Lessons
Day 1 Pre-Show
04:24 2Wood Thumb - Wooden Ties & Accessories
06:02 3Katy Kristin Designs - Children's Toys & Apparel
06:28 4Unpossible Cuts - Laser Cut Goods
06:09 5Dandy - Jewelry
07:51 6Beija Flor Naturals - Bath and Body
11:04 7Apparel and Fine Art
10:02 8Miso Handmade - Pet Supplies And Pet Gifts
10:41Tina Jett - Art/Illustration
12:00 10Pretty Fun Designs - Jewelry
08:51 11Mahoohoo - Apparel/Accessories
10:38 12Emma SanCartier/Odd Fauna - Illustrations/Toy Design
08:16 13Lazy Lotus - Accessories/Scarves/Earrings
07:07 14Debra Styer - Art & Illustration
08:10 15Nidhi Chinani - Illustrator/Giftware
07:36 16Noteify - Greeting Cards, Accessories, Houseware
09:31 17Day 1 Wrap-Up
01:19Lesson Info
Dandy - Jewelry
How are you? So just tell me your name and the name of your your business. Andrea Eliscu. Oh, and it's dandy. Andrea Lesko and Dandy. Okay, so this is looking pretty dandy already. Tell me about these designs. So I've been making some since I was a kid, actually. And when I was about 22 I thought, You know what? I don't want to work for anyone. I want to make something and make money out. I don't like working for people, so I or yourself? Exactly. So I spent years and years making all different kinds of things. I was making handbags for years, and I was never any fun, Too much competition in the market. And then I really randomly stumble into clay while being involved in a tile business in Venice Beach. Ah ha. In 2006 your thing and I was doing handbags, and I just combined the concept of just the raw material of clay with fashion, and I would let was it and bags were done out of my life. And I said, This is it for me. And I made more money in six months of doing this than I did it in ...
six years of doing handbags. Right? But you still had Thea understanding of making things, though. Absolutely working hands working with your hands. So tell me about those beginnings. I mean, of course, you start with the handbags. But before that, what was your beginning? Like is an artist I started sewing when I was five, Can actually and five years old. Wait a second. I'm sorry. My mother would have had a heart attack if she would have seen me at five. Like in front of a sewing machine. I have age. Oh, my gosh. Your mom is way cool. I was making my own Barbie clothes and I still playing with Barbies. Don't be afraid to give the young ones large machinery, because you never know what might happen. Actually, Mom had a treadle machine, and I was really fascinated with a trend that What if there's no electricity and you press your foot? Oh, my God. So I was playing with that when I was little. My started sewing, and I just Wow, I just My creativity basically exploded. I can tell. I can tell. Okay, So you have necklaces and earrings and is it appear? Jewelry line Is that why it doesn't look so unisex right now? But I call it a very unisex accessories line. Okay, because I was doing cuffs a really long time and men were buying them, and colors and combinations that I never would have suggested were for man. But now I have no judgment on it. And I have been that by my necklace is ah ha And I did cuffs for a really long time. And then I got bored with that. And then I started doing necklaces. And then I just kind about seeing things in the market that I kind of want to knock on for coffee, your good ideas, OK, and see what people are buying. And is that mostly how you get your inspiration is it by learning and watching other article research market research? Fantastic. So I was looking at these pieces and I used to sculpt in high school, and, you know, I like there's a lot of people out there like Oh, you know I can I could make that myself, but I couldn't make that myself because I look at it and I'm sure that even on the backside. You know, just kind of like all the little details that you that you have and all of the structures and designs. And I mean, I'm still it macaroni necklaces, Honestly, but do you have that? Do you have people that are like, Oh, I could make that I dio And But what I would tell you now is that I am more of a product developer than I am, even in jeweler. Jeweler? Yeah, I love comic development. Okay, I love to think about that. Shapes and help them land your body, the curve it is to have, whether wire goes, put that all the chain and I'll see something in the market and I'll say, Well, that would be really cool. He just changed a little bit like this and then sit down late at night, late night swimming patterns on a piece of paper, red pants, always a red pen scissors and I just thought draw. I drew this pattern a week ago. Love it, and you're right. It does lay right on your chest, just as it should. And I I have no idea how to do that. I just know how toe wear necklaces. e where I wear them really well, but yeah, I just I wanted to just cover that, but, you know, honestly, you have a business mind. I understand suffering this about her. So of course, you know, you have your own story here, but are you in other retailers? What is that selling it like for you? Someone recently jokingly said, you're a very pragmatic service, which is somewhat of an oxymoron, because I love making stuff, but also very clear headed and logical about making business decisions. Okay. And knowing that I could spend hours on a piece that could be gorgeous but doesn't sell, it's kind of a loose 20 time. I hate to say so. I'm all about the bread and butter, make a living, and then by the luxury of making those gorgeous pieces. So right now I have a sales around. Okay, thanks away. That's all right, huh? She's in place in Chicago, okay? And I've like that of market tested enough to know what shows not to do right now. I'm in a long run of doing a really select great shows. Like I go to Chicago for Taco one of a kind man I'm in my fifth year there. Okay, that's super successful. I go to Austin for a junior league event, okay? And so when it works, do more of that. Yeah. When I get the client base that certain shows I come back. Chicago one of a client. Might my I myself have increased tremendously every year and go back. Okay. So people, but can buy online from you as well? Yes. Right. OK, so where does that happen? I'll be honest. I don't full of energy. And, um, online store because I have so much to do otherwise, mostly student of cow. Okay. Oh, wow, lady. But that's just an Etsy shop. And I have to be honest right now. It's not up to date with all my newest stuff, because I'm so busy for my retail shows and just shipping orders to stores. I'm in about 50 stores, so wow, so that's actually a revelation for me were actually in another course. It's still going on right now, called the Art of Selling what you make with terror. Gentilly. And she is totally breaking it down for us. And I'm understanding Mawr about how it works in different artists. businesses. You know, selling online versus selling in person and you have a formula that works for you and you're doing the market research and you're just doing more of what works for you. And I just that's refreshing to hear, because it's not a one size fits all answer. I agree, right? And what I enjoy, I really in such an eagle doesn't have to be honest to go to these big shows and they say, Waited all year. I thought about a bottle last year they didn't. Speaking of, if you see any of the designs from any of the artists today and you're thinking I should have, you know, I don't know if there's limited quantities of what you're selling, but you know it's Christmas time or holiday time for all of us. And if you see something that you love, take action and get it now before someone else does. Because we do actually have a live event going on and there will be transactions happening all day, and everything is one of a kind cause glazing is the same color. But every piece is always different, built in quality that I have that I'm always telling one of a kind of pieces to everybody because we are each one of a kind. All right, so again, repeat your website for us. Dandy craft dot com. My name's Andrea have been making some since I was five, and it shows, all right, It was so nice to meet you. Andrea, you're fantastic.