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Hi there.
Speaker:It's Sue.
Speaker:And thanks for joining me for tips and talk day.
Speaker:These are bite-sized topics that I pull from community questions and
Speaker:things that I'm observing in the world of handmade small business.
Speaker:If you'd like to submit a topic,
Speaker:DME over on Instagram at gift biz unwrapped,
Speaker:before we get into the show today,
Speaker:I want to make sure that you know about the newest
Speaker:thing happening over here.
Speaker:It's called the gift biz bash a zoom party that turns
Speaker:into a podcast episode.
Speaker:Several weeks later,
Speaker:the party consists of a short training with Q and a
Speaker:from yours truly.
Speaker:And then an opportunity for you to give a shout out
Speaker:about your business.
Speaker:You can tell us about a promotion you currently have going
Speaker:on or share a collaboration that you're considering so that you
Speaker:can find a perfect partner for the event.
Speaker:A little bit of learning and visibility for your business.
Speaker:What could be better?
Speaker:There is a catch though spots are limited to keep the
Speaker:party to about 45 minutes or so.
Speaker:That means you should grab your spot right away.
Speaker:It's totally free to make sure you're included.
Speaker:Why not do that right now?
Speaker:Pause this episode,
Speaker:go to gift biz,
Speaker:unwrapped.com forward slash bash to sign up and then come back
Speaker:and listen to the show.
Speaker:I'll see you at the bash.
Speaker:It's a trend you've probably seen it already.
Speaker:Makers of all sorts are leaning into this up and coming
Speaker:sales strategy because it provides a solution to one of the
Speaker:biggest challenges you have as a handmade creator,
Speaker:limited production time.
Speaker:Even if you hire people to help in certain facets of
Speaker:your business,
Speaker:possibly even including creation of your product.
Speaker:There is a ceiling as to how much money you can
Speaker:make without taking the leap to factory production,
Speaker:which I know is a major turnoff to most of you
Speaker:enter in this perfect solution.
Speaker:One that allows you to scale your business while retaining and
Speaker:actually enhancing your position as an expert in your field.
Speaker:As a jewelry designer,
Speaker:quilter chocolate tier,
Speaker:whatever your specialty,
Speaker:a version of this solution could work for you.
Speaker:I'm talking about offering workshops,
Speaker:guided trainings,
Speaker:where the result is that the attendee learns the techniques and
Speaker:completes a project using their new found skill.
Speaker:We're going to go deeper into the ways you can do
Speaker:this in a minute,
Speaker:but first let's address the obvious advantage.
Speaker:Here. You teach a how to class to many in a
Speaker:live face-to-face setting,
Speaker:or you can teach to even more online at this point.
Speaker:Let me address an objection.
Speaker:That's possibly coming up in your mind right now,
Speaker:and that is why in the world.
Speaker:So would I share my secrets on how I make my
Speaker:products? You're possibly concerned that someone will then go and make
Speaker:their own soaps versus buying yours,
Speaker:or you're afraid that they may even start their own business.
Speaker:Both of these are highly unlikely,
Speaker:and I'm not going to suggest that you share all your
Speaker:secrets. Only some basic directional steps that ensure a good result
Speaker:for those taking your workshop.
Speaker:Think about retail shops that offer wine and art parties or
Speaker:painting on ceramic pieces of their choice.
Speaker:My daughter and I recently had a wonderful experience making our
Speaker:own candles at blank.
Speaker:Mason, a shop near us.
Speaker:We had a marvelous time.
Speaker:I might add.
Speaker:There were two reasons.
Speaker:This model,
Speaker:isn't a risk for your business.
Speaker:First following your guidelines makes it fun and easy doing it
Speaker:on one's own.
Speaker:Does it provide that same experience?
Speaker:I think your attendees will actually have new found appreciation for
Speaker:what goes into the creation of your products.
Speaker:They'll have discovered for themselves that the quality you provide is
Speaker:difficult and takes skill to achieve.
Speaker:Also in a classroom setting like this,
Speaker:all the product elements,
Speaker:tools and workspaces are easily at hand in Nicole.
Speaker:In my case with our candles,
Speaker:there were different sizes and colors of vessels to choose from.
Speaker:They provided the right wax,
Speaker:a vast selection of scented oils and decorative accents,
Speaker:the right WIC and the proper tools to use,
Speaker:not to mention the candle making step-by-step direction.
Speaker:So we were guaranteed a beautiful candle to take home.
Speaker:All this prep and ingredient accessibility would definitely prevent us from
Speaker:ever trying this at home.
Speaker:These workshops are easier to organize today,
Speaker:more than ever.
Speaker:I suggest you start with an in-person workshop,
Speaker:select a basic design or better yet create a new product
Speaker:specifically for your workshops.
Speaker:Write down the steps.
Speaker:So you have a firm grasp on how you'll direct your
Speaker:students. This guidance on direction could even be printed out as
Speaker:a takeaway too,
Speaker:if you'd like,
Speaker:that would work particularly well.
Speaker:If you're making something consumable like popcorn balls or cake pops,
Speaker:then you'll figure out what products you need to have on
Speaker:hand. This would consist of ingredients or elements included in the
Speaker:finished product,
Speaker:as well as any tools required for assembly.
Speaker:Can they share tools or will you need to buy more
Speaker:for your after that planning is done,
Speaker:you'll want to determine how much each piece will cost for
Speaker:raw materials.
Speaker:Only unlike other pricing structures.
Speaker:You're not including your production time here,
Speaker:but you will include your teaching and class prep time.
Speaker:Here's where the profitable upside comes in for you.
Speaker:You incur the cost of materials for each student,
Speaker:but your time does it increase as your attendee count grows.
Speaker:That's how it becomes scalable.
Speaker:And as a pricing PS here,
Speaker:you're going to also allocate for business expenses and profit in
Speaker:the cost of each ticket.
Speaker:Now, where will these workshops be held at first?
Speaker:Maybe you try it out at home with a few of
Speaker:your friends,
Speaker:just to get the kinks out.
Speaker:If you already have a space in a production studio outside
Speaker:of your home,
Speaker:you're all set for a formal class.
Speaker:If not check out rooms,
Speaker:which may be available through your park district or art center,
Speaker:even consider schools,
Speaker:church, basements,
Speaker:or form a make and take section of your exhibit at
Speaker:a craft show,
Speaker:checking with the organizer that it's allowed.
Speaker:Of course,
Speaker:as you gain experience with an in-person workshop,
Speaker:your prep time will go down and as anything you'll perfect
Speaker:your system.
Speaker:At that point,
Speaker:you can take it online.
Speaker:This bumps up the profit potential significantly because you truly have
Speaker:no size limitation.
Speaker:You can conduct these classes,
Speaker:streaming live duplicating with only small adjustments.
Speaker:What you've already done in person,
Speaker:or you could create a product kit,
Speaker:including a video tutorial that can be purchased through your website,
Speaker:allowing customers to independently watch and make on their own time.
Speaker:Yes, there are a few more steps to putting this together.
Speaker:Things like promoting the workshops to get attendees and the tech
Speaker:behind doing it online.
Speaker:But the upside here is so great.
Speaker:I want you to first recognize that workshops are something to
Speaker:consider. And second,
Speaker:understand that as a product creator,
Speaker:your income potential can go beyond the sales of your beautiful
Speaker:and delicious products.
Speaker:Your upside is boundless.
Speaker:That's a wrap.
Speaker:I'm a get to the point kind of girl.
Speaker:And this is what you can expect from these quick midweek
Speaker:sessions. Now it's your turn go out and fulfill that dream
Speaker:of yours.
Speaker:Share your handmade products with us.
