Hey there!

 

Welcome back to Seek + Source Summer Camp! We’ve come a long way on this journey together, and now it’s time to navigate the final steps before we head home from camp. This week, we’ll use our trusty compass to guide us through the process of deciding what product to create and ensuring it aligns with our brand.

 

In the beginning, I went with what I loved. Was that the most logical approach? Probably not. Ha ha… But it led me to discover the joy of creating products that truly resonate with my brand. 

 

Here’s how I navigated my way to finding the right products:

- Follow Your Heart: Start with what you love. For me, it was washi tape. It was tiny, fun, and made my heart happy.

- Build Your Brand Story: As my brand grew, I developed a brand story. When I added wrapping paper, I realized I was a gift brand. Every new product idea now goes through the filter of whether it fits into the gifting category and reflects vibrant, nature-inspired designs. Sometimes this feels like it holds me back, but it also keeps me in line. Funny how that works, huh?

- Research: Research your competition, their products, designs, and packaging. Understand what’s working for them and how you can make your product stand out.

- Artwork: Evaluate existing artwork or consider new designs that could work for your product.

- Find a Manufacturer: Start with Google for domestic searches. If that doesn’t work, turn to Alibaba. Always look for reliable suppliers.

- Samples: Always request samples to test colors, workmanship, and quality.

- Price Point: Re-evaluate the numbers to ensure they work for wholesale or direct to customer sales and look at overall profitability. If they don’t, go back to the drawing board.

- Marketing Plan: Once everything aligns, order the product and create a marketing plan to launch it successfully.

 

As a special treat for you (consider it an extra piece of chocolate for your s'more!), 

I’ve created a comprehensive checklist summarizing everything we’ve covered so far. It’s a handy checklist to help you navigate your product journey, from brainstorming to placing orders. Download your Product Journey Compass checklist below! Woot-woot!

Remember the Seek + Source Scavenger hunt? Go find the blog post most relevant to knowing what products to start with. 

 

At the bottom of the blog will be a button to submit your name and answer this week’s question: Thinking the sky is the limit, what product do you want to make the most—set no limits! Pretend there are no minimums!

Next week may be our last week at camp, it's bittersweet, right? Don't worry, every camp counselor has a fun surprise at the end of camp!