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How is it only August? How is it August already???
As I spent my Saturday working in the toyshop, then cleaning the house. I sat down to focus of my study and put together the latest order for my assorted printers, listening to the sounds of extremely large men violently bouncing off each other ( Go the Wallabies, lol seriously though it looks like they are heading to do a nudey run if they don't score soon)
I started thinking about what the last 12 months has bought me. Around September I found out that the local Toyshop was for sale. It had been for a while but only advertised it on a weird website and their unfollowed Facebook page. I had looked at buying it 3 years before, looked over figures and chatted to the bank and real estate but we were not in a position to do so... turned out while disappointed the Universe was looking out for me. *starts singing Garth Brooks' "Unanswered Prayers" because you can take the girl out of Taree but you cant take the Taree out of the girl *
What followed was in order FIRE, PANDEMIC and FLOOD. And my little fabric hobby boomed. I got to leave my most hated casual job and just focus on my Beautiful Fabrics. I got to have a staff member twice a week help out ( who also just happened to be an amazing friend. But as things started going back to normal since 2023 business sloooooooowwwwweeedd, but it is hard to tell if it was my multiple break downs from working 14 hour days 7 days a week, because when your business is at home... you are in it constantly. Or if it had just gone back to normal?
But I digress, So we bought a Toy Shop.
OMG. A dream come true. It was like everything I had ever done in my life had bought me to this point. Anyone that was told would say.. of course you did I am actually surprised it took this long. I knew I would need to wind back inklings for a little bit. Had a few sales to clear the stock and hopefully get my through the months I wasn't running things and then the time I didn't have any retail listed. I started running preorders again. I actually don't remember January much. It was a lot. It was such a steep learning curve and Toyfair was in February, I can't express how excited and exhausted I was for three whole days. .. where you need to almost gamble with your money and do most of your Toy orders until December,with no actual experience. My husband had resigned in October... but was still working full time at his old job at this point. By the end of Feb I was trying to juggle 2 full time jobs along with being a wife and mother. Something had to give.
I decided to sell Inklings. It had to go to someone that would fit. It was my baby, people had a certain expectation of it. I have lots of interest. And it was such and emotional time for me that I honestly didn't expect. I thought I was ready. But when push came to shove.. I looked deep inside and realised that over the last years I had built not just a business but a community. My husband had a look at the figures and did a spreadsheet or 7, and said... You know together we could run both.
So he stopped looking around for another job and started focusing on OUR two businesses. He is finally finishing up work next month and will be all in. Thank gods for that.
On top of all that we have had assorted family visits. Birthdays. Family fall aparts and put togethers. The highs and lows of teenagers becoming adult. Sickness, hospitals, mental health issues rearing their ugly head again. Birthday fun. And Putting a child on a plane to live far far away.
This year has seen many fabric businesses close. Online, in person... Lost fabrics, found fabrics... moving Inklings out of the house and learning finally a bit of work life balance. I still haven't figured out how to make friends when you are a mature aged introvert who loves more fandoms then you can poke a stick at and isn't really a fan of humans just as a whole. There are no mum's groups for semi empty nesters.
*image of a mother definitely not keeping her shit together while her Boy flies off on an adventure
My Eldest has moved to America for a bit my Middle child is now an adult and working full-time and trying to find a rental to move out ( an adult living at home is a weird and complicated thing) and the youngest is about to start driving lessons.
I know with all this Inklings has suffered. And it breaks my heart a bit as someone who has always prided herself on customer service. I have never been the fastest or the most organised or professional. But i have always been honest about any mistakes and tried to make it better.
My hope is that when Luke is fully onboard I can follow the roster and Inklings will get the focus it deserves. I will have time to reorganise the website. The make sure orders are arriving correct and promptly. To go back to doing the parts I love like designing. To sew. Oh to have time to dust off the overlocker and just enjoy making a few things.
This year has been a lot. I ended up going to get some help and I have started medication to help with my anxiety as it had become paralyzing. And when that happens depression sneaks in , and thoughts that should remain unthought make themselves known.
*All credit to the artist responsible for this image as I couldnt find who it was... but it spoke to me.
It has helped a lot. I now eat and sleep ( most of the time). Mental health isn't spoken about enough or at least not in the right way. So many people see it as an excuse. I can only assume those people have never experienced it.
* If you find yourself struggling please know you re not alone. Reach out to someone. I have a special place in my heart for the Black dog insititute. And I am hoping to participate in the One foot Forward.
https://www.blackdoginstitute.org.au/
People often say "I don't know how you do so much" LOL I have to. I can't work unless the space is clean. Like I literally can not focus on anything unless the house is clean. I can't sit and relax. I can't catch up on paper work.
I always think back to the Bluey episode where Chilli says "I don;t know how to relax. Its harder then it looks"
https://youtu.be/4BjkVNshsPs?si=FyBR06BijnWxeu6Y (ICYMI)
My Aim for the rest of the year. Smash the Christmas time stuff at the Toyshop, I have so much stock coming ( feel free to book in for a trip to Yamba for Christmas and fabric shopping) . Get Inklings back to the amazing place it was before, with stocked up retail and personal service ( also people coming in to shop in person!) To smash it at the Brisbane Craft & Quilt fair, y'all should really come along its gonna be fun Fran and all the ladies will be there in our own little corner. I am also going to go to see my son at Disneyworld for a week at the end of October. And I am determined to just have fun with my boys while I still can. And just enjoy my school reunion with some people I adore. Oh and sell the house and move to a property. So you know.. just the usual stuff called life.
I hope you will keep joining me on this wild ride. There is so much great art still to come.
Sending love to you all
To Market to Market
After an amazing response to Dani’s post in our group I thought I would put together a Blog about markets.
I love and hate markets all at once. It’s such a rollercoaster. You get such an assortment of customers from the ones loudly claiming to all within earshot how everything is too expensive and you can get it for $5 at Kmart. To the beautiful ones who fall in love instantly and become life long customers.
You can sell a million things or nothing.
Definitely ups and downs.
So I thought I would out together all the hints and tips and add my own thoughts as well
- Write 2 lists.
Seriously. Sit down and write out what you need to pack for your stall every last thing you will need to pack. You will thank me for this when you don’t have to ring someone to bring your chair…
And write another list of how much stock you want to take/make. Really look at what sells online for you, but also think about things that you enjoy making over and over. And finally the things that POP on a table, that will make someone do a double take or actually come over. Trust me that’s one of the hardest parts.
- Snacks and water.
Seriously. You can easily eat through any profit you have made without even noticing. Or if you enjoy the easy access to coffee (guilty) make sure you take a snack/coffee kitty separate to your stall money so you have a limit set. Markets can be long and boring. You will want to snack.
- Money, Money, Money.
Don’t have a card machine – you’re going to lose customers. Don’t have cash float – you’re going to lose customers.
Card machines are pretty cheap and easy to get your hands on these days. You have the Paypal one which means the funds will go into your Paypal, Shopify offers one which you can connect to your online store to take the stock of your website as you sell it at markets. Square is available too. Do your research and find one that would for you. These days it can make a massive difference to your market sales.
And a cash float, believe it or not there are still those that prefer cash. Or young people who have their pocket money. Or older folk that like to see the cash in their hands and find it easier to budget that way. It takes all sorts. So make sure you accommodate for all sorts.
- Advertising
If you go in to a market thinking that it is an advertising tool. You can’t lose. It’s the perfect way to get your brand out to the world. You may not make that sale right now.. but odds are if they showed interest they are going to go home and look you up. Make sure you have business cards with all the vital information on how to find you on there. The easier you make it for people the more likely they will stick around. If I just have the name.. and I have to google you and find you amongst the other people with similar names, much like others I will put it in the too hard basket. Have a QR code you can print out and stick up even better. Where do you want the traffic to go? Do you want to build your followers on Facebook or Instagram? Straight to your website? That’s where the QR code should take them.
AND I CAN’T STRESS THIS ENOUGH make sure your labels are on your products and packaging. They actually bought from you and you send them of with three scrunchies and a plain brown paper bag. They love the scrunchies and want more but just can’t remember that business name. NO. Get yourself some stickers for those bags. Print some hang tags. NAME EVERYWHERE.
- Pricing.
Seriously. DO NOT use that old, leave off the price it so they have to talk to you, or be scared the price will scare them away. I will not only leave if I can’t see a price, I will be mildly annoyed. Several reasons.
People know what they can afford. They don’t need to be embarrassed asking for a price then having to put it back its upsetting for them and you
Some people aren’t there for a chat. They want some yummy handmade goodness but maybe aren’t up to the people-ing for many assorted and varied reasons. Price your product. Make it clear. And don’t be embarrassed about the pricing I am sure you put a lot of thought and math into figuring the prices out. Your makes are beautiful and your time is worth it.
- The Set up
Now I can not stress this enough, this is valid if you have a farmers market stall or a handmade market stall. YOUR DISPLAY IS EVERYTHING.
Say it with me
YOUR DISPLAY IS EVERYTHING.
Make sure it looks amazing. You want it to stand for your business. The way you package and display your goods seriously will make the difference between a sale or not.
You are representing your business. So the way your stall is set up is as important as your website landing page or your photos on etsy. Get your arse on pinterest today. See the amazing set ups what smart ways have people displayed their stock? How can you adapt it to your own? There are always cheap and easy ways to make it look good it doesn’t have to cost a fortune. Get creative.
Image by Sewandtell handmade (found on pinterest)
- Insurance
These days most venders will actually require you to show that you have your own business insurance. You can actually get a slightly cheaper one just for markets from a few insurance places. Shop around. Ask other people who have insurance who they have gone with.
- Customer service
Make sure you acknowledge people who have come over. Service with a smile. Literally that’s all it takes. You can add a hello or whatever you want. But acknowledge the person. There is nothing worse than a Stall holder deep in conversation with another stall holder and you having to try and get their attention to buy their product. Generally people will put the thing back and leave. You are there to sell your products and get your name out to the public. What sort of image do you want to put out to people.
And finally….
- Would you like fries with that?
Have an item or two that is cheap and easy. Easy for you to sew. Cheap enough to lure people in. Or add to a sale. Things like scrunchies kill it in this regard. I used to have Lego stud earrings and hair clips, both I would make in bulk. And they were the fries. The purchase that parents would say yes to their child for (first question they will ask their child.. how much is it? Before they even walk over to see it.. ) Then suddenly you have an adult also checking out your wares. Or maybe you offer it when they are finalising their purchase.
They will bulk up a stall and honestly some days that may be all you sell. BUT they went home with your business card in the bag or the sticker on the bag and had a great experience with you so the odds are better they will look you up when they get home.
I hope this Helped. I could go on and one with it.. what exactly you should bring for your stall but ever business is different. Write your lists. Be prepared and you will have an amazing day!
Most importantly HAVE FUN!
What would you add to this list?
Thats not a break down.. THIS is a break down
Guest post from Leanne. Sewing and Metal health
A beautiful personal account from my admin Leanne about how sewing has helped her.
Disclosure: Mentions of pregnancy loss, mental health illness and suicide and just a little swearing