Members Tove09Tilda Posted November 27 Members Report Posted November 27 Oh, this is exactly my kind of question! Certified business consultant here đ A/B testing is your best friend â whether online or at fairs. How it works Create a small batch of Product A (e.g., watch straps) and Product B (e.g., journal covers). Photograph both well. On social media If you use Meta Business Suite, you can even target different groups. Show Product A to Group A, Product B to Group B. Let the test run for a few days up to a month, then compare: likes comments link clicks profile visits Whichever product generates stronger engagement is the better performer. This method is often more reliable than fairs because the data is cleaner. At fairs Best if both fairs are in the same region. Bring slightly different assortments each time â more of Product A at one fair, more of Product B at the next. Compare: actual sales total revenue which product attracts more conversation or attention You can A/B test pricing too Announce Product A at Price X (production cost + 40% raw profit) to Group A, and Product A at Price Y (production cost + 56% raw profit) to Group B. Check the same statistics as above plus any DMs or inquiries. Itâs an easy way to find your optimal price point. Donât forget the math When you evaluate a product line, include: production time (based on average hourly wage in your area) material costs packaging share of workshop rent tool depreciation (please don't forget that! Most hobbiest do and it's simply undermining the value) insurance booth fees (for fairs) + costs to get to fair (fuel etc.) percentage of profit cost of storage Calculate how many units you must sell just to break even. Then look at how realistic that number is within your usual sales cycle. That alone often reveals whether a product line is worth pursuing. Despite that also consider if things can be bundled or cross sold,  e.g If a person buys a watch strap, do they buy a matching belt? If so - make a bundle (a watchstrap and a matching belt together for production cost plus 45% profit so slightly cheaper together in a bundle, than as two seperatly chosen products, also advertise it as a great deal (even if it's not)) or at least a cross sale offer (the belt is suggested when someone looks at watchstaps or simply place the somewhat matching belts close by at your booth, that they are in eyeside together). Selling is simple psychology and not magic or high profile science you need countless degrees for, make use of it! Hope I was of help, Best Tove Quote
toxo Posted November 27 Report Posted November 27 3 hours ago, Tove09Tilda said:  Oh, this is exactly my kind of question! Certified business consultant here đ A/B testing is your best friend â whether online or at fairs. How it works Create a small batch of Product A (e.g., watch straps) and Product B (e.g., journal covers). Photograph both well. On social media If you use Meta Business Suite, you can even target different groups. Show Product A to Group A, Product B to Group B. Let the test run for a few days up to a month, then compare: likes comments link clicks profile visits Whichever product generates stronger engagement is the better performer. This method is often more reliable than fairs because the data is cleaner. At fairs Best if both fairs are in the same region. Bring slightly different assortments each time â more of Product A at one fair, more of Product B at the next. Compare: actual sales total revenue which product attracts more conversation or attention You can A/B test pricing too Announce Product A at Price X (production cost + 40% raw profit) to Group A, and Product A at Price Y (production cost + 56% raw profit) to Group B. Check the same statistics as above plus any DMs or inquiries. Itâs an easy way to find your optimal price point. Donât forget the math When you evaluate a product line, include: production time (based on average hourly wage in your area) material costs packaging share of workshop rent tool depreciation (please don't forget that! Most hobbiest do and it's simply undermining the value) insurance booth fees (for fairs) + costs to get to fair (fuel etc.) percentage of profit cost of storage Calculate how many units you must sell just to break even. Then look at how realistic that number is within your usual sales cycle. That alone often reveals whether a product line is worth pursuing. Despite that also consider if things can be bundled or cross sold,  e.g If a person buys a watch strap, do they buy a matching belt? If so - make a bundle (a watchstrap and a matching belt together for production cost plus 45% profit so slightly cheaper together in a bundle, than as two seperatly chosen products, also advertise it as a great deal (even if it's not)) or at least a cross sale offer (the belt is suggested when someone looks at watchstaps or simply place the somewhat matching belts close by at your booth, that they are in eyeside together). Selling is simple psychology and not magic or high profile science you need countless degrees for, make use of it! Hope I was of help, Best Tove Everything you've said above is ok except for handmaking the product. Buying product from China (say) would work because you can buy to test and if it doesn't work you can junk it and choose something else until you light on the items that sell. Making something by hand that might take an hour or three or four or a day is a different thing altogether. To make enough product to go through what you're advocating would take some time and at the end of the process it could come to nothing and you've wasted a lot of time. I have a very logical mind and so wish it was as easy as you say but the variables when handmaking are different. When you have supermarkets and online stores sell substandard stuff it's hard. As I've said before many of the public don't know or care where it comes from or what it's made of and some of those that do simply can't afford hand made stuff. This why I've said that where you market your product is really important. Of course, a couple of years down the line, if you're doing a good job you might start getting commissions and even small contracts but until then it can be hard to even get back what you've put in. Quote
Members Handstitched Posted November 28 Members Report Posted November 28 @Dwight that's exactly what I do, I wear my wares. I have 3 belts with different designs that I wear regularly. My flip phone case is quite a fancy hand laced and hand stitched one with a fancy concho , and yes , I keep some business cards in my wallet. At the markets I have a few folders with heaps of pics of what I have made, and custom work I have done and place them on my table for people to browse through. Word of mouth has worked better than paid advertising , as for face book etc. , my customers do that for me Great minds think alike  HS Quote ' I have a very gweat friend in Wome called Biggus Dickus, He has a wife you know, do you know whats she's called? Incontinentia.......Incontinentia Buttocks ' Â
Members Tove09Tilda Posted November 28 Members Report Posted November 28 7 hours ago, toxo said: Everything you've said above is ok except for handmaking the product. Buying product from China (say) would work because you can buy to test and if it doesn't work you can junk it and choose something else until you light on the items that sell. Making something by hand that might take an hour or three or four or a day is a different thing altogether. To make enough product to go through what you're advocating would take some time and at the end of the process it could come to nothing and you've wasted a lot of time. I have a very logical mind and so wish it was as easy as you say but the variables when handmaking are different. When you have supermarkets and online stores sell substandard stuff it's hard. As I've said before many of the public don't know or care where it comes from or what it's made of and some of those that do simply can't afford hand made stuff. This why I've said that where you market your product is really important. Of course, a couple of years down the line, if you're doing a good job you might start getting commissions and even small contracts but until then it can be hard to even get back what you've put in. I get the fear! Starting a business is scary, especially when R&D feels like itâs draining time and money. But hereâs the truth: A/B Testing â Huge Stock You donât need shelves full of products. One prototype, a couple of good phone photos, and youâre ready to test. Especially if you want to test on social media! A/B testing is about interest, not inventory. Perfect for handmade. R&D Isnât Wasteful â Itâs Smart Every business, big or small, starts with prototypes. Sharing early versions, showing the process, or testing reactions isnât lost effort â itâs efficient. R&D teaches you what will actually sell. There are no shortcuts, and there shouldnât be. Stop Comparing Handmade to Cheap Imports Mass-manufactured and handmade are two different worlds. Different markets. Different expectations. Different pricing. If you keep attracting people who donât value handmade work, the issue isnât your product â itâs your branding and targeting. If People Donât Care About Your Quality, Youâre Aiming at the Wrong Crowd! Handmade was never meant for everyone. So donât try to sell to âeveryone.â It wonât work. How to Define Your Actual Customer Create a clear profile of your ideal customer, like a blue print: Who are they? How old? Income? Style? What do they value? Why your product? Where can you reach them? Example: Luxury Handmade Leather Dog Collar Letâs say you make a premium Italian leather collar with brass hardware. Your customer? Women 25â30 who love luxury fashion. They hear âItalian leather,â and instantly think of designer handbags. They earn 45â50k a year. They want aesthetics, exclusivity, status â for themselves and their pets. Youâll reach them on Instagram, TikTok, and through boutique-style soft launches. They aren't bargain hunters. They want a vibe. Position Yourself Smartly Look at brands in your space and map out the market. Find where you fit â and where you stand out. Your personal USP, if you will. Branding Matters More Than You Think Handmade brands collapse not because the products are bad, but because their story is bland. Have colours. Have a logo that means something. Know your story and say it with confidence. People buy a feeling, not âjust a collar.â Tell a Better Story Example: Weak version: âMy granddad gave me his watch, strap was broken, I made a new one.â Stronger version: âWhen I was sixteen, my granddad gave me his watch. I adored the man. When the strap broke, I couldnât find anything worthy of it â so I made one myself. It fit perfectly. Friends started asking for the same. Thatâs how this all began, and I still love creating pieces that make people light up when they finally get the strap theyâve dreamed of.â Same facts. Completely different emotional impact. And yes â follow-up matters A simple personal message a month later with cleaning tips or care advice? A small newsletter with new products and maintenance tips? Or at Christmas fairs: offer gift wrapping for a small upcharge in simple paper in your brand colours, sealed with a cheap sticker that carries your logo â instant âpremiumâ feel and almost free advertising. There are so many options. The more personal and creative, the better â and none of it has to be expensive. A sheet of stickers costs what, here in Germany maybe 10⏠for 500 pieces? Set a tiny marketing budget and actually plan with it. Small, thoughtful touches go a very long way. Thatâs how you turn a one-time buyer into a loyal fan who recommends you to everyone. If you still have questions about any of this, feel free to message me. Iâm happy to point you in the right direction. âșïž Best, Tove Quote
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