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Lessons to be Learnt
Listed under: Retail Clinic
Published: Thursday, February 10, 2011
With retailers all over the country reporting a rise in the demand for their workshops, CB caught up with tutor Jane Colquhoun to get her top tips for success
Have you noticed a growth in the demand for craft-related classes?
Yes, there has definitely been a rise in the number of people taking our workshops and I actually started my sessions due to the huge demand for them locally – something I assume has a lot to do with the collapse of local authority adult education courses. At the moment, lessons in various textile techniques, pottery and stone carving seem to be particularly popular, with anything targeted towards children also attracting a great deal of interest. I have also been asked to run mosaic classes, which I plan to start doing in the summer from my studio.
What are your most popular classes at the moment?
Children's workshops are in huge demand right now and I have also been asked by local people to teach lessons in machine embroidery. Having said that, I'd say sessions focussing on basic sewing machine usage which teach people how to make their own home furnishings – inspired by programmes like Kirstie's Homemade Home, I assume, and also designers such as Cath Kidston and Poppy Treffey, are the most in favour.
Are there any particular projects, themes or trends you've noticed becoming more popular?
There has been a lot of excitement following the Kirstie Allsopp series and many of the women interested in my sewing workshops have also bought the latest Cath Kidston books and got stuck, so anything relating to the home seems to be very much in demand right now.
Who do the classes appeal to?
Generally speaking, the sewing workshops tend to appeal to women aged between 30 and 45, most of whom have children.
What are you top tips for running a successful workshop?
Know your customers and when they're most likely to attend the classes; for instance, adults don't tend to book sessions near Christmas. If you can, get a commitment up front – in the form of a deposit, perhaps – and make sure you schedule lessons during different periods of the day, offering some in the evenings and others at an earlier time.
Research is essential so why not email all your customers enquiring about their preferences and use their feedback to decide which classes you offer, the rates you charge and times you host them.
Always ensure your customers leave with a quality finished item and don't assume people will be confident using basic skills – some might find seemingly simple things like cutting out certain materials tricky to master, for example. Having said that, it's also important to be prepared for people who may know something you don't!
Yes, there has definitely been a rise in the number of people taking our workshops and I actually started my sessions due to the huge demand for them locally – something I assume has a lot to do with the collapse of local authority adult education courses. At the moment, lessons in various textile techniques, pottery and stone carving seem to be particularly popular, with anything targeted towards children also attracting a great deal of interest. I have also been asked to run mosaic classes, which I plan to start doing in the summer from my studio.
What are your most popular classes at the moment?
Children's workshops are in huge demand right now and I have also been asked by local people to teach lessons in machine embroidery. Having said that, I'd say sessions focussing on basic sewing machine usage which teach people how to make their own home furnishings – inspired by programmes like Kirstie's Homemade Home, I assume, and also designers such as Cath Kidston and Poppy Treffey, are the most in favour.
Are there any particular projects, themes or trends you've noticed becoming more popular?
There has been a lot of excitement following the Kirstie Allsopp series and many of the women interested in my sewing workshops have also bought the latest Cath Kidston books and got stuck, so anything relating to the home seems to be very much in demand right now.
Who do the classes appeal to?
Generally speaking, the sewing workshops tend to appeal to women aged between 30 and 45, most of whom have children.
What are you top tips for running a successful workshop?
Know your customers and when they're most likely to attend the classes; for instance, adults don't tend to book sessions near Christmas. If you can, get a commitment up front – in the form of a deposit, perhaps – and make sure you schedule lessons during different periods of the day, offering some in the evenings and others at an earlier time.
Research is essential so why not email all your customers enquiring about their preferences and use their feedback to decide which classes you offer, the rates you charge and times you host them.
Always ensure your customers leave with a quality finished item and don't assume people will be confident using basic skills – some might find seemingly simple things like cutting out certain materials tricky to master, for example. Having said that, it's also important to be prepared for people who may know something you don't!
