Enterprise Nation's 7 Steps to Selling without being Pushy Workshop....

You may know from previous posts that I have attended many events organised by Enterprise Nation. So when I saw an invite for members to attend events, for free, in exchange for writing a review, I was quick to offer my blogging services!

I chose to attend their workshop, “7 Steps to Selling without being Pushy”, as I thought it would be useful and I was right!

Anis Qizilbash, founder of Mindful Sales Training, did a great job of hosting the workshop at Somerset House. It was a really enjoyable session, everyone was engaged. It was interactive with exercises along the way to help apply what we learnt to our business.  The group represented a variety of services or products and it proved that these steps can be applied to any type of business.

I hope you enjoy reading my guest post over on Enterprise Nation's blog.

Thank you Enterprise Nation for giving me the opportunity to write for your blog and sharing my review with your readers!

Anis Qizilbash, founder of Mindful Sales Training

fizzi~jayne x

Disclaimer: Enterprise Nation kindly let me attend the workshop free of charge in exchange for producing a review on their blog.

2015 Update...

We're one third of the way through 2015 and I thought it was a good time to check-in and see how I am doing with my goals that I set at the beginning of the year.....

Organise my admin
I now have a system and some pretty stationary, of course! I just need to keep on top of it which is easier said than done, but I have time planned in to do it, so I just need to do it! Which leads perfectly on to my second goal....

Less procrastination
I am getting better at this but it's still work in progress.  I think it helps that I am excited about my plans for this year but I'm also using some easy yet helpful tactics....

• I'm getting up earlier, I'm not a morning person so this is a personal achievement. 
• Regular breaks help. By stepping away from a piece of work to make a cuppa I can go back to it with a fresh outlook.
• I've turned off the notifications for any social media alerts on my phone and I only check these and my emails at set times during the day.

Relaunch my Folksy shop and launch a website
I had a lot of custom orders during February and March which were a pleasant surprise and they have kept me busy but my schedule has been pushed back. I have now limited the number of slots available for custom orders whilst I focus on the online side of my business and I get ready for the craft fairs I have booked.

I am in the process of adding my products on to my Folksy shop. My website is near completion and once I have tested it, launch should be next month. It has been a labour of love and I can't wait to share it with you.

Read more
This is one thing I'm not doing very well. I am behind in my Good Reads challenge and I have a pile of books I want to read. I may need to put my crochet hooks down to make the time!

Crafting 
I'm not learning any new crafts this year but instead immersing myself more in the ones I already enjoy to learn more techniques. So far I've been getting to grips with my new Silhouette Machine (Camilla). I introduced Camilla as part of the #CraftBlogClub challenge reveal where I share a couple of the projects I made.

Lose weight  
I've lost 14lbs so far, woo hoo! I'm not losing it quick enough so I may not fit in the dress I want to wear for my friend's wedding but it just means I'll have to go shopping, what a shame!!

As well as eating healthier and watching the calories I have been running with a club and signed up for a 10km run which is keeping me motivated.  Running is my me time outside of the craft den and I'm really enjoying it, even in the wetter and colder months I still went out, one time it was -4 degrees!

How are you getting on with your 2015 goals? Or have they been long forgotten?

fizzi~jayne x

Lets do this 2015!....

So the past week has been time to catch up on the dull but necessary admin but I distracted myself by deciding what my goals will be for fizzi~jayne in 2015.  

I use the word goal instead of resolution, as goals need a plan of attack to make them happen and I need a plan otherwise I will have the same list in 2016!

I won't bore you with the details of my plans but I find having a list of tasks/steps needed to achieve a goal helps you break down a big task into smaller chunks that you can cross off, so you feel you are achieving as you work towards it. Well, that's the theory.

Anyway, here are my 2015 goals....

Organise my admin ~ Having spent a week under a pile of paper to sort out my tax return I now have a process in place that I need to stick to and keep on top of so by next January it's not so stressful.

Less procrastination ~ I want to be more efficient with my time and be able to do everything I need to as well as have time to develop creatively and as a business. I should read my own post from last year about time management! I found a great article on procrastination and I need to practice what it suggests!

Online ~ 2014 was a huge and exciting learning curve and I had great success with craft fairs and bespoke orders. My focus this year is to relaunch my online shops and grow that side of my business.

Blog ~ The survey I ran last year has really helped my plan for this blog.  I have planned more tutorials and techniques and I hope to show you more of behind the scenes as well as continuing with the types of posts you enjoy.

I have some personal goals too....

Read more ~ I love getting comfy with a cuppa and a good book to get lost in or learn from but I don't make enough time to read.  So I plan to read for at least 30 minutes every day and I have signed up for the Good Reads reading challenge.

Crafting ~ I am not planning to learn any more new crafts, I don't think I have the time, money or space for them!  Instead I want to learn more techniques and develop creatively in the crafts I already love. 

Lose weight ~  I've gained a lot of pounds since working from home! Weight loss is a common goal for January but I don't fit most of my clothes which is a problem so I have to do it! I have a friend's wedding as a target date and a dress in my wardrobe to wear when I am a healthier weight.

I haven't got a crazy long list as that would just look scary and unachievable, instead I'm focused on the important things which will help with my time management!

What are your goals/plans/resolutions for 2015? I'd love to hear about them and we can encourage each another. If you have blogged about them leave me a link in the comments, I'd love to read them.

fizzi~jayne x

I'm a member of running club to help with my weight loss goal and weather is not an excuse! This was on New Year's Eve.

Book Review ~ The Handmade Marketplace by Kari Chapman....

I was given Handmade Marketplace by Kari Chapin as a gift when I left my 9-5. Yes, it has taken me over a year to read it and tell you about it! In my defence I was given a few craft/business books when I became fizzi~jayne full time so it took me a while to get to this in my reading pile. Here is what I thought....

This book is aimed at the USA market so for technical information on areas like tax, it isn't relevant if you are based in the UK like me, you don't want to pay your taxes to the IRS if you don't live in America! The rest of the book is an informative, well written book and relevant regardless of where you sell your crafts.

The book is broken down into easy to read sections with no business jargon. Within each section, each topic has their own chapter giving you lots of information to think about, make sure you have sticky notes and a pencil to hand!

Part 1 starts with setting goals, branding, pricing and basic business practices.  The latter section covers some areas which you can relate to any business in the world not just the USA, for example it offers advice on things like having a separate bank account for your business. The areas such as record keeping will still highlight the information you need to find out for your country.  

If you have already started your business you should still find it interesting. I found it useful to read, it made me think and re-evaluate my goals. There is even a section on finding inspiration, so if you ever have a creative block this may help.

Part 2 is all about spreading the word and covers marketing basics, blogging, advertising, attracting media attention and tips on social media. There are also helpful tips on photography which is important to make your products look beautiful if you sell online, but it is equally important for marketing materials and your blog. If you haven't got a blog and are interested in starting one as part of your business, it has a good introduction to blogging and newsletters too.

Want to know about podcasts? this book covers the basics

Part 3 is all about selling, not just online but at craft fairs, in shops and other creative selling opportunities.  Kari even offers advice if you want to start your own craft fair, perfect if there isn't one in your area. If this isn't for you she'll take you step by step through finding the right craft fair, the best way to apply (if required) and be prepared. 

Photography is touched on again within online selling, including useful tips on effective product descriptions and tagging your products which is common on sites such as Etsy. Kari also gives guidelines on shop policies and customer service.

It's full of information for a creative business!

I really enjoyed reading this book, I think because it is aimed at creative folk and not a business text book. It has case studies from what Kari describes as her "Creative Collective" throughout the book who share their experiences and advice. 

Overall it was inspiring and thought provoking.  It's a book I will definitely refer to again, I have lots of notes throughout.  I recommend this if you are already selling your crafts or if you are just thinking about starting or developing a creative business. However, if you are about to start the exciting journey of being an entrepreneur and based in the UK, then I would advise getting information on tax and registering with the HRMC etc. The HRMC website is a good place to start.

Since I started reading a Second Edition of Handmade Marketplace has been released. With the ever changing world of the online markeplace and social media, I would recommend reading this version.  If you do, let me know what you think.

Next on the reading list is Craft a Creative Business: Making & Marketing a Successful Creative Businessby Fiona Pullen.  I have read lots of good things about this book.  I hope to have lots of reading time over Christmas and report back on my thoughts as soon as possible!

fizzi~jayne x

Disclaimer: The Amazon links in this post are affiliate links. By clicking on the image you go to the first edition of the Handmade Marketplace, for the Second Edition click on the text link.

You may also be interested in these book reviews....

Book Review ~
Turn you Talent into a Business

Book Review ~
The Crafter's Guide to Taking Great Photos

Book Review ~
Blogging for creatives

Enterprise Nation ~ Go and Grow Online....

I went to a free event hosted by Enterprise Nation at the end of May. If you don't know anything about them they are a business that "help people turn their passion into great businesses".  I reviewed a book by the owner last week you can check it out here.

The event was one in a series about growing a business online.  The talk I attended was about Social Media which is a huge topic to squeeze into an hour, but they managed to cover the key points and I got some helpful hints.

They had Communications and Social Media experts from Microsoft (where the event was held), UPS as well as freelance consultants.

Here are some of the top tips from the experts:

• Don't post the same thing, at the same time across all platforms.  Be more targeted on each platform.
• Use a consistent tone of voice across all platforms.  Not sure what that is? Ask yourself this question, if your brand was a person how would you describe it?
• Consider what you want to be known for.
• Most people follow or like a page because of an incentive or a promotion.
• Which platform and at what time to post depends on your customers and their lifestyle.  If you are not sure ask your customers what they use and try posting at various times to see what gets the most comments/ retweets/ Likes etc.

I found the Twitter tips from @AlisonBattisby (Social Media Consultant) most useful. Her top 3 tips plus a bonus one are:

#1 Be interesting

• There are three types of posts ~ fun, informative and helpful.  Use a mix of all three.
• Generally people are looking for entertainment on social media.
• Make your audience feel special by posting news about offers, new products/services.
• Use images at least once a week.  This will also make your post stand out on your followers timeline.

#2 Speak to influential people

• Use #journorequest to see the stories and features that journalists are looking for.
• Twitter advance search ~ this is great for finding specific tweets. For example if you are a social media consultant you may want to search for people asking for help with social media and using this tool may help you find your next project.

#3 Use Twitter advertising

• Be targeted, specific and always add a link to your website.
• You can pay for different types of advertising but the recommended one by Alison is a promoted tweet. Always include an image and your web link.
• Use advertising for key events such as launching a website, hosting an event or launching new products, to get the most return on your spend. 

The Bonus : Make sure your twitter account looks professional.

Quote of the evening was by @StevenWoodgate #JFDI & be awesome, I think this will be my daily mantra!

There was also an opportunity to network.  It was a pleasure to meet others who own a small business and are at various stages in their journey.  You get to meet people who have gone through the process of starting a business or who are at the early stages and it's a great opportunity to share experiences and get support. You can guarantee whatever you are struggling with someone else will have gone through exactly the same at some point.

I am going to another event about Going Global. I had my first order from the USA last week so this may be quite apt!

If you are interested in these events there are two left in the Go and Grow Online series and you can get more info here (one of them is tomorrow night so be quick!). They are being held at Microsoft's offices in London, near Victoria Station (not as easy to find as you would expect!).

I don't have any pictures of the event as I didn't pick the best seat in the house, I had a pillar blocking some of my view! So I thought I would end with this....



Source

fizzi~jayne x

Book Review ~ Turn Your Talent Into A Business by Emma Jones....

I was given this book -Turn Your Talent into a Business, as a gift a couple of years ago just after I decided to start fizzi~jayne makes.... and it gave me the confidence and advice I needed to go for it!  When I took on the venture full time I thought I should read it again and brush up on my knowledge.

I like this book as it covers all aspects of starting a business and takes you step by step through the process. It also takes into account that you may be starting a business whilst working in a full time job and working from home, so it is realistic.

In this book you will discover how to:

• Make sales beyond your friends and family
• Promote your brand
• Register your company and manage your finances
• Embrace technology to save you time and money
• Create a support network and work with partners
• Above all, it shows you how to make money from doing what you love!

It includes top tips with case studies along the way from people who have successfully made the leap. It is a good introduction to all aspects of starting a business.

It highlights the amount of resources available to small, start up businesses which you may not be aware of, I know I wasn't.  Various useful websites are cited throughout the book to check out.

I found it really useful and I am sure I will refer to it again for advice along my journey. 

This book is perfect for anyone who has a hobby, passion or skill whether it is baking, sewing, painting or a writer and wants to make money from it.  So if you are starting out or thinking about it I would recommend picking up this book.

About the author....

This is a book from a business perspective not a crafter. Emma Jones is a successful business owner, she started her first business at the age of 27 and sold it 2 years later.  She successfully runs Enterprise Nation which "help people turn their passions into great businesses".  I saw her talk at the Folksy School 2013 and I attended a free event she organised about Social Media last week (more about this in another post soon).  I admire her passion and she really knows what she is talking about.

My Inspiring book mark for my business books.  It helps me keep focused whenever I doubt myself and my ability.

I am now reading Handmade Marketplace which was one of my leaving pressies from my 9-5.  This book is by a crafter and it will be interesting to compare it to this book (there will be a book review but I'm not the fastest reader so be patient with me!).  You can see what is on my reading list on the right of my blog and any business/craft books will have its review here.

fizzi~jayne x

Disclaimer: Amazon links are affiliate links

fizzi~jayne's top tips ~ selling at craft fairs....

With my first craft fair of 2014 coming up this Saturday, I have been reflecting on what I have learnt from the fairs I have I attended so far.  I really enjoy selling at craft fairs, I think it is my retail background and the chance to set up shop plus they are also great for:

• meeting fellow crafters
• networking with locals
• making sales
• customers get to meet the name behind the brand
• promoting your brand

With my retail background, my own experiences and with a little help from my twitter pals, I have put together some top tips for selling at craft fairs (be warned! I have lots of useful info so make sure you have a cuppa ready)....

Before Booking a Craft Fair....
Ask questions and do your research. By finding out about the event you can find out if it is the right craft fair for you....

• What type of fair is it?  How big or small is it? 
• What advertising do they have? A good organised event will have advertising and promotion, so find out what they have organised. 
• What other stalls will they have? The best ones I have been to have a good mix of stalls, although a bit of competition is healthy you don't want to find out that every other table is selling the same as you.  A variety of stalls also attracts more footfall.

If the website or information provided doesn't answer all your queries, then ask, the organiser should be happy to help.

Other things to consider....

• Cost is obviously a big factor as you need to be able to cover your costs with the potential sales
• Do they provide a table? You may have to request and pay more to have a table provided
• What insurance do they require? I would always recommend insurance and it is often a requirement.
• Is it indoors or outdoors? The British weather cannot be guaranteed! My first was outdoors and it was sooo windy! I had to use paperweights to hold my cards down, so my display did not look how I wanted it to.  Plus I found out how bad my hayfever could get after spending a whole day in a field with fresh cut grass ~ I didn't look pretty! From now on I will only do indoor events.

 Made by Mrs M has a great list, her post is worthwhile checking out.

Bear all this in mind but my view is just to do it and try different venues and different sized events, you don't know until you try.  When you start out it's about experimenting, finding which ones work for you and just giving them a go. 

On the day....

• Leave plenty of time to set up.  Make sure you know where to park and what time you can set up from.
• Don't forget your business cards! Leave them on the table and anywhere in the venue so customers can easily pick them up.
• Take table cloths to cover the table and make sure it is long enough to cover the boxes hidden under the table. 
• Take lots of change! Customers won't always have the correct money and there may not be an open bank near by.

Again Made by Mrs M has a comprehensive list so I recommend reading her tips.  She even thinks about taking water and snacks, good idea! But before you do I have more tips....

• Use the opportunity to chat with customers, find out what they are looking for and what puts them off. 

@loveAmybecca finds it's a fine line between engaging with customers and being too full on.  I know the feeling! The mistake I made on my first couple of fairs was being too shy, and for those who know me, yes it's true! I need to let my bubbly, chatty personality shine. Most people are friendly that come to these events so smile, say hello, a quick introduction about what you do and any promotions you may be running.  Then gauge if they are a chatty person to decide whether to continue talking.  It is not easy to sell yourself but be proud of what you have created, this is your hard work and your talent!

• Do not sit and hide behind your table, stand up and talk to your customer. @maxfieldmaddid takes a tall chair, so you don't have to stand to talk to each customer and you're at their eye level.

Display....

• Practice arranging your display beforehand to make sure you get the look you want and it takes the pressure off the day when setting up.

@jewelsofSayuri sells jewellery and offered this advice....

• Use sturdy multilevel displays ~ which can be used for any product type as it makes your stall visually interesting
• Customise your space by adding colour
• Mirror ~ a must have if your customer wants to try your products on
• Use checkout trays ~ Ideal if you sell lots of small things and encourages the customer to multi buy.

Stock....

• Use it to test new products, see people's reaction to them and ask for feedback.  Craft fairs are a great place to do research.
• You can never have too much stock, you can always keep products back for when space is created on the table from all your sales.
• Lots of people worry about the minimum amount of stock to take.  My advice is to make sure you have enough to fill your table and enough that you would make a profit from the day. Don't worry about selling out or running low of stock by the end of the day, surely that is a good thing!

Pricing....

• Think about your pricing.  Do you have varied price points?  I would advise putting some of your cheaper items towards the front of your table, having high value items may scare customers off thinking they can't afford your products.
• Make pricing visible, not everyone likes to ask and it may put people off.

Promotions....

• Have a craft fair special promotion to attract shoppers.  By having a special promotion that customers cannot get at a later date encourages them to buy.
• Offer a discount for future purchases.  I usually have a flyer offering a discount especially for visitors to the craft fair to use in my online shops.  By using a coupon code I can track how many shoppers have seen my stall and have shopped with me at a later date.  Success may not be on the day but maybe with the after sales.
• @membymargot likes to get emails and follow up with a discount code for her online store. 
• If you have a newsletter it is also a good opportunity to ask if people would like to sign up for it.

More tips....

• Network with other crafters.  It's good to share experiences and general chat with like minded people.  By doing this I have been recommended other craft fairs in my local area.
• Also have something to do whilst you are there. It passes the time during quiet patches but will engage a conversation with potential customers if they see you making what you sell. Don't get too engrossed so you don't see your customers!

Most importantly, Have fun and smile!

After the event....

• Congratulate yourself! You have worked hard and deserve that celebratory glass of wine
• Follow up on any enquiries you may have received on the day and if you have a list of email addresses contact them asap before they forget who you are.
• Persevere! Practise makes perfect. I wasn't happy with my first 2 stalls but as I learnt what worked and what didn't, my stall appearance improved and my sales increased. 

I am sure this year of craft fairs will have its highs and lows but what is important is I am spreading the word of fizzi~jayne makes.... I'm learning all the time whilst reaching new customers and hopefully making sales along the way.

I hope this has been useful and if you have not booked a craft fair yet, I hope you feel inspired to book your first one. 

Have you been selling at craft fairs, what tips would you like to share?

January isn't so blue....

January can be a lot quieter and feel flat after the busy period in the run up to Christmas.  Although I have a sale in my shops I am not under the illusion I can compete with the high street sales.  I am enjoying the quieter month and taking the opportunity to work on new ideas (when I haven't been ill, those winter bugs need to do one now!)

work in progress from my Craft Den

 

Thank you to my hubby for
this book for Christmas....

As well as getting messy in my Craft Den, I now have a 2014 plan, in the form of a colourful spreadsheet.  It has all the key seasonal dates, product launch dates as well as plotting my blog ideas.  Whilst in organising mode I have started to get my head around accounts and tax!! 

What is very exciting and new for 2014 is I will be one of the hosts of #craftblogclub on Twitter and my first hosting session is on 28th January!!

#craftblogclub was started by the Lovely Emma and due to the popularity she now has me and 2 others helping her host.  It is on Twitter every Tuesday, 7-8.30pm.  Join like minded craft bloggers, lovers of craft blogs and crafters.  It is a fun, non-competitive arena to chat about anything craft and blogging related, as well as monthly crafty challenges. 

My discussion topics this week are "What, or who, inspired you to start a blog? Is there a blog you admire?" And if there is time, "Who inspired and taught you to craft?"  I am so excited to be involved, I hope you can join us for a chat tomorrow.

If you are on Twitter you can follow me @fizzijayne

fizzi~jayne x

P.S you may have noticed I have tinkered with my blog layout, what do you think?

Bring it on 2014!....

I don't really do New Year resolutions, instead I have a to do list or promises to myself that I didn't manage to fit in the previous year.  Although the one year I did make a resolution I surprised myself by keeping it, I quit smoking 7 years ago, high five me!!

So what is on my list for 2014:

Personal

• Learn to crochet.  I have never tried it before so I asked Santa for a kit to get me started and Santa delivered....

My first attempt

• Go to the gym! I have membership I just forgot how to use it!
• Finally put together a scrapbook from our wedding (we’ve been married 4 ½ years!)

fizzi~jayne business....

• Use up the paper, card and other supplies I have hoarded (even those I don't like) before buying any new ones.  I read on Mary Emmens' blog about how she is not going to buy fabric for 6 months.  I am taking inspiration from this and not buying anything new, unless I need something specific for an order or run out of essentials like glue etc.  It will be tough, seriously I will need therapy at the end of 6 months!!
• Develop this blog. As always I value your feedback and would love to hear from you if there is something you want to read about or if you have liked a particular post

As part of the "plan" to grow fizzi~jayne makes.... into a successful business, I will be....

• Developing new ranges and ideas
• Attending different craft fairs, to find the right ones for me but also to spread the fizzi~jayne word.

Most of all have fun with it all!



Image from Cream PR Pinterest board

What do you have planned for 2014?  Do you have any New Year resolutions?

P.S. Have you checked out my sale? Visit my SALE section of either my Etsy or Folksy shop ;-)

birthday week....

I had a week of birthday celebrations, my birthday celebrations :-) one day is never enough!! So I allowed myself some time off and spent a day at Hobbycrafts at the NEC. The Art Materials Live and Crafts for Christmas were also there, a 3 for 1 event, it was huge!!  It must be the largest craft event in the UK, I was overwhelmed with excitement. I had such a fun day, I was in my element, stall after stall of craft supply goodies and of course I bought stuff....


 

Lots of new goodies

I could have bought so much more but hubby was with me and kept track of everything I spent, EVERYTHING!  I might leave him at home next year, although I do need to be kept in check at events like this as I am a child in a sweet shop! Budget, what budget??

I got some fab presents for my birthday and felt thoroughly spoilt.  I received couple of books that look really interesting....

"Crafters Guide to Taking Great Photos" and "Blogging for Creatives", has anyone read them?  I can't wait to read them, the trouble is I don't know what to read first.....

O and just before I go I will be at the Berkhamsted Artisans Arts & Crafts Fair this Sunday with lots more new products, will I see you there?

I have been thinking a lot about Christmas....

...and I am sooo late in getting my products ready, even though I promised myself I wouldn't be last minute and have been thinking about it and buying bits since April!  Aaahhh!

The good news is that 70% of people shop in the last ten days before Christmas and they spend more because of that, phew!  I still have time!

It's not an excuse but I have had lots of bespoke orders this year (I am not complaining, that's great) and until recently worked full-time, so I just need to catch up with myself.  Since being able to focus on my fizzi~jayne empire I have been beavering away and I have some new products...

These and others are available on my Folksy and Etsy shops and I am making lots more to add to my shops in the run up to my next craft fair on 17th November ~ this is the deadline I have given myself, I always work best to a deadline. 

The first of my new range of Christmas Decorations, so exciting!!!

 The larger heart can be a tree or door handle hanging
 

 

Next year I will have no excuses to be late, in the meantime this is what I am going to do to get those last minute sales, or what I also like to call fizzi~jayne's top tips....

• Descriptions ~ Visibility is key! All product titles, first line of descriptions and image titles should be obvious and be relevant to what customers might be searching for on the web, i.e Handmade Christmas Card.  This should mean my products end up higher on a search engine.  For anyone who sells products that aren't made specifically for Christmas but are ideal gifts, tweak your descriptions to appeal to your Christmas shoppers.
• Make last order dates for Christmas delivery obvious ~ I have clearly listed these dates in every item description and on my Facebook page in my notes.  Plus I will dispatch within 1-2 business days.
  
• Give an option for customers to pay for next day delivery~ I have added the option for customers to pay for signed for 1st class post, by adding it as an additional item on my Folksy and Etsy shops.  Royal Mail aim to deliver the next day including Saturdays. This requires a signature on delivery and the parcel can be tracked and generates a proof of delivery for peace of mind.  For more valuable items Royal Mail offer a guaranteed next day service, Special Delivery, costs start at £6.22 which is a large cost for my type of products but for anyone selling more valuable products I would recommend giving this as an option to your customers with the stress of Christmas and getting the right gift, customers will pay it!
• Use Social Media as my marketing friend ~ Shout Loud! Increase frequency of my posts but making sure I am being interesting, relevant and compelling, making every post count. I will be running promotions in the run up to Christmas and social media is a great way to promote them.
• Make my stall stand out at the craft fairs ~ I'm going to make my stall as visually appealing as possible and I am very excited about my plans but you will have to come and see me at Berkhamsted Town Hall on 17th November or wait for the pics ;-)

With these tactics I hope that this Christmas will be a successful one.

Has anyone started their Christmas Shopping?  Anyone finished it?

what's in a name?....

People often ask me how I came up with the name fizzi~jayne makes....   So let me tell you ~ Fizz was my nickname at school (and a name that my Dad still calls me).  Jayne is my middle name and I make things!

I added the "...." as the plan was always to add more variety of products to my range and be more than cards, it is a kind of watch this space/ fill in the gaps style of approach.  I kept the name all lower case just to be different and rebel against the grammar rules, apologies to my English teacher and all those who are sticklers for grammatical correctness, I just like to break the rules. 

I googled various options of spelling of the name and agonised over it and the ease of spelling for far too long. I asked work colleagues and friends for their thoughts and so that is how I reached fizzi~jayne makes....

Berkhamsted Artisans Art & Crafts Market....

I had my first stall at the Berkhamsted Artisans Art & Crafts Market last Sunday, there were other newbies there which was nice and there was a great camaraderie feel about it. 

There wasn't much footfall, it was thunder, lightning and generally a miserable wet day (thankfully it was an indoor market, I felt for the farmer's market that was outside!).  It was the sort of day if I didn't have to leave my house I wouldn't have so I can imagine a lot of people stayed in the dry and who can blame them!  The good news is everyone was in the same boat so although sales were low, it wasn't just me.


All set up and ready to go



Me and my stall

I produced a flyer with an exclusive 10% off promo code to use in my Etsy shop so I can track how many customers have visited my shop and bought my cards since seeing my stall.  It is a shame Folksy don't do promotional codes yet, there are lots of requests on the forums so hopefully they will get this sorted soon as is a great way to track success of any kind of marketing and in this instance the craft market.

Free sweets!

I need to improve my sales technique, which is odd seeing as my career has been in marketing and most recently I spent my day writing features and benefits for toilets, yep toilets! The trouble is it is now personal and I find it hard to big myself up but the more I do it the more I will improve. One of my strengths has always been my people skills, so I need to get a grip and just talk to potential customers like I would anybody else and let my bubbly self shine!

Sales = 2 :-(

Business cards/ promo leaflet taken = lots, I lost count but I certainly am reassured that they were interested in my cards and with the promo code I can track how true this is.

New ideas for my display = 7

My next one is 17th November, with it being closer to Christmas I hope it will be more successful, plus I am working on some exciting new products and displays, watch this space....

 

Who else has recently had a stall at a craft fair?  Was it a success? I would love to hear about it....