Hand coloured print 2008 - Louise Pfanner
Part of my Bizness Babes course is to be doing some market research, including finding my target market, costing and for me trying to figure out what people want. I am slowly and somewhat reluctantly coming to the understanding that I need to be thinkng outside of what I really love, because my style is very specific and not necessarily the style of my target market.
It was so beneficial to bump into Siena's grandmother Louise Pfanner today at the shops and have a really good (although interrupted by me having to chase a VERY fast Eva) chat about making your art commercial.
My Shadow Box -Louise Pfanner
Louise has been in the art world her whole life and is very successful and it was enlightening to hear about her hits and misses. She revealed interesting facts about colours and what people are drawn to, for example, pink and green will always be attractive to the majority but purple and orange is not a combination a lot of people will be drawn to. Also, learning to follow trends, keeping our handmade feel and complimenting it with what is current. Thanks for the insight Lousie. (She also told me she is going to teach me to embroider! Can't wait!)
Louise's website is lovely and very droolworthy. How much do you love that first print? My favourite.
5 comments:
Her prints are great - how clever!
Great post Sophie - I think I know what people like then a design hardly sells. Then I may have one I don't like as much and I sell dozens. Sometimes I get it right but not always.
Good luck and thank you for sharing the great stuff you are learning.
x
Her prints are so sweet! And how wonderful for you to have found a mentor for this aspect of your business :)
Beautiful prints. What a fantastic person to be so close to. I found the whole market research thing very difficult when I did Biz babes, I had no idea of where to start. Sounds like you have it all under control.
Oh I coul go on about this one forever but I will save you from my ramblings. I will say that I think that you have to do what you believe in and then hope it sells, within reason. I think there is no use making something, on a mass production scale that you don't love that you know will sell - what is the use. The best idea I can come up with is doing a few different things to appeal to more people and if you sell more than expected don't be afraid to make the last one a sample and not sell it and see if people are happy to take orders for it. If there is a line that isn't selling then don't be afraid to just not do it, if after a couple of tried it is still not working.
Like I said to you before, I think that doing a limited number of markets makes it so easy to have hit and miss days and you really can't read too much into it as hard as it is not too (trust me when I say I know).
Not that I really have any idea what I am doing either. It is late, best I stop waffling
Sophie it was wonderful to meet you today. I am still buzzing from the day and think it so rewarding to see how you guys all have wonderful idea's then put them to action!! Must do coffee??
xo Steph
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