How to start a sticker business | EVERYTHING you need + step-by-step process

Summary

In this informative video, artist Zakira shares her insights on starting a sticker and art print business. She covers essential steps, including artwork preparation, choosing between DIY or outsourcing production, and managing inventory. Zakira also discusses various selling avenues, from e-commerce to in-person events and wholesale, highlighting the pros and cons of each. Additionally, she provides tips on packaging and shipping, emphasizing the importance of valuing one's time and focusing on quality over quantity when starting an art business.

Takeaways

• 🎨 Zakira, an artist with three years of experience in running a handmade sticker and art print business, shares her insights to help others avoid common mistakes.
• 🛠️ Artists need art design software to edit and format their artwork for manufacturing, with a focus on understanding layers and color adjustments.
• 🖌️ Traditional artists require a scanner to digitize their artwork, while digital artists can use their skills directly in design software.
• 🤔 There are two main manufacturing options for stickers: DIY (do it yourself) or outsourcing to a professional manufacturer.
• 🏭 DIY allows for small batch production and can be cost-effective, but requires investment in equipment, tools, and materials.
• ✂️ Outsourcing saves time and effort but has higher per-piece costs and may require minimum order quantities.
• 📦 When starting, use a formula based on social media following to estimate initial inventory investment, keeping in mind it's a starting point, not a guarantee of sales.
• 💰 Remember that follower counts don't dictate sales success; it's about the audience's interest and how you market your products.
• 🛍️ Selling avenues include e-commerce, in-person events, and wholesale, each with their pros and cons regarding accessibility, customer reach, and competition.
• 📈 E-commerce offers global reach and no gatekeepers but requires significant effort in building a customer base and managing the business.
• 📦 Fulfillment involves packaging and shipping products, with options ranging from manual postage to using shipping apps for larger orders.
• 🌟 Zakira emphasizes the importance of not spreading oneself too thin, focusing on one selling avenue and a few products to efficiently grow the business.

Q & A

What is the main focus of Zakira's video?

The main focus of Zakira's video is to provide information on starting a sticker business, including the process, tools needed, and different selling options.

What are the two essential skills Zakira suggests learning for preparing artwork for manufacturing?

Zakira suggests learning to work with layers and how to do color adjustments in art design software as two essential skills for preparing artwork for manufacturing.

What software does Zakira use for her artwork, and are there any free alternatives mentioned?

Zakira uses Clip Studio Paint EX, a paid software. She also mentions free alternatives such as Krita.

Why is having a scanner important for traditional artists according to Zakira?

A scanner is important for traditional artists to transfer their physical artwork into a digital format, which is necessary for preparing the artwork for manufacturing.

What are the two main methods Zakira discusses for manufacturing stickers?

The two main methods discussed for manufacturing stickers are doing it yourself (DIY) and outsourcing to a manufacturer.

What is one of the pros of making stickers yourself according to Zakira?

One of the pros of making stickers yourself is the ability to make things in small batches, which is beneficial when starting out and not having a clear customer base yet.

What is one of the cons of making stickers yourself that Zakira mentions?

One of the cons of making stickers yourself is the labor involved; you will be spending your time and energy making every single sticker yourself.

What is the starting point formula Zakira suggests for determining initial inventory investment?

The starting point formula Zakira suggests is to assume that 1% of your overall following will want to buy something, and of those, only 5-10% will be interested in any one particular product.

What are some of the pros and cons of selling stickers through e-commerce according to Zakira?

Pros include accessibility, not being restricted to a location, and no gatekeeper to enter the industry. Cons include having to do everything yourself, the time and work needed to build a customer base, and the competitive nature of the internet.

What are some of the pros and cons of selling stickers through in-person events according to Zakira?

Pros include face-to-face contact, customers being in a buying mood, and no shipping worries. Cons include booth fees, travel expenses, vulnerability during a pandemic, and gatekeeping to get into events.

How does Zakira package her sticker orders for e-commerce sales?

Zakira packages her stickers in a clear sleeve, wraps them in decorative tissue, adds extras like a coupon, extra stickers, a handwritten note, and business cards, and then mails them in brown paper envelopes using everyday postage stamps.