Circtistic creates unique holiday ornaments from touch-sensitive circuit boards. They also create custom designs and business cards from the same material. If you are looking for a special ornament that will get oohs and aahhs from the family and kids, take a look.
Design Principal, Thomas Smith, shared some of the areas where they’ve been working on their sales.
From Thomas: “The biggest issue we have run into is how to demonstrate the product on our website. We have set up at small shows and have no problems selling the ornaments when someone has them in their hands and experiences their unique interaction. I have posted demonstration videos on YouTube that I link to our Facebook fan page, which has helped traffic to some degree. The best way to experience the product is picking it up and it starts flashing on contact…95% of the time there is a wow factor from the potential buyer. “
{ 5 comments… read them below or add one }
Hi Thomas, what a great niche product you’ve created. As you know, we love niches. You have created something that is sure to wow children, parents and grandparents. It would seem to attract people who wanted to do fundraisers, too.
Over the next week or so, we’ll share ideas and input.
My first suggestion is to make some additional videos. I went to the YouTube site and they are a good start. I can imagine a video where you film a child interacting with it and some holiday music in the background. You need sound and not just a quiet, clunky silent video. I might do another where you show the design process, or better, the making of one. Tough to do probably in 60-90 seconds, but possible.
Then, I would embed one of these videos right on the home page. The changing screenshots are good, but if you put yourself in the shoes of the potential customer — they are likely asking, “What do I have in front of me? Why would I want to buy this?” So show some people who are interacting with it, or buying it, or wowed by it. Design-wise, the site is okay for me, but I’ll let some of our design experts suggest ideas.
Thomas, just went into the Facebook Fan Page you’ve started. Hats off!! Great job. You are clearly building a fan base there. I would urge you to do more of that. There are some FB apps that let you offer a coupon or special offer in return for becoming a fan. Something you might want to research.
http://www.facebook.com/pages/Circtistic-Bringing-Art-and-Technology-Together/82218483077?ref=ts
Hi Thomas,
I have a few suggestions:
1. I would close the loop between your website, youtube and facebook pages. You should mention on your website that you are on facebook and youtube so they know there are other ways to interact and “try” your products. Also, as your brand gains momentum your facebook page will have some great testimonials that you will want prospective buyers to see. Testimonials can really help close a deal for you.
2. When the time comes, I would also start utilizing some of the facebook posts from your followers on your website.
3. Finally, after people have purchased your product it would be worthwhile gathering feedback from them. Since most purchasers are likely giving the product away as a gift, you may want to try capturing feedback and testimonials about your product by inserting a call to action within the package, and send them to your site (maybe you have a small feedback questionnaire) or facebook page so they can share their experience with your product.
Hope this helps,
Brian
Hi Thomas,
Interesting products and not something I’ve been knowingly aware of before! With Christmas coming up I’m assuming that this is your peak season so I’ve just a couple of comments for your to consider. Good job on Facebook. Are you also on Twitter? That’s a great way to gain interest in niche areas. I’ve spent some time looking at your site and it’s still referencing 2008 so a swift update would be timely. I agree with TJ about the use of video. Whilst a couple showing static product is nice to have they quickly lose their charm. I would try to get some video footage where people are experiencing them for the first time with a view to capturing that WOW that you mentioned. They need only be 10 seconds or so, enough to capture the moment. That would be enough to make me click through. Not the sort of product I would usually go for, but people do strange things at Christmas!
Good luck!
Regards,
Andrew Sayers
Thank you TJ, Brian, and Andrew for each of your well thought out feedback about our website and how we can go about promoting our product. We hope to incorporate many (if not all) of the suggestions in the coming weeks. If you think of anything else, positive or negative, please feel free to share it.
Thank you,
Thomas