Easter-A Message Beyond The Religious

Some people associate Easter with the resurrection of Christ, but if we look at its broader implications to all people of all belief systems the take-home message is really one of hope and regeneration.

Think about it; the common tradition of hunting for brightly colored Easter Eggs is inherently about pleasant surprises, beauty in otherwise simple things, comforting and happy images of adorable bunnies, and other baby animals that symbolize youth, freshness, and life full of possibility and wonder.

Trees are budding, crocuses sprout from their slumber and pop forth their cheerful colors in shades of purple, and birds begin to stir in the trees, chirping as the sun comes up each morning signalling the beginning of Spring.

This is a time to take stock, evaluate where you are, and where you need to go from here, clean out the old, and phase in the new.

For many art based businesses, this year, even more so than years past, this is a time to fine tune one's operations and to decide which baskets we place our "eggs".

For some this may mean doing more shows, and for others looking for more stores through which to sell our wares, and/or it may involve looking at new ways to reach out to customers in existing venues to affect the perceived usefulness of the product.

One way I do this is to try to think of every possible use one might have for the products I sell and promote these uses along with the product. This doesn't always work, but it is one more tool you can utilize.

Think of each potential customer as not just that person but as a social network. Ask yourself who they buy for beyond buying for him or herself.

That person themselves when first viewing your product may not immediately think of all possible uses for it, so something you suggest may jog their memory and turn a view into a sale.

Does this customer have a daughter who is getting married next month?

Does she have a sister whose birthday is coming up?

Is this person a young man with a girlfriend who just happens to love pearls and he might want to buy her something for an upcoming dinner date?

Maybe the person now viewing your unique greeting cards needs a special Mother's Day card that has a message he or she just can't find in a commercial store.

Customization is always popular. A name, a color, a specific stone, or other image that has special sentimental value to that person or their loved-one may make it worth spending the cash they are holding onto.

With so many demands on an often tight budget people want to get something they feel justifies their spending it on a non-necessary item. The potential buyer may feel guilty about spending any unnecessary money, but this can be offset by the value the item imparts upon their lives and the lives of others they might give it to.

Take for example a veterinarian whose livelihood depends on maintaining a steady stream of regular customers.  That vet may find it advantageous to buy hand-made dog treats from your small business because giving these away to his customers while they wait in the waitingroom helps to cement the relationship and builds loyalty.  Some vets already offer this, and others may not have thought of it yet. If you mention this in your advertising, on business cards, or in talking to people one-on-one you may gain some buyers that had not considered before that this will help them build and maintain loyalty in their customers!

Similarly, hair ties may go over well in hair salons. These can be great as add-on point-of-purchase items at checkout, or as giveaways with services that the salon wants to sell more of. Spending $30.00-$40.00 on a bunch of hair ties for the salon owner just might bring in several hundred or more dollars in business, so although there is some initial investment, the expenditure pays off and is not frivolous.

Gifts make people feel appreciated and loved and employers might want to give these as incentives or rewards for a job well done, especially if they cannot afford to give raises this year. With job descriptions expanding beyond salaries any little token of appreciation throughout the year can help to remind workers that their contributions in the workplace have not gone unnoticed.

By the same token, supplies enable potential buyers to do many things which expand beyond the face value of the product itself. They can be used to create items for re-sale, to create lower-cost gifts instead of spending more money on finished items from a commercial store, they can be used to decorate one's home, to entertain children, or to give as charity offerings to organizations that use crafting/art as part of their programs to help others less fortunate.

If you're a teacher you know that the budget for art has continued to shrink, especially in the public school system, so buying supplies for the classroom can enrich your curriculum. When your students learn the valuable lessons that art and fine craft can illustrate, the returns are immeasurable! Besides, this is a prime opportunity to teach children why it's important to support small business/micro-enterprise.

Whether you own a business that markets handmade art or fine craft items, know someone who does, or whether you live outside that construct and work in a more traditional field, Easter and the beginning of Spring carry a universal theme. Today brings with it yet another opportunity, and the greatest value is not of material things themselves; rather demand's driving force is the relationships they forge in our lives.

http://giftbearer.etsy.com/
http://giftbearersupply.etsy.com/

Working Together To Meet A Need

Ring Sling - $59.00

Tested to hold up to 200 lbs, and set of instructions included on how to use the sling to carry your baby in 5 different positions.

Ellebelleonetsy is an online Etsy store located in St. Petersburg specializing in baby and children’s items. Very rarely does one see a microenterprise business arrangement here in the US in which 5 people come together, agree consistently enough to stay organized, and work so well as a team to create and market their work. This group of mothers is an excellent example in which people unselfishly threw their best skills into the common pot to tackle a need, put their heads together to meet it, and as a result, share in the rewards.

Stacey whose day job 3 days a week is in Human Resources creates slings, tag blankets, and the embroidered objects, her mother, Tressie, a realtor in Illinois who crochets, and friends; Ann, who is employed part-time at target and sews quilts, Karie, who works part-time for her father’s mortgage company, and makes chalkboard placemats, chubbies, and nursing covers, and Jennifer who works full-time for a large financial company and makes dresses. Interestingly they all work outside their craft in very traditional jobs.

Etsy Widower Embroidered Tshirt - $25.00
American Apparrel 50% cotton, 50% polyester, choice of colors

All 5 of these women started out making things for their own children and even though each only had one or two unique specialties, collaborating, they found, was more fun than doing it as solitary proprietors, and in no time their Etsy shop was full of useful and clever items.

Complete profiles on each of these partners are on the website http://ellebelleonline.com in the artist profile pages.

Cherries with Lime Pillowcase Dress -$36.00
Choice of sizes; 0-6 13”-4T 25"

“I've always loved all kinds of crafts” says Stacey, “but I've found that I get a greater sense of accomplishment from creating things that are useful as well as aesthetically pleasing. For me, the vast array of already beautifully designed fabric choices makes creating something half as difficult.”

Pink Polka Pillowcase Dress -$27.00
On Sale! Custom-made in sizes 0-6 13" - 4T 25

Ellebelle sells some of their products in stores... ironically none of them local because people have contacted them via Etsy to sell in their brick and mortars (stores). “We've had the most success selling at local upscale malls when they host craft events. We've tried traditional craft shows, edgier urban shows, as well as Family and Baby Expos and although they've been fun and profitable in their own ways, we do the best over all at malls.”

Rainbow Chubbies - $6.00
Interesting handmade crayons in unusual shapes

Because each collaborator brings different skills and experience to the table there is a lot of learning inside the circle that takes place. They tend to draw more from others inside the small group than from other artists in the field. “Working with each other brings "Ah-Ha" moments all the time” she says.

Stacey also admits that their children are a big motivator and inspiration. “We've all crafted at some level prior to having our children, but they bring purpose to what we do. I started Elle Belle because I received a sling as a gift and it made being a first time Mom so much easier for me and being a baby easier for my little one. She loved it and so did I. I wanted to share the experience we had with other Moms and I also knew I could make a sling better than the ones I used. My heart skips a beat when I see a Mom in the mall carrying their baby in one of my slings. I feel like I actually made a difference.”

The cooperative’s biggest ticket item sold was a quilt made of T-shirts commissioned by a woman for $450 while set up in a mall. “We had displayed a quilt made from baby clothes and she asked if we could make one from T-shirts she had collected from rock concerts.” It was an unusual request compared to the items they were used to making but the women were up to the challenge.

When asked which new techniques Stacey is interested in learning she said, “I would really love to learn to felt! We had a pumpkin decorating contest at work for Halloween and I wanted to felt my little pumpkin so bad! Can you even do that? I didn't have time to try it out because I was getting ready for an event, but next year I plan to have a field of felted pumpkins for sure!”

Coming soon is a super cute line of Christmas pillowcase dresses ready to debut at a show the 5 are doing this weekend, to be listed on Etsy afterwards (what’s left of them anyway). They'll also have the perfect stocking stuffers - Christmas themed Chubbies, and crocheted slippers. “We have a few more local events planned for the rest of the year, so we'll likely just post more of what sells well at those in the Etsy shop.”

Long term, Stacey hopes that their Etsy shop will be the primary source of income for Elle Belle. As much as she really loves doing local events, she’d prefer to have them be supplemental income for the shop instead of the primary.

These friends/business partners have an ideal situation; a blending of meaningful work and social interaction all rolled into one. “We're already accomplishing what I want most out of this business which is to spend time with friends doing something we love and sharing the resulting creations with as many people as we can.” It all goes to show that when you enter into a common vision with others what you gain is way more than you ever imagine.

Find that special gift that you will really use at:
http://ellebelleonetsy.etsy.com

and read more about this inspiring business on their blog:http://ellebelleblog.blogspot.com