Made on the Left KickstART Markets workshop

Join Made on the Left for a workshop and networking session as a part of the KickstART Festival! With the KickstART Markets fast approaching, the Made on the Left team will be discussing everything you need to know about selling at markets, with heaps of handy tips about developing your creative business, including;

- Pricing your products/services
- Stall aesthetics
- Tips and advice for selling at markets
- Approaching shops for wholesale

- Coming up with your business name

- Branding and packaging for handmade products;
- and much more.

You'll also have the opportunity to ask questions and network with other independent artists and small business owners.

Past stallholders at the KickstART Markets have found this workshop incredibly beneficial and useful to their business and art practice. We strongly encourage everyone who is in the early stages of building their creative business or practice to come along. Entry is free.

When: Thursday, March 13 from 6.00pm - 8.30pm

Where: Venue in central Northbridge TBA
Register through the Propel website: http://www.propel.org.au/events/1356

Presented by Propel Youth Arts WA in celebration of National Youth Week, the KickstART Festival is a massive series of events designed to spark your creativity. The KickstART Festival will be serving up an assortment of arts workshops, performances, discussion forums, live music, special events and activities from 5 - 26th April, 2014. 

Guest post: 10 Qualities That Attract Wholesale Buyers

You’ve spent years perfecting your products, they sell well at markets and you’ve built up a loyal following. But how do you know if you’re ready to start selling wholesale? 

Getting shops to take you seriously as a potential wholesaler can be an uphill battle. What do they want? What are buyers looking for but they never tell you about? Below are 10 qualities that you as a business possess which will separate your products from all the competition and show buyers that you are a brand worth taking seriously.

1. You Make Products That Will Sell In Stores: 
Seems just a little bit obvious but sometimes what sells well in a market or online will not sell well in a retail shop. Personalised items or products that do not display well (made to fit clothing or un-stretched canvases) will probably be rejected by a wholesale buyer because they won’t be able to display the products well enough to get a sale.

Before approaching a shop ensure that what you are selling is something they can display and sell on the spot.

2. You Look Like A Business – Not A ‘Hobby’: 
Shops will be less likely to take you seriously if they think this is just a phase you’re going through. Always give shops every impression that you are a business; return emails and phone calls promptly, have answers to questions they might ask you at the ready, know what kind of delivery time you’ll need, have your wholesale policies in place and stay friendly and approachable but refrain from talking about personal subjects until your relationship reaches that level.

3. Your Branding Is Cohesive: 

Make sure everything about your brand tells the same story of who you are. This includes logo, packaging, website design, business cards, brochures and more. Try this exercise to see if you have cohesive branding: grab one of everything you have that relates to you business that wholesale buyers and customers will see. Spread it all out in front of you and take a good look. What does your brand say? Does everything flow together and look like it all belongs to each other? If not, revise the aspects that do not work and redesign them so they do.

Ella & Lily Photo by Brian Hadwin

4. You Have A Unique Selling Position: 

What is it that you do that sets you apart from everyone else? Do you:

• Create eco friendly products? 
• Use materials that are locally sourced? 
• Use special/unique packaging? 
• Donate to charity with profits? 

Try and refrain from simply stating “my unique selling point is that each item is handmade”. In a world full of handmade products for sale that isn’t a unique selling point. Instead find one aspect that you do that other artists aren’t doing. For example: “My cupcakes are made using only locally sourced ingredients”, “I donate one item I make to a local charity for every dozen I sell” or “My bath salts, including the packaging are 100% biodegradable”

5. Your Products Can Be Consistently Produced: 
From now on when selling to shops you need to be able to ensure that every item is the same as the last so wholesale buyers never get a shock when opening up your latest order. In some occasions you won’t be able to make identical items, necklaces featuring wood found on the beach will never be identical but customers should easily be able to tell the difference between the large wooden necklace and the small wooden necklace. Features such as clasps and wire/chain should always be consistently reproduced.

6. You Have Thought About How Your Items Will Be Displayed: 
You’ve thought long and hard about how each of your items will be displayed and worked on making changes so shops can get the best bang for their buck. Can your products be stacked on top of each other or can you use different packaging so they take up less space? Is everything eye-catching as a display? Do you need to display information with your products and is that noticeable as well?

Don’t be afraid to go back and rethink your packaging if it isn’t working for you.

Fluid Ink Letterpress

7. You Have Amazing Photos You Can Give Shops: 
Always have a collection of images you can give a shop in the chance they request one. Shops will sometimes request images so they can put them on social media, send with a press release or add to their website.

You will need at least one image per product with a plain white background and one image per product which includes props and/or people. Make sure they are crisp and clear, show special details, illustrate packaging and show who you are as a brand.

8. You Can Offer Your Products At A Price Which Allows The Shop To Add A Profitable Mark-Up: 

It may seem unfair that a shop gets to make as much if not more money than you and all they do is selling. But don’t forget the point that they are actually selling your products, without them you would have to sell the items yourself, a costly and time consuming undertaking. They also have many overheads that they need to pay in order to sell your items. If you cannot sell your products at a reasonable wholesale price then you’ll need to change some aspect of your production/costs in order to do so or forgo being able to sell your items at retail outlets.

9. You Can Deliver Your Wholesale Orders On Time: 
To do this you’ll need to perfect your manufacturing process, work consistently until the order is completed and ensure that no matter what else is happening in your professional/personal life you can fulfil the order.

10. You’re In This For The Long Haul: 
Realistically, most businesses take 2 – 3 years of wholesaling before they break even and much longer to turn a decent profit. This means you’ll spend years selling wholesale to shops before it becomes financially worthwhile for you. The personal benefits will kick in almost immediately but perseverance and hard work will get you through the long years. This is good news for retail outlets who will need to know that you will stick around and that the time and money they will invest in you will pay off for them long term.

Jacquie Hughes is a former committee member of Made on the Left. Find her here: delightsociety.com.au

Designer Speed Dating

Are you a recent graduate wanting to step into the design industry in Perth? Make the most of this rare opportunity to meet Perth's design professionals, all in the one room at the one time, and get the inside story on finding the right job for you in this town.

This two-part event at the Fremantle Arts Centre features a presentation by four designers at different stages of their career, sharing their experiences and giving valuable advice.

The second 'designer speed dating' part allows you to introduce yourself to four or so designers in ten minute, one-on-one chats. A great opportunity to show your folio and get feedback, ask all those questions you have and gain a little insight into the industry.

Presenters:

• Dan Elliot and Henry Luong from Organ Studio, 2008 Curtin Uni graduates at the beginning of their careers.
• Michelle Leslie from Studio Bomba and Mitchell & Dent, a web designer of 8 years experience who has shaped her career with additional study to gain experience in illustration, packaging and print design.
• John Emery from REB Design, owner director of one of Perth's most prominent studios, designer and employer of designers.

IMPORTANT INFORMATION
When: 30th January 2011
Time: 1:00pm - 3:00pm 

Where: Fremantle Arts Centre

Bookings are essential. E-mail wa@agda.com.au to register and pay at the door.
When registering, please provide information about your area/s of study or interest (eg advertising, brand design, illustration, packaging, print, publications/books, web, etc).

$15 AGDA members / $25 non members

For more information, see http://events.agda.com.au/calendar/555/designer-speed-dating


Update:
There has been an overwhelming response to the Designer Speed Dating event and most of the speed dating places are now reserved, so we've made it possible to attend just the presentation part of the day (1pm-2pm). AGDA members: $5. Non members: $15. E-mail wa@agda.com.au to book.

So You've never had a Stall Before - Friday Hint

Yay, so glad it's Friday!

Fridays Hint:
Label Me. Go On.
Two things that are really important and are the basic starting point for advertising your "label/brand" and ensuring that people who dont want to buy on th eday can find you later, either though a google search or email.
1. Business cards/postcards with your business details on them/etc. Even a half A4 design photocopied in black and white is an ok start. Just get something on the table that people can take away.
2. Your business/label sign. Even if it is as simple as an A4 printout pinned to the front of your table, but you can really go all out with this one, as it's a really important tool in telling people about your brand; what the style is, is it cute and quirky, or serious and refined? Make your business sign tell the story. I made my OSIER sign out of fabric, craft letters and a vintage frame (yes, I do have an unhealthy obsession with vintage frames), but you can sew, paint, graphic design, or professionally print yours, it's up to you. The front of your table is an ok place to put it, but I recommend eye height. I keep mine behind my table on the end of an old screw apart (so easy to transport) room lamp stand.

Clever Colour Workshop

Upcoming Clever Colour Workshop perfect for designers/ graphic designers/ artists/ crafters and anyone interested in branding. Click the images for more information.

Clever Colour

Learn how the astute use of colour can improve your results

Wednesday 14 October, 2009

8:30am registration for 9:00am start. 4:00pm finish

Theatrette, Technology Park Function Centre, 2 Brodie Hall Drive, Bentley

Free parking available at venue.

Erich Buxbaum is an expert in branding and colour. Eric has held senior positions in Unilever Europe, the US and worldwide for 30 years including Regional Director in Europe and Senior Vice President

Home & Personal Care Worldwide with responsibilities for strategy, R&D, branding and innovation. Erich has worked on more than 20 years of colour studies and applied research presented in

seminars and workshops in Europe. He is currently Vice President and World Board Member of the International Advertising Association.

Erich is presenting this workshop in Sydney, Perth, Singapore and Kuala Lumpur.

Please see the flyer (below) for more information.