Why selling IRL should be an essential part of your marketing strategy.
Yes, especially in 2023! I’m not going to sugarcoat it. 2022 was a really tough year for selling online. There are exceptions, of course (which we’ll talk about in a moment), but so many artists,...
View ArticleFalling in love with your work is a continual process.
But it’s a process that’s essential for marketing and selling. One of my firm beliefs is that it’s so much easier to market and sell your work as an artist and maker if you truly love your work. I’m...
View ArticleFour ways to move on from an “unsuccessful” launch.
Your art isn’t bad if it doesn’t sell out five minutes after you launch it. The other day, I clicked on the (admittedly click-baity) headline, “Ella Emhoff’s Knit Collection Immediately Sold Out.” If...
View ArticleThe antidote to consumerism is art.
Or why you should be shouting from the rooftops on Black Friday and Cyber Monday. (Whether you’re having a sale or not.) We’re just eight days away from the start of Black Friday/Cyber Monday weekend,...
View ArticleIt’s not the art in museums that’s the most valuable.
The most essential art is the art we live with. I’ve spent most of my life believing that the most valuable art in the world lives in museums. On the surface, this isn’t a bad thing. I grew up going to...
View ArticleDon’t let shame stop you from selling!
While in times like these, it’s pretty amazing that we have the Internet and social media to help us all stay connected, that connection can come with some pretty harsh side effects. Like shame. As we...
View ArticleWhy your fear of rejection is keeping you from asking for the sale.
The following is adapted from my upcoming ebook, Try It & See: How to Get Sh*t Done While Overanalyzing Everything, which is available for pre-order now! Every artists and maker I know wants to...
View ArticleFive ways to help buyers navigate a large collection.
As I mentioned in my last post, one of the things that sets successful, established designers apart from struggling, emerging designers is that established designers tend to have larger, though still...
View ArticleAre there enough pieces in your collection? Three signs it’s time to expand...
This past month was all about trade shows, and as I’ve been walking around the shows and talking to both new and established makers, I’ve been asking myself one question: “What sets successful,...
View Article3 ways to prep for fall wholesale season
When I talk to artists and makers, many express interest in wanting to expand the wholesale side of their business. (For those who are new to the lingo, that simply means selling your work to stores.)...
View ArticleDoes your business suffer from too much marketing and not enough selling?
If there’s one thing I’ve learned since starting Designing an MBA, it’s that everyone always wants to learn about marketing. I get it. Marketing feels like the engine that drives your business. And...
View ArticleJust because your old work hasn’t sold doesn’t mean you can’t make new work
Why giving yourself permission to create new work is actually a savvy business strategy. I was having a chat with a fellow maker the other day and she asked me to share some tips on time management....
View Articlethree reasons to consider using Shopify’s Point of Sale at your next craft show
If you follow me on Instagram, you know that I’ve been doing more craft shows recently. After a few years of consistently growing my online sales, I decided to add some shows into my schedule to help...
View ArticleWill you join us in celebrating Art Sunday?
After my post yesterday, Patricia reached out to me suggesting we claim a day during Black Friday weekend for art. And since Sunday seemed like the best choice, Art Sunday it is! Let’s claim Sunday as...
View ArticleStruggling with whether to have a Black Friday/Cyber Monday sale this year?...
For the past few years, I’ve been adamant about not having a Black Friday/Cyber Monday sale for my jewelry business. There are several reasons for this. One was simply that I started holding a major...
View Articlethe world doesn’t need MORE stuff, it needs YOUR stuff
What do do when morals and creativity clash. A few weeks ago, when I asked “Can you tell me the value your products provide?” I got the following email from a reader: “I am into a minimalist phase in...
View Article3 simples sales tricks
While I was at Buyers Market, I put together this little video featuring three simple tricks to help you be a more confident salesperson. * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * Want more tips for sales...
View Articleaddressing customer objections
We often make the mistake of thinking that the only reason someone isn’t buying our product is because of price. But the truth is, customers have many objections (reasons they don’t buy) and very few...
View Articlewhat your customers aren't telling you
Note: I’m currently on a plane en route to San Diego for Blogher 2011. I’ll be taking part in a panel on Friday morning on creating digital products from your blog. If you’re going to be there, feel...
View Articlethe paradox of choice and the powers of mind control
Because it’s been a while since I’ve designed anything new, when I sat down to design my newest collection, I kind of went a little overboard. Lots of variations on the same theme – plenty of earrings...
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