Growing in Hannah’s Field

This morning I had my first session with Debbie.  We got through so much in just under 2 hours, I hope I can remember it all.  From my notes we covered these:

1. Venues for selling and showing my work – gallery / museum / retail / shows….where does it belong? Advice about this would be great.
This went something like, yes, yes, yes and yes – although all have implications in relation to how much I money I make from my product. The more direct the involvement from me, i.e. Hannah to customer, the more I can make.  Retailers mark up my wholesale price by at least 200%.
Other things to take into consideration: confidentiality agreements everywhere I go where money is the topic. Try not to go down the route of sale or return (because if your stock is not selling then it is either sat there on the shelf / in their back room or you have to go and collect it.). Target larger cities for ‘lifestyle shops’ – this makes me slightly uneasy. Start with small independent and local retailers – this makes it feel better. I don’t feel I’m there yet though, I have yet to develop my product to the point where it is ready for sale so thinking about retail (even 4 or 5 creatures to start with) feels really daunting.

2. Exploring other options that will support making & selling my work, e.g. running workshops, commissions…an unbiased view from the outside on what other things I could do.
We didn’t really do much on this one as it wasn’t needed immediately.  We talked a little bit about approaching established artists / designers for collaborative work.  I like the idea of this and will keep it in mind.  Someone I need to check out is JOHN BURGERMAN, who I was already aware of a result of his work with QUAD.

3. Placing a value on your work – struggle with this one. I know the course will provide a costing session, but I need to ‘get real’ – I find asking to be paid for what I love to do difficult! Help to get a ‘business head’.
This was where I was told (nicely) to ‘get over myself’!  Debbie shared her costing equation with me which is apparently a pretty failsafe way of workig out the value of a product. It made things feel better. I’m not completely ‘out there’ – it is workable. We also discussed outsourcing the making part.  Again, not ready for this, it made me clutch my prototype and not want to let go.  By the time I have made 20 in a row and am getting fed up I think this part will be easier!

4. Balancing the designing-making process with the running of a business – managing time.
This was left for another time.

5. A bit of opinion on whether my goals are realistic – a viewpoint from experience.
Some lovely things were said about my drawings, designs and processes.  Apparently I play down my business savvy – but I pointed out that, until I have my theories and observations confirmed as being on the right track then I know no different.  Hence the brilliant opportunity to have a mentor who is living it.  I am tapping into two key markets – (1) handmade, designer, unique products made from (2) sustainable, organic, local materials.  It so happens that this is what I do and what my ethos is – but it makes it all very marketable – hooray! 
Debbie made a very valid observation about my prototype – the chinese produced, plastic craft-shop bought eyes make him look cheap and would be easy for someone to replicate.  So I must source some UK produced eyes, preferably not plastic (glass instead) so all my hard work in maintaining my ‘green’ credentials is not undone.

6. Networking – I’m not very good at this! Ways, where, how…are there key associations / groups to be a member of?
We’ll do more on this another time, but in the meantime Debbie had already pointed m in the direction of DESIGN FACTORY.  As witnessed at Lustre, this is a major showcase for the region’s quality craftmakers as many of them were members.

7. Display of 3D textile products – touchy-feely vs don’t touch! Ways to balance this.
Only one response from Debbie: Touchy-feely every time.  And I knew this really, I’m the first to reach for a fabric for a feel.  We talked briefly about setting out a sample (sacrifice product) especially for this purpose.

8. Managing suppliers – are there any dos and don’ts of sourcing supplies?
We talked a lot about this. Debbie had great advice as a result of her experiences as a student. I can ask for sponsorship – as a post grad student companies apparently love this.  Should I not be able to get sponsorship, I can at least try to get any discount/free samples I can to try and reduce my initial costs (as there will be many).  So I’m going to write to my potential suppliers and see if they bite.

So much to do and think about.  Initially, I felt good about it all, if a little (OK, a LOT) overwhelmed by the enormity of it all.  Things have calmed down a bit now.  Got to think of it as chunks.  One chunk at a time.  Test a chunk, if it’s not for me / doesn’t work… time for a review.