What It's About
Today's listener makes and sells one-of-a-kind art for a premium price. How can she expand with a set of lower-cost pins?
Notes from Chris
Episode 1684
A business requires three things: a product or service, a customer, and a way to exchange money for the product or service. The last one is the easiest, so that leaves product and customer. Do you choose to focus first on the product, and then think about who the customer is, or the other way around? Well, it’s kind of a trick question, because either approach can be right—they just require a different process. Let’s look at this in the real world. Today’s listener makes enamel pins with brain imagery on them. These pins are loved by neuroscientists and other professionals who work with the brain—but how can she break into the larger wholesale market?"Hi, Chris, this is Laura Bundesen from western Massachusetts, and I've been listening to the show for about two years, I've been side hustling as an artist specializing in brain imagery for over six years, and I'm going full-time next month. My question is, what is the most effective way of launching my enamel brained pins wholesale and getting them into the right hands at museum and hospital gift shops nationally? The pins are high-quality enamel designed by me, manufactured in China. They are loved by neuroscientists, neurologists, psychologists and others who work with the brain, or people who have brain injuries or illnesses. I've thought about emailing links and sending samples and fun and different packaging. Or I'm also wondering if I should go the more traditional route of the big expensive gifts show. Thanks so much for all you do to help all of us out here. It's invaluable."Listen to today's episode to learn more...
MENTIONED IN THIS EPISODE:
- Checkout Laura’s shop at her website, LauraBundesen.com.
- Cocktail Lovers Earn Liquid Profits from Boozy Pins: An expat couple captures the spirit of their favorite drinks with punny cocktail pins.
- Q&A: What is the business need that art fulfills?: For a lot of our stories, it’s clear what need is being met. But what about art? Among other things, this caller makes needle-felted fuzzies. What problem is she solving and what solution is she offering?
- TBT: Subversive Snarky Hand-Stamped Jewelry: In this week’s “Throwback Thursday / Where are they now?” segment, we hear from a maker in Arkansas who builds her brand on a proudly-feminist foundation.
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