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If you’ve purchased our pocket pillows we thank you with a full heart and we would LOVE to see your designs! If you’re interested in buying our pocket pillows, we list them for sale on amazon because they are masters of shipping fast! Here is our link to the pocket pillows if interested or you can click this picture:
Quick Details for Experienced Designers
- Insert clean parchment paper or clean copy paper inside the pillowcase to avoid fusion. – Do not skip this step
- Roll for Lint and Pre-Press for 10 Seconds to remove humidity.
- Roll again for lint
- Secure your design using tape or your preferred method
- Press for 40-50 seconds at 385-400 Fahrenheit – Consult your transfer recommendations as well, as they might have lower temp requirements!
- Wait for Pillow Cover to Cool before trying to remove paper.
If you forgot to insert the paper – wait for the pillow to cool completely (we even suggest putting it a freezer for a few minutes). Once it’s cold, carefully try to separate the sides. Never try to separate the pillow case while it’s still warm.
Our Message to Beginners and our Faithful Customers: If you are a beginner at sublimation, or new to pocket pillows we encourage you to read on. We’ve compiled marketing tips and design strategies that might help you get your business off the ground or at the very least…increase sales. Thanks again for your support!
How to Increase Profits & Revenue when Selling Sublimated Pocket Pillows
Did you ever hear the saying “he could sell ice to an eskimo” or “she could sell honey to a beekeeper?” What that usually means is that the person is a smooth talker, charming, or somehow very convincing. Now maybe you were born with incredible sales skills, but chances are, all of you beginners will be a bit shy and maybe even too nervous to strike up a conversation with shoppers.
I’m here to tell you: It’s OKAY! You don’t have to be “salesy” and you don’t have to try to convince someone that they cannot live without a pocket pillow. All of those skills will come naturally, in due time. However, I do want to equip all of you beginners and anyone who bought our product, with a few tips that should lead to increases sales.
That’s because these tips will make your products look extremely inviting while simultaneously sending subliminal messages to shoppers that say your product is “useful” “needed” “high-end” and of course “worth the money.”
Let’s go over a couple of things you can do in order to make your products shine, which in turn, increases sales.
Increasing Sales by Understanding Actual Value vs. Perceived Value
Maybe you’ve never heard of Actual Value vs. Perceived Value but I can guarantee you’ve made buying decisions based upon this marketing concept. In a nutshell, this marketing strategy means that you can charge completely different prices for the same exact item based on how you make it “appear” to shoppers.
And perceived value can work: for you and against you. Let me give you an example:
Garage Sale Vs. Estate Sale
You can take the same exact household and offer its contents for sale through a typical garage sale or a professionally run estate sale and the estate will bring more money. Why is that if the items are exactly the same?
It’s because estate sale planners put a lot of thought into not only an item’s appearance, but the entire display. They do this because they know for a fact, it will lead to a “higher perceived value” which subliminally justifies a higher pricetag. Some of these things are: white tablecloths, string price tags, neatly folded linens, the items are dusted, they put valuable pieces behind glass or on on top of a mantle, they have a cash register and provide receipts, etc.,.
Now think about what you see when you attend a typical garage sale. Items are usually on the ground, or put in bins you have to dig through, makeshift tables, not exactly clean, janky masking tape pricing or neon stickers….all of this leads to a “lower perceived value” and shoppers will expect to pay less.
Learn From the Professionals
It is not by accident that professionally run estate sales will make more money for selling the same exact items than if offered through a typical garage sale venue. The same philosophy will apply to your store or booth which means you can put some effort into increasing perceived value which, as with estate sales, leads to higher revenue.
Now that you can see that perceived value exists, let’s get into tips for increasing the perceived value of your customized pocket pillows!
How to Increase Sales of Your Sublimated Pocket Pillow Cases
As you just learned, one way to increase sales is to focus on increasing your pocket pillow’s perceived value. How can you do this? We’re going to go over two areas where you have control over perceived value and that is: Your Overall Display (Setting the Scene) and Demonstrating its Use (The Pillow Itself).
Let’s go over some things you can do to increase the perceived value of a pocket pillow through effective displays and what we mean by demonstrating its use.
How to Increase Sales of Sublimated Pocket Pillows through Multi-Use Demonstration
Although the popularity of designing pocket pillows for kids has taken over the market, it’s just ONE of countless ways to use a pocket pillow. And this is where beginners can really stand out from the crowd. While everyone else is making pocket pillows for little kids, YOU can expand your designs and concepts to appeal to all of the other “abandoned” demographics as well as kids.
Now to do this most effectively, simply consider any other target market and imagine them in their home using a pocket pillow. What would Grandma put inside the pocket? What would Dad put inside the pocket? What would a college student put inside the pocket? What would a pet owner put inside the pocket?…..and so on.
Next, get thinking about hobbies and ask yourself: What would a quilter put inside the pocket, What would a crocheter put inside the pocket? How about a doodler, puzzler or gamer?
In just a few minutes of purposeful thinking, we’ve got some brand new ideas. For instance a Dad might appreciate this pillow:
While a dog owner might go nuts over this pillow:
Doing a show near a military base? How about this:
Setting up at a craft show?
Design a pillow that would appeal to crafters such as quilters, or sewers. Insert scissors or knitting needles and yarn. You are only limited by your imagination, so get creating!
I hope you can see that there is more to pocket pillows than books for kids. In fact, casting a larger net almost always yields better results. Use creative designs to help expand your demographics and use props to increase perceived value. Yes, you actually have to insert props to increase perceived value.
Take the DAD pillow as an example. Here it is without the remote control props:
Now as great as this pocket pillow is, the above picture simply doesn’t do it justice. If this was sitting on a table at your booth, people passing by (shoppers), would not understand just how useful this pocket pillow really is.
But, if you take the time and add some props (the remote controls), it suddently becomes extremely useful and rather funny. And that creates a higher perceived value! Here it is again with props:
Apply The Same Strategy for Upcoming Shows
Use this technique and consider the types of shoppers that will be walking by your booth. Do this for every show as the shoppers tend to be different.
For instance, setting up at local, neighborhood church craft show might attract lots of families and parishioners. In this case, why not make some designs with scripture and place a bible and rosary in the pocket?
While a large art festival attracts a much more hipster and eclectic crowd. You might create designs depicting artists and fill the pocket with a sketch pad and some pencils. Maybe “secret stash” pillows?
Bottom line, wherever you find yourself, you can increase shoppers perceived value by filling your booth with designs that will appeal to your shopping demographic. Then, for display purposes, insert props that demonstrate how useful it is to have a pocket pillow. This will increase “PERCEIVED VALUE” and lead to more sales.
Should You Include Contents Inside the Pocket?
You do not have to include the pocket contents, but you absolutely can and make even more profit! Consider what you could put inside and if your budget allows, go ahead and buy some. Just make sure you PROFIT from the purchased items even if the profit is small. Think outside the box!
So that was one way to increase sales and profits when sublimating pocket pillows. Now let’s talk about how your display can influence a shopper’s perceived value.
Best Practices for Displaying your Sublimated Pocket Pillows
Beginners may or may not know this, but thoughtful staging increases perceived value. In addition to being a sublimation entrepreneur, I am a licensed Realtor. Believe me when I say, staged homes sell faster and for more money! Even though furnishings are not included in the sales, when buyers view staged homes they are left with…………You guessed it: Higher Perceived Value!
Let’s talk about how you might go about staging your pocket pillows in order to positively influence their perceived value.
Pocket Pillow Display Tips
In Your Shop
Consider a small sofa and easy chair set-up. Create a simple seating area that showcases your creations. Allow customers the opportunity to sit down and enjoy what you’ve made.
Seriously think about all the places you’ve shopped as a consumer. What does it feel like when you’re in IKEA sitting in a staged bedroom? Now compare that to the feeling you get while shopping at the Bargain Bin looking at stacked products with orange stickers. IKEA makes you want things! Bargain Bin makes you want to leave!
On the Road or at Craft Shows
When Room Allows – Bring a small, portable chair. They are easily obtained from thrift stores or at online markets like amazon.
If your budget allows, consider a portable Saucer Chair like this one on amazon (link to check price). They are lightweight, easy to set up, and have an incredibly inviting look to them. Place one of your designed pocket pillows in the chair and drape a sublimated blanket across the top.
Then you can arrange other design options on a table behind the chair. You can also bring a small accent rug and lean a couple pillows against the chair, on top of the rug.
In Summary
If you are seriously considering starting a business by creating custom, sublimated items, you’re going to have to differentiate yourself. I know it’s a lot to take in, but your display and design strategy could have everything to do with whether or not you succeed. When you put effort into your display and go so far as to put the item “in use” you will increase its perceived value.
Higher perceived value equals more sales and even a willingness to pay more!
Happy Sublimating!
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