One of the most asked questions that designers and makers ask me when I run workshops about selling or trade shows, or The Design Trust Get Clients Now! coaching programme is: How do I approach a craft gallery or design shop successfully? I always want to give practical and honest advice, whatever it is about. [...] Read more »
Book review: Clare Rayner’s ‘How to sell to retailers’ – a must-read for small designers who want to sell to big retailers
Do you want to sell your design products to big retailers such as John Lewis, Liberty’s or Habitat? But do you find it hard to ‘get a foot in the door’? Don’t really know what the best ways are to approach buyers, and how to get pass the buyer’s PA? Do you think you are [...] Read more »
Exclusive Business Club webinar: ‘How small designers can sell to big retailers’ with The Retail Champion Clare Rayner
Do you want to know how to: sell to retailers such as John Lewis, Habitat or Heals successfully (and bypass the buyer’s PA)? make your (very small!) business look professional and credible so that buyers will take an interest in your products or services? position yourself correctly in a very crowded market? create a brand [...] Read more »
Exclusive Design Trust webinar: What retailers want you to know – with Clare Yuille of Indie Retail Academy
When you decided to become a designer or crafts person, the main attraction probably wasn’t the thought of pitching your work to retailers and shops, right? However you feel about it, there’s no getting away from the fact that a successful wholesale business is built on two things: 1. the utter amazingness of the [...] Read more »
Exclusive Business Club webinar: ‘Making the most of your (Christmas) craft fair’ with Patricia van den Akker
Are you participating in a (Christmas) craft fair later this year? Are you getting stressed out about it? Want to really make sure that you are making the most from this opportunity? Please note this webinar covers Christmas craft fair, but is still relevant if you are looking for help to prepare you for most [...] Read more »
The Design Doctor: How do I find a sales agent?
“Dear Design Doctor I’m a jewellery designer who has previously specialised in making one-off and limited edition precious jewellery. I am in the process of making some major changes to my business, with a focus away from galleries towards larger retailers. I have become frustrated by the Sale or Return culture of galleries, and I [...] Read more »
The Design Trust Guide to Start & Run a Successful Craft Business
I wrote this guide to help creative people get clarity and direction in how to start and run their own small craft business. It gives lots of practical advice and information, but also looks at the big picture. Setting up as a freelancer or sole trader can be really daunting. There are so many things [...] Read more »
The Design Doctor: my retail client hasn’t paid, what can I do?
Dear Design Doctor I really hope you can give some advice on what I can do about late and non payers!! Sadly with the state of things at the moment in the economy, it is becoming more common that buyers aren’t paying their bills or just taking their time about it. I have had late [...] Read more »
The Design Doctor: Help, a department store wants to place a bulk order
Dear Design Doctor I have a company wanting to take my products to a meeting with a very large department store, and they have requested information from me as below: prices per unit when ordered in batches 25/50/100/200/500/1000? to provide lead times on above amount? can i give Exclusivity? Is this product covered by your [...] Read more »
The Design Doctor: How to make terms & conditions for my graphic design business?
Dear Design Doctor I am a graphic designer and I need to make my terms and conditions. Can I just use somebody else’s or do I need to have this written up by a solicitor? The Design Doctor for this topic is Patricia van den Akker, Director of The Design Trust: “Terms and conditions [...] Read more »