Like many of us, Jacinta’s business started when she couldn’t buy something she wanted – so she figured out how to make it.
Fast-forward a number of years later, and she’s developed a successful niche business making products out of laminated cotton.
One fascinting element of Jacinta’s business development has been the way she’s focussed on customer-driven product development. That is – listening to her community, and creating products that they want, rather than creating products and then finding a market for them.
We talk about the importance of listening to and learning from our customers, and how you can leverage that knowledge to give people what they’re looking for.
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Quotes and highlights from this episode:
- Jacinta’s business originated when she couldn’t find a washable high chair mat and sourced fabric to make her own. When she shared this on Facebook lots of people requested one and her business grew from there.
- “We all have the same problems – if you have a problem there’s a chance that there are a lot of other people who need a solution to this problem.” {Jacinta}
- Jacinta listened to customer comments, feedback and requests to create new products that solved problems for others.
- “Sometimes we gloss over messages on social media but there can be real gold in these.” {Jess}
- “Once three paying customers you don’t know directly are happy to buy it this is going to be a product that will work.” {Jacinta}
- Jacinta values markets as this allows her to connect with customers and gather feedback and ideas. She rotates through lots of markets and engages with smaller regional areas.
- She wholesales selectively which creates an intermediary to audiences she may not generally connect to.
- “Not everyone will like you but they may like your product.” {Jacinta}
- Jacinta expanded her business in 2018 to hire a staff member to assist with production and social media.
- To best use her time, Jacinta uses a weekly plan where she sets goals and breaks tasks down.
- “A mistake a lot of people makes is they overestimate how much they can get done in a week.” {Jess}
- Lower your expectations on what can get done in a week and become comfortable with the idea that you will never have a blank slate on your business to do list.
- Jess discusses the Urgent/Important task management matrix.
- Visit Jacinta’s business: Laminated Cotton Shop.
