Teaching an Old Dog Creative Business

If I was asked the top three things I have learnt from this project, I would say firstly it has made me recognize the value and importance of communication between both those you are working with and customers or investors. If we as a group had no communication there would have been no business at all. From brainstorming ideas to finalizing plans it is vital to keep in contact the whole way through. Even if it means a few arguments along the way, without communication a business could collapse.

Secondly it made me understand how important it is for people to bring different things to a business. In our group for example there were people good at the creative side who weren't as comfortable in dealing with the customers and vice versa. From what I saw, it is best to have a range of talents within a business partnership, rather that everyone being talented it the same area.

Thirdly it has given me an idea of how to develop a business and the skills you need to manage it. As I learnt within my group, skills such as organization, decision-making and marketing are vital in allowing a business to work and progress.

(The fourth most valuable thing I have learnt would have to be how to make a blog, or I wouldn't have been able to babble on so much!)

Time to Reflect

If I'm being honest, I came into this project with quite a negative attitude. As someone who has always been useless at threading needles I saw sitting for hours trying to sew as a complete waste of time and thought we'd never sell anything. The more I sewed, the more I complained (to myself as no-one else would listen) and the more I was convinced I was showing early signs of arthritis. I wouldn't go as far as saying I started to enjoy stuffing bits material with wadding, but the more I made, the more positive a felt with how our home-made goodies were turning out.

When we all put what we'd made together, it looked really good and we were all happy with how they had turned out. As we had spent so long making everything, the advertising had been left until the last minute which I would definitely change if I was to do a similar project again. Due to this our posters didn't get put up until the day before our stall, which may have given us less custom than we potentially could have had. The main way anyone knew about our stall was through the Facebook group made a week before the event, and by word of mouth. We did however have our handouts with sweets attached which seemed to bring a few waifs and strays heading towards our table of sickly pink joy.

I think we picked a good spot to sell our goods; right in the middle of the student union on a day where no-one else was around selling anything. This meant we had no competition nearby to lure those as forgetful as myself into buying a last minute mothers day present. People also seemed to think the prices were reasonable and liked the fact it was all hand-made. This may have been so they could claim to their mum's that they'd made it themselves, we'll never know.

On a whole I think we made a good team. Our main flaws were definitely our lack of advertising in good time, and perhaps the amount we spent on materials as we did have quite a lot left over.

A Picture (or 33) Speaks a Thousand Words

Show me the Money

We sold a few items before the stall which were:

6 various sized photoframes
1 brooch
Total =£19.90

Then on the day of the stall we sold:

8 key-rings

5 brooches

4 bathbombs

8 various sized photoframes
Total = £44.70

Sold after stall so far:

1 photoframe

2 doorhangers

1 brooch
1 cushion

Total = £14.00

Total Income = £78.60
Total Profit (£78.60 - £68.83) = £9.77

We are continuing to sell the rest of the goods.

Material World

Our budget was £20 each which made the grand total of £80. At first I thought this was a lot but after researching into the cost of materials and the prices at which we could sell our good it seemed a reasonable amount.

This is how we spent our money:

£0.77 9cmx9cm photo frames x8 (wilkinsons) = £6.16
£0.87 15cmx10cm photo frames x8 (wilkinsons) = £6.96
£0.97 17.5cmx12cm photo frames x6 (wilkinsons) = £5.82
£0.88 20cmx15cm photo frames x4 (wilkinsons) = £3.52
£3.70 50 keyring chains + £2.20 postage (ebay) = £5.90
£2.99 50 brooch pins + free postage (ebay) = £2.99
£0.75 half metre fabric x2 (market stall) = £1.50
£1.00 metre voile fabric x2 (market stall) = £2.00
£0.25 ribbon x4 (harberdashery stall) = £1.00
Selection of buttons (haberdashery stall) = £2.83
Selection of bows (haberdashery stall) = £3.03
£5.00 dress for fabric + 10% discount for damage (new look sale) = £4.50
£1.77 half metre fabric (Etty-Lilly craft shop)
£1.99 half metre fabric (Etty-Lilly craft shop)
£1.87 half metre fabric (Etty-Lilly craft shop) = £5.63
£2.99 x3 craft packs (Etty-Lilly craft shop) = £8.97
£3.01 x2 fabric glue = £6.02
£1.00 bag of boiled sweets (pound shop)
£0.50 bag of sweets x2 (pound shop) = £2.00

Total expenditure = £68.83

The change left over from the £80 was then used for change in our lovely makeshift till.

Okay on the Day

On the day of the stall we decided to meet at the student union at 9.30am to set up for 10am and give us time to solve any problems which might have occurred (thank God they didn't!)

Me and Hayley went to get the table and then set up the stall with fabric across it to make it look nice and welcoming. We decided to have different levels on the table so the products could be easily seen instead of any hiding at the back, so arranged shallow boxes underneath the fabric to create steps in which to place the photo-frames. We also put a shallow upturned box underneath the cloth to hold the key-rings and filled baskets with the brooches and hanging-hearts (which we later decided to hang off the front of the table). The cushions were placed on a piece of material in front of the stall, the bath bombs were scattered over the table as decoration, and the sweets were pride and place at the front of the table.

At first custom was quite slow, so Hayley and Leah went around the university handing out business sized cards with sweets attached which said where our stall was and what it sold whilst Lisa and I manned the stall. Me and Leah later swapped roles and I went with Hayley holding a basket filled with photo-frames to try to sell a few around the uni.

Business later picked up and between around 12pm and 4pm we had steady custom including both people walking through the student union without prior knowledge of the stall and those who had come especially after hearing of the stall via facebook, posters and handouts. Our customers included both males and females which was mainly due to us advertising and reminding people mothers day was coming up, otherwise I don't think we would have received quite as much male custom. We did however get a few males needing gifts for their poorly girlfriends, (there must have been something going around!)

The Price is Right

Before I blab on about how the stall went, here are the prices we decided to sell our goods at after researching similar products whilst taking into account the cost to make and the time taken to make them:

Small Photo-frames: £2.50

Medium Photo-frames: £3.00

Large Photo-frames: £4.00

Brooches: £2.50

Key-rings: £1.50

Hanging-hearts: £2.50

Cushions: £3.00 - £5.00

Bath-bombs: £0.50

We also printed out various price tags incase we needed to lower the price if they weren't selling.

Setting up Shop

For this creative business elective I am in an all girl group with Hayley, Lisa and Leah. Our group is making photo frames, key-rings, brooches and hanging hearts (which sound gruesome but are actually fabric hearts to hang from your door handle).

Our company is called 'Buttons and Bows'. I created a logo incorporating both button and bow whilst using an elegant typeface and delicate colour to show what our stall is about. This logo will be used on posters, small information cards with sweets attached to hand out around the university on the day of selling, the picture for a Facebook group and inside each picture frame.

We have each taken to particular jobs, for example Hayley has made most of the photo-frames, Lisa the brooches, Leah the hearts and me the key-rings. As someone who is a terrible sewer, I have found making our products difficult, time consuming and sometimes quite painful (those needles are sharp!) I also hope I will never have to wad anything ever again.

As the only one not in the same class, I found the communication between us was constant and there was no horrible surprises along the way. I was always kept informed of any decisions and found it easy to put my own opinions in and as well as the others make positive changes, as we have all brought designs and ideas to the table.

In terms of money, we each contributed £20 towards buying materials and decorations and individually went shopping in order for input to be fair and all our wants accounted for. As not all this money was needed, we are using the remains as change for customers on the day of sale before dividing it between us again.

Our aim is to hold the stall on Friday 12th March. We have chosen this day as it is right before mothers day, and as our products are mainly aimed at girls, we hope this will bring in the male shoppers who may buy want to buy something for their mums. (We're also hoping a bowl of sweets on the table will drag a few over). Our stall will take place in the student shopping area which will hopefully target our specified audience.

So far, if I was to do this project again I would manage my time more evenly as I have found it hard balancing the elective with classes. I would have taken into account the time it takes to make the products and tried to fit more in at suitable times rather than trying to find full days to make them which has proved impossible. I would also try to learn how to sew in my sleep which would be very handy.