It's always fun to see our products in shops at large retailers nationwide. But the most fulfilling collabs are always the ones where we get to work together with mompreneurs and small business owners. The pay is not only in cash but it’s also emotionally fulfilling seeing how those small start-up businesses flourish.
First, they find our prints over at our Spoonflower shop, where we have over 6000 designs on fabric and wallpaper available. The plus of starting like this is that it’s easy to create a sense of style and signature in the use of patterns. It is low cost and it’s an easy way to test target groups using fabric instead of licensing designs right away.
But we see numerous small crafters grow their online shops, and then exclusivity becomes more important. We don’t like copy cats either and it’s hard to always stay ahead and be taken seriously when your competition is copying every step you take. Trust me we’ve had a fair share of copied designs our there. It’s easy to recognize since the details in prints and composition overlap. Sadly this is a problem in every business. So working on exclusive designs is more in demand than ever.
As a Spoonflower customer, it might be scary to take the next step to license designs. We have an easy non-exclusive license structure, and we love making exclusive work and tweak our rates a little to support small business owners. So it’s a soft landing. Most of our smalle business collabs come from places like Spoonflower. So we appreciate each and every one of you that takes that step. It takes balls to invest in your business. I’ve been there.
Working with small companies we love most. And yes we’ve worked with numerous companies all around the globe, big fish I call them. It is never as personal, never as satisfying and also, we try to check their production ethics, but it is not as transparent and direct as working with that mom, sewing baby nest and working from her living room. It is lovely to see the direct impact. And of course, it works both ways. Here are 5 tips and things to consider before licensing designs for your business and products.
1 // What's your visual style?
If you are looking for a specific style, do some research and make yourself some mood boards to help you figure out what kind of prints you love most. Are they hand-drawings, a little quirky? Do you love minimals or abstracts or are you more the romantic kind of customer: soft and flowy watercolors might be more suitable for you.
2 // How important is exclusivity for your business?
If you license print designs at our studio we have over 10.000 designs to choose from. And even though we license our designs mostly non-exclusively, we avoid licensing to competing companies. So if you are on a budget this is a pretty good solution. We also create custom designs. If you are starting your own business this can be a little too pricey. But keep in mind, if you spend a little more time and money on a coherent collection, your customers will bond with you. If you have a coherent style you'll create loyal customers who choose your products because they can rely on a steady print signature. If your products carry prints that are driving sales, make sure you make print designs a priority.
3 // Did you do your market research?
Some of our customers do extended research on their target group. Others just handpick prints without any further background info or research on their market. If you would like to implement print designs to your product that speak to your ideal customer, we can help you set up a proper template. What works, what to avoid. What colors might be perfect now, or should be released later. Is your product seasonal? Keep in mind that you don't have to compete. You bring something new to the table here, so don't be insecure if you are doing things a little different than your competition. That's the exact thing that makes your product valuable.
4 // Are you ready for licensing?
Our license fee is pretty affordable, but if you are insecure about what print designs to purchase and you are making fabric items we always advise to use Spoonflower fabric first. Once you get started and get some info about what works best for your customers and what works best for you, you can dive in a little deeper and license designs. if you need any assistance, any tips about trends, colors, etc. we're here to help!
5 // Are you ready to run a transparent and honest business and leave the competition behind?
I've stumbled upon a rat or two in the years I've been running the studio. Big corporations trying to steal our artwork. Fabric suppliers that are certified but use subcontractors to cut costs and don't meet certification standards. Companies stealing our print ideas and themes by bribing production companies. But also start-ups who only copy others and ask us to copy designs for them. Oh hell no! The biggest mistake you can make is fooling your customer. We love working with honest humans, my business is personal so collabs are very personal. Be transparent about your process. I know our customers trust us because they understand there are no tricks involved. I started the studio, not in for the money, but for the simple reason that creating is in my bones. So we'd love to collab with honest peeps, who value this process, have a conscious mindset and love to share the love by giving us credit for what we do. Are you ready to open up? Don't give your power away and be afraid of competition.
So here is a little shout out to all you small business owners. You can reach whatever goal you’ve set. You can have that exclusive collection. Just reach out and chat with us. We’re happy to help and if we can’t, I am sure we can direct you and give you some more insight than what you started with. Are you curious if licensing could be something for you? Contact us by filling out the contact sheet on our website.
