Expanding your world

Seek It Out has linked up with Craft Blog UK so you guys who follow us can find even more useful stuff on their blog too.  So many helpful hints, tips, how to's etc. out there in the bigger blog world and we want to help Seek It Out followers find them easily.

Seek It Out: Changing the world a stitch at a time

Craft Tips for Newbies No 4

Crochet in a round, working the work in one piece to form a tube like structure often used for bags. Use a safety pin to mark row starting points as hard to find start sometimes, move up each row and then you will always know the start point to ensure you do not end up with 1/2 row extra! Our crochet and felt starter kit bag is worked in the round, check it out.

Seek It Out: Changing the world a stitch at a time

CraftTips‬ for newbies No3

Knitting needles come in many lengths, use shorter ones when starting out easier to control.

Seek It Out: Changing the world a stitch at a time

Marketing what is it?

Selling on-line only, selling through small local craft fairs or a retail giant, marketing is vital for all.  We cannot buy something if we do not know it exists, your potential clients have to first discover your products exists, find a desire or reason to have and finally decide to buy.  A lot of steps to the point of sale, get it wrong and you will simply not sell.

Marketing is…..

• Marketing is powerful
• Marketing is cost effective
• Marketing is essential for growth
• Marketing is achievable by all

MARKETING IS A MINDSET – YOU MAKE IT HAPPEN

What is marketing? Simple answer everything…….

Marketing takes many forms and can cost from nothing to millions, but it is a vital for every business. Marketing is a journey, with an end, many possible routes and often to be repeated in differing forms. It is many things brought together to achieve one goal.

What is the purpose of marketing? Marketing is all about building…..

• BUILDING YOUR BRAND (every business has a brand without fail)
• Building market share
• Building profits
• Building product range
• Building relationships
• Building reputation

It is not needed for my business, what can I use for a fast track approach, it is only advertising so not right for me, all things I hear and all are wrong, there are no miracle cures and no one can be let off the hook as marketing touches every business from UK PLC to charity, one man bands to multinationals.  The difference is found in the mix of methods, the spend and the repetition but again this varies even with like for like businesses.

Each business uses different techniques in varying ways there is no ‘one fits all’ solution is out there but one thing is proven you MUST use multiple methods of marketing.  Times and economies change fast these days, new likes and dislikes happen overnight, so even if not trend setters we must have our finger on the pulse to some degree.  This is not about fashion trends it is about the trends your clients are following, potential or current.  Lose sight of that and you will soon lose customers to someone who is paying attention not assuming they know or basing ideas on old information.

Step one, work out what you do in the way of marketing.  Traditional methods like adverts, be it in a magazine or Google Ads, or less obvious such as business networking, blogging, presenting a pretty show stand or shop window, even telling the girl on the check out at the supermarket what you do.  Sit, think and list all you do may take a while but you will be amazed. 

Next you must learn how to evaluate these methods, often people put too much emphasis on the one method that drives immediate sales, but are there secondary methods driving brand awareness so that your name sticks in the mind of consumers and helps drive sales but in a less obvious way.  Also important, are these methods portraying your business in the correct way and following the ethos of your business or could you make them better, are they good for your business?  Be tough, be honest and be realistic and never decide on a snap decision or head for comfort zone options, as you do not buy from yourself so it is your clients likes, needs, wants, hates etc. you must understand or pander to.

Have you ever heard of Marks and Spencer or M&S?  Stupid question I hear you say, well no it is not, they are a massive high street brand but yet every day they reduce their profits but adding to their costs, why?  Brand awareness, consumers have short memories and soon find alternatives so that is why M & S put the branding on everything from their sandwiches to their knickers as it reinforces the message that they are there, come and buy.  The message is thought through and brand images are tightly controlled to ensure continuity and appropriateness.  So even tiny weeny businesses should look at marketing as something that is intertwined in every aspect of their business every hour of the day, not just a costly or detached segment of running their business.  

Brought to you by the Seek It Out team

 Seek It Out: Changing the world a stitch at a time

CraftTips‬ for newbies No2

Helpful Craft Tips. Use the wool end from centre of the ball not outside, easier to control ball when knitting, wool jumps around less. 

Seek It Out: Changing the world a stitch at a time

(Guest Blog) Social Media – What to write about

This week we welcome the Sewing Directory as a Guest Blogger - huge thanks to them for this informative piece.

Social Media – What to write about

People are always saying you should get onto Facebook and Twitter or set up a blog to help build your business.  Where many people struggle is to know what to say on their social media accounts, most people know you shouldn’t go on about your products all the time, so what should you talk about?

Related products/services

If you sell fabric then why not share projects and tutorials which show people what to do with the fabric they buy from you?  Discuss sewing magazines or books.  All these things are complimentary to your products and will help to engage your followers.  If you have the time try and find projects made up with supplies that you sell so if someone loves the fabric featured they can buy it from you.  Or when posting a link you could say this would look great made up in this fabric (and link to one on your site).

Tips and How to Guides

People always appreciate advice; if you sell beads why not tell people about different storage options, different beading techniques or write a tutorial to share with people.  If you stock art supplies explain the difference between the different types of paint and when best to use them, demonstrate techniques, interview artists to get advice to share with your followers.

Show who is behind the business

People love to know who they are doing business with, maybe profile your company owners and staff on your blog, share pictures of them at shows or in the shop on Facebook.  Let people know about the history of the company, celebrate milestones with them and make them feel a part of your business.   It is a lot easier to relate to a person than to a faceless business.

Industry News & events

Keep an eye on key industry sites and magazines so you can share details of upcoming shows, new products and industry news with your followers.  If people know you are a good source of information they will keep coming back to you.

Your products and offers

Of course it is expected that you will also talk about your products and offers, just be careful to keep it to a minimum so you don’t spam people.   Facebook is ideal for sharing pictures of your new products, blogs give you a place to tell people what is coming soon or just in stock and tempting one liners on Twitter will get people clicking to see more eg. ‘Wow wait until you see what just arrived today...’

Promote others

It’s nice to promote complimentary businesses to yours through your social media, and often they will return the favour therefore getting both of you new fans and hopefully new customers.  For instance if you sell quilting fabrics but not wadding you could tell people about good places to buy wadding.  You could also tell people where to get their quilts long arm quilted and then hopefully when they get customers looking for fabric they will send them your way and hopefully mention you on their social media accounts.

General chat

Social media is all about being social, think about what you would discuss with someone you just met in real life – the weather, what was on TV last night, what is in the news etc.  Personally I think business accounts/blogs should be kept mainly to business but that doesn’t mean there’s no space for a little bit of general chit chat, and ironically those kinds of posts tend to have a good response rate too!

Hopefully the above will give you a few ideas about what content you could use for your updates.  In time you will find what works best for you.  Keep an eye on your stats (follower numbers, views per post on Facebook, Twitter interactions and retweets, page hits on your blog and whether your web stats increase following your posts) to see what gives you the best result. 

This post was written by Fiona Pullen from The SewingDirectory For more social media advice including detailed guides on using Facebook, Twitter and setting up a blog please visit: http://www.thesewingdirectory.co.uk/business-articles/


SEEK IT OUT: Chaning the world a stitch at a time

We are off guest blogging...why not follow us

The Sewing Directory is where you must go to read our latest blog.  WHAT IS MARKETING?  A broad overview for those in business, food for thought and ideas to help you make the most of your business.
http://www.thesewingdirectory.co.uk/what-is-marketing/

CraftTips‬ for newbies No1

Knitting pins and knitting needles are one and the same.Confusing we know!


Seek It Out Changing the world a stitch at a time

Cutting your cloth accordingly

We hear much of make do and mend just now but not sure we are quite back to unpicking hand knitted jumpers to re knit.  However, it is clear that the mix of recession and environmental worries has got the public thinking.

Simple things can be achieved, we all know that clothing bargains can be found in charity shops but so can many other things.  Old quilt covers can make fantastic simple curtains or blinds, sheets to line those curtains, old jumpers to make hot water bottle covers or even iPad covers.  The ideas are endless, all we need to do is think of alternative uses for everyday items.

The dress for Africa from pillow cases is a brilliant but simple idea, helping to give little girls a dress of their own.  Another we love here at Seek It Out is Turtle Doves, a very clever lady who makes old jumpers into the best ever gloves and more.  Those gloves are winter kit for the SIO team.  So I am sure if you sit a while and just look at everything around you, you will soon have a brain wave and be making bags from old denim's, discovering charity shops all over again and learning new cost effective ways to buy bargains to turn into something new.

Seek It Out: changing the world a stitch at a time.
ButtonBag sewing tin available on the Seek It Out website

Know your market

Hi Janie here again with another guest blog - thanks SIO for letting me revisit you.

When did you last ask your clients what they feel about your products, your staff, your service or your display at a show?  In business we all assume too much, as we often are scared to ask or it just never occurs to us.  Feedback forms or informal asks are not just for big business, they can be used by all.  

Does your website ask how they found you in a useful way?  I mean if you ask visitors how they found you and the only answer is 'in a magazine' how will you know which one you advertise in is driving most traffic.  We often pop codes into special offers to track this sort of activity but not everyday traffic.  Analytics can tell you on line to on line but not when some one picked up a magazine in the dentist or in WH Smiths and found you that way!  In the weeks ahead I will continue to bring you snippets of ideas of how you might get a deep insight into your clients not just a bit of an insight.

Unlocking the door on your customer's feelings might just save you a fortune in more than misplaced advertising.

Seek It Out: changing the world a stitch at a time

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Heat wave or Hurricane - half term blues....

One moment we are basking in the heat and next sloshing around in wellies.  Heating off, heating on, never sure what to do for the best.  Half term fun seriously limited by the weather which is a shame but not the end of the world.  A Seek It Out follower recently told me how she had fun with her house full of her & other's kids, all climbing the walls as all the outdoor activities were cancelled. Determined not to have the day spent in front of the TV or on the Xbox she decided to have a competition. Had to be simple and fun as she only had one other adult in the house to help plus a mixed group of kids.

Clear they had to use what they had at home, so T towels were the order of the day.  Out with the sewing machine (adults to be the machinists for the teams), the bits and bobs box (old ribbon, odd buttons, bits of gift wrapping etc.) and some fabric remnants. The kiddies were asked for ideas, adults worked out if they could make the item with what they had and then in teams of three they started project number one.  To make a simple tote bag from a T towel.  Each team was told to work on their own design and look, with some adult support but only when asked for.  Several hours and several cookie breaks later all bags were complete.  The differences were amazing considering everyone was in the same room. Competition was lively but healthy which made it all the more exciting.  There were three bags in total, one had long handles, the other two short.  One had an internal pocket with a button flap and another a bottle strap inside.  Colours varied, some using mixed T towel pieces for contrasting effect and so the variations went on. Their attention to detail was really good, helped by a practical briefing from the adults on how it needed to be strong and robust if a bag.

 

The kids were really chuffed with their efforts and keen for more, no one slinked off to the computer or TV.  In fact so keen they wanted to do something else, after much thought and more rummaging two more projects came out, TV remote tidy bags for sofa arms using from fabric remnants and decorated napkin rings using fabric and beads from a broken necklace.

Just shows when we are pushed we really are a clever bunch, pulling rabbits out of the hat without hardly a thought.  I have to add my pal is creative but she is no keen crafter, so this was a big deal but it worked a treat.  What could you do with your kids, a bake off or craft off?

Do not let the rain clouds spoil your fun. Remember we love to post great projects on our gallery.

Seek It Out: changing the world a stitch at a time

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Pink lemonade & summer time....

Sunshine is amazing, suddenly we lose the drab colours of winter not only in our gardens but also in our clothes.  Last weekend we heard that half the nation was busy having BBQ's and that got our imaginations going.  How can you jazz up a BBQ to make it extra special.  Adorn the garden or patio with bunting, use a pretty length of oil cloth to set off the table and dot tea lights around to add to the party feel.  For many juicy burgers and plump sausages are the main feature but for some it is fish parcels lovingly seasoned with fresh herbs and wrapped into little foil bundles to cook on the BBQ. The recipe options are endless and the side dishes can be simple yet delicious. 

What if you have no outside space, well the answer is simple have your BBQ indoors, but change the BBQ for the grill and have your very own grill-y-Q.  Pop the table by an open window, hang your bunting around the window, make a simple table runner from a scrap of cloth or even a pretty tea towel.  Indoor picnics of all types are fun, a winner with little ones and it means you do not have to mind the rain showers or get sand in your sandwiches.  You can still have paper plates, even put a picnic blanket on the lounge floor, the possibilities are endless.

So what to drink, how about some good old recipes such as Pink Lemonade or Lemon and Lime. Perfect in a flask for the designated driver if you are off in the car to the Proms in the Park or a country picnic. Want to add some zing then a splash of vodka, gin or brandy works well. Here is a simple easy to follow recipe which you can scale up or down to suit, we worked on serving 6 people. You can make this the day before and keep in the fridge.  Also you could substitute some of the sugar for the low calorie sugars now available.

Pink Lemonade  

1 1/4 cups of sugar (if using unsweetened cranberry juice, 1 cup if using sweetened)
4 cups water (divided into 1 cup and 3 cups)
1 cup cranberry juice (try to get not from concentrate usually found in the chiller section)
1 cup lemon juice (you can use freshly squeezed or bottled from the supermarket)
Ice cubes optional / slices of lemon optional

Method

1 Make a syrup by heating all the sugar and 1 cup of the water in a small pan until the sugar is completely dissolved. Remove from heat as soon as all sugar is dissolved.

2 Stir together the remaining water, cranberry juice, lemon juice and syrup you just made, stir well. Make adjustments to taste by adding more sugar if needed. Chill for an hour and then add ice if desired but not too much or it will water it down and top off with the lemon slices, again optional.  Stir just before serving

Lemon and Lime

1 1/2 cups of sugar
4 cups water (divided into 1 cup and 3 cups)
1 cup lime juice (you can use freshly squeezed or bottled from the supermarket)
1 cup lemon juice (you can use freshly squeezed or bottled from the supermarket)
Ice cubes optional / slices of lemon & lime optional

Method

Make a syrup by heating all the sugar and 1 cup of the water in a small pan until the sugar is completely dissolved. Remove from heat as soon as all sugar is dissolved.

Stir together the remaining water, lime juice, lemon juice and syrup you just made, stir well. Make adjustments to taste by adding more sugar if needed. Chill for an hour and then add ice if desired but not too much or it will water it down and top off with the lemon & lime slices, again optional.  Stir just before serving.

 

Seek It Out: changing the world, a stitch at a time!

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Jubilee Mania

With the big build up to the Jubilee, the games and a summer of Rule Britannia just wonder how many will have a lasting legacy to remember.  Will it just be a crumpled rain splattered row of paper butting to remind you or something far more special.


A special picnic with lots of photo's to keep the memories alive.  A family or solo project to make the decorations, bake a special cake or create something fashionable to last long after the moment has gone.  What could you do to give your Jubilee more of an impact - the possibilities are endless.  The important thing is to look back later and smile as the memories flood back.

So are you ready, only days to go and what have you decided to do.  You do not have to follow the Union Jack theme, you can create anything you like.  Knit a hat or crochet a cushion cover in any colour safe in the knowledge that every time you put on your hat or plump up your cushion you will know that was your very own Jubilee project.  So better get cracking spring will not last long, it will be Jubilee and summer before you know it!

Seek It Out: changing the world a stitch at a time.

No longer just cabbages & kings

Here at Seek It Out HQ we are always being surprised by the amazing imagination the public has.  We have just taken delivery of some fantastic wool felt brooches from Felt So Good and we were discussing what you might use them for, well the obvious such as adding to a bag or a coat came first.  Curtain tie back additions was next and then topping off a present to make it totally special, shame Mother's day has passed.  We will match some up with some of our SeeKITout craft kits as well as selling them standalone to let people decide for themselves.

What we want to know is what clever use you might have for them ?  How could you use them in a craft project?  Like all our customers buying goodies from the Seek It Out site, we will encourage those buying the brooches to send in a picture of their brooch in use so we can show off their idea on our gallery.  After all, we love to give our customers a moment of fame as a thank you. 

We wonder if you did a survey in the street would people say they thought Brits to be creative or not, whatever the outcome we know you are a very creative and busy lot.  It is something we should all shout about, time for those who craft to come out of the shadows and spread the fun to everyone.  Crafting is after all KING!


Seek It Out: Changing the world a stitch at a time!

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Being social is not always so wise

 

Welcome to our guest blogger Janie, who is going to be a regular part of the SIO blog team.  Janie is a specialist in small business support and advice.

 

Firstly, thanks to Seek It Out for inviting me to add to the SIO blogs, quite an honour I can say.  Hello to you all, especially the small business owners amongst you or those longing to escape the hamster wheel of employment for the, tough but worthwhile, world of self-employment.  When invited, I will be adding blog posts on running a business, ideas on how you can avoid pitfalls, ways to market and other similar topics.

Being social is not always so wise! 

 

Strange heading you might think but social networking does not always pay dividends.  Sometimes as small business owners we muddy the waters between personal and business, this can apply in social networking. Doing this we act from the heart not our business head.

The other day I saw some comments by few disgruntled stall holders at an event, cross because the venue was cold and draughty.  This was a two day event and these comments appeared on Twitter at the end of day one.  Fine to let off steam but why do it where potential attendees might see.  Those potential attendees may take one look and decide to spend the next day elsewhere.  That hurts your bottom line, your secondary marketing (raising brand awareness), and makes you publically the cause.  So not only might you annoy the event organiser, fair you may say, but you will possibly annoy other stall holders who also lose out if folks stay away.  Those stall holders could be ambassadors for your business long after the event, but not if they feel you have spoilt their take or reputation.  Tell the event organiser, constructive feedback good or bad is vital in business, but do it directly not from a soap box or your business might be the real loser.

 

Keep your personal views where only those close to you can see them. How would you feel if that was one of your products or services someone was publically decrying from a social media soap box, you would be devastated. Do not kick your business it has done nothing wrong, instead help it to thrive & survive by avoiding pitfalls like these!

Thanks for letting me ramble, hope it was informative and look forward to the next episode. Janie

Seek It Out: changing the world a stitch at a time.

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