the lawn. No lawn greeting company in your  area? Check out our web site, then give me a call and start your own company, we can help you be up and running in just a few weeks!


That's all for now

Catch ya later . . . . . . . . somewhere in the unwritten future . . . . . . . . none of that has happened yet.

Thought I would post the finished computer verison of our new Buck A Roo baby announcement yard display, before I go pick up the displays that are out today. It took a whole day just to get the hands the way we wanted them to look. We are going to make one of these signs for ourselves then one for our dealership in Marshall, TX. I also worked on another new baby display it's special display that our dealer in Hanover Park, IL requested, I will post a picture once we have a finished design.

These signs weigh about 32 lbs. about the same as the average 3 yearold toddler, with a width of 42" they are easy for anyone to handle, a fact that seems to escape some competitors. I have often heard how they think our signs are heavy, funny thing about that miss conception, is that none of them have to my knowledge ever seen, or touched one of our displays let alone pick one up.

Here it is:




Let me know what you think, don't be afriad, all comments are hidden until I approve them. if you don't wish to have your comments posted for all to see, just say so in the post and I won't post it, I will delete after I read it.


that's all for now gotta go

Catch ya later . . . . . . somewhere in the unwritten future . . . . .  . none of that has happened yet.

Owning a lawn greeting business gives the parent or grandparent a chance to work from home, while caring for their small children or like in my case grandchildren. Operating your own business gives you some fexibility on child care, this is one of tne many benefits. Creating memories for your customers, and earning money dealing with happy customers are two more benefits.


Do you have questions about owning a yard card business?
Maybe I can answer a few.

How much does it cost?  Start up cost are about $5,000.00 (depending on how many displays are purchased and which displays are purchased.)

How soon can I start to see a profit? Some dealerships start see a complete profit (after marketing, other exspenses and cost of dealership) within 8 months of starting their business, others working at a slower pace take 12 to 15 months.

How much time is involved? As much as you want to spend, of course the more time you put into it the more money you will make.

Example of possible income

5 birthday (special occasion) displays purchased

rented for a 2 day period for $85.00

so you get this
5 signs out for a maximum of 15 times each
5 x 15 = 75
75 displays for $85.00 each
75 x $85.00 =$6375.00

Now to think that you will have your signs out all the time is a little unrealistic so on a more realistic scale you may be able to expect an income more like the following to start (depending on your time and population)

5 signs out 5 times each
5 x 5 = 25
25 displays for $85.00 each
25 x $85 = $2125.00



I will probably be posting another new baby sign picture today or tomorrow.
 - - - - -

On another topic who are you people that are searching for Kathy Doherty? Which Kathy Doherty are you looking for, if I am not the one? Please give me a clue as I find all the searches for someone with the same name as myself very curious.


Not walking this morning it's raining plus I have Lilli today.

That's it for now.

Catch ya later . . . . . . . somewhere in the unwritten future . . . . . . none of that has happened yet

Happy vetern's day to all the veteran's out there.


So any way today is a good day to rent a  lawn display to thank the veteran in your life.

I thought that even though I am still tweaking the buck a roo baby announcement sign I would post what I have so far. I am still not happy with the way the hands look, and am not sure it will look exactly like this because it is afer all a work in progress, feel free to let me know what you think. We will be offering it to our existing dealers in the next newsletter and placing it on the OB's (only babies) site and the regular dealership opportunity page once it is finished. At this time the it's a boy will be interchangeable with it's a girl.


So there ya have it our newest thoughts on one of several new baby announcement yard displays we are going to be unvieling in the next few months


 - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -




didn't walk this morning to cold brrrrrrrrrrr 31 degrees. I can only walk on Mondays, Tuesdays, the rest of the week I will have Lilli in the mornings.



catch ya later . . . . . somewhere in the unwritten future. . . . . . . . none of that has happened yet

Well, I was (still am) taking a break from tweaking our buck a roo baby display, and decided to check out our web site stats, and I found something interesting, we had a visitor come to our dealership directory page from a web site whose domain I used to own, (I didn't renew it last year as I had other things going on and was no longer interested in owning it) well, anyway, http://lawngreeters.com is now a listing of lawn greeting directories and industry information. It looks to have several of the different lawn greeting display directories listed as well as the lawn greeting association and forum as well as a listing for business opportunities and supplies like the ones we offer. It listing Clark Novelty Sign Sales, Inc but not A Happy Day Lawn Display, I will have to take some time and see if I can make sure both are listed separately.

Lunch is calling then it's back to work on the buck a roo, I really don't like to draw hands, it's a talent I have a hard time with.

catchya later . . . . . . . . somewhere in the unwritten future . . . . . . . none of that has happened yet.

Renting lawn greeing displays is fun, I get to help others celebrate special times in their lives and in the lives of their loved ones and friends. Happy times, happy occasions, happy customers. Every day is a new day to celebrate something in your life, as life is to be celebrated. Owning a Clark Novelty Sign Sales dealership can be your way of helping others celebrate life. Our dealerhsips are designed with all the supplies you would need to rent fun-filled colorful unique lawn greeting displays. You don't have to worry about someone else in your town purchasing the exact same displays, unlike some of our competitors your dealership includes an area within which we will not sell any of our products to anyone other than you. There are companies out there that sell prints and completed signs that will sell them to anyone anywhere regardless of who they have already sold to, with them you take a chance of they guy down the block offering the exact same displays, yuk. The cost of an entry level dealership is approximately $5,000.00 USD this amount of varies on the exact displays you order and how many displays you choose to start with. Check out our site http://clarknoveltysignsales.com for more information or call me 330-452-1522.



Smiles as so easy to give, and to receive, they are free and you never run out of them, so share one today.


 - - - - - - - - - -

Ok so I didn't feel up to walking this morning, I reallyshould have, and probably could have, but . . . . . I didn't. Couldn't shake the achy feeling I woke up with. And I really need to get some new shoes, the arch support is gone in the ones I have.

well I gotta to go, have 5 minutes to get to the post office then the office.


Catchya later . . . . . . . . somewhere in the unwritten future . . . . . . . . none of that has happened yet.

Well, it's off to vote then if I have time a walk in the park. Every election I am surprised by the people who don't exerice their right to vote, in EVERY ELECTION, not just the ones they think may be important. Tisk, tisk, each and every election is important.

Catchya later . . . . . . somewhere in the unwritten future . . . . . it'll all change by tonight . . . . . .none of that has happened yet.

Today is more of a personal note than business. However the personal plans were interupted by business.

We had three birthday displays to set up this morning, this didn't really go as planned, Mom's nervous blatter had different plans, after 3 bathroom stops we were running late. The first 2 displays were up as planned the last one, well . . . .there was noway we could get it up and me back to get Kate to school on time, so we decided to set it up later this morning, which actually worked becuase the 21 year old doesn't usually get up before 10. Mom picked me back up a little after 8am, we got to the house and set the sign up before the kid was up, success, and his mom who had ordered the hot rod car display didn't mind that we were running a little late. Then mom informed me that we were going to pick up the 2 baby signs that were suppose to come down yesterday (yesterday, yeah . . . well . . .  that's a whole other story). Picking up the baby signs this morning meant that I was unable to walk the track today. I was really really looking forward to walking this morning the weather is BEAUTIFUL! So anyone that was waiting for me this morning I apologize for not being there. The best laid plans were interupted by business, it happens sometimes, maybe next time.


Catch ya later . . . . . . . somewhere in the unwritten future . . . . . . none of that has happened yet, and well if I planned it . . . . . well, best laid plans of mice and men (or women)

Ok, so it seems luck has been with us, there were no rentals yesterday or today, which is actually a good thing, why you may ask, well. . . .Dad had some surgery on Friday, he is doing well, however he is not able to move his left arm and shoulder much until the stitches heal. This leaves the whole shebang up to mom and I. Though it's not the first time and I am sure it won't be the last, and I know that we can handle it, it's just nice to know that he is there to help.
Tomorrow we do have the Teddy bears going out and 2 baby displays to pick up, Monday however is going to be interesting, we have 3 displays going out, and Kara goes back to work so I will have Lilli.

Our dealership in Cottage Grove MN is very happy with his business as he is already averaging 4 signs a week.

The buckaroo sign is still in the tweaking stages and the western display . . . . well it's a slow going design, but it'll get there.

 - - - - - - - -

Now for a personnal note.

While I will have Lilli on Monday, it won't be until the afternoon, so I am planning on walking in the morning, after all I really need that 45 minutes to myself, the peace and solidute will be nice, I've missed it the last 2 weeks. Don't worry about joining me, I will not mind, a friend along side me doesn't bring stress, only a smile.

That's all for now,

wait, what was up on Friday October 31? There must have been some type of fluke or something, this blog recieved more than 750 views now that is Halloween weird, in my book.

And people what is up with all of the searches for Kathy Doherty again?


Bye for now

catch ya later . . . . . . . somewhere in the unwritten future . . . . . .  none of that has happened yet.

Special Occasion Lawn Displays for rent locally and for sale internationaly!

Ok, so what did I do to scare away some of my regular readers? The stats for this blog show a sharp drop off in readership in the last week, what's up with that any one care to enlighten me????

The tweaking of the buckaroo sign has taken a backseat to an order from our dealership in Chicago, and the designing of our western theme display. I have worked on it a little here and there, hopefully I will be able to post a pic soon. Then there is all work to be done on the rest of the new line of baby announcement yard signs we are in the process of introducing

There is a down side to the items we sell to our dealers as well as what we sell to the industry in general. Once a customer purchases the display items they don't have much of a  need to restock, only when one of the props or critters come up missing or are damaged while on display. Making a need for us to come up with new, more exciting designs and displays to offer. This draw back for us is a good reason for someone to start a small yard greeting business. Without having to worry about constant restocking, once a display or dealership is purchased there isn't much in the way of extra cost. Some of our dealerships have been able to recoup the initial cost and show a profit within 9 months, making a dealerhsip a great investment, and unusual business. The SBA states that on average it takes most new small businesses 2 to 3 years to show profit.

On the local rental side of our business October has been a pretty good month for us. Today is the only day this week where we have no signs going out. Our new moon'n'stars baby display is out for the first time (I need to swing up around and get a pic). Our caveman display and our hot chick have both been really popular for us this month (as expected). In fact we may have to make a second set of each, to keep up with the demand.




 - - - - -
Personal note:
I haven't walked all week, it's been a bit nippy out. Starting next week Kara goes back to work, I will have Lilli some mornings and I will not be walking those mornings. So far I can tell you that I will not be watching her on Thursdays, as it is Caleb's set day off. I can't wait til next spring when she will be big enough for me to bring with me on my morning walks. I am lucky as are Lilli, Kara and Cabel, that I am I a position to watch her while they are at work, and there is no need for daycare.


Ok that's all for now gotta get back to work

Catch ya later . . . .  . somewhere in the unwritten future . . . . . . none of that has happened yet

This week has been a pretty good week, had signs Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday, then nothing yesterday, and today, well, up untill 2:30 pm yesterday there had been no signs for today, then 2 calls came in both for today, both for the caveman display, of course in our first come first serve business, the first customer who called from Chicago, rented the caveman and the second customer, (a really good customer who has probably rented some 20 or more lawn dispalys) ended up renting the dinosuar. We recieved 4 orders on Wednesday, (most of November deliveries) and 5 orders yesterday (most of these for today and the end of October) Now if we can continue that trend I will really be happy.

In a couple of days I wll post more about the "going green" idea, you'll need to watch.

Our new display for our Marshall, Texas dealership is coming along nicely. We have made some changes on the baby display to make it interchangeable for it's a boy and it's a girl. And the adult display is taking a bit more work, I just can't seem to wrap my head around it.




A bit on the personnal note.

I haven't walked at all this week, just haven't felt up to it for some reason, probably because of stress which really is not a good reason not to walk in fact it is a great reason to walk! Plus, I need to get some new walking shoes.

With the weather changing I thought I would post my thoughts about walking during the winter months.

FIrst - I will walk if it is snowing, but not in the rain.
Second - I do not walk if the tempature is below 32 degrees Fahrenheit (this means windchill as well as actual tempature).
Third - I watch the weather channel to decide the above.



that 's all for now gotta to get back to work on the western display.



Catch ya later . . . . . . . . somewhere in the unwritten future . . . . . . . after all none of it has happened yet

Ok so here is goes, we have a new buck-a-roo baby sign that we will be offering starting this week, I will post a concept drawing of the sign in a few days, (it's done, just a little tweaking to do). Several more baby displays will be added in the coming weeks. Also n the designing board is our new "western theme" birthday display, I am suppose to be working on it at this moment.

We have 1 lawn greeting rental display out this morning, 3 yesterday and 1 on Saturday.

I didn't walk this morning, instead I stayed home with the new dog we adopted from the humane society on Sunday. Bristol is a  6 y/o gentle yellow lab, she has already attached herself to Kate and cried when I took Kate to school this morning. So far Bristol has no problem getting along Meeko our Husky, or Silver the Cat.

Gotta get back to work

Catch ya later . . . . . . .somewhere in the unwritten future . . . . . . . . . None of that has happened yet

What a jump in the stats my last post made, On average this blog receives about 100 views a day when I make a post, but so far today it's over 126 and still rising.

How many of you are from the lawn greeting forum that are checking out my going green angle?????? I guess I will have to watch some your blogs and websites to find out now won't I.

So tomorrow morning from 8am to noon then lunch, I have a Chamber of Commerce networking roundtable. At this thnig I will be able to give a short commercial, and hand out biz cards, flyers, post cards, etc. there will be about 80 other people there from various local businesses, so it is a good opportunity to meet new customers. Last spring when mom and I went (mom is not going this time) she came up with a short poem for us to recite, which worked real well for us so I changed it up a little for this fall roundtable. I thought I would use the poem as my blog entry for the day. For those whom I will see tomorrow, see you at Walsh U. for those whom know me from the forum, well. . . . .I know you've been wondering about my going green thing, some of it is in the poem, please don't copy it, for all of the rest of you, glad to meet you don't be a stranger.

Here is my commercial:


When I was here in the springtime
I had this short little rhyme
For the fall, it's not the same
Kathy is my name
I'm from A Nete Idea Sign Service
So here is a clue,
As to what I do,
Lawn greeting displays
Flamingos for a friend
Buzzards for a brother
Send teddy bears to your mother,
Need a special gift,
Or know someone who needs a lift?
To announce your adorable baby
Use our adorable baby
This will make you cheer
It doesn't have to be an "0' year
When it comes to a special event
They'll never forget what you sent
Here's something new  
About what I do
Care about the earth
Looking for some fun and mirth
Want a unique gift that is green
On the lawn our displays make a scene
No wrapping paper to throw away
No gift to be stored for another day,
We leave behind a memory
That will last at least a half of a century
On the lawn at dawn
By dark we are gone
Oh yeah, we even aerate the lawn
Birthdays, graduations, sweetest day, anniversaries, retirements, new baby
We can do them all
Just give us a call
I'm Kathy   
From A Nete Idea Sign Service

Ask about the chase the blues away campaign
It's time for Stark County's mood to change

You can always find us on line
aneteidea.com/canton (aneteidea dot com forward slash canton)



Personal note;
I didn't walk this morning it was to wet, tomorrow I won't be there either because of the roundtable, so I catch ya all on Monday morning hopefully



That's all for now. . . . catch ya later . . . . .somewhere in the unwritten future. . . . . . .none of that has happened yet.

October is going strong, not as strong as the October ten years ago. In 1998 we did 161 lawn displays, with all of life's changes since then, I for one am glad that business isn't THAT good! This October is plugging along at a decent rate though. The month is half over and we have rented as many signs so far for October as we did for the whole month of June.  However I would really like to sale another dealership before the year is out. The Marysville, OH dealership is at a stand still as they have ran into a brick wall for finances> We require half of the first order down and the remaining balance within 15 days of shipping. They have their order in (we even have some of it ready) however they can't seem to come up with the $2560.00 they need to put down. With the order in and paper work done we are playing a waiting game, hopefully something will shake loose for them soon.




I didn't walk this morning between the intermitten rain showers and not really feeling up to it, I went back to bed instead, after all there were signs in the wee hours this morning. I may walk tomorrow if the rain stays away, and Friday I have a Chamber Networking thing in the morning so I won't walk then.


That's all for now, will get to the green thing later

Catch ya later. . . . . . . . somewhere in the unwritten future. . . . . .after all ain't none of that happened yet