Captions on this video are YouTube's automatic ones and have not been corrected. The full written version is below, so nothing here depends on the video.
Jenny's Response — Project C: Rebecca and Her Cards
Jenny (16, small-town Canada) chose Project C: Rebecca and Her Cards.
Question 1: Identify the Costs
Rebecca's costs include:
Direct Costs (COGS):
- Drawing materials (pencils, pens, markers, watercolours, cardstock)
- Printing costs (if printing digitized designs)
Packaging and Delivery (variable costs):
- Envelopes and protective sleeves for mailing cards
- Shipping fees for delivered orders
One-time Startup Costs:
- A scanner or high-quality camera to digitize hand-drawn artwork
- Basic photo editing software (or a free app)
- Initial inventory of drawing materials
Question 2: Calculate the Initial Investment
| Item | Estimated Cost |
|---|---|
| Drawing materials (markers, pens, cardstock) | $40 |
| Scanner (one-time) | $60 |
| Envelopes (pack of 50) | $10 |
| Printing test run (10 cards) | $15 |
| Total initial investment | ~$125 |
Rebecca's startup costs are low because her main asset is her talent — which costs nothing. The equipment to capture and reproduce that talent is the main investment.
Question 3: Promotion Strategies
To attract customers, I would suggest Rebecca use these promotion strategies:
Social media presence: Instagram and Pinterest are perfect for a visual artist. Rebecca should post photos of her cards — showing the finished product and behind-the-scenes creation process. People love watching art being made, and this builds trust and excitement before anyone even places an order.
Collaboration with local stores: Rebecca could approach local gift shops, stationery stores, and bookstores to sell her cards on consignment (the store only pays her when a card sells). This gets her products in front of customers who are already looking for cards and unique gifts.
Hosting art workshops: Hosting fun card-making workshops for kids in the community would promote Rebecca's talent while also generating a small income from workshop fees. Parents who see her teach their children will trust her enough to order personalized cards for their own events.
Word of mouth: Starting with birthdays and special occasions for friends and family builds a portfolio and a base of happy customers who will naturally recommend her to others.
The key to Rebecca's success is using her visual art to market her visual art — every post, every collaboration, and every workshop is both marketing and an expression of her brand.