Sell Your Wares workshop

Come along to the "Sell Your Wares" workshop on Thursday to get some hot tips for starting out in markets.
This workshop is targeted at emerging creatives looking to sell their wares and develop their businesses. It will cover: pricing, marketing, displaying your wares, attracting visitors to your stall, generating further business, target markets and more! Past stallholders have found this workshop incredibly useful to their business and arts practice, so we highly recommend that you attend if you can make it.

WHERE The Blue Room Theatre (53 James Street, Northbridge)
WHEN 12 March 2015
TIME 6:00pm – 8:30pm 
WHO Presented by Made on the Left. Speakers include Little L, Delish Ice, Jacquie Hughes and other special guests!

SIGN UP TODAY! You must register here  to confirm your seat. 

Update: If you couldn't make it on the night, Katie from Delish Ice has shared her talk on her blog: http://delishice.com.au/my-own-experiences-for-your-own-journey/ 

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

5 Things All Crafters Need On Their Website Home Page

Having your own website is a great way to tell your brand story in as much or as little detail as you like. It gives you the opportunity to showcase your products however you like and is also a great place for you to connect with buyers and direct them to whatever information they need. 

It’s also is a great place to sell, free from listing charges and competition. But what if you have your products for sale on your website but they’re not selling as well as you’d like? Here are 5 simple things to include on your home page to make sure you really are being found by customers and directing them to where they need to go to make a purchase.

1. A link to your shop 

Sounds obvious but is sometimes forgotten. Make sure the link is easy to see and completely obvious. If it’s not in your header then make sure you put it there asap. Also add another link somewhere else on the page such as a clickable image or in any text.

And if you have any images or text of a product make sure that links to the product in the shop so a customer can easily find it and buy it.

If you offer wholesale and sell to retail outlets don’t forget to include really easy-to-find links to both those sections on your homepage. Don’t make wholesale customers search for your wholesale page or expect shoppers to know you have products in shops if it’s not obvious to them.

Make it super obvious. 

2. At least one paragraph of text on your page that includes several keywords.

This should be in text, not within an image or in Flash/PDF. The text is there for the benefit of Google so it can place you in search queries so make sure there are plenty of references to your keywords. Keywords are words customers use when searching for your products. They are sometimes very obvious (your name, what you sell) and sometimes a little less easy to think of (a description or feeling of your brand). Below is the text you can find on my website homepage. All keywords I used have been bolded to make them easy for you to see. 

Delight Society is an artisan soap company which stays very close to the simply natural while being a long walk and two bus trips from the frankly artificial. Using only natural ingredients Delight Society produces bath and body products which are free from Sodium Lauryl Sulphate, Synthetics, Parabens and Palm Oil. Hand crafted in Western Australia each product is carefully prepared to be gentle and nourishing on your skin such as handmade soaps, decadent body scrubs, skin loving body oils and kid friendly bubble baths. Delight Society also sells to wholesale clients; providing handmade products of high quality to companies who are looking for unique and luxurious items.

Buy Delight Society products straight from the source or from these retailers. 

These aren’t my only keywords throughout the website but they the major ones for what I sell. The first step is to make a list of keywords that shoppers will use when searching for products that you sell. Then build a paragraph around those keywords and add it to your home page. Include inbound links when necessary.

3. Social media links 

This encourages customer interaction and by making it easy for customers to “Like” your Facebook page they will be more likely to do so. Put them in an easy-to-see spot, such as the header, footer, a side bar or wherever they will be easily seen.

4. Constant new content 

By constantly changing some information on your homepage you become increasingly attractive to search engines. Content is king when it comes to being found on the internet so make sure your changes are positive and contain your keywords. The easiest way to do this is to have a blog/Facebook/Twitter feed directly on your home page. Then every time you update your social media it immediately updates on your homepage. Wordpress and other open source platforms have widgets for this but if your website was made by a professional developer then it will not be difficult for them to add this feature in.

5. Amazing photography 

This can’t be emphasised enough. My photography skills are really not as good as I’d like them to be so I stick to simple product shots and am slowly building up a collection of “behind the scenes/lifestyle” shots that I can add in as I go.

If you don’t have a lot of great photographs, start with your very best images and put only them on your home page. Keep updating them as you go, this is also great for SEO. Don’t put any poor quality photos on your home page...ever.

Also name and tag your images correctly. This increases you being found in searches.

These five additions to your home page will help increase traffic and get sellers exactly where you want them...at your website. 

Jacquie Hughes is on the Made on the Left committee and is the founder of  delightsociety.com

Stallholder Profile: Spotlight on "Osmosis Designs"

Today's stallholder profile is Annie of Osmosis Designs. Annie has been a stallholder at Made on the Left markets since the third one. Let's go behind the scenes!

Tell us a bit about yourself
I came from a creative family so making is in my DNA! In my time I’ve sold paintings, mixed media work, freehand machine embroidery, hand drawn embossed cards. Now, with osmosis designs, I’ve taught myself vector graphics so I can design pieces for laser cutting and etching. Each piece I make is hand finished, embroidered and assembled.

What inspires you to create?
Anything and everything, but most ideas have a basis in science – the natural world and geometric shapes

What materials do you use?
I use coloured acrylics and bamboo ply for my laser cut pieces and some of these have cross-stitch embroidery on them in either wool or cotton threads.

What’s your number one market tip?
My best market tip is to start as soon as possible and write lists. Tick things off as you go – list stock you need to make, things you need to buy, items you need to take with you etc. Plus be inventive in your display. You need something, either a product or a prop that people will notice and make them look longer at your stall.

What is your favourite part of the creative process?
The design stage – I work hard to make each design idea really work in reality.

What’s been your most popular item or line to date?
My positive/negative shape earrings where one earring is the bit cut out of the other (see picture) They have become my signature piece.

What is the most exciting thing that has come out of selling your designs through markets?
Meeting a wonderful group of like-minded people. There is something quite special about the craft community. They are so supportive and generous.

What advice would you give someone who wants to sell their crafts?
Try to develop your own style with whatever it is you make. That style can be a theme, a colour scheme or a variation of something that nobody else has done. Be original.

What goals do you have in store for the future?
No specific goals – just to keep making and developing my ideas.

Thanks Annie!
xxx MOTL

Stallholder Profile: Spotlight on "Christobel"

Christobel was the winner of our "Best Stall Display" at our Winter 2012 market. Here we find out what goes on behind the scenes.

The Christobel stall at Made on the Left market

Christine Lovitt of Christobel was born in Dublin, Ireland and migrated to Perth in 1988 with her husband and three small children. She has worked as a lawyer since arriving in Perth and only when she changed to part-time hours in 2007 did she find the time to pursue more creative activities.

What inspires you to create?

Sometimes an idea will just come to me – other times I will see something when I am out and about which will give me an idea.

What materials do you use? 

Almost everything I use is pre-loved. I make paper sculptures out of old books, sheet music and atlases, journals using old books covers, jewellery using old bakelite buckles and buttons, cushions out of vintage leather and any other treasures that I pick up from time to time which can be put to another use.

What steps do you take to prepare for a market? 

First I clear my workspace, then I think about what time of year my next market is going to be and what seasonal things I can make. Then I look at what new treasures I have collected and work out what to do with them. Because I am always making things, one market kind of rolls into the next fairly seamlessly without having to say up all night making enough stock.

What’s your number one market tip? 

Practice setting up your stall at home beforehand so that you can perfect the overall appearance and not be stressed on the day. How your stall looks can make a big difference to how shoppers perceive your products.

What is your favourite part of the creative process? 

Experimenting with new ideas. For every new thing that appears on my stall there will have been an equal number that didn’t work out and ended up in the bin. I love scouring church fetes, Sunday markets and op-shops for old treasures and then the challenge of making something new with them.

What’s been your most popular item or line to date? 

My paper sculptures and my tiny plants in vintage teacups.

What is the most exciting thing that has come out of selling your designs through markets? 

The most exciting thing was getting an order from overseas for some of my paper sculptures which had appeared in a Sydney Morning Herald article on craft markets.

What advice would you give someone who wants to sell their crafts? 

Think about your brand and where it fits in the marketplace, then just get out there and apply for stalls at markets like Made On The Left. It is the best way to test your ideas and to get feedback.

What goals do you have in store for the future? 
Ultimately I would love to have my own studio space from which I could sell my pieces. My husband loves finding and restoring old furniture and both my daughters are very creative so it could be a family venture!

Thanks Christine!
xx MOTL team

Stallholder Profile: Spotlight on "Little L"

Made on the Left first came across Lauren Mills at the KickstART Youth Markets in April of this year. We were so impressed with her display, we awarded her Best Stall Display with the prize being a free spot at the July Made on the Left market. Here we get the scoop on Lauren, her inspirations, creative processes and market tips!  

Lauren with her prize winning display at the KickstART Youth Markets

Tell us a bit about yourself.

My name is Lauren Mills; I am 23 years old and currently finishing my final year of Interior Design at university. I started up my small business Little L at the beginning of this year and have loved every moment of it since.

What inspires you to create?

The materials I use are my main inspiration. I love repurposing old materials and giving them a new life, for example: my stamp collection from my childhood has now turned into necklace pendants and brooches, old books from the top shelf of a second hand store are now a myriad of ornaments and artwork, paper dress patterns are now mini and large bouquets of flowers.

Turning trash into treasure and just making beautiful things is what inspires me to keep on going.

What materials do you use?

As said above I like to reuse old items and repurpose used materials. Books, dress patterns, postage stamps, sheet music, lace, buttons, dominos and scrabble letters make up to main collection of my materials. I also use all recycled pieces of furniture for my market displays, all found at bulk rubbish collections or at second hand markets.

Little L at the Made on the Left July 2012 market

What steps do you take to prepare for a market?

A lot of preparation goes into the week prior to a market, usually I clear out a space in the house like the living room or garage and layout my whole display with all my furniture and pieces so I can get it just right. I get my whole family involved getting feedback and help with planning so everything runs smoothly on the day.

What’s your number one market tip?

Be prepared! I always pack a toolbox with everything I might need from masking tape to blue tack to safety pins to my pliers. You never know what might happen. For outdoors markets tarps are always a good idea especially in winter, and for indoor markets materials to fix your signage and displays with are a must.

Lauren's workspace

What is your favourite part of the creative process?

The best part of the creative process is that moment in the middle when you can finally see your ideas taking shape and coming to life. That point where whatever you’re working on starts to resemble the finished product you have pictured in your head. That’s such a rewarding moment to know you’ve overcome the difficulties of creating and things are finally turning out right!

What’s been your most popular item or line to date?

My most popular item has definitely been the handmade paper flowers from recycled dress patterns. They have consistently sold out and I can’t seem to make enough of them fast enough!

What is the most exciting thing that has come out of selling your designs through markets?

The interactions with all the other market organisers, stallholders and potential stockholders. The contacts and networking that can come from just one market is so inspirational it really keeps me eager to continue my hard work and keep pursuing this dream.

What advice would you give someone who wants to sell their crafts?

I think the best thing to do from the beginning is to research. Research the market, the product, the people you want to sell to and where you will be selling. The market scene in Perth is booming at the moment so now is definitely a good time to get involved, so have confidence in your products and take the chance. It’s a fantastic experience and the people in the Perth market scene are just lovely J

What goals do you have in store for the future?

Ideally I would like to open my own store selling refurbished furniture, and more of my handmade wares. I love what I am doing and love the creative process, but I also love the thought of the people of Perth wearing my wares and having them in their homes. For now I am just happy to get out there and keep holding stalls and enjoying every moment of it. 

Thanks Lauren!
xx MOTL Team

Not your typical walk in the woods...

It’s show time again and applications for the November 4^th 2012 Made on the Left market are now open. Our November market is going to be our biggest yet. Keep reading for a few teasers and application hints:

• We have an amazing woodland theme which we’ll be using throughout the whole market in advertising, promotion and graphics.
• This market will be held inside the State Theatre Centre in the Underground Theatre as well as outside in the Courtyard.
• We’re doubling our advertising/pr budget so we can reach an even bigger audience and attract more customers to see and buy your amazing products.
• The committee will again be voting for the best stall display and the winner will receive a free stall at the following market as well as input into where they’d like to be positioned and a blog post interview.
• We have a new application form with new sections so you can really tell us about your products and why they are so special. One section allows you to list shops you feel your product is suited to who we’ll then personally invite to the market. There is also the ability to upload more pictures as they are so important in the application process.

APPLICATION HINTS

1. Send in the best pictures you have, not only do we want to see what you make but we’re also looking for pictures which show: previous market displays, your branding/tags/packaging, how the product is used/worn/displayed and personal shots of you with your product or in your workroom (this is important later for when we’re seeking promotion ideas and images to send to publications).
2. We’re looking for applicants who fit the market theme and/or our target market and we are always looking for new undiscovered designers who make amazing products who want to get them out into the market scene. Our market customers are incredibly varied, ranging from the young to the young at heart and it is our goal that every one of them find something they love at each market.
3. Please don't send images that are too big (over 2MB) or too small (under 50KB) and make sure they are in focus and not too dark.
4. Read the FAQ section on the application page for more on the day information.

We’re so excited about the upcoming market and hope you are too. Pass this webpage address on to anyone you know who might be interested, even if they’ve never done a market before. Big designer markets like Made on the Left can be scary but our philosophy is “bite off more than you can chew”. Join us in one of the most exciting markets in Western Australia and show Perth just how talented we are.

Applications are open until 14th September 2012. Click here to apply.

Market tips

There are some great tips for preparing for markets on the internet and here a few we thought might be useful:

Top Five: Market Tips from so little time

Top 10 Tips: Market Stalls from Finders Keepers

Tips for Market Stall Holders from Handmade Canberra 

Selling at markets: some tips and advice from The Square: Bendigo's Handmade Market

Six useful tips from Craft Blog 

A Market Organiser’s insider tips on a successful market stall! from The Market Roll 

Top 10 tips - Visual merchandising for your market stall from Dance in my Garden 

Lessons learned from my first market from Emmaline 

The Contemporary Handmade Alliance's Market Week series:
Goals and Expectations
Visual Merchandising

Market Checklist

Top Tips with seller Sweet William 
Top Tips with seller Rabbit & the Duck

And some tips from our very own Made on the Left team:
What to bring to your craft fair 
Market Guide - Stock Levels 
Craft fair etiquette for stall holders 
So You've never had a Stall Before - Monday Hint 

What are your top market tips?

Photographing Flat Products : Help from Etsy.com

photo from letterhappy

"Taking great photos of your work is key! How you present your artwork is just as important as the work itself, and more often than not it's what makes the difference between someone understanding/buying your work. Flatness is one of the biggest obstacles to overcome when photographing 2D work and presenting it online. Context is everything; it is important to remember the item isn't just an image on a screen! For flat 2D objects, such as drawings and prints, show a scanned version of the work, but also a shot with space around the work. You want to give your viewer an idea of the size of the piece, as well as its presence!"

Read the rest of the article HERE. Its really good, and has made me realise that I usually purchase prints that are well photographed more frequently than "flat"images.

xx Lauren & The Team

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

Yes, yes I know its about two weeks late. :)

Saturday's Hint.
Hello My Name is...
Arrive at venue. Unpack. Set Up... what comes next? Introduce yourself to your stall neighbors. This not only gives you the opportunity to suggest covering each others toilet breaks, but could also get you a life-long friend! I always make a point of chatting to the designers either side of me at a market, and usually try and chat to others close to me too. You'll find the day much more enjoyable, you'll make great contacts, and hey, who knows, you might even make a sale from it! Attending meetup events is also a great way to network, make new friends and have a great time, and it just so happens MOTL teamed up with Etsy the weekend before last for a Etsy Birthday Craft Party.

Check out the pics below, and if you're interested in coming to our next one, sign up to this event, and you'll get notified when the next one is scheduled. :) Yay!

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.

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

Hello Again,

Just a quick one before I hop off to bed!

Mondays's Hint:
Height, height, height.
Cast your mind back to the last car boot sale or swap meet you went to. As you were walking around, did you stop at some vendors more than others? Bets on you did. And bets also on the probability that they either had their stuff elevated on boxes or a table, rather than spread out over the ground.

Presentation is everything. We as humans like a little bit of interest in our visual world, and we also like to be close enough to things to be able to see clearly. You can capture the attention of "walker-bys", and turn them into "lookers" and maybe even change them to "buyers" (ka-ching!), simply by adding height to your display. As we've all got our trestle tables at Made on the Left already, you've already gotten to hip height with most of your customers, which is a great start. Below are a few starting ideas for adding even more height and visual interest to your display, which we've purposefully kept relatively inexpensive and easy for you, because not everyone can afford to outlay a massive amount on specialised stands and displays. And lets face it, something already pre-made and mass produced isn't always the best way to present your one-of-a-kind, amasing handmade items!

These ideas are just from looking at the last MOTL in November 2009!

1. Arranging covered boxes in cool ways and putting your stuff on them:

This can also be a space saver if you've brought your stock to the market in those same boxes!


2. Picking up some picture frames and making a stand or two, either vintage ones or some that caught your eye in a shop:

If you make clean/classic items, go for a clean/classic frame. If your items are wild and kooky, look for a frame that will complement (not compete with) your items. Dont forget spraypaint is your friend, and to take the glass out, as market stuff gets dropped ALL THE TIME. I will never forget when I held up one of my stands with a jar of tiny buttons... and I knocked it over and they tipped out all over the pub carpet! Eww!


3. Using things that wern't originally meant for display purposes in a cool and quirky way:

Heaps of things here, a covered box, a corkboard, a dish-drying rack, a chair, and a little suitcase!

Well thats Monday's hint. Let us know in the comments of any tips you have for sellers, or ideas for adding height, or maybe even you have a "oops" story like my jar of buttons! Do share, everyone loves a laugh!

xx Lauren & The Team

So You've never had a Stall Before?

Hi Folks,

Well it's that time again, when we bring out the trusty old favourite; the How To Set Up Your Stall post.
With pretty much the most new stallholders we've had since our first market way back in June 08, we figure you freshers might need a little bit of a hand, and seeing as we live to launch Perth's newest creatives, we thought we could be the ones to do it.

Its quite a feat to have a "finished" stall setup, everyone I know or see both here in Perth and elsewhere around the globe are continiually tweaking, adding and refining their stall setups and displays... we can always see room for improvement. So if you're a veteran, read ahead, you might find something to help you out!

Now we're going to stick with the basic trestle-table setup for these daily posts, as thats what we have at Made on the Left. Some of the more elaborate, larger markets can end up with stalls that look like mini retail stores, and require a lot of effort and imagination, not to mention set-up and pack-up time!

If you're just starting out, this week I'll be posting one top tip a day right through until Saturday, so make sure you come back here or add us to your blog reader to get the rest of the hints!

Sunday's Hint:
Clean, white, ironed tablecloth.
Some people love the look of black, but it's a lot harder to keep clean and most peoples products dont "pop" enough out from a dark background, and with our notorious Made on the Left lighting (yes, I can hear some of you sniggering), its best to keep your displays light coloured. Also notice I stated that your table cloth needs to be CLEAN and IRONED. Its actually best if you can get a tablecloth that doesnt need ironing, as it saves a LOT of work and effort (its really hard to keep it crease-free from your house, into your market gear, and then out onto the trestle-table). There is nothing more off-putting than a hairy, stained, wrinkly tablecloth touching jewellery that you might be putting in your ears or around your neck.
Except maybe if its smelley too boot.

Added bonus points if the tablecloth is floor length on three sides so you have a hidey spot for all your gear during the market under your table.

Don't forget to come back tomorrow for our Monday Hint, and please comment us with any questions at the end of this post, or you can email lauren[at]madeontheleft[dot]com if you're shy :).

Alternatively, you can let us know one of YOUR top hints that might be useful to newbie (or veteran!) sellers. Check out previous posts on stock levels and what-to-brings HERE.

xo Lauren & The Team

Help is at Hand

Hi All,

As market season is about to start in earnest, we just thought that sellers would benefit from one of our old articles a couple of years old about organising your self for a market.

Don't forget to comment if you have anything to add, you might have a secret trick that will really make a sellers day easier.

So click here to read our article What To Bring To A Market.

Oh, and also check out our Stock Levels Advice Article.

xxo Lauren & The Team

Take me out to the Show

Hello, Lauren here.
Ok, so I'm no expert, but I've now done a significant amount of handmade markets (hmmm, about 5 I think) and have basically got the set-up I want now, just a few tweaks here and there to freshen it up now and then. Heres a pic of my display at the last market I went to, Perth Upmarket.


Things to note:
- Tablecloth that reaches all the way to the ground. Nothing looks worse than your handbag, tool box, extra stock, tissue box, food and rubbish bag all layed out for the world to see. Plus its usually a requirement from the people organising the market. I only wish I had gotten a no-crease one, as I have to iron and roll mine up before packing.
- Mirror. Essential if you have jewellery, acccessories, or anything people wear. Otherwise dont worry about it.
- Height displays. My sales literaly doubled when I added those displays, and they dont have to be expensive. I know people who have found great stuff at Ikea, but mine are an op-shop find; vintage spoon collection displays.
- Label Sign. This can be as simple as an A4 Word printout pinned to the front of your table, or as complex and big as a display board behind you. Mine works because the stand screws apart, and the frame is flat and sturdy.
- Pricing. Either swing tags from your local newsagent, or on the back of the item's display card, or whatever. Just make sure its obvious, as most customers would rather walk away than ask you "how much?".
- Interesting display items. Not essential, but I like them as I can place my expensive items on them. Ideas include jewellery boxes, cool twigs, boxes, vases, or necklace busts. You can make your own necklace bust really easily with this tutorial.
- Plus dont forget the stuff like a cash float, small bags for purchases, business cards or flyers, tissue box, food, water, scissors, tape and pins.

Anyone have anything to add? Comment away.

xo Lauren

p.s. have a read of these great etsy articles on prepping for a craft fair:
How To: Craft Fair
Craft Show on a Budget

Stressed out of your skull? Tips for crafty types 101

Illustrated with skullies made by The Tiny Little Girl

For many independent designers, artists and crafters, we are hitting a frantic time of the year. Not only is it ‘market season’ with its demands of stock production and good looking displays, but it’s also the busiest few months for many people sales-wise in the lead up to Christmas...if only you can find the time to update your websites and online stores! On top of this come all the other demands – ‘real’ jobs, families, relationships, networking, ‘downtime’ (what was that again?) and so on.

Here are some strategies adapted from an article by Kate James on the Australian micro business website http://www.flyingsolo.com.au to help you manage stress and stay creative during this busy season.

1. Know your prioritiesWhat is most important to you? Make sure you plan time for activities that you find pleasurable and for the things that really matter, whether it’s spending time on ‘non-commercial’ creativity, chilling out with a magazine, or spending time with your family or friends. Sometimes you will have to make time for yourself by clearing out other obligations (refer to point 6!).

2. Choose your attitude
Have a positive outlook and believe that things will work out for the best. Close your eyes and visualise yourself being incredibly prepared for your markets. Picture:
· You being prepared with all your stock ready ahead of time, so you are relaxed and chilled out on market day
· Your stall looking fantastically professional and your goods display effectively on it
· Crowds of customers coming up and giving you positive feedback on your designs – and buying them
· You putting money into your apron/pocket/moneybelt or whatever you use on the day.

If you care to, you can use affirmations. Write down the words you want to use in the present tense, and look into a mirror while you say them ‘with feeling’. Feel free to lock yourself in the bathroom and turn music up if you feel a bit stupid at first. An example of an affirmation is “I feel very satisfied making $800 or more at the Made on the Left Market. I’m excited about how much people appreciate my work”. This might sound very ‘new age’, but there is a great deal of evidence that this works by stimulating your subconscious to make your affirmations reality!

3. Make time to relax and exercise
It’s important to pay attention to physical as well as mental relaxation; especially if you spend hours hunched over a piece of jewellery, sewing or similar! Go for a walk or a run, or even try yoga or stretching. It’s also a great time of the year to start getting up early and making the most of our fantastic beaches or swimming at a local pool before the working day begins. Exercising will give you more energy, as well as releasing endorphins that help counter stress. And of course, try to balance any chocolate fuelled creation with lots of healthy food and plenty of water, especially as it gets warmer.

4. Breathe
Well yes, we know breathing is an autonomic response and you can't really choose NOT to do it, but did you realise that taking a few deep breaths is one of the most effective ways to reduce and manage stress? Try to take deep breaths not into your chest but right down into your belly, slowing down your breathing with each breath. If you have time for nothing else, just five minutes of slow breathing each day could have a significant impact on reducing your stress.

5. Talk over problems with friends
You know the old saying ‘A problem shared is a problem halved’...reaching out to others helps you gain perspective, which will definitely help to relieve and manage your stress. Problem solving with people in a similar situation to you (such as fellow Made on the Lefters) can also help you find new solutions to issues you thought were insurmountable. It’s also important to remember how to let go of ‘issues’ once it’s time – dwelling over people or things that have hurt you or made you angry does you a lot more harm than it does to anyone else, and takes up a lot of that precious energy!

6. Know your boundaries
Learn to say ‘no.’ Be clear about your boundaries and learn how to turn down requests politely but firmly when people ask things of you that you don’t have time or energy to fit in. Sometimes we say ‘yes’ to things that we don’t want to do because we are avoiding conflict or because we like the person who asked and don’t want to let them down. The result of this is often a feeling of resentment plus increased stress through having even more on your plate. People usually understand that you have good reasons for saying ‘no’ and will appreciate all the other things you say ‘yes’ to!

7. Laugh!
Laughter is one of the best ways you can reduce and manage your stress. Catch up with a funny friend, watch your favourite TV comedy or panel show, or check out some funny movies on YouTube – whatever rings your bell. Remind yourself to lighten up and not take life so seriously.

It’s widely accepted that high levels of stress inhibit creativity and reduce your effectiveness. By putting some or all of these techniques in place during the busiest time of the year for many independent artists and designers, we hope you’ll be stay at your creative peak.

If you have any stress-busting hints to share, we’d love to hear your comments.