Certified Demonstrator Program

Fiskars Friday

TGIF!  Friday's are a great time to clear off the crafting table...get yourself organized and just BEGIN those projects you have been meaning to do   Check out these fellow CFDs that are working their Fiskars magic on their blogs today!  I know I will be making several projects this weekend...choreboard...album...Got Sketch layouts...I'll be busy :)

If you do a Fiskars Friday on your blog, please post in the comments below!

Happy Crafting

Nikki

Guest Blogger: The Secret Life of a CFD

The Secret Life of a CFD

I’m a CFD, now what?

By Laura Bray

I was certified in November 2007 and I have a confession to make.  I haven’t completed a single demo.  I came home from the training, dropped the CD I was given on the desk and didn’t look at it until July 2008!  I wasn’t sure of where I should start.  I live in Southern California and there aren’t any A.C. Moore stores around me.  Then Nikki announced the development of the CFD blog and then the Yahoo Groups.  I dug through my desk files and found my CD.  I started thinking about how I could use the wonderful training Fiskars gave me (for free!) to help both my business and spread the word about Fiskars.  

I have an MBA, so I’m pretty business focused as well as creative.  I try to use this to my advantage, but I also really want to see other artists and crafters make a living from doing what they love too, so I approached Nikki about being a guest blogger and here I am.  I’m hoping to occasionally check-in with you and share the steps I’m taking as I try to develop the CFD program into my business & life.  I believe that there’s no point in reinventing the wheel, so you are free to follow along and shadow me through the process.  Or just use this information as inspiration.  Do what feels right for you and the success will come.  The most important thing is consistency.  I know this can be hard.  I am the primary caregiver for my 3 year old daughter and I squeeze these steps in when I can.  If you feel overwhelmed, just do one thing each week.  It’s better than nothing!

So, how what did I do to get started on my CFD journey in August?

• I went through my studio and pulled out every Fiskars tool I own and put it in a box.  This box has handles, so once I start going out on demos everything will be in one place.
• Then I went through the training CD and printed out all the pages that are relevant to the tools I own and place the pages into a binder. 
• Next, I needed to start brainstorming for some projects to do for demos.  When I approach stores or groups, I want to be able to give them a “menu” of demo projects they could chose from.  I decided to develop a year’s worth of demos.  Two projects for each season.  To get my ideas going, I visited the Fiskar site and looked at the projects that are there.  I listed the demo ideas and placed them in my binder.
• Finally, I brainstormed about where I could demo.  I went through the phone book and looked for scrapbook stores.  I also thought about my mom’s group and some scrapbook groups I could approach about doing demos for too.  You might want to look at websites like www.meetup.com and see if there are any local groups you could approach about doing a demo for.  Once I had a good list, I placed that in my binder as well.

See how I broke everything up into baby steps?  It keeps me from feeling so overwhelmed that I don’t anything.  So what’s on the schedule for September?

• Start developing the demo ideas I came up.  Make samples and create my supply lists and handouts. Of course, I’m going to start with my Fall & Winter ideas since those will be the classes people are most interested in. 
• Develop a marketing packet to give to my target stores and groups.  The packet will have the “menu” of classes, the cost, and some pictures.  I’ll also include my bio and a little explanation of what a CFD is.  All of this will be printed onto glossy paper and put into a cardboard, two pocket folder.  (Buy the folders now, while the Back to School sales are on!)  People will think you are incredibly professional when you present a package like this. 
• Once I have the folders ready, I will approach at least two of my targets.
• I will also get in touch with my Fiskar sales reps.  They will get my marketing folders, which will help them understand what I am up to and how we can work together.

See, that’s not too hard, is it?  I would love to hear about what you are doing to get started.  I would also like to see your marketing folders.  Maybe you could take a picture of yours and post it in the Yahoo Groups pictures?  I’ll be back soon to talk about how September went and share my plans for October.  

 

Laura Bray is the founder of katydid designs.  She makes a living with her artwork and helps other artists and crafters develop their creative businesses.  You can read more about Laura on her website at www.katydid-designs.com or on her blog at www.katydiddys.blogspot.com.

August CFD Winners

Happy September!  I hope you all had a great labor day weekend!

 

We are so many people out there demo’ing!  It’s just so exciting to see all of the activity.  And…if you haven’t already joined our Yahoo Group…jump on in!!   This is going to be a GREAT resource to connect with other CFDs and get ideas.   We are off to a very “active” start.  In this group, we are learning tips on approaching stores and learning to overcome objections and just simply getting to know our fellow CFDs!

 

To join: http://groups.yahoo.com/group/CertifiedFiskarsDemonstrator/

 

Congratulations to everybody who got out there in August to share their love of crafting!

 

Debby Lewis…..5 demos

Pan Ayers…..4 demos

Bettye Branton…..3 demos

Lea Sanders…..3 demos

Betsy Burnett…..2 demos

Amy Lodin…..1 demos

Jennifer English…..1 demos

Karen Wilson…..1 demos

Paula Aitken…..1 demos

Shantih Dean…..1 demos

Yaritza Rivera-Eby….. 1 demos

 

August Winners

• Most demos in August = Debby Lewis!  Wooooo Hooooo!!!
• Recording a Demo in August goes to Shantih Dean!  Congratulations Shantih!!!

 

In September, let’s kick it up a notch…for a 3^rd prize…most NEW bookings for demo’s.  Email me at nbester@fiskars.com at the end of the month to let me know how many NEW bookings you scheduled during the month of September.