THE EVENT!

Today was the big event SWAP A TOP with Jewellery, Brooches and Photoframes.
People forgot to bring tops so therfore we just had to sell the tops that we had.
Each top we sold for just £1.
We managed to sell a grand total of 8 tops! Getting us £7.50 profit!We hung three tops above the stalls to get the attention of people walking by. This worked pretty well as a selling point as a guy bought the central top.
The stands worked well together. We found at first that the sign at the end of the rail was putting people off because people thought they had to swap there tops they were wearing so we covered the Swap a Top part of the sign with "Buy a Top for a £1"
The stand worked well because we had a variety of tops from strappy ones, hoodies, casual and smart. All of which caught alot of attention.
We also added extra signs around the SU saying Tops for a £1 with arows which we hoped people read as they walked through. It was a ideal location as there was lots going on with the student elections, open day visitors and an event upstairs with elderly people who we approached to promote our products.
Here is our rail which stood out because of the bright colours. It was right by the shop aswell so people where coming across it whilst shopping for stationery.
The Jewellery Stand worked particuraly well and we found the crafty objects where alot more popular than the tops. People liked that they where unique and apartantly there was a shop in town selling similar products at £100 so there necklaces where a bargain at £3.50 for small ones or £5 for big ones.
We did have a few people look go away and think about it then come back with friends and show and tell them and they would both buy items. I managed to get a Manikin from the Textile room which we put one of the best tops on with a Brooch and a Necklace to promote everyones stock together. This top also sold so that was a good selling point to.


Overall I am really pleased with how the day went and alot of people where asking if it was only for today and where disappointed when they found out it was.
We managed to raise just over £100 as a group and I am pleased we managed to raise so much money for Red Nose Day.
If I was to do this event again I would promote the event more, I would make small flyers to hand out to people, I would have a Raffle and also could have other items to Swish including jewellery, accessories and shoes. The event worked well and all left over tops are going to go Tramps Garden so that they can use them for there event so nothing was wasted.

Last min preps!

Today I have collected the last few tops that angie had. Ive ironed all the tops and hung them on hangers ready for tomorrow.
I have a grand total of 16tops.rachel has ten and emma has a few so we should be starting with roughly 30tops.
My cameras on charge so that I can take pictures and im excited to see what happens tomorrow.
wish us luck......

Wednesday is the big day!!!

Wednesday is the big day!
We have roughly about 20 tops to start with. Im looking forward to seeing how it will all turn out.
Tomorrow meeting Rachel with all tops to make sure they are all clean and looking good for tomorrow.
We have a rail which we are getting off Sue.
Hopefully will get coat hangers off Ruth aswell to hang them on.
Will meet Steph at Victoria building on the day to help her carry it.
Wish us luck!

Date has changed!!

We have decided to move the swap a top date to the 25th March!
because the other groups havent prepared all there merchandise.
We hope to change all the posters to the 25th March
Need to keep collecting!!!!
Tramps Garden have had there posters taken aswell.

SECOND DAY FOR COLLECTING TOPS

Today we stood again in the Foyer of Victoria building and we approached all students who walkd past us. Alot of them said they would bring the tops Thursday but still not alot of people new about the event. We need to still raise more awareness.
Rachel said she would make us a sign which would make us stand out.
After Wednesdays lesson we are hoping to go to the C&T building to get more awareness over there.
We hope to get more people on board. More people that now the more likely that people will take part.
Have to keep reminding everyone.
Hopefully Thursday will be more successful.
Tramps Garden have been intouch and have given me a link to there website. They have offered to advertise us on this all so.

Swishing Research

PLUTO and Tramps Garden

I have had a response from PLUTO Newspaper and found that they are far to expensive. Ive printed the Price list and put it into my file. We will have to raise awareness through other ways.
I have been in touch with Tramps Garden who are a buisness who are supporting us whilst we support them. They have offered help and guidence through out.
Its important when running a buisness to have other buisnesses that support you to help with advertising, ideas and also support.

FIRST DAY TO COLLECT TOPS!

Thursday Lunchtime we sat in the foyer of Victoria building where we waited for people to bring there tops.

Unfortunatly nobody did BUT we managed to ask alot of people who said that they would bring some in this week. I think we could do with

• Raising more awareness MORE ADVERTISING
• Maybe make a banner so people no what we are all about
• Make little A5 leaflets that we can hand out to people
• Maybe some Memorabllier
• Explain to people its only a £1

Surprisingly we found alot of Lads where interested, so get more men on board.

Email for PLUTO newspaer

I have sent a email to PLUTO newspaper requesting help with advertising!!
"Hiya I am student on the Textiles course and as part of my Creative Business Elective we are organising a Red Nose Day event called "Swop a Top"
We are wondering how we would go about advertising our business in your PLUTO newspaper?
We want to get as much student awareness as possible so that we can raise lots of money!!
Because it is for a chariety if theres a way we could do cheap it would be much appreciated.
Thank you for your time and support
Love Katie
x"
I will await on response

Small flyer to get T-Shirts

Here is the Flyer which I have produced to put around so that we can get the TShirts before the event.

EMAIL FOR TEACHER FOR TEXTILE DEPARTMENT

A group of students from the creative buisness elective are organising a "Swop A Top" event. This will mean any students Girls and Boys can bring a top and then swop a top with another one.
To take part you will need to bring a TOP in advance on:Mondays and Thursdays 1-2pm in the Victoria building ground floor by the stairs where you will recieve a voucher.This voucher can then be used on the day to exchange for tops that you want.
The event will be held on Monday 16th March in SU at 10am-4pm!On the day you will be asked to pay £1 to swop your top so that we can donate to Chariety!
On the day of the event there will also be a raffle and a hand made jewellery stand.
Please come and join in the fun and swop your old tops for something brand new all for just £1!!
ALL MONEY RAISED WILL GO TO RED NOSE DAY 2009!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Swop A Top

STRENGTHS- Cheap, Something new to Preston, Eco Friendly, Unique, Fun, Everyone gets something new, Personalise tops using Textile skills, Variety of clothes, The thought of wearing someone elses things and getting a BARGAIN.
WEAKNESSES- Pricing, Enough advertising so we get alot of people attending, Changing rooms, May get stuck with remaining T-Shirts.
OPPORTUNITIES- Raise lots of money for RED NOSE DAY, Raffles with additional prizes, Work with other group to encourage related sales, Website, Marketing in Pluto paper, Radio Lancashire and A U Look Out.
THREATS- Anyone could do it and idea could be stolen.

• OBJECTIVES:
• Organise Day
• Think about ten questions to find out what the people want
• Research SWISH on google
  

SWOP A TOP

• CHANGE OF PLAN!

We have decided to change our plan of the Paddys Day T-Shirts to Swop A Top.
We where concerned that they wont sell, they are expensive and we dont have alot of time.

New Idea
We have now decided that we will ask people to bring a top they dont want put it on a rail and swop it with someone elses. We will ask each of the customers to pay some money to do it, we will have donation box and also have a raffle for additional money.

"The Art of Swishing involves getting your friends together to swap gorgeous clothes and party at the same time. Every lady must bring at least one good quality, clean item of clothing, or an accessory, that she'd feel proud to hand on."

http://www.swishing.org/home/

Analysis Templates

STRENGTHS

• 3 Artists with textile experience of making things
• Appeal both to Men and Women
• USP-Near to University and could get support from SU Bar, 53degrees
• Less likely to be returned because its for chariety and cheap

WEAKNESSES

• Lack of time Paddys day is in March. Just over a month to organise it
• Money because we dont have alot of it
• Need to stick with other commitments of course
• 2 groups to compete against and also shops

OPPORTUNITIES

• Trends/Fashion to suit all students male and female
• Surprise and uniqueness for all students
• Good opportunity to raise lots of money for chariety
• Seasonal- could continue Tshirt productionn if it takes off for other occasions

THREATS

• Environmental- clothing cant always be recycled. Particularly because these are seasonal
• High Street competitors
• Other St Patrick Day producers of merchandise

POLITICAL

• Funding
• Trading Standards
• Health and Safety

ECONOMIC

• Tax Issues
• Market and trade issues because its seasonal
• Possilbe trading over in Ireland or even on the internet
• Networking with students, public and friends and family

SOCIAL

• Maybe only Irish will be interested(Questionaires)
• Need to advertise through flats, SU and word of mouth
• Wear the TShirts to promote the stock
• Maybe get possible sponsor

TECHNOLOGICAL

• Factory Work is tough opposition because only have 3 sets of hands
• Possible textile machines to help with printing
• Printing places for price variations

Objectives:

1. I want to meet with my group to discuss our ideas
2. Research sponsors
3. Possible places where we can print our T-Shirts
4. Speak to SU Bar and 53Degrees about possible promotions
5. Discover our company Vision, Mission and Name

Group A

Today we got put into groups. My group being Group A.
We have discussed in my group that we will be producing something for St Patricks Day.
We are thinking along the lines of a hair band and Tshirts.
Hair Bands- could have lepricorn hats on or shamrocks. Would deffinatly have to be green, easy to make and appeal to auidence.
T-Shirts- Plain Tshirts bought from Primark which would have a Paddys Day related design on them.
Possible ideas are gift boxes, hats, necklaces, badges, keyrings, cards.
We have discussed neon, glow in the dark items.
Will discuss with SU Bar and 53Degrees to help with promotion.
Could use posters, Past cards through peoples doors and even have our own stand in the SU building.

Professional Practice

What can you put into a Business?

• Time
• Money
• Love
• Passion
• Dedication
• Energy
• Creativity
• Enthusiasm
• Playfulness
• Variety

What do you get out of a Business?

• Satisfaction
• Money
• Reputation
• Enjoyment
• Forfilment
• New Ideas
• Networking
• Perks

Benefits and Disadvantages of having your own business?

Benefits

• Profits

Disadvantages

• Time Consumming
• Risks
• Stress
• No one to look after your business when your ill