Stock up on Christmas products early

The first Christmas I was selling t-shirts, I was up all night in the lead up to the Christmas markets madly sewing so I had enough stock to sell.

I learned my lesson. Since then, I work on my Christmas over the course of the year. Every time I spend time cutting and sewing, I prepare one or two Christmas t-shirts.

By doing this, I have stock already prepared, ready for the Christmas rush, so I don't spend all night sewing my Christmas t-shirts. Personalised t-shirts are still available, but as much as possible, I try and have the basic designs done ready to add the personalisation.

This saves me a lot of time and stress, and means that I am ready to go when people order. I also play with some new designs during the year in my quieter times so they are also ready to go for the Christmas markets.

My tip: if you make your own stock, spread the making of it through the year.

My Cash Sheet

A lot of my selling is at markets. After my daughter decided to play markets with my receipt book and cash box, I had to review how I did things.

Donna has asked us to share one tip to do with money, so I've decided to talk about the cash sheet that I use at markets.

Sometimes it can be so busy that I don't have time to write receipts for everyone, and not everyone wants a receipt, but I still need to keep track of the cash that I make at the markets.

I have created a sheet that is a simple table. It has the different t-shirts and the prices at the top, and room for the number of t-shirts sold underneath. This way, anyone working on the stall simply ticks the box of the t-shirt sold.

After the market, I use the sheet to compare with the receipt book and can enter them in to my accounts program. At the top I also write how much cash is included in the box as the float.

My cash sheet also helps me know how much money I need to take to the bank. I also write on it any money I take out for coffee or lunch, or if I buy anything from other stalls. This also helps to keep track of cash, especially if I forget to get a receipt or the stall holder doesn't give me a receipt.

I hope this helps if you have a stall at the market and you are having trouble keeping track of the cash you have on hand.

Changing delivery times

Sally here with my school holiday tip. Over the school holiday period, I extend the expected delivery times on all my t-shirts, even when I have items in stock.

The main reason I do this is simple – I have a kinder girl and a school age boy at home. I also don't get out to the post office as much as I normally would.

During term time, I go to the post office when I do the school and/or kinder run. During the school holidays, this routine isn't there.

Most packages still get posted fairly quickly, but not always. Customers usually get their orders before they are expected. By changing the delivery times it gives me some space to get the packages out.

It also gives me some extra time in case I don't have items in stock as I don't have as much sewing time as I do during term time.

Usually during term time, I say people can expect delivery within3-5 working days. During school holidays, I extend this to 7-10 working days.

I haven't had any customers complain about this, especially as they usually get their parcels earlier.

I hope this simple tip can help you with your business in the school holidays.

Places to sell t-shirts…

A while back I did some brainstorming and came up with a list of all the different places I can sell my t-shirts. So, for my post, I'm going to share my list with you. I don't sell through all these places, at least not yet. It's giving me some ideas for the future. I hope you find it useful.

  • Sell directly to friends & family
  • Party plan style events (and even consultants one day…)
  • Markets – handmade and fundraising
  • Pop up shop in shopping centres
  • Online through Facebook
  • Online through places such as etsy and Revel In It
  • Sell to shops to resell/wholesale sales – both online shops and bricks and mortar shops
  • Use for fundraisers for kindergartens and primary schools
  • Open my own bricks and mortar shop
  • Online through my own website

This is just a start, I add to this list as I think of more ideas. Do you have any ideas I could add to this list?

Hi, I’m Sally

Hi. My name is Sally. I'm married to Christian and we have 3 gorgeous kids. I sell kids t-shirts with aplique designs. I do all the sewing myself.

I'm much better with the sewing machine than with words, but this project looks like fun.

What else to tell you? I sell t-shirts at markets and online through Facebook and Etsy. I'm trying to work out if I need my own website too. What do you think?

Life is very busy right now trying to keep up with orders, stock and kids. I'm hoping it will calm down soon…

Anyway, enough from me right now, it's nearly time to to the kinder and school pick up.

Blog again soon.

Sally

Related Posts Plugin for WordPress, Blogger...