Something Pinteresting - Warm & Woolly Style...

Happy Friday!

Brrr, it's been cold out lately.  I think it's time to think warm and snugly thoughts with some 'pins'piration from my pinterest board 'Warm & Woolly Style'.

Starting with the beautiful autumnal colours above in the Ravelry Pattern 'Hedgerow' by Anne Kingstone...

In my mind, Donna Wilson is the queen of warm and woolly style.  

Her bright and quirky designs make me want to cosy up to them with the biggest of smiles.

Here's a link to her website, where you can find a dizzying choice of wonders such as the cushions above and the soft animals below: http://www.donnawilson.com/

Here are some more beautiful patterns from Ravelry that caught my eye...

First up 'Paper Dolls' By Kate Davies...

The next Ravelry pattern is 'Maple' by Marie Wallin.  I just love the use of colour and have a soft spot for a bit of fair isle intricacy...

I also want to share some work from a couple of very lovely British designer makers who are rocking warm and woolly style in every wonderful product.

Lauren Aston creates amazing oversized knits for the home, she's a fabulous Westcountry designer maker and her website can be found here:

http://www.laurenastondesigns.com/

I am loving Natalie Franca's, AKA More Tea Vicar, latest collection of knit wear for this season over on Folksy, such as these cheery cowl infinity scarves which can be found on Folksy here:

https://folksy.com/items/6742258-Cowl-Infinity-Scarf-in-Navy-Blue-Alpaca-Wool

I hope you all have a warm and cosy weekend!

Best wishes

This Much I Know - Websites

Hello,

This week's 'This Much I Know' shares the main things I have learnt about websites.

When I started my little business, this was an area of complete mystery that I threw myself at as I believed that if my strategy was to mainly market my business online, it was vital that I knew how to build and manage my very own home on the web...

This Much I Know About Websites...

1. Websites cost a lot.  Whether it's lots of your money or lots of your time if you opt to D.I.Y - websites take lots of it.  Know this, accept this and factor this into your plans.
2. It's very important to have your own home on the internet which is independent of social media sites.  That is a very sensible thing to do.  Social media sites are unreliable - all it takes is for one to change their rules and that could truly scupper your business if you have relied too heavily on them and not built your marketing efforts on your own foundations (i.e. your own website or blog).
3. Setting up a website is not really as scary as it may seem at first.  It can be done very simply using a blogging site or an easy to learn and use website host site to take the pain away.  Here's a little list of some great sites to help you: blogger, wordpress, tumblr, weebly, create, bigcartel, shopify.  The list goes on and on - I've just jotted down some of the popular ones I'm familiar with.
4. Your website is your shop window - use it to say what you want the world to know.  Keep it up to date and relevant and use it to help gather opt in subscribers to an email list.  It's important to gather your own customer database to ensure you have a way of reaching your customer base that is not reliant on anyone else.  I use mailchimp for my email list and can completely recommend them as you are able to download your list at anytime. Good website host sites (such as the ones I listed in point 3 above) will give you lots of support and information to help you get the most out of your website and help you navigate the world of SEO (Search Engine Optimisation) to gain traffic to your site.
5. If you want to hire someone to set up your website for you -it's important to take your time to find the right person.  Ask around, especially from people you know with websites you admire. It's important to find someone you can trust, who shares your vision for your site and that you feel you can work with in the long term.  Working with the right person will make the whole process a pleasure rather than a pain!

I hope you found this weeks 5 things I've learnt helpful. 

Next week I am hoping to share a few things I know about Print On Demand sites.

Have a lovely day!

 

Gift Ideas for Her - from my latest collection...

Hello!

Hope you had a lovely weekend. 

With 'Black Friday' looming at the end of this week, thoughts are turning to Christmas shopping.  I've put together a selection from my current online collections to help you gather some ideas for  gifts for her.

At the top is my 'Live in the garden, sleep in the house' print - ideal for a garden lover...

On my website:

http://www.artworkbyangie.com/live-in-the-garden-unframed-print.html#cid=391439

In my folksy shop:

https://folksy.com/items/6758454--Live-In-The-Garden-10x8-Framed-Illustration-Print

In my Etsy shop:

https://www.etsy.com/uk/listing/256683100/live-in-the-garden-a4-unframed?ref=shop_home_active_1

For a cat loving lady, there's my 'I'm In Charge' framed illustration print:

On my website...

http://www.artworkbyangie.com/im-in-charge.html#cid=1177777

In my folksy shop:

https://folksy.com/items/6697789--I-m-In-Charge-10x8-Framed-print

In my Etsy shop:

https://www.etsy.com/uk/listing/243673668/im-in-charge-a4-unframed-illustration?ref=related-1

For ladies with wanderlust and a thirst for adventure, there's my 2016 Wallplanner 'Plan Amazing Adventures'...

On my website:

http://www.artworkbyangie.com/wall-planner-amazing-adventures.html#cid=1167023

In my folksy shop:

https://folksy.com/items/6695814-2016-Wall-Planner-Plan-Amazing-Adventures

My 2016 A5 sized desk calendar is packed with colour and pretty details, guaranteed to brighten even the dullest of days...

In my folksy shop:

https://folksy.com/items/6717538-2016-Desktop-Calendar-A5-sized

In my Etsy shop:

https://www.etsy.com/uk/listing/248975311/2016-desktop-calendar-planner-a5-sized?ref=related-0

I still have a small stock of these handy and very cheerful A5, 40 page weekly notepad planners - who said 'to do' lists need to look boring?!... 

In my folksy shop:

https://folksy.com/items/6569798-Weekly-Planner-Notepad-Craft-Make-all-the-things

https://folksy.com/items/6569806-Weekly-Planner-Notepad-Make-Beautiful-Plans

In my Etsy shop:

https://www.etsy.com/uk/listing/213004485/weekly-planner-notepad-craft-make-all?ref=related-2

https://www.etsy.com/uk/listing/212998538/weekly-planner-notepad-make-beautiful?ref=related-2

Over at my Society 6 shop there's all things bright and beautiful - bringing the best of nature's spring and summer to any home or handbag:

http://society6.com/angiespurgeon

Have a lovely day!

This Much I Know - Selling Online

Hello,

This week's this much I know is all about selling online.

I first dipped my toe into the world of selling my makes online at the end of 2010 when I launched my Folksy shop and website, followed later the following year with an Etsy shop.  It has taken a while to get to grips with it all.  To be completely honest it's been a steep learning curve and one which I am still on, discovering something new everyday.

Here are five of the main things I have learnt along the way, I hope they may help others on the same online selling journey...

This Much I Know About Selling Online....

1. It all starts with a great, unique, lovely, desirable product - if you focus on getting that bit right you are more than half way there
2. Good photography is essential.  It really is make or break.  The photos need to make up for the fact the customer can not pick the item up and get a good look at it, feel it, form an attachment to it.  Good clear photos, in a variety of angles, some with and without a little styling, to help put the product in context, will always increase your chances.
3. Get the price right - The price needs to be fair to the customer and you.  If it's too cheap, not only will you ultimately lose out, you may turn customers off as they will be worried about the quality.  If it's too expensive you may turn people off, or disappoint and risk not getting return custom.  A couple of weeks ago I wrote a post on pricing, here's a link to help:  http://artworkbyangie.blogspot.co.uk/2015/11/this-much-i-know-about-pricing.html
4. Keep your online shops well stocked and looking good.  If you can't keep it stocked, put it in holiday mode with a clear message in the header.  In that message give a clear indication as to why you have no stock (you may have a craft fair or a wholesale order) and when you'll next have stock online or where else they can find you online.  This all seems very simple and obvious, but it's surprising how many shops get left to tumble weed.  You never know who is looking at your shop, you could miss a golden opportunity!
5. Social Media Works - tell everyone on all the social media sites and be consistent about it.  The shops that do best are the ones that cleverly use social media and create a strong brand to build a following and make it easy for people to find them and fall in love with their products.  For more tips on building a brand, here's a link to last week's post about branding: http://artworkbyangie.blogspot.co.uk/2015/11/this-much-i-know-branding.html and for more tips on social media, I did a post a while ago which goes into detail about each of the main social media sites, here's a link to that too: http://artworkbyangie.blogspot.co.uk/2014/04/social-media-this-much-i-know.html

 I hope you found those five quick tips useful. Next week I'll be sharing a few things I know about websites.

Have a lovely day!