One of my aims for this year was to find more shops and outlets to sell my work through. As a small scale maker it can be intimidating approaching new retailers, and it’s hard not to take each knock back personally.
The best leads often come from word of mouth, through friends and family. A casual conversation can lead to an opening, an opportunity to introduce your work, and yourself as a maker.
There’s lots of factors to consider, not just whether they ‘like’ your products, but how will they be presented and displayed, what are your trade and recommended retail prices, how do they sit with the rest of the stock already in the shop?
However, when you hit on the right place , and find yourself falling in love with the products they already stock, you know you’re on the right track!
Flo-jo Boutique is a new shop in Bristol, on the Gloucester Road, a vibrant area which boasts of being one of the few remaining independent High Streets, with a rich variety of locally run shops, cafes, bars and restaurants.
Although the shop is a new venture, it’s founders, Delia Dee and Erika, are two very talented ladies who have been working together for years. They make vintage and retro style clothes, pinnies and aprons, and underwear! They have created quite a stir with their Fancy Pants Knicker Making Kits, and also run sewing workshops where you can make your own pair of saucy undies.
I am very excited to have the opportunity to sell my work here. After spending a weekend working away in my studio I have sent them a range of my Fascinators, mainly the feather and vintage jewellery ones, and little Felt Flower Corsages, all of which have gone straight out on display!
Cotswolds milliner designing bespoke hats, fascinators & hair accessories 