Customer Services & The Hard Sell

I was linked to this blog post the other day... artisansinthehills.blogspot.com and as someone who makes and sells my millinery at craft and vintage fairs as well as through the internet, it really hit home with me. I worked in the retail industry for many years and thought that this would stand me in good stead for the customer services side of the business, but I've found that its a completely different industry. In the retail world people come to a particular shop with a goal in mind. With craft and vintage fairs people come along either to browse or with money to spend but no idea what to expect. I'll admit that I've found it really hard at times to sell at come craft and vintage fairs and I know its not due to the quality of my products its due to my selling technique. I have confidence that what I produce is high quality, unique millinery and that my price points are fair and reflect the time and materials used. What I struggle with is interacting with my customers. I'm not really a shy person but I don't feel that 'the hard sell' is appropriate, and I don't want to scare a potential customer off by babbling away to them about how my product is made... but then what should I do/say??

This post Folksy.blog is very helpful in terms of giving you ideas for what to say to potential customers... I particularly like the idea of practising your sales technique and will be roping my partner in for a little practice soon!

So here is my top 5 tips for selling at craft fairs.

1. Be friendly and approachable: Always smile and say hello to people browsing your stall. They might not buy from you but a smile costs nothing and a potential buyer is more likely to purchase from the happy seller. This is really important even if you are having a bad day. I did a vintage fair a while ago and I was feeling really down and dejected and it showed. I sold very little, did very little networking and had no follow up emails or orders. When I'm positive and happy and I interact more with potential customers I always have a better time!
2. Don't sit behind a huge display: Either stand where you are visible or sit on a high directors chair so that people can find you.
3. If you can take credit cards or Paypal, do: I recently discovered a Paypal application for the Ipad and its proven to be a great help at craft fairs when someone really falls in love with a product but doesn't have enough cash on them!
4. Talk about your products: don't be scared to make contact with your potential customers. If they appear to be showing an interest in your products then tell them a little about it. what was your inspiration behind the product?? Tell them! 
5. Do you make custom items/make to order?? Then tell your potential customer: I always let a potential customer know that as well as the items I have with me that day on the stall, there are also more items available on the website and that I can make to order to match or compliment an outfit. I always point out my business cards/postcards with all my contact information. A great deal of my business comes from custom orders! And... if you do get follow up emails/enquiries from potential customers answer them promptly!

And... while on the subject of Craft and Vintage Fairs... here's where I'll be selling over the next couple of weeks!!

12th December from 12 noon til 7pm - Granny Would Be Proud: Alternative Craft & Vintage Fair @ Hillhead Bookclub, Glasgow. 

18th December from 12 noon til 4pm - V For Vintage @ Teviot House, Edinburgh

Little Black Dress

I ADORE vintage fashion and have a huge admiration and respect for Coco (Gabrielle) Chanel. Last month I finally got round to watching Coco Before Chanel staring Audrey Tautou. A great film and a fantastic performance by Audrey!

 As it gets more into the party season I was thinking about looking for a new dress, a little black dress to be precise! And the LBD as many of you will know is of course attributed Coco Chanel. It is simple in its elegance, versatile, and as a fashion rule is a wardrobe staple, every woman should own one! Last year my LBD was a very fetching Grecian draped maternity dress and so the search is on for something new! 

While having a search around some of my favourite vintage shops on-line I found this lovely little number from The Frockery! It is really stunning, with tiny black beads on the skirt and silver beads around the bust. I love it, and with a price tag of only £30 + postage its a bargain!! Hmmmmm... may have to go count my pennies!!

The Frockery - Black Beaded Dress £30

Snow, Snow and More Snow!!

As everyone who lives in the UK will be aware, we have had rather a lot of snow over the past couple of weeks and its been causing no end of problems for us here in Scotland. Yesterday the majority of Scotland's motorways were closed as a result of the weather, as where most of our airports!

The cold, wintry weather reminds me so much of the time in spent in Finland on my Nursing placement at Satakunta University and Hospital in Pori. When I arrived in Pori (on January 3rd) it was -17 degrees and there was at least 1m snow everywhere. But, regardless of the weather the plane landed safely, the trains where running, road where opened and schools continued to function!! We are so unprepared for the bad weather here in the UK, and I will admit that I am not venturing out with a 5 month baby in this weather on my own!

Pori was such a beautiful place and I really wish I had spent more time sightseeing and taking photos. Its where I first discovered a love for Ice Hockey, popping into the local rink on Sunday mornings to watch the junior games! They had some very talented kids out there! And I will never forget just how amazing it was to go ice skating on and outdoor rink in the snow! Hopefully someday I will make it back over for a visit!

And.... I'm back!

I've been rather neglectful of my blog for a while so please excuse me! Since I last wrote I have become Mummy to a gorgeous little girl named Kaylee. It has taken up rather a lot of my time, but I wouldn't change it for the world! So to keep this post short and sweet... I'll simply say I'm back... with a newly designed blog page and a new partner in my writing! Its time to introduce Kaylee!!

Introducing the Bump!

While we we're on holiday in Whitby this April we had the chance to meet up with the lovely Ange (Gothindulgence) and her fiance Charlie to have some photos taken of Alan, Me and the Bump to commemorate this amazing part of our lives together... and here are just a few of the results!

The Importance of Voting

Today is May 6th... today in the UK we all have the chance to have our say in who should be in control of running our country on our behalf. Now I'm not going to tell you who I plan to vote for today or how you should cast your vote. Instead I really want to remind people just how important it is to use your vote and be counted.

I've heard people say that the importance of voting pre-supposes that there is a party worth voting for, well there are many parties standing for election in the UK today and each one has their own political agenda. Be a smart voter and research each parties manifesto for yourself, vote for what you believe are the most important issues for you and your circumstances. Don't vote for any one party because you like the look of their leader, or its your favourite colour. People died to give us the right to democracy and the freedom to vote. As a woman I find it particularly important to have my say in political matters, after all it was only in 1918 that we were granted this right. There are many countries out there where people do not enjoy the rights and freedoms that we do here in the UK, we should be grateful for having the chance to voice our opinion and to bring about political change!

So I guess I'll see you all at the polling station! Its your vote - use it!

Changes

Its been a while since I posted and there have been some major changes in my life. In November last year when I though I was suffering from yet another common cold, I was actually starting to grow a tiny little life... yep I was actually pregnant!!

I'm now almost 30 weeks along and starting to get things organised for our little bundle of joy! Along with my partner this past bank holiday Monday I've decorated the living room and have two walls in the bedroom that I want to paint a deep shade of purple before I set up the moses basket ready for the baby. But someone at work told me that its bad luck to set up the nursery before the little one actually arrives, so it got me thinking about old wives tales and baby superstitions.

Here are some of the ones I've come across which searching today:

• Choosing the pram before the baby is born is quite safe, but it must not be delivered to the home until after the baby is born.
• In parts of North Yorkshire it is the custom when visiting the new baby for the first time, to place a silver coin in it's hand.
• Carrying a new baby three times around the house will protect the child from colic.
• It was also believed that teething troubles could be eased if the gums were rubbed with the mother's gold wedding ring.