Branding for a Gift Shop

I was asked to sell my art in a gift shop recently and in preparation for this milestone I have a branding headache. My table is covered with tag ideas, print outs, labels, notes, and generally a mess. Do I want to add my etsy address? What colors do I want? Do I want to add my name or stick to my shop name? And how will I package my magnets, lamps, and other decor that I will be adding in the future? How much space do I give for the store's inventory number and price?

Pink Candi Crafts

 Forget about this self-declared mess (not!) while wrapping gifts, I have a mountainous mess in the dining room, the craft room, and the garage. Both my dad and my husband told me that I need a dedicated workshop in the backyard somewhere.

Away from the house apparently.

Wonder what they are trying to say.

Pretty Stationery Shop

These are things I have learned during this process:
1. stick to what feels right for your "brand"/name/art/vision
2. make the tags/packaging something you will want to look at for a length of time
3. make sure others can read the pertinent information
4. do you want to tell a story with the description
5. think about pricing before someone comes knocking at your door!!!
6. will the tags/packaging flow from one product to another

QUESTION: What have you learned about packaging (either from your own shop or as a customer)?

Back to School Monthly Challenge

The BBA Monthly Challenge is all about Back to School  for August. Since I have been creating and organizing my new office (went back to work after six years!) I decided to use those for my challenge entry.

A new bulletin board... the one I inherited was black and white zebra print and it was hard for my eyes to focus on the forms I needed to read when answering parent/customer questions. I created the banner and the note holder first, then decided on the background fabric. It looks wrinkled in the photo but it looks better hanging up now.

on the ground waiting to be put up...

 Trying to get a photo in the office....For some reason this wants to upload sideways in blogger.

The banner/bunting was shared in this previous post. I cut out different papers and adhered various embellishments and formed the word LOVE.

love bunting

I wanted a way to manage the bits of notes that I needed to remember without stockpiling paper scraps all over my desk. I thought this was a pretty way to stay organized.

used: adhesive, glittered chipboard letters, baker's twine, and decorative tape

use the clip to keep track of bits of paper and receipts

fun polka dot tape

life is good reminder

 Anyone else notice what my husband did and I did not? With the bunting and the tags I created a board that says "love note."
QUESTION: What do you remember about those first days of school?