Running a product business

Overview

I found this session really helpful, as I am interested in selling products like this. Previously I have. I am also considering starting to lino print tote bags at home, after having done a workshop in university.

Questions to ponder

We were asked to consider our own shopping habits. How do I shop?

I enjoy looking around a physical shop more than looking online, and I would rather shop in a larger place, or museum gift shop compared to an independent shop because i think they are less stuffy and awkward.

Who is your customer?

Where's your feedback coming from? Do those people like your product enough to buy it, afe you asking the right people?

Probably not! Tricky to find people to ask, who are outside my friendship group.. However, lots of my followers online are not creatives, so the fact that they understand my product anyway is great.

What's the story of your brand? Important because people will buy into the story. I don't think many of my current customers know the story of my brand. perhaps I can emphasise this more, write it on my website, etc? My products are handmade, sustainable, about connecting people. How do my current projects do this? E.g. D&AD - get people to talk to one another. Or FMP, could twin pop-ups - part of profits go to twinned pop up, and products given for free there too? In that way, the product would give back like TOMS.

Have i shopped passively in the past? - pick apart the product - the packaging

Are you creating something unique or is it a huge market? Big existing market i think.

Are you covering different price points - affordable and aspirational.

What about the price? If it is cheap, then people undervalue your work. Have been selling at a low price point, as lots of my customer base are students. maybe i need to do both. Some prints can be cheaper. fabric etc can be more expensive.

Key takeaways

Packaging is so important, and this is something I have overlooked din the at, but then this increases the cost.

Gu product advice "take everything off the packaging and increase the price".

Notes

if want to go into consulting, must succeed with your personal brand first.

Perhaps I need to challenge my customers. e..G When prints are ethical could ask ' who are you helping kind of thing #whatdoesyourwallsay

Can email z.tynancampbell@arts.ac.uk and ask for a 1-1

Professional development

Confirm copying