Etsy and Treasuries

As part of my new marketing strategy, I have re-opened my shop on Etsy and added some of my new screen printed designs.  I first joined Etsy back in 2008, but spent no time trawling the forums and didn't really pay any attention to my shop - hence very little sales! 

New year - fresh ideas and with over 8 million items for sale and 1.2 billion page views, it really is a global shopping experience.  The statistics are amazing - check their latest December's Weather Report,

Apart from my new items in the shop, I have been taking part in the forums (getting myself known, as well as my products) and joined in one of the recent BNR Treasuries.  I still don't know what BNR stands for, but it was fun taking part.  I had to 'Buy in' to the Treasury to have my shop featured, people are then able to purchase from your shop.  It's like taking centre stage at the theatre!

I bought a few items, starting the with Alice in Wonderland Pendant above - purchased from Wishes on the Wind.  It's a lovely pendant made from a scrabble tile and have been wearing it today.

My second purchase from Twink Knits - crochet mug cosy (below). Again, have been using it today.    

I have had a few sales over the weekend and been in TWO treasuries - also a first! 

It just goes to show that taking part in the community does pay off.

If you have an Etsy shop, please feel free to include your details in the comments below.  What do you think of Etsy??  Please share your experiences.

Kathryn, Lazy Daisy Glass xx

I love Screen Printing.....

You may have gathered by now that I love screen printing and here are my latest designs. The dandelion clock coaster above is available in my Etsy Shop. You can buy a single coaster at £8, Pair at £15 or a set of four for £25. The design is set on clear glass.

And, not forgetting Mother's Day, I have created this elegant perfume bottle. Again, the design is set on clear glass and available as coasters. Prices are as above. Available in my Etsy Shop

Pop back soon, I will have some more new designs soon. Already working on them!

Kathryn, Lazy Daisy Glass xx

New Screen Printed Designs

I've been using my screen printing skills recently and made these new products. The Heavenly Angel Wings coasters above are my favourite and are available over on my Etsy Shop. The coasters come as a single item (£8) or a pair (£15).

Next, is this cutesy Diva coasters:

As Valentine is approaching, I created these Love Tokens at only £5 each:

As mentioned earlier, these items are available in my Etsy Shop

I will be creating some more screen printed items shortly, so check back soon.

Kathryn, Lazy Daisy Glass xx

UK Designers Fit for a Queen - Madonna

Never one to big up Madonna, after all she doesn't really need it! But, after all the hype from the weekend I decided to watch the Super Bowl half time show. And show it certainly was! A great performance by the Queen of Pop, Madonna, but was also in awe of the stage set. After some internet research, I found that UK designers were commissioned to make part of her set. The designers, Jimmie Martin, are based in Kensington, London and make some wonderfully quirky products from chairs, beds, cabinets to cushions:

It is great to see a pop icon using UK designers who's main business is to transform old pieces of furniture in to unique items with their urban style.

Not only are Jimmie Martin edgy designers, they are British! And I'm all for supporting UK designers/makers - Buy British!!

Kathryn, Lazy daisy Glass xx

Marketing at the Right Price Point

I was reading an interesting article in Gift Focus Magazine recently about getting the price point right for your creations. Gift Focus is a gift ware trade magazine sent to retailers throughout the UK.

In the first edition of 2012, an 'Industry Insight' article was focused on getting the right price point for your goods. A handful of suppliers and retailers were interviewed about the current climate and it became quite apparent that there has been an insurgence in the £10 category in recent months. Customers will not hesitate in spending up to £10 as these are more likely to be impulse buys.

With forecasts still gloomy, the retail climate continues to be a tough one, it is important as a maker to offer retailers what customers are demanding, and at the moment it is gifts valued around £10.

As a maker myself, it is increasingly difficult to create and offer such goods when the cost of raw materials continues to rise. Also taking in to account the retailers mark-up as well as your own! With this in mind, a maker has to sell an item for £4 in order for the retailer to sell at £10. Not only difficult, but also having to compete with foreign, mass produced goods!

The article has been an interesting read and one which I am now taking in to account. It has made me think about reducing my costs i.e., buying in cheaper/alternative materials, without compromising the end product. The key being to create fun and unusual items that customers still believe to be good value for money. It's not easy having to be one step ahead, but the beauty of handcrafted products, is that they are unique and will often stand out against the mass produced. Keep creating!!!

Kathryn, Lazy Daisy Glass xx

Standing Stones - New Products

The Standing Stones Curve was launched at the recent Spring Trade Show in Glasgow. This will be added to my website and available to purchase. This piece is ideal when a candle is placed behind it and sat on a shelf. Orange and red make a very romantic scene.

The deer scene panel was another item added to my catalogue. Again, with a candle placed behind it, it looks fab. This design is also available as coasters:

All available on the website.

Kathryn, Lazy Daisy Glass xx

POP-tastic! A Great Marketing Campaign

Did you know it was National Bubblewrap Week this week? I'm not kidding, it really was! A local creative company decided to have some marketing fun when they sent out these POP! cards to their clients. The card came in a bright orange envelope, wrapped in bubblewrap and sealed with a small orange sticky dot. I couldn't wait to open mine as I was absolutely intrigued to see what it was. So, did I POP it, SQUEEZE it, or TWIST it?

I have to admit, I'm a TWISTER! I love nothing more that to get hold of a handful of bubblewrap, scrunch it up and twist, making lots of popping noises at once! It does seem so childish, but who doesn't do it??The reason for all the orange colour-coded accessories - the company's corporate colours. Added impact! I contacted the owner Clare of Clock Studio and asked her what she wanted to achieve by sending these POP-tastic cards. She responded "It was a KIT campaign -Keep In Touch. A fun way of connecting with around 60 clients, just to say hello and a reminder that I'm still here should they need anything. Trying to get people to interact via social media was an add on really - an additional way to start an interaction. Its been an interesting exercise".

This is why it pays to talk to experienced people like Clare who can help with great (and unusual) marketing campaigns. After all, they are the experts. The campaign certainly had me going and others to.

People were commenting on it on Facebook and it certainly did make people interact! All in all, a successful campaign, and such fun for ALL.

Clock Studio - Design Agency

Kathryn, Lazy Daisy Glass xx