STUDIO VLOG | My Biggest Pop Up EVER! How did it go?

[@Janierrific]

Ma'am, the experience you are getting and the lessons you are learning to prepare you for your own retail store in the future are worth so much more that any profit!

[@CoconuTacha]

You’re so right! 😍 It was such a huge experience and for that I am very grateful 💖

[@starbrown1219]

Your space in John Lewis looked amazing. What exposure to a whole new audience. Best wishes for a wonderful Christmas. I look forward to new items in 2024.

[@CoconuTacha]

Thank you so much Star! So kind of you xxx Thank you for watching and Happy New Year! xxx

[@ArtySubu]

This was a really great summary of the John Lewis / GBX experience. The long hours was not something I’d thought about!

[@CoconuTacha]

Same!! Until it got closer I realised 'oh my goodness I'll be working Christmas hours!' 🤣 Any other time of year the shop is 9:30 - 5pm lol! xxx

[@kaitlynncurry4018]

I really loved seeing all your products displayed together. I feel like you have a really strong brand and everything looks so cohesive.

[@CoconuTacha]

Aww thanks so much! That means a lot

[@ninirossau2304]

long busy days are not bad. long slow days are draining. I remember a midweek day where I sold one thing. and it wasnt actually a product. it was part of the set up. I have to make another one. one sale at 3.50 pounds. but it spreads knowledge and gives experience. but afterwards you just want to hibernate. but it is a great plan for John Lewis!

[@CoconuTacha]

YES that's exactly it! The weekdays were painfully long and slow, but the weekend was so much more bearable because it was sooo much busier! I've definitely hibernated since this 🤣 xxx Thank you for watching and Happy New Year! xxx

[@mzzbevcreates]

OMgoodness, what an insightful and most informational studio vlog. Thank you so so much for taking the time to share your time at John Lewis as well as the follow up as far as how it went. Very thorough and I truly appreciate it as I'm sure many others as well. The exposure you made for being there is priceless and I'm sure new customers are not going to forget you! One day at a market wears me out, I can't imagine 7 days straight through but you DID IT! What an inspiration you are to all of us! Happy Christmas and New Year and pray you catch up on some rest :)

[@CoconuTacha]

I just have to keep telling myself 'I did it!' 🤣 It was exhausting and such long hours - but a great experience nonetheless. If I said no - I'd never have known and always would've been wondering 'what if?' 🤔 Thank you for watching and Happy New Year! xxx

[@jaimecowan490]

Love your products and your shop. I'm in the US and i just have a (possible) tip on how to do your maths for calculation so you get your final numbers faster. If they are taking a percentage of a total, start with your total sales, then multiply that by the decimal form of the inverse percentage to get your number. Example, 30% on the flip side is 70% or .7 in decimal form, or 25% is 75% or .75 in decimal form. Aka= $1200 x .7 (if they were taking 30%, 70% would be your take home) and the number you get $840 is your final as it builds in the 30% removed. Rather than $1200 x .3 = $360 to subtract from your total, $1200 - $360 = $840. Saves you a calculation 😁 I do this when I see stuff on sale in a store or online as I just want to know what I'm going to have to pay! If a shirt is $23.99 and it's 15% off, I calculate $23.99 x .85 = $20.39 is what I would end up paying. Hope that makes sense and is possibly useful. And I'm sorry if you have to calculate something differently because I missed something you were saying and maybe this isn't helpful to you at all, but maybe it will be for someone else😂

[@artbyinky]

I couldn’t do what you did!! Showing up every day for such long hours, I’d cry 😅 It’s interesting how different spaces and audiences react differently to you. But the people who seemed snippy about the hello probably get pestered by other sales people all the time too. You meant no harm, but to them it’s either a retail worker or someone trying to sell them something and that hello is a way to a sales pitch. I’ve experienced that in places like that and it’s overwhelming/frustrating.

[@CoconuTacha]

Yes I learnt that very quickly whilst being there! Changing my approach was one of the best things I did early on in the week. It's so very different to any other experience I've done - markets, trade shows etc. Thank you for watching and Happy New Year! xxx

[@poppystaffordstafford5115]

I just love how you have built this business! From your illustrations to expanding further…to a pop up shop in John Lewis. Genuine inspiration for so many creative people thriving to be as successful as you are! Would you be able to attach a link/ message with the model of printer you use? The colours pop which can be so hard to find!

[@CoconuTacha]

Thank you so, so much 🥹 When I think back to where I started in the very beginning, it's come a long way! I'm always open to trying and testing new things, that's how we develop 😁 Thank you so much for watching! They don't sell my printer model anymore (canon pixma pro 100S) - but I have found the newer model here: amzn.to/3S1Y0IR *affiliate link

[@MemoryHereAndThere]

Thank you for this type of content 💕 looking forward to learning more ☺️ already inspired and motivated by many of your videos I watched so far 😌 And enjoying your beautiful personality and energy 🎀

[@rebeljones]

AHHHHHH babe tysm for coming round I honestly LOVED it!!! so so proud of YOU you're amazing xxx

[@CoconuTacha]

Thank you soooo much lovely! See you soon! HNY! xxxxx

[@Julianaao2601]

I used to have frequent eye twitching and it was because of stress and excess caffeine 😅 which made sense with work LOL I think it was a good experience, as you mentioned you made a profit and had the opportunity to give your business more exposure! Also, since your online shop was still open, I would assume this didn’t affect those sales. Well done Tacha 👏🏼

[@CoconuTacha]

Thank you so much! You are correct 😁 Having a fully functioning website that could run itself (plus automations) was such a great thing that week! It was a great but hard experience 💖 Thank you so much for watching and Happy New year! xxx

[@Creative_Blues]

Thank you for your video, i loved the realism of everything, it made me laugh, so refreshing….. send hugs to your companion on that experience…. And your amazing

[@CoconuTacha]

Thank you so much for watching, I'm glad you enjoyed! xxx

[@arimarzan830]

Hey! I got one of your small business starter boxes and it was so cute. thank you!!

[@CoconuTacha]

Aww yaaay! So glad you like it! And I hope the business is going well! Happy New year xxx

[@NaomiCalderon-j7j]

I just wanted to say that I think you're very lovely and inspiring. Keep on doing what you're doing. Thank you for sharing your experience.

[@CoconuTacha]

Aww thank you so much for your kind words! It truly means so much to me. Thank you for watching and Happy New Year! xxx

[@NaomiCalderon-j7j]

you're welcome and Happy New year to you as well.@@CoconuTacha

[@MichelleCorbinDesign]

Your space looked amazing. Well done xx

[@CoconuTacha]

Thank you soo much Michelle! xxx

[@LavineNoonan]

Looked amazing well done. All the best for 2024. 💜

[@CoconuTacha]

Thank you sooo much Lavine! Happy New year! xxxx

[@mimosachroma]

Congrats, you did so well, it looked beautiful! Thank you for the video, it was so helpful to see behind the scene of such a big step in your business!

[@CoconuTacha]

Thank you so much! I'm so glad you enjoyed it. Happy New Year! xxx

[@lucornish]

Your space looked amazing at JL. Thank you so much for giving a breakdown of figures. I almost took part in the GBE this Christmas but was so concerned about the figures and this has really helped me realise that I was correct and it wouldn't have worked for me (it was an hour away, no extra help and would've had to pay for extra childcare and not seen kids for a week so would have needed it to be a ROARING financial success to be 'worth it' for me personally). Thank you again and I am so glad it was a positive overall experience for you.

[@CoconuTacha]

I'm so glad it was useful for you! I think I would consider doing it again in the future if I had paid help / a proper staff member (here's hoping!). I think it also makes a huge difference if you are already VAT registered 💖 Hopefully you'll get around to it once you feel ready! xxx

[@glendabrown6659]

Now that was a fun video. I had a few laughs when you talking about the hours.

[@CoconuTacha]

Haha I'm glad you enjoyed! The hours were INSANE! 🥲

[@JmHandcrafted]

This was my first video I've seen from you, but I enjoyed it so much! Thanks for sharing it with us 🙌🏻

[@CoconuTacha]

I'm so glad you enjoyed! Thank you for watching 🥰

[@DesiraeOfori]

Congrats on your success!! The setup was beautiful! So happy for you!!

[@CoconuTacha]

Thank you so much Desirae! That's so kind of you to say. Happy New Year! xxx

[@SunshineLaneUK]

This was a fantastic vlog and so good to see and hear how everything went. I’m so happy for you that you’ve had this experience!

[@CoconuTacha]

Thank you so much lovely, you're so kind! xxxxx

[@julie-annpistell1511]

Hi lovely, wow your stand looked amazing, I’m so very pleased that everything went well for you. You work so hard and long hours you deserve good results. Your new set up in the studio is looking so good on camera 👍 Thank you once again for sharing this video with us all. I wish you and your partner a very merry and magical Christmas 🎅 and I hope 2024 is very kind to you ❤ xxx

[@WeegieArtStudio]

Omg! Well done! Everything looked amazing 💕 I need one of those craft pouches asap! Will they go into your shop?

[@CoconuTacha]

Thank you so much! YES! I'm planning to launch everything new in the shop ASAP this new year :D xxx

[@cottingcandles1645]

Oh the green tote bag! I would have loved to buy one of these.

[@piggyboutique]

What an awesome experience, I live near cardiff so it’s lovely to see a local artist do so well. I love your style and brand. Your videos are so helpful too, thank you for sharing. If you don’t mind me asking, please can I ask you what canon printer you use and what you use it for? I’m getting a printer for my own artwork to sell and think the quality of your work is wonderful. Thank you

[@ohbearstudio]

Your stand looked so good! And congrats on so many sales ✨ Also, thank you for sharing your experience with this, it was very informative for me just starting my small business and looking at options like this 🙏🏻

[@CoconuTacha]

I highly recommend having a fully functioning website and setting up automations etc. before doing an event like this (if you haven't done so already). It made the week so much better for me 💖 But the experience alone was tough! xxx

[@ohbearstudio]

@@CoconuTacha Oh yes I can imagine I'd be exhauuusted after even 1 day of doing that haha! But thank you! I do have my own website already, so that's a nice starting point ☺

[@GiftingMoon]

Your pop up looked fantastic well done!

[@CoconuTacha]

Thank you sooo much!!! xxx

[@sandrahodgetts9244]

Congratulations Tash 🎉you have some loverly products I look forward to seeing what you do in 2024 🎄🎄🎄🎄🎄🎄🎄🎄

[@MISSLEONAJB]

Hey sweetie 🤗 your stand looked amazing - I was so so happy watching this video. I think like you said it was worth it but understand you saying you’d wait to do it again also I loved your mugs! Well done and congratulations for how it all went. Have a fab Christmas and New Year 🩷 xxx

[@CoconuTacha]

Thank you so much Leona you are always so kind and positive 💖🥰 I hope you had a lovely Christmas and Happy New Year! xxxxx

[@zoeb6778]

Will you have Caerdydd pins in your shop? I went to uni there and have lots of fond memories. I now live in the US. BTW love the colours on it! Multi days are tough!!! Did a 4 day show last year (11hr days) & was completely shattered when it was over! You did so well!

[@CoconuTacha]

Thank you so much for your kind words! YES! They're coming to my shop ASAP this new year. Keep an eye on my socials and newsletter to stay in the loop. I'll be launching everything very soon 😁 I also went to uni in Cardiff! So many fond memories. Thank you so much for watching and Happy New Year! xxx

[@curiouslittlefrog]

Omg everything is SO cute! Giving me major inspiration for some markets next year 👀🐸

[@tohceenstreasures]

I enjoyed watching the vlog. Your stand was beautiful! I love the mugs.

[@ChantelleArts]

I saw your stall in John Lewis and it looked amazing, you've done fantastic! unfortunately I was too anxious to come talk to you, but it's good to hear it went well lovely ❤❤

[@Bkini]

I know that exact feeling at the John Lewis pop up... in the middle of the week you just feel so drained!!!

[@Bkini]

I kinda wish they would do weekend pop-ups, I felt the weeks were SO dead and then weekend there's much more life in their (although I don't think I would do it again) xxx

[@CoconuTacha]

I would LOVE a weekend pop-up there! I'd consider doing that for sure! xxx

[@JessWasHere]

Ah thank you so much for sharing your experience in John Lewis and well done!! I will do the same in John Lewis Kingston-London in January and I really don't know what to expect 😂 I have the same worries as you - I hope not to look out of place ahah I'm planning to change my display a bit to make it a bit more suitable for the context :P Even if sales won't be great I'm sure it will be a great way to meet a new and different audience, as you mentioned!

[@patriciahamel5674]

Congratulations on the successful pop up!! Your stuff is so cute. Will you be selling the Making Magic totes and craft bags on your website? Because I definitely will be buying both if you do. I am always looking for cute bags for my different works in progress and other various crafting endeavors.

[@CoconuTacha]

Thank you so so much! Yes! Everything will be going live on the website SOON this New Year (date TBC). Keep an eye on my socials and newsletter to be in the loop. Thank you so much for watching and Happy New Year! xxx

[@swirlinyx]

This was so interesting! I'm really surprised at how financially difficult it is but you did amazingly well!

[@hrafnhetta-ravenhood]

Hi you forgot that, when you go someware else where you dont normally go whith your products, then it is also a advertisement, and that is difficult to put a price on, you did good

[@Lisasplace]

omg that was a straight up 24/7 week. wishing your lots of rest!You worked three shifts every day

[@Lisasplace]

the price itself for the week isnt bad but having to hand them 50% is insane.

[@Lisasplace]

ngl i'd be so mad if that would be my end figure. obviously no hate to you as im not sure how it comes across in text. but as a maker who just started i made 240 euros on a christmasmarket for two days. i can only imagine what you could have made so in comparison its like worse. mostly due to the time and their rediculous cut.

[@CoconuTacha]

The cut is huge, right!? But it totally depends on the type of business you have and products you sell as to whether or not it would be sustainable. As a first-time experience, I consider it a positive one 🥰

[@artbyinky]

@@CoconuTachayeah I was so shocked after all the sales you made and what they took. Like I get charging a space fee that’s fair, but to then charge commission and some VAT thing?? That’s not right. You put in so much hard work for the entire week!!

[@lyndsayhammond6884]

You have to consider the time you spent there. That breaks down to WAY less than minimum wage that you were paid for the week. I would imagine that time would be better spent on social media and marketing 🤷🏼‍♀️

[@CoconuTacha]

I'm super grateful that my website can run itself for short periods at times like these (automation is great!), so John Lewis was treated as a bonus - a very hard bonus though, indeed 🤣

[@pinkkyfy]

❤💜🩷 🎀🥰☝️here 🇵🇹

[@evaempress]

Ugh, I feel like $2k for a WEEK of 12 hour days is... not worth it, that's insane the amount of work put in.

[@artbyinky]

That’s how I felt! And with all the profit they took from her. I feel like most could make that back in a weekend at a small con and you’re not working for a full week straight either.

[@CoconuTacha]

Let's just say I'm glad my website can run itself at times like these 🤣

[@Lisasplace]

omg please tell me you had the oppertunity to sit down witht those hours. that's 77 hours of standing otherwise

[@CoconuTacha]

Omgosh I did not calculate the hours standing 😂😂😂 but I got to sit down on my lunch breaks hehehe xxx

[@lindaashford7187]

Off your ‘profit’, don’t forget to deduct travel, food and I hope your friends got some reimbursement for their time?

[@CoconuTacha]

Already calculated don't worry 😉but thank you! 💖 xxx

[@fijaystudio]

hard but interesting. But no, not worth it financially, you were working for about $3 an hour, imagine having to pay staff too. Can you track if any further business comes your way from those who found you at JL?

[@CoconuTacha]

When you weigh absolutely everything up it is scary! Im glad I was able to do this experience at this point in my business 💖 I’d love to do it again when I’m even further along and compare! I set up an exclusive free shipping code for those who found me at JL and wanted to shop online so I’ve tracked a few that way too!😁 xxx

[@thisnthat42]

For the hours worked it doesn't sound worth it. Especially as you then had to go home and pack orders or sort out stock for the next day. It was only for a week but that's not a healthy balance. I would have been wiped out by the second day. Plus travel costs, food etc. But I can imagine the opportunity to sell in John Lewis is validating in itself. It could be something that you promote on your website as a brand you have worked with if you haven't put it on there already.

[@CoconuTacha]

It's definitely not a sustainable practise for longer than a week - it's exhausting unless you're a larger biz with staff. But I'm glad I tested it out! I'm always here for trying new things and developing 😁 I'm also so grateful that my website can run itself at times like these. That was a huge help during the week! Popping the experience / brand on my website is such a great idea thank you! And thank you so much for watching. Happy New Year! xxx

[@joannementor5943]

NO IT WAS NOT WOTH IT I AM SORRY

[@CoconuTacha]

🤣🤣 Let's just say I'm so glad I've put in the work so that my website can run itself at times like these (also automation is my best friend). John Lewis was a lovely bonus - although a very hard bonus indeed! I'm always here to try new things, learn and develop 😁 Thank you so much for watching and Happy New Year! xxx