2nd week new Twitter promotion
Just up on Twitter: the next group of clutches made by clutch makers on the Sellers page.
I’m getting great comments on this exposure. Will endeavor to keep promoting your work!
All are directed to the Facebook fanpage where they can go directly to your shops!
New Twitter promotions
Hey guys!
Check out the Twitter wallpaper that I have up! I will be rotating these with another set in a week. All to promote my clutch handbag makers who use my fine metal purse frames in their craft.
I tweet about clutches. Please follow to get the latest tweets!
All will be directed to the Facebook album that I created, which contains a direct link from the clutch to the clutch-maker’s shop.
If you are interested in becoming listed as a seller and get included in my marketing and promotions, please read this post.
Thanks and have a great week!
~Winn
End of Summer Clutches
Clutch fans … I’ve got another collection of beautiful, one-of-a-kind clutches ready for purchase from various clutch makers. Posted at the Facebook fan page, you can click on the clutches that you like, read the brief description, and each listing has a direct link to that clutch. Once there, you can shop around that seller’s shop to see her other handmade goods! 🙂 Look for the clutch listings where the frame is noted “Trademarks of WhileBabyNaps.Etsy.com and Khuong LLC”. You can be sure that you are buying the highest quality frames that are tested for lead.
Check it out!
One of a kind. One for you. One for your bestie!
These are made from clutch makers, all of whom can be found on the Sellers page. They take custom orders too!
**For those of you who are currently listed as sellers, I will be cleaning up the list to update your banners and check out your shop’s inventory for more marketing, supporting and promoting. With fall weddings, fall craft shows, and back-to-school time, I will be promoting your clutches so that customers (the end-user) can peruse and buy. ALL SELLERS: please be sure to note in new listings, shop announcement, Profiles, or Policies (depends on you and whether or not you buy from me exclusively) those clutches made with my fine purse frames that “this clutch was made with fine purse frames that are “Trademarks of WhileBabyNaps.Etsy.com and Khuong LLC” or something to that effect so that the customers can find them!
Promotions on Twitter are forthcoming.
Advertising starts in September.
If you would like to become a seller, please read this post and convo me with the request. I’m happy to add you!
Fabric shopping for fall!
With fall around the corner in the US, you might want to get ahead of the curve and get your Fall Collection planned out. I see that many of you have already started your fall lines by ordering Gutermann glue and purse frames. Next is the fabric!
As I’ve mentioned in my many previous posts, I will be looking for fabrics while residing here in Viet Nam for my short 2.5 years! And good news guys … I’ve hit the mother-load! Let me explain.
The traffic here consists of pedestrian, bicycles, automobiles, motorcycles, and about 50% of the entire traffic is motorbikes or motor-scooters. They are not as powerful as the motorcycle, and are similar to the branded Vespas that you would see in Europe, for example. This picture captures it all beautifully:
You've got it all in here. Loose rules that can leave you wondering just how everyone manages to make it from one side to the other!
That said, my husband’s employer provides our family with a rental car and driver. There’s no way expats can take the test and drive over here (especially when we are only here for a short period of time). In addition, vehicles are prohibitively expensive. Whatever you would pay for in the US for your vehicle, double that price for here!
And to get to my original point of this post – the fabric – it turns out that our driver used to fix sewing machines and knows ALL the fabric mills in the city!!! 🙂
When the kids are attending school in August, I will be able to shop in earnest. I’m so excited to see the silks, cottons, and hand-embroidered fabrics. This place is Etsy come to real life: all are handmade by artisans!
Here’s a pic I snapped of one fabric shop. Look at the variety!
Every inch is covered with all kinds of fabric imaginable!
Like you going through the bolts at Joanne’s, I will have to dig through to find the designs and styles that are really magnificent and remarkable! I generally hate shopping but I can spend all day looking at fabric.
Here’s how shopping can look like over here — barely enough room through maneuver through but it’s worth the hunt!
The bazaar! Shoppers are very gracious but the sellers are quite pushy! All Westerners and expats have virtual targets on their face$!
So head out and start your journey for fabrics for your clutches. With new offerings for fall, this is a great way to freshen up your shop to prevent it from being too stale: give your customers a reason to take another look!
1. Plan out your Fall collection and colors. Read Vogue, Marie Claire, Lucky, InStyle … any of the national magazines and find the trends that are being reported. What clutches can you sell that will compliment your buyers’ fall palettes? Last I heard, lace is in for this fall.
2. Start your fabric search and look for the colors and fabric designs that you want for your Fall Collection. Remember to save fabrics with big, bold designs for your bigger clutches and bags. The fabrics with smaller motifs can be used for the smaller clutches, wallets and coin purses.
3. Go back to your stock of fabric and pull from those any remnants that can compliment as well. I only throw the smallest of my fabric away. I keep it all! I use the smallest pieces that I can no longer find for use in the Snappy(TM) Wallet Clutch: the ID pocket needs only a tiny rectangle of beloved fabric! I also use slightly bigger pieces as lining for my coin purse clutches!
4. Lay out your frames and mix and match inner and outer fabrics with the different frames. This allows you to visually see what your boutique or online shop will look like when you’re done. You will see where you may be short on one size purse frame or short on a certain fabric, and you will have time to buy as needed.
Shops that have a cohesive and strong aesthetic really do well. Shops that offer willy-nilly don’t do as well, because the customers get confused. Brand identity is so important and critical to shops. Shops that stick to what they are good at and that exhibit great craftsmanship do really well.
And remember to take good pics! If it takes you 3 minutes to take a good picture of each clutch, remember that 2 minutes of 45 seconds of that should be spent setting up the shot: lighting, positioning, focusing …. and then snap! I see lots of clutches that are shot poorly. Why spend all your time and effort in making the clutch only to ruin the chances of selling it by having a bad photo?
For those of you who own your own boutique or sell in your local boutique, spend the time to have it displayed in a nice case with good lighting. Have the display ones be the ones that customers can touch and feel and open, but be sure to sell them the unopened and tissue-wrapped one. After the display sample has been handled, remember to wipe off fingerprints and lightly dust the fabric.
Hope your summer is going well! Oh …. one last thing! Pax is here! He’s been here for a week and has adjusted splendidly. Just like in NJ, Pax hops in the van when we go shopping! (Pax gets to stay in the van with the AC on with our driver while the kids and I run in to get groceries.) Everywhere we go, every day and every time that I walk him, he gets attention! He’s a superstar here. His breed (goldendoodle) is non-existent here. I don’t even think anyone has even seen a poodle, much less a golden doodle. So they ask:
*Is he a goat?
*Do you perm his hair?
*Where is he from?
The van is usually surrounded by 4-6 people looking at Pax! I feel like I’ve got Lindsey Lohan or some other starlet in there! 🙂 LOL. And everyone who comes in contact with him just loves him to pieces. Everything just seemed to fall into place upon Pax’s arrival. That loud sound of exhaling? That’s me! Here’s a pic of Hayley with Pax.
Pax petered out after our morning walk. It's cooler here than the current heatwave in the US! He loves lounging on Hayley and on the cold tile floor.
That’s all for now. I’ll be back soon!
~Winn
Debuting new 8×3 Goldenlock(TM) purse frame with LOOPS!
By popular request, here is the new 8×3 Goldenlock(TM) purse frame – now with loops!
Check it out ladies! I’m very happy with the warm – not brassy – finish, and this will coordinate with my Goldenlock purse chains!
These will be listed tomorrow for sale.
8x3 Goldenlock(TM) purse frame with loops.
Same Perfect Fit 6(TM) u-channel and sturdy kisslock balls.
Triplets! Nickel-free, Duskcoat Gunmetal(TM), and Goldenlock!
Great for your warmer fabrics and high-end custom clutches. Great for the bridal market! Be on the forefront and pare it with white! Gorgeous!!!
WOW! You guys are quick! … Introducing PurseFramesOutlet.Etsy.com
Man, I did not know that WordPress also sends out an email on password-protected posts, too. Sorry about that guys!
And boy, you guys are quick! 🙂
And no, the newest password-protected post will NOT work with your current password since it is a separate PDF tutorial that I’m launching with my new PurseFramesOutlet.Etsy.com business.
I just got done with the PDF tutorial and the templates for that.
As I’ve mentioned a while ago (OMG, I’m soooooooo swamped with the move and the kids), I am launching a new business. It will be up within 2 weeks! (Well, it has to since I’m moving out of the country and all…) *hehe* No pressure!
Here’s a sneak peek to you all first:
Introducing the new Snappy(TM) wallet clutch!
Q: What is PurseFramesOutlet.Etsy.com?
A: It’s my secondary business that I’m launching that will allow me to up-cycle my frames. These frames were from my sister shop, WhileBabyNaps.Etsy.com.
Q: What kinds of frames are sold at PurseFramesOutlet.Etsy.com?
A: After years of inspecting for the finest frames at WhileBabyNaps.Etsy.com, we have amassed a trove of frames that while the kisslock balls, hinges, and inner surfaces are still good, the outside surface has little marks that render them defective for our high-end line of frames sold at WhileBabyNaps.Etsy.com and used by the finest clutch makers. The cost to ship, melt, and re-work these defective frames were too costly on the pocketbook and environment. We have saved them so that we can still work with a subset of these defective frames.
Q: How have they been used before?
A: Frames like these had been donated and sold at a discount privately for those in need (single moms, women who lost their jobs, women who were otherwise in need of side income but didn’t have the money). We finally have enough to do this on a large scale.
Q: Why can’t I buy your frames from WhileBabyNaps.Etsy.com to make the Snappy(TM) wallet clutch?
A: You still can, but why not pay a fraction of the full price for defective frames when you will not see the defects in your final product? You pay less, and we get to up-cycle our fine frames with defects.
Q: What else do I need to know?
A: *They are all trademarks of WhileBabyNaps.Etsy.com and Khuong LLC.
*They are NOT returnable to PurseFramesOutlet.Etsy.com OR WhileBabyNaps.Etsy.com.
*They have all been tested for lead and they all have a proprietary 2-coat process that allows you to wipe off fingerprints easily.
*They were made in the same high standards, but had been weeded out for their minor defects from shipping or otherwise.
I am so thrilled to be launching this to you all first. This new design will add another product to your lines of clutches. It’s easier to make, adds another price point, AND….
*Lowers your material cost by having lower priced purse frames.
*Lowers your material cost because you can use scrap fabric from other projects.
*Lower your material cost because you can use the less expensive quilting cottons that are perfect for this project and are easily found at your local shops.
And lower material costs means a BIGGER PROFIT for you!
Thank you for your support of using our fine frames (however defective) because it also allows us to up-cycle these otherwise great frames.
So stay tuned! It will launch within 2 weeks. It will start shipping out June 21. I will keep you posted and you will be the first to know!
NEW 8×3 nickel-free EleganceLock(TM) purse frame in Perfect Fit 6(TM)
Look what’s come in guys! These will be listed tomorrow.
Oh, I just listed the 3×1.5 antique brass. Sorry that took a couple days longer than planned. I’ve been working on April’s accounting (ugh…) and just got done late Friday night. I haven’t gotten as much time being a single mom and also having the house be in “show” condition as it’s on the market for rental or purchase. Raising 3 kids and dog with a house on sale by myself is quite taxing! On the positive side, once I hit the pillow, I’m out! No need to have that glass of red wine … I don’t even have the energy to pour one! 🙂
Anywho, I had this frame with my popular Skinny Bride(TM) u-channel. But after a lot of requests in the last 6 months for the EleganceLock without loops in the Perfect Fit 6(TM) u-channel, I redesigned it.
So for those who have used the purse frames with EleganceLock with loops, these are the same as those but without loops.
Many have sent emails on the pluses of this closure design, such as how the flattened closure design of the EleganceLock allows for older clients with arthritis, for example, an easier time to open the clutches! I am so happy to hear that, as those of you who have been with me for these years will recall how I designed this with that in mind. (I got my inspiration from Target’s redesign of all their pharmacy’s medicine/pill containers.)
Take a look!
8x3 nickel-free purse frame with EleganceLock(TM)
Made with my trademarked u-channel Perfect Fit 6(TM)!
No sibling rivalry here!
Hope your Sunday is great! ~Winn
Debuting 12×3.5 inch Nickel-free purse frame!
This is all new guys! I’ve got a new design for you clutch mavens to expand your line. While some are expanding to the smaller wallets and coin purses (smart move) to capture the smaller cash sales, some are starting to move the other direction!
Think bigger, roomier bags.
Think leather, pleather, vinyl, burlap, upholstery weight, oil cloth, suede, outdoor fabric and a whole host of other fabulous fabrics!
Think about the big bolts of fabric that is in Joann’s upholstery section in those big rods!
I’ve made some design changes just for this size:
*Wider u-channel to accommodate thicker fabrics and heavyweight interface and batting.
*Wider walls of the u-channel to accommodate a bigger seam allowance for all these materials.
*Bigger kisslock balls: 15mm!
Why doesn’t it come with loops? Because with bags this size, you will want to make your own straps out of coordinating fabrics! Although it’s made of iron and is heavy and very sturdy, a bag full of contents will need sturdy straps instead of a chain, since that will dig into your shoulders. Straps pulling on the frame may warp it over time, so heavy duty, wide straps will hold the bag up and provide comfort for your users.
Not to mention, it will make it very chic!
Check it out:
12x3.5 nickel-free purse frame
Comparison with 8x3 and 10x3 purse frames.
I like the bigger balls! (That's what she said.) 🙂
The big kahuna!
I will list these up for sale tomorrow or Thursday!
Start dreaming of your new clutch bag designs now! 🙂
~Winn
Business tips for clutch makers
As I spend 2-3 hours a day answering convos and emails, it’s time to post some of the Q&As. These are my own opinions based on what I’ve researched and seen what works. There are always exceptions, especially for those clutch makers who are just exceptional in their craftsmanship, materials used, unique style and such … but these tip will be applicable for most people. I hope you will find it helpful for your business.
Q: How much inventory would you suggest to get started?
A: “Go big or go home” – minimum 30, but 60 is really ideal. The tips in this blog post https://clutchme.wordpress.com/2011/01/08/selling-your-clutches-at-arts-and-crafts-fairs/ will really help you regardless of your selling venue, be it on Etsy or at a Spring craft show. The top 2 tips are especially relevant:
1. Have plenty in stock to sell. Go into the show knowing that you will not sell out everything (and you shouldn’t): you should have plenty for customers to pick and choose from. Make it look like a real shop! The saddest thing to see is an emaciated booth! This is also true of an online shop: unless your work is exceptional, customers perceive a lowly stocked store as more of a “hobby”.
2. Have differently sized clutches and price points. If all your clutches are cotton in the $65 range, that leaves opportunity on the table for someone who only wants to spend $40 on a gift to her mother-in-law. If you sell only silk clutches that require a higher price point due to the materials cost, you will take longer to get established.
Q: How do I accept payment?
A: I only recommend credit cards for online shops. For in-person transactions, you can accept checks and cash (of course!) as well. You can accept up to $500 using squareup.com. This post shows the device that you can plug into your mobile phone to accept credit cards! https://clutchme.wordpress.com/2011/01/08/selling-your-clutches-at-arts-and-crafts-fairs/. And one of my favorite articles written on the founder of squareup is here. Did you know he also founded Twitter?? Amazing guy! Worth your reading. http://www.vanityfair.com/online/daily/2011/03/jack-dorsey.html
Founder to Twitter and Square
Q: What sort of fee does paypal charge?
*2.9% +$.30 per transaction. There’s a reason Paypal is the worldwide leader for small business owners. So easy and you don’t need any of the hardware to accept payments.
Q: How much $$ out of pocket does it take to get started?
A: $500 is a good investment but you can do it for $250 if you are only online. I highly recommend saving up for months and go big. Shops that are wimpy and anemic out of the starting gate usually do not do well.
Q: Is etsy over populated with this type of item?
A: Hard to say, but I don’t think so. Are black shoes over populated? Blue jeans? You can do so many things within the category. Women will always buy handbags.
Q: How do I determine my profit?
A: You’ve got to do your own cost analysis. It depends on your production costs and what you sell your goods for. The difference is profit and that differs with everybody. Figure out how much your material costs in each clutch is roughly. Subtract that from your sales price and that’s your profit. So if it took you 1 hour to make a clutch that cost you $8 in materials, and you sold it for $40. Then your profit is $32. You essentially made $32/hr. BUT you have to subtract out your Etsy and Paypal fees as well as packaging costs (tissues, boxes, ribbon).
Q: How do you know what is a fair price?
A: It’s what the customer will pay for. Clutches run the gamut on style and craftsmanship. So depending on what your clutches will be made of and the style it is, do a search to clutches similar to yours and see what those are priced at. Those clutches are essentially what you are competing with. BUT I always tell my handbag makers: 1) be original and 2) do not compete on price. These are not mass-produced products so sell and market your style.
Q: What fabrics would be considered “high end”?
A: Silk, embroidered fabrics, satins … anything that costs $$$/yd! 🙂
Q: How often should I relist?
A: I recommend re-listing your clutches every day. Budget in $1/day for re-listing. That gets you 5 clutches to re-list per day. If you’ve sold a clutch, when you renew the listing, that renewal counts towards that. The key is to get your goods in the top 4-5 pages of the most recently listed items. Many people view by “most recently listed”. The front page of Etsy also shows the most recently listed items, so you’ll get more exposure.
My overall feel on the clutch handbag market are as follows:
*Etsy is not the only venue to sell these. But it is a great venue and provides great exposure. At $0.20 per listing, it is also a low-cost way to get your products out there. The Etsy community of hand-made goods is very unique and customers want to buy from you. Great relationships can be established and it’s very rewarding.
*Arts and crafts fairs as a venue for handmade clutches are in its infancy. I have yet to hear from one handbag maker who had any competition with another clutch maker. In fact, I keep getting comments about how she was the only one at the crafts fair and sold the majority of the clutches. Make sure you have enough on hand so that the Sunday of the fair does not leave you with less than 10 to sell. I cannot stress how a well-stocked booth/table is. Appearance counts! It forms the shopper’s mind.
*Local boutiques are another venue for your clutches that many have not pursued. Why not? Talk to the shop owner. Many shop owners go to tradeshows to look for goods to carry in their shops. Why not approach them to display your bags to see how it sells? A lot of local boutiques love showcasing a local artist. It brings people in and fills their shelves. No complicated contracts needed: work with the owner to see how much of a “cut” she would get if your bag sells. This helps the shop owner as well since she’ll have new merchandise that she would not have had to pay for that inventory. And if it sells, she’ll get a cut of it for her time of ringing up the sale, packaging it, and promoting it. I’ve gotten several boutique owners making clutches to sell at their shops, but then finding out that they don’t have the time to do it on top of doing everything else at the store. Bridal shop owners are finding out the same thing. So those in the bridal clutch market, I urge you to go to your local bridal shops with your sample stock of bridal clutches to show them.
*Have a clear and distinct style for your clutches and “voice” for your shop. This is especially important when selling on Etsy. How is your shop different from others? Why would someone want to buy your clutches? Look at the most successful shops and you will see their distinct style and voice immediately.
*Price it right. If you only have access to Joann Fabrics to make clutches, then do not expect to price and sell any clutches at $60+. Won’t happen. But if your clutches are made with vintage Lily Pulitzer reclaimed fabric that no one else has and that is no longer produced en masse, why yes, you can price your cotton clutches made from this in that higher price range.
*Higher priced clutches will have a smaller pool of customers. This is true in every market so it holds true to clutches as well. For example, a $150,000 home will have a bigger pool of buyers than a $750,000 home. There’s a lot fewer people with that kind of cash. Clutches in the $35 range sell every day of the week…
*Silk clutches and other special occasions clutches will have a smaller pool of customers. They are also priced higher so it makes sense! I’m not using my silk clutches when at the grocery store (With 3 kids, I swear I’m always running out for milk!).
So those are my tips for you on this rainy Sunday. I know many of you are working on your clutches for the Spring craft shows. I want to wish you all the best of luck! May the sun shine on the both of us! 🙂
Quick tip for “squaring off” the bottom corners of your clutch
To improve my time and hone my skills, I make my clutches in batches. I never make just one from start to finish.
This tip is for all handbag makers, but especially for those who bought my PDF tutorial.
The essential bottom seam allows your clutch to work for both non-directional and directional patterns.
This is an example of a non-directional pattern:
Any which way is up!
This is an example of a directional pattern. We wouldn’t want an upside bird on the other side!
Cute birdie! Using my 6x3 nickel-free frame(TM) with loops.
But for it to have stability, you need to “square off” the corners. Since I do it in batches, I save time by pre-marking my sewing machine.
Pre-measured and pre-marked!
Instead of getting out the measuring tape and measuring every corner, I pre-measured and marked those measurements on my sewing machine with a Sharpie.
(This coincides with Step #9, pg. 11 of the PDF main tutorial.)
Start from the needle and measure out in 1/4″ increments. And use as needed for the size clutch that you are making. Voila!
Those various measurements above cover me from the small coin purses that uses my 3×1.5 nickel-free frames(TM), the 4.5×3 wallets, the 6×3 mid-size, the popular 8×3 and the biggest of 10×3.
Enjoy your sewing!
About
I am the #1 US seller of purse frames and I’ve been incorporated since 2001. This blog is mainly aimed at my audience of clutch handbag makers. I have a very small niche that is comprised of 99.9% women. I am loyal and promote handbag makers who are loyal to me by using my fine purse frames. When they are successful, then I am successful.
The two businesses that I own are:
*purse supplies, Gutermann glue, and DIY clutch kits at whilebabynaps.etsy.com, whilebabynaps.com
*up-cycled purse supplies PurseFramesOutlet.etsy.com
To find clutches made using my fine metal purse frames, LOOK to see “Trademarks of WhileBabyNaps.com and H&D LLC” and you’ll know the clutches are made using the finest metal purse frames that are tested for lead and that have a protective coating to lengthen the life of the clutch. You can go to any of the sellers on the Sellers page.
****NOTE: If you want someone to make a clutch for you, please contact any of my sellers and inquire. They will gladly make custom orders!****
Interested in reaching my audience? Advertise. Contact me here.
Thank you for stopping by for a look.
Warmly,
Thy Khuong
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#1 US Seller of Purse Frames
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