All Things Littleput

Lets talk about money, honey. (pricing your artwork!)

Yes, today is the day that I am going to tell you to raise your prices. 

I know, it seems counter-intuitive in a sluggish economy, especially if your sales are already down. But have you ever thought your sales are down (at least in part) because you've undervalued your work?

Lets talk for a minute about apples.

I'm in the grocery store and there are two signs for fuji apples, one says: 

Fuji Apples: 99c

and the other says:

Organic Fuji Apples: $1.99 

I may not know the exact definition of organic but I know it means good for me, good for the planet and that price difference must mean it's worth even more than I think. Maybe they support a local farmer, maybe they are just a bit sweeter and crisper or grown on old trees with old history.  The use of the word organic combined with a higher dollar value gives the Fuji Apples for $1.99 a much higher perceived value and as a shopper, I feel good about making the choice to pay a little more for something with a lot more value.

Well guess what everyone(!), the term HANDMADE does exactly the same thing.  People who support local and buy handmade are shopping with their conscience.  

Yes, they may love and need the thing you make but you are also giving them a shopping option that comes with a feel good about yourself ending.  

When your shoppers BUY HANDMADE, they get the bonus of feeling even better about their purchases because they know they are supporting a positive backstory.

Unless, you underprice your work.

Back to apples;

same story, different signs:

Fuji Apples $1.99
Organic Fuji Apples .99c  (and they are not on sale).

First thought as a shopper; what is wrong with those apples? (aka, that artist must use very cheap materials, I bet it falls apart... or those can't be handmade...)

Okay, enough with the anecdotes :) 

Proof is in the pudding. 

Every time I've ever raised my prices and stopped apologizing to my customers because I don't think I am good enough and every time I've allowed myself to realize the value of my work, my backstory and the value my two hands creating what I sell and priced accordingly, my sales went UP.  Yes up. G

Stop trying to compete with walmart pricing, you are in a completely different category. You are not only selling product, you are selling and ideal and that makes your work even more valuable than you think.

Writing an Artist Statement- A tool for artists and crafters everywhere!

 

What is an artist statement?  Why should you write one?

Do you even need one?  

What are you supposed to do with them?  

Well, I'll tell ya :).

An artist statement is a brief bit about you and your work that can be used in conjunction with your Artist Resume (next weeks post) or can be presented all by itself.   It is simply a little window that gives outsiders a peek into who you are as an artist.

Artist statements are often required when submitting to craft shows, galleries and artist-centric wholesale accounts. 

As our business's progress,  tools like these become necessary- so yes, you need one.  

At the very least a well-written artist statement will spiff up an online profile and give your artistic business a professional and manicured look.

How on earth do you write one?

I’m here to help :)

Writing for ourselves can be a huge challenge for many, many artists. 

How do you talk about yourself and do it in a way that doesn’t sound conceited or apologetic.   It can be really hard to know what to say.

I’ve created a basic tool that will help you say what you need to and be done. (yes done!)

And it’s really quite simple.

I am going to interview you, you are going to answer and then compile your answers into 1-2 paragraphs (elsewhere) and voila!  In just a few minutes to many many hours (depending on how fast you type,)  you will have your original, one of a kind useable and reusable artist statement.  (ta, da!)

Please answer 2-3-4-5 or all of the questions below, the ones that inspire you the most.  Reply in your tone of voice,  talk like you would if your friends were asking the questions.  Answer each question with “I” sentences (ie. I remember making clay pots as a child, I love working with macramé because…) or by repeating the question in your answer (The people in my life who have inspired me are… because…) You can also answer in 3^rd person but I like my statements to be from me, to the reader.

As working example, I ran through the questions as well,  you can see the results of my answers further down the blog post.

Ready?  Here we go:

1.What has inspired you as an artist?

2.What is the first thing you remember making?

3. Are there artists (famous or not) that have influenced your work?

4. Are there people in your life that have inspired you or your artwork?

5. Is there a moment in your life when you knew you were supposed to be an artist?

6. What materials do you like to work with?  Why do you choose those?

7. Is there a special technique or process you use that makes your work unique?

8. What does creating art mean to you?

9. Does your work have a theme to it?

10.What goals do you have for yourself as an artist?

 Now, pick the questions that suit you best, and answer them.

Here is what I came up with the first time around:

What has inspired you as an artist?

I was raised in the rural parts of Northern California.  The beauty of the town I grew up in has always inspired me to try to capture something beautiful and take it home with me.

What materials do you like to work with?  Why do you choose those?

I love working with old cameras and funky lenses, I think being able to manipulate the image from the camera makes the digital nature of my work more hands on and artistic.

What does creating art mean to you?

Creating art gives me a chance to work outside the confines of a 9-5 job.  Being an artist has allowed me to be a stay at home mom and have the flexibility to explore my creative nature while encouraging it in my family and others.

Does your work have a theme to it?

I like to think my work is themed around unexpected beauty.  I am always looking for the “wow” shot in places no one ever noticed before.

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So lets combine my answers and see the results:

I was raised in the rural parts of Northern California.  The beauty of the town I grew up in has always inspired me to try to capture something beautiful and take it home with me. 

I love working with old cameras and funky lenses, I think being able to manipulate the image from the camera makes the digital nature of my work more hands on and artistic. 

Creating art gives me a chance to work outside the confines of a 9-5 job. Being an artist has allowed me to be a stay at home mom and have the flexibility to explore my creative nature while encouraging it in my family and others. I like to think my work is themed around unexpected beauty.  I am always looking for the “wow” shot in places no one ever noticed before.

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Not bad; clear, concise and not overly showy but you still get a feeling about me and why I do what I do.

Now I will answer 4 different questions, as a test:

What is the first thing you remember making? What about it stuck with you?

When I was little I remember making beaded earrings. I loved the feel of the beads in my hands and seeing the finished product. Once I learned I could make something from almost nothing, I was hooked and knew I had to make my living, making things.

Are there people in your life that have inspired you or your artwork?

My parents are both artistic in nature.  They always encouraged me to take my own path and they have been a strong influence in my push for personal success.

Are there artists (famous or not) that have influenced your work?

I have found so much inspiration in the great works of the National Geographic photographers.  Being able to capture the Earths beauty is such an incredible skill and I strive for that in all that I do.

What goals do you have for yourself as an artist?

It is always my goal as an artist to push myself to the next level.  I love learning and learning what I can do.  I am always excited to present my best work and I love finding new ways to challenge and improve my talents.

Condensed:

When I was little I remember making beaded earrings. I loved the feel of the beads in my hands and seeing the finished product. Once I learned I could make something from almost nothing, I was hooked. I knew I had to make my living, making things.  Additionally (added a word to tie together the two thoughts) my parents are both artistic in nature.  They always encouraged me to take my own path and they have been a strong influence in my push for personal success.

Aside from my parents (added a transition to my sentence, for flow) I have found so much inspiration in the great works of the National Geographic photographers.  Being able to capture the earth’s beauty is such an incredible skill and I strive for that in all that I do.  It is always my goal as an artist to push myself to the next level.  I love learning and learning what I can do.  I am always excited to present my best work and I love finding new ways to challenge and improve my talents.

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So, now, you try it  :)

 I really hope this helps. Artist statements are such an important thing to have.  If this works for you, once you've done it, you're done! 

Next week I’ll be posting on how to make an artist resume, a much easier thing to do and equally important thing to have.

Ps. I know there are a lot of people out there who haven’t a clue on where to start when it comes to writing for themselves. If you think this information is helpful, I appreciate you sharing it. 

Bye!

Time!

No one has enough of it, especially those of us who make a living (or partial living) off of our art work.  

When running your own artistic business there is always too much to do; marketing, promoting, networking, product design & development, selling, shipping, getting supplies, customer service and so on; you know the drill.  I constantly battle time and time management, there is never ever enough hours to get it all done and still have a life outside of work.  

Here are a few tricks I've instilled to help me get more time out of my day, these are all based around being online- something I do way too much of...

1. Combine your social media- if you use online venues for self promotion, try to link them. For me,  1 blog post = 1 tweet, 1 facebook status update and one picture, blogged from flickr.  See how you can connect your online networking to make a smaller amount of time reach a larger audience. (Most of these sites all interconnect so you don't even have to do the legwork).

2. Set a timer- If you do a lot of online marketing and networking it is so easy to get sucked in.  I bought a cute little egg timer and set it for an hour or 1/2 an hour depending on the day. Once that little bell dings I get up, close the computer and head into the studio, no matter what. (Yes I check back on stuff from time to time but just a quick peek and then back to work).

3. Save your email replies.  I get a lot of the same questions about the same things.  I don't want to be lame and ignore my customers so if I write a reply for a common topic I save it to my desktop and have it on hand for all future inquiries.  This cut and paste (be sure you adjust the content where needed) has saved me hours and death by carpal tunnel.

K.  Thats all for now, I will have more posts on time management soon but my bell is about to ding and I've gluing to do.  

What do you all do to save time in your online life? Inquiring littleputs want to know :)

Learn Your Market via Craft Shows

 

Most top sellers on Etsy (maybe all?) have put in their time in real world markets.  Standing outside in the heat, sweat, rain and tears is a rite of passage for any one who wants to make a living as an artist.  There is nothing better for your business than meeting the people who buy your work (and meeting those who don't).  I spent 4 years at the Portland Saturday Market as a regular vendor. This gave me the best opportunity to see what sells, what hardly sells and what I should never ever make, ever. (Not that I don't try that on Etsy too).  Getting real time feedback on your prices, your work and your overall shop image is invaluable!

Go to fair, a craft show or a farmers market.  Set up shop and bring on the buyers.  Now is the perfect time of year to do some research on Spring, summer and fall shows. Bigger shows mean higher booth fees, if you're just starting out look into smaller fairs, even most farmers markets set aside a few corners for craft vendors and booth fees are usually very low.  Find an open venue, bring a table and your best display ideas and get to know your market.  The information you can gather from one of these venues is priceless.

Side note,  not every market is great for crafts and not all sellers will have "thier" market at every venue.  If you find an open one that will let you set up a table, go with out expectation.  You could sell out and you could sell nothing.  If you approach it from a market research stand point you'll gain tons, even if you sell very little.  Once you've had a taste of the craft world you can research and apply to shows that fit your work.  A lot of the fall and holiday shows start taking applications now and its great to go to the larger ones with some idea of what to expect.  

You can find some of these big shows hunting for vendors on Craigs List, and you local city art council can also give you lots of good information.

The on-going-ness of it all.

It seems as if every time I turn around there is a new idea popping into my head. I am damned impulsive and tend to act on almost all of the new ideas until I decide they don't work or they do.

This week I've created another new line of pendants and have expanded my littleput blocks into largerput blocks as well as adding prints and thingies to my booth at the Saturday Market.

I just can't help myself.

But.... I need to stop investing money in my business and start putting more time into my Etsy shop. Next week (aside from building new booth walls) I will be revamping my Etsy store with all my bits of new exciting things. Hopefully the picture taking weather will hold.

So I have to ask you all, how do you reign it in, stay focused on one idea and put the raging mini ideas in their place??

I love coming home on Sunday nights inspired and energized but now I need breathe deep and settle in.

Any suggestions?

Help. :)

And have a great weekend!

Me!

Write an amazing Craft Blog with help from Sister Diane

I am not much of a product recommender. Mostly because there are so many amazing wonderful products out there, it is hard for me to know where to start and I know I'd never end.

But I wanted to turn you all onto this new resource out there for bloggers, both beginning and stuck. Sister Diane, of the awesome Crafty Pod Blog has created a really in-depth guide on writing your own amazing craft blog.

Making a great Blog, the E-book

The format is great and really opens up the blogging world for beginners. In addition for the seasoned bloggers it can help build new posts, come up with new ideas and stay strong on your theme, bring in new readers and keep the old ones.

Here is an excerpt:

"I think that there’s a huge misconception about blogging: you may be under the impression that your blog is supposed to be all about you. Because blogs are very much like journals, it’s easy to make the mistake of thinking that you should be the center of every blog entry you write. In fact, that’s actually a recipe for blogfade - and probably, for a rather dull blog.

In many ways, a really good blogger gives gifts to his or her readers all the time. Not literal gifts, of course, but the gift, for example, of a beautiful photograph. The gift of a link to a fantastic article. The gift of a tutorial on hemming a skirt. Gifts, that is, of inspiration.

Look outside of yourself and your life, and start collecting notes on the people, places, and things that you think your readers would be inspired by. Blog about those. Mix them in with the occasional update on yourself, and now you have a much more compelling blog."

Pretty good yeah?

Now go buy the rest :)

Happy Friday All!

The Economy. (boo scary!)

I think there is a real sense of concern out there with this new and uncertain economy. In the art community, where our livelihood thrives on people indulging their passions in lieu of their savings accounts, there is almost a sense of heaviness. I am not going to pretend I am unconcerned. I am realistic. My reality is that my work is a luxury item, all art & jewelry and craft (well most craft) is luxury and luxury is something people are slowly starting to think twice about.

But I am also an optimist and in many ways an opportunist. I see this change in economy as a possible boon to the small world of cottage industry, a way for buyer and seller to connect. As the hand-makers of our work we offer so much more for every "luxury" dollar; a human connection, a thoughtful touch, the simplicity of amazing customer service. Shoppers should receive a real sense of value from each and every luxury purchase and as small business artists we are stretching the value of precious pennies in ways big retail can't.

I have so many ideas swirling around this and they haven't all come to the surface in a way that I can write them out yet but there is a lot of positivity in being an artist in a time of economic woes. I feel energized and inspired in a new way, as big box closes it's doors, more of ours become open.

There is so much more to say and I will be saying so much more. I believe there is a lot we can achieve.

I am going to end this rant here (feeling a bit soapbox-y) but I have plans to post more, both informative and inquisitive. I'd love to hear thoughts on how we can see mainstream embrace handmade, it is time and I believe it is possible.

On that note, have a lovely Thursday!

Peace all!

Preparing yourself for an economic downturn, what we can do as artists.

Call it what you want, pre-recession, economic down turn, a gas crisis... The US economy is starting to feel a pinch and while I am all for optimism I do think we need to prepare ourselves as artists, especially those of us who make a living with our work.

What can we do? Well I am not an economist or a business major or even really good at business but I do know shopping and I even know a little bit about selling.

The thing about the American middle class is we are trained to be shoppers and show off our great sense of style. All the magazines, tv shows and media has created a pottery barn generation that really appears to be the current strength of our daily economy. These people will continue to shop until they can no longer afford to. Lets help them out, shall we?

1. Offer many items with varying price points. If you are a fine artist, your $2000 painting will get you a lot of attention but not many buyers. A $40 print of that painting will allow the pottery barn generation to buy something that represents value without spending a ton of money on it. If you are a jeweler, instead of only selling diamonds and emeralds also offer semiprecious stones, give your shoppers a way to be affordably elegant.

Whatever your craft find ways to replicate it or scale it down to reach a variety of price points. Keep your top items but diversify your inventory and offer a range of prices.

2. Gas is way too expensive, ths means people will drive less and shop online more. Use this to your advantage. Take the time to get better pictures of your work or rewrite your description. Offer large discounts on shipping multiple items and put your best foot forward. As people shop online more, more people will be selling there as well, now is the time to get ready to compete. Do what you can to get your shop in tip top shape.

3. Have sales if you can afford to. Aside from offering a variety of lower priced items in your store have the occasional sale. Sales are a form of advertising, people buy things because they are "on sale" but if they love them they come back for more and more. Have a sale and do a great job with product and service, make it count.

4. Be open to suggestion. I am not saying customers now have the right to decide what we make for them but offering custom and tailored items can reach a huge market. You can also rightly charge more for custom work which can offset some of the loss from sales and lowering prices.

People don't want to stop shopping and they won't (at least not yet) but offer them a chance to own something of yours that "feels" more affordable, be it through discounted shipping, personalization, a sale or just a smaller version of your most expensive work. Our middle class customers will relish the opportunity to continue to show off their flair and sense of style more affordably.

♥ Me

Littleputs' 9 1/2 ways to beat the artistic slump.

Photo courtesy of ScenicArtisans.etsy.com So Brilliant!

1. Write 10-20 things you can make on slips of paper (pillow case, earring, paper mache). Toss the slips into a box & choose one at random. Go, make it. Even if you don't want to.

2. Take $10 to your favorite supply shop and buy as many things as you can (no over-spending) see what you can make with your new supplies.

3. Spend an hour at the library. With so many great artists, writers and poets surrounding you you are sure to glean some new ideas from the experience.

4. Reorganize or clean your work space. Clutter can be a real roadblock for new ideas.

5. Teach someone your craft. Showing your neighbor how to gesso canvas or your best friend how to sew a pillow can put a new perspective on your talents & bring in new inspiration.

6. Do nothing. Take a forced artistic break from your environment. Not allowing yourself to make anything can trigger the "artistic itchies"; it's like reverse psychology, only craftier.

7. Keep an ideas journal, when you need a new one you may find it hidden in the pages.

8. Be creative elsewhere. Make a beautiful salad, plant a garden, walk backwards and sing loudly, make a marshmallow village... Creativity (even the silly kind) is contagious and can overflow into your workspace.

9. Take a walk with your camera. Photograph everything and anything, choose your favorite picture and make something around it, a grocery store diorama, an arched door necklace... You'd be surprised what one picture can inspire.

10. Ask for help. I often use friends and family for a sounding board. Getting a fresh, outside perspective can really get the wheels turning.

& on that note, if any of you have great tips for breaking the slump I'd love to hear them, I can always use new ideas too :).

Fine Artist I am not.....

.......so I found one for those of you out there trying to market your fine arts on Etsy and I asked her help me give you some very sound advice. MicheleMaule.Etsy.Com has an incredible shop (see above!) and it is starting to pick up some serious steam on and off Etsy. She was kind enough to share her top 11 tips for sellers in the fine arts category and let me post them on my blog.