CONFESSION TIME: Let's talk about MY WORST-SELLING PRODUCTS - and what I've learned from them
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- čas přidán 9. 07. 2024
- You might be wondering why I would decide to post all of my biggest failures on the internet. I will say it is definitely embarrassing, I don't feel good about it. But if there's one thing I've learned growing my business as I go, mistakes are basically guaranteed to happen. And the upside about having customers and creatives who are kind and invested enough to care about my brand (still so crazy to me) is that y'all have stuck with me through every flop! So to say thank you, I want to take you through some of the lessons I've learned from each failed product. Consider this one big think tank for small businesses and creators! And as always, please feel welcome to join in in the comments!
Here are the included products in case you want one:
Pillow Covers:
tinyurl.com/4c2wcc7h
tinyurl.com/2s4ze6t8
Wrapping Paper Book: tinyurl.com/fx8pwt78
Budget Planner: tinyurl.com/4pth77ch
Wedding Planner: tinyurl.com/2kbkjatk
Wedding Guest Book: tinyurl.com/4wdhuk3b
#smallyoutuber #artist #smallbusiness #stationery #floral #confession #vlog #vlogs #flop #fails #fail #mistakes
If you're new here - welcome! I started my business on my 18th birthday selling paintings I made in my free time. I continued to run and grow it throughout college and graduate school, and into law school at Duke University. Now I'm running the business full time, law degree in hand, and I wouldn't have it any other way! I sell my art on my website, wholesale on Faire.com and I license my work to be sold in stores including Home Goods, Marshalls, At Home, and World Market.
Shop my Website: elysebreannedesign.com/
Instagram: / elysebreannedesign
TikTok: / elysebreannedesign
Shop Wholesale: elysebreannedesign.com/pages/...
The wrapping paper book is a cool idea. I hate storing wrapping paper tubes. Too bad it didn't catch on. It is a space saver for sure.
I actually think you could sell the wrapping paper book, if you show more about it and how nice it is store instead of the wrapping tubes. I've never heard of a wrapping paper book. It's such a clever idea and needs time to catch on. And your designs are so perfect for all year round. Great for baby showers, misc. gifts, etc.
I agree, these are great space savers. If she creates birthday and holiday ones and then have this as an option for other gifts.
Awww thank you for sharing, and for the transparency. What huge learning experiences! I agree with you in regard to selling off to a close-out company, and freeing up valuable space in your warehouse. Not only does that alleviate the space in your brain regarding the "flop" (sometimes it can feel like you need to "suffer" through that failure, when really you already learned from it) but it also allows your products to be introduced to an entirely new national audience (in the discount chain stores). I have often found brands I love, and follow this way. Lastly, any way you can get in front of new eyes, you totally win. Anywho, huge, huge fan of you and your work! You (and the brand you have built) are absolutely incredible!
I think all of these products are great. You never know what the customer will like or not like.
True, but in order to maintain profitability retailers, especially small ones, need to be selling product consistently. The longer products stay on the shelf, the more money is lost, because taxes have to be paid on inventory, so I think it's smart that she is sharing this reality for her audience.
They are not failures, they're learning lessons. 🙂
I think the pillow covers that are just white with black outlines you could sell them as a painting project for people, like an art project!
We have a similar print on stationery, and people tell us all the time that they love coloring the flowers in!
Hi, you have really great designs...I just wanted to say that I really appreciate how candid you are as a business owner...it really can be helpful for other people to know that flops happen and are just a regular part of doing business and that it's not the end of the world or your business.😅 Thank you so much.
I think you could do a floral pattern in a more holiday friendly color. I see a lot of Christmas paper in shades of blue or shades of red. Maybe even taking some of your existing patterns and change them to a more monochromatic holiday tone.
The gift wrap is gorgeous, flat storage is right up my alley, and I actually need and love non-theme papers. The only reason I wouldn’t purchase it is because of the fold lines. They would bother me enough that I’m willing to store rolls to avoid them. :)
Maybe looking into other manufacturers that didn't require such a large run would allow you to see if an item was selling well before investing into more inventory
You can also include some of these items in your mystery grab bags. Actually getting these items into customers' hands may spur some additional sales, especially things like the wrapping paper sonce you said people didn't really understand the product.
You're right on the money! These went into quite a few of our grab bags this time around and we definitely saw a bump in sales these past few days. We're almost out now!
Im wondering if the wrapping paper can be used in creating covers for hand made books. I'm new to this craft so always looking for supplies that would work. Hmmm . . . think I'll head back to your shop to take another look.
I totally think you should try dog collars and leashes! You already have the wristlets, and I think they would sell really well!
Maybe even bandanas for dogs in your designs on fabric! People love to spoil their furry friends!
Love your stuff!!
As far as the pillow covers go, I don't have any pillows in that shape and size, so if it didn't have the insert to purchase along with it, I would have not bought it.
This is fascinating, thank you for sharing ☺☺☺
I appreciate you sharing - all stories (good, bad, successes, failures) will indeed help others - so I appreciate you sharing!
You are so welcome! I'm sure there will be more in the future, so I'll keep sharing what I learn and listening too!
Have you approached a local bridal shop to see if they would sell the wedding planners?
For the second attempt at wrapping paper, what if you did a seasonal variety? For example: Christmas, birthday, Valentine’s Day patterns.
This way the book becomes a product that can be used at various times during the year.
Yes, I think just birthday and Christmas. Maybe something neutral for Wedding or baby shower? Maybe include sticker gift tags, and bows?
I just love how transparent you are!! This is so needed! All of the products are breathtaking!!!!!
Thank you so much!!
Wrapping paper books on the surface seem like such a great idea; all your favorite designs in one location. I think they don't sell well because of the creases in the paper from being pre-folded and have nothing to do with your designs or quality of paper. If you're wrapping a shirt box or similar and take a sheet of paper out from the books, the crease lines will not look appealing on the finished product. If someone is wrapping something small, like a box of jewelry, then they'd be perfect, but the concept limits size of gift wrapped. This was a similar problem with the folded squares that used to be available in the card aisle of drug stores or grocery stores. Also, if stored for a while, the pattern on the creases start to fade and it's just not a good look. Given that, I still think there is a demand for this product on the after-market and you can sell these in a clearance section or 'buy over 200 get free wrapping paper' offer. The designs are lovely.
Thank you for sharing this video. As a small business owner, this was really helpful. :)
You are so welcome, I'm really glad it was helpful!
For the budget planner is color unsatisfying is to old and like for old people with the gray papers inside it’s like not let you get exciting during writing your budget and feel like you are in the jail , really is make people suffering during the process of writing their own plans especially for the money , you need to make is more colorful and happy and make is more simple and without gray or tall divided paper because is boring and feeling like you are must do that instead of feeling happy and good for having a money and freedom of using it
Can you sell your prints as paper and maybe have clear sleeves for covers for planners. ?
Loved this video!! More like it pls 🥰 Learning from our “failures” (aka opportunities to learn) is the key to skyrocketing business growth ❤ Thanks for sharing!
Oh I'm sure I'll have more haha thanks for watching!
this is my first time watching you ever, and i just want to say that the gift wrap book sounds like it could still be a great idea! i would definitely love to see a christmas one, and then maybe some smaller ones for the other holidays and seasons too! i would definitely love to see something like that!
I agree! One for the holidays would be ideal!
I suggest that you include new items like pens that are strong and easy inks , also do box include 4 or 6 items of students stuff with lower price 👍🏻for the bogging of the school ,collage year
I didn’t realize how big the wrapping paper book is!
Elyse - make sure you see my flop to success idea that I left on the budget planner flop short. I have no idea how to tag people and when tried - I don’t think it worked 😂
Sell them as a bundle package. Try to recoup some more of your money.
I also notice about the billow is not working nowadays due of the trend is end before 3 years or until COVID , but you butter not to make it again also the designs are more familiar and similar to others billows in other stores and hypermarkets , online stores also have the same as your bellows with low prices, maybe this is the basic reason why is not working, also people focus on your planners and simple things due to the age and they purpose is rare to buy something for furniture while you are searching for books or other stuff that belong to the schools and college as pencils or notes