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Free Articles and
Ezine Archives
By Jane Button, The
Creative Product Mentor
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I've written several articles on
tricks of the trade for starting, running and profiting from your
Creative Product Ideas. These are from questions I've been sent as
well as information that I think you will find useful with starting or
running your business. Please feel free to share these articles or
even reuse them in your newsletters,
as long as the article is unedited, printed in
its entirety (including the "About the Author" and copyright notices),
and you send a copy or link to me at
janebutton@design2marketsuccess.com
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You know when you were a kid and you started whining and your
parents gave you a "time out"? It's no different in business- you
hear people whining and saying things like: 
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I
can't
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She
has more stores interested in buying her products
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They have more money than I do
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They were an overnight success - I am struggling
-
I have children so I don't have enough time
-
I have to do everything myself so I can't get
things done as fast as the other guys
Give yourself a "time-out" from this kind of thinking.
<Click here for the rest of the article...>
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I wish I had a $1 for every time I hear the
"But I don't have any money" excuse. I don't mean to be
harsh, but it is an excuse. It's an excuse not to do
something, not to experience something and an excuse not to
get going with what you really want to do.
As I would probably say to my 3 year old grand
daughter, it's a stall tactic.
You've said it, I've said it - and again I
don't mean to be harsh, but when you say those words to
yourself or anyone else, you instantly shut down and stop
thinking about what it is that you want to create. A wall goes
up and the creativity goes down.
<Click here for the rest of the article...>
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As a creative person who has either recently launched a new
business or if you're just starting out trying to figure out
just what product to start with, it's a good idea to keep
it simple. Keeping your base categories and product line
straight forward helps your customer know exactly who you are,
what you offer and how they can relate to your brand.
Make sure your potential customers or clients understand
exactly what you do. Get known for being the best
"__________" If they don't understand your products or the
need for them - good-bye potential customer! And pretty much -
good-bye business!
<Click here for the rest of the article...>
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When I hired my first sales rep
in New York it was the best thing I ever did for the growth of
my company. The first season sales doubled for the year. It
was just the beginning. I had really good success selling my
line myself. I personally sold to Nordstrom. I needed growth
and I wanted it now. Off I went to NY and the rest was
history.
If you want your business to
grow you’ll need to find other people to sell your products
other than yourself. Hiring a sales rep is one of the best and
fastest ways to increase your sales. You’ll find it’s more
economical for you to find independent sales representatives
to sell for you because you will need more time for other
parts of your business and you don’t want to spread yourself
too thin. After all you have other things to do in creating
your empire!
<Click here for the rest of the article...>
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Have you ever had an idea for a product, a business or a new creative
line, gotten so far and then pouf!! nothing....off into oblivion?
What happened? You sat there with egg on your face because you'd told
everyone you were creating something and then failed to launch. You
stopped talking about it and hoped and prayed no one would ask you how
you were coming along with it.
Sound familiar?
<Click here for the rest of the article...>
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I see it over and over - and in fact I’ve done it
myself, but you’ve got to STOP IT if you want your
business and your life to be successful and profitable.
Let me ask you something? Do you think Ralph Lauren is out in
the shipping room packing boxes? or Diane Von Furstenberg does
her own bookkeeping? Do you think Martha Stewart does all of
the projects that appear in her magazine or takes all the
photographs?
Of course not....
<Click here for the rest of the article...>
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We've all read the news and watched television about the
economy. Many of our friends and colleagues have lost their
jobs. People are living in fear because this is what the media
surrounds us with - FEAR. Have you noticed how unbalanced the
news has become? Personally I can't watch or listen any more;
it's too much negative energy.
<Click here for the rest of the article...>
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7
Things You Can Change in your Creative Product Business So You
Can Make MORE MONEY NOW:
A few days
ago I was asked (on twitter) to critique a website to see if I
could offer any help about a creative product. I checked
through it pretty quickly and my immediate response was: there are
5 things I could tell you right away about what you could change
that would completely alter your bottom line, increase your sales
and turn your great idea into a REAL business.
I'm
thinking that maybe if that was you, and you were looking to
become a profitable business, you might want to know the 5 things
you could change. So I am going to share those with you, and add a
bonus two items, so here they are:
<Click here for the rest of the article...>
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Santa Claus In Summer: 7 Ways
to Prepare for the Holiday Season
Do you realize
that Christmas is ju st
a little over 4 months away and Hanukkah is less
than 4 months away? If you sell creative
products either retail or wholesale you know
that the Fall/Holiday season can be a make or
break season for many businesses. But are you ready?
Here are 7 ways to get yourself
prepared this summer so you are not scrambling when it comes time
to market, sell and ship whether you sell wholesale, retail or
both: <Click here for the rest of the article...>
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How Working Backwards Helps To Move Your
Business Forward
Working
backwards, or creating a time line with the end
in mind is a critical concept to creating a line
or product of any type whether you are going
to sell retail or wholesale. There is a drop
dead date for completion whether it is
prototypes, sample goods for shows or final
goods for delivery to stores or for selling at
craft fairs. At
some point there is what I affectionately call a
Final Final deadline – and if you’re not
ready you lose.
You lose not just sales but credibility.
This is how important it is to set an accurate
timeline and learn how to work backwards.
<Click here for the rest of the article...>
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Do you
Have a JOB or a Business?
When I started my first company,
I actually created a JOB for myself, all
the time thinking I had started a
business. It took me awhile but
I finally discovered there was a huge
difference between creating a JOB and
creating a Business. And until I became
aware of the difference my company grew
slowly and I could not figure out why
that was. I had a great product and it
seemed like everyone loved it? Why was
it not growing faster?
<Click here for the rest of the article...>
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Do you Know How to Find More
Time?
Time is the great equalizer - we all have exactly the same
amount - 24 hours in a day - period. It's HOW we
utilize our time to accomplish our goals that counts. Time is
never the reason why you don't do something. It may sound
harsh, but in order to maximize your time and create more time you
must make critical choices. And once you do that - the sky's the
limit. You can do anything you want to in the amount of time you
each have.
<Click here for the rest of the article...>
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Jibe Ho: Lessons In
Leadership: Sometimes you have to FOLLOW
In business, we focus so much on being leaders
and developing our leadership skills that we forget -
sometimes you have to follow, too.
The other day I was reminiscing with my
sister, Ann, about a memorable Christmas gift we received from our
parents when we were 12 and 13: a little "Sailfish" sailboat.
We were thrilled when summer came and we could take sailing
lessons on Rehoboth Bay in Delaware, where our grandparents had a
beach cottage. After our instructor had pronounced us "good
enough," we entered the competitive races.
Until that time in my life, I don't think I had any idea how
competitive I was, and how much I really wanted to win.
<Click here for the rest of the article...>
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15 Quick Tips
For Selling Crafts, Sewn, Knit, Gift Or Jewelry Products to Stores
One of the questions I often get asked in my craft,
creative product consulting business is how to sell wholesale to
stores & boutiques. Once you get the appointment, what comes next?
This is a wonderful opportunity. Getting into the wholesale market
is the way to greatly expand your business. Although you want the
recognition and the sale, there are several things you need to
pull together before you go to the meeting and before you decide
to sell to this store. You need to be prepared and professional
before you walk in the door, so here are my suggestions:
<Click here for the rest of the article...>
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Ask Jane: Can I make $1000
per month with Etsy?
I received a
message on one of the forums I regularly follow
where people ask questions about their creative
product/craft businesses. I thought it
was a very timely question for everyone because
so many of you are getting started or are in the
process of supplementing your incomes and want
to have answers to THE HOW part of your
business. Though I've changed the question
slightly, essentially here was the question
asked and my answer:
<Click here for the rest of the article...>
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Ask Jane: Help! I'm Meeting
With A Buyer for the First Time!!!
Dear Jane, I have a full time job and have just
started a handbag biz on the side. I have 2 basic shapes but each
bag is a one-of-a-kind creation. I have sold only to friends and
co-workers. I was in a shop and the owner asked me about the bag I
was wearing. To make a long story short she wants to sell them in
her boutique. I'm excited to meet with her but need some pointers
before my presentation. What advice can you give me?
<Click here for the rest of the article...>
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Do You Know What the Most
Important Part of Your Business Is?
Some of
my clients have a tendency
to spend so much
time on their actual creative product that selling or marketing it
is only an after thought. It's sort of, "OMG you mean they won't
just show up on my doorstep now that I have this great product?"
The answer is a resounding, NO! It's up to you to entice potential
buyers to look at what you have.
<Click here for the rest of the article...>
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How To Set Up an Agreement
with a Sales Rep: 5 Key Issues to Handle BEFORE You Hire!
Hiring
an independent sales rep is a great way to
increase sales and really grow your business.
When I started my business, hiring a New York
sales rep doubled my business in a season. With
their access and connections to stores, buyers
and others in the industry they can increase
your business and make your line a success. Once
you have selected the rep you want to hire, you
must establish certain criteria ahead of the
final hiring process:
<Click here for the rest of the article...>
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How Does Your Product Measure
Up to the Competition?
Years
ago when I was first in business I started
attending one of the biggest trade shows in my
industry which was held at the Jacob Javits
Center in New York. I was instantly overwhelmed
with the number of booths and the vast
assortment of products being sold to the trade.
I thought I knew something about my competition
but until I attended the show I really had no idea of who I was
really up against.
<Click here for the rest of the article...>
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Are You a Mompreneur or a
WAHM?
Currently you can find
many forums, blogs and
information on the internet
about Mompreneurs and
WAHMs. There is a
great support system out there
where you can find tips. I
will list a few of my
favorites at the end of this
article. Here are my quick tips
for what helped me to move my
business forward while still being a great Mom, great
wife, and the glue that keep our family going ....
<Click here for the rest of the article...>
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Always Be Marketing:
11 Ways to Boost Your Creative Product Marketing In Today's
Economy
Everyday we're hearing
doom and gloom in the news
and what "they're saying" about
the economy. But did you know
that many businesses are hiring,
thriving and growing? These are
the ones you don't hear about
and "they" don't want you to
know about. With a creative
product business, the most
important thing you can do right
now to boost sales and thrive is
update your MARKETING and keep
MARKETING! <Click here for the rest of the article...>
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Articles
Stop
Whining and Start Winning
The "But I don't have any
Money" Excuse is no longer acceptable
Find
Your Big Idea And Keep It Simple
Sales Rep Secrets: What to expect and how to find a good one
Failure to Launch:
Fear, Fascination or Frustration?
STOP It! The Truth About Doing It All
Step Away from the fear:
Your Playing Small does not serve your or the world
7 Things You
Can Change in your Creative Product Business So You Can Make MORE
MONEY NOW
Can I sell Handmade Crafts Wholesale?
3 Biggest Myths that
Hold Crafters & Cottage Business Back from Being Profitable
Santa Claus in Summer:
7 Ways to Prepare for the Holiday Season
How Working
Backwards Helps To Move Your Business Forward
Do You
Have A JOB or A Business?
How to Find More Time
Lessons In
Leadership: Sometimes you have to FOLLOW
15 Quick Tips
For Selling Products to Stores
Can I make $1000 per month with
Etsy?
Help! I'm Meeting With A Buyer
for the First Time!!!
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