Selling Your DIY Creations--Help with the Business Side

[Amy Louise]

We started a discussion on the sewing thread about selling our DIY designs in general and, specifically, approaching and getting into boutiques, but I thought it would be appropriate to move this topic over to its own forum.

Although I love chatting with everyone I meet, for some reason, I dread selling and marketing. For one thing, I have several different all-one-of-a-kind product lines--jewelry, clothing (especially knits) & fashion accessories, plus some home decor art objects. I can't figure out how to even organize the stuff to lug it over to present it to shop owners. How much do you take with you? What's the most professional way to present it?

I do have some jewelry in a local shop, and was in another boutique for a while. I need to get into more to get some name recognition, brand exposure, etc.--but most of all, I'd like to make some sales. Every week I tell myself, this is the week I'll go, but then I manage to wheedle out of it...

I've also had some disappointing experiences that are a real turn off. For example, someone approached me at a craft fair, going on and on about how she loved my work and wanted to feature me in three hospital gift shops she manages, even suggesting she might have me set up a tent outside and be the featured artist for a day. But when I followed up with a phone call or two, she never even had the courtesy to return my call. That really bugged me. I felt like, listen, lady--you approached me and got my hopes up. Why'd you even bother??! It honestly would have been better if she just looked at my stuff and left my booth instead of going on and on about how wonderful, unusual...blah, blah and handing me her card telling me to call her.

I sometimes take my photo portfolio along and show that if I get the opening. I hand out an eye-catching flyer and ask them to take a look at my website. I've also tried dropping off my business card with a free, lovely pendant attached with ribbon as a gift (okay, a bribe!) to get the shop owner to return my call or take a look at my website as they had promised... I've only tried one or two places. I didn't get a response. I've got to whip up the nerve to get back out there.

Do any of you own boutiques or work in retail and have advice on best ways to approach boutiques, galleries, etc.? Any ideas to share on how to locate and reach your online shopping target audience--how do you get them to come over and look at your website?

Maybe we could all help each other out with suggestions on how to sell our wares.

 

[kateelle]

A friend of mine designed a collection and she thought she would just flash the little sketchbook of hers to buyers and they would start ordering from her. Ha, naïve and so very wrong. She had to be able to deliver the finished product first of all. They seemed interested in the collection when she actually went to the shop, but its pretty much on a we’ll-see basis depending on the actual clothes. After the samples are made, she will make an online lookbook (photos of the collection) and email/call boutique owners or buyers and have them look at that before she makes further contact. If they are interested, she will showcase the clothes and go from there. They don’t like pushy people, if they don’t call back or don’t seem interested just let it go and stop harassing them, it could be off-putting and they don’t like working with demanding people.

This is a link of a lookbook she is inspired by. http://www.arne-carlos.com/ac.htm. I’m helping her make some modifications since some articles of clothing are too complicated, and with the whole process researching local boutiques and creating a lookbook (she will also have simple physical ones to leave with the buyers). I think she could get lucky as all the boutiques we’ve checked out stores hideous but overtly expensive clothes.

 

[kateelle]

Amy- you could place ads in newspapers or magazines..if not, then even on craigslist or ebay. And what about those little hippyish shops from the mall I've seen plenty of those where they sell unique homemade jewelry, or you can have your own stand.

 

[educo]

Etsy.com is a good website for those who want to sell the stuff they make. I kinda works like ebay where they charge you a small amount for every item you post on the web. I think it's 20 cents or something. I don't know if there is a minimun, but it's a good, low risk way of getting your stuff out there. Check out the website and see if this works for you. Good luck!