Starting and growing an artisan business is like making a handcrafted gift box. It begins with raw beauty, the right tools, and a careful selection of pieces. The process then shifts to refining and removing the excess, making solid connections, and a proper fit. Finally, you identify and smooth the rough edges before continuing. The end goal is something you’re proud to share.

Each year, we review the business in the same light, to discuss rough spots and how to smooth the process. We reflect, fine-tune and celebrate success. Every year brings opportunities and challenges, and 2022 didn’t disappoint. Here’s what we learned and what’s next.

Boundaries

You might remember we kicked off 2022 intending to bring more ease into the business, as shared in our blog, At Ease, Please. And Other Lessons Learned. We held to our intention of creating more calm - a worthy goal. We took family time off in the summer, enjoyed date nights, and set deadlines for accepting orders during the holiday season. We remind ourselves that we are in charge of our schedule. Stepping away shouldn’t be celebrated as so much of an accomplishment but infused into business as normal, healthy, and expected.

The Social Media Tsunami

A recent LinkedIn report confirms what we’ve felt for a long time. What started as simple image posting has evolved into an entire department of specialized talent required to meet the demands of changing algorithms, the quest for visibility, and the appetite for new social content. Like us, every business owner has to determine their commitment to social media based on their team, budget, goals (and sanity). Keeping a laser focus on adding value is our best action plan which includes consistency and more videos - a trend that will continue. (No, we are not on Tik Tok.) The challenge is to remain vigilant and stick to the plan, yet flexible enough to adapt when needed.

New Additions

As planned, we added a new business section to the website, called BizCreatv. The goal is to speak to women, at or near the empty-nester stage, to spark their content and creative business passions. Let’s Go, Ladies! We also added a new line of serving and cutting boards to our Marketplace. Both have been very well received :) More to come.

And Then, the Unexpected

What wasn’t planned were the family medical and health issues that occurred in the Fall. We know many of you are experiencing the “sandwich generation” right along with us and are involved in the health care of parents and other loved ones. For this reason, we decided to slow the rollout of some content and push projects into 2023. It’s a reminder that planning for unexpected turns is necessary as life happens.

An Audacious 2023

Looking ahead, we’re excited to add bold new opportunities in 2023 without adding more hours - all while staying grounded in our commitment to “ease.” How’s that for lofty goals? Here’s to an audacious 2023! We’ll continue to share what’s next and celebrate with you as our artisan gifts arrive in the homes and havens of customers around the globe. #cheers!

Our schedule for the next week looks like unpacking in four different hotels, spanning seven nights, while logging hours on a variety of interstates and coastal highways between Maryland and Maine. Client meetings are scheduled throughout the trip, so everything is organized in advance. One thing we’ve learned in our planning is that customers today receive information differently, and situations pop up that require flexibility. Since client discussions range from formal to casual, we try to include diverse visuals when packing our travel bags. Here are a few of the basics we consider as we hit the road:

As an artisan business, ours is a visual one, and the textures and finishes make a difference. When customers can hold a cutting board or ceramic cup, see the glaze, and feel the weight of the piece, they have a better appreciation for the work that went into making it. It’s best when a selection of artisan elements comes along for the ride, representing different colors and styles. A gift box also gets packed so clients can see first-hand the craftsmanship in our work.

The black hole of technology has taught us a lesson or two over the years. We always bring a PowerPoint of photos, mixed with access to the website. (All it takes is one big appointment, when the internet isn’t available to access your website, to learn this lesson. Been there, done that.) With the variance in internet speeds, waiting a few seconds for a page change can feel painful enough to make things awkward and there’s just no need. These days, depending on the number of people in attendance, clients don’t think twice about looking at photos on an iPhone either.

We pack beautiful, colorful promotional cards to leave behind and use to write notes (thank you, we dropped by to say hello etc.). They’re bigger than a business card, yet smaller than 5x7. (The website, MOO, has a variety of marketing options when you don’t have an in-house marketing team.) Again, we’re a visual business, and it’s beneficial to share our work in different mediums. We never know which one will resonate best.

The bottom line, be prepared and flexible. Technology breaks, time gets reallocated, and attention spans vary. The more you can adapt, the better your chance of success.

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Roadtrip Ready: How to Prep for Client Meetings