What's On!

La Crafts Easter launch starts Monday 27th 8PM on Facebook, all the embroidery designs will be available to be ordered and some extra special items will be available through the website www.lacrafts.com.au

Over at Ohana Trends the end of February is approaching and the Hearts for Hearts album is closing.  If you are after a heart, where all proceeds go towards raising funds for HeartKids, don't miss out! Also, March is approaching and on the 1st of March at 9pm QLD time, the Easter Album is being posted.  There will be OOAK boy and girl fabric orientated big bunnies, little bunnies, singlets and shirts with bunnies on them and a few other surprises.  The majority of this album is full of limited numbers or a one and only in a specific fabric.

What’s your USP?

So I answered the question – what price (which was a bit of the cart before the horse but a common question nonetheless).

Next we looked at following our passion and discovering a niche.

Then came focusing on your benefits and not your features.

Now this next one, is honestly the hardest challenge of all. Something I deal with all the time and even doing marketing and advertising as long as I have, it isn’t something that comes easily. In fact, it should be easy. This is something you should consider carefully and make sure you have it completely right before moving forward.

Develop your Unique Selling Proposition (USP)

No a USP is not a type of gun (as I discovered when I googled for an image – yikes!)

Don’t worry about coming up with a catchy tag line or phrase, just concentrate on what makes you different from your competitors.

You need to explain how and why your products are better than others or your competitors. Perhaps you have designed them all yourself? Or you use all organic materials in the products? Do yours cost less than others (yes this is a USP!)?

Do you have any added extras? Special incentives to buyers (think a free hair accessory with an outfit)?

Whatever your unique selling proposition or unique selling point as it is commonly referred to, you need to clearly define it. You need to be able to answer the question at any time, “So what makes your product special?”. You will then have your response!

I would recommend writing something down and then come back to it a few days later. You might want to tweak it a little. Dwell on it even. Test it out on your family and friends. If at the end of the week, you are happy with your statement, then you have yourself a USP!

Jane from Lil Pip

TSS Photo Challenge - Week 7

This weeks photo challenge is "Something the kids did" and oh boy do we have some super cute submissions from the Sisters!

Science at home - watching water beads expand with Oliver, age 4.

Melanie - MellyMoo Creations

Homemade pizza, yum! Alyssa, age 5.

Sarah - Skip Chasey

Making a mummy and baby spider out of cups and pipe-cleaners with Oliver, age 4. 

Leigh - Sakurako

 Mask making with Hannah and Oliver

Naomi - Ohana Trends

Lachlan, age 5, learning how to sew

Patricia - Unique Babeez

Maxx, age 3, helped his mum make a board for his speech therapy

Sharon - Lil Moo & Mee

Baking banana bread with Matilda, age 4

Shelli - Shelli Morse Design

Cardboard box sculptures with Xavier, age 5

Tracey - My Obsession Design

Natie, age 4, making coloured spaghetti

Holly - Or Elsie!

Next week the Sisters are asked to share a photo of the one thing in their craft area they can't be without - look out for some interesting creative tricks and tools!

A challenge to you all!

The Sewing Sisterhood is throwing down the gauntlet to our readers, fans and likers! We are going to run four TSS Challenges in 2012, where we set the theme and you are challenged to create something to share. The Sisters will be creating to the theme too!

The first theme is EASTER and you can make anything you like. It can be sewn or crafted, it can be baked or decorated. It can be digital craft or traditional craft. It can be a kids craft or activity! It can be anything CREATIVE you like, as long as it fits the them! Challenge yourself and try something new, or try out a new technique or material.

Sign up in the comments here or on our Facebook page. You have until Sunday 1st April to get your photos in to us to be counted as part of the Challenge. Post your photos on our Wall on FB or post them in the comments here, or email them to thesewingsisterhood@live.com.au and we will publish the best submissions here just before Easter.

Happy crafting!

What's On!

My Obsession Designs and M's Cute Bottoms are going to market!  Find Tracey and Michelle at the Mummy Tree Markets (Morningside) on Sunday 26th February from 9am - 1pm.  Bring your family for a fun day out - there will be childrens entertainment, gourmet food and plenty of gorgeous products for you to browse.  Market runs from 9am - 1pm at Colmslie Recreation Reserve, Col Gardner Drive, Morningside.  My Obsession Designs will have lots of fun, funky, practical homewares available for sale including these fabric baskets - great for organisation around the home! 

M's Cute Bottoms are off to market for the first time in 2012. Some lovely new prints in nappies and the launch of our new workhorse nappy. Our workhorse nappies are an AI2 available in both velcro and snap waists. They feature the new snap in booster system which will be interchangeable with all the other M's range. Head on over to The Mummy Tree Markets at Morningside on Sunday 26th and have a look at our range in person. Don't forget to stop by and say hello!

This week over at Skip Chasey we are having a Market Night. Please come and join us at 8pm (QLD time) on Thursday. There will be some lovely items for mums and for the little ones too. Also a few very rare custom order spots will be opened up!

Leigh from Sakurako has posted a special freebie on her blog for all the little Octonauts fans out there - her little boy had his Octonauts-theme 4th birthday party on Sunday and Leigh has decided to share the custom printables she made for the party. The links for the graphics for the bunting, party circles, cupcake toppers, thank you tags and more are all on her blog for you to download, print and go.

TSS Photo Challenge - Week 6

Since yesterday was Valentines Day, this weeks theme for the Photo Challenge is "love' and we've had some great and varied submissions from the Sisters this week.

Jane - Lil Pip; Leigh - Sakurako;

Linda - Independent crafter

Sarah - Skip Chasey; Sharon - Lil Moo & Mee;

Nicole - Lozzy Loo

 

  

Melanie - MelliMoo Creations; Naomi - Ohana Trends

Naomi - Made for Myah

Next week is "Something the kids did" so look out for some kiddy creativity from the Sisterhood!

What's On!

 This past week saw an exciting new product released over at SkipChasey, OOAK (One of a Kind) handbags. Made with gorgeous designer fabrics and wooden handles. These bags will definitely make a statement when you are out and about. Head on over to Skip Chasey as soon they will be announcing their next market night where you could be the lucky owner of a new OOAK handbag.

Baby Chilli are super proud to announce they received a score of 4.5 out of 5 for our Baby Chilli nappy reviewed on clothnappy.info.  Read the review for yourself at the website and compare against other nappy brands.  To celebrate we are offering 10% off everything on line including specials for this week only.  We also have quite a few specials this month including 10% or more off most Gaia skin care and our Chilli Tree heat packs.

Its Market time again at 5 Giraffes and a Cheeky Monkey - this week we are getting ready for our first market of the year, the very popular Lollipop Market here in Adelaide. This Market has over 300 applications each time so we are very excited to have been Lollipopped! The market is at AAMI Stadium, West Lakes this Sunday 19th Feb from 10am-3pm.
Here at Raffie central we have been busy sewing large and small Giraffes, of course we have our gorgeous Giraffe Themed Cushions, our Baby burp cloths and lots of Giraffe and Monkey themed Taggies for bubba's. We look forward to seeing you there!

What are your benefits … not your features!

Source

Ok so now you are following your passion and you have found your niche , right?

Next you need to research, test and research some more. Talk to your friends, family or search online. Make sure when you release your product that you have it right. It is easier to find a product that people want, than to try to find a market for the product you have. Make sense?

Next you need to focus on the benefits of your product. You need to convince people that they really need it.

You shouldn’t be talking about the features of your product but rather ‘what’s in it for me?’

Say I’m looking for a new car. The salesman keeps banging on about the ABS brakes, airbags and things I don’t even understand. My eyes start glazing over. Doesn’t really mean anything to me. I’m not really into cars.

BUT if he starts talking to me about the safety aspects and how it will protect my children – now there is a benefit.

Can you start to incorporate 'benefit' language into your communication rather than features?

Jane from Lil Pip

TSS Photo Challenge - Week 5

This week we are seeing a more intimate side to the Sisters with the theme being "Your bedside table." A popular theme it seems, as we have plenty of bedroom action to share with you today. ;)

Clockwise from top left:

Bec - Miss Matilda; Gill - Frilly's Designs;

Holly - Or Elsie!; Jo - 5 Giraffes & a Cheeky Monkey.

Clockwise from top left:

Michelle - M's Cute Bottoms; Naomi - Made for Myah;

Sarah - Skip Chasey; Sabrina - Crambster Creations.

Clockwise from left:

Nicole - Lozzy Loo; Sharon - Lil Moo & Mee;

Tanya - Pumpkin Snitch.

Clockwise from left:

Kylie - Independent crafter; Linda - Independent crafter;

Mel - Handmade by 3 Little B's; Melanie - MellieMoo Creations. 

Next week follows Valentines day, so that's our theme! See you then!

What's On!

Lil Pip is off to the Yarraville Markets on Saturday 11 February. The same day as the Yarraville Festival it is set to be huge. Kids entertainment, food, bands and of course the craft market!

Lil Pip will have Boobooks, of course plus lots of cute clothes for boys and girls. Toys for all ages and not to forget the mums and teens, new clutches, bags and hair accessories.

Stop by and say hi to Jane!

 

Stoked Creations currently has 20% off all Ready Made Wall Art and Cushion Covers - a wide variety of designs for both boys and girls available now and ready to post. 

 

 

All is back into full swing at Unique Babeez beginning with the release of the new DS Wallets, specifically designed for all the bits and pieces you need to keep safe and secure with your DS! A variety of colours to choose from and each one is ‘unique’ so the one you choose will be a special one just for you. Don’t forget to keep an eye on our Facebook Page where our range continues to grow. 

Ohana Trends still have plenty of hearts available in their Heart for Hearts Valentines fundraiser. Lovable cuddle soft hearts are only $5 each plus postage and 100% of the proceeds of this sale will go towards HeartKids Australia and their work researching congenital heart disease, and supporting families and babies/children born with a congenital heart defect.

 

My Obsession Designs will be attending the first Mummy Tree twilight market for 2012 at Sanctuary Cove on Saturday 11th February from 3 - 7pm.  There will be plenty of these Fabric Baskets available on the day - perfect for the kids to hoard their Easter Eggs!

 

 

 

Also this week we have a personal project from one of the sisters, Tracey:

Hair today..... gone on 3rd March!

I will be stepping out of my comfort zone on Saturday 3rd March to raise money for the Cancer Council Queensland.  My husband and are going to cut off our hair to support my Mum who has recently had radiation treatment and will be loosing hers.

I am also trying to find a way to sell my hair by way of a donation to a company that can use it for product testing or donate it to someone who can make wigs for cancer patients.  If you know anyone who may be interested in this please drop me a line - my_obsession@optusnet.com.au

If you would like to make a donation you can do so at www.everydayhero.com.au/tracey_belton.  Any and all donations will be much appreciated.

TSS Photo Challenge - Week 4

This weeks photo theme is "What's on your cutting table" and we've had some VERY interesting submissions from the Sisters. Lots of exciting projects appear to be currently in the works!

 

Jane - Lil Pip

  Holly - Or Elsie!

 

 Leigh - Sakurako

Naomi - Made for Myah

Lynda - Stoked Creations 

Sharon - Lil Moo & Mee

 Sarah - Skip Chasey

 Patricia - Unique Babeez

 

Gill - Frilly's Designs

Next week we'll be looking at the more private side of the Sisters with the theme being "Your bedside table." See you then!