For a long time I’ve imagined the day I’d finally take off. Having successfully crowd sourced my book chronicling Creative Crushes, all the truly talents friends I’d cultivate. Finally meet face to face the incredible artists and souls that I’ve … Continue reading
Albert Camus wrote “in the depth of winter I finally learned that there was in me an invincible summer.’ I believe he was speaking of an emotional space, an essence. I am fighting my way through winter. This particular frost … Continue reading
I am not the only one fascinated by science and art or the art of science. Fabian Oefner creates stunning, psychedelic and breathtaking images at the nexus of art and science, which beautifully capture unique moments of physical and chemical drama.
Check Fabian’s Ted Talk.
The key to pricing=Not too low, not to high. Just right!
If you set your prices too high you’ll drive your buyers away, too low they will question the value of your goods. And ultimately if your offering various pricing packages the majority of your clients will purchase the one in the middle. In my product development class I taught various methods for pricing. Here are just a few basics:
But the greatest marketing and pricing lessons I’ve learned over the years have come from various garage sales. These trade secrets are vital to success at least in my arsenal.
1) People relate to your story
First there was my college roommate. She posted signs around town for our upcoming garage sale. My boyfriend left selling his stuff cheap. I think you get the picture. Saturday rolled around and we were inundated with buyers. I’ve never been part of a more successful garage sale. She even had her picture in the paper as the forlorn jilted girlfriend, angry girl power. The worst part was she hadn’t gone through a break-up not yet at least. The breakup was mine. So this is a cautionary tale. Beware of what you believe is true just because it’s printed doesn’t make it so and there are a lot of people who relate to being angry with an EX.
Ultimately for me the lesson was that it is human nature to want to connect. It showed me people were draw to one another’s stories. They could relate to the feeling having been there themselves. So when creating and marketing make sure to put the “real you” out there. And then be ready to meet the crowd.
2) Simple rearranging and staging items helps them sell.
Next I had a garage sale with the help of another friend of mine. We had tables and blankets laid out over the lawn in front of my duplex. After the initial flurry of professional garage-salers subsided I began to see a pattern emerge. People would arrive and mull about buying nothing. But the minute my friend rearranged the merchandise into staged displays, spacing things out, creating silly vignettes, decorating the lawn blankets- well, people began snatching things up.
So how it looks is important. It translates into dollars. Trust me they’re not kidding when they tell you to have good Photos on Etsy. The human brain notices when things are even slightly off and can reject it. And if you can do it in a way the entertains or inspires all the better. Seriously I think she worked magic that day.
3) Perceived Value-When it comes to price make feel they are getting a deal.
Finally my Ex’s marketing genius. When we first moved in with one another we had duplicate of everything, both having lived on our own for quite a while. Needless to say there was plenty to get rid of including two futons. Both were in good shape and we priced them at $75 each. Well half the day passed and they just sat there. Not a nibble. I feared we were going to have to store them or figure out how to haul them away. I much preferred to sell them and have a little extra cash.
So my Ex gets up and pulls out a marker. Above the price he writes $150 and then crosses it out. Now it appears as if both futons had been marked down by 50% from their original price. They were both sold and gone within a half an hour. No haggling. So by doubling the price and then marking them down he created a perceived value they hadn’t previously held. This lesson has stayed with me to today.
So there you have it- the power of pricing your products. And here are a few good reads related specifically to pricing and money in fashion and art. Good luck in your endeavors.
Image: Lily Donaldson for Harper’s Bazaar Brazil March 2012. Editorial shot by Terry Richardson in New York. Styling by Pedro Sales.
If you read my blog you have probably glimpsed my admitted perfectionism issues. In The Art of Imperfection Veronique Vienne says perfectionism is about control, about hiding your true self. It’s in my artwork much like the Algebra homework of my youth where this behavior rears its head. Now instead of overworking a math problem by continuously applying formulas well past the actual answer I invariably keep drawing until I overwork a piece.
Of course Art unlike my math homework is subjective. I’m not being graded. There is no “right” answer. And I am utterly aware that to someone else’s eye it may be just right. Wanting my artwork to reflect who I am I have begun to change this trait. When drawing I walk away and come back to a piece after a little while. And no matter where I stop I accept the drawing as is.
1. Make Mistakes ~ These flaws as you may judge them are some of your best qualities. It is our grace and humility, our ability to make mistakes that makes us ultimately more resilient, more efficient. You have heard the Phrase “to err is human”.
In Islamic Art artists are encouraged to make mistakes on purpose as a reminder to the observer that God alone is perfect. James Joyce referred to mistakes at “portals of Discovery”. So make mistakes.
2. Be Yourself ~ Don’t try to mimic others. Be real. Embrace your unevenness, asymmetries, gawkiness in life and your art. Your home and wardrobe should be nothing more than an extension of expressing who you are. Use everything you own or get rid of it. In other words serve your tomato soup in your Grandmother’s silver tureen. Don’t be afraid of big hats, scarfs or costume jewelry if that is your thing. True beauty is allowing your real self to shine through.
3. Don’t insist on being right ~ Being you is cause enough for celebration. It won’t grow by telling others. So be humble. If you let your ego claim the prize you lose. As Gandhi put it “the enemy is within as much as without. You must seek reconciliation between the two. “Ask for help when you need it. Don’t fight for the last word.
4. Don’t live for others ~ This means you stop trying to make your parents, 3rd grade teacher, ex-husband proud. Stop living in the past thinking if only ___ could see me know. Stand on your own. You don’t need anyone’s approval so don’t chain yourself to it.
5. Allow for Disorganization ~ When traveling the Persians make the first leg of the caravan short. This allows the members to return home for anything they have forgotten before heading into the desert. They allow for and assume disorganization.
Pay attention when you slow down or your organization lapses. Embrace your resistances. Listen to what they are trying to communicate. Let go of your internal control freak and be patient with yourself. Take a break if you need it.You may find yourself even more productive afterwards. Sometimes when you stop midstream you stumble upon an important revelation.
6. Embrace the Unknown ~ It is okay if you don’t always know what to do. There is no map to life, secret directions or magic compass. They say that humans are the slowest to learn. No doubt because we refuse to learn from our elders insisting on making our own mistakes. Take nothing for granted. Go even when you don’t know where. Seek answers even when you haven’t the foggiest why and always always ask lots of questions.
It is our imperfections that shape our character. In our mistakes we learn, we adapt and ultimately survive during the most difficult and unexpected times. So don’t shy away from your contradictions. It is our very idiosyncrasies that other people find the most endearing. As Vienne put it, you may be a great cook but it will be the day you set the kitchen on fire that makes you boyfriend love you. My ex-husband assured me it would be the silly things I missed once he was gone. Unfortunately true. There is a gold mine to be found in your imperfections.
So until next week…
DCTdesigns Creative Canvas 
You must be logged in to post a comment.