I only sold one copy of my charity Calendar! 
I suppose that means that the exercise wasn’t as successful as I hoped.
When I published the calendar first I thought that if I sold ten copies I’d feel it was well worth it. At the original price that would mean a contribution of €50 to the Italian Red Cross.
Well I didn’t get there.
But I’m upbeat about the attempt for a number of reasons:
- My wife and I had fun looking through our Abruzzo photo collection and selecting the candidates
- I had fun working with Lulu to create the final product
- The first email I received telling me a copy of the calendar had sold was a fantastic thrill
- The support I received from other bloggers promoting the calendar was very kind and unexpected
- And I sold one!!!
The timing of the publication was not ideal I admit. Making a 2010 calendar available in December 2009 is a bit silly. I really should have had it ready by September.
But I decided to do it anyway and if I hadn’t published in December I’d have had to wait at least nine months for the chance of doing it again.
And somebody bought a copy. Thank you very much whoever you are. You are in possession of a very rare Abruzzo 2010 Calendar that I hope you’re enjoying. It’s no longer on sale so you have a collector’s item.
Every time I visit Abruzzo I love it. I’m both relaxed, following the Abruzzese maxim “piano, piano” and excited, like a kid in a sweet shop. That combination of being able to chill and be adventurous makes Abruzzo a wonderful place for me. I’ve made great friends that I look forward to seeing every time I visit.
Abruzzo has given me so much I think a little pretence about the final number is allowed.
I’ve decided to pretend that I sold ten copies and to contribute €50 to the Italian Red Cross.
So final update: 10 copies sold, €50 goes to the Italian Red Cross.
(Don’t tell anyone about the creative accounting!)
Related posts:
- Abruzzo 2011 Charity Calendar Final Update and Feedback Request As I promised when I started Abruzzo 2011 Charity Calendar...
- Abruzzo 2010 Calendar – All Profits To Charity (Update 21 January 2010 – calendar’s price now only €12.90...
- Abruzzo Calendar 2011 – January Update – Grazie Mille With only one month to go before I take the...
You are the greatest critic to your ‘market plan’. In Italy and other parts of the world,if you start looking for a diary or a calendar, by the end of September, October the latest, you find none … they are already gone.
So next time you better plan a better time frame.
I like your self criticism … good luck !!!
Thanks Albina. You’re right of course, my timing was off, but it was fun.
I see you offer walking tours of Abruzzo. I can think of no region more beautiful to spend a day exploring.
Well done on selling one, but more importantly on getting it out there! And the Red Cross won too!
Must pick your brains on how you found lulu too! Have just been looking at wordpress.org for the free downloads, very exciting!
Thanks Alan.
I’m happy to help in any way I can.
I just was wondering if you will be selling a 2011 calendar. I didn’t find yours in time for 2010 but thought I’d check back for next year.
The honest answer is I’m not sure.
If I do it I’ll probably aim to have it available by the end of September. Last year I put it out too late to have any impact.
At least I know that with your interest I’ll at least match last years sales numbers
Thanks for dropping by and reminding me about it.