(MENAFNEditorial)
iCrowdNewswire - Mar 22, 2017
Nature's Calling Collection Spending Time With Nature Has Never Been Easier OVERVIEW What keeps you from spending time in nature? What if you could experience your connection to nature any time? Now you can with the Nature's Calling Collection. The Artist
I am a self-taught photographer who is driven by a passion for creating images that reflect the human experience and strengthen a personal connection with nature. I choose my locations and subjects based on my own experiences as a person ~ sometimes out of tragedy, sometimes out of triumph. Sometimes out of hope, and other times out of despair. Often times out of a child-like curiosity, playfulness and pure imagination.
I feel more at ease with nature than I do with people, so articulating my connection is difficult because words escape me. Nature photography offers me the opportunity to share my experience in a way that is globally understood. Along the way I have found that my images create the same connection in others.
Small Business Owner
I started my small business, Blue Stone Photography, about seven years ago. I sell art prints, and I am also a freelance writer. The business has grown significantly over that period of time, and the revenue supplements my income and supports the photography. I market my artwork on Houzz. My professional experience in quality and program management lends to the sound operationsof my business as well as a focus on quality, lean enterprise and exceptional customer experience.
Nature's Calling Collection
The power of nature lies not only in her beauty, but also in what she teaches us about ourselves. She is a mentor, friend and sage. A place to find the sanctuary and wisdom we need to unravel our personal mysteries. As a good friend, she alerts us as to when our priorities are misplaced. Finding time to spend with her is challenging, at best. I developed theNature's Calling Collection as an avenue for bringing my images to a broader audience and helping others stay close to nature.
Philanthropy
A portion of my sales of artwork and ecommerce products is donated to habitat protection and wildlife conservation in Africa. (LEARN MORE) If the Nature's Calling Collection proves to be a viable source of revenue for Blue Stone Photography, I will expand my donations to include anorganization that rescues wildlife from abusive situations.
Collaborators Needed
I have tapped into my small network of friends as well as my personal resources to design an ecommerce store and marketing campaigns for the Nature's Calling Collection. Just as I was seeing results, though, I exhausted my personal funding for the project. I am reaching out to the Indiegogo community for the additional support and collaboration I need to continue my efforts.
As a contributor to my campaign, you will become an integral part of the BSP network. Your collaboration on this project and feedback about the products, marketing campaigns and ecommerce website will help build an exceptional customer experience with the Nature's Calling Collection.
The Campaign
The $8,500 raised by this Indiegogo campaign will be used to:
Market the Nature's Calling Collection for 3 monthsDeliver perks to campaign supportersEvaluate and improve product quality and customer experience based on contributor feedbackThe Perks
We all love perks, so I have developed a package that includes products from the Nature's Calling Collectionplus my artwork. I have also designed merchandise that is available exclusively through this campaign.
Please verify that your phone and tablet is included as an optionin the applicable perks. If you do not see your phone listed, send me a message, and I will see if it can be added.
Phone Models (links included): iPhone 5, iPhone 5s, iPhone 6, iPhone 6 Plus, iPhone 6s, iPhone 6s Plus, iPhone 7, iPhone 7 Plus, iPhone SE, Google Pixel, Google Pixel XL, Galaxy Note 4, Galaxy Note 5, Galaxy S5, Galaxy S7 Edge (Galaxy S7 coming soon!), Blackberry Z10
Tablet Models (links included): iPad 3/4, iPad Mini
Early Bird $25 Perk
The Early Bird perk includes aphone case from the Nature's Calling Collection for only $25 (retail value $34.99 to $47.99). Only 100 cases available at this level,so reserve yours today!
Apple Bundle $75 Perk
1 phone case and 1 tablet case from the Nature's Calling Collection (retail value $81.98 to $100.98). Don't miss out on this great deal!!
Nature Lover $5 Perk
Receive a discount code for 5% off at the Blue Stone Photography ecommerce store (excludes art prints and posters), and20% of your purchase at the store goes to wildlife conservation in Africa.
Nature Lover $15Perk
Share your love of nature with a 10-pack of 5″x7″ flat note cards printed on elegant McCoy Silk 120# paper.Choose one of the 15 available images. The envelopes are included, so all you need is a pen.
Nature Lover $25 Perk
Receive a 25-pack of 5″x7″ McCoy Silk flat note cards (envelopes included) with one of the 15 available imagesplus receive a 10% discount at the Blue Stone Photography ecommerce store (excludes art prints and posters). Best of all, 20% of your purchase at the ecommerce store goes to help elephants and other wildlife in Africa!
$40 Fan Perk
An Indiegogo campaign exclusive!Receive a 15 oz. coffee mug with the Blue Stone Photography hashtag #connectwithnaturenow.
$50 Fan Perk
Get a case from the Nature's Calling Collection and a discount code for 10% off your next purchase at the Blue Stone Photography ecommerce store (excludes art prints and posters). 20% of your purchase at the store is donated to habitat and wildlife conservation in Africa. How awesome is that?
$75 Fan Perk
Yep, there'st-shirts, too! Available exclusively through my Indiegogo campaign! A t-shirt featuring the BSP hashtag #connectwithnaturenow and a 20x30 poster available only through my online portfolio! Check out the posters.
$85 VIP Perk
Receive an 8″x10″ canvas print of any image from my online portfolio. This canvas print retails for $125.
$100 VIP Perk
A 20″x30″ metallic print of one of my images is the centerpiece of any room or office. Metallic print paper has a sheen that adds depth and dimension to the image. Choose any image from my online portfolio. You also receive a 10% discount at the BSP ecommerce store (excludes art prints and posters). 20% of the sale will go to help elephant orphans in Africa. Super cool!
$250 VIP Perk
Standout wall displays are unique pieces of art. The gatorboard block on the back of the print allows the print to stand away from the wall. Ambient light in the room creates a soft shadow frame. At this perk level, you receive a 20x30 ready-to-hang standout print of your favorite image from my online portfolio (retail value $375).
Special Perks
Special perks will be introduced during the campaign, so stay in touch to receive updates.
What To Expect
The campaign will run for 40days. Once I reach my goal, I will send out a survey so that you can provide details about your perk (i.e., t-shirt size, image, case style, phone model, etc.). Indiegogo requires 15 days for the funds to be distributed. Once I receive the funds, I will place the orders for the perks. Please allow 5 to 7 business days for your perk to be ordered. You will receive an email once the order is placed.
Ecommerce Products
Gooten requires 3 to 5 business days for product printing. Domestic shipping takes about 7 business days, and international shipping can take up to 21 days. You will receive an email with your shipping information and a link to a survey for your feedback on the product quality.
Artwork and Posters
I work with two vendors for my artwork. Orders average 3 to 5 business days. When I place the order, I will receive an estimated ship date. This information will be sent to you. You should receive an automated shipping confirmation by email.
You can always email us to find out the status of your perk.
Fixed Funding Campaign
This is a fixed funding campaign, so I need your help to meet my goal. Claim your perk today, and share the campaign with your network.
Ready To Ship
The Nature's Calling Collection is ready to ship (see shipping label and packing slip in the Gallery section). Here's what I have accomplished since January 2017.
Ecommerce website set up via ShopifyPartnered with Gooten for 'on demand 3D printing and drop shipping to customersDesigned device cases for popular modelsIntroduced secondary product lines to encourage ancillary salesImplemented newsletter and Rewards Program to enlist repeat visitors/customersDesigned carousel and video ads that highlight the Nature's Calling Collection (the video ads are included in the Gallery section)Initial marketing campaigns on Facebook and Instagram (5% to 6% CTR, primarily Millennials)UsingHotjar, Facebook Business Manager and Google Analytics visitor data to refine marketing and website designCreated 'above the fold video for ecommerce websiteRecently introduced retargeting campaignsThe Unknowns
As with most things in life, there are some unknowns in my campaign.
Limited Product Breadth
Gooten offers a fairly comprehensive selection of device cases, but not all phone and tablet models are available. Additionally, I have only designed cases for the most popular devices. Some visitors to the BSP ecommerce store may not find a case for their device.
Consistent Product Quality
Gooten uses a global network of manufacturers for the 'print on demand products. While this reduces shipping times and costs, using multiple manufacturers complicates quality assurance. This is why I am seeking contributors from around the world to get an accurate understanding of product quality from the various manufacturers. I do want to note that one of the sample cases had a design flaw, and Gooten responded promptly and efficiently with a reprint (shipped but not received at the time of this campaign launch). I will provide an update once I receive the reprint.
Change In Vendor
If the campaign perks demonstrate that Gooten cannot deliver the product quality that I need, I will need to source the products from another vendor.
Shipping Costs
The shipping costs for some products through Gooten translate into relatively highproduct costs. In some cases, the majority of the retail cost is for shipping. This means that either the profit margin on some products is lower than desired, or that product costs preclude customers from purchasing.Domestic shipping is included in the retail cost, but international customers pay an additional fee. The price levels and additional fee may be a deterrent to sales. This also limits the array of products that are available.
Early Marketing Efforts
I have no experience in marketing. I started using Facebook and Instagram ads in July 2016 for my artwork. I learned the basics through these efforts. The response to my Facebook and Instagram ads has been positive (5% to 6% CTR), yet I have not made my first sale. Even with additional funding for marketing, I may find that I have not identified a target market or appropriate ad campaign for my device cases.
Highly Competitive Product Space
Device cases are a highly competitive market. I amhoping that my unique designs and the quality of the images will address a pain point and add a unique value for my customers.
Not A Good Fit For You? You Can Still Help
I understand that my campaign is not a good fit for everyone, but I hope that you will help in other ways.
Check back for updates and special perksShare my campaign on social mediaVisit the BSPecommerce store and complete the poll in the bottom right corner about your experience on the websiteShare your favorite BSP product on social mediaTake a much-needed break from your day and watch the BSPNature's Calling videoFollow BSP on social mediaSign up for the BSP newsletterPhotograph your connection to nature, and share it on social media using the BSP hashtag #connectwithnaturenowFAQs
Have questions? Let me know, and I will respond directly and post the answer here, too.
Why device cases?
We all need the inspiration, hope, encouragement and comfort of nature every day of our lives, but finding time to escape is challenging at best. As someone who wants to share the power of nature with others, I considered ways to reach more people with my photography. What I realized is that the solution is already a part of our lives. Our devices connect us to the world, and the Nature's Calling Collection allows us to use those same devices to connect with nature any time.
Where can I learn more about your photography and company?
You can learn more about my photography and company by visiting one of the links below:
Online gallery and portfolio (use this for art prints and posters, too)Art prints and company informationEcommerce website
What case styles are available?
All of the device cases can be customized with one of 15 images. Other options vary by device model. In general, the cases are available in (1) matte or glossy finish and (2) snap and tough style. Some devices have transparent cases available.
What are tough cases?
Tough cases have two pieces ~ a hard outer shell and a silicone insert.
Can I use the shell of the tough case without the silicone insert?
The shell of the tough case is printed slightly larger than the snap case to accommodate the silicone insert. The tough case shell will not fit your phone without the silicone insert.
Glossy or matte?
Glossy and matte finish each have benefits. The glossy finish gives the colors a more vivid appearance. Some peoplemay find that the glossy finish is too slippery. The matte finish resists fingerprints and smudges.
Will the image peel off?
The device cases are manufactured using a 3D printing process, so the image is embedded in the case. It will not rub or peel off.
Do you offer cases or sleeves for laptops?
I am working with Gooten to design laptop skins in the future.
Contact Information:
Jennifer Eggerton
Via Click here for more information
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