Tip: Turn Instagram Photos into Blog Posts

"if its worth taking a photo of, then it its worth blogging about"

I must admit I am sometimes lost as to what I should blog about.  I usually share my business related Instagram photos on my Facebook and until last weekend I didn't really consider doing the same on my blog.  Why would I?

Then it dawned on me that if its worth taking a photo of, then it its worth blogging about.  Also, not everyone who reads my blog follows follows me on Facebook or on Instagram.

Your simple Instagram photos can be a great way to promote your handmade business. I love the ones that show the process of how handmade products work.  French blogger Isabelle Kessedjian is a master of this, notice how she didn't even have to add any text, just a title "Work in Progress | Travail en cours" to create her eye catching blog post using an Instagram photo.

Personally I love progress shots that show off  the effort, skill and importantly the time that is required to create your products.  They take the reader/viewer on a creative journey with you.  I've done this here on  my own blog - C Percy Designs :: Meet Ness

So go ahead, turn some of those great instagram photos into blog posts.  And when you do, share them below so I can see them.

Christine
Designer | Creator | Mum
C Percy Designs

How are you expanding your Handmade Business in 2014?  

Become a Guest Blogger on the CHA

Have you got something to say?  

Do you want to expand your horizons in 2014?

Why not become a Guest Blogger!

We are looking for blog posts that assist Australian Handmade Businesses reach their goals in 2014.  Blog posts can be in any form as long as it helpful (i.e. tutorial, observation, tips, info-graphic etc).

Pitch your blog post ideas directly to the Editor via email - contemporaryhandmadealliance@hotmail.com

{Promotion} Miss Muddy Stall Holder Opportunity

is a 5km women’s only obstacle course launching on Sunday 2nd March at Canterbury Race Course. Its a fun day out with your girlfriends where they can come and race then kick back before or after and unwind with a nice cold bevy, listen to some tunes from Ministry of Sounds (playing live) and browse the Sponsors Village/Market Area and do a spot of shopping. It ultimate girls day out.

We are looking for a few additional stalls for the market area with products targeted at women 18+.

The opportunity to trade at Miss Muddy is by invitation only as it’s free, because we want the best stalls in town for our lovely shoppers to unwind after their race while taking in the tunes of Ministry of Sounds playing live.

Contact Rachelle at rachelle@missmuddy.com.au to obtain your stall holder pack.

www.missmuddy.com.au

Its time to expand

So I've been working on my "in 2014 I will ..." worksheet that I downloaded from the Tickle the Imagination blog.  

It took me a while but I've come up with my theme for 2013, that being expansion. Its a topic that we talk about all the time, that is how do I expand my mailing list, how do I get more exposure for my business, how to I reach more buyer ... and the list goes on.  

Its also time to expand our horizons.  I've seen a number of businesses do this, like the owners of madeit.com.au who have opened up a retail store and office in Yamba in Northern NSW and Queensland based Bobkin Designs expanding their revenue by selling the pattern to their popular dresses and shorts. 

Both of these businesses have expanded there business and are now benefiting from spreading their wings. 

At the moment I'm still working on ways to expand the CHA, I must admit this blog has been a little quite over the last 6 months.  I talked about being at a Crossroads back in May 2013 and I found that I couldn't fit everything in.  Its now the summer holidays and I'm very lucky to enjoy a 6 week break. Over the next few weeks I'll be mapping out my year, finding amazing people to guest post on this blog and I am aiming to provide you, my loyal handmade readers, with information to help you expand your handmade business in 2014.

In 2014 I will ...

This morning I woke up with out a hangover, its one of the benefits of having kids and knowing that New Years Day wouldn't be much fun for anyone if Mummy wasn't feeling well, so instead of feeling like crap I was able to leisurely turned my iPad on and read my emails.

With my coffee in one hand and the iPad in the other I read with delight Tickle the Imagination's New Years message and clicked over to their blog to download their delightful worksheet.  This post got me thinking about this blog and my other endeavours and what I will be focusing upon in 2014.

Source:  Tickle the Imagination blog

I've printed off the worksheet and I'll be filling it out for the CHA, the Handmade Cooperative and for my beanie business C Percy Designs.  I'll share the CHA one with you in a few days time.

So in 2014 what will you be doing?  Tell us below or leave a message on our facebook page. 

Top Tips :: Card payments at markets

1. Clearly advertise the fact that you accept credit cards.  Ask your provider to supply you with a sign or create one yourself - see below.
2. If your device does not issue a physical receipt, always make sure that your customer provides you with an mobile phone number or email address where the receipt can be issued.
3. Keep a record of all your transactions, don't simply rely on the the device.  You'll need this information if someone disputes a transaction.
4. Remember to have your device fully charged and you have a way of charging your device without an electricity socket.
5. Remember not everyone trusts technology, always find out where the closest ATM is.
6. Do your research and shop around to find the right service for you.  Remember to reveiw contract periods, monthly fees, transaction percentage and transaction fees.
7. Think about setting a minimum spend or surcharge for transactions to avoid unnecessary transaction fees. You should advertise clearly that there is a minimum spend or surcharge.  Refer to Lifehacker's article for further information on this issue.
8. Bring along your devices' Trouble Shooting Guide.  

Make your own sign!

We have created a simple table top sign for you to use at you next market!  All you need to do is download, print, cut and fold.

Click Here to download this template.

Accepting card payments at Markets

Loss of Sales

One common theme I've had at markets is the fact that many potential buyers did not have enough cash on them to make impulse beanie purchase.  Time after time I've been asked "do you take credit cards" and I've had to say "No". This has costed me many sales.  I've tried to keep these customers by handing out discount vouchers to entice them to purchase through my online and offering free postage but it only saw 1-2 people purchase after the market.

Having a credit card facility would of been perfect in these situations!

Accepting Card payments at Markets

I spoke with Christina Coleman from Billymac Clothing about accepting credit cards at the markets she attends.  Christina noted that she has a clearly visible sign that states that she accepts credit cards.  She also mentioned that "people will spend more with you if they know you accept cards and will save their cash for stalls without card facilities".  

Wireless EFTPOS machines

Regular market goers tend to use the traditional EFTPOS machine from their bank.  There are many benefits to using these machines including customer convenience, value-added extras from the bank to the vendor, trusted machinery etc

Jen Campbell from Multiplied Magazine uses a traditional EFTPOS machine from Suncorp. She suggest that you shop around and don't be too shy to bargain.  "I was able to bargain my credit and debit card fees (% of sale per swipe), the monthly fee, and even negotiated the first 12 months free of the monthly charge!"

Personally I've avoided getting an EFTPOS machine as I only do 2-3 markets a year and I couldn't justify the monthly fee plus it never occurred to me to bargain with my bank!

Smartphone Credit Card Readers

PayPal Here

Last year Kasia from Ink.Paper.Cloth spoke about PayPal Here.  Since then I've heard some pros and cons about this service.  To be honest back in August 2012 when we first spoke about PayPal Here I didn't apply due to reports from some handmade sellers about the lengthy application process and reports of sellers having issues with the swiper. From what I can tell PayPal stopped issuing their swiper in December 2012 and they have recently released in the UK a swiper that looks more like an eftops machine.

When I asked about Paypal Here on the CHA's facebook page last week most sellers had praise for this product.  Jacquie South from On a Whim Designs has been using her PayPal Here swiper for some time now and she loves it.

Jacquie did mention that she has only had one issue with PayPal Here and that was to do with a customer who opened up a dispute regarding a payment they made at a market. The customer said their credit card was used without their authorization. According to Jacquie she had done everything right, including checking their signature and inserting all the details of the purchase.  The customer chose not to have a receipt sent to them via email or phone, which meant that she was unable to offer that receipt as proof of purchase.

Jacquie further explained that "I had the disputed amount of money taken out of my account, plus a $15 fee, as the customer is always protected. I'm glad to say that PayPal took it up with their bank and I was finally reimbursed with the $60 the customer had disputed but not the $15 fee! I now make sure that EVERYONE enters a phone or email details so they are sent a receipt"

Paymate OnTheGo

Last week I was reading a post within the Madeit.com.au sellers group on Facebook about accepting credit cards at markets.  Some of the members mentioned using Paymate and being very happy with this service.  I hadn't heard of Paymate before so I decided to take a look.

After reading the recommendations and doing my own research I decided to join up.  It was an easy and fast process - after completing the necessary paperwork I was approved and I received my Paymate OnTheGo Encrypted Swiper within a week.  The iPhone app was easy to download and so far I'm impressed.

Holly from Puppy Dogs Tails also has a Paymate Swiper.  Her main issue with the product is that event though you can activate signature capture and have the customer sign it with a stylus it doesn't actually save it anywhere as proof of purchase.  I suppose that is where the customer details and receipt generation come into it.

Like PayPal Here there are some fees associated with this service and I suggest that you shop around to find the right service for you.  I'm okay with paying transaction fees as am able to capture those impulse beanie buyers who have eluded me at past markets.

What device/App do you use?  

Leave a comment below so others can benefit from your experience.

About the Contributor: 

Christine is a Wife and a Mum of 3.  She is the owner of C Percy Designs.  Chrisitne's next market will be the Dreamers Markets on 20th July at Parramatta Riverside Theatre.  She is also the the Editor of The Contemporary Handmade Alliance and the Handmade Cooperative - Australian Handmade 4 Kids.  she is also is a little obsessed with all things crochet. 
To find out more about Christine go to her blog or follow her on Facebook.

{Promotion} Work With Me :: Liana Kabel

Liana Kabel, Measure Up Brooch

Hello I’m Liana and I’d like to introduce myself. I run a creative business as well as working to support others with their creative businesses. For me this is the perfect combination.

Since 2004 I've been a plastic obsessed jeweler, creating wearable pieces from mostly discarded domestic materials, including Tupperware, knitting needles and tape measures. Before that I had a business making brightly coloured paper mache homewares.  As you can probably tell from those descriptions I’ve always cared about making something that stands out from the crowd, as well as making a living from it. I did that with both those business. Along the way I learnt a lot about how to do things and a lot about how not to do things. As far as I’m concerned making mistakes is fine (and inevitable) as long as you can pick yourself up, learn from them and improve.

For the past three years I’ve been employed as a business coach, as well as continuing my jewellery business.  In my coaching work I was able to support hundreds of women set up their own small and micro businesses. These were generally businesses that were conducted at home, often around caring for small children. It was great work while it lasted and I’m grateful for it, because now I know it is something I want to continue to do as part of my own business. My focus is working with small creative businesses. These are the businesses I know and am most passionate about.

If you've been wanting to make more of your own creative business or hobby, I’d love to help you with that. The beginning of a new financial year is an awesome time to do just that. For this reason I’m offering a special package for July.  This includes an intensive two hour session where we work on improving any aspect or aspects of your business you’d like to focus on. The usually price is $300, but for July it is $160. Feel free to email me with any questions or to discuss making a booking at liana@lianakabel.com

I’m based in Brisbane, but conduct my business interstate and worldwide.  I’m also available for creative business workshops, so if you can organise a group and a venue, I will travel. Again please email me to discuss the possibilities.

 Find out more about Liana via her Linkedin resume.

I sat next to the lovely Liana at the 2012 Artful Business Conference.  I found her to be delightful and insightful.  I'm also the proud owner of a Knitwit Bangle and Measured Up hairclip which I wear when teaching crochet at my local wool shop.  

Dandelyne and the Artful Business Conference

I am 100% ecstatic to be virtually attending the Artful Business Conference this year. 

My business, Dandelyne, is only 2 years young. It really is trotting along nicely but, I would love for it to gallop. My ultimate goal is to stitch FOREVER and, I feel, in order to do this I need to invest in it. After investigating the speakers and content of the Artful Business Conference I knew this was the key to helping me reach my goal. I work from home, on my own, and as many small businesses do, I indulge in Dandelyne days where I feel lost and would love someone to answer the myriad of questions I have. I need a buzz, kick and knowledge … and I feel the ABC will do just that, and then some.

I would personally love everyone interested to own one of my miniature embroidery hoops. They are made in Melbourne and then hubby and I spend many nights sanding, drilling and constructing each one. It's definitely a labour of love. To be able to workshop, with many like-minded people at the ABC, I am hoping I will be able to take these little babies to the next level … YIPPEE

Smiles, 
Son
www.dandelyne.com
sonia@dandelyne.com