Launch Project

For the Launch project, I used what I learned from the Better World Project and previous Instagram sales to apply to the relaunching of Reservoir Jewelry at the Red Square Pop-Up. I used effectual reasoning to help identify my means. As a longtime art-lover and crafter, I have experimented with a lot of different media forms (who). During the pandemic, My sister and I experimented with polymer clay earring making (who/what), which we both really enjoyed. I decided to continue making earrings after my sister went back to school (what). Soon, I was making hundreds of pairs of earrings and selling them on instagram to family and friends (whom). For my launch project, I used what Iearned from this small marketplace I created on Instagram to grow my business. I began making more earrings that were more neutral, compared to the colorful one's I was used to making to accommodate all different customers (what,whom). I grew my network of customers by setting up each week at the Clark Collective Pop-Up at Red Square (whom).

Overall, I sold four pairs of earrings, with a net profit of $3.95. From my successful experience selling on Instagram and also selling them at the Charlton Farmer's Market, I was a little surprised by this outcome. I will use what I learned from this process to retry selling the earrings on my Instagram and at the farmer's market to see if my sales increase. It could be that my product is more fitting for the customers at the farmer's market or on Instagram and just not the students at Clark due to lack of interest or financial constraints. Either way, I think it is worth a shot to continue this business outside of Clark using what I learned from the Launch project and the class as a whole.

My biggest takeaway form this experience is that there will be slow weeks and very successful weeks. I did not make any sales the first 3 weeks at the pop-up, but on the final day, I made 4 sales. The market is volatile and through perseverance and showing up every week, it was bound to happen. Overall, my experience in this class has greatly added to my knowledge as an entrepreneur and has better equipped me to further pursue my business's endeavors.