Shownotes
Business Building Insights
- If you encounter an opportunity, take the leap!
- To form a co-op, start a company and begin networking with other artisans.
- It’s all about the experience when a customer walks into your store.
- Everybody is creative in some way. You just need to figure out what that way is for you.
- Have activities that draw people into your shop. Something that engages the customer. Examples are live artisan demonstrations or a special offering. Nancy talks about a good one in the podcast.
- As you get started, do some research to see what’s already out there. Go to different craft shows and art festivals to figure out how your product can be unique.
- Your margin is important. Make sure you’re not giving your product away. This is where many artisans get stuck and why they don’t make money.
Resources Mentioned
Square – inventory managementContact Links
Website FacebookGift Biz Resources
Join our FREE Gift Biz Breeze Facebook Community
If you found value in this podcast, make sure to subscribe and leave a review in Apple Podcasts or Google Podcasts. That helps us spread the word to more makers just like you.
Thanks! Sue
Transcripts
Gift biz unwrapped episode 169.
Speaker:Everybody is creative.
Speaker:They just need the time to figure out what it is.
Speaker:Attention gifters bakers,
Speaker:crafters, and makers pursuing your dream can be fun.
Speaker:Whether you have an established business or looking to start one.
Speaker:Now you are in the right place.
Speaker:This is gift to biz unwrapped,
Speaker:helping you turn your skill into a flourishing business.
Speaker:Join us for an episode,
Speaker:packed full of invaluable guidance,
Speaker:resources, and the support you need to grow.
Speaker:Your gift biz.
Speaker:Here is your host gift biz gal Sue moon Heights.
Speaker:Hi there.
Speaker:It's Sue.
Speaker:Thank you for spending a little bit of your day to
Speaker:day with me to listen to the podcast.
Speaker:If you're a first-time listener,
Speaker:make sure to subscribe.
Speaker:So you don't miss any of the upcoming episodes and believe
Speaker:me, I have some guests coming on that you are definitely
Speaker:going to want to hear from for those of you who
Speaker:have been listening for a while.
Speaker:Thank you.
Speaker:I so appreciate your loyalty and support.
Speaker:If there are any comments that you have for me,
Speaker:I would love to hear from you.
Speaker:All you need to do is email me,
Speaker:Sue at gift biz unwrapped.
Speaker:And tell me what you think of the show.
Speaker:Tell me what you think of guests that you'd like to
Speaker:have on in the future.
Speaker:Any feedback you want to give me would be wonderful.
Speaker:And I do go into that email box and read every
Speaker:single message our guest today is going to be talking about
Speaker:co-op artists,
Speaker:artisan groups,
Speaker:something you may not even know about,
Speaker:but if you have ever thought of wanting to get your
Speaker:products into retail,
Speaker:this is a different spin on traditional brick and mortar.
Speaker:That is very economical.
Speaker:And may just hold the key for you.
Speaker:Being able to play that delicate balance between costs and having
Speaker:a brick and mortar shop.
Speaker:Nancy has found success with this.
Speaker:She actually runs her own co-op and I am super excited
Speaker:for her to tell you everything about it.
Speaker:She's got the method down,
Speaker:Pat, we're doing this interview while she's in her second location,
Speaker:which is a smaller shop that also doubles as her artist
Speaker:studio. It is a working facility.
Speaker:So you will hear in the background a little bit of
Speaker:work going on from time to time.
Speaker:Oh my gosh.
Speaker:Why am I rambling on I'm super excited for you to
Speaker:hear directly from Nancy.
Speaker:So no more chatting from me.
Speaker:Let's get on with the show.
Speaker:I'd like to introduce you to Nancy Gissendaner of queen bee
Speaker:artisan market.
Speaker:The queen bee artisan market is an indoor market open year
Speaker:round in the beautiful tourist town of Lake Geneva,
Speaker:Wisconsin. Nancy has tripled in size in only three years going
Speaker:from 22 to now,
Speaker:75 artisans,
Speaker:the queen bee artisan market displays products from all over the
Speaker:USA with many artisans local to the area.
Speaker:The one requirement is everything must be handmade or upcycled here.
Speaker:You can find everything from jewelry to pottery to home decor.
Speaker:Nancy is most proud of how supportive everyone is of each
Speaker:other. Many of the local artisans,
Speaker:the bees work at the store.
Speaker:The environment is cheerful and lively and it sure sounds like
Speaker:the place to be welcome to the show,
Speaker:Nancy. Hello.
Speaker:Thanks for having me.
Speaker:I am so excited to get into your story because I
Speaker:don't know I've been to your shop now here locally.
Speaker:Let's see maybe three times,
Speaker:four times,
Speaker:and I'm always intrigued.
Speaker:I want to spend a ton more time,
Speaker:but I purposely didn't want to hear all the backstory because
Speaker:I wanted to save it and find out about it here
Speaker:on the show.
Speaker:So As we get started,
Speaker:one of my favorite ways for people to get to know
Speaker:you initially is by having you describe yourself in a little
Speaker:bit of a creative way,
Speaker:and that is through a motivational candle.
Speaker:So if you were to share with us what you are
Speaker:all about,
Speaker:Nancy, through a color and a quote on a candle,
Speaker:what would your motivational candle look like?
Speaker:Oh, my candle would have to be the color of orange.
Speaker:I think that orange is a very important color in my
Speaker:life. Especially right now.
Speaker:It combines the energy of red and the happiness of yellow
Speaker:it's associated with joy and sunshine.
Speaker:Orange also represents happiness,
Speaker:creativity, determination,
Speaker:success, and encouragement.
Speaker:Orange is also my favorite season.
Speaker:Color fall.
Speaker:I love fall.
Speaker:Oh, I'm an autumn girl too.
Speaker:I like that.
Speaker:And what would be the quote?
Speaker:My quote I'd have two quotes.
Speaker:The first one would be for my artisans.
Speaker:I care so much about them and we are very tight.
Speaker:I would be,
Speaker:we rise by helping others.
Speaker:And another one,
Speaker:my personal one for me would be those who don't jump
Speaker:will never fly.
Speaker:Oh, and what does that mean to you?
Speaker:Well, sometimes in life things happen and you just have to
Speaker:kind of live through your experiences and sometimes things don't go
Speaker:well and you get pushed into a corner and it's like,
Speaker:now we're never.
Speaker:And if sometimes if you have that opportunity,
Speaker:it's just,
Speaker:just go for it.
Speaker:Just take that leap.
Speaker:Because if you don't do that,
Speaker:then you're just not going to get anywhere.
Speaker:If you want to move forward.
Speaker:I think sometimes opportunities come our way.
Speaker:And if you don't take advantage of them at that point,
Speaker:they might not come back again either.
Speaker:Exactly. Yes.
Speaker:Or the time might not be right or whatever.
Speaker:So sometimes I think it's also just blind faith or you
Speaker:just go for it.
Speaker:Right? Right.
Speaker:Exactly. And you have to say a little prayer and hope
Speaker:for the best.
Speaker:That's right.
Speaker:That's exactly right.
Speaker:Okay. So I don't want to wait any longer.
Speaker:I want to dive in,
Speaker:tell us,
Speaker:okay. So first off you have two shops.
Speaker:You have the queen bee artisan market,
Speaker:which is the one I think we should really focus on
Speaker:now. But I met you in your second smaller location,
Speaker:which is here in Highland park,
Speaker:my hometown.
Speaker:So that's how we connected when I was out,
Speaker:just walking around it lunch hour,
Speaker:one day I was actually out buying a birthday present and
Speaker:I landed on gold because I found out all about you.
Speaker:How about that,
Speaker:Nancy? Yeah,
Speaker:it's so true.
Speaker:Like these things just happen.
Speaker:It's like,
Speaker:I do believe in these connections and you just never know
Speaker:when they're going to happen.
Speaker:It's so true.
Speaker:True. Okay.
Speaker:Queen bee,
Speaker:artisan market,
Speaker:where were you before then?
Speaker:How did this all come about?
Speaker:Let's hear the whole story.
Speaker:Well, After many years of doing shows and every weekend schlepping
Speaker:stuff around,
Speaker:I do make jewelry.
Speaker:I upcycle,
Speaker:I make jewelry out of vintage teacups,
Speaker:vintage chandelier's vintage keys,
Speaker:silverware, you name it,
Speaker:whatever. I can get my hands on.
Speaker:And I used to slip my stuff around place to place,
Speaker:not to mention praying for a perfect weather for the outdoor
Speaker:shows. I started talking to other fellow crafters and came up
Speaker:with an idea to form a co-op of artisans,
Speaker:where we rent out sections of a store to artisans that
Speaker:are trying to pursue their dreams.
Speaker:It was all kind of a fate thing.
Speaker:We all started talking networking,
Speaker:and we found different artisans that did different genres.
Speaker:Some did pottery,
Speaker:some did.
Speaker:So Wayne seemed stress.
Speaker:We had some people who did jewelry,
Speaker:actually a few people who did jewelry,
Speaker:home decor signs.
Speaker:We just had a whole bunch of different talented ladies.
Speaker:And so you gathered a group of artisans together who were
Speaker:all interested.
Speaker:So you had like your core group,
Speaker:you started with 22.
Speaker:Did you actually open with 22?
Speaker:We Probably opened with more like I'd say about 12.
Speaker:What was the reason why everyone was so interested in forming
Speaker:a call?
Speaker:Well, it was a lot of them had their different reasons.
Speaker:Some people were retired and they just wanted to do something
Speaker:on the side as a hobby.
Speaker:Some people needed to do this as a livelihood.
Speaker:Some people,
Speaker:it was their only income and a lot of people just
Speaker:wanted to pursue their dream.
Speaker:It was just something that everybody got kind of tired of
Speaker:doing every week farmer's market or going to do the craft
Speaker:shows. It was just such a big ordeal to go and
Speaker:set up and take down.
Speaker:And then you're exhausted by the end of the week.
Speaker:And it was just a great way to just have a
Speaker:turnkey open business and be able just to walk into your
Speaker:booth and it's always set and ready to go.
Speaker:Yeah. So a stable home base,
Speaker:if you will,
Speaker:versus always going out every weekend,
Speaker:here, there,
Speaker:et cetera.
Speaker:Oh yeah.
Speaker:Much easier.
Speaker:And then we all took turns working a day.
Speaker:So then that also helped with the salary.
Speaker:Yeah. And then I think also just thinking back initially when
Speaker:you were,
Speaker:I'm still back at the point where it's still a concept
Speaker:and still an idea.
Speaker:And so I'm sure it was also attractive because no one
Speaker:is then footing the full bill of a retail place.
Speaker:All of the extra costs like that too.
Speaker:Exactly. So there's the advantage of,
Speaker:it's a,
Speaker:home-based, there's a cost advantage because it's a lot less expensive
Speaker:when a group of people come together and I'm sure also
Speaker:comradery just,
Speaker:you're all doing it together.
Speaker:So it's not just you Nancy against the world then,
Speaker:right? Yeah.
Speaker:Everybody Had their responsibilities.
Speaker:You're the leader,
Speaker:queen bee artists and market is yours.
Speaker:Yes. Okay.
Speaker:And so what were the first types of things you were
Speaker:do? I'm thinking of listeners who might also be artisans in
Speaker:different areas of the country?
Speaker:Like what do you need to do to get a co-op
Speaker:form? Do you establish a company yourself and then everyone comes
Speaker:under you?
Speaker:Or how does that all work out?
Speaker:Yes. Yeah.
Speaker:That's exactly what you do.
Speaker:You just form a company yourself,
Speaker:you start networking with different artisans.
Speaker:A big tip is to make sure that they have a
Speaker:really good personality because especially if there'll be part of a
Speaker:team, they have to be a team player.
Speaker:If they will be working in the store,
Speaker:this will be a face to your customers.
Speaker:Somebody who's pleasant and very friendly and willing to help others.
Speaker:Okay. That's really important in terms of how they relate with
Speaker:other people,
Speaker:obviously, for the reasons that you just said.
Speaker:So were you very selective and are you still very selective
Speaker:as you talk with people to include them?
Speaker:Yes. Yeah.
Speaker:At first we were kind of selective.
Speaker:We're just starting and you got to go through ups and
Speaker:downs, but we figured out what kind of personalities match and
Speaker:what kind of art goes and sells.
Speaker:Well now since we moved to our new location and we
Speaker:have the,
Speaker:actually most of the same people with us and we've kind
Speaker:of formed a tight thing where what if someone's going to
Speaker:come work at the store,
Speaker:they have to be all very pleasant team players and willing
Speaker:to just help out.
Speaker:Got it.
Speaker:Okay. I'm still taking you back to the beginning.
Speaker:So you got a group of people who you felt would
Speaker:be a good starter group.
Speaker:You knew you would have to form a company and then
Speaker:you knew you were going to be a location.
Speaker:Cause that's the whole premise.
Speaker:Right? Right.
Speaker:Yeah. Location obviously is very important to location,
Speaker:location, location.
Speaker:Right. Right.
Speaker:So how did you go out and what were your requirements
Speaker:for finding a place?
Speaker:Give us a feel for how that happened.
Speaker:Yeah. Well we found Lake Geneva because some of the artisans
Speaker:used to do the weekly farmer's market on Thursdays there.
Speaker:And we started talking and then next thing you know,
Speaker:it's we did really well.
Speaker:We were very successful in like Geneva.
Speaker:It just happened to be a thing that would work out
Speaker:for all of us.
Speaker:So we found a location that was a lower rent.
Speaker:It was a lower level.
Speaker:And so we said,
Speaker:well, let's give that a try and see if that works.
Speaker:We don't know.
Speaker:So it just happened to be a huge success.
Speaker:Was it a success Because there was enough space or because
Speaker:of the people that were coming in or It was a
Speaker:mix. I mean,
Speaker:we had them enough space at the time,
Speaker:but after two years we needed more space.
Speaker:Now we have actually,
Speaker:I told you 75,
Speaker:but we're actually pushing a hundred no way.
Speaker:We're really growing fast.
Speaker:Yeah. Like,
Speaker:gosh, I went home,
Speaker:I counted them all.
Speaker:And I said,
Speaker:I forgot about all these people.
Speaker:Cause we have people flying things in now from California,
Speaker:Arizona, Dallas.
Speaker:We have a few from Georgia,
Speaker:so it's a lot of fun.
Speaker:It's amazing.
Speaker:Wow. We have one lady from Michigan and she's a really
Speaker:good artist too.
Speaker:She's actually in many stores.
Speaker:She's from Michigan.
Speaker:She's driving up to Lake Geneva just to meet us this
Speaker:summer with her husband.
Speaker:Oh, that's so cool.
Speaker:Yeah. Okay.
Speaker:So take us through so that we can really envision what
Speaker:this looks like and let's just now jump to today.
Speaker:I think that'll be the best thing.
Speaker:Take us through,
Speaker:if you walk into your market,
Speaker:how does that look and how do you actually go through
Speaker:and make selections and like,
Speaker:is there a central checkout point or just talk us through
Speaker:how that works?
Speaker:Well, You walk in the first part of the store is
Speaker:what we call seasonal.
Speaker:So any of the artisans who make something seasonal like right
Speaker:now, it's a lot of gardening products,
Speaker:gardening, home decor candles with sense like flowers and fruit,
Speaker:anything that's kind of a garden themed items,
Speaker:sculptures. That's where you walk in.
Speaker:Then after that we have kind of a,
Speaker:it's not quite the typical co-op or artisan market that you'd
Speaker:go into and everybody has their own section.
Speaker:That's what we used to do at the old place.
Speaker:This place,
Speaker:we formed it more like a boutique.
Speaker:So it's actually really pretty to the eye.
Speaker:It's not all just like one person after one person after
Speaker:one person,
Speaker:it's all blended in.
Speaker:Anybody who makes things for men is in the men's section.
Speaker:Anybody who makes items for children's and the children's section home,
Speaker:a kitchen area,
Speaker:we have a jewelry section.
Speaker:We have a women section.
Speaker:So it's all kind of separated.
Speaker:And how we know who the artist is is we assign
Speaker:them all codes.
Speaker:So everybody has their own department.
Speaker:So could somebody be in two different departments?
Speaker:Yes. They can be in multiple departments.
Speaker:We have many artisans.
Speaker:And this is the fun thing with this new location.
Speaker:Some of the ladies who used to just make one thing,
Speaker:just one type of item,
Speaker:because they felt they were in their own area.
Speaker:It had to kind of look nice.
Speaker:That's all they stuck to.
Speaker:Now they're able to branch out into many different items.
Speaker:Like I have one girl she used to just make photos
Speaker:like pictures that she was a photographer.
Speaker:Then she made signs.
Speaker:And now she's making an oven mitts.
Speaker:She's making really funny cups and mugs and she's doing everything
Speaker:glasses. She's just expanded into so many different things.
Speaker:And she's thrilled.
Speaker:The fun thing is since we made the move and made
Speaker:these changes,
Speaker:every single one of our artisans is flourishing.
Speaker:They're doing so good.
Speaker:Much better than they were before.
Speaker:No kidding.
Speaker:Yeah. We're still proud of them.
Speaker:Was the turning point in where was the light bulb that
Speaker:came on to say,
Speaker:let's change the whole layout of how we're doing this?
Speaker:Well, because You,
Speaker:in a lower level,
Speaker:it's the basement for two years,
Speaker:we had actually had a lot of traffic.
Speaker:So now it's so different because the artisan is a different
Speaker:areas of the store and it's merchandised really well.
Speaker:And they have such a better opportunity to make a sale
Speaker:because it's so easy to just walk by someone's booth.
Speaker:If it's not what you're kind of looking for,
Speaker:you might overlook something that you might want.
Speaker:But then if you're walking around the store in our new
Speaker:location, that artisan has a chance to sell something in maybe
Speaker:five, six different areas of the store.
Speaker:Right. And so who's merchandising the store.
Speaker:Then I do most of it.
Speaker:I do like 99%.
Speaker:Oh my gosh.
Speaker:That is a huge job unto itself,
Speaker:Nancy. Yeah.
Speaker:But I love it.
Speaker:It's something I actually look forward to.
Speaker:And so I'm envisioning it looking more like a department store.
Speaker:Yes. It's kind of,
Speaker:if you can imagine an Artism market slash department store,
Speaker:because you have a feeling wherever you're walking,
Speaker:there is a feeling of where you're standing.
Speaker:Like if you're in the children's area,
Speaker:it's all like kids and babies and wooden toys and pen
Speaker:painted signs.
Speaker:We have a mixed media lady who has beautiful rightly paintings
Speaker:with inspirational sayings right next to it.
Speaker:So everything kind of blends in like the colorful things are
Speaker:on one side and we have a lot of rustic,
Speaker:like in the man-cave we have upcycled industrial pipelining,
Speaker:koozies, and it's just,
Speaker:everything has its own feeling.
Speaker:Every section of the store,
Speaker:How long do people stay in your store?
Speaker:I'm thinking like,
Speaker:it could be a whole day,
Speaker:just do your place.
Speaker:You know what?
Speaker:It's funny?
Speaker:You asked that because before they used to come down the
Speaker:stairs and they say,
Speaker:Oh, this is cool.
Speaker:It's downstairs.
Speaker:This is so neat.
Speaker:And then they walked to the back and they'd walk out.
Speaker:Like they buy stuff sometimes obviously,
Speaker:but it wasn't that interaction.
Speaker:And it was very narrow downstairs.
Speaker:So they'd walk to the back,
Speaker:they'd walk out and they'd have buy a few things.
Speaker:And I found they would just walk by a lot of
Speaker:the booths.
Speaker:I wondered why they wouldn't just take a second to go
Speaker:take a look.
Speaker:But now the place is so much bigger.
Speaker:It's wider people spend,
Speaker:Oh my gosh.
Speaker:Sometimes they'll spend even 20 minutes,
Speaker:half an hour in the store just looking around because there's
Speaker:so much to look at and it's a lot more interesting.
Speaker:Oh, it sounds awesome.
Speaker:I cannot wait to get there.
Speaker:Not to mention that it's all windows now in the front.
Speaker:Oh my gosh.
Speaker:So it's very exciting.
Speaker:So we have the lights.
Speaker:Yeah. Now the other thing that I thought was really interesting
Speaker:is you have a lot of the artisans,
Speaker:especially if they're local actually working there With you.
Speaker:Yes. A lot of them work once a week,
Speaker:some come in,
Speaker:even extra just because they love it.
Speaker:We try to have on weekends,
Speaker:always have like,
Speaker:we call it,
Speaker:you know,
Speaker:a trunk show,
Speaker:but it's where you could meet and greet the artists.
Speaker:We have a bird Felter,
Speaker:she pelts birds.
Speaker:She felt so magnetic,
Speaker:broaches, all sorts of cool stuff.
Speaker:And she'll be there to display.
Speaker:Sometimes we also have a lady who does silk scarves and
Speaker:she shows you how to do the process.
Speaker:And you can meet and greet and ask questions about the
Speaker:craft. I'm always there making jewelry.
Speaker:So people are constantly asking me questions.
Speaker:I always have my pliers in my hands and I'm more
Speaker:than excited to give them tips and tricks.
Speaker:We also have a henna lady she's there.
Speaker:She does amazing work.
Speaker:We have people who come just for the HANA and she's
Speaker:there usually in the summer most of the week.
Speaker:And she has a huge following.
Speaker:And it's such an artistic feeling when you walk in there,
Speaker:cause there's always something going on.
Speaker:Were you able to have all the artisans in there in
Speaker:the other location?
Speaker:No, I think that's probably why it's such a big draw
Speaker:to that human interaction.
Speaker:It's almost like a show because you're able to watch people,
Speaker:the product you're able to chat with them.
Speaker:It's a whole engagement there.
Speaker:Yeah. And I find what's fun is because we used to
Speaker:be downstairs now being upstairs,
Speaker:we're meeting so many customers that have kids,
Speaker:children, babies,
Speaker:strollers, we're meeting elderly.
Speaker:And they come in and I love when the kids start
Speaker:asking questions about a certain artist or they point something out
Speaker:to their parents.
Speaker:It's just really nice.
Speaker:It's a very different atmosphere.
Speaker:So the artisans are also,
Speaker:are they working for pay or are they working to help
Speaker:or how is that structure set up?
Speaker:We have some of the local ones.
Speaker:We have different structures.
Speaker:There's some things we do on consignment,
Speaker:but we also have a lot of the local ladies.
Speaker:They volunteer their time and then they have a really small
Speaker:percentage. We take of their sales and they love that it's
Speaker:working out really great for them.
Speaker:And it works out great for us because then we have
Speaker:a lower salary.
Speaker:We do have some hired help for the busier days.
Speaker:But other than that,
Speaker:and a lot of the people who are actually all of
Speaker:them who work for paid work for busier days are actually
Speaker:artisans who also work a day for the store for free.
Speaker:Okay. Okay.
Speaker:So that is a really interesting structure,
Speaker:regardless of whether you are selling artists and type products,
Speaker:gift biz listeners is if you have you take something on
Speaker:consignment, I think this is what you're saying,
Speaker:Nancy. So correct me if I'm wrong.
Speaker:But if you're taking a product of theirs in on consignment,
Speaker:and if you were to set up something like this,
Speaker:where that particular person came in and worked a little bit
Speaker:of time in the shop for you and you just got
Speaker:a little less commission off the sale,
Speaker:if you will,
Speaker:because they're also taking their time.
Speaker:That's a way not to have to pay overhead you as
Speaker:a shop owner,
Speaker:let's say it's just like a small shop where it's only
Speaker:a one person shop are able to get a little bit
Speaker:of relief where you can leave for maybe a few hours
Speaker:a week or a couple hours a day,
Speaker:whatever it is,
Speaker:but you're not directly having to pay money out of your
Speaker:pocket. Yeah,
Speaker:exactly. And it's just such a great group of,
Speaker:we call the bees and they're all really close to each
Speaker:other and everybody's been very helpful to each other and they
Speaker:all enjoy coming in.
Speaker:It seems to be,
Speaker:what's like a family was turned into a family.
Speaker:It's a beautiful thing.
Speaker:You said that Even the very first time I met you,
Speaker:how much you just love watching how supportive everyone is of
Speaker:each other.
Speaker:Yeah. Is that,
Speaker:do you think because of the people that you attracted in
Speaker:the beginning,
Speaker:you were talking earlier about personality and making sure there was
Speaker:always a fit.
Speaker:Yeah. A lot of these ladies,
Speaker:it just happened to fall into place.
Speaker:I mean,
Speaker:they're all just really good people when it comes down to
Speaker:it and I get so excited,
Speaker:I just see how well they're all flourishing and it makes
Speaker:me so happy to see how far they've come from just
Speaker:a few months ago,
Speaker:because we've only been in our new location for 11 weeks.
Speaker:Oh my gosh.
Speaker:Crazy. And they have done so well.
Speaker:I'm just so excited for them and I can't wait to
Speaker:see what they do next.
Speaker:Sure. And you've got the whole summer coming up still.
Speaker:Yeah. We're just starting.
Speaker:Yeah. Phenomenal.
Speaker:Doesn't the queen bee artists in market sound spectacular.
Speaker:Nancy's going to share more with us right after a word
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Speaker:They trying to plan out the seasonal area when you walk
Speaker:into the store to the fall,
Speaker:because we had this one girl she does so well.
Speaker:She makes these pumpkins out of recycled sweaters and they're so
Speaker:cute. So they sold like hotcakes over at the old location.
Speaker:I can't even imagine how they're going to go here.
Speaker:Oh my gosh.
Speaker:You may have to put this on the side for me.
Speaker:Oh, they're so cute.
Speaker:We'll be talking about that for sure.
Speaker:Did you have any,
Speaker:or have you over the course of these three years had
Speaker:any challenges with someone who's an artisan who just isn't the
Speaker:right fit.
Speaker:I'm kind of looking for just a learning of what to
Speaker:look for or how to handle a different situation.
Speaker:Something like that.
Speaker:Yeah. Yeah.
Speaker:It's hard.
Speaker:It's tricky.
Speaker:It is.
Speaker:It's hard.
Speaker:Everybody who's come with us,
Speaker:have all been nice.
Speaker:Life happens.
Speaker:Some people have just found some problems where maybe somebody loses
Speaker:a job or they can't fulfill their artisan requirements or they
Speaker:just aren't doing as well.
Speaker:And we try to move them,
Speaker:try to encourage them,
Speaker:but it doesn't always work and it's sad.
Speaker:But here's another thing.
Speaker:There's some fun things that are happening because a couple of
Speaker:those girls who I still don't understand why it didn't work
Speaker:out at the old place,
Speaker:they came into our new place and they're going to be
Speaker:trying it out at our new place.
Speaker:And I have a feeling it's going to work out better
Speaker:because we have more space.
Speaker:We can move them around.
Speaker:We can make it look more attractive.
Speaker:So they still want to come back.
Speaker:Well that says a lot about you Nancy,
Speaker:but in terms of the situation and whatever happened,
Speaker:we don't need to go ahead and do any stories.
Speaker:But if it just the product wasn't moving,
Speaker:of course they need to try something different.
Speaker:But clearly you handled the situation well for them to want
Speaker:to come back and give it another go.
Speaker:Yeah, no,
Speaker:exactly. And like I said,
Speaker:they're all good people nobody's been mean or unpleasant.
Speaker:Everybody's been wonderful,
Speaker:but I think we've been very blessed and lucky with who's
Speaker:come through the door.
Speaker:That's fabulous.
Speaker:You are lucky.
Speaker:Let's talk a little bit about your inventory now.
Speaker:So it is really different if they don't have individual areas,
Speaker:your inventory has to be right on because do they then
Speaker:check out at a central location?
Speaker:I forget if you said that.
Speaker:Yeah, No,
Speaker:they do it.
Speaker:There's a cash register and everybody has a number.
Speaker:They have a category department,
Speaker:all their items are entered.
Speaker:We have a skew system,
Speaker:so it's all by scanner.
Speaker:So each person has a number.
Speaker:And then when it comes to the counter,
Speaker:we scan it and it just goes underneath their name for
Speaker:the reports.
Speaker:And then at the end,
Speaker:because we get,
Speaker:they get paid once a month.
Speaker:We always pay them,
Speaker:everything that sells until the first of the month,
Speaker:they get a check on the 15th of the following month.
Speaker:So they get paid monthly.
Speaker:Do you have someone helping with all the product when it
Speaker:comes in and assigning them skew numbers and all of that?
Speaker:Yeah. So my husband does a lot of that.
Speaker:He does a lot of the back office.
Speaker:He does the checks.
Speaker:He takes care of all that.
Speaker:Like that's its own beast.
Speaker:I Was going to say.
Speaker:Yeah. And I can only imagine too,
Speaker:for everything that you have under the whole artist and market,
Speaker:because a lot of them I'm thinking are one of a
Speaker:kind. Yeah.
Speaker:But they have like categories say the pumpkin sweaters when she
Speaker:brings them in,
Speaker:they might be different prices.
Speaker:So she'll just label if it's a $12 one,
Speaker:a $7 one,
Speaker:a $18 one,
Speaker:and it just goes under sweater pumpkin's but then it's always,
Speaker:when it gets to the cash register,
Speaker:it just realizes,
Speaker:Hey, it's Lisa.
Speaker:So it's going to go under her name.
Speaker:Got it.
Speaker:And did you create the program yourself?
Speaker:You and your husband,
Speaker:or was there something out there that you were able to
Speaker:access? Yeah,
Speaker:My husband did it.
Speaker:He uses,
Speaker:I think it's square,
Speaker:but it does have a little few quirks here and there,
Speaker:but we've been really happy with it so far what it's
Speaker:done. So you're using square for credit card processing and then
Speaker:also your inventory management?
Speaker:Yes. Interesting.
Speaker:I didn't know they had that capability,
Speaker:so that's really interesting.
Speaker:They do.
Speaker:Yep. Okay.
Speaker:What types of challenges did you have as you're increasing in
Speaker:size, going to a new location,
Speaker:you changed your whole layout,
Speaker:the whole floor format,
Speaker:but are you seeing any differences in managing the business as
Speaker:it was when you first started,
Speaker:when you had,
Speaker:let's say just the 22 to now over a hundred?
Speaker:Well, No,
Speaker:not really.
Speaker:It's the same group of people.
Speaker:It's the same system.
Speaker:It's just the biggest challenge.
Speaker:I think for all of us was the space.
Speaker:It was just so airy and sometimes we get so many
Speaker:people in there it's you have to kind of walk around.
Speaker:We weren't able to do that in the old space.
Speaker:So we were kind of confined to our own area because
Speaker:it was so small and it's just been like more like
Speaker:to move around and get used to the whole atmosphere and
Speaker:being able to talk more to customers.
Speaker:Cause before like it was so tight sometimes that you couldn't
Speaker:really have a good conversation with a customer and engage with
Speaker:them enough.
Speaker:Yeah. I would suggest that that's also why you're seeing more
Speaker:success. Yeah.
Speaker:It's seriously all about giving that customer,
Speaker:the experience.
Speaker:When they walk in through the door,
Speaker:you greet them,
Speaker:you tell them where they are.
Speaker:And sometimes you got to point out because there's some beautiful
Speaker:pieces and art in our store that people don't realize it's
Speaker:all handmade.
Speaker:It's very talented people who make these items and they really,
Speaker:some people don't realize it until we tell them.
Speaker:And they're like,
Speaker:are you serious?
Speaker:I would have never guessed that.
Speaker:So it's a whole experience.
Speaker:Yeah. Well,
Speaker:and I also think that now that you have the space,
Speaker:people can actually appreciate it too,
Speaker:because seeing something when it's right up against your face,
Speaker:if you're really cramped versus being able to see it and
Speaker:approach it and walk up to it,
Speaker:it's a whole different experience of the products.
Speaker:Oh, absolutely.
Speaker:It does make a huge difference.
Speaker:Yeah. We've been talking a lot about the value of the
Speaker:environment that you have now,
Speaker:the fact that the artisans are there,
Speaker:so people can come in and actually talk with them and
Speaker:see them actually creating their art,
Speaker:which is always so interesting.
Speaker:You don't have to people who are creative.
Speaker:It's like,
Speaker:how could you possibly make something like that?
Speaker:Right. Yeah.
Speaker:It's funny.
Speaker:A lot of people say that they're like,
Speaker:I can never do this and I can't believe this.
Speaker:I give it to you guys.
Speaker:And I actually believe that everybody's creative.
Speaker:They just need the time to figure out what it is
Speaker:because some people are so wrapped up in their day-to-day job
Speaker:or just doing mom duties and living life that they don't
Speaker:sometimes have that time to figure out what they're creative at.
Speaker:But I do believe everybody's committed of something.
Speaker:Great. I would agree with that,
Speaker:but it might not be tactical,
Speaker:like creating a product like it might be writing or it
Speaker:might be music or whatever.
Speaker:Exactly. One of the things I talk about a lot with
Speaker:our community here is when something comes so naturally to you,
Speaker:you think that it does for everybody and it's not true.
Speaker:So your artisans when,
Speaker:or like you,
Speaker:when you're making your jewelry,
Speaker:whatever, and people are looking and fascination like,
Speaker:Oh my gosh,
Speaker:like how in the world does that even happen?
Speaker:Right. And you're here thinking,
Speaker:you know,
Speaker:it's just easy.
Speaker:I can do it all the time.
Speaker:But most people aren't,
Speaker:they're fascinated by it if they don't have that type of
Speaker:a skill.
Speaker:Yeah. True.
Speaker:Alright. So we've got the artisans in there.
Speaker:Is there anything else that you found helps draw?
Speaker:The crowds in It's having,
Speaker:especially on weekends is having some activity in the store,
Speaker:having a live artisan,
Speaker:something happening because people walk in and if you have someone
Speaker:doing HANA,
Speaker:someone doing a demo like us every day,
Speaker:we have the make your own charm bar that we call
Speaker:the charm bar,
Speaker:where customers come in and they get creative on the spot.
Speaker:They pick out their charms,
Speaker:they pick out their chain,
Speaker:they pick out,
Speaker:they can make anything from a bracelet to an anklet.
Speaker:And we put it together for them on the spot.
Speaker:And they love that because they get to be creative.
Speaker:They get to pick out their personal pieces.
Speaker:So it's some kind of activity,
Speaker:something that engages with the customer.
Speaker:And do you have something then outside the door that draws
Speaker:them in so that they know there's something happening inside.
Speaker:Our windows are so big.
Speaker:Now they're huge.
Speaker:It's like the whole storefront is all window.
Speaker:So we're able to product in the window and people stop.
Speaker:And they point and they laugh.
Speaker:We put some funny stuff in the window and the next
Speaker:thing they come in,
Speaker:we'll have like a sandwich board out.
Speaker:Sometimes if it's not too windy,
Speaker:but I don't believe that's all that brings them in.
Speaker:It's the windows,
Speaker:put something funny in the window and they'll come in.
Speaker:So I really love that we're talking because I haven't talked
Speaker:with a lot of people who are in more of a
Speaker:tourist community.
Speaker:So talk a little bit about the mix of customers that
Speaker:you have,
Speaker:how many people are tourists and how's that all working.
Speaker:Most of the people on weekends are tourists.
Speaker:They come from all over.
Speaker:Most of them are actually from Chicago.
Speaker:The surrounding States.
Speaker:They drive in and they'll rent boats because there's this huge
Speaker:boat cruises they're like to go around the Lake and you
Speaker:could do anything.
Speaker:Rent, jet skis.
Speaker:There's tons of resorts.
Speaker:And like getaways,
Speaker:horseback, riding golf,
Speaker:you name it.
Speaker:It's amazing.
Speaker:It's like a little destination area.
Speaker:We have people that come in from Arizona,
Speaker:California. We meet people from all over Europe,
Speaker:even in little Lake Geneva.
Speaker:It's, it's shocking,
Speaker:but it is a very different diverse crowd.
Speaker:You have people come in,
Speaker:dressed to the nines and their best dress.
Speaker:And then you'll have the next person come in with no
Speaker:shirt off the became right off the beach.
Speaker:You never know what's going to walk in next.
Speaker:It's really exciting.
Speaker:It's like an airport It's like in the airport.
Speaker:It's A lot of fun.
Speaker:Yeah. And you meet some great personalities.
Speaker:Cause we play music in our store at all times.
Speaker:And it's usually upbeat,
Speaker:which I do think is really important too.
Speaker:And a lot of times people will just break out dancing
Speaker:and singing.
Speaker:They're happy people talk to each other.
Speaker:I just love when other customers just connect with each other
Speaker:and they start talking then,
Speaker:but you think they came in together and they didn't.
Speaker:It's quite amazing.
Speaker:Well, and I think the whole tone just being there's so
Speaker:much to do,
Speaker:there's so much fun.
Speaker:People are clearly coming to be entertained.
Speaker:So they've already got that mindset when they first come in.
Speaker:So then you just play off of that with the music
Speaker:and all the artists and demos and all of that,
Speaker:it just enhances,
Speaker:it just builds on top of what they're already there to
Speaker:do. Oh yeah.
Speaker:And sometimes we'll have snacks.
Speaker:We even have dog treats was we were dog friendly for
Speaker:the friendly ones.
Speaker:Like sometimes we'll have,
Speaker:if it's a Cinco de Maya,
Speaker:we had like a nice punch.
Speaker:We have different snacks for our grand opening.
Speaker:We had a big draw was we did something really fun,
Speaker:was a promotion to get people in the door.
Speaker:It turned out so good if we gave out 50 gift
Speaker:cards and they were all loaded up with money,
Speaker:everybody was a winner.
Speaker:So some of the gift cards were like $5.
Speaker:Some were 10,
Speaker:some were 20,
Speaker:some were 50.
Speaker:And there was 50 of them.
Speaker:And the first 50 people who walked through the door all
Speaker:received a gift card.
Speaker:So everybody has money in their hands,
Speaker:even if it's $5.
Speaker:So they're going to spend something.
Speaker:So they all came in,
Speaker:they're all excited.
Speaker:And it was a huge success.
Speaker:We had the winners,
Speaker:the big grand winners.
Speaker:There was a few of a $50 in there and they
Speaker:were so excited.
Speaker:So you have to keep on being creative.
Speaker:Well, I really liked that idea because even though you're giving
Speaker:away true cash,
Speaker:right? So it's $5 for $5,
Speaker:which is different than if you're giving away a product because
Speaker:your cost is only a portion of that product.
Speaker:Right. Right.
Speaker:But for you to do that,
Speaker:I've never heard that this is a really creative idea because
Speaker:people are going to feel kind of indebted.
Speaker:Like they have to spend even the $5 in the shop.
Speaker:Right. Exactly.
Speaker:And more than likely,
Speaker:they're not just going to spend $5,
Speaker:they're going to maybe spend 20,
Speaker:but they only had to pay 15.
Speaker:So you're still making out.
Speaker:Exactly. Yeah.
Speaker:It really worked out really good.
Speaker:I was actually really excited because I did not expect this,
Speaker:but we had a lineup on our grand opening of about,
Speaker:I think about 20 people.
Speaker:And I was just so overwhelmed to see them standing there.
Speaker:Oh, did you get a picture?
Speaker:No, I wish I kicked myself because we opened up the
Speaker:doors. I didn't expect to.
Speaker:Cause it's this big roll down door.
Speaker:You can't see through it.
Speaker:And then when we opened up the doors,
Speaker:so they were,
Speaker:and they all came in,
Speaker:so, Oh my gosh,
Speaker:how cool.
Speaker:It was so much fun.
Speaker:Oh, it was a great kickoff.
Speaker:Yeah. And we had food music.
Speaker:And I also think that as people started lining up,
Speaker:other people probably,
Speaker:you know how it is when crowds start to form,
Speaker:everyone's like,
Speaker:what's going on there?
Speaker:What am I missing?
Speaker:You know,
Speaker:the whole FOMO thing.
Speaker:Yeah. It was exactly that probably then other people,
Speaker:more people,
Speaker:more people that's so cool.
Speaker:Yeah. It was fun.
Speaker:Great ideas.
Speaker:So now you've also opened up a location here,
Speaker:right by me,
Speaker:which I had said in the beginning is how do you
Speaker:and I met,
Speaker:what's the reasoning behind vintage bliss,
Speaker:which is your store here?
Speaker:Yes. Okay.
Speaker:Vintage bliss and company is my brand name for my jewelry.
Speaker:So this store here in Highland park is my studio.
Speaker:It's my studio slash boutique in the back is where I
Speaker:make everything.
Speaker:I used to make everything over in Lake Geneva,
Speaker:but it was way too busy at the old location.
Speaker:And then I said,
Speaker:you know what?
Speaker:I got to get my own little spot.
Speaker:I'm just growing too fast.
Speaker:I need more space.
Speaker:I have to take it out from the home because that
Speaker:was taken over my whole house.
Speaker:My kitchen,
Speaker:my dining room,
Speaker:no room was untouched without my things.
Speaker:It looked crazy.
Speaker:So we found this location here in Highland park and the
Speaker:rent was a little high.
Speaker:And I didn't want to go to one of those industrial
Speaker:places where there's no windows or let's just kind of like
Speaker:I needed some sunshine.
Speaker:This place had a little sunlight in here.
Speaker:It had a little sunlight in the ceiling and it was
Speaker:just really pretty.
Speaker:And I just had a good vibe and we were thinking
Speaker:to make up the rent.
Speaker:It's not too cheap here in Highland park is to maybe
Speaker:form a boutique in the front and maybe have something to
Speaker:try things out if they work.
Speaker:Like I sell also clothes here,
Speaker:but I have mainly jewelry because here for my studio,
Speaker:it's more of a wholesale business for my jewelry because I
Speaker:think I'm up to a hundred stores now just for my
Speaker:wholesale, my jewelry line.
Speaker:So I had to have a place where we can sort
Speaker:send things out,
Speaker:ship things out,
Speaker:invoice customers,
Speaker:and some boutique owners even come here to design things with
Speaker:me on the spot for their own shops.
Speaker:Oh, no kidding.
Speaker:Yeah. They'll come in and cause a lot of these boutique
Speaker:owners, they all want to have their own look or their
Speaker:spin on something.
Speaker:So they'll take one of my designs and say,
Speaker:you know what?
Speaker:I love this,
Speaker:but I want it a little different.
Speaker:Can we put a tassel on that or take off the
Speaker:tassel and they can design their whole jewelry line for their
Speaker:store. Were you expecting that when you moved up here?
Speaker:No, I was expecting some,
Speaker:but it's been very good.
Speaker:Like I've have also now a rep.
Speaker:Who's fabulous.
Speaker:And she goes to all these boutiques.
Speaker:She goes to style max.
Speaker:She's got me a lot of accounts and it's been busy.
Speaker:We there hasn't been a day where there's no action.
Speaker:So she's keeping me.
Speaker:Yeah. Well,
Speaker:when I was in just a couple of days ago,
Speaker:you'd also made the comment because we've talked about that,
Speaker:that you're there and you're working really because it's your studio
Speaker:now, but you were also mentioning how much traffic you're getting.
Speaker:Even on Sunday when the majority of our local downtown stores
Speaker:are closed.
Speaker:That's crazy.
Speaker:I was shocked.
Speaker:The last three Sundays have been better than my Saturdays.
Speaker:I don't even know.
Speaker:Maybe it's because I'm on second street where there's a lot
Speaker:of restaurants and people walking around the movie theater.
Speaker:I have no clue,
Speaker:but we're definitely going to be open every Sunday from 11
Speaker:to four.
Speaker:That's for sure.
Speaker:So people who are in the area can take advantage of
Speaker:that, but people who aren't in the area,
Speaker:I think it's something just to recognize that,
Speaker:especially if you have a brick and mortar,
Speaker:it might be some of those out of the way,
Speaker:times that could be really fruitful for you.
Speaker:I mean,
Speaker:you weren't even thinking that.
Speaker:I think the way you told the story,
Speaker:Nancy is that you were there and you saw people walking
Speaker:around, so you thought,
Speaker:Oh, what the heck?
Speaker:I'll just open the door.
Speaker:And then all of a sudden you saw that it was
Speaker:working. Yeah.
Speaker:I had some stuff to finish for some stores.
Speaker:I was trying to catch up on some of my orders.
Speaker:So I came in and I saw all these people walking.
Speaker:So I said,
Speaker:well, I'll just open up the doors.
Speaker:And if they come in,
Speaker:I'll just get up from the back and go to the
Speaker:front and serve them.
Speaker:And I ended up on my feet all day.
Speaker:I didn't get anything done,
Speaker:which I guess it's like a,
Speaker:I don't know You got other things,
Speaker:But you know what?
Speaker:It's always good to sell things too,
Speaker:so, Right.
Speaker:Yeah. Wow.
Speaker:Yeah. I think just keeping your eyes open and your mind
Speaker:open and then seeing what's happening in front of you and
Speaker:reading what it is,
Speaker:reading what that means,
Speaker:what that messaging means.
Speaker:Yeah. You're going to have to get someone to work on
Speaker:Sundays. Pauline Nancy.
Speaker:I know I do.
Speaker:So if anybody knows anybody on,
Speaker:I'm definitely looking for some weekend help.
Speaker:Oh my gosh.
Speaker:Okay. So what would you say to someone who is an
Speaker:artist and maybe they're going out and they're doing the flea
Speaker:markets or the craft shows already,
Speaker:or maybe they're not,
Speaker:maybe they're even a step even further back than that.
Speaker:Like when you first started making jewelry and I'm thinking they
Speaker:might have questions about I'm doing this just as a craft,
Speaker:can I really make this into a business?
Speaker:So I'd like you to answer that question.
Speaker:And then also I'm thinking you're going to answer in the
Speaker:affirmative, but then what would they do?
Speaker:What would be their very first steps to take?
Speaker:Well, the very first steps to take is figure out,
Speaker:see if your craft is unique.
Speaker:Like something like jewelry.
Speaker:That's so saturated,
Speaker:but if you have a little spin on it,
Speaker:some ideas of the unique go walk around,
Speaker:go to different craft,
Speaker:shows art festivals and see what's out there.
Speaker:And see also per price point.
Speaker:If it's something kind of close to what you're thinking of
Speaker:doing and see what the price points are,
Speaker:the biggest,
Speaker:biggest, I can't stress this enough.
Speaker:Important thing is your margins.
Speaker:Make sure that you're not giving your stuff away.
Speaker:Amen. Make sure that you,
Speaker:I mean,
Speaker:I see so many crafters like even come in and I'm
Speaker:like, no,
Speaker:we can't price it that low.
Speaker:You're not making anything unless you want to do this as
Speaker:a little giveaway in a hobby,
Speaker:whatever. But if you want to make money,
Speaker:you have to make sure your margins are there.
Speaker:That is like,
Speaker:step number one.
Speaker:You have to make sure,
Speaker:you know,
Speaker:every single piece,
Speaker:what your cost is your time,
Speaker:put your time in there and then you price it because
Speaker:without doing that,
Speaker:you'll never make it.
Speaker:You have to make sure that you're watching your bottom line.
Speaker:I preach that all the time.
Speaker:Nancy. So I'm so glad that you're reinforcing that so important.
Speaker:And do you think it's a good idea then to start
Speaker:like have someone test out their product at a craft fair?
Speaker:Yes, absolutely.
Speaker:You know,
Speaker:get yourself a spot and see what the receptivity is.
Speaker:Yes. And I would suggest trying different types of shows.
Speaker:You can try even little church craft shows around the holiday.
Speaker:Some of those used to be my best ones,
Speaker:the rotary club.
Speaker:That's where I started those little ones like that.
Speaker:Those were sometimes the best ones.
Speaker:Or then if you start being successful at some of those
Speaker:and you can move on,
Speaker:try some where you have to apply for.
Speaker:And, but sometimes there's a waiting list and it's frustrating,
Speaker:but one day you get that phone call and you're in.
Speaker:And I mean the biggest one that I loved to death
Speaker:is the step-by-step it's by Donna Hanson.
Speaker:I do all her shows as many as I can.
Speaker:That's the only show to this day that I will still
Speaker:do. It's just really good.
Speaker:And is that a local show only or?
Speaker:Well, yeah,
Speaker:she does it.
Speaker:There's Harper college.
Speaker:Once a year,
Speaker:they moved at a bit because of construction.
Speaker:She does a lot of them at the Lake County fairgrounds.
Speaker:There's usually in the spring and in the fall,
Speaker:she has a few,
Speaker:she has one around Christmas,
Speaker:somewhere out by St.
Speaker:Charles, the pheasant run.
Speaker:She does about five,
Speaker:six of them.
Speaker:Okay. So gift biz listeners,
Speaker:you may have somebody in your area who does a similar
Speaker:thing. She's very selective.
Speaker:She makes sure there's only a certain amount of jewelry,
Speaker:only a certain amount of signs.
Speaker:So that's another thing it's like when you can get that
Speaker:step of a show,
Speaker:that's where there's a good traffic.
Speaker:That's where you'll get a good vibe on.
Speaker:Are they looking at my stuff?
Speaker:Then you have your whole presentation of your booth.
Speaker:Like what's working.
Speaker:What's not,
Speaker:you got to watch how they walk into your booth,
Speaker:what they touch,
Speaker:what they don't touch.
Speaker:It's an art.
Speaker:It really is.
Speaker:It's a lot of visual art.
Speaker:You have to really watch where they go and what they
Speaker:touch, Observing,
Speaker:and then understanding what that means.
Speaker:And you can talk with them.
Speaker:It's almost like you can ask them.
Speaker:Well, what do you think about this?
Speaker:What are the favorite colors?
Speaker:What do you think of this new design?
Speaker:I have,
Speaker:I mean,
Speaker:it's a perfect,
Speaker:perfect ground for asking any questions that you have and getting
Speaker:feedback from people.
Speaker:Yeah. Just like you said,
Speaker:open-ended questions.
Speaker:That's number one,
Speaker:always ask them a question.
Speaker:Whether it's an,
Speaker:it has to be an answer.
Speaker:When you ask an opinion,
Speaker:they're always going to talk.
Speaker:Absolutely wonderful.
Speaker:Any final words for someone who is really interested,
Speaker:but a little timid because let's face it,
Speaker:especially as an artist and when you're making your product,
Speaker:you're putting something that's so personal to you out in the
Speaker:world. So people I think can be hesitant.
Speaker:You know,
Speaker:they're not sure her stuff is really great.
Speaker:So it was her.
Speaker:So is hers.
Speaker:But what about mine?
Speaker:Yeah. You know what,
Speaker:it's funny,
Speaker:you're saying that you just reminded me of something.
Speaker:I used to have the biggest fear of selling anything that
Speaker:I made.
Speaker:It was so emotional.
Speaker:It was so scary.
Speaker:I just used to remember that it used to be so
Speaker:scary. I mean,
Speaker:I used to be able to sell anybody else's stuff.
Speaker:I mean,
Speaker:anything. I was in retail,
Speaker:my whole life.
Speaker:You give me anything else,
Speaker:I'll sell it.
Speaker:But my own things,
Speaker:it was so hard to promote myself,
Speaker:to be proud of what I made.
Speaker:It's a deep feeling and it's hard.
Speaker:But I think with practice and do little shows,
Speaker:even I even remember,
Speaker:I used to do these little home shows like with friends
Speaker:that I felt comfortable with family set up a bit of
Speaker:what and get their feedback and their ideas and on your
Speaker:price point.
Speaker:And a lot of times you get really good ideas from
Speaker:friends, family,
Speaker:customers, and how to grow your own line,
Speaker:how to grow your own business,
Speaker:things that you wouldn't even think of.
Speaker:So to start number one,
Speaker:I'd say,
Speaker:start with your friends and families,
Speaker:have a little home show and see what the feedback is
Speaker:there. Then go onto the little schools and craft shows and
Speaker:try a few of those.
Speaker:And you'll find the ones that work and the ones that
Speaker:don't work.
Speaker:Cause I mean,
Speaker:none of them always worked for me.
Speaker:That's for sure.
Speaker:But the next year,
Speaker:you know,
Speaker:which ones to apply for,
Speaker:Like you said,
Speaker:I'm so glad you brought it up because it's a matter
Speaker:of just going ahead and doing it.
Speaker:Not letting yourself talk yourself out of it.
Speaker:Oh it is.
Speaker:It's scary.
Speaker:It really is.
Speaker:I had anxiety about it.
Speaker:So it's like,
Speaker:Oh my gosh,
Speaker:am I going to do well all this time,
Speaker:the setup it's a lot.
Speaker:It's like I said,
Speaker:you just got to jump.
Speaker:You just got to do it,
Speaker:get over yourself and just do it.
Speaker:If you really want to try it,
Speaker:just go for it.
Speaker:Yeah. It's better to live with the success of having done
Speaker:it than the regret of wondering what would have been.
Speaker:Yeah, exactly.
Speaker:I agree.
Speaker:Cause that's worse.
Speaker:That's much worse.
Speaker:Yeah. Cause it,
Speaker:so you might as well know.
Speaker:And honestly,
Speaker:I just want to take that one step further.
Speaker:Let's say you put something out there and it doesn't work.
Speaker:And I don't know if that's happened to you,
Speaker:Nancy. There's one style.
Speaker:That's just not that great that you think it's awesome,
Speaker:but it's just not selling for whatever reason.
Speaker:That doesn't mean you're a bad designer.
Speaker:It just means that's not what the market is looking for
Speaker:right now.
Speaker:Exactly. And it could be hurtful when you put all your
Speaker:work into this one piece where you think it's a masterpiece
Speaker:and then all of a sudden this little thing that you
Speaker:just put on a chain and added a crystal,
Speaker:people are flocking to it's crazy,
Speaker:but you just got to keep on going and trying.
Speaker:And if it doesn't work a lot of times you can,
Speaker:up-cycle your item and do something else and you'll learn.
Speaker:That's how you learn is what works and what doesn't.
Speaker:But you have to try and don't be scared to try
Speaker:new style because sometimes they're very successful.
Speaker:Right? Okay.
Speaker:So we're talking about trying Nancy and now I'm going to
Speaker:invite you to dare to dream.
Speaker:So this is kind of trying to,
Speaker:okay. I'd like to present you with a virtual gift.
Speaker:It's a magical box containing unlimited possibilities for your future.
Speaker:So this is your dream or your goal of almost unreachable
Speaker:Heights that you would wish to obtain.
Speaker:Please accept this gift and open it in all our presence.
Speaker:What is inside your box?
Speaker:Okay. Okay.
Speaker:Being able to forecast the next big jewelry trend is always
Speaker:a plus.
Speaker:Getting into a major retailer would be such a bonus,
Speaker:finding a trustworthy,
Speaker:strong assistant and a reliable team who wants to grow with
Speaker:us on this journey.
Speaker:I also wish for our wonderful,
Speaker:talented queen bee artisans,
Speaker:that they are able to achieve on their own goals and
Speaker:dreams. So I have a few,
Speaker:I could also,
Speaker:You know,
Speaker:what I love though,
Speaker:is you list them out.
Speaker:Like, you know,
Speaker:you know the answer to that question already,
Speaker:which is fabulous.
Speaker:I think of it every day.
Speaker:Those are the big dreams.
Speaker:I have a dream board.
Speaker:I put of goals where I want to be like,
Speaker:even though it's scary,
Speaker:like we're about to take a big jump.
Speaker:Like this is another thing I don't know.
Speaker:What's up with us whenever we get situated and do something
Speaker:new, we always seem to do this next jump.
Speaker:And it just seems to be something we are used to
Speaker:doing now.
Speaker:But we're about to,
Speaker:we just signed up for Las Vegas.
Speaker:We're doing for my wholesale jewelry line.
Speaker:We just rented out a permanent showroom in Las Vegas.
Speaker:So we're going to be part of a show,
Speaker:every what is it?
Speaker:Three to four times a year where we go out to
Speaker:Las Vegas and all the boutique owners from all over California,
Speaker:even we're going to be tapping into retailers that we've never
Speaker:met before.
Speaker:And hopefully it goes well,
Speaker:Oh, you know,
Speaker:it's going to go well,
Speaker:and I know we have listeners from Vegas to Nancy's.
Speaker:Oh, okay.
Speaker:Yeah. I'm a little nervous.
Speaker:How are they going to find you there?
Speaker:We're going to be in the world trade center.
Speaker:I'm not sure what floor,
Speaker:but we're going to be in the wild rumpus room with
Speaker:a lot of other artisans.
Speaker:A lot of these artists are very talented.
Speaker:They upcycle items.
Speaker:There's some home decor.
Speaker:There's some kitschy items.
Speaker:There's people who do kitchen things.
Speaker:They have a Facebook page too.
Speaker:It's the wild rumpus room.
Speaker:And I'll be in there a Las Vegas show.
Speaker:It's crazy bunch of artisans under vintage bliss.
Speaker:Actually, no,
Speaker:we have to change the name because we weren't able to
Speaker:incorporate under that.
Speaker:So vintage bliss and company is going to be changing over
Speaker:to VB and co.
Speaker:So it's gonna be under VB and co.
Speaker:Perfect. Okay.
Speaker:And you know what,
Speaker:we'll talk about this,
Speaker:but I was going to mention gift biz listeners,
Speaker:you know,
Speaker:as always with every show,
Speaker:there'll be a show notes page that will give you websites,
Speaker:social media sites,
Speaker:et cetera.
Speaker:So Nancy,
Speaker:if there's some other links I should have,
Speaker:I'll put those into the show notes page too,
Speaker:as you're making the changes.
Speaker:But I also want to put the physical locations of both
Speaker:the shops too.
Speaker:Sure. Another thing is if you have listeners from all over,
Speaker:we are always looking to accept items from on consignment,
Speaker:from all over the U S you think you have something
Speaker:really special.
Speaker:We would love to see it so you can shoot us
Speaker:an email.
Speaker:There you Go.
Speaker:But only us,
Speaker:correct? Yeah.
Speaker:Us Canada,
Speaker:something within North America.
Speaker:Sure. All right.
Speaker:We're listened to in the last I counted.
Speaker:I think we were just getting close to a hundred.
Speaker:I think it was like 96 countries.
Speaker:So kind of crazy.
Speaker:Wow. Crazy.
Speaker:So us Canada.
Speaker:Well, eventually it'd be nice to get things from all over.
Speaker:We do have some skirts from Amsterdam,
Speaker:which are wild,
Speaker:but that's through a U S distributor.
Speaker:Wonderful. Well,
Speaker:I want to round out the story here,
Speaker:which was,
Speaker:and this is also part of my book and that's why
Speaker:Nancy, we wanted to do this interview so quickly is there
Speaker:is a little bit of a story in my book about
Speaker:the afternoon.
Speaker:I decided to leave my office here and walk out and
Speaker:go find a birthday present for my girlfriend.
Speaker:And that was when I walked into vintage bliss,
Speaker:met Nancy.
Speaker:And we talked about everything that I have going on.
Speaker:We talked about what you have going on.
Speaker:We talked about the podcast.
Speaker:We talked about my book and you invited me to do
Speaker:a book signing.
Speaker:Yes. I'm so excited.
Speaker:I'm so excited.
Speaker:And this show is going to go live the Monday after
Speaker:the Saturday book signing.
Speaker:Oh, cool.
Speaker:Yeah. So gift biz listeners,
Speaker:any of you who are listening,
Speaker:I know there's going to be pictures up on social media.
Speaker:You might've already seen them,
Speaker:but if not,
Speaker:if you're listening to this show live,
Speaker:you'll be able to jump back and take a look.
Speaker:And I'm going to take a ton of pictures of Nancy's
Speaker:place. So you'll be able to see those two right in
Speaker:conjunction with this episode.
Speaker:And I'm sure you and I will grab a shot together
Speaker:too. Oh,
Speaker:definitely so much fun.
Speaker:I can't wait.
Speaker:Yeah, me too.
Speaker:Yeah. I've been telling everybody about it.
Speaker:Everybody is so thrilled.
Speaker:Yay. I'm really excited too.
Speaker:So thank you so much,
Speaker:Nancy. So much fun.
Speaker:Thank you for getting this together kind of quickly so that
Speaker:we can turn it around pretty fast here.
Speaker:Yeah, no,
Speaker:it was fun.
Speaker:Thank you so much for having me.
Speaker:Are you discouraged because your business is not performing as you
Speaker:had envisioned,
Speaker:are you stuck and confused about how to turn things around
Speaker:Sue's new selling book is structured to help you identify where
Speaker:the holes are in your business and show you exactly how
Speaker:to fix them.
Speaker:You'll learn from Sue and owners,
Speaker:just like you,
Speaker:who are seeing real growth and are living their dream maker
Speaker:to master find and fix.
Speaker:What's not working in your small business,
Speaker:get it on Amazon or through www Doug gift biz,
