David Condon Finds

How Airbnb Experience Reviews Really Work — A Guide for Hosts and Guests This guide is for both new Airbnb Experience Hosts  and curious Guests who want to understand how the Airbnb review system really works . Reviews on Airbnb aren’t just a formality, they directly affect a Host’s visibility, bookings, and reputation. Even well-meaning feedback  like dropping a star, making a vague comment, or answering Airbnb's extra questions without much thought can hurt a Host’s score and reduce their chances of getting future bookings. Many people don’t realise how easily this happens, or how much it can impact a small business. Note: This post originally lived on my main site, David Condon Woodcraft, but I’ve rehomed it here to keep that site focused purely on woodcraft and woodturning. This topic fits more naturally on David Condon Finds, where I write about platforms, experiences, and wider observations beyond the workshop. I was brought up with the phrase 'If you've nothing good...

We've all been there at one time or another.  A leisurely trip to the local Farmer's Market suddenly turns sour and brings you to the point of panic. Unexpectedly, a Market Trader and your good self  have made brief eye contact.  He/she has smiled pleasantly with a hopeful look that you will come over and look at their goods on display and possibly make a purchase.   Your heart beat increases exponentially and in your 'fight or flight' state your eyes dart around left and right looking for that distraction that will get you off the hook. You only came down for a loaf of bread and some small cake goodies, you never expected to be caught in the gaze of some small craft maker who wants you to buy from them. 

Running a small business means wearing every hat — maker, picker, packer, customer service, admin, and occasionally, detective when a parcel goes wandering. Especially at this time of year (Christmas), when deliveries really matter.  Over the years I’ve developed a simple but reliable packaging system that keeps me organised and drastically reduces mistakes or ' did I do that? ' moments. It’s nothing fancy, just a routine that works and it might help other small business owners who struggle with lost items, packing errors, or customer queries. I go the extra mile for my customers benefit and my own piece of mind.   Christmas is when my system really shines but it also adds to my workload. Is it worth it do you think? Read on and see.

People often imagine running a craft business as the dream job — doing what you love, setting your own hours, and selling beautiful handmade pieces at your own pace. In reality, it’s a juggling act of creativity, logistics, paperwork, and the occasional mild panic when a courier goes missing with half your stock. I’ve been at this long enough to know the truth: operating a craft business in Ireland is equal parts stubbornness, passion, and learning to stretch every euro until it squeaks. The Myth of the “Easy Life” From the outside, it looks peaceful — a tidy workshop, a few market stalls, maybe an online shop ticking away in the background. What people don’t see are the twelve-hour days spent sanding, photographing, packing, updating websites, replying to messages, and still finding time to sweep up the mess before you lock up for the night. It’s not just making things. It’s making things work. The Real Costs Nobody Sees Every handmade item carries more hidden costs than mo...

From Organised Intentions to Creative Chaos.  Some people seem to live in spotless, Instagram-ready offices. Mine, on the other hand, often looks like a stockroom suddenly exploded and then decided to settle in. There are packaging materials all over the floor, leftovers from my last shipping order preparation. Shipping supplies all over the desk, and boxes of stock still waiting for labels I promised to print “tomorrow.” My mobile packing table always has anything other than packing materials on it so I can never seem to use it as intended.

We’ve all seen it: “Delivery in 5 business days” on a website’s shipping page. It sounds straightforward, and when you place an order on a Monday, it’s natural to start counting — Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday, Friday — and expect the parcel before the weekend. The problem is, most people are counting calendar days , not business days.  Their “wish clock” starts the moment they place an order . In reality, things don’t always work that way and the clock normally only starts the following day after dispatch. I’ve seen this misunderstanding many times in my own business, and I’ll admit, I’ve been guilty of over-expecting a delivery or two myself. This is where expectations and reality start to clash. 👉 If you found this post useful or even mildly humorous, you might like my other business related post:  Why Irish Phone Numbers Confuse So Many People . I wrote this because I see so many mistakes on my website orders that I thought I could help those who are confused...