Thank you to everyone who applied! If you are interested in applying for future pop-up shops with us, please join our mailing list, and keep an eye on our Facebook page.
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Calling Local Artists and Makers!
We’re looking for talented local artists and craftspeople to feature in our third holiday shop at the Historic Shell Station in Downtown Issaquah: 232 Front St N. If you make great gifty goods we want to feature you!
This holiday shop is curated and run by Alison Lang of So, There (andsothere.com); and will focus on fun, unique, handmade gifts of all sorts. The shop will be open weekends, from Thanksgiving to New Year 2017 in the beautiful, festive Downtown Issaquah corridor.
No table or booth fees! No booth to tend! Chosen products will be sold on consignment, and artists will receive payment (minus commission) for sales following the shop’s closure in December. Artists will be responsible for dropping off stock on November 19-20, and picking it up on January 1-2.
If you make it, we want to see it! We are looking for handmade: packaged food items, fashion accessories, jewelry, pillows, candles, textiles, home accessories, small furniture pieces, journals, stationery, books, office accessories, electronic gadgets, games, children’s toys, and more! Original art pieces will also be considered.
A few more important things
Artists must be able to drop off stock on November 19th or 20th, and pick up on January 1st or 2nd.
Shop commission is 40% to cover insurance, display, processing fees, and venue. Artist will receive 60% of sales, via check or PayPal by January 30th, 2018.
Artists must affix a price tag and business name to each item. Special packaging or tags are welcome.
Priority will be given to early applicants and those that are very local to Issaquah.
If you have a display or furniture you love to use, and are willing to lend, let us know!
Join Us!
Please fill out the form below by October 30th to be considered for the Historic Shell Holiday Shop
We should confirm your application within a week. If you don’t hear from us, or have any questions, please email [email protected].
2016 Featured Artists and Makers
Aline’s Cardboard
Beehive Creations
Britt Greenland
Catshy Crafts
Camp Smartypants
Globetrotting Artist
Glass Elements
Kitten Mittens
Christine Stoll Designs
Lexi Kreutzer
Mayhem Here
Moulton
Mrs. Robinson’s Affair
Orange Twist
Quineli
Rocaille for a Cause
Sarah Bak
Sunday Drive Designs
Scented Gypsy
So There
Uzura
Vye
Wild Born Foods
Yardia
Zoe Beth Jewelry
From 2014-2016 I chronicled my crafty endeavors on the site Adventures-in-Making. I’ve selected a few of those DIY’s, Recipes, and other posts to share on the site.
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After posting about “Pricing the Precious” we got emails and comments asking great questions about other aspects of creative business. It’s one of my favorite parts about the blog, because it gives me the opportunity to think about the challenges that other artists face. I can only ever give advice based on what I’ve witnessed, but if we all share our experiences, it can only make us more happy and more successful. So! If you ever have a question or comment after reading one of our posts, please make sure to share with us.
In the day-to-day running of the shop I get to meet all sorts of working artists. Mostly I feature artists who are creating the same, or similar, items over and over- but that’s just the kind of store So, There is. Selling and producing one-of-a-kind goods, art, or goods that require a lot of individual production time definitely has its own challenges. It can seem especially daunting to try to recoup money for your time when the time you spend on your art seems endless. Some artists opt to sell their artwork using online stores like eBay or Amazon because the chances of people seeing the artwork are much greater whereas others have quite a specific niche so tend to sell on their own site or from a store. Amazon is a great way to market artwork if you enjoy working from home because you don’t need to own or rent a physical store if you don’t want to. This nine university review provides plenty of information about how to begin using Amazon as your main point of sale but of course, Amazon doesn’t work for everyone so sometimes a store works better.
Selling art has never been easy, but I hope the tips below give you a chance you look at your business from a different point of view. If you don’t already, right now is the time to…
Outline your goals
I am the most hesitant business planner ever. I hate writing down all the plans that are there in my head already, but I do it anyway. It’s extremely important to be in-tune with your own plans for the future of your business. Take some time to figure out what success for your business would look like. Do you want to be a well-known artisan who makes products from your studio? Do you want to turn your creations into a mega-business with lots of people working under you? You also need to think of ways you can make your business run a little more smoothly. For example, you might consider finding a Neat receipt replacement to help with managing your documents. There are lots of things you can do to save time and it’s helpful to get these set up as soon as you’re open for business!
Take that picture of your perfect future, and work backwards to clarify the steps you need to take to bring your business to that point. You may need to make some compromises to get things started. Always keep that end-goal in mind, especially as you…
Adapt your line
Sometimes it seems to me the difference between “artist” and “artistic business person” is as simple as having the ability to step away from the things you are making and evaluating the success of each item. It’s harder for those of us who are really emotionally involved with our work, but unless you’re experiencing unbridled success, it’s absolutely necessary.
These mugs from the playful potter. are offered with custom hand sign decals.
Think about adding pieces to your selection.
I had some great advice from a gallery owner when I was setting the shop up. She said that I should make sure to include a few expensive pieces in the store, even if I felt I would never sell them. They might encourage the sale of a lower priced piece by the same artists, or they might just sell themselves.
The same is true for your line. If you take some time to make quicker, lower priced goods to fill our your selection, you will appeal to an audience who doesn’t feel they have as much money to spend. You get a sale that contributes to your company, and you are establishing a fan base. Those people will share your goods with their friends- and eventually someone will find your great work of art a necessity in their life.
There are lots of benefits from having a wide range of prices in your line. You’ll appeal to more customers, and you’ll be able to customize your line when applying to art shows and sales. Think about adding prints of your pieces to your line, selling patterns and kits, or smaller accessories.
Look for ways to reduce your costs.
Try to think of ways you can reduce your personal costs in time, supply, and overhead. Can you order supplies in bulk? Can you go to a wholesale B2B site like DHgate to get access to cheaper prices? Then you can use Get Your Coupon Codes (https://dhgate.getyourcouponcodes.com) to get even more off your purchase. Take a production line approach so that you can get pieces made more quickly and efficiently? (That is, do the same small task over and over again before moving to the next task. You’ll save time by not having to change you tools/setup/attention as frequently.) Sometimes the steps you take to reduce your costs will make you feel like you’re more a production person, and less of an artist– but might be necessary nonetheless.
Make your items even more special to your audience.
Sometimes all it takes is a quirk to get your line the attention it deserves. Take some time to think about if there is something you could change to make your goods so special that no one will want to walk away from them. (Or as I say to customers at the store “When you dream about it, give me a call so I can put it on hold for you.”) Think about popular trends, and other things that will catch some eyes. Can you use repurposed materials to appeal to the environmentally conscious? Can you up your packaging game? Can you offer a custom monogram or other custom motif that customers will love?
Reevaluate less popular and more expensive designs.
Over the years I’ve had to drop items from my selection that were too time-consuming and not popular enough. I don’t consider any of these things failures- because for me it’s the inventing and making that I enjoy. I try to take some time to figure out what the make-or-break details are, absorb the knowledge, and move on to my next big idea. I know artists who have decided to turn their whole business in a different direction because their line wasn’t as successful as they wanted it to be. Sometimes you have to stop embroidering hand sewn bags, and focus on your popular illustration style.
Try not to be discouraged by decisions like this. There’s a lot of luck involved in businesses like ours, and sometimes it’s just that you haven’t found the right audience (are you ahead of your time?)
Find the right Audience
Advertising, sales, and networking are extremely important in selling your work. As much as we want to, we can’t sit back on our haunches and wait for people to discover our online shop. We all know this– so we do everything we can think of to get a new group of customers to find us, and fall in love. Social media and the various associated platforms can be great business tools if used correctly. YouTube, for example, is ideal for pushing video content out to a potential audience. Building that audience, however, is often difficult. Many trying to establish themselves on the platform may turn to a service like Get Fans (getfans.io/de/youtube-abonnenten-kaufen) in order to grow their viewing figures, audience, and boost their rankings organically.
YEAR ROUND CO. (FORMERLY SLIDE SIDEWAYS) AT RENEGADE HOLIDAY SHOW IN SAN FRANCISCO.
Go to your niche customer.
Sometimes your most successful sales spot is not the easiest. Take some time to think about your product, who loves your product, and where those people are. Are they at the weekly farmers market? Are they at conventions? In tourist spots? Do they go to stores? Shop online? This is a great time to talk to your friends and get their honest opinions about where you should go. (Be wary of suggestions that are self-serving; like school craft sales and the like.) Go where your ideal customer is. Try out as many things as you can stand to- and give yourself permission to have a couple of misses before you get a hit.
Teach what you love!
Sometimes the best way to prove the value of your products is to show people everything that goes into them. Think about teaching a class, or demonstrating your work. You give your well-crafted items more value by demonstrating the skill it takes to get them right, and customers connect with them because they “saw it being made.”
Donate to raffles and auctions when you can.
You can reach a whole other audience by donating to charities and fund-raising auctions. You get the double value of reaching a new audience, and showing that you care about _____. This is a great way to move an item you love, but hasn’t sold for what it should- or a chance to advertise that class you’re going to teach (above.) You can also write-off most charitable contributions, and you know that your piece is going to someone who will love it, and supporting a good cause.
Set Emotion Aside (for a minute)
Sometimes it just isn’t working, even though we’re amazing at what we do. We’re in pricing battles the big-box stores. We’re the only ones doing the work. And we’re also expected to find our audience and sell to it?
Try to look at your line and history and think of what you would tell a stranger. Maybe it’s time to shift your focus. Maybe it’s not worth selling at wholesale to stores. Maybe it’s time to open your own store! But don’t ever give up…
If you love what you do, usually it’s worth doing for the joy- even if it’s not going to make you a millionaire.
From 2014-2016 I chronicled my crafty endeavors on the site Adventures-in-Making. I’ve selected a few of those DIY’s, Recipes, and other posts to share on the site.
Packaging can go a long way to making your goods more valuable. The right kind of packaging can make a big impact on your potential customer, and even encourage them to buy more products from you in the future.
Watching customers at my store, I’ve learned what appeals to them; what works technically, and what doesn’t. It’s a great experience, so I thought I’d share a few tips.
This peek-a-boo tag is obvious from the front of the journal.
Use your packaging to tell the story of your product.
I write a little blurb for each of my card designs, and I’ve seen several customers slip that tag into the card before they send it. They aren’t major literary achievements, but I try to talk about the process (including where it was made) and why it says what it does. This simple thing adds value to the cards, and they want to share that value with the card’s recipient.
Assume your customer knows nothing about your process.
Give them enough information to be impressed by your skills, and curious to know more.
Be funny if you’re funny.
Unless you’re selling medical equipment, it’s alright to not take yourself too seriously.
Try to appeal to your whole audience base- and expand to reach to another one.
All kinds of people are going to pick up your product and look at the back. Your blurb might be the hook that catches them.
Don’t write too much.
Try to make it short and sweet, so they will read it all. Otherwise you wasted all that time trying to be clever!
Catyshy Crafts does a lovely job with their packaging. The kraft paper reflects the qualities of their materials, and everything is left touchable.
Think of your packaging as an extension of your product and brand.
You should spend as much time thinking about your packaging as you do about your business card (which I know you obsess about.) In fact, you should probably try to think about it all at once.
Use materials that reflect your product, and your company’s philosophy.
If you’re into upcycling, use recycled papers. If your product is really modern and tech savvy, think unusual materials (aluminum?) and glossy stock.
Make sure your packaging does not distract from your product.
Usually it’s not a good idea to use bright colors or busy patterns in your packaging. You want it to complement your good. It’s not the focal point.
Be consistent.
Keep your visual message consistent across your products. Inconsistent designs can also distract from your message and designs.
Be professional, but not TOO professional.
Make sure you’re spelling is write, and your not making to many grammar mistakes. (Haha. Couldn’t help myself.) Don’t crop things strangely, or leave extra glue bits everywhere. BUT do make sure to leave a little character in your packaging. You’re hand-making, and hand packaging these things- a little quirkiness adds value. Think about the packaging at Anthropologie ($$) vs. the packaging at TJ Maxx ($). Using natural materials, and leaving the touch of your artistic hands adds value.
This photo album from Scroll Hand*Bound has a story wrap that holds the pages securely together while leaving the book accessible.
Be Practical.
It’s tempting to be only whimsical about your packaging, but there are a few things you need to keep in mind. (Do not get rid of all the whimsy, though.)
It’s gotta work.
I’m constantly reworking my tags and labels to fix them when it’s obvious they just aren’t working. Maybe they fall off every time someone picks it up. Maybe I’ve hidden them too well in my product. Maybe my type is too small. Think about your audience and be practical.
Leave room for a price.
I put a 1/2″ x 1 ¾” tag on every product that comes into the store. Sometimes I have to get really creative to keep from harming the product with my sticky sticker. Try to think about where your price is going to go, and how easy it will be to remove. Often your product will be a gift, so the price should disappear. I’ve started including a tag on my art prints, that has an end that can be cut off to remove the pricing completely.
Use renewable materials.
A lot of this is just personal opinion, but I’m all for getting rid of “plastic sleeves on everything”. They aren’t recycle-able, and they just go straight in the trash.
Even if you disagree- make sure to use materials that you can easily replace. Things you know you’ll be able to order again.
Your time is money.
Your packaging shouldn’t take more time than your product. Don’t make anything that’s so delicate that you will have to constantly fidget with it, or that is difficult to put together in the first place.
Think about protecting your goods.
I know, I know, a plastic sleeve is great protection- but you’re smart, I’m sure you can think of something else.
Let your product be accessible, even through the packaging.
Don’t cover too much of your design with your packaging. If it’s something that needs to be touched to be believed, leave it open! (Or else, consider having an open one everywhere your products are sold.)
These little owl and hedgehog ornaments from Yardia each come in their own origami boxes, with a little raffia nest. It’s a perfect example of whimsy, and added value.
Don’t be too practical.
Read all the advice above, and disregard what you want. You are the best judge of how your products will gain value from packaging. If you want to hand-cut gift boxes for every item, do it. (But make sure to pay yourself for it.) Gift packaging it a great way to reinforce the special nature of your product, and appeals to the thrifty (and lazy) who won’t have to come up with wrapping.
It might not always be feasible to hire a graphic designer for each thing you make, but a clever designer can help you develop some design solutions that you can work with yourself. It might not seem like the best way to spend your startup money, but I truly believe the right help can make the difference for you- especially as you start to work with stores and shows. Here are a few things they can help you with (be sure to make a list before meeting with anyone.)
Designing a logo that tells your story, and can grow with your company.
It’s tempting to make a logo with your favorite typeface, but chances are your tastes will change. A designer can help come up with a logo that can adapt to your changing tastes (a different color combo, perhaps) and your ever-widening product line.
Come up with some basic design solutions that will solve all your packaging dilemmas for years to come.
Most of the designers I know love a challenge. If you ask them to come up with a basic label design that can be used in a variety of ways, chances are they will think it’s the best puzzle they’ve ever met.
Think of things you’ve never heard of.
While you’ve been off perfecting what you make, they’ve been obsessing about labels, labels processes, materials, and all the nerdy stuff you don’t have time for. They might have a few tricks up their sleeves that will save you money and time.
Will be a great resource for you as your company grows.
Working with professionals is usually a good idea, whether it’s a designer, a plumber, or an accountant. As your needs change, they can help you clarify your goals, and keep you on-track. They can refer you to the right kind of helper, and make you think of things you might have overlooked otherwise.
From 2014-2016 I chronicled my crafty endeavors on the site Adventures-in-Making. I’ve selected a few of those DIY’s, Recipes, and other posts to share on the site.
So, you’ve visited the store, done your research, and you’re ready to submit your work. Here are a few things to keep in mind when you’re reaching out to a store.
Sending a Successful Submission
Make sure to include all the things they ask for.
Chances are you will be able to send a very similar email application to a number of stores, so it makes sense to build a kind of form letter than you will add to or subtract from depending on the application guidelines. Including all the elements they ask for is a great way to show that you are organized, and interested in interacting with them.
Be compelling with your words.
If they want to know about you, tell them. Give enough positive details about you to make them want to know more. If someone likes you, they will be more diligent about representing your work.
If they want to know about your process, take the time to really explain what makes your work special. Don’t assume that the shop owner understands that you take very basic materials and do all the steps to make an amazing product. If you do all your own smelting, paperpulping, or scrounging for supplies make it known.
Be thoughtful with your photos.
Pick quality images that represent your line, and items that you think would compliment the store. If there are specific elements that are special on your pieces, include detail photos as well.
Also be thoughtful of the size and quantity of your photos. High res photos aren’t usually the best option for email. Don’t send a photo of every item you have, limit your number to 5 or so (unless they specify otherwise) or fewer if you are also including a link to an online portfolio or shop.
Try to think of your website as a reflection of your brand that captures your unique voice. Investing time and energy in your website is also a good way to introduce your artwork to a wider audience. Need help making sure your website stands out from the crowd? A Staffordshire SEO Agency such as Ram Digital can make sure your online content is optimized for search engines so that you can gain exposure and even sales.
Include details about your pricing.
This is another time that an online shop is helpful. If you don’t have one, be sure to include the retail price of the items you are showing. Remember that you will only get a certain percentage of this amount.
Finish it all up with your contact information.
Including your email, phone number, link to your online store, and your full name and business name.
For goodness sakes…
DON’T BE CRAZY WHEN YOU FOLLOW UP.
I try to respond to everyone within a couple of days, whether I am going to meet with them or not. If it’s been more than a week, I think it’s alright to send a follow-up email to make sure you didn’t get lost in the ether. If you want to be sneaky, this is a good time to send another photo, or another detail that you “forgot”. Whatever you do, don’t accuse them of ignoring you, or forgetting you. (This seems like common sense, right?)
Hopefully this will all come together for you, and you will get a meeting that boosts you into immense success.
or first steps to get your work in stores (and make people like you.)
From 2014-2016 I chronicled my crafty endeavors on the site Adventures-in-Making. I’ve selected a few of those DIY’s, Recipes, and other posts to share on the site.
Our brick and mortar shop has been open less than a year, but I feel like I’ve already seen everything under the sun. The advice below is directed mainly at approaching stores for consignment placing, but many of the elements can (and should) be applied to any type of interaction. It all comes down to starting with a great relationship.
Most stores will have much of the information you need right there on their websites. Take some time to look around, find out who the owner is, what their submission policy is, and the general feel of the place. It shouldn’t take too long, but I would recommend taking notes, and maybe keeping a spreadsheet or list with notes (you can also keep track of who you talked to, when.)
VISIT THE STORE (THE FIRST IMPRESSION)
If you’re approaching a [local] store without visiting it first, you’re missing a big opportunity. Visiting the store gives you a chance to see the general style of goods that the store owner is drawn to, which means you can send a targeted email with photos that you know they’ll love. It also gives you a chance to size up the owner, and see if it’s someone you’d want to partner with (more on this later.) You can do all this without even talking to the shop owner, if you feel shy or if the shop is busy.
There are a few things I think everyone should do when they visit a shop they are interested in selling products at. The first and most important step…
Take a look around.
When you go to the store, give yourself plenty of time to look around. Pick a day when you have a babysitter, some time to kill, and maybe a friend to shop with. Really spend some time taking in the store and its goods.
It isn’t absolutely necessary to buy something, but if you have the interest and the funds, pick something out. Whatever you do, take the time to absorb the feel of the store, the kind of products it carries, what its specialty is. If you make something exactly like a product they already have, you should keep that in mind. Don’t let it stop you from talking to them, but be aware that you might have to wait a little while to have product in their store.
Don’t forget to give yourself time to get an instinct. Do you feel comfortable? Does the store seem organized? Do the people working there seem polite and happy? You will be entrusting them with your beloved goods, and with your brand’s reputation. If it seems like a fly-by-night operation, let it go for now, and apply if you feel differently later.
If you have a hard time approaching the store owner, I think that it’s fine to skip that on your first trip. Feel free to reference your trip when you contact them later.
But if you’re up to it, and the shopkeeper is free…
Talk to them.
You might not be talking to the person who makes the decision, but there’s a good chance whatever you say will make it back to them. I like it when people express interest in my store. Ask about certain items, artists, etc. Once you’ve broken the ice, and introduced yourself…
Ask about their submission and vendor policies.
“How do you find your artists?”
“What kind of things are you looking for?”
“What are your terms? Do you take goods on consignment, or buy them wholesale?”
“That all sounds amazing, how do I sign up?”
You probably know all the answers to these questions, from the research you did on their website, but it’s worth asking anyway.
Listen, and do what they say.
Most likely they have a policy of only meeting artists by appointment; which means even if you are wearing your product, you should arrange to apply the right way. This sets the best tone to your interaction. As with most things in life, if you show respect and kindness, you will probably get it right back.
Then, when you have all these details flying around in your head…
APPLY!
Check out the second part of this series for my hints at making the best impression when submitting work.
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