The Create & Thrive Podcast

In this modern world – full of technology – it’s easier than ever to get caught in a reactive loop.

This reactive loop stops you from getting proactive work done – and in order to run your creative business well you need to find balance between the two forms of work.

Neither one is ‘bad’ or ‘good’ – in fact, some of your most important work will be reactive (like filling orders) but when we tip the balance too far into reactive work, our business stagnates, and we risk burning out because we’re always on someone else’s schedule instead of our own.

In this episode, I take you through some important steps you need to consider in order to recognise reactive work so you can keep it under control, and make more time for the proactive aspect of your business.

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Quotes and highlights from this Episode:

* A great read on this subject is the book ‘Manage Your Day to Day‘ by 99U.

* There is a cost that comes with our connectivity.

* There is a pressure to always be available and always responding.

* You need to schedule time offline to spend with your family or even just yourself – it is so important.

* ‘Connectivity is crucial for an online business’. {Jess}

* Spending time on social media can easily become reactive instead of proactive.

* While you should try and respond within 24 hours, you should not feel pressure to respond immediately.

* You need to stop ‘checking’ you emails and start ‘processing’ your emails.

* Inbox Zero Method – how I manage my emails.

* Many of us do far too much reactive work, especially when we are our busiest.

* It is easy for proactive work to fall by the wayside.

* This funny skit from Portlandia is so true!

* ‘We are looking for something outside of us to give us something to respond to rather than sitting back, turning inwards, and focusing on what we can create and give out’. {Jess}

* Proactive work is anything you do on top of work that is reactive.

* So what is reactive work? Checking emails, checking social media, checking blog comments, email newsletter stats and filling orders.

* Example of proactive work: logging into your email to send planned emails, logging into social media to deliberately share or update, writing content, designing, photography, PR work, and planning.

* Some reactive tasks are really important, however they can expand to fill all the time you allow them to.

* ‘Proactive work only happens when we deliberately carve out the time and space for ...

Meredith Ireland runs a retail space in Tasmania promoting local makers and creatives. She is also a weaver and my right-hand gal here at Create & Thrive.

In this episode, we discuss what the process of wholesaling your products looks like from a retailer’s perspective, the do’s and don’ts of approaching a retailer, and also the reasons why retailers charge what they do.

As a maker and a retailer Meredith sees both sides of this relationship and so we discuss this and how best to go about approaching retailers with a good chance of success!

If you would like to hear what it’s like to be on the other side of the handmaker-retailer relationship, don’t miss this one.

 

Quotes and highlights from this Episode:

* Meredith Ireland runs the retail space Old Franklin Store.

* Meredith is a weaver and also runs weaving workshops in her retail space.

* The decision to run weaving workshops felt natural.

* Customers wanted more than to just buy her products, they wanted to know how and why.

* Old Franklin Store started with only consignment based suppliers to keep start up costs low but is now moving more towards wholesale.

* Makers are selected based not only on what Meredith likes but what fits aesthetically in the space and what doesn’t directly compete with other makers work.

* The best way to approach a retailer is via email as turning up unannounced can be confronting for both parties and the timing will almost always be wrong.

* Within your initial contact email make sure you include good quality photographs of your work.

* Send a back story as an attachment to the email. This means the retailer only has to read it when they want to and gives you the opportunity to keep the body of your email short, sweet and to the point.

* Are follow ups OK? Yes! Retailers are so busy and have so many offers coming in that it is easy to put them aside even if they are very interested.

* Never be offended if you don’t hear back. This usually has nothing to do with you or the quality of your work.

* ‘That first contact has to be respectful of the retailers time, feelings, and energy.’ {Jess}

* Remember that one ‘No’ is not the end of your wholesale journey.

* ‘Having confidence in your work and letting your work speak for itself is important.’ {Meredith}

* Social media is one Old Franklin Store’s most effective marketing tools as well as local radio and newspapers.

* ‘It is important to start local and grow from there.’ {Meredith}

* The time and expenses involved with running a handmade retail space are incredible. As a supplier it is important to remember this as the reason why rates are sometimes as high as 50%.

* A big lesson for Meredith was to ride out the hard times because they make the great times worth it.

* If you are unsure with any aspect of packaging or displays for your retailer just ask. All will be different.

* The relationships built with suppliers and customers have been one of the biggest rewards for Meredith.

* Old Franklin Store focuses on promoting the maker and encourages relationships between the maker and the customer.

* Decide prior to contacting a retailer if you will sell only wholesale or consignment or both so you can be prepared.

* Have a basic wholesale list ready with photos and pricing information

* Don’t be afraid to approach retail spaces and put your name out there. They can only say no.

* ‘Keep trying until you succeed.’ {Jess}

Product photography can be a little daunting if you aren’t experienced.

Product photography is one of those aspects to your creative business that you need to master but it is also one that often gets neglected.

If you are about to launch your online shop or if you need some more skills in order to improve on your existing product photos this podcast is a great help to getting you on the right track.

In it, I take you through the five most important steps you need to take in order to create great photos that will engage your audience.

 

 

Download/Listen to this Episode

You can also subscribe to the podcast and listen to this episode on iTunes + Stitcher)

 

Quotes and highlights from this Episode:

* ‘Your product is the star of the show’. {Jess}

* Product photos are your key to running a successful business.

* Look for that elusive wow factor in your photographs!

* ‘Your photos are the window through which your customers can peer into your world’. {Jess}

* Your social media and marketing photos must also be top notch.

* Your photographs will probably be the thing that convinces your customers to press the buy button.

* 1. Background

* Your background underpins the feel of your photo.

* You don’t want your product to blend with the background, you want it to stand out.

* Experiment until you find what works best.

* 2. Styling

* Props, position and angle are all important in the styling of your product photography.

* Your main photo needs to grab the attention of your customer.

* 3. Lighting

* Your choice of lighting really affects the mood of your photos.

* Play around with lighting to help create the feel you are after.

* Avoid strong shadows and use natural light.

* 4. Focus

* ‘In order to craft an excellent photo it has to be in focus’. {Jess}

* 5. Editing

* Editing your phots is a vital step to take your photos from good to amazing.

* ‘Publishing your product photos to your shop without editing them is like making a cake mixture and not putting it in the oven’. {Jess}

* Your editing needs to make your product look as true to life as possible while still standing out.

* Make sure you have a policy in your shop to address editing and difference in monitor colours.

* ‘The five elements all need to be in harmony, and work together in order to create a truly breathtaking product photo’. {Jess}

* Podcast Ep 13: How to Take Stand-out Product Photos with Jeffrey Opp. 

* Don’t neglect your product photos. Great product photos will ultimately lead to you making more sales.

 

Download/Listen to this Episode

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

Product photography can be a little daunting if you aren’t experienced.

Product photography is one of those aspects to your creative business that you need to master but it is also one that often gets neglected.

If you are about to launch your online shop or if you need some more skills in order to improve on your existing product photos this podcast is a great help to getting you on the right track.

In it, I take you through the five most important steps you need to take in order to create great photos that will engage your audience.

 

 

Download/Listen to this Episode

You can also subscribe to the podcast and listen to this episode on iTunes + Stitcher)

 

Quotes and highlights from this Episode:

* ‘Your product is the star of the show’. {Jess}

* Product photos are your key to running a successful business.

* Look for that elusive wow factor in your photographs!

* ‘Your photos are the window through which your customers can peer into your world’. {Jess}

* Your social media and marketing photos must also be top notch.

* Your photographs will probably be the thing that convinces your customers to press the buy button.

* 1. Background

* Your background underpins the feel of your photo.

* You don’t want your product to blend with the background, you want it to stand out.

* Experiment until you find what works best.

* 2. Styling

* Props, position and angle are all important in the styling of your product photography.

* Your main photo needs to grab the attention of your customer.

* 3. Lighting

* Your choice of lighting really affects the mood of your photos.

* Play around with lighting to help create the feel you are after.

* Avoid strong shadows and use natural light.

* 4. Focus

* ‘In order to craft an excellent photo it has to be in focus’. {Jess}

* 5. Editing

* Editing your phots is a vital step to take your photos from good to amazing.

* ‘Publishing your product photos to your shop without editing them is like making a cake mixture and not putting it in the oven’. {Jess}

* Your editing needs to make your product look as true to life as possible while still standing out.

* Make sure you have a policy in your shop to address editing and difference in monitor colours.

* ‘The five elements all need to be in harmony, and work together in order to create a truly breathtaking product photo’. {Jess}

* Podcast Ep 13: How to Take Stand-out Product Photos with Jeffrey Opp. 

* Don’t neglect your product photos. Great product photos will ultimately lead to you making more sales.

 

Download/Listen to this Episode

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

Deciding to accept international orders in your handmade business can be a big decision, and can seem overwhelming and a bit scary.

However, I truly believe that if you can work out a way to do it, you will find it more than worthwhile. You will vastly expand your customer base, and therefore grow your business faster than you could only selling domestically.

If you are interested in offering your product to international customers and you don’t know where to start, or you’re unsure if you’re ‘doing it right’, then this episode is for you.

It it, I take you through a checklist of the things you need to do in order to set yourself up to sell your craft overseas.

While selling internationally is different for every country, there are some general rules to follow to ensure both you and your customer are protected throughout the whole process.

 

Quotes and highlights from this Episode:

* Should you be selling internationally?

* Some products can be a barrier if they are large or delicate.

* You will never know if it is for you unless you try!

* ‘Don’t let the fear, or the workload, stop you from doing it’. {Jess}

* You need to do the work to calculate shipping, as customers want it to be easy or they will most likely not bother.

* Do your research. Who will you ship through? How much will it cost? How long will postage take?

* Perfect your packaging so that it is sturdy and protects your item.

* Communication is key in this process!

* Never assume that your customers know. Sending a personal email can combat misunderstanding.

* Blog Post: Are you using your customer correspondence to tell your story?

* Podcast Ep 3: How to provide outstanding online customer service. 

* Make your policies clear. Is tracking included? Insurance?

* Make sure you have a policy that addresses that the customer is liable for import duties or customs charges.

* Does sales tax apply?

* There is always going to be a chance that you undercharge at some point.

* If undercharging on postage occurs you are liable and not the customer.

* Know the postage rules and systems to stop this happening.

* Scams – do they happen?

* Have a replacement policy rather than a refund policy.

* If something goes missing always confirm the address, refer them to your policies and remember to trust your customer.

* Keep receipts from the postal service.

* ‘Keep your integrity but stick to your guns when something goes wrong’. {Jess}

* Miscommunication is usually the number one problem.

* ‘Have a relationship with your customer rather than just a transaction. {Jess}

* Remember that different countries will have different rules. If you aren’t comfortable – don’t send there.

 

Download/Listen to this Episode

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

Deciding to accept international orders in your handmade business can be a big decision, and can seem overwhelming and a bit scary.

However, I truly believe that if you can work out a way to do it, you will find it more than worthwhile. You will vastly expand your customer base, and therefore grow your business faster than you could only selling domestically.

If you are interested in offering your product to international customers and you don’t know where to start, or you’re unsure if you’re ‘doing it right’, then this episode is for you.

It it, I take you through a checklist of the things you need to do in order to set yourself up to sell your craft overseas.

While selling internationally is different for every country, there are some general rules to follow to ensure both you and your customer are protected throughout the whole process.

 

Quotes and highlights from this Episode:

* Should you be selling internationally?

* Some products can be a barrier if they are large or delicate.

* You will never know if it is for you unless you try!

* ‘Don’t let the fear, or the workload, stop you from doing it’. {Jess}

* You need to do the work to calculate shipping, as customers want it to be easy or they will most likely not bother.

* Do your research. Who will you ship through? How much will it cost? How long will postage take?

* Perfect your packaging so that it is sturdy and protects your item.

* Communication is key in this process!

* Never assume that your customers know. Sending a personal email can combat misunderstanding.

* Blog Post: Are you using your customer correspondence to tell your story?

* Podcast Ep 3: How to provide outstanding online customer service. 

* Make your policies clear. Is tracking included? Insurance?

* Make sure you have a policy that addresses that the customer is liable for import duties or customs charges.

* Does sales tax apply?

* There is always going to be a chance that you undercharge at some point.

* If undercharging on postage occurs you are liable and not the customer.

* Know the postage rules and systems to stop this happening.

* Scams – do they happen?

* Have a replacement policy rather than a refund policy.

* If something goes missing always confirm the address, refer them to your policies and remember to trust your customer.

* Keep receipts from the postal service.

* ‘Keep your integrity but stick to your guns when something goes wrong’. {Jess}

* Miscommunication is usually the number one problem.

* ‘Have a relationship with your customer rather than just a transaction. {Jess}

* Remember that different countries will have different rules. If you aren’t comfortable – don’t send there.

 

Download/Listen to this Episode

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

Megan Eckman runs a creative business, Studio MME, selling her illustrations as embroidery patterns, kits, and other crafty creations.

We discuss the huge growth that happened in her business when she started selling embroidery kits – an unplanned direction for her creative work. Like me, she’s now at the point where she not only runs her business full-time, she also employs her partner!

We talk a lot about the tension between what we want to make, and what our customers actually buy. I call it the ‘sweet spot’. Finding it – and accepting it – can be a real struggle for artists and makers.

We also discuss the benefits she sees in outsourcing some aspects of her business as well as the dreams she has for the future of Studio MME.

If you would like to hear an inspiring story of hard work and dedication leading to business success, don’t miss this one!

 

 

Quotes and highlights from this Episode:

* Megan Eckman runs Studio MME, is an artist and makes embroidery kits.

* Megan got to the stage where she wasn’t having fun with her art any more.

* ‘I gave myself permission to just play with art again.’ {Megan}

* One of her biggest challenges was the tension between making what she wanted to make and making what people want her to make.

* Last year Megan built her business to the point she was able to hire her partner.

* She now runs her business full time, and last year for the first time ever she reached her financial goal.

* ‘Don’t let the people who don’t believe in you stop you.’ {Jess}

* Megan has a five year plan for her business which includes outsourcing many different aspects of the day-to-day running of it.

* ‘I schedule my day around things that are important to me’. {Megan}

* She now schedules creative time for the time of day that she is most productive.

* ‘Don’t be afraid to test email marketing incentives’. {Megan}

* Email marketing is a very cost effective form of advertising.

* ‘You have to have that desire deep down to push through, to make it happen.’ {Jess}

* You can find Megan at her website or Instagram.

 

Download/Listen to this Episode

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

Megan Eckman runs a creative business, Studio MME, selling her illustrations as embroidery patterns, kits, and other crafty creations.

We discuss the huge growth that happened in her business when she started selling embroidery kits – an unplanned direction for her creative work. Like me, she’s now at the point where she not only runs her business full-time, she also employs her partner!

We talk a lot about the tension between what we want to make, and what our customers actually buy. I call it the ‘sweet spot’. Finding it – and accepting it – can be a real struggle for artists and makers.

We also discuss the benefits she sees in outsourcing some aspects of her business as well as the dreams she has for the future of Studio MME.

If you would like to hear an inspiring story of hard work and dedication leading to business success, don’t miss this one!

 

 

Quotes and highlights from this Episode:

* Megan Eckman runs Studio MME, is an artist and makes embroidery kits.

* Megan got to the stage where she wasn’t having fun with her art any more.

* ‘I gave myself permission to just play with art again.’ {Megan}

* One of her biggest challenges was the tension between making what she wanted to make and making what people want her to make.

* Last year Megan built her business to the point she was able to hire her partner.

* She now runs her business full time, and last year for the first time ever she reached her financial goal.

* ‘Don’t let the people who don’t believe in you stop you.’ {Jess}

* Megan has a five year plan for her business which includes outsourcing many different aspects of the day-to-day running of it.

* ‘I schedule my day around things that are important to me’. {Megan}

* She now schedules creative time for the time of day that she is most productive.

* ‘Don’t be afraid to test email marketing incentives’. {Megan}

* Email marketing is a very cost effective form of advertising.

* ‘You have to have that desire deep down to push through, to make it happen.’ {Jess}

* You can find Megan at her website or Instagram.

 

Download/Listen to this Episode

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

 

Having an online presence is one of the most important things you can do for your handmade business.

If you are yet to launch your online shop; are on the fence as to whether it’s worth it; have been thinking about it for a while and don’t know where to start; or you have one but you aren’t sure about how improve it – this episode is for you!

I outline the main benefits of having an online shop – even if selling online is not your primary venue of choice.

I also share the 5 things you need to get a handle on before you can start successfully selling your work online.

 

Quotes and highlights from this Episode:

* You need  to create an enticing, well functioning, cohesive and professional online shop.

* ‘An online shop takes time and dedication but it is worth it’. {Jess}

* You can accept orders while you sleep.

* You are more likely to be accepted by retailers.

* You don’t have to have heaps of stock already made.

* You can reach your ideal customer no matter where they live.

* You can start selling for a low initial cost.

* You can work and sell from the comfort of your new home.

* An online shop makes it easy for people to buy your work.

* A strong online presence is very important.

* The 5 things you need before you are ready to sell craft online?

* 1. An attractive and useful product.

* 2. A brand.

* ‘Smart business people quickly realise the power of branding in all that they do’. {Jess}

* Without constraints we have no boundaries or barriers.

* 3. The ability to take stellar product photos.

* ‘Your photographs will make or break your business’. {Jess}

* 4. A basic understanding of SEO (Search Engine Optimisation).

* 5. You need courage.

* ‘Without courage you won’t succeed’. {Jess}

* You need to believe in your brand, your products, and your photography.

 

Download/Listen to this Episode

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