Jeni, owner of the Meylah store In Color Order, sells digital patterns has already amassed more than 10,000 views and over 1,000 sales in a matter of months and that's just on 1 product!
So, how did she do it? That's a great question and one that we asked her in a recent interview in which she shares her insights and few secrets into the digital pattern market, plus much more...take a look!
Meylah: How did you get started creating digital patterns and what type of patterns are your most popular?
Jeni: I had been creating free tutorials for my blog, In Color Order, and some other sites for a few years. Late in 2011, it became clear that creating digital patterns was the next logical step for me. My most popular pattern is definitely my Lined Drawstring Bag Pattern. I think the number of size options it includes and the quick and easy nature of it has really helped it's success!
Meylah: You have quickly become a top seller on Meylah and yet you only have 2 products in your Meylah store…what’s your process for promoting your patterns?
Jeni: I honestly don't do a lot of traditional promotion. I do talk about my patterns a lot on my blog, and I am continually re-making samples to get people excited to sew them. I have been fortunate to have a strong community of sewers who have really been vital in helping me promote my patterns, simply by sewing from them and sharing their creations.
Meylah: What is your most important marketing tool today?
Jeni: My blog is definitely my most important marketing tool. It allows me to go more in depth about my process, share the things I'm creating from my patterns and communicate sales and giveaways. I do rely some on social media, namely Flickr and Pinterest. Encouraging others to share their creations with myself and the community! I am not a big fan of receiving email advertisements, so I don't utilize those for my business. I figure it's only fair!
Meylah: What is your favorite feature on your Meylah store?
Jeni: I think my favorite feature is the way the digital products are delivered. Customers don't need to wait on me to email them their pattern, so they can start sewing right away! I also love that they can log back in at any time to retrieve their pattern if they misplace it.
Meylah: Tell us about George and his role in your business.
Jeni: George is my pet bunny, he brings me a lot of joy and keeps me company during the day! He really has become a part of my brand identity. If I go too long without including him in a post, I get emails asking for him. I think everyone needs a little dose of cuteness in their day and I love sharing George with my readers!
Meylah: Thank you Jeni for sharing your insights into your business...we wish you best of luck and can't wait to see your next product on In Color Order!