The Create & Thrive Podcast

I know it’s only September, BUT – for those of us in handmade business, the time to start thinking about the holidays and Christmas sales is now. Why? Because it takes a lot of time to get prepared for the Christmas rush, and by getting ready early, we can ensure we’re organised, stocked up, and don’t miss any potential opportunities.

No matter how many years you’ve been in business, it is worth setting aside a bit of time around the beginning of September to plan your holiday strategy.

How? Well, that’s exactly what I’ve got for you today. I’ve created a checklist of the most important tasks and steps to take in order to have your best Christmas sales season yet.

Sound good? Right on! Let’s make this the best sales season ever!

P.S. If you’ve been around since this time last year, you may remember the body of this podcast from then – this week’s ep is a replay (with new intro and end) of the core content from ep 20 last year. It’s such useful content that I wanted to replay and highlight it again for you, and for all the new listeners who might not have gone back and found it!

 

 

Quotes and highlights from this Episode:

I reckon the checklist is enough for you to be getting on with this week – so download the image and/or the pdf printable version below!

I go into a lot more detail about each step in the podcast (including sharing a few stories where I got these things VERY wrong and learnt my lesson the hard way).

Please feel free to share the image of the checklist below wherever you’d like – Pin it; share it on Facebook, twitter, or Instagram; email it to a friend; print it out and stick it on the noticeboard at your local craft shop or cafe – whatever! – and help other makers get prepared for their own holiday sales.

(If you want a pdf download of this checklist, make sure you’re subscribed to the C&T mailing list, and you can then access the Handmade Business Toolkit here.)

 

Download/Listen to this Episode

(You can also subscribe to the podcast and listen to this episode on iTunes + Stitcher – just search ‘Create & Thrive’.)

I know it’s only September, BUT – for those of us in handmade business, the time to start thinking about the holidays and Christmas sales is now. Why? Because it takes a lot of time to get prepared for the Christmas rush, and by getting ready early, we can ensure we’re organised, stocked up, and don’t miss any potential opportunities.

No matter how many years you’ve been in business, it is worth setting aside a bit of time around the beginning of September to plan your holiday strategy.

How? Well, that’s exactly what I’ve got for you today. I’ve created a checklist of the most important tasks and steps to take in order to have your best Christmas sales season yet.

Sound good? Right on! Let’s make this the best sales season ever!

P.S. If you’ve been around since this time last year, you may remember the body of this podcast from then – this week’s ep is a replay (with new intro and end) of the core content from ep 20 last year. It’s such useful content that I wanted to replay and highlight it again for you, and for all the new listeners who might not have gone back and found it!

 

 

Quotes and highlights from this Episode:

I reckon the checklist is enough for you to be getting on with this week – so download the image and/or the pdf printable version below!

I go into a lot more detail about each step in the podcast (including sharing a few stories where I got these things VERY wrong and learnt my lesson the hard way).

Please feel free to share the image of the checklist below wherever you’d like – Pin it; share it on Facebook, twitter, or Instagram; email it to a friend; print it out and stick it on the noticeboard at your local craft shop or cafe – whatever! – and help other makers get prepared for their own holiday sales.

(If you want a pdf download of this checklist, make sure you’re subscribed to the C&T mailing list, and you can then access the Handmade Business Toolkit here.)

 

Download/Listen to this Episode

(You can also subscribe to the podcast and listen to this episode on iTunes + Stitcher – just search ‘Create & Thrive’.)

Do you find yourself focusing on the ‘number of sales’ you (or others!) are making as your main metric of business success?

It is easy to compare yourself to others based on the number of sales made – but I’m here to tell you: this is not a helpful way of looking at your business.

You should always be celebrating your sales and be always thankful for them – but the bare number of ‘sales made’ should not be the measure of how successful your business is. Success is not just about money, of course – but even when we do look at the numbers, this is not the best one to focus on.

If you focus on the number of sales you are making in comparison to others you really need to take a step back. Do not compare. Your business is not their business.

A more useful and accurate measure of ‘success’ (at least, financially speaking) is the profit you are making – both per sale, and overall.

In this episode, I explore this idea, and hopefully, I can help you to shift your thinking away from a focus on number of sales, and towards profit per sale, instead.

 

 

Quotes and highlights from this Episode:

* Keep in mind that an Etsy shop (or other venue) may only be one aspect or one slice of a person’s business. It is not a full view of the person’s business!

* The more sales made, the more time is taken in administration, packing and shipping.

* Product crafting is only one part of what you do.

* Next time you look at a shop and lament on their sales – take a moment to consider all other aspects.

* A better way to look at is by asking yourself what is their average price per sale?

* What is your average price per sale?

* This is a much more accurate view of success.

* If you double your prices, and halve your sales – you are still making the same amount of income, for half the work!

* ‘Most customers are not going to come along and scroll through your sales history.’ {Jess}

* Focus on great products, customer service and fantastic reviews as customers will be looking for this.

* There is nothing wrong with setting goals for number of sales – a more profitable goal, though, will be financial – a certain amount earnt.

* There is more freedom in this, and financially it is what you should be focusing on.

 

Download or Listen to This Episode

(You can also subscribe to the podcast and listen to this episode on iTunes + Stitcher – just search ‘Create & Thrive’.)

Do you find yourself focusing on the ‘number of sales’ you (or others!) are making as your main metric of business success?

It is easy to compare yourself to others based on the number of sales made – but I’m here to tell you: this is not a helpful way of looking at your business.

You should always be celebrating your sales and be always thankful for them – but the bare number of ‘sales made’ should not be the measure of how successful your business is. Success is not just about money, of course – but even when we do look at the numbers, this is not the best one to focus on.

If you focus on the number of sales you are making in comparison to others you really need to take a step back. Do not compare. Your business is not their business.

A more useful and accurate measure of ‘success’ (at least, financially speaking) is the profit you are making – both per sale, and overall.

In this episode, I explore this idea, and hopefully, I can help you to shift your thinking away from a focus on number of sales, and towards profit per sale, instead.

 

 

Quotes and highlights from this Episode:

* Keep in mind that an Etsy shop (or other venue) may only be one aspect or one slice of a person’s business. It is not a full view of the person’s business!

* The more sales made, the more time is taken in administration, packing and shipping.

* Product crafting is only one part of what you do.

* Next time you look at a shop and lament on their sales – take a moment to consider all other aspects.

* A better way to look at is by asking yourself what is their average price per sale?

* What is your average price per sale?

* This is a much more accurate view of success.

* If you double your prices, and halve your sales – you are still making the same amount of income, for half the work!

* ‘Most customers are not going to come along and scroll through your sales history.’ {Jess}

* Focus on great products, customer service and fantastic reviews as customers will be looking for this.

* There is nothing wrong with setting goals for number of sales – a more profitable goal, though, will be financial – a certain amount earnt.

* There is more freedom in this, and financially it is what you should be focusing on.

 

Download or Listen to This Episode

(You can also subscribe to the podcast and listen to this episode on iTunes + Stitcher – just search ‘Create & Thrive’.)

In this episode, I share a helpful little analogy that will guide you through your interactions in the world of social media.

The fact is this: you cannot be part of every conversation that happens online. So often, when we start out, we feel like we should ‘keep up’ with all the conversations happening. We feel the dreaded FOMO – Fear of Missing Out – and it can stress us out!

Instead, I encourage you to think of social media like an eternal cocktail party. You can catch snippets of people’s stories and their lives, but it is never possible to always keep up with everything – especially as your networks expand.

In this episode I outline the do’s and don’ts of working the crowd in this virtual cocktail party.

 

 

 

 

Quotes and highlights from this Episode:

* ‘Social media is like an eternal cocktail party that is always going on.’ {Jess}

* ‘Let go of that fear of missing out, because it is impossible to keep up with everything.’ {Jess}

* Remember they are real people, which can sometimes be harder than it sounds online.

* Have a party pitch ready. A short snappy way to introduce yourself.

* Be quick, interesting and engaging.

* Don’t just sell all the time. Would you do that at a cocktail party face to face?

* Be a real person and be human.

* Don’t be afraid to be vulnerable. You don’t have to be perfect.

* Think about how you can be educational, informative or inspiring.

* What parties are your ideal customers going to?

* Which social platforms do you and your ideal customers use and feel comfortable using?

* You need to find the right party and then be there to network and socialise.

Download or Listen to This Episode

(You can also subscribe to the podcast and listen to this episode on iTunes + Stitcher – just search ‘Create & Thrive’.)

In this episode, I share a helpful little analogy that will guide you through your interactions in the world of social media.

The fact is this: you cannot be part of every conversation that happens online. So often, when we start out, we feel like we should ‘keep up’ with all the conversations happening. We feel the dreaded FOMO – Fear of Missing Out – and it can stress us out!

Instead, I encourage you to think of social media like an eternal cocktail party. You can catch snippets of people’s stories and their lives, but it is never possible to always keep up with everything – especially as your networks expand.

In this episode I outline the do’s and don’ts of working the crowd in this virtual cocktail party.

 

 

 

 

Quotes and highlights from this Episode:

* ‘Social media is like an eternal cocktail party that is always going on.’ {Jess}

* ‘Let go of that fear of missing out, because it is impossible to keep up with everything.’ {Jess}

* Remember they are real people, which can sometimes be harder than it sounds online.

* Have a party pitch ready. A short snappy way to introduce yourself.

* Be quick, interesting and engaging.

* Don’t just sell all the time. Would you do that at a cocktail party face to face?

* Be a real person and be human.

* Don’t be afraid to be vulnerable. You don’t have to be perfect.

* Think about how you can be educational, informative or inspiring.

* What parties are your ideal customers going to?

* Which social platforms do you and your ideal customers use and feel comfortable using?

* You need to find the right party and then be there to network and socialise.

Download or Listen to This Episode

(You can also subscribe to the podcast and listen to this episode on iTunes + Stitcher – just search ‘Create & Thrive’.)

In this episode, I chat with Christina Lowry about how to organise a professional photo shoot for your handmade business.

Christina is a jeweller who began her creative journey via a silversmithing course. She then secured a jewellery apprenticeship, which led her to work in the traditional world of retail jewellery for a number of years. It wasn’t smooth sailing though, and eventually Christina realised she should start her own business. She jumped in the deep end and it took off from there!

One of the things that Christina has done differently to many of us was to organise professional photo shoots of her jewellery collections, almost from the very beginning of her business a few years ago. She has organised many of these shoots now, and has a lot of wisdom to share on how to do the same for your business without breaking the bank.

We discuss the ins and outs of creating a professional ‘look book’ for your products, the challenges you might come up against, and the nitty gritty details of things like: ‘how do I find a photographer or model in the first place’?

There are so many decisions to be made to ensure you get the most out of a professional shoot and lots of little details that need to be considered. We talk about how to get all this done economically and so that all parties benefit!

If you are a C&T email subscriber, there is an awesome downloadable photo shoot checklist that Christina has put together for you waiting for you over in the Handmade Business Toolkit!

If you’re not a subscriber, click here to get access to the free Toolkit.

 

Great photos are SO super important for your business, so make sure you listen to this episode for all the right pointers on how you can organise a photo shoot to show your products off in their best possible light.

 

 

Quotes and highlights from this Episode:

* Good quality photographs are a must for small business.

* ‘If you are producing things that are high quality then you want to be imparting that image of your brand.’ {Christina}

* You can reach a broader audience with professional photographs.

* The investment really pays off for the long term as the photos can be used across all mediums.

* It can be very important to have a collection in order to have a vision.

* You can find photographers and models who may be interested in bartering as a cheaper and collaborative way of getting great photos.

* Look to your friends and family who may have great locations for photo shoots.

* Going on location scouts can be heaps of fun too!

* The location needs to offer amenities such as a place for the model to change. Make sure you check permissions and also see if there are any fees involved with using the space.

* Make sure you give yourself plenty of planning time and also a back up plan in case the weather turns.

* Make a list: you may need more than you realise so take whatever will be useful or could be useful.

* Write an itinerary so that all people are on the same page with how the shoot will run.

* Have a shot list to ensure you are getting the pictures you want.

* Pinterest is a great resource for inspiration on the style, ideas and props.

* Set out an agreement so that every party knows what usage rights they have with images.

* It is so important to attribute the work to those who put in the hard yards. It is so great to collaborate and celebrate each others skills.

* ‘It’s lovely how being a creative person attracts other creative peopl...

In this episode, I chat with Christina Lowry about how to organise a professional photo shoot for your handmade business.

Christina is a jeweller who began her creative journey via a silversmithing course. She then secured a jewellery apprenticeship, which led her to work in the traditional world of retail jewellery for a number of years. It wasn’t smooth sailing though, and eventually Christina realised she should start her own business. She jumped in the deep end and it took off from there!

One of the things that Christina has done differently to many of us was to organise professional photo shoots of her jewellery collections, almost from the very beginning of her business a few years ago. She has organised many of these shoots now, and has a lot of wisdom to share on how to do the same for your business without breaking the bank.

We discuss the ins and outs of creating a professional ‘look book’ for your products, the challenges you might come up against, and the nitty gritty details of things like: ‘how do I find a photographer or model in the first place’?

There are so many decisions to be made to ensure you get the most out of a professional shoot and lots of little details that need to be considered. We talk about how to get all this done economically and so that all parties benefit!

If you are a C&T email subscriber, there is an awesome downloadable photo shoot checklist that Christina has put together for you waiting for you over in the Handmade Business Toolkit!

If you’re not a subscriber, click here to get access to the free Toolkit.

 

Great photos are SO super important for your business, so make sure you listen to this episode for all the right pointers on how you can organise a photo shoot to show your products off in their best possible light.

 

 

Quotes and highlights from this Episode:

* Good quality photographs are a must for small business.

* ‘If you are producing things that are high quality then you want to be imparting that image of your brand.’ {Christina}

* You can reach a broader audience with professional photographs.

* The investment really pays off for the long term as the photos can be used across all mediums.

* It can be very important to have a collection in order to have a vision.

* You can find photographers and models who may be interested in bartering as a cheaper and collaborative way of getting great photos.

* Look to your friends and family who may have great locations for photo shoots.

* Going on location scouts can be heaps of fun too!

* The location needs to offer amenities such as a place for the model to change. Make sure you check permissions and also see if there are any fees involved with using the space.

* Make sure you give yourself plenty of planning time and also a back up plan in case the weather turns.

* Make a list: you may need more than you realise so take whatever will be useful or could be useful.

* Write an itinerary so that all people are on the same page with how the shoot will run.

* Have a shot list to ensure you are getting the pictures you want.

* Pinterest is a great resource for inspiration on the style, ideas and props.

* Set out an agreement so that every party knows what usage rights they have with images.

* It is so important to attribute the work to those who put in the hard yards. It is so great to collaborate and celebrate each others skills.

* ‘It’s lovely how being a creative person attracts other creative peopl...

 

In this episode, I outline how to run an effective giveaway.

Giveaways pop up all the time on social media – and for good reason. If delivered in a well-planned, well-executed way, they can be a very effective marketing tool for small business.

Giveaways can be a great way to engage and build your audience. They are also a great way to celebrate something – such as a launch or new product – and, if done right, they can be very rewarding for all involved.

So before you decide to go ahead and start gift giving – make sure you listen to this episode to ensure you get the most out of your giveaway!

 

 

 

Quotes and highlights from this Episode:

* 1. Set your goal.

* Is your goal to make more sales, build up buzz for a new product launch, or build more followers and subscribers?

* 2. Decide on a prize.

* Make sure the prize is not onerous for you to create and make sure it is something people want.

* 3. Set some Terms & Conditions.

* You need to put these in place to protect you.

* It is also important to check terms and conditions of the platform you wish to use. They may have certain rules you need to abide by.

* What date will the competition close?

* Who is the competition open to?

* How do people enter?

* You need to make this clear and as easy as possible. If it is too hard people won’t bother.

* 4.What is your method of delivery?

* You should decide what platform you will use to host the giveaway.

* You need to know how you will keep track of entries.

* There are some online platforms such as Rafflecopter you can use to make this easier.

* 5. Decide on how you will promote the giveaway.

* It really should promote itself but you should always be helping it along.

* Sharing amongst your social networks is a great way to promote it.

* Don’t be afraid to post the giveaway multiple times and ask friends to share.

* ‘Shout it far and wide and tell people.’ {Jess}

* 6. Consider a collaboration.

* Get in touch with others to see if they are interested in being involved.

* ‘Make new connections with people and build your networks.’ {Jess}

* 7. How will you choose a winner?

* Is the decision random, skill or effort based?

* Random.org is great for helping pick random winners.

* Make it clear when the winner will be announced. Generally 24 hours is a good starting point.

* Be mindful of the winners privacy and don’t publish their details.

* Always contact the winner first.

* Will you need a back up winner? Have it in your T&C in the case you can’t get hold of the original winner.

* 8. Providing the prize.

* Provide the prize with great thought! Make it fun and celebratory and don’t forget to say thank you.

* Ask your winner if they will share a photo.

* ‘It’s another piece of content you can share with your audience, another story you can tell.’ {Jess}

* Analyse how the giveaway went. What worked and what didn’t? This is important info for the next one!

 

Download or Listen to This Episode

(You can also subscribe to the podcast and listen to this episode on iTunes + Stitcher – just search ‘Create & Thrive’.)

 

In this episode, I outline how to run an effective giveaway.

Giveaways pop up all the time on social media – and for good reason. If delivered in a well-planned, well-executed way, they can be a very effective marketing tool for small business.

Giveaways can be a great way to engage and build your audience. They are also a great way to celebrate something – such as a launch or new product – and, if done right, they can be very rewarding for all involved.

So before you decide to go ahead and start gift giving – make sure you listen to this episode to ensure you get the most out of your giveaway!

 

 

 

Quotes and highlights from this Episode:

* 1. Set your goal.

* Is your goal to make more sales, build up buzz for a new product launch, or build more followers and subscribers?

* 2. Decide on a prize.

* Make sure the prize is not onerous for you to create and make sure it is something people want.

* 3. Set some Terms & Conditions.

* You need to put these in place to protect you.

* It is also important to check terms and conditions of the platform you wish to use. They may have certain rules you need to abide by.

* What date will the competition close?

* Who is the competition open to?

* How do people enter?

* You need to make this clear and as easy as possible. If it is too hard people won’t bother.

* 4.What is your method of delivery?

* You should decide what platform you will use to host the giveaway.

* You need to know how you will keep track of entries.

* There are some online platforms such as Rafflecopter you can use to make this easier.

* 5. Decide on how you will promote the giveaway.

* It really should promote itself but you should always be helping it along.

* Sharing amongst your social networks is a great way to promote it.

* Don’t be afraid to post the giveaway multiple times and ask friends to share.

* ‘Shout it far and wide and tell people.’ {Jess}

* 6. Consider a collaboration.

* Get in touch with others to see if they are interested in being involved.

* ‘Make new connections with people and build your networks.’ {Jess}

* 7. How will you choose a winner?

* Is the decision random, skill or effort based?

* Random.org is great for helping pick random winners.

* Make it clear when the winner will be announced. Generally 24 hours is a good starting point.

* Be mindful of the winners privacy and don’t publish their details.

* Always contact the winner first.

* Will you need a back up winner? Have it in your T&C in the case you can’t get hold of the original winner.

* 8. Providing the prize.

* Provide the prize with great thought! Make it fun and celebratory and don’t forget to say thank you.

* Ask your winner if they will share a photo.

* ‘It’s another piece of content you can share with your audience, another story you can tell.’ {Jess}

* Analyse how the giveaway went. What worked and what didn’t? This is important info for the next one!

 

Download or Listen to This Episode

(You can also subscribe to the podcast and listen to this episode on iTunes + Stitcher – just search ‘Create & Thrive’.)