Guest post from Angela Mabray, co-author of Polymer Clay 101

Five years ago, I wondered if I was the only gal in Central Oklahoma using polymer clay. Today, I have the pleasure of knowing a whole group full of folks who love it as much as I do, and we meet monthly to learn and play together.

Have you wondered if you might enjoy meeting with others who share your artistic passion, whatever that may be? If you’re thinking about starting your own group, I’ll share a few tips in an upcoming post. But today I’ll start by telling some of the unexpected benefits I’ve found through starting my own group.

Penni Jo Couch and I started the Central Oklahoma Polymer Clay Guild in late 2006. We found each other through a polymer clay-themed Yahoo group, after an exchange where we realized we were 1) both in the Oklahoma City area, and 2) both interested in meeting with other clay-ers.

Our first meeting consisted of just the two of us, and the group stayed pretty small the first year or so. But with some effort, we gradually grew, and we’re now up to 10 regularly-attending members plus frequent guests.

I think the two of us had slightly different goals when we first decided to start the group. Penni Jo was interested in the social aspect — swaps and play days. I’m a little on the shy side, so I was nervous about meeting new people. But I was eager to expand local awareness of polymer clay. Plus I’d heard about the polymer clay libraries the larger guilds had, and I thought all that locally-available reading material sounded divine.

I’m sure as each of our other members joined up, they were interested in slightly different things, too. The wonderful thing is that the group became more than any of us could have imagined.

Since the beginning, our meetings have consisted of a single member sharing a project or technique they knew, teaching the other members as they went. I’d never taught a group in my life, but with our small membership, I needed to teach often to keep things going. I went to Toastmasters to get past my fear of speaking to a group. I studied new polymer clay techniques to share. In the process, I learned a lot about both my medium and myself. I also saw first-hand where my instructions were lacking. I found out where other people had difficulties, and I was able to focus on those things not only in subsequent classes, but also in blog posts for my website, and later in my book.

Speaking of which, I’m not sure I’d be a published author today if it weren’t for my local community. And I’ve been happy to see the other members of the group find their own successes. Penni Jo now has her own very-successful line of polymer clay molds and has been asked to teach at polymer clay retreats across the nation. Several of our members (including one who joined the group as a beginner!) now teach local classes. Various members have placed in large polymer clay contests and/or had their work published in a national polymer clay magazine. I personally feel the group’s constant encouragement is part of what has led these artists to their successes.

We’ve done the things Penni Jo and I originally envisioned. Our library has 70+ polymer clay books and magazines. We hold themed swaps every other month. Plus we’ve done other things we hadn’t initially imagined. We held our first retreat earlier this year, which even drew a couple of clayers from outside the state. Through the Bottles of Hope program, we’ve shared pieces of polymer clay art with many local cancer patients. And I have to mention the friendship aspect. Together we’ve gone through baby showers and funerals and everything in between. Our meetings are full of chatter and laughter. We are able to encourage each other both artistically and in the more mundane day-to-day matters.

If you want to try starting your own group, come back next week for a few tips on making it work.

Join us Saturday for our monthly meeting!

Angela Mabray is a co-founder of the Central Oklahoma Polymer Clay Guild, which meets the second Saturday of each month at the Moore Hobby Lobby. She blogs about polymer clay at CraftyGoat’s Notes and recently co-authored Polymer Clay 101.

Deluxe Indie Craft Bazaar

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We sure do like YOU!

We’re switching it up a little this year, and approving applications in waves. This makes our job easier and rewards early applicants by giving them more time to prepare their inventory if they are selected as an artist.

It’s still a juried show – we maintain the standards our shoppers have come to expect from Deluxe – but now we are embracing our urge to prepare as early as possible, and we figure you’d like that opportunity as well.

Certain competitive categories are nearly full already, such as jewelry and bath & body products. Hurry and submit your application so you don’t get left out! We can’t wait to see this year’s artists in person, and who knows – maybe we’ll even have time to shop!

If you’re a first-time applicant, please read the FAQ which you may find helpful.

Guest Post from Morgan Harris, owner of Green Bambino

Green Bambino recently announced plans to expand its store to more than 3,000 square feet. Its new store, formerly the Adobe Grill restaurant, will provide increased retail space, a classroom, meeting areas and more.

As part of our continued effort to support all things local, Green Bambino has decided to transform our classroom and main hallway space into art galleries featuring the work of local artists. Artwork would be taken on consignment. A consignment fee of 15% will be taken out of the final purchase price. Pieces need to be available for viewing for at least 60 days. We will choose pieces for display based on their contribution to our overall theme, eco-friendliness, and sales potential.

Green Bambino is a children’s specialty store focusing on cloth diapers and other eco-baby products. As such, we ask artists to consider a few criteria when selecting or creating artwork to be submitted to our gallery:

Our primary customers are parents of infants or toddlers looking for ways to reduce their families’ impact on the environment.
Our customers consider themselves frugal, so be aware of pricing.
Artwork should be family-friendly and appropriate for a baby’s room or any other room in the house.
Artwork must be made of non-toxic, baby –safe materials; i.e. no lead, toxic chemicals, or small parts that pose choking hazards.
Artwork will be displayed in areas that are accessible to children. Care will be taken when possible to hang items out of reach of little ones.
Since Green Bambino features eco-friendly products, we’d love to see creative pieces that upcycle, reuse, or reflect some kind of eco-friendly theme. All forms of media are encouraged.

We estimate we’ll be moving into our new space by early or mid-August. Tours of the new space can be arranged with plenty of notice.

This is a great way to reach a market not served by traditional art galleries. Your artwork will be prominently featured in store, in media stories, on Facebook, via email newsletters and any other way we can think of. We hope to establish a mutually-beneficial relationship with local artists of all kinds.

If you are interested in submitting artwork for our gallery, please call owner Morgan Harris at 405-848-2330 or email her at info@green-bambino.com. This is our first time establishing a gallery space, so please be flexible – we promise we will be, too!

Today’s post is the fifth in Holly Hall’s series on Building Your Brand.

Branding Your Customer’s Experience

So, what about online sales, a situation where you are unable to charm your customers with your sparkling wit and dazzling smile? If you are in business on the Internet, it is even more crucial that you offer top notch customer service. All the cute, hip, handmade products and indie street cred the world can’t save you if you don’t know how to offer an excellent customer experience.

Here is where you have one huge advantage over Target and Amazon. You are a real person who makes this item, offers it for sale, packages it, takes the order for it, and communicates with the buyer. You are in charge of every aspect of your customer’s shopping experience, and an excellent job on your part could mean great feedback, repeat business and word of mouth referrals.

In 2007 just before I opened my shop on Etsy.com, I made my first purchase on the site to get a feel for how the checkout system worked. That purchase was also my first experience using PayPal. I placed my order, paid through PayPal, and waited excitedly for my package…and waited….and waited.

A week later, I was still waiting. I kept thinking I should have at least received some sort of communication from the shop owner about what the hold up was all about. Finally, I decided that there must be some mistake and contacted the shop owner to question why my package hadn’t been shipped even though I had paid for it more than a week earlier. She responded that since I had chosen to pay by echeck via PayPal, she was waiting for my payment to clear before she shipped my order.

Well, I had no idea that I had somehow chosen the echeck option. I still don’t know how I managed that, but the experience taught me a valuable lesson in customer service. I decided then and there that I would communicate clearly and promptly with every customer that made a purchase from my shop.

Now, as a seller, within 24 hours of receiving notification of a sale, I send a short message via Etsy’s convo system thanking my customer for her purchase, telling her when she can expect her package to ship, and offering to answer any and all questions she might have.

I also attach a graphic that I made that reads, “Thanks, Dollface!” It functions as a sort of virtual Thank You card, and is one more way to make an impression with my brand. More than once, this quick message has begun a conversation with the customer that has led to additional sales or a custom order.
Once you’ve made the sale and communicated with your buyer, the next huge opportunity you have to offer exceptional service and reinforce your brand comes when you pack up your customer’s order for shipment.

An order packed with thought and care is a pleasure for your customer to open, and details do matter. Consider gift wrapping the item as a special treat for your customer to find when she opens the shipping box.

The gift wrapping doesn’t have to be fancy or expensive. A sheet of tissue paper in your signature color tied with a piece of baker’s twine or pretty ribbon is all it takes to show that you’ve put thought into your customer’s experience. For some wonderful packaging inspiration, check out the Etsy Packaging group on Flickr.

Of course you will want to include a business card or two and any promotional goodies you have such as buttons, magnets, postcards or bookmarks. I always include a short, handwritten note addressing my customer by name, thanking her once again for her business, and telling her that I hope she’s very pleased with her purchase. It takes just a few minutes to take your customer’s experience with your business to the next level and make a lasting impression.

Don’t be afraid to allow your brand to evolve over time. If something’s not working or your aesthetic changes a bit, it’s alright to mix things up. Update your logo if you need to. Add or subtract some words from your guiding list if they’re no longer true to the image you wish to project.

Remember, building a strong brand takes time and dedication, but the rewards are limitless. The idea is not necessarily to make customers want to choose you over another seller, but to paint a lasting picture of yourself as the definitive expert on the sort of items that you make and the lifestyle that you promote. Live your brand, and use your brainstormed list of branding words as the guiding force in every aesthetic decision you make for your business. Happy brand building!

Holly Hall, Sweetheartville

This is the fourth post in Holly Hall’s Branding series.

Branding Your Business at Craft Shows

Another aspect of visual branding that is often overlooked is how you represent your business and merchandise at craft shows. Sure, you might sell a bit of product if you cover a table with a sheet and lay out some doodads, but how much more would you sell if you created your own little retail world for customers to step into when they enter your 10’ by 10’ space?

How much stronger an impression would you make in your potential customers’ minds? Once again, refer to your branding brainstorm list. What colors, props, and display items reinforce the brand you are trying to build?

If you embroider vintage-style tea towels and matching potholders, a “Grandma’s Kitchen” theme using oilcloth, vintage tablecloths, picnic baskets and old measuring cups as props makes a lot more sense than a black table covering and chrome display pieces.

Think about adding height and interest to your tables, and always make sure your tables look full. Customers respond to the appearance of abundance, and will linger at your booth if you hold their attention with an interesting display.

Creating a memorable display need not be expensive. Keep an eye out at garage sales, thrift stores, and even your grandma’s garage or attic for interesting pieces. Think outside the box.

When I was putting my first craft show booth together on a tight budget, I needed a rack on which to hang my hostess aprons, but purchasing a store fixture was out of the question. I walked around my home looking at everything with a new eye. It struck me that an old 1950’s, flexible two armed lamp I had made the perfect rack for the lightweight net aprons, and was a much more memorable and unique choice than an actual clothing rack would have been. For beautiful booth décor inspiration, search Flickr for “craft show booth.”

YOU Are Your Brand

During those craft shows, don’t overlook your personal appearance. No one is suggesting that a trip to the beauty parlor is in order before every craft fair, but you should try to put your best foot forward each and every time you represent your business in public.

Think about your brand. If you create ornate Victorian-style drop earrings and chokers, how well are you representing your brand if you show up to the craft show in flip flops and a black metal concert T? Save that ensemble for another day.

Try to dress in such a way that if a potential customer had to pick you out of a lineup and match you to your booth he or she would have a good chance at hitting the nail on the head. This goes without saying, but if you create wearable accessories, wear them while manning your booth and meeting your customers!

That chunky scarf or feathered hair accessory might be a bit intimidating for a shopper, but if she sees you pulling it off effortlessly, she’ll be more inclined to imagine herself wearing it. A perfect example of someone who lives her brand, at craft shows and every day, is the beautiful, talented Samantha Lamb.

During this Internet age, any chance that you have to make a personal impression on your customers is valuable. I can’t tell you the number of times I’ve been put off as a shopper when I’ve stepped into a craft fair booth or brick and mortar shop and been
utterly ignored.

This is one department where indie craftspeople could take a lesson from big retail operations. No matter how bored or tired you are, regardless of whether the show is turning out to be profitable or a flop, every single customer that steps into your space deserves to be greeted, welcomed, and treated with respect.

There are times when you may be busy helping other customers, but a quick smile or nod of acknowledgement can go a long way toward making a potential customer feel welcome. Be friendly. Offer to answer any questions. Compliment your customer on a cute hairstyle or piece of jewelry.

This is not to say that you should attack your customers, hovering over them as they browse, but you’d be surprised how a little friendliness can pave the way for a sale or a chance to give out your card.

Tomorrow, we will finish this series on branding by addressing the subject of Branding Your Customer’s Experience.

This is the third post in the Building Your Brand series by Deluxe artist Holly Hall.

Visual Branding

Your online presence is, perhaps, the number one way your customers and potential customers will come to know you and your business, so I can’t stress enough how important it is to carry your branding through to each and every site you use. One very easy way to maintain a consistent look for your brand is to pick a color (or two) that you will incorporate into all of your visual materials.

Think about what colors best represent the feel of your products or the image you hope to project. Here’s where your list might be helpful. Read over it again. Do any of the words evoke a certain color in your mind? How about a feeling that you might be able to translate into a color?

For example, maybe you make lovely handmade soaps scented with essential oils and herbs. Your products are designed to transport your customers to a state of relaxation and peace. Perhaps a dreamy sky blue would represent your business best.

If you are in the business of creating funky abstract yard art, maybe a bold, energetic color like bright orange is just what you’re looking for. Once you’ve decided on a color (or two), stick to it! Use it everywhere—your blog background, your Etsy shop banner, your craft fair booth décor, your packaging and business cards.

When I started my business and blog, Sweetheartville, the feminine, 1950’s beauty and glamour feel I was aiming for naturally suggested the color pink. Although my brand and style have evolved over the last four years, I have always incorporated liberal doses of pink in everything I’ve done, from blog and Etsy banners to business cards to my craft show booth.

Now, let’s talk logos. A logo is simply an image that you will use to represent your business, both online and in print materials. You need not have the budget to hire a graphic designer to come up with an effective logo, though if you do want some help
from a pro, I know a great one.

Choose an image that represents your style. You can be as literal as you like, using an image of a yellow rose to represent your business named Yellow Rose Designs, for example, or you can go with something more abstract.

A monogram of your business’ initials using a fancy font is one simple way to go. And speaking of fonts, try to pick one or two favorite fonts that you use everywhere. When I began my business, I used a very specific, very 1950’s-looking font on every single piece of printed material and in every blog and Etsy shop banner I designed. My materials have since evolved to better represent my changing style, but I still try to be consistent, using only two or three fonts everywhere that my business is represented.

Just like that signature color that we talked about, your logo needs to be anywhere and everywhere your business makes an impression. Use it as the avatar on every single
website and social network you belong to, incorporate it into your Etsy shop banner, and of course you’ll want to put it on your business cards and product packaging.

Do you attach price or care instruction tags to your items? Do you offer any extra little goodies at shows or when you package your orders to ship, such as buttons or magnets? Don’t overlook any opportunity to use your signature color and/or logo! The tiniest details can add up to one cohesive statement about your brand that your customers will notice and remember, even if only subconsciously.

Tomorrow, we’ll continue this series by addressing the face-to-face culmination of all of your efforts – Branding Your Business at Craft Shows.

Holly Hall

This is the second post in the Building Your Brand series by Holly Hall of Sweetheartville.

Choosing a Name

If you haven’t already chosen a name for your business, now is the time to think very carefully about what you want to say to the world about your products.

A good example of a business name that is totally unique and fresh but leaves room for growth is Fried Okra by Adrian Mix. She’s known for her handmade sock monkeys, pieced and embroidered zipper pouches, and adorable sweater mice, but her not-too-specific business name would easily allow her to add hand-sewn bags or other types of products to her offerings.

Once you’ve decided on a name you like, you’ll have to check to see that someone else hasn’t already claimed it. Google is your friend here, as is the seller name search feature on Etsy and the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office’s website where you can search to see whether a name has been trademarked.

Building Your Brand is a fresh series of guest posts from our friend and fellow crafter Holly Hall of Sweetheartville. Holly has successfully created a strong identity for her line of products and now she has graciously offered to share her tips with Deluxe readers. Thank you, Holly!

Building Your Brand

Do you own a handmade business?
What do your customers think of when they think of you?
What words might they use to describe the look or feel of your products?

If you don’t know the answers to these questions, you have some work to do! Your brand is a combination of images, feelings, words and emotions evoked in the minds of your customers and potential customers every time they come in contact with you, your business, and your handmade products.

Building a strong brand will increase your sales, cement your customers’ loyalty to you, and give you a framework that will aid you in making many business decisions.

Branding Basics

If you are just starting your business, or are looking to revamp an existing one, a good way to begin building your brand is to sit down for an old-fashioned brainstorming session. Start with a list of words that characterize your business. Think of adjectives that you would like your ideal customer to use if he or she were to describe your products to a friend.

What? You don’t have an ideal customer? You simply must get one! You have to know your target market before you can build your brand. You can’t just put your products out into the world and hope for the best. Decide who is most likely to buy your goods, and always keep them in mind when building your brand.

Maybe you create chunky, funky, colorful necklaces and hair accessories. It’s unlikely that middle aged men are going to be your customer base. While a man might stumble upon one of your necklaces and purchase it as the perfect gift for his wife or daughter, the majority of your customers will probably be fashion forward young women. Maybe your target customer looks very much like yourself and your circle of friends. That makes your branding task that much easier, because you know exactly the sort of thing that appeals to you and your
crowd.

Now, back to that list of words–don’t think too much or aim for perfection as you brainstorm. Just list any and all of the words that appeal to you, and don’t stop at adjectives. List nouns, emotions, feelings, even colors that evoke the feel you want your business to have.

After you have emptied your brain of all those evocative words, take a good look at your list. You will probably begin to see an overall pattern emerging. Strike anything that doesn’t seem to mesh with the overall feel of the list.

When I began selling my handmade goods I used this exercise to obtain a clearer picture of the image I hoped to project. At that time, I made mostly fancy floral and feather hair accessories, jeweled vintage handbags, and sequined, vintage-style hostess aprons, in addition to the Beauty Buttons I still sell.

My list included words like “glamour”, “rhinestones”, “beauty parlor”, “vintage”, “1950s” and “Burlesque”. This gave me a jumping off point when designing my promotional materials and the booth for my first craft show (the very first Deluxe Indie Craft Bazaar!). Your list will be your compass for all of the branding decisions you make, so keep it handy.

Now, please spend some time brainstorming and creating your list. Tomorrow, we’ll continue this Branding lesson on the topic of Choosing a Name.

Holly Hall

What would a sustainable, resilient and abundant community look like? If you can visualize it, consider submitting your work to EVOLVE, a juried exhibition to be held at Individual Artists of Oklahoma Gallery this spring. A grand prize of $500 will be awarded!
Learn more at Sustainable OKC.