Navigating the Holiday Selling Season and Planning Ahead in a Shaky Economy
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This episode is brought to you by Fine Lime Illustrations
Slow September sales and signs of a flagging economy have a lot of Canadian creatives worried about the upcoming holiday selling season. Even Etsy has made efforts to boost sales on behalf of shop owners! And, with no real relief in sight, what does 2024 have in store?
In this episode Melissa and Heather tackle the economy - and how to navigate it - head on.
This episode isn’t doom and gloom. Instead it’s packed with lots of practical strategies and tips to help creatives, artists and makers get focused and make a plan - both for the holiday season and next year!
People will be spending money this holiday season. They’ll just be spending it differently. They’ll be more careful. They’ll make their dollars stretch. Our job, as artists, makers and small business owners, is to show them the value in spending their money with us!
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This Episode Is For…
This episode is for those creatives, artists and makers who...
are seeing a dip in sales compared to previous years
have heard from customers that money is tight
aren't getting the same level of sales or engagement when launching new work
are worried about the ballooning costs of raw materials and other business related expenses
need some ideas jump start sales
We tackle all of these concerns and more! Tune in to find out how!
If you just want the links to the resources mentioned in this episode, scroll down to the bottom.
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Transcript & Chapter Markers
You can find a full transcript and chapter markers here. Just click on the episode title for all the juicy details!
get back to basics
In this episode we discuss:
the importance of staying on top of current events as a small business owner - especially financial news
people will still shop - they’ll just change how they’ll shop (and cutting back means different things to different people)
people will be looking for connection - here’s how you can take advantage of that
being careful with inventory levels, explore pre-orders or made to order
do not cut back your marketing and why that’s a mistake
understanding the difference between needs and wants and how to market the two effectively
why we think in person markets will be the place to be this holiday season
growing your email list over the holiday season (so you can reap the benefits in 2024!)
product bundling to increase AOVs (average order values) and provide more value
Black Friday/Cyber Monday and how to make good margins while offering big deals!
trying new things!!!
planning for 2024 and how to manage expectations
how you can use periods of slower sales to your advantage
getting back to basics - expenses, inventory, systems, pricing, marketing, creative practice
selling seconds, mystery bundles and making the most of odds and ends
do your customers know all the things you do? Are you communicating?!
know your numbers! (and use them to make good decisions)
reviewing your raw materials (and can you team up with somebody to make bulk wholesale orders?)
should you get a part-time job or some short term contract jobs or even a side hustle?
lean into your email list in 2024 (and how to do that!)
show your passion - it draws people to you
remember that boundaries, constraints and limitations are breeding grounds for creativity - use the challenge of a slow economy to flex your creative muscles and thrive
planning and preparing for challenges will make you feel stronger, more confident and calmer
Mentioned In This Episode:
- Episode 54: Pailin Chongchitnant and Getting Started with Patreon
- Sign Up for Our Newsletter
- Episode 140: Heather Travis and Launching a Solo Art Exhibit
- Jab, Jab, Jab Right Hook by Gary Vaynerchuk
- Episode 80: Get Ready for Craft Market Season with Louisa Hrennikoff of Luli Designs
- Episode 48: What Can You Do to Earn $100 Right Now? <-- one of my personal favourite episodes!
- Episode 61: Your Logo is Not Your Brand (So What Is?)
- Episode 86: Kristen Raney - Urban Gardener, Floral Artist and Content Entrepreneur
- Episode 99: Growing Your Creative Business with Ebooks - with Kristen Raney
- Episode 92: 20 Email Newsletter Ideas for Creatives (That Aren't Too Salesy)
- Episode 45: How to Surprise and Delight Your Fans
- Episode 141: Stepping out From Behind Your Work with Photographer Michele Mateus
Did you know you can now directly support the podcast and help us keep creating great content you want to listen to? You can help here.
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