The KitschenSink Journal

FAQs: Seven essentials first-time craft fair survival

noreply@blogger.com (Rowan Grant) — Thu, 23 Feb 2012 19:51:00 +0000

Craft fairs, markets and shopping events are a great way of promoting your brand on a budget, getting feedback from your customers and, of course, selling your product face to face. But getting ready to do it for the first time can be nerve-wracking, worrying if you've forgotten something. Here are my essentials for a day that runs smoothly.

Knitting and Stitching Show, 2010 (not my first!).

♥ An internet presence
If you don't have some sort of internet presence in advance of the fair you'll really regret it. Shoppers are very savvy and although there's a great impulse buying aspect to short events, some people will go away and want to buy later. There's lots of cheap ways to get a presence online, using a platform like Etsy or Folksy your customers can buy later too without the massive price tag of having a website designed.

♥ Drink!
Water, water, water!! If you're anything like me you'll be chatting away all day, if not to customers then to other traders. You'll have a mouth as dry as a camel's flip flop in no time. I also like to take a flask of tea because I love it, and at many events even with a traders discount you can end up paying ££ for just hot drinks!

♥ Snacks
Treats and nibbles are also good, as you won't want to leave your stall to go find food once you're on a roll and you will need to eat to keep your energy up!

♥ A notepad
Make a note of all your sales. The boring bit: you should do to make sure that you're declaring your takings to the tax man. Less boring bit: It is interesting to see what sells well, at what time of year, at what sorts of events, etc. Fun bit: people love to give you tips! I have found out about the best stockists from customers telling me my work would suit particular shops I would never know about - make sure you make a note!

♥ Plenty of stock
This is the trickiest thing when first starting out. How much is enough? How much is too much? You need enough to fill your table - using various props to make it visually interesting. I've seen people go for a minimalist look when it comes to their work and it really doesn't work. It's an event for buying and selling, to an exhibition for looking and thinking. And if you walked into a shop on the high street that was half full you'd wonder what was going on. Don't make that mistake. How much surplus stock depends on how much you can transport - as long as it's not perishable, anything unsold will go to your next market!

♥ Business cards, fliers or both?
Who attends craft fairs and markets? Shoppers. Stockists. Other arty types looking to network. I started out with just business cards that had my logo and web address on, and used them for everything. The size works as they can slip into a wallet and I recommend them over something more A6 size. But if you want something to give to another maker or a stockist, maybe something with your name, number and email address would be a good idea too.

♥ Change
Make sure you have plenty of change and somewhere safe to keep it. I find having something to tie round my waist really convenient.

♥ Layers
If you have ever met me at a fair you notice I always have a hoody or cardigan. You just never know if the venue is going to be freezing or red hot, so best to wear clothes you can peel off or pile on!

So there's seven of my essentials for market survival. I'd love to know how your first market went - or if you have any market essentials you can't live without.

Next week: Tips for craft fair success!

xoxo

♥ Colourful ♥ Kitschy ♥ Funky ♥ Fun...

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I'm booked! NYC here I come...!

noreply@blogger.com (Rowan Grant) — Wed, 22 Feb 2012 19:11:00 +0000

I finally stopped procrastinating and booked my big holiday of the year - to NYC! I've always wanted to go, since I did a research project on the place in secondary school.

I'm excited about:

♥ Trailer Park Lounge

Credit

♥ Friedsam Memorial Carousel

Credit

♥ Retro Candy

Credit

♥ The Harlem Apollo

Credit

And loads more!

Argh - will I fit everything in? There's so much!

xoxo

♥ Colourful ♥ Kitschy ♥ Funky ♥ Fun...

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The Opera: My perspective (Madame Butterfly)

noreply@blogger.com (Rowan Grant) — Sun, 19 Feb 2012 20:11:00 +0000

I popped my opera cherry this weekend. Thanks to a craft friend (Kirsten Miller) I got hold of a couple of tickets to see Madame Butterfly at Leeds Grand Theatre on Saturday night. I felt very sophisticated, I did my hair in a massive up do, and a lady liked it so much she gave me a bottle of perfume (sample size, but still...)

Leeds Grand Theatre - glamorous

I didn't know the story in advance (even though I have several ABRSM exams, GCSE, A level and a degree in Music, topped off with three years experience of working in a classical music shop).

It's classic story that could be watched in any area and it would be understood the same. Boy promises girl things. Boy leaves but says he'll return. Girl waits. Girl's friends say he isn't coming back. Girl trusts what she was told, knowing the intimacy of the relationship that they don't, and believes he will return. Man has met someone else. The story gets a whole lot sadder, I just wished someone had told poor Butterfly that you have to kiss a lot of frogs (that's what people tell me...?)

Here's the best bit (~4 mins)

What's happening here then? This is the big aria from Madame Butterfly. She's waiting, three years later, for her husband to return. Her maid has just said to her 'Look love, get a grip, he's been gone three years. If he was coming back he would have by now'. She's singing 'He will do, and when he does I'll stand here waiting for him, it's going to be beautiful, stop being cynical, he loves me, you're just jealous'.

Later on the guy returns, only because he found out Butterfly had a baby, and his appearance is only to take the child. She ends up killing herself. I expect it was down to the shame that she had given up her identity for the guy, and couldn't bear all her friends saying 'told you!'.

She wasn't the first and won't be the last to be charmed and left high and dry. It's just a shame she didn't have a best mate to get her drunk and encourage her to strip singing 'Sisters are doing it for themselves'.

I will definitely be Opera North's new regular... the caramel and hazlenut ice cream at intermission was dreamy!

Can you recommend an opera for me to go to?

xoxo

♥ Colourful ♥ Kitschy ♥ Funky ♥ Fun...

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FAQs: How do you write a good tag line?

noreply@blogger.com (Rowan Grant) — Wed, 15 Feb 2012 20:44:00 +0000

A 'tagline' (or 'slogan' as we called it a few years ago), is a sticky-memorable phrase that your customers will remember about who you are and what you do. But how do you write a good one?

Write Write Write Print by The Dreamy Giraffe

This week's question has come directly from Leeds-based Chloe.

@KitschenSink hey I have a question for your FAQ! I need a great tagline for my brand, I'm not succinct enough!
— Chloe (@peskychloe) February 8, 2012

Here goes!:

♥ Don't use promotional words
Customers will see through your self-proclamation of being the 'best' at anything, so don't bother with any of that! Leave those words for your customers to use in feedback.

♥ Consider calls to action
Marketeers love a 'call to action', so putting one in a tagline will give it to your customers over and over again... Think about using doing words... 'Just do it'!

♥ What's your mission?
Chloe sells her own designs and other independent designers' work in her shop. But what is the mission? To sell limited edition designs from UK based designers? To give first-class customer service? To provide accessories to a very specific sub-culture customer?

♥ Remember school
Rhymes, alliteration, similies and such work really well, that's why we learnt it (and why you shoulda listened!). Work your thesaurus app - it will come in handy!

♥ Go with your gut
I think a lot of these things are accidental. I know mine was! Word play is like anything creative and some people just come up with good ideas, and some people have to work on them for a long time to craft something amazing. Do what works for you... and your customers!

Happy writing!

Got a question? Why not Tweet me and I'll put your tweet directly into the blog post - you might get some new followers! Alternatively you can email me, if you'd prefer :)

xoxo

♥ Colourful ♥ Kitschy ♥ Funky ♥ Fun...

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Valentine love... ♥

noreply@blogger.com (Rowan Grant) — Tue, 14 Feb 2012 21:30:00 +0000

My second posting of the day! I just had to post the love I got today. It's such a great feeling to get happy messages from people who received Kitschen Sink jewellery as gifts. Boys can get gifts so wrong, but for these ladies, the lads seemed to get it spot on!

Some sewing-related Valentines gifts from @jonbolton! A lovely sewing box and a bracelet from @KitschenSink :)) twitter.com/sewrayme/statu…
— Rachael Alexander (@sewrayme) February 14, 2012

I got flowers, a handmade card and a necklace from @kitschensink =D instagr.am/p/G_x1Iqk-79/
— Pickle Chops (@picklechopsx) February 14, 2012

xoxo

♥ Colourful ♥ Kitschy ♥ Funky ♥ Fun...

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Home is where the heart is

noreply@blogger.com (Rowan Grant) — Tue, 14 Feb 2012 19:07:00 +0000

14th February marks a special anniversary for me. Getting the keys to my own home! Today marks four years since I got a bus to Leeds and collected the keys to the carpetless, curtainless, soulless top-floor flat that is now affectionately known by all as The Penthouse.

Here's some hearts and love around my home:

Jewellery box

A handmade card :')

Teacups...

...and cute biscuits

Notes from friends

A hand painted Mexican wall heart from Kate, a hand made glass rainbow from Jane and a hand painted cross from Natalie

Have a great Valentine's Day!

xoxo

♥ Colourful ♥ Kitschy ♥ Funky ♥ Fun...

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A ReetSweet Saturday :)

noreply@blogger.com (Rowan Grant) — Mon, 13 Feb 2012 21:50:00 +0000

Saturday was Reetsweet Shopping Fair at the Corn Exchange, Leeds.

Credit: ReetSweet

I love their attention to detail and marketing collateral. A fun day as always... goooo Reetsweet!

xoxo

♥ Colourful ♥ Kitschy ♥ Funky ♥ Fun...

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Testspace Store: You want it, you got it!

noreply@blogger.com (Rowan Grant) — Sun, 12 Feb 2012 23:08:00 +0000

My favourite guyz at Test Space have done it again: opened a pop-up shop selling the coolest things that local creatives have to offer, including Kitschen Sink! It's in the Corn Exchange and will be there for a fortnight, so bloody get down quick if you want some!

Instead of deliberating for an hour over what to give them, I decided to put it to the people:

And they said...

@KitschenSink This - goo.gl/0sGue ! ! !
— Gill McArdle (@campusprgill) February 7, 2012

@KitschenSink POW!
— Simon Fogal (ILP) (@Simonfogal) February 7, 2012

@KitschenSink manga ones! Are you going to be there on Friday? x
— Elly W (@ellyoracle) February 7, 2012

You got it!

I bobbed to the launch party which was a fun time, and it was great to catch up with a few of the Test Space friends I made a couple of years ago.

Test Space: Store is open 10th - 26th February 2012, at the Corn Exchange, Leeds.

Artists include:
Matt Ferres, Godisdad, Drew Millward, dots, Spin Cycle Complete, Mild Peril, Stephen Langdon, memo, Kitschen Sink, Sophie in Disguise, The Beating Arts, Art School Wank, Ollie Redding, Debi Holbrook, Pogger, Andy Corlett, Noah Brown, Sean Mort, and many more.

xoxo

♥ Colourful ♥ Kitschy ♥ Funky ♥ Fun...

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Tomorrow: Live Instagrams from Reetsweet

noreply@blogger.com (Rowan Grant) — Fri, 10 Feb 2012 22:46:00 +0000

Tomorrow I will be live Instagramming from Reetsweet Shopping Fair at the Corn Exchange in Leeds. My Instagram name is KitschenSink and all Instagrams will be #tagged #Reetsweet

Let's share photos with Instagram!

xoxo

♥ Colourful ♥ Kitschy ♥ Funky ♥ Fun...

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FAQS: What do you do when your work gets copied?

noreply@blogger.com (Rowan Grant) — Wed, 08 Feb 2012 19:30:00 +0000

Finding your designs and ideas appearing on other websites and fanpages uncredited, or worse, passed off as someone else's idea is an infuriating, upsetting and often bewildering experience. But what do you do when it happens? What can you do? This post gives my guide on what to do when you believe you have been copied.

♥ Take a break
It's tempting to want to go wild online when you've found a copy cat, but it's important to address them in a cool and professional manner. Shut down the computer, make a tea, sleep on it if you have to. Re-adress when you have had time to cool off.

♥ Don't get into a public fisticuff
You're going to be angry but airing dirty laundry will do nothing for your online persona. Don't be a keyboard warrior and don't be aggressive. Humiliating them isn't going to help resolve the situation. Take this up privately, perhaps by email.

♥ Get the opinions of others from your creative area
If the copy isn't a 100% replica it can be a good idea to post the offending item in a forum of trusted contacts. Their objective thoughts can put your mind at rest that you're not claiming all rights to the style or medium you work with but that they have take your design ideas too. It's important you ask trusted contacts rather than friends, as friends can often say what you want to hear just to be nice, or may not understand that some techniques aren't 100% original to you.

♥ Making contact:
Write a firm but friendly email that states clearly the following:
♥ How you found out about it (might stop them doing it again if they know it's easy to get caught!)
♥ When you came up with the idea, how long you have been selling it, how many have sold (will reinforce you were there first, and if it's your identifying/classic design they'll know it needs dropping, pronto)
♥ Unique identifiers of your work - this is so important. By listing every identifying aspect of the piece of work and pointing out that each aspect has been reproduced, it really does explicitly point out that you work has been copied, and not just 'inspired'.
♥ Why you don't want to be copied - I know this is obvious, however, I think it is important to point out to someone that you have developed an original idea so that you can gain top gallery exposure, high end stockists etc, and by others copying your work it waters down its originality. That, and you're working hard for someone else to just... steal!
♥ You won't take this any further if they play ball - wish them well with their creative venture and state that if they remove the offending pieces that you will draw a line under it.

♥ What can I do to stop copying?
Not a great deal. There is such thing as Design Registration, I have taken it out on some my designs. But really, it gives a tiny bit of protection if you had the financial means to take someone to court over copying.

♥ Can't I get my designs patented?
No. A patent is a type of registration that covers how things work - mainly science and technology. Like a Dyson!

♥ What now?
If the copier doesn't stop when you ask politely, it might be time to play dirty. I have never been copied by a high street giant but have read cases of those who have. Hidden Eloise started an awesome social media campaign against Paperchase which gripped the nation and had the company trending nationally. Paperchase eventually stopped selling the design.

I hope these tips address concerns in regards to copying. As always, these are my own suggestions from my own experiences - I'd love to hear your thoughts!

Got a question? Why not Tweet me and I'll put your tweet directly into the blog post - you might get some new followers! Alternatively you can email me, if you'd prefer :)

xoxo

♥ Colourful ♥ Kitschy ♥ Funky ♥ Fun...

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Sweet Saturdays and Sublime Sundays

noreply@blogger.com (Rowan Grant) — Sun, 05 Feb 2012 17:36:00 +0000

The weekend started with the first snowfall of the winter, but it didn't stop me venturing out!

"It may be winter outside, but in my heart it's spring", forget wooly hats, I went for an updo for Saturday's advetnures!

I went for an excellent lunch with a friend at The Terrace in Saltaire. This is their homemade chicken burger with guacamole and mozzarella. Excellent value!

We had a mooch around the new Rose and Brown vintage furniture shop where I fell in love with this chair. It'd be perfect for my boudoir!

I had a quick catch up with David Hockey in Salt's Mill. He's done some iPad paintings that are very good.

It's against the local law to go into Salt's Mill and not have a nibble in the Diner... so I indulged in a hot chocolate brownie with coffee ice cream in the late afternoon!

Saturday night TV sucks. I'd bought some gorgeous vintage diamante stud earrings during the day, so I watched Breakfast at Tiffany's. It just made sense.

On Sunday I pottered then took a walk along a rather frozen canal to Saltaire, to the Mill, again!

Quintessentially English.

Platonic husband is on his way to catch up at The Penthouse and the weekend is about to finish similar to how it started...

... I heard a lot of quacking outside to find all the ducks of the canal waddling along to find unfrozen water!

The final part of the weekend will be waiting for best friend Andrew with milk and biscuits. I should also note that sadly I lost one of the earrings that I bought on Saturday already! Big Sad Face.

How do you like to spend your weekend?

xoxo

♥ Colourful ♥ Kitschy ♥ Funky ♥ Fun...

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How it went: our Social Media Bootcamp 2 Feb 2011

noreply@blogger.com (Rowan Grant) — Sat, 04 Feb 2012 19:41:00 +0000

On Thursday just gone, Abi of SewYou and I led a workshop on the use of Twitter to promote small businesses. The workshop was fully booked, held in Abi's studio in Saltaire, and we had in depth discussion with participants on the importance of your profile and how to build it, tips and tricks for increasing customer interaction and the nitty gritty of all the tools in Twitter. Each participant went away with fresh ideas on how to apply it to their own business and made a few Twitter friends too!

♥ What they said:

@SewYou @KitschenSink Interesting and informative,friendly and focused #SocMedBootcamp.Thanks!
— Karen Peterken (@KPilatesUK) February 2, 2012

@JayneJRead i'd recommend going if they do another (and they should) - made everything click into place! #socmedbootcamp
— Chloe (@peskychloe) February 3, 2012

Bed time, will put all the stuff I learnt at #SocMedBootcamp to good use tomorrow TY @KitschenSink @SewYou Good Job :)) Recommended!
— Cheese and Chutney (@CheeseandChutny) February 2, 2012

Interested to know how social media can help you & your business? I've just been to #SocMediaBootcamp and it rocked!! @KitschenSink @SewYou
— Jonathan Raynor (@The_GLA) February 2, 2012

♥What we said:

We've had a really successful twitter workshop tonight with some awesome tweeps! Can't wait for the next #socmedbootcamp
— Rowan | KitschenSink (@KitschenSink) February 2, 2012

Absolutely brilliant to work with @KitschenSink tonight - we ARE the new Cagney & Lacey of Facilitation. Fact.
— Abi (@SewYou) February 2, 2012

Missed it? We're going to run more, register your interest now by emailing Rowan (hello@kitschensink.com) or Abi (hello@sewyouhandmade.co.uk)

xoxo

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FAQS: Getting your price right, and why you need to!

noreply@blogger.com (Rowan Grant) — Thu, 02 Feb 2012 19:30:00 +0000

Getting your prices right is important. Not only could you be ripping yourself off; if you want to develop your business, getting your retail price wrong could be a deal-breaker when it comes to stockist enquiries. And low-pricing could be why you're getting the evil eye at trading events... in this blog post I'll give my perspective on:
♥ the difference between wholesale and retail pricing
♥ ways you can price up your products
♥ how correct pricing will benefit your little enterprise
♥ how ignoring advice might impact it

Tatty Devine Price Ticket Pin

♥ What's a wholesale price and what's a retail price?
The retail price is the price a customer pays - on your website, in a shop, etc. The wholesale price is what the shopkeeper (or 'buyer' if you're dealing with a big business) buys it for. They will want to sell your work on to their customers at the same price you do on your website/stall, but make a profit for themselves too (fair's fair!).

♥ Start with the wholesale price and end with the retail price:
Don't make the mistake of guessing how much someone would pay for your work and go with it. Start by formulating a wholesale price you are comfortable with and use that to calculate your retail price.

♥ How to calculate your wholesale price:
The calculation isn't 'one size fits all', but you need to take into account the following:
♥ What would you like your hourly rate to be?
♥ How many of these pieces can you comfortably make in that time?
♥ How much did you spend on supplies for each item?
♥ Did you use any equipment to make it, such as a sewing machine, that might need to be replaced at some point?
♥ Are you going to spend time photographing the piece? Make sure you charge for that!
♥ Is there any special packaging/printing that comes with the piece?
♥ Overheads including things like stall fees, your website hosting fees etc

The price you end up with should be a price you feel comfortable with selling at without any 'But! I won't make any money if I sell at that price!' feelings.

♥How to calculate a retail price
Different shops and galleries mark up at different rates. If you want to gain some wholesale orders (if you're not sure of the different between wholesale and consignment, please read my previous FAQ), you stockists will love it if they can make a great profit. Begin by tripling your wholesale price.

Don't stop there.

♥ Increase your "perceived value"
Once you have your retail price, it's time to consider if it reflects you and your brand. Increasing the price more could increase confidence in your product, boost feelings of exclusivity and its owner will cherish it, and not simply wear it once and toss it aside. Think about the difference between your feelings on a bracelet you bought from Primark compared to if you bought a bracelet from, say, Thomas Sabo. If your product is well made, limited edition and pretty unique, don't be afraid of upping the price.

♥ Don't compete with the high street on price
An easy mistake to make is to think that if someone can buy a product off the high street at once price, your alternative should be the same price. It won't work and we don't have the buying power or sweat shops they use. Of course, we are in competition with them, so compete on service and quality of product instead.

♥ So what if my prices are low? More people will buy my work!
♥ Loss-leaders can be a fantastic way to do one-off promotions and get your name known, but that's what it must be, a short term promotion with your name pretty much plastered all over it so your customers remember you and come back to something you can actually make a profit from.
♥ Shop and gallery owners may assume a super low wholesale price until they realise you haven't priced properly and you have to start again from scratch, and they will in turn lose confidence in you.
♥ A good fair/market organiser will recognise inappropriate pricing and decline you from events because they know their good, regular traders will get pissed off if you are effectively competing with them on price.
♥ If you slip through the net and are accepted, you won't be making many friends with other traders at the event (it's my major pet peeve!).

♥ Still think your retail price is too much even with the minimum wholesale price?
Then it might be time to rethink your product. Source your materials from somewhere cheaper, find a quicker way of working or design something new that will make a better return.

Hope this has helped! Remember, if you have a biz-related question that you think I might be able to help with, just ask, and I'll see what I can do...

Anything I missed off? What tips do you have to share for pricing work?

xoxo

♥ Colourful ♥ Kitschy ♥ Funky ♥ Fun...

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That was January...

noreply@blogger.com (Rowan Grant) — Wed, 01 Feb 2012 20:00:00 +0000

Good grief, it's flown by, but looking back to early January it seems such a long time ago. Maybe it's because I achieved a lot and had a lot of fun!

♥ I went to two 30th birthday celebrations. One, a fancy dress party, and the other, a pamper party!

Keith Lemon and I at a 30th birthday bash

♥ I filed my tax return. It was taxing, the man on the adverti lies to me every year.

♥ I was featured on World of Kitsch blog, gaining me a little celeb order (as a gift for someone else...)

♥ I booked ReetSweet Valentine Shopping Fair

♥ I started to play with resin again!

♥ I organised, with friend Abi of SewYou, a series of social media workshops for small businesses, we have called it 'Social Media Bootcamp', it will run through February, and it is fully booked!

♥ I got accepted to Saltaire Arts Trail (taking place in May). It was judged by an independent panel, so I am really pleased.

♥ I was asked to write a guest blog in the summer for an event that I'm really passionate about!

♥ I went to a baby shower. The baby still hasn't made an appearance!

My waters broke!

♥ I wrote a blog post about tips for things to look for when stocking a shop. It sparked mainly lots of positive feedback but also ruffled some feathers. I also had over ten-times more blog visits to the post than my average!

♥ I was invited to sell at a big International Women's Day event in Leeds (taking placein March) so that should be fun!

♥ I led a simple drop in workshop where we made bracelets from beads and laser-cut shapes at Bradford College. It was loads of fun!

xoxo

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T Minus 24h til BOOTCAMP begins!

noreply@blogger.com (Rowan Grant) — Wed, 01 Feb 2012 19:00:00 +0000

That's right, with all places filled it's just a 24 hour countdown until Abi from SewYou and I lead our Twitter course from SewYou Studios in Saltaire. It's going to freakin' rock and will include the following awesome shiz:

♥ Developing an identity on Twitter that works
♥ Tips and tricks for good tweetin'
♥ Demonstrations
♥ Group tasks
♥ Discussion
♥ Case studies
♥ Making the most of Twitter
♥ Developing a strategy that works for you

Best of all, it all centres around the participants' own perspectives.

Tomorrow's session is fully booked but if you are gutted you have missed out, you can register interest for the next session by emailing Abi (hello@sewyouhandmade) or me (hello@kitschensink.com) and we'll sort something out!

Follow the build up, tweets in the session and feedback after using the hashtag #SocMedBootcamp (if you don't know what a hashtag is... time to enrol!)

xoxo

♥ Colourful ♥ Kitschy ♥ Funky ♥ Fun...

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Mama's got a brand new bag

noreply@blogger.com (Rowan Grant) — Tue, 31 Jan 2012 19:30:00 +0000

Mother alerted me on Saturday that she had had a terrible biro-related incident whereby a handbag and two purses were ruined - leaving nowhere to keep her notes and coins. How coincidental, I was on my way to SewYou Studios where I picked up this - I think perfect if you are thinking of picking something special for your ma for Mother's Day.

What do you think is the perfect Mother's Day gift? Link me up!

SewYou is a family-run Yorkshire business producing unique gifts and accessories, specialising in made-to-order products that won't break the bank.

xoxo

♥ Colourful ♥ Kitschy ♥ Funky ♥ Fun...

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Workshop FUN! Bradford College Re-Fresher Fair

noreply@blogger.com (Rowan Grant) — Thu, 26 Jan 2012 19:30:00 +0000

I've just got home from leading a drop in workshop day at Bradford College Re-Fresher Fair. We made A LOT of adjustable bracelets from laser cut shapes and beads and some origami boxes to put them in!

There was a real mix of students: girls, boys, deaf, visually impaired, special needs, and those who speak English as a second or other language.

It was super lovely - some of the students even remember me from when I worked there five years ago and said they miss me ♥ Really looking forward to the next one!

If you could sit down and learn anything creative, what would it be?

xoxo

♥ Colourful ♥ Kitschy ♥ Funky ♥ Fun...

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FAQs: Top Tips for Stocking Shops

noreply@blogger.com (Rowan Grant) — Wed, 25 Jan 2012 19:42:00 +0000

I still remember the awesome feeling I got when I was first approached by a shop owner that wanted to sell my work. Wow! A real shop that wanted my work in it? Things just got SERIOUS! Now not so much. I love to be asked and it happens a lot, it's still great, but I don't always accept.

Hannah Zakari Edinburgh - super awesome shop to stock

Having your work in a shop is super rewarding. Once I went into Heart Gallery in Hebden Bridge and felt like a celebrity! But putting your work in the wrong hands can leave you out-of-pocket or with your reputation in ruins...

Here's my advice on what to consider when stocking a shop:

♥ Terms: Wholesale Vs Sale-Or-Return (a.k.a "consignment") Vs Rent-A-Shelf

My preference would go in the order above.

Wholesale: Per piece, I get a smaller fee, yet I have a higher minimum order value and get paid upfront. Cash in my pocket, jobs a good 'un. It also says that the retailer is confident they can sell your work and have a turnover that allows them to buy in bulk. Because they have bought the pieces, it's their job to shift em, and they can put them in the sale and even sell at a much higher price than you would do. They may also choose not to use your packaging and use their own, so you may not get credit for your work, but these are things you can iron out when you schmooze with your stockist person.

Sale Or Return: Per piece you get a better fee (they will take 30-50%), but you only get paid if it sells. That's cool by me, my work sells, it seems win/win for the stockist and the designer, and it also means that the stockist has to put in some welly if they want to make ends meet. The only problem is keeping track of who has what stock if you have a lot of stockists on this basis! Time to exercise your spreasheet skillz.

Rent a shelf: Just say no! I can see how a rent-a-shelf basis might appeal to a new maker as their first stockist experience. It might be just the kudos you need to get yourself another stockist on better terms (a bit like your Saturday fast-food job experience helping getting a full-time job, but you wouldn't want to work there longer than three months!). On these terms the proprietor doesn't really need to put in the legwork to sell stock because they make ends meet with the rent you pay. Because established makers wouldn't usually entertain these terms it also means the standard of work in the shop might not be up to scratch, and priced badly (which will affect the perception of your own work).

♥ Word of mouth recommendation
If you have a network of maker friends or are a member of a forum, why not ask if anyone else knows of the stockist? Do they pay on time?

♥ Pop in t'shop - be private investigator!
Is it clean and tidy? Does the assistant say hello? Is there a clear price point, theme and standard of work being sold? Would you be proud to see your work in there? Are people looking around? Are they genuine buyers buying things? It might be worth popping in at different times of day to get a good idea.

♥ Do they have a website?
Is it well designed? Is the photography any good? Again, would you be proud to see your work on there?

♥ The Spiel: Go with your gut
You might get given a sales pitch. Should you really need it?!

My decisions are based on different values and opinions to what other designer's might be. For a start, I don't rely on the money from my designs to live, which allows me to be a little... snobby! It's not all about the money! I'm always a great believer in quality, not quantity, and I won't get walked over. If a stockist doesn't pay up, I get out. If I have had a bad experience with a stockist I might also tip off my networks - share the wealth (absolutely not the correct phrase to use here).

Hope this has helped! Remember, if you have a biz-related question that you think I might be able to help with, just ask, and I'll see what I can do...

Anything I missed off? What tips do you have to share for stocking shops?

xoxo

♥ Colourful ♥ Kitschy ♥ Funky ♥ Fun...

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Custom Made Supplies #2 - SewYou Vendor's Apron

noreply@blogger.com (Rowan Grant) — Tue, 24 Jan 2012 19:42:00 +0000

This winter I was faced with a dilemma. Used to selling indoors, there had been one occasion where I had possessions stolen. This year I did my first ever outdoor market (well, three) and was stressing about the logistics of keeping my cash, phone and general costly posessions safe whilst being distracted by lovely customers wanting to buy things, or pieces of eight blowing down a busy street!

Having exchanged a few tweets with Abi of SewYou, she encouraged me to meet her for gin in Saltaire after work to 'talk business' (that old chestnut).

Off we toddled, and guzzled, in Fanny's Ale House. Amongst anecdotes of what Abi used to do when driving home from nightclubs ten years ago, I gave her my criteria:

♥ Something like a market trader's belt but looks better
♥ Holds money and phone... and maybe more
♥ Ideally feature my logo
♥ Be colourful, kitschy, funky and fun!

Abi, being the expert on sewing, asked lots of questions to do with what I do at the fairs and what I tend to have on my person, how I wanted it to sit on my body and so forth. She sketched a plan:

I sourced the fabric... Fast Food by Alexander Henry, fits my pop-art style perfectly...

...and Abi sewed like a mo fo...

Abi posted it into my work. When it arrived I wore it all day, my colleagues thought I'd gone a bit crackers!

However, here I am, with the vendor's apron, in situ

So, whaddaya think? I love it, it keeps everything safe, it's tied to me at all times, I can even take it to the toilet with me! What's more, I can also keep my sales book in it, my coin purse (for my own spends) and loads more.

Why not read Abi's account of designing my apron here on the SewYou blog?

xoxo

♥ Colourful ♥ Kitschy ♥ Funky ♥ Fun...

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Inspiring motivation...

noreply@blogger.com (Rowan Grant) — Wed, 18 Jan 2012 22:37:00 +0000

This video found its way to me today (that's what happens, stuff finds me)...

It's an old advert for Apple. Whether you agree with the subject matter for their products or not, it's pretty inspiring!

Which got me to remembering this, do you remember it? Or am I the oldest one here..:

...It's a really great message from old to young about being content with what you have (something I learnt from Sunday school)...

...and then that made me remember this, this one is for all the people who moan blissfully in their warm home and whinge whilst driving their car to work...

This evening I did a final layer of resin on 16 pieces, sanded a customer order and cleaned my bathroom... think it might be time for bed and a glance through Dazed and Confused... ZZzzzz

xoxo

♥ Colourful ♥ Kitschy ♥ Funky ♥ Fun...

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Winning Top Tips: Literally

noreply@blogger.com (Rowan Grant) — Thu, 12 Jan 2012 18:00:00 +0000

Lately I am subject to many questions about how to run a business. Some are quite broad, and some are very, very specific.

How To Fold A Paper Airplane Postcard by Little Alexander on Etsy

If you didn't already know, I work full time and do this as a sideline (I know, I'm a powerhouse). I also do pretty much everything myself, design, make, accounts, copy write, sell and the rest (except graphic design which I leave in the superhands of kidd81.com). But this does mean that I don't really have time to respond individually to each person. So... from now on, questions will be answered publicly, making an audience generated FAQ if you will. So go ahead, ask, and I will give you my personal circumstances and perspective. Awesome!

Anyway, as I was deciding to do this, Moo (those crazy printing people) ran a little competition - to tweet business tips with the hashtag #MooTip. What I found more astonishing than winning was that my tweet was re-tweeted six times by mainly people who weren't previously following me, and it was favourited by two twitterers.Kapow!

If you're an artist or maker, don't under price your work. High prices makes for higher perceived value #mootip
— Rowan | KitschenSink (@KitschenSink) January 7, 2012

xoxo

♥ Colourful ♥ Kitschy ♥ Funky ♥ Fun...

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Social Media BOOTCAMP!

noreply@blogger.com (Rowan Grant) — Tue, 10 Jan 2012 21:23:00 +0000

If you're a small business owner local to Saltaire and want to learn how to put some POWER behind your social media... come along to...

♥ Twitter:
Thursday 2nd Feb, 7-9.30pm

♥ Facebook:
Thursday 16th Feb, 7-9.30pm

♥ Advanced (other platforms, strategic integration, boosting sales)
Thursday 1st Mar, 7-9.30pm

To book just email me! hello@kitschensink.com

xoxo

♥ Colourful ♥ Kitschy ♥ Funky ♥ Fun...

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Music to make your insides POP! #1

noreply@blogger.com (Rowan Grant) — Mon, 09 Jan 2012 18:30:00 +0000

Aw in't January whacko?! The weather here in Britain has been the absolute pits - it doesn't inspire me to get out of bed on a Monday morning!

A good selection of feel good muzik on your portable music device is an instant way to lift the spirits on the journey into work/school.

This one never fails to put me in a great mood. It reminds me of the time when I was in Austin and I was refused entry to a bar to eat. I sat in a cafe around the corner until the food was ready and we ate in the park instead, but I had a great chat with the barista about the time I saw this performed at Magna 'it blew my mind'.

xoxo

♥ Colourful ♥ Kitschy ♥ Funky ♥ Fun...

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Trendspotting? Hot or not?

noreply@blogger.com (Rowan Grant) — Sun, 08 Jan 2012 11:00:00 +0000

Just less than a year ago, my friend Samantha sent me this video:

Even a year later I still watch it and laugh and show craft friends. If you're not a crafter or you don't have an keen interest in the handmade world you probably won't get it (It's and Etsy thing).

And it just got me thinking about trends... do we like trends? As a friend Rachel pointed out, we've endured a lengthy time of moustaches already - they've been on the Etsy circuit forever and recently went more crazy mainstream (get your own ideas, High Street!). Same for owls and definitely pugs. Yawn.

I've always been inspired more by things from the past, rather than what's hot now. I guess that's why people always use the term 'retro' for my work (which surprises me, because it's never been my intention!). I know my style - in design and the everyday - block colours, no texture, no fuss. Colourful, kitschy, funky and fun! That's how I roll. If it's got a little 50s or 60s influence, all the better.

♥ What's been your favourite trend - ever?
♥ Do you follow trends?
♥ What do you see being hot for 2012?

xoxo

♥ Colourful ♥ Kitschy ♥ Funky ♥ Fun...

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Save the Date! ReetSweet Valentine Shopping Fair!

noreply@blogger.com (Rowan Grant) — Sat, 07 Jan 2012 22:51:00 +0000

You are cordially invited to Reetsweet's Valentine's Fair on Saturday February 11th at Leeds Corn Exchange.

Reetsweet is the North's leading art, design and neo craft fair - it's a distinctly modern and quirky handmade shopping fair aimed at getting people away from the big high street names and instead buying local, independent and cool handmade.

Rebecca handpicks the best local print makers, knitters, jewellery designers, upcylclers, makers of homewares, ceramic artists, and surface pattern designers to bring you a unique and free entry shopping experience within the surroundings of an acclaimed landmark of Leeds set amongst independent shops and cafes.

Save the date in your diary now! Saturday February 11th at Leeds Corn Exchange.

http://reetsweet.blogspot.com/
www.reetsweet.com

xoxo

♥ Colourful ♥ Kitschy ♥ Funky ♥ Fun...

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