Obsession Works For Obsession

People have obsessions to almost everything. Women are obsessed to fashion, accessories and all that comes with it: clothes, shoes, jewelry, and yes, bags. So as a bag designer, you need to make sure this obsession grows within those women. Of course you can keep doing your own business, or you could enjoy other people's addictions. Those women who have lots and lots of bags, that have been collecting for years, need something to buy; fast and now. The thing is, once they get the bag you made, they're excited for a little while. Little while until the next conquer, the next excitement, the next bag from the next designer, maybe a better designer. So bag addicted women can be a good thing, but can also be a bad thing. As I've written before, more than once I believe, your bags must stand out. You don't want your bag to be "just another one", shoved into the closet. You may also want that those women will remember your name and look for another bag from you, because they really liked the last purchase they've made (from you, obviously). If you're really good, a woman might crown you as a good bag designer and will be even more excited when she buys more from you. This is what we're all inspired to do. Make people buy not just one and once, but also remember and have the desire to buy from you again.

A story I've heard, about a jeans company… well, not really a company, more of a jeans designer, who wanted his jeans to make it big time. It's not so easy to get your designs into a store (that's not yours), so they will sell your creations. So what did that jeans designer do? He put his family and friends into a mission: they went into a few stores around and asked the sellers if they have --------'s jeans. Many stores, same question, and a few times at each. The stores realized that many people would want to buy that designer's clothes; they understood that he's pretty popular and they can make a lot of money. So they started working with that designer. And today, he's hot in the market. He's rich, he's famous. He made it, because he was smart. He knew how to do it right.

What does this story have to do with bags obsession? Obsession=money and success. That man had an obsession to success. Who doesn't, huh? Point is, the success that comes from obsession, has to come not only from the clients, but also from the designer. The designer is the one with a vision, and if they become obsessed with their vision, they have a better chance at selling. Merge your designing obsession and your vision and the client's obsession. Use your client's obsession for your own obsession. In the end, they're the people who will determine your future success. Your obsession works for them, and their obsession works for you. Just another way to look at things.

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And for whom didn't see yet, new bags:

Gimmick - That Important?

Let's talk gimmicks.
Brought to you, from Wikipedia- the definition of gimmick:
"A gimmick is a unique or quirky special feature that makes something "stand out" from its contemporaries".

Everybody wants to stand out. The market is tough, the economy is bad. Everybody needs a strategy to keep their business on its feet. So before I jump into the water, to the real world of business, I have to make plans and figure what to do in order to make it work.

Let me, just for a second, to tell you what's going on with me. There is a program for self-employed initiators. They have a business course there, which I've been recommended to take. Later on, this program helps small businesses, with whatever they need. It's not settled yet, but I'm starting to give it a thought. I want to have a bags' business of course. And I've been thinking: what should I do in order to stand out? What ideas can I bring to the table of the admission interview, so I will stand out and be accepted? Gimmick might be the answer for that. So I started thinking, and wondering and wandering around the ideas. And you know what? I do have a few ideas. Are they practical? Are they 'mine'? Are they gonna make me lose money or gain money?

I put a lot into my bags: designs, pricing, fabrics, little features, I buy and spend a lot of money on those things, because I know I could get all that money back, after I start selling my bags.
But my question is: can a gimmick sell more, easier and better if it's there?
For example, one of the ideas that I came up with was, key chains made from the fabric of the bag, they come with the bags themselves. Practical? Yes. Original? Not so much. Will it make me stand out? Hmm. Another idea I had, had the same concept, except instead of a set of just a bag and its key chain, there could be an entire set: bag, key chain, make up bag, shopping bag, wallet, etc. This might be a good idea, but a lot of work, and means more money to spend and ask for. Nice, but not that practical. Anyway, I'm not settled with the idea yet. But I came to the conclusion that if I want to succeed, not only personally, but also at the tough market out there, I have to find myself a way to do it "better than anyone else".

Gimmick can also be your trademark. I have a thing with rings. Many bags of mine have rings. It's not necessarily my gimmick, but it shows who I am and who my bags are. The gimmick can be in the design itself, or in the way you sell it (if you attack it key chain, for example). It can also be in the deal itself.

Okay, I'm not in the business course yet, so I'm still learning. If you took a look around my blog, you'd notice I can make anything into a philosophy, including bags. I believe thinking is always important in the business world. I believe you can't just jump into the business world without planning from the beginning and all the way through. Can't stop and daydream about what could be. Make it be. But nothing comes just like that. You have to work on that. And it's all up to you. The market is not the only one that tests you. You can't just open a business and hope it works; you have to make it work. There's a big philosophy that's called business, but I wasn't talking about all the areas of that in this post, but about gimmicks. So let me know what you think. (: