Creative Business Tips

Short and Easy Creative Business Tips

Today's tip is a fun and interesting one, it has been created to allow you to find inspiration that will help you to move your business forward and stay ahead! This is also a tip that can really help you to understand trend within creative business and to shape your innovative thought process. Remember to take part in the previous tips and tasks as you shape your creative business.

We become complacent in our thought process, whereas finding inspiration and ideally changing the way you think about thinking (yip, I just said that) will help you to form interesting and new business ideas, products as well as keep you ahead of competitors.

Be Innovative

What is Innovation: The process of translating an idea or invention into a good or service that creates value or for which customers will pay. (Source)

This might sound very clinical and straight down the line, so let's explore it from a creative point of view. It can be quite a difficult process, to create unique thoughts and be innovative within your creation process. Innovation doesn't only refer to what we make, but also to how we make it. Innovation can be introduced into your systems and processes, as well as your actual products, services or designs. We are consistently bombarded by information and some of it can inspiration, but you need to filter through things and be inspired, but also unique. Goodness, that sounds like a task and a half! 

Here are a few tips for cultivating innovation within your thought process and in-turn within your business:

Dedicate Time to Research: This doesn't mean that you need to sit with a text book, taking notes and trying to cram potentially useful things into your brain. Instead, it means you need to find forms of inspiration that will allow you to come up with new and innovative ideas. The key idea behind this research is finding different sources and relevant information. We often think that the internet is our only option, but you need to vary your exposure and have a well-rounded range of influences. This can range from books, magazines, trying a new radio station or chatting to your customers. Research is about learning, improving and growing.

Take Time Out: You might feel that in order to be innovative you need to be busy, looking at things, making notes and developing ideas, but taking a break or doing something different can inspire you too. As I mentioned we are consistently bombarded by information and stepping away from the internet, Twitter, even your desk and going for a quiet (technology free) walk can clear the clutter and get those thoughts going. Reading a book, meeting up with someone unusual or just stepping out and experiencing something can all lead to a new level of thinking. I can't stress enough how important it is to step away from the technology even just for 20 minutes, if that is all you can bear. 

Find your Muse: Find the people that inspire you to do more and be more. It might be a blogger or fellow creative business owner, or an empowered woman, it might even be your mother or sister. It doesn't matter who it is or what they do, the main thing is that they inspire you. I have several people who inspire me in different things. Within my work I look towards fellow creatives, in life I look towards friends and family members. Sometimes it even goes as far as thinking about my relatives who survived captivity in the Anglo-Boer War. When I am struggling with something I think - this is nothing compared to their struggles. It keeps me focused and reminds me to stay strong no matter what! Find a variety of people who inspire you.

Keep an Ideas Journal: As ideas form we are often tempted to get going on them straight away, discarding our current to do's and responsibilities. By keeping a journal you can write them down, illustrate them or jot them out without the fear of that award winning idea getting lost. You won't necessarily pursue all your ideas, but ideas tend to create more ideas and once again it is about training your mind to become more innovative.

Set Time Aside: Take some time to follow-up on ideas or concepts. I love the idea of Heather Moore's 'Making Friday', as it allows her to come up with new products or to just to exercise her craft muscles. Find time to just create, draw or craft without the pressure of market preparation or deadlines. 

Task:

Start your Ideas Journal and start incorporating some the above concepts into your business and life. I specifically want you to take some time to research, read some blogs of people who inspire you and get working on shaping an innovative thought process. It is something you can actively work on and over time you will really notice how your thoughts and ideas are growing.

My Reading List:

I enjoy reading these blogs to help me feel inspired:

DesignLoveFest: Bri's blog has handy tips, great layouts and she is an all round creative Wonder Woman. I strive to as creative and inspired as she is.

Decor8: Holly inspires me to be crafty and also how to run a well-rounded creative business. She writes from the heart and shares tips and inspiration.

Alt Summit: I always harp on about my dream of attending the summit. Their blog is a treasure trove of handy facts and keeps me focused on my dream.

I also like looking at magazines, the topics they share and their layouts as those can inspire blog content and blog post designs.

I love listening to new things especially TEDTalks, which is widely used, Monocle 24 Radio and interesting music. I also daydream or think of the future of my business as this helps me to come up with ideas I can put in motion now in order to make those dream a reality. Just don't daydream too much and never actually do anything about it - make a start!

Off you go - get thinking and build your own innovation!

Before you dash off - here are some new workshop dates! The other thing you need to know is that I will be coming to Cape Town and Joburg in September and October to run the workshops there. I have also had a request to do the workshops in Pretoria. I am open to doing them wherever there is a need, but I need to know how many people would like to take part and then I can work out if it is possible. Email me to get added to the mailing list, so that you can be the first to know when bookings open, also let me know if you are interested in the beginners or intermediate workshop. You can also get in touch if you would like me to come to your town or city - let me know, let your friend's know too as it will depend on how many people would like me to visit and share the workshops.

New Dates:
Beginners Creative Workshop: 8 June
Intermediate Creative Business Workshop:  22 June

Read more here or book now.

Seven Things: May

A Few of my Favourite Things this Month

Sorry for not posting yesterday - I like starting the week off with a post, but things are quite busy at the moment, so I just had to keep my head down!

So...we are kicking off the week on Tuesday with a Seven Things post!

1 >  Something Special: As you know last week was Mother's Day. We celebrated at my parent's house and my little sister cooked a really lovely meal! It's always great to wrap something for my mom as she really appreciates the effort plus I got to use my new ohhellofriend tape (more below)!

2 >  My Office: As I mentioned in last week's Organised Spaces post, I have been working on my office space, but it's still very much in progress. This is one of my favourite features and feels just right!

3 >  A New Mug: I am so fussy when it comes to mugs. Silly, considering I don't drink coffee and only have about one hot drink a week! None the less, this beauty caught my eye at Boardmans from a brand called Top Choice and as per usual the packaging was one of the selling points!

4 > More Office: Just a small collection of mostly pink things. This is another feature I quite like as the grouping is pretty and most of the items are vintage or vintage inspired so they live together happily.

5 >  Home: I was randomly taking snaps last week to play around with the A Beautiful Mess app. R7.99 well spent! This snap shows the collection of pictures, that sits on a little window seat area next to our front door and is made of up of mostly gifts so each piece is really special.

6 > ohhellofriend Tape: Danni from ohhellofriend is my creative hero so when I spotted the message tape, she created, I had to have it! The package and wrapping didn't fail to make me super happy and she included a lovely calendar and cute card which are now taped to my office wall!

7 > Creative Workshop: This past Saturday, I hosted an intermediate workshop and it was a really lovely day! This is just a quick snippet of the craft table. More photos to follow soon or check out this post via Sew Long!

Sending luck and love your way, for a really wonderful and productive week!

Creative Business Tips

Short & Easy Creative Business Tips

I hope you enjoyed the market set-up tips, showcasing your products in the best possible way is very important! Onto more tips today with Creative Business Tip #5! Remember to catch up and to follow on in the series - click here for tips #1, #2, #3 or #4. The tips are created to work in conjunction with one another so keep integrating them into your routine as you build your business.

Press & Features:

Many creative business owners dream of being featured in their favourite publications and they often think that it's a dream that might not come true. However, by working on your press kit and having a strategy you can get featured and start building a press portfolio. Press features are positive as they are free and give you a stamp of approval. It's also a great confidence booster and it means you are on the right track with your creations or service.

Press Kit:

Don't sit back and wait for publications to approach you, be proactive about getting in touch with them and letting them know about your business. Take a professional approach and work on a press kit. One of the main things you will need are good photos to represent your products. If you offer a service you can send photos of your space or process, think of a creative way to show what you offer. I know that some businesses are not at a point where they can afford a professional shoot, but don't let that get you down. I am by no means a professional photographer, but I find that these tips for taking your own photos really help and you can apply it to your blog content too:

Good Natural Light:  Find a space in your office or home, which has good natural light. This might be in the morning or afternoon, but test and see when it's best. I often find 2pm - 4pm to be the best for my shots as the light is still bright, but softer. If you are uncertain take a few shots at different times of the day and then compare them, be aware of shadows and how you arrange items. Develop your eye to inspect your photos and to compare and pick the best from the batch.

A Clean Surface & Background:  I like using a white surface, but colours work well too. White cardboard is a great option and you can set-up a mock infinity curve. Sheets are popular too, but please iron or steam them. A creased background is not an option. Keep shots clear of background clutter. 

Practice: Like most things we become more skilled when we practice. Even basic digital cameras have different settings, practice taking photos and as I mentioned develop your eye to spot what makes a good shot.

Find Inspiration: I am a big believer in inspiration on all fronts and in photography, even when an amateur you can still be inspired by the photos of your favourite bloggers or photographers. Look at their photos and understand what it is that you like - is it the styling, the light, the way it is edited or is well balanced? 

Pic Monkey: Yes, good old Pic Monkey which I love, recommend and refer to so often. Many people think they need Photoshop or a similar program to get going and the answer is yes, when you reach a certain level, you do need it. In the meantime use this free site to resize photos and brighten them up.

Okay...let's chat about what else should be in your press kit?

Essentially, the kit is digital so you can email the photos and facts. Make sure your photos are resized to under 1MB so that you don't clog up any inboxes. Secondly, you need some positive facts about your business to include in the email and perhaps a short bio. Lastly, create a list of potential magazines to email. Look at their websites, Facebook or Twitter accounts for contact details. You will be surprised at what you can find when you actively begin to work on this. Remember last week's tip about your online presence, I suggest including a link to your blog or Facebook business page, but make sure you are presenting the best that you can.

Be Professional:

In all correspondence be professional and polite, but let your personality shine through. Check grammar and spelling and don't be afraid to touch on some positive aspects of your business.

Don't Give Up:

So... you mailed them once, they didn't reply - are you going to give up and retire? NO! Of course not - try again, stay professional and try a different avenue like sending them a Tweet and asking for the correct contact. Keep it polite though, as what you say is a direct reflection on your brand. No ranting or how dare you not reply to me messages! Eventually, if you don't get anywhere with that publication, cross them off you list, move on and make sure you are continually looking at people who you can add to your contact list.

Press Packs:

These can be sample products that you package up creatively and send to editors, magazine staff or bloggers. Make sure your press pack showcases your best, include an introduction note rather than a letter, keep it short and sweet, but factual and personal and remember your all important branding. Make sure you aim to get the right contact person to send the package to and make sure you courier to the magazine's offices. No editor wants to stand in a post office queue to collect a package from a stranger. Keep it creative and include a call to action, where you mention why you are sending it, but again keep it professional and not too demanding. For example - invite them to visit your blog or online shop (don't forget the link on your business card or on the note).

Task:

Start your own press kit with product photos, facts and start working on an email to send to publications. Work on a list of contacts - research their details. Keep it personal, don't send a mass email hoping for the best. You can keep the structure of your email and content similar, but send the mails one at a time and personalise them, where possible. Remember this task is about growth and also about evolving as business owner. Make it a goal to work on your press kit, to update it and to finesse your correspondence.

Read More:

Approaching the press and composing emails is something that I offer in my one on one consulting sessions and we work on this during the Intermediate Workshops that I run. Get in touch if you would like help with composing the perfect email or even further guidance on researching publications.

I want to know how things are going?  If you have questions or something to share then please leave a comment or send me an email. Or...if you are a journalist or features writer who has some additional tips - please get in touch!

Market Stand Display Ideas & Tips

A Few Tips for Showcasing your Products

I got a lovely email from a reader in response to the Creative Business Tip Series...

I am sure this is something that affects more readers than just Alison of Buggaluggs, so I thought I would create a post to outline some market stall set-up ideas, tips and must have items.

Theme:

It's important to pick a theme or mood for your table. It's key that this is lead by the style of your products as to create a coherent and well pulled together look and feel for shoppers. For example, if your products are vintage inspired, why not use vintage or old fashioned items like saucers, old cups, crates or displays that speak of yesteryear. Take a look at your product range and decide what palette will best suit and highlight your products. It's also good to  select your tablecloth, display details and all the elements that pull your table together to match this theme or feel.

Product Range:

Make sure you have a range of products. It's best to streamline what you can make and then to work on those items. Creatives are often tempted to make as much as possible, but I suggest picking your best products and producing a few of each, that way as one sells you have more to restock with. By focusing your creative efforts you can get a more well rounded selection instead of too many one off items.

Danni from ohhellofriend is really great at building her product ranges and stock. Her stand set-up is also an inspiration! She is a regular on the market and fair scene in the States, she has honed her craft skills with practice and creative planning!

Inspiration:

I like to always look at the stalls and stands of others to help me come up with new and interesting ideas. I do, however always say - be inspired, but don't copy even if what you are admiring belongs to that of an overseas seller. It's great to develop your own creative thought process through analysing inspiration.

Key Points to Keep in Mind:

Dimension:  Displays work best when you add different levels and heights to your products. The higher levels at the back and the lower ones in the front. Upside down crates, cake stands and boxes work well for creating dimension and levels.

Variables:  Try to find out where your stand or stall will be. This will help with your planning. Keep in mind that weather conditions change at outdoor markets or lighting in halls and venues can differ for indoor shows. Do you need additional lighting and are you near a plug point? Try to be aware of the unknown variables and plan as best you can to be adaptable and flexible.

Showcase you Products:  The whole reason of the market is that you want to sell your products, therefore the outcome of your stand set-up is to showcase your products in the best possible way. Think of ways that show-off your items. Stands, boxes, card holders...look at things from the point of a potential shopper and make it easy for them to access and view products. If you sell accessories like necklaces are they easy to view and try on? Or if you sell stationery like pens, do you have a tester available? We are all consumers and customers at some point, use the knowledge of what you like or need to assist in your layout planning. 

Packaging & Interesting Displays:  Creatives love beautiful packaging and it definitely helps to sell products. Make sure your packaging or tags are the best that they can be. Group similar products together. You can use various things to hold them. I particularly like how Olive Manna used baking tins, which they sprayed white to hold these stationery items. Their packaging is simple, yet effective. Be creative and scour second hand shops for interesting and unusual display items. Look around your home, many decor items can be great for displaying too. Shopfitting stores often sell second-hand stands or interesting baskets which are great. In Durban I always visit Shelve Master in Umgeni Road, as they have loads of older, unique display pieces. Remember things like egg cups, muffin trays, wire baskets, cute containers and empty drawers are all handy!

Practice: Over time you will know just how to display your products best. Keep at it and always evolve and grow. As you are learning, don't be afraid to set-up a mock market table at home in order to see what will work best.

Here are a few more great examples...

Also... take a look at the Renegade Craft site!

Don't forget to have the name of your business on display as well as your business cards!

Love this fun display with sweets for customers! (Image via The Print Blog)

1 / Crates: Great for stacking and displays

2 / Baskets: These are useful for a collection of similar things. Wire or metal baskets are perfect too.

3 / Cutlery Dividers: Ideal for smaller items and grouped products.

4 / Chalk Board: To display prices or facts.

5 / Cake Stands: They add dimension and levels.

Lastly, keep on researching and be unique. Pinterest is full of ideas and boards from creatives who are also planning for markets and fairs!

Take a look at these...

Bronwen from Once prepped her table at home to show her ideas.

Jeanee from a brand called Dirty Laundry wrote a downloadable book about craft show set-up.

I particularly enjoyed this Pinterest board from Ginger Kelly Studio.

Here is a post on Six Tips to Become a Craft Show Superstar.

Another post showing tips and inspiration on  a blog called Maiedae.

You too can share your creative business question - just email me and let's all learn together!