Oh, wow! Where did January go? I know I was late in posting my goals, but boy, the month really
flew by!
As usual, I think I was a little over-ambitious in setting out my goals, but I also think this is more or less how I am. Maybe one month I'll surprise myself and actually accomplish everything I set out to do.. ha!
To review, here is what i wanted to accomplish in January:
1.
Hold sales consistent from last month.
I missed the mark on this one; January sales were only 2/3 of December, but I still doubled sales from November, so I'm giving myself partial credit.
2.
Get the online shops going in a serious way.
hmmm... I took a few pictures, but I wouldn't say I accomplished the "serious" part. This one stays.
3.
Wholesale!
I'm working on this. I've realized that this is a much bigger task than I'd really thought before I got into it. I need to rethink a bit, and break this down into more manageable steps every month.
January breakdown:
1. design one more base pattern and rework
trellis stripe to be a 2-color pattern. (
hex and
dismas are ready to go)
Partial credit here... I have a bunch of sketches, but haven't finalized anything.
2. rework my swatch book to show only base patterns, in all available colors and fabrics
Working on this one... it's going to take a few months.
3. full-size samples of all the products that I offer: dinner napkins, cocktail napkins, linen tea towels, placemats, quilts... also shower curtains, window curtain panels, throw pillows... am I missing anything?
(ETA- yep, forgot table cloths and table runners)
Again, this will take a few months, but I'm working on it.
4. line sheet
nope
5. make sure my pricing is accurate
nope
6. spiffy presentation
nope
7. photos
nope
4.
Approach the four BR stores on my list
I didn't do this one either, mainly because I didn't get as far with #3 as I'd hoped. Part of me says, just go and take some stuff to at least one store and go from there, but the other part of me wants to be prepared and make a really top-notch first impression.
5. Valentine's Day
success!
6. Replenish inventory
I did this one too, pretty much a natural extension of working through the wholesale step and developing swatches and samples.
February Goals
1.
Increase sales from January
I'd really like to see a 150% increase from January, which would be back at the level of December sales.
2.
New Products
-
Scarves. I painted a few silk scarves I had around on a whim to have some different products for the last market. They were pretty well received and I think I would have had more sales if I'd done them in more colors. I need to do this and maybe look into some gauzy cotton as well as silk.
-
Placemats. They're partly done from last month... need to finish them up, take photos, etc.
-
Tablecloths. I'm asked about them at
every market. I need to start carrying them. At the very least, this month I need to get the material and plan the patterns/colorways that I want to do.
3. Wholesale!
This month, I need to:
-finish swatches and products in Hex and Dismas patterns / teal, spice, cherry pop colorways.
-work on my pricing matrices
-get going with that line sheet
4. Finish pattern #4 and rework/design for pattern #5
Trellis stripe and as-yet-unnamed pattern, I'm looking in your directions!
5. Shore up the business end of things
I'm talking
Bakery's 6-week class and I'm started attending
Women in Business brown bag lunches that are put on through the Business School at LSU. I need to stay on top of the Bakery class and attend this month's luncheon.
6. Finish 2 quilts
The fabric is dyed as part of last month's wholesale work, now I need to put them together, quilt them, take photos.
7. Grow inventory and stock online shops
For serious this time!
8. Finish "Reckoning' (art with a capital A)
I started a conceptual piece a few months ago and it's lingering around unfinished. I have an opportunity to show it next month, but I have to finish it first.
And now I'm putting my foot down with myself and saying, "that's enough!"
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