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3 keys to a successful show
The more shows I do, the more I start to understand what separates successful shows from unsuccessful shows. While all the pre-show prep and marketing are incredibly important, your attitude at the...
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how not to suck at sales
If I were to identify my weak point in business a year ago, I would say my skills as a salesperson. I seriously doubted my ability to convince people to buy my products. When you run a one-person...
View Articleshare and be proud
I make awesome jewelry. There, I said it. And now I want you to say it too. Repeat after me. ”I make awesome {insert your product here}” Talking about your products in positive way doesn’t make you a...
View Articleguest post: Is the Internet the New Substitute for Trade Shows?
I’m on a plane home after a fantastic 24 hours in Providence to speak at the Rhode Island School of Design, but today I’ve got a guest post to share from Kitty Vogen. Kitty talks about how even with...
View Articlevideo inspiration Monday: a video business success story
Last week, I got this email from Wendi of Shiny Happy World: “I decided to commit to video in a big way in January of this year. I noticed two things… 1. A lot of people want to learn to sew, but...
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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what 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 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 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 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 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 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...
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three 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...
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Just 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....
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Does 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...
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3 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.)...
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Are 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 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 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 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...
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