What's happened this year and what's coming next at Jin Designs
As we move into a new season, there's hope and belief that this difficult year is going to turn a corner. This has been one of the hardest years and a real reality check in the world of small business. I honestly thought that I could grow Jin Designs year on year, albeit slowly, but I realise now that was foolish thinking! Here's a few thoughts about what's been happening and also to give you some insight to what is coming. I'd love you to continue this rocky road with me. There's lots to look forward to and even more to bring you.
This year took a nosedive pretty much straight after January. I tried everything to keep things moving. But the spare money that people had for homeware and gifts just was not there for people. It's totally understandable. With interest rate rises and inflation, the lack of spending was across the economy, not just in the world of retail and small business.
As a result of the lack of spend, I had to cut my advertising and marketing spend in order to save some money. This meant I haven't been able to reach as many new customers. And I couldn't keep relying on existing ones to keep buying from me. They have done more than enough already! So the downward road continued.
Price rises have been a problem for a lot of business, including mine. Costs have just gone up and up for all my products. And packaging too. I've had to have a good look at the product range and tried to reduce it somehow.
How much does it cost to bring out a new product?
It's a lot! It's not just the cost of the actual product, it's the time and cost of getting it out in front of people. Each product needs to be photographed, listed on the website, listed on Etsy and other selling platforms. It then has to be marketed to customers through email, social posts, blog posts. So when you bring out a new product, you really need to know you can sell. This isn't always guaranteed unfortunately.
In order to sell the product you need to get it in front of people. This means spending on advertising - on Facebook or Google - which are highly competitive and difficult to compete on when you're smaller business with not as big a budget as the big brands.
But...
I'm now experimenting with shorter production runs for a lot of my products. This means stock is limited and there will be more limited editions. Long gone are the days of huge minimum orders and trying to sell stock year after year that was ordered years ago. Yes these products are 11 years old and still with us!
With warehouse costs as they are, and each product costing when it sits there on the shelf, it's difficult to hold stock anymore.
This is a good thing really. It actually means less waste. And hopefully more of what you want.
Here's what could be coming in the next few months
Please note this is subject to change. I'll do my best to commit to this, if costs allow it.
Say hello to:
- A limited edition Cat design - launching Autumn 2024
- The long-awaited Nibble Dishes
- Cereal bowls - to go alongside my Pasta Bowls
- A redesigned and refreshed Fox Design
- New dog designs
- Cushions
Other possibilities:
- Possibly 2 new woodland characters
- Ceramic jars
- CatLoaf Cat Scratcher Bed - I really hope to be able to reintroduce this early next year - do you want to register your interest?
- Notebooks
Say goodbye to:
- Horse
- Zip Bags (I'm looking at alternative bags)
- Moments Mugs - I love these but amongst my animal themed collections, they do not get the attention they need!
This list of things coming and going is very much subject to change. I'd love your thoughts so please do reply to one of my emails or message me on socials.
Are you signed up to my newsletter? This is the best way to be in touch about all the new products coming and all the news here at Jin Designs. Sign up here. I do often share behind the scenes information on new designs and products on my socials so make sure you're following @jindesigns - particularly on Instagram and Facebook.
I'm so grateful to you for following along and being part of this up and down journey.
I've been doing this for 11 years now and I feel a definite shift this year. I think the fact it has been so slow has given me time to think about what I want to do. And to be honest, I really don't want to do anything else right now.
There's a feeling that I have put so much time and effort in that I'm not letting it go at this point. I still really believe in my designs. I know there's a place for them in this world!
So please stick along for this journey. There's lots to come. Thanks for reading this.
Jinny
Designer / Founder
