luckygirl online Q&A

We are passionate about beautiful handmade goods and supporting those that make them. We believe in community above all else: by supporting each other, we support the maker movement together. We aim to uphold a beautiful aesthetic, functionality and connection to this community that is unique to other platforms. We feel this platform is an engaging experience that creates a personal way to connect with makers while still being easy to shop online.

WHAT DOES JOINING LUCKYGIRL ONLINE INVOLVE?

Your business will be included on our website’s Maker Directory until March 1st 2022, AND as a vendor for both our Mother’s Day & Spring POP UP virtual events. Your business listing involves us designing your business a SHOP PAGE on our luckygirl.ca website that directly links to your online point of sale. The fee is $200 and is good from March 1, 2021 to March 1, 2022. Additional promotional and business opportunities are available.

HOW IS THIS DIFFERENT FROM HOW THE SITE IS SET UP NOW?

The website will be very similar to the format it is in now, in terms of a clean, simple and easy to navigate design. We will be taking down the current site and giving it a full refresh! We will be keeping what worked well in place, and refining some sections to best serve makers and customers. We will be adding more search engine optimization and organizing the site so that vendors are even easier to find. It will be a pleasurable & practical site to explore!

HOW WILL THE POP UP EVENTS BE DIFFERENT FROM THE EXISTING SITE?

The existing site as a Maker Directory will serve as a go-to site that offers a curated collection of local makers to shop. Having makers established on the site gives us the freedom & flexibility to create small or big online events throughout the year. Events will be similar to our recent virtual POP UP: extensively promoted as a seasonal or special occasion event. As such, it will be curated to reflect what customers may be specifically shopping for during that time. We would encourage vendors to offer exclusive promotions; create specific products or collections that will be available during the event. The site will have new sections/categories that will align with the virtual POP UP events and guide customers to shop for the occasion. In addition, we look forward to coming up with new ways to connect customers to the maker community in thematic ways for events.

HOW WILL A SHOP PAGE PROVE HELPFUL ASIDE FROM ALREADY BEING LISTED IN THE DIRECTORY?

Having the existing framework of your SHOP PAGE already in place then allows you more time to prepare stock, get promotionally creative and plan for an event well in advance. Your membership automatically includes you in the first 2 virtual events (Mother’s Day & Spring POP UP), so you can simply focus your energy & time on creating or production, with ample time to be inspired to create something specific for the occasion if you so choose. For future events, should we have to remain virtual, again it’s an added bonus, as the SHOP PAGE is already in place and you can decide if you’d like to apply as a vendor. Your SHOP PAGE will remain in the Maker directory regardless if you decide to participate in future virtual events as a vendor.

WHAT IF I WANT TO JOIN LATER IN THE YEAR?

For right now we are offering an “all-inclusive” intro member fee of $200. All-inclusive meaning the fee covers both the Maker Directory + the 2 virtual POP UP events until the end of May, 2021. After the Membership application closes, the fee is subject to change & highly depends on our next intake of members. Our goal to begin with is to gather an amazing collection of makers in the directory and expand from there.

We want to encourage everyone to apply sooner rather than later, so that we can launch the site with a substantial number of makers. Because we’ve combined the price of the membership AND the virtual events until the end of May, we think it’s a great introductory price to attract a nice, robust number of makers to kick-it off. We would urge you to apply now and enjoy all the benefits of it being all-inclusive as it now stands. Membership will expire for everyone at the same time on March 1st 2021 no matter which point in the year they joined.

WHAT IF I AM ONLY INTERESTED IN DOING VIRTUAL POP UP EVENTS ON AN INDIVIDUAL BASIS?

Prior to June 1st 2021, we are not offering individual virtual POP UP event participation. We determined that by combining the directory and virtual POP UP events, we are able to include more vendors on the directory making it viable long term and offer more to participants at a lower cost. It is mutually beneficial for everyone involved, makers are then included in the directory AND involved in the virtual POP UP events at their leisure with no extra vendor fees and plenty of time to prepare for each virtual POP UP event. It adds up to your advantage individually and also works better for the community as a whole.

When we are able to have in-person events again or after June 1st for virtual events (should we require them), then YES, you will be able to apply to events on an individual basis.

WILL EVERYONE GET FEATURED INDIVIDUALLY?

Our intention is to build a trusted source for beautifully curated maker-made items and to broaden our reach to a larger audience of shoppers, promote shopping locally, promote supporting makers, and curate a truly creative and collaborative community with shoppers in mind. We will be creating features and promotion based on this and give opportunities to all participating shops in order to contribute to their success through luckygirl online.

HOW MANY VENDORS WILL BE ON THE SITE?

Luckygirl online will be a curated maker resource with shoppers in mind. The curation process is what will balance the number of vendors on the directory so the it is extensive and diverse. We are being mindful that the directory will have a limit that will serve both the makers and shoppers in order to keep it dynamic and fresh.

WHAT IF I WANT TO PARTICIPATE BUT CAN’T AFFORD THE FEE?

You have the option of being sponsored in or chose a payment plan! We are aware that this past year was financially tough for many people. We have implemented the Maker-to-Maker program that you can apply for. It is a donation based maker program where makers can donate $X to help fund free spots of other vendors! We do not want to turn away any accepted applicants simply because they cannot afford the fee. We will work with you to come up with a plan to make it work! (subject to application acceptance)

I DIDN’T DO WELL AT THE VIRTUAL POP UP, WHY SHOULD I JOIN AGAIN?

Our ultimate goal is to see all community members succeed, and to us that looks like any or all of these things:
- Increased online sales
- NEW customers
- Increased followers on your social platforms - Creating opportunity to improve/grow your product/shop

In addition to promoting the maker community and serving up your goods to shoppers, members will have the opportunity to tap into our skills and knowledge on how to make your products POP in your online shop or social platforms.

WILL ALL VENDORS BE ACCEPTED?

We aim to be inclusive and diverse in our process of creating a curated community of makers. What’s with the curated?!? Basically we are a brand too, just like you! Part of the reason luckygirl POP UP has grown and attracted so many people is our ability to curate a collection of makers. We want to stay true to this and continue to provide a selection of makers that we would put in our online shop! Much in the same way if we had a retail store, and and were selecting what type of goods our store would carry. We realize that luckygirl is not for everyone and perhaps not every vendor is for us- and that’s ok! There is a place for everyone, somewhere. We truly aim to match our audience and our lineup of makers, as that match is what will prove successful for your business. We, of course, never want anyone to feel rejected! That is never the intention. We thoughtfully look at things in terms of being a good fit and that goes both ways!

HOW IS THIS DIFFERENT FROM OTHER ONLINE MAKER PLATFORMS?

We believe our platform is different from other online maker platforms as it’s rooted in community, not just convenience & commerce.

Before we launched our own virtual POP UP in December, we researched and learned that many makers had extremely disappointing virtual shop experiences where they either lost money, time, or both. Some markets were able to transition online successfully and others, not so much. What we learned was that there was definitely room for improvements.

Basically we wanted this new site to feel like an online version of the POP UP. A place where you can easily find all your favourite vendors in one place, discover new ones + then be able to dive in deeper to discover, shop and find your favourites easily and at any point in time. Beautiful, clean and simple design is a must and something we felt was missing out there in the local online maker marketplaces. It is important for us that customers don’t feel overwhelmed and find the site easy to navigate. Also appreciating and knowing the value of striking visuals and how they guide shoppers. Just like when you go to a booth at an in-person market, we wanted the SHOP PAGES to feel like visitors are getting a good glimpse into what is being offered and be able shop directly from there. This also allows us to help with the curation of how you shop is presented, to show what you do best! No matter how you sell your goods, you can be included in a cohesive and consistent way. We chose not to do a one shopping cart site because a) it helps keep costs lower for the maker, b) it allows vendors to sell a wider variety of products, c) all the money goes directly to the vendors and d) it connects you directly to your customer. Plus there are already some other great one shopping cart options sites out there who are providing that service, so that need is already being met.

We aim to uphold a beautiful aesthetic, functionality and connection to this community that is unique to other platforms. We feel our platform is a more engaging experience and personal way to connect with makers while still being easy to shop online.

WHAT WILL HAPPEN WITH THE SITE ONCE IN-PERSON MARKETS ARE BACK ON?

Can’t wait for that! We will still maintain, run and promote the site as a go-to online Maker Directory. The directory will serve to complement & promote the in-person markets as a different entity - one in which vendor fee and promotional agreements will be separate.

I AM AN ESTABLISHED MAKER AND DON’T REALLY FEEL I NEED THE EXTRA EXPOSURE FOR A COST… WHY SHOULD I JOIN?

To support the community as a whole. Because as an established maker you are already an important part of this incredible community and it is a way of giving back to the community that was there to help you and cheer you on in the beginning when you needed it! Your presence and the audience you bring as an established and successful maker helps everyone in the community especially those who are newer and yet to be discovered! It helps give the community the backbone it needs to draw a crowd. Plus it allows us to curate something that has a great foundation of makers who create amazing goods. We all need you!

I WANT TO DONATE TO THE MAKER TO MAKER PROGRAM, HOW DOES THAT WORK?

The Maker to Maker program is an initiative to encourage makers who have the success and means to make a donation to help support their fellow makers to cover the cost of vendors fees. We launched the initiative in the form of direct Maker to Maker sponsorships for the virtual Pop Up and we were able to sponsor 12 vendor spots by nomination with the commitment to amplifying the outstanding work of the BIPOC maker community. Moving forward we plan to continue this program in the form of donation, so that any denomination can be put into the Maker t0 Maker fund and vendor fees can be covered for those that apply and are accepted. Anyone is welcome to apply.