We had our fifth market on August 14. I learned three lessons as a maker from that market.
1. Sometimes new is one of the best decisions you can make.
After hosting four markets in Decatur, market 5 was the first in Atlanta.
As a maker, it’s easy to want to rest on what is comfortable and reliable. But being a maker sometimes means taking risks and and trying something new.
2. The energy in the room at market 5 was magnetic and remarkably special due to gathering handmade makers and people to love to purchase handmade goods in one room.
As a maker I can contribute to that energy by showing up ready to share my wonderful goods and by supporting other handmade makers by buying their goods.
3. With the push for more video contents through Social Media platforms, Market 5 was an opportunity to capture not just photos but great video content.
As a maker during times where video is becoming king, I have to be more intentional about finding moments to capture memories through video.
Planners are a great way to stay focused and timely throughout the week. As artisans, makers and creatives, our style often pushes us to stand out instead of fitting in. Here are three ways to jazz up your planning life so your planner looks as hip as you do.
Watch a live session of an influencer who is savvy with planning as you prep for the week. A live session will give you tips, insight and fresh ideas on new ways to make planning your week fun. Here are a few IG accounts to follow – @planwithilysee, @theplannersociety, @planherway.
Incorporating stickers in your planning time is a quick way to incorporate your style. Stickers add a freshness to planning that brings instant joy as you prep for the week. Here are some planner businesses to purchase unique stickers – @goldmineandcoco, @naomilovedesigns.
Make it colorful. Using colorful makers and even painting your favorite colors is a great way to make your planner really pop.
Pros and Cons of an Etsy platform by Ciatta-Mae Stubblefield
As we grow our maker business, we may have to determine the best online platform for our business. Many makers look to Esty for selling their products.
What are the pros and cons of selling on Etsy?
PROS
Etsy is easy to use and you can build a business on the platform with minimal technical experience.
There are low overhead costs for an initial start-up.
The Etsy brand is trusted and their built-in audience and network may put your potential customers at ease.
CONS
Etsy is increasingly becoming saturated and getting noticed could be a challenge.
Customers may not give purchase credit to you but to the platform. “I bought this on Etsy”
Etsy may promote other shops on your shop listing.
Your vision is the direction you wish to steer your business. Unlike mission which focuses on the current state of your business, vision is future oriented and is centered on where your business is heading.
Where will your business be in 6 months? 1 year? 18 months? If you have a clear vision, you can thoughtfully answer these questions. While COVID-19 has taught us that no one knows tomorrow, makers with a clear vision plan can easily navigate challenges as unforeseen difficulties arise.
Here are three ways you can remain focused on the vision of your brand.Write your vision.
1. It’s hard to remain centered on your vision when you can’t even articulate where you are headed. It’s very tempting to say you know it and carry it around in your head. However that is not the most effective way to hold fast to a vision. In educational circles, it is said “If you don’t write it down, it never happened.” So take a minute and write out your vision statement.
2. Set your vision GPS for the next calendar year. Carve out time to write out a one year vision plan for your brand. Don’t hold back here. If you could truly build the brand you have deep in your heart, what would it look like? Once you map out this plan, consider how you will arrive. What steps will you take next week? Next month? Next three months? Next six months to get there? While you may have to adjust your steps at the three or even six month mark, remain steadfast in pursuit of your one year vision.
3. Anchor your vision. This means tie your vision statement to something greater than you. There will be days where you want to walk away from your vision or even your business. During times like these you have to remember your why and re-focus on where you are heading. For me, I have a memory verse that reminds me that I am not in this alone and where I fail, God won’t fail me. For others, it may be a favorite slogan, saying or even a vision board that inspires you. Take the time to root your vision in something solid and tangible.
In this post, two of founders share their top blog posts to read and or revisit. These posts will encourage and inspire you. Let us know which posts were your favorites.
Here are Ciatta’s top 4 blog posts:
I really enjoyed “DIY Ankara Fabric Scrap Earrings”. It gave me a beautiful gift idea to show love to women in my life around the holidays.
Market 3 was my favorite market and “Lessons Learned from Craft Savvy Market 3″ was a wonderful read. It’s awesome to read the different perspectives from my craft sisters on our labor of love.
by Ciatta-Mae Stubblefield
Here are Jandi’s must read blog posts:
COVID 19 Lessons Learned Makers Edition -We are all still learning through this pandemic. This blog post is special because it reminds us that even in tough times, we can still grow and learn and choose to move forward.
3 Ways to Beat your Creative Blocks Creative blocks come from time to time. This post will help you beat those blocks and create space for creating the things you love.
How to Shut Down Your Inner Critic by Ciatta-Mae Stubblefield
“No one likes any of this stuff. You shouldn’t try to make anything new” a voice hissed as I packed up the last of my merchandise at the market. As I tugged my suitcase out the door of the event hall, her voice would not relent. “You wasted your time making all of this and no one bought much of it. I mean, look at all these leftovers. You’re not a real maker”. Ok. I had had enough. I spun around to face this nasty person but I found myself standing alone in the parking lot.
Sometimes we speak to ourselves in a way that if we heard one
person speak to another person that way, we would give side eyes all day. So
why do we allow such cutting, toxic and negative words to be spoken over
ourselves? Sometimes such negative self-talk is an indicator of how we truly
see ourselves or how we feel deep down inside. We take such care to craft
beautiful hand made designs, let’s take care to speak beautiful words over
ourselves.
As makers here are three things we can do to walk away from
negative self-talk and kick our inner critic to the curb:
Avoid absolute words such as never because it only sets you up for failure. You have the power to create your best life. You are not defined by absolute words like “never” and “always”.
Focus on the positive. Take a minute and write down things that are going great when you feel the critic in your arise. Focus on the good instead of centering on the bad.
Turn it around by speaking life over yourself – Try saying, “I didn’t sell very many goods today but I will sell more goods at my next market” or “The sale of lack of sale of my goods are not a measure of my talent.”
