Emily Maude

So today I bought myself a ticket to this great conference/workshop day at Kings Cross in July. It’s being held by the designtrust and focuses on tips of the trade for makers and designers selling products. The speakers and workshops are with people who I’m really interested in meeting and potentially working with and I think it could be a great way to learn new techniques and to network with other makers.  You can find more information about it here, and let me know if you’re planning on going, it would be great to see a friendly face.

So today I bought myself a ticket to this great conference/workshop day at Kings Cross in July. It’s being held by the designtrust and focuses on tips of the trade for makers and designers selling products. The speakers and workshops are with people who I’m really interested in meeting and potentially working with and I think it could be a great way to learn new techniques and to network with other makers.

 You can find more information about it here, and let me know if you’re planning on going, it would be great to see a friendly face.

Can’t get these beautiful words out of my head. 

Two long lost friends rediscovered today after a morning of cleaning. I remember the day I found these… wading through rock pools under the cliffs as the sun was setting, turning the bleached cliffs a warm russet and I was amazed that there was such beauty in the simplicity of chalk.

Two long lost friends rediscovered today after a morning of cleaning. I remember the day I found these… wading through rock pools under the cliffs as the sun was setting, turning the bleached cliffs a warm russet and I was amazed that there was such beauty in the simplicity of chalk.

After going to two very dear friends wedding this weekend I am getting my usual obsession with flowers again. It happens around this time of the year when I mourn the last ranunculas leaving and rejoice in the knowledge that my birthday is just around the corner, meaning joy of all joys that the peonies are on their way again. So a fond farewell sweet ranuncule with these exquisite flowers from Studio Choo in San Francisco.

This wrap is proving to be a great hit with customers. It features two of my cats Tom and Mary and though Tom is no longer with us, he still walks his footprints across the pages of my sketchbook.

This wrap is proving to be a great hit with customers. It features two of my cats Tom and Mary and though Tom is no longer with us, he still walks his footprints across the pages of my sketchbook.

I decided whilst at BCTF that sharing knowledge and frustrations and successes is a good thing. I have mostly come through this so far alone but I have along the way been guided and helped by some very generous people. So whilst I was working on the stand I decided to write a list of things to help the would be seller-maker  Trade Show Secrets: Everyone wants to sell your product at 2.5 times what they bought it for, at a more independent level they will take less than this but large shops want 2.5. A range of cards is only a range if they are of a similar subject AND are the same size and orientation. Things should cost to the trade at least double what they have cost you to make them (this is the most difficult to realise) A smile goes a long way People with Mulberry handbags tend to stop at my stand (don’t know why, just an observation) Ceramics only suit mass market and need to be at a price low enough to get this market otherwise it’s better to license your images or to sell them yourself. Velcro doesn’t work, if you don’t have real walls invest in real situations. It’s good to be next to people whose work you admire, they are not a threat if you like their work chances are that their buyers are your buyers and so it increases your chances of meeting new stockists. Equally if you don’t like someone’s work don’t worry their buyers are not your buyers. Contacts are important, make a note of everyone and what they were interested in. That way it’s easier to follow things up and to have a more personal touch Within a week of the show ending make sure you email all your contacts that you made. This is a priority. In the words of Roger Bannister:  “What do we live for if not to make life less difficult for each other?”

I decided whilst at BCTF that sharing knowledge and frustrations and successes is a good thing. I have mostly come through this so far alone but I have along the way been guided and helped by some very generous people. So whilst I was working on the stand I decided to write a list of things to help the would be seller-maker

 Trade Show Secrets:

  1. Everyone wants to sell your product at 2.5 times what they bought it for, at a more independent level they will take less than this but large shops want 2.5.
  2. A range of cards is only a range if they are of a similar subject AND are the same size and orientation.
  3. Things should cost to the trade at least double what they have cost you to make them (this is the most difficult to realise)
  4. A smile goes a long way
  5. People with Mulberry handbags tend to stop at my stand (don’t know why, just an observation)
  6. Ceramics only suit mass market and need to be at a price low enough to get this market otherwise it’s better to license your images or to sell them yourself.
  7. Velcro doesn’t work, if you don’t have real walls invest in real situations.
  8. It’s good to be next to people whose work you admire, they are not a threat if you like their work chances are that their buyers are your buyers and so it increases your chances of meeting new stockists. Equally if you don’t like someone’s work don’t worry their buyers are not your buyers.
  9. Contacts are important, make a note of everyone and what they were interested in. That way it’s easier to follow things up and to have a more personal touch
  10. Within a week of the show ending make sure you email all your contacts that you made. This is a priority.

In the words of Roger Bannister: 

“What do we live for if not to make life less difficult for each other?”