Branding is essential to a successful brand and many times, is the client's/shopper's first impression of your creative, small business!

Determining if you want to hire a creative firm to develop your branding with you or do it on your own is your first step. It can be a big, but very much worthwhile, investment to hire a creative marketing firm or individual to create your brand with you. But you can also do it on your own. 

The first step is to determine:

WHAT DO I DO?

WHY DO I DO IT?

WHAT MAKES ME UNIQUE?

Once you have answered those questions, you can dive into the fun stuff, like making a mood board!

WHO IS YOUR CUSTOMER?

Who is your dream customer? Imagine them and what they enjoy. This is your target audience. You need to know who they are so they will connect to your brand. Once you have determined who your dream customer is, you can get started on your Mission Statement.

MISSION STATEMENT

Why do you do what you do? Your Mission Statement is the entire reason your...

It's No-Show January. That month between the winter holidays and Valentine's Day and there are NO CRAFT SHOWS! If your business has slowed down this month, DON'T FRET! We have a few tips for how to use this down time to KEEP GOING:

BOOKKEEPING AND NUMBERS

Use January to get your books in order and review the year. Figure out which shows were profitable (see our nifty graphic in our last blog for help in determining your numbers) and which weren't. Get organized for 2020 by sorting your tax documents and creating a profit and loss spreadsheet if you haven't already.

RESEARCH AND PLAN SHOWS

Are you part of any FB groups like Craft Show Success that has other makers in it? Post a question to them or do some research by searching past posts about shows in your city. Look up craft shows and plan your 2020. Mark down when applications close for certain events in your calendar so you don't miss out on applying! Plan for booth fees. Sometimes multiple events will have fees due around the...

As a craft show organizer, I've watched countless vendors 'in their element' and... not in their element. Whether you're a seasoned pro or ready to apply to your first craft show, there is a very important "Code of Craft Show Vendors" that is mostly unspoken, but should be followed in order to make great sales and to make your show run smoothly (for you AND for the organizer).

CODE 1: BE PRESENT AND FRIENDLY

I can't tell you how many times I've watched vendors buried in their phones while customers wait for them to look up, but when the vendor doesn't look up, the customer walks away. Make sure to greet your customers and make them feel welcome to ask you questions or find out more about your product and give them your full attention (or tell them you'll be with them in just a minute because understandably, you could be merchandising or doing a social post). Craft show customers are coming because they want to support and meet YOU, and you can gain some loyal followers by being...

Craft show organizers and juries spend a lot of time going through every vendor application for upcoming shows, but they do have time constraints. You want to make it as easy as possible for them to see how fabulous your handmades are. Here are three tips for submitting a great craft show application.

#1:  Follow the directions in the application

Make sure you read the fine-print on the application. If the organizer is asking for your email address, make sure you have entered it correctly as it may be the only way they contact you to let you know the status of your application. If the app asks for you to type the exact links to your social media and website, make sure you follow the directions and do so. For instance, if the application asks for your Etsy shop, type the entire URL out! Don’t just put your shop name. Many times, organizers of juried shows have a time limit they are working under and if you don’t put the exact link for them to click in their software,...