I’ve been busy behind the scenes, getting all of the new Lennon Toolbar inks prepped and ready to go! I ordered so many different colours that I decided to release them in two separate “drops,” to make it easier to work through the process of sampling, swatching, photographing, and testing (for the “notes from the study” section of the product page).
This is what it looks like, above, though usually I do the samples four colours at a time. To get a sample ready you must:
- carefully peel the label off the box, to add to the testing notes
- set up the dot stickers (I use inside out washi tape to get the stickers to lie flat) and draw a dot on each
- line up the sample bottles and syringes
- fish out my label maker, check supply levels, print the labels
- cut up the parafilm into the right size squares
- put the labels on the bottles
- line up the sample bottles, take the lids off, and start filling
- do a final eyeball to make sure the ink levels all look the same
- stretch parafilm over the mouth of each bottle and carefully close
- apply the (hopefully now dry) sticker dots to the lids
After making up the samples I make sure there is a bit of ink left in the big bottle for me to swatch and test. Then there is the photography to do, and hopefully I’ve been organised enough to create the product entries already in Woo Commerce (which is rather fiddly in itself, especially when you have listings with variations, such as a full bottle and a sample). You have to find official product copy, edit and upload the photos, make sure the tags and linking are correct, and confirm pricing.
The very first time I added a product to the store I was a bit overwhelmed! But now I just put some good tunes on, and work through my checklist. It’s definitely given me a greater appreciation for the huge overseas stationery shops that have thousands of inks, all sampled, and all the work that must entail. I confess I find the whole process quite meditative, and I look forward to it. (Less so the Woo Commerce bits, but it can’t all be rainbows.)
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