If you've been keeping up with what has been happening over at Happy Cactus lately, then you are aware that I'm preparing to launch a collection of one-of-a-kind hand embroidered artwork. You can read some more background details via this earlier blog post.
Launching a new product category takes an incredible amount of time and effort. Here's a peek behind-the-scenes at some of the stages I've gone through to prep these works for sale.
Stitching: First, I have been building an inventory of hand embroidered pieces that I will be making available for sale. Each piece takes a number of hours to complete (it obviously varies by size and detail) and I usually work on one piece over a number of days before moving onto the next one. The pieces vary in size from about 1 inch to 5 inches.
Market Research: I've done quite a bit of market research to see what is out there in the market along the lines of what I'm doing. What is being offered in the "wall art" category? I haven't limited my research exclusively to embroidery; rather, I have been looking at all sorts of textile and fiber art, fine art, and lower end pieces. There is quite a range!
Making Decisions: I knew from the get-go that I wanted to sell my pieces of embroidery framed and with custom mat boards that coordinate with and complement the linen and embroidery work. I spent a lot of time sourcing samples of frames and mats and playing around with ideas. Quality is extremely important to me, and I am so pleased to be working with a wonderful American vendor that offers extremely well made frames and beautiful mat boards.
Product Photography and Descriptions: As I get closer to the launch of the collection, I have been diligently working on product photography that shows off the pieces in their best light. Additionally, I've been working on product descriptions and other collateral.
To be the first to hear when these pieces are up for sale, sign up for the Happy Cactus Designs newsletter here. Follow along on Instagram (@happycactusdesigns) where I often share works in progress (#happycactusembroidery).
