Showing posts with label consulting. Show all posts
Showing posts with label consulting. Show all posts
Thursday, September 15, 2011
Branding E-Course Just In Time For Back To School
It's back to school time and if you're anything like me September always brings on feelings of needing to take a class, add a new skill, or at the least visit a bookstore (I was an English major). If you're feeling the urge to learn, especially something new related to your business, you're in luck. Lightbox SF just launched a new e-course focused on defining your brand identity and target market called Ink Yourself.
This is the first phase we walk all of our one-on-one clients through as we feel it is the most crucial of building blocks for a successful creative business. After all it's hard to market a business you can't sum up in a simple sentence or to a group of people who's needs you don't understand.
For Ink Yourself: Discover Your Unique Story we've taken the information, advice, and insight we give to our clients over the first 2-4 meetings and packaged it into 5 weekly installments of a lesson, assignment and follow-up. The idea is smaller digestible chunks, but in a shorter period of time. Each Monday you'll receive an email with a link to download that week's lesson and assignment. Then on Thursdays you'll receive another email with further insights and a little added motivation. We've also set up a forum so that you can share questions, experience and successes with the group. We want to you to finish this course with new friends in addition to a more polished brand and clear idea of your target market.
The course begins this Monday, September 19th so register now!
I encourage comments directly to this post, but also feel free to email me directly with questions, reactions, struggles, etc. genevieve [at] lightboxsf [dot] com
If you're an Etsy seller in the San Francisco Bay Area, contact Jen from Mama's Magic Studio about joining SFEtsy!
Thursday, July 21, 2011
What Is Lightbox SF Anyway?
Today I'm going to do a little self-promotion because honestly I'm still feeling a bit blocked and things just aren't flowing the way I'd like them too.
I'll start with what we do at Lightbox SF and then tell you about all the cool stuff we have coming up in August (part of the reason I'm feeling a little overwhelmed these days). The short version is Shelly and I are creative coaches for creative businesses. We focus on branding, marketing, time management and organization. We teach you how to do it for yourself, we don't do it for you. Most important to our way of working with clients is that we really listen to where you're at, what you do, and what you're struggling with to then help you focus on and put to work your best assets and strengths. We find that most of our clients already have a good idea of what they need to do with their business and where they want to take it, they're just stuck with where to start and the enormousness of it all. We just help to put it all in a framework that feels less overwhelming and gets you where you need to and want to go.
Currently we meet with clients one-on-one for hour long sessions, where we talk through struggles, impart advice and resources, and give you homework to complete before your next meeting. We have a 3 phase process, the first focusing on branding and identity, the second focusing on marketing and social media, and the third focuses on building community. Throughout our meetings we also provide advice and exercises that help you keep balance between your work life and personal life.
Shelly also works with clients specifically on time management and organization over the phone in a program we call Creating Space. She holds you accountable to goals you set together and helps you through the stuck times in weekly 20 minute phone sessions. A bit cheerleader, therapist and nag all rolled into short digestible sessions.
We're also working on a series of e-courses that will allow you to work through our 3 phases at home for those of you who prefer to really do it yourself with minimal guidance. The e-courses are also a little easier on your budget. We're planning to start the first one in September with sign-ups announced in mid-August, so watch for that.
To get a taste for our style you could attend our Brand of You seminar at CCE on Sunday, August 7th. The Conference for Creative Entrepreneurs (CCE) runs the whole weekend right here in San Francisco at the Women's Building. Shelly and I are both so excited to be a part of this amazing weekend, just check out this line up.
Another way to get to know us a bit before you jump in is at one of the mixers we hold every few months. Our next one will be August 11th. This time around we're trying something new by having a question board. We will encourage all attendees to bring a question or two on branding and representation that we will write up on the board and allow the group to chime in with their thoughts and experience. Kind of like a forum in real life. The following day we'll post all the questions with their answers on our blog so you don't need to worry about missing a thing. Most of the night will be about meeting other creative people and just having a good time. We'll announce full details soon.
And finally we run a photography project called 200 Yards that will celebrating its first year and 5th show on August 4th at Cafe Royale. The quick concept is this: We pick an alternative gallery space, map a radius of 200 yards (about a block in each direction) with the venue as a center point and then put out a call to photographers to take photos within the radius. The photographers then submit their best shots and we curate a show that is held at center point of the radius. Our 4th show is currently on display at Dickerman Prints Photo Lab.
I encourage you to check out our website, ask questions, and best of all come see us at our mixer on August 11th.
I encourage comments directly to this post, but also feel free to email me directly with questions, reactions, struggles, etc. genevieve@lightboxsf.com
If you're an Etsy seller in the San Francisco Bay Area, contact Jen from Mama's Magic Studio about joining SFEtsy!
I'll start with what we do at Lightbox SF and then tell you about all the cool stuff we have coming up in August (part of the reason I'm feeling a little overwhelmed these days). The short version is Shelly and I are creative coaches for creative businesses. We focus on branding, marketing, time management and organization. We teach you how to do it for yourself, we don't do it for you. Most important to our way of working with clients is that we really listen to where you're at, what you do, and what you're struggling with to then help you focus on and put to work your best assets and strengths. We find that most of our clients already have a good idea of what they need to do with their business and where they want to take it, they're just stuck with where to start and the enormousness of it all. We just help to put it all in a framework that feels less overwhelming and gets you where you need to and want to go.
Currently we meet with clients one-on-one for hour long sessions, where we talk through struggles, impart advice and resources, and give you homework to complete before your next meeting. We have a 3 phase process, the first focusing on branding and identity, the second focusing on marketing and social media, and the third focuses on building community. Throughout our meetings we also provide advice and exercises that help you keep balance between your work life and personal life.
Shelly also works with clients specifically on time management and organization over the phone in a program we call Creating Space. She holds you accountable to goals you set together and helps you through the stuck times in weekly 20 minute phone sessions. A bit cheerleader, therapist and nag all rolled into short digestible sessions.
We're also working on a series of e-courses that will allow you to work through our 3 phases at home for those of you who prefer to really do it yourself with minimal guidance. The e-courses are also a little easier on your budget. We're planning to start the first one in September with sign-ups announced in mid-August, so watch for that.
To get a taste for our style you could attend our Brand of You seminar at CCE on Sunday, August 7th. The Conference for Creative Entrepreneurs (CCE) runs the whole weekend right here in San Francisco at the Women's Building. Shelly and I are both so excited to be a part of this amazing weekend, just check out this line up.
Another way to get to know us a bit before you jump in is at one of the mixers we hold every few months. Our next one will be August 11th. This time around we're trying something new by having a question board. We will encourage all attendees to bring a question or two on branding and representation that we will write up on the board and allow the group to chime in with their thoughts and experience. Kind of like a forum in real life. The following day we'll post all the questions with their answers on our blog so you don't need to worry about missing a thing. Most of the night will be about meeting other creative people and just having a good time. We'll announce full details soon.
And finally we run a photography project called 200 Yards that will celebrating its first year and 5th show on August 4th at Cafe Royale. The quick concept is this: We pick an alternative gallery space, map a radius of 200 yards (about a block in each direction) with the venue as a center point and then put out a call to photographers to take photos within the radius. The photographers then submit their best shots and we curate a show that is held at center point of the radius. Our 4th show is currently on display at Dickerman Prints Photo Lab.
I encourage you to check out our website, ask questions, and best of all come see us at our mixer on August 11th.
I encourage comments directly to this post, but also feel free to email me directly with questions, reactions, struggles, etc. genevieve@lightboxsf.com
If you're an Etsy seller in the San Francisco Bay Area, contact Jen from Mama's Magic Studio about joining SFEtsy!
Thursday, April 21, 2011
Customers - You Can Learn So Much From Them
Shelly and I have been taking on a lot of new clients lately, yeah for us, and it's made me shift my focus a little on what it is people are really looking for when they come to us. This is great because it's allowed us to focus more and also kickstart the development of a few products that have been gathering dust.
I bring this up for two reasons, first I think we can all learn from our customers when we listen to them, but this shift has also given me some insight into how and why people buy.
Learn From Your CustomersI want to encourage you to really look at what your customers are buying, what sort of feedback they give, and what they're general comments are. This insight will not only allow you to continue to produce meaningful products that sell, but will help to define your target audience.
Knowing who you're selling to allows you to find new needs you can fill, reach more of your audience, and more successfully market your business. If you realize that everyone who's buying your jewelry is over the age of 40, looks at your $60 necklaces as impulse buys, and lives in Marin County you'll know you're wasting your time trying to get into a hipster Mission boutique. Yeah to knowing where to focus your energy.
Additionally if you start getting feedback that buying your notebooks makes customers feel good because they're buying sustainably and they get tons of compliments about their great taste, you can use that in your marketing to attract even more customers who want to feel that way.
Ask for feedback, interact and be sure to note both what's working and what isn't. You may find that your favorite items just don't sell, but that little trinket you created to use up some scrap is your biggest seller. Use that knowledge to help you decide how to best put your creative energy to use.
Observations on Buying Habits
I can't profess to tell you that I know the secrets of why and how people buy. If I did I would be laying on my private beach in Mexico drinking a beer and eating guacamole instead of writing this blog post. Just saying. However, I have noticed a few things in the last year in trying to second guess my clients and give them what they want.
People really like something tangible they also like added value. Many of you are selling a product and are already working in the tangible, but I challenge you to also create a tangible benefit. Besides your product what do customers get from choosing you? Are you solving a problem? Do you fill a need? Do you confirm their image as cutting edge, a foodie, or socially conscious? The benefit you find is your added value and the answer to the question, "Why buy from you and not your competition?"
Those of you selling a service know this is sometimes a harder problem to solve. If you're offering consulting or coaching the results vary based on the individual and how much energy they put in, but if you can structure your services in such a way that you can offer tangible results if steps are followed the value of your service becomes more clear. And don't forget the added value part. You also have a distinction from your competition, key into the customers that want that benefit.
To put it simply you need to be as clear about what people are getting for their money as you can. Be sure to let them know about the additional warm fuzzy feelings, boost to cred, and self-care that come along with the purchase.
30-Minute Consults
If you're struggling with how to figure this out for yourself, Shelly and I can help. A lot of what we do is provide the outside perspective to look at your business and really key in on those added values and target market.
On Saturday, April 30th we're offering 30-minute free consultations between the hours of noon and 2pm. Book your session to get some initial insight and feedback as well as discuss how we might be able to help you further. Just send me an email and we'll book your time now.
I encourage comments directly to this post, but also feel free to email me directly with questions, reactions, struggles, etc. genevieve@lightboxsf.com
If you're an Etsy seller in the San Francisco Bay Area, contact Jen from Mama's Magic Studio about joining SFEtsy!
Tuesday, November 16, 2010
Mignonette Craftsulting - Growing your business just got awesomer
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| Growing businesses have to start somewhere [Photo by Steph Cortés] |
Let's face it: micro business owners have it hard. There's a lot to learn in a little amount of time if we want to be successful. And who doesn't want to be successful when it comes to something we love to do?
As a micro business owner of a crafty variety, I've found it particularly challenging to be able to step back and take a look at the "Big Picture." There are so many small day-to-day issues that come up and make big, messy piles of "To-Do"s that I pretty much feel like I'm always behind somehow.
And then I wonder how come I don't have more Etsy sales.
For those of us that feel like we need a better handle on what a crafty micro-business needs to thrive & grow in this Handmade Movement, there is help!
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| Kpoene' Kofi-Bruce from Mignonette Crafsulting [Photo courtesy of Kpoene' Kofi-Bruce] |
Inevitably, every crafter hits a point in their business life where they have to step back and decide what is going to happen next – expand? Turn it into a hobby? Put it down entirely? Sell at stores? Create a website? What about a business license? And which craft fairs are worth it? Am I charging enough for my products?
For a lot of people, and certainly for me, this crossroads has always felt so large and scary that it is easier just to put down the knitting (or jewelry, or fabric, or soapmaking supplies), and go watch tv instead. The business will wait until tomorrow. Or next week.
The problem is that it won’t – and you owe it to yourself to make it work.
This is the point where you need someone to come in with clear eyes and take a long hard look at your business – is it viable? Sustainable? If not, what needs to happen to make it that way?
Wouldn’t it be nice to know that someone else was writing product descriptions or looking over your business plan while you concentrated on making stuff? Wouldn’t you love to know how much you can charge for your items? And how do you go about approaching buyers?
For the next 6 weeks Mignonette Consulting is offering services free of charge to the fabulous readers of the SF Etsy blog!
Sign up for a free “Craftsultation” and let’s talk about what you need to get your crafty business to the next step.
- Free? Wait-What?
Yup. Free. But only for SF Etsy blog readers, and only through December 2010, so hurry up!
- Why?
Because I love crafters, darn it. No, seriously. Enough to give them a 100% discount.
- What Can I Get for the Low Price of Free?
Mignonette Consulting offers a thorough business workup for craft artists, including:
* Business Plan consultation
* Product Development Advice
* Line Sheets
* Blogging
* Product Descriptions
* Event and Newsletter Copy
* Merchandising and booth setup
* Approaching buyers
* Sourcing
* Identifying your market
* Are craft fairs right for your business?
* Getting your product ready to sell in stores
* Standing out on Etsy
* Working with interns
* Outsourcing
* Time management
* And more!
I understand how tough it can be to find the right name, right product line, even the right business, and I can offer individual attention, either online or in person, for your business.
- Why Should I Listen to Your Free Advice? Who the Heck Is this Mignonette Girl?
My name is Kpoene’ Kofi-Bruce, and I’m the owner of Mignonette Designs and the co-Founder of GoGoCraft. You may have seen me running a project at Craft Bar or running around in circles at the Maker Faire or Renegade.
Since I opened my business in 2003 I’ve done craft fairs all over the country, sold in stores, signed numerous consignment contracts, debated wholesaling, had interns, taken custom orders, planned two Craft Congresses, and created logos, linesheets, Etsy pages, blogs, and websites until they were coming out of my ears. In 2004 I started the Ladies Independent Design League to meet other women business owners and start sharing ideas, resources, and concerns. As the former Buyer and Store Manager for the Museum of Craft and Folk Art, I’ve helped a lot of small crafters get their work into stores, pricing it competitively and making sure it is up to snuff for a retail environment. I can walk you start to finish through getting your product ready to put in stores, getting your booth or website properly merchandised, breaking into (or bypassing) the craft fair world, even getting publicity.
Running a small business is difficult, and it is often doubly so for artists trying to sell their work in a retail environment. If you are a crafter who is ready to take your business to the next level, or even if you just need help describing your products, Mignonette Consulting is here to help!
- How Do I Take Advantage of This Service?
Send me an email at mignonetteconsulting@gmail.com with the subject line “SFEtsy” and let’s get started! And don’t worry if you’re not sure where to begin building the next step of your business – we’ll figure it out together!
Go Handmade!
Xo
Kpoene’
For something so valuable to come along for such a short amount of time, I would urge you to take the opportunity to get a "Craftsultation" as soon as possible! We've all gotta start somewhere - take the next step today!
If you're an Etsy seller in the San Francisco Bay Area, contact Jen from Mama's Magic Studio about joining SFEtsy!
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