Article: Let's Get Personal: Expanding your Inventory with Product Personalization

Spring is just around the corner… but the warmer weather shouldn’t mean it’s time to pack up your alpaca products!

Over the past year or so, we’ve been trying to make it easier for you to sell alpaca-related goods all year-round. In 2018 we not only debuted our extremely versatile Backpaca Sock, but also our Alpaca Gifts & Accessories category which includes customizable keychains in addition to pins and totebags for the alpaca lover in all of us. Perhaps you’ve bought a button or two, or you’ve seen our canvas totes at a show. We’ve put together a few ways you can really capitalize on these products to make them stand out and grab attention without much extra effort!
 

1. Live in Color

Coloring books are all the rage, so perhaps we’re not the only ones who think the Mandala Alpaca design would be a perfect coloring candidate! Currently available on our Mandala Magnet and our Love Mandala Shoulder Tote Bag, this alpaca is a blank canvas for you or your customers to embellish as you wish. Before your next farmer’s market, get to your nearest craft store and grab some fabric markers and paint and have some fun! Turning these items into a customizable experience is a great way to grab customers.

Do you hold events on your farm? How awesome would a magnet decorating station be during an open house?

DIY Colorful Custom Tote

What you’ll need:
-1 Shoulder Tote Bag
-Fabric Markers or Fabric Paint (We used Stained by Sharpie Brush Tip Fabric Markers)

2. Pom Pom On

Sometimes adding a pom pom onto a hat can take it to new heights (literally!) A pom pom is a great way to bring additional colors and textures into your stock. Our popular BOLD Cable Knit Beanie is NEAFP's take on the classically stylish cable knit hat. We added a pom pom, made out of our Unicorn Yarn, to give it a totally different personality: from classically chic to youthful and trendy! 

While they may look complicated, pom poms are not that difficult to make. There are ready-made tools designed to help you, but it’s easy enough to make one with some cardboard, scissors, and yarn! ...And you're not limited to putting them on hats. Pom poms have popped up lately on all kinds of clothing and accessories: even keychains!

3. Pin it to Win it

Wondering how to use NEAFP’s buttons and pins? Their simplicity makes them extremely versatile! The LOVE Alpaca Hat / Lapel Pin uses a clutch back and is a great choice for bags, garments, and even homemade brooches! LOVE Alpaca Buttons can be sewn onto products for decoration, or as an actual closure of course! Alpaca buttons can also be used for all kinds of craft projects, including cute handmade bracelets. (Extra credit if you use felted Alpaca beads!)

DIY Button Wrap Bracelet

What you’ll need:

-1 Alpaca Button (Customized, if you’d like!)
-Twine or yarn (We used DK Weight Unicorn Yarn)
-Scissors

What now? Think outside the box and get a little personal with your products! We hope that these Business Resource Blog Posts have been helpful. Is there a topic you'd like us to cover in a future post? Write to us at support@neafp.com