"Are you brave enough to be brave?"

Week 2: "&company" + "top3 by design" workshop

PITCHING, MARGINS, PROTOTYPES, WEBSITE, PRICE LISTS, PUBLICITY, LEAD TIME, APPROACHING RETAILERS, SUPPLY AND RESUPPLYING, PACKAGING WORKING RELATIONSHIPS, RETAILERS, WHOLESALE PRICES, & A LOT MORE!

These were some of the topics discussed last night with the lovely Terri Winter from top3 by design.

A little bit of background; a few months ago I was the lucky winner of the door prize at a design event held at the Moore Park Super Center. The prize was a voucher to spend at top3 by design, my lucky day! I was also lucky enough to meet Terri the same day and in person,  was able to thank her for the prize. When I knew Terri was one of four speakers during the workshop I was over the moon. Terri is a wealth of information and has such a 'buzz' about her. You might think someone who runs such a successful company and is so hands on, and has a family of her own would need to conserve energy- but not Terri!

Terri Winter is the co-founder and managing director of top3 by design and is the principal buyer. (So we all best be nice!)

"Terri's mission is to unearth the best designs on the planet and to help share with everyone the thrill of owning design originals ... and her dedication to this mission is contagious! Her excitement at the arrival of new samples makes every day in the office like Christmas, and she is always on the hunt for the next amazing thing to add to the top3 collection. Terri's passion for design, and her desire to make world class design accessible to all is at the heart of top3."

                     

                                    

You can see all the products from top3 by design here.

The big reminders from last night;

1. "Are you brave enough to be brave?" - This was said as a passing comical comment by Terri but I believe it had more meaning that most were aware of. Sharing your creations with the retail world is a daunting process. Designers need to be brave to pitch their product, you need to be brave to continue creating, and to pick yourself up when something doesn't go to plan.

2. Ensure you can resupply your product - Having your product manufactured the first time is so exciting, and even more exciting when it is picked up by the retailer/s of your choice. Just ensure you plan ahead and have enough funds to resupply the product. This process should grow organically from here.

3. Be passionate about your product - If you turn up presenting one thing one day and a different product the next time you are not showing much commitment to your product or to your brand. Believe in your work and your skills, so other people can too.

4. Ensure you chose the right retailer for you and your product - if they are not willing to negotiate then stop and consider whether they are right for you.

5. Communication - Communication is the most important part of the relationship you hold with your retailer/s. Every product will encounter their issues along the way. If you are honest with your retailer about them the entire process becomes a lot easier and a lot more enjoyable. Most customers do not mind waiting for a great product - but they do not enjoy being given a deadline and then another and another.

I'd love to share all the useful information Terri shared with us last night but it is difficult to pick a starting point. If you have any questions regarding the above topics or anything else please don't hesitate to contact me. The best way to do so is through the Facebook page, which you can find my clicking here.

You can read an interview with Terri + Design Hunter here. 

Here are images from last night, taken by the lovely Susan from Susan Wang Photography. You can find her on Facebook here.

You can see all the products from top3 by design here.

and company and me

As I move further towards establishing myself in the creative industry I am encountering topics of all kinds which have previously been words, thoughts or actions I have bypassed. 

For me, the course was unintentionally summed up before it even began by Annalise (the founder of &company), "knowledge is power". The course and the topics that will be discussed over the four weeks are vital to any company, but as a designer they are often things you do not wish to occupy your time with. We just want to use our hands and be creative, instead of being caught between pen and paper. 

&company is a design studio made up of emerging designers and their products. They focus their efforts on giving designers a jump start as they develop into capable and confident professionals.

A new initiative by &company falls under their workshop header. The workshop entitled, Designing your day job, recognises the contemporary importance of being a mini entrepreneur for one's self as well as a designer. 

Over four weeks the course covers Intellectual Property with David Hughes from Griffith Hack, the retail sector with Terri Winter of Top3 by Design, tax and bookkeeping with Catherine McMurtie and finally the legal sector with Chris Chow. 

Last night began the first of the four sessions with David Hughes. The session was a small group of 6 eager creative types accompanied by the lovely Annalise of &company. 

We listened and together discussed; the basic concepts relating to intellectual property (IP) (the who, what, when and how), the components of IP, their strengths limitations and uses and discussed in depth the purpose of trademarks, business names, copyright, registered designs and patents. 

David Hughes described intellectually property as "the intangibles". They are those things you are not able to touch, hold or feel, but they are the real value sources. 

I cannot wait to hear Terri Winter next week!

A sneaky picture from last night's session...

That's a little of chatter for a blog that enjoys images so here are some images of &company's work.