www.chikuchikupdx.com
It is completely a work-in-progress--first up is replacing the photos with the newer version of my product--but I'd love to hear from you about which things should stay, what I need to add, and what stuff can go! Eventually there will be a shop page where I plan to sell the product in limited edition prints, and a "where to buy" page once I have retailers.
By the way, this is my product--a portable art kit featuring the fabrics I fell in love with while living in Japan last year.
We used these things non-stop in Tokyo, while trying to keep my gaijin children in line without handing them the phone or iPad! On the train, in a restaurant, the doctor's waiting room...seriously, they were a lifesaver! But maybe my favorite part is that I just had to grab one item on my way out the door and I knew my kids would be entertained wherever we ended up. Seriously, getting out the door takes long enough--I don't need one more thing to think about!
I'm taking a branding class right now, and many of the students are the same women who were in my marketing class last term. At last night's class, a couple of these awesome ladies called me out, asking me why the heck I was sitting around asking questions when I should be out selling my product. Their confidence in me and what I have to offer really woke me up--I know I have been dragging my feet because I don't feel like I know what to do as far as running a business goes, but the fact is I won't know what all is involved until I'm doing it. So rather than stick in the safe zone of sewing more sample product, I am trying to take their advice and jump in--I sent an inquiry to a manufacturer today, and published my website--two huge steps!
I'll post progress over here when it seems relevant, and oh, I guess I should put a link to my new site in my sidebar!
By the way, if you're wondering where the name Chiku Chiku came from, you can find the whole story on the "My Story" page of my new website!