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A Real Life Example of Product Presentation

A Real Life Example of Product Presentation

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Amanda from FeltFinland has graciously offered to do a guest post for Marketplace Mondays. Take a look at her website to see some of her delightful creations that will really put a smile on your face. So here’s Amanda.

You have worked hard to make some great felted works of art. You have an opportunity to sell them. What you need are those extra little touches that will catch the eye of the buyer and also encourage them to return and buy again another day. Product presentation is a key part of selling. No matter how stunning your creations, if they are haphazardly piled on a table, not many people will give them a second glance. I have developed and learned a few ideas over the last 3 years of selling at craft fairs which I am happy to share with you.

Make use of all the space on your table without overcrowding.

Don’t forget you can add height – a small set of shelves, an upturned box, branches, logs are a few things I have used. I have always liked wood and wool together. 

Choose an appropriate coloured cover (sheets and old curtains are cheap options) for your table, one that won’t detract from your work. Make sure it is big enough to fall down and cover the front open side of the table. This allows you to store your boxes and bags under the table without the world seeing them! One of the photos shows how not to do it – pink cover which is too short – all the tables were set up the same by the folks organising the fair!

I also like to use baskets and basket weave trays of various shapes and sizes to display my products – this also helps to keep things together and prevents products getting all muddled.

Pricing – personally I like to individually price my items, using free-standing labels on the table top next to the items or small price tags stuck on pins then stuck in the relevant item. I do not like to put sticky labels directly onto the felt.

If you do not want to show your prices, have the costs of each item readily available (in your head!) for when a customer asks. Print prices on stout card from your computer using a clear bold font – these can easily be reused too.

Add your own personal touch – I give names to a lot of my creatures such as Aliens, Owls etc. I print them onto good quality card from my computer and these go home with their owner. Don’t forget to add to the label your company name, website etc. 

Pop one of your business cards into the bag the sold item is going home in. 

Cellophane bags work really well with small felted items and can be sealed with customised stickers. Bags are available in different sizes and cellophane wrap can also be used. Paper bags have their place but will hide your creation! Plastic bags have their use if it is pouring with rain to keep your sales dry on their way home!

I hope these few pointers will help. I found it useful attending craft fairs as a buyer and seeing how other people presented and packaged things. It gave me some great ideas but also showed me what not to do!

Guest poster: Amanda Heikkinen


Does your Hang Tag Tell a Story?

Does your Hang Tag Tell a Story?

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In product presentation, one of the first things that a customer will notice is the hang tag. That is the tag that is attached to the product that gives information about it. Telling a story on your hang tags will engage the customer and encourage them to spend a few minutes longer examining the product. The longer they have it in their hands and the more engaging the story, the more likely it is to sell.

During my 13 years as a gallery owner, I have seen a number of hang tags. Some that worked really well, others not as much so and then some products with no information at all. Not including a hang tag with your work is a mistake, especially in a gallery setting. That small piece of paper is an excellent selling tool and will sell your product for you even if the gallery staff doesn’t. Most hang tags are business card size although depending on the size of your product, it could be smaller or larger. The card can be flat, folded, printed on one side or printed on both sides.

Consider what information you should include. The hang tag should include your name, business name, tell a story about the piece and leave space for a price tag. If you are selling the work yourself in a retail or online venue, the tag should include your contact information. If you are selling your work through a gallery, you should check with the gallery about contact information. Most galleries do not want to have your contact information listed as customers will try to buy directly from you instead of from the gallery. If the piece is to be worn, you should also include care instructions for the product on the hang tag. In the US, the law requires you to include care information as well as “ingredients” and where the piece was made.

Hang tags may look different for a wearable as compared to a piece of wall art. With wall art, you might want to include the dimensions of the piece. Many people look for certain sizes of art to fill a specific space. If you include the dimensions, that is one less thing the customer has to discover before purchasing. The more information that you are able to give about yourself and your artwork, the better. Customers love to hear a story about you and what you do.

Here is an example of a “hang tag” that really works. These cake testers are made by Paula Penrod of Apt Designs. This is larger than business card size and measures 5 1/2″ x 8 1/2″. It holds the cake tester and tells its story at the same time. I have carried these for years and sold hundreds of them. The reason they sell is this tag. If the testers were arranged in a bowl or even stuck in foam so that they stood up, people would be asking all kinds of questions. What is this? Why would you buy a cake tester when you can just use a tooth pick? $11? Why would I spend $11 on a cake tester? Click on the photo so you can read the story. Paula answers all the questions the customer would ask and does it in a humorous way. In the US, there really aren’t that many people who bake anymore. But I still sell lots of these cake testers. That is what your hang tag needs to do for your products. I can’t tell you what to write on them, only you know that. But tell a story with your words. Answer any objections before they come up and then your hang tag will really work for you.