Written by Australian Hand Knitting Artisan - StaceysKnitwits
I was lucky enough to have the opportunity to be featured on Wednesday Wonders by MadeIt.
Initial Concerns
My first thought was, 'I don’t have enough stock to make it worthwhile.'
But when I looked at my recent knitted creations and my best-selling items, I focused on knitting some of those. I tried to make sure the pieces I was sending would photograph well – black knitted items wouldn’t suffice as the pattern would be difficult to show off, and black can be a very dull colour to look at through a computer screen.
Preparing for the Feature
With winter approaching and with Melbourne being known for four seasons in one day, I decided to feature some matching beanies and handwarmers/gloves as I knew these generally were popular for everyone. I also decided I wanted to send a couple of pieces of knitwear made using my own knitting patterns and Australian yarn to highlight the truly Australian handmade aspect of these.
Engaging with the Audience
I made sure I was free on the evening of the Wednesday Wonder feature just in case anyone popped online to ask any questions. With the Wednesday Wonder being highlighted on Facebook, Instagram, YouTube, and the email ‘Meet the Artist’, it provided me with many different outlets to share the posts. I shared these to all forms of social media over the next couple of weeks as I found each had a different audience and varying time slots for interaction with potential customers.
Utilizing Social Media
I was able to take screenshots from the videos on my iPhone so I could share smaller snippets of the videos in reels, stories, or posts on Instagram. On Facebook, I was sure to do the same and post to many groups. With every comment left on any of my socials, I made a point to reply personally to each of them and acknowledged their praise with thanks. All of this sharing only took a handful of minutes overall – and I only used my iPhone for all of this!
Highlighting the Creations
Leina was spectacular at showing my creations – when she popped on the gloves and handwarmers, it brought them to life. Being able to have people see the soft wool in action and the colours up close was incredible. She was able to share info about the items and brought a personal touch to the feature about both me as an artist and my knitwear.
Post-Feature Success
It’s been almost a month since the Wednesday Wonder feature, and my orders since have been unbelievable. I’ve had over 20 orders with close to 40 items sold, with many multiple items in some orders. Many requests also have been for custom orders. On Facebook and Instagram, people also send messages for requests. I then would create a custom listing from my MadeIt store for them to purchase and send them the link to the listing.
Continuing the Momentum
It was exceptionally humbling to be given this chance to show my knitting, and it has truly been a wonderful success for my MadeIt Store. And it’s not stopping any time soon with custom orders coming in often. I will be sharing the content over the coming months to make the most of this amazing promotion.
A Word of Encouragement
Leina’s excitement for each of my creations was infectious, and I know her kind words and passion for Australian handmade creations is why my items were so well sought after.
If you are approached to participate in a Wednesday Wonder and are hesitant, I’d say, 'What have you got to lose besides all the listings you’ll be selling?'
- Stacey, StaceysKnitwits
