This clinic has been established to assist crafters with existing products - to improve the
design, finish and presentation of the product, to better understand the specific segment of the market
they are targetting, to access that market, and to increase sales and imcome. The clinic is held every
Wednesday of the month.
HOW DOES THE PD CLINIC WORK?
To attend the clinic you need to have existing products that you want to improve.
The clinic does not help you create products from scratch. New products may emerge from
the consultatioins but these will be a natural development of what you are already doing.
You also need to be earning an income from the sale of the products - or want to earn an income.
Market exposure is important as it is a guide to the product developer about sales and market responses to your products.
Product development is a process that can take a few months to a year to complete.
In fact it is an ongoing process if you want to keep up with market demands and trends - think about
how fashion designers create two ranges each year and the months of work that goes into these. Product
development is your process. The rewards are as great or small as the time and effort you put into it.
There are no magic solutiions.
Ideally you need to attend a minimum of 3-6 sessions with the product developer.
The PD Clinic facilitates an interactive process in which you need to actively participate so that
you draw on your own creativity and find your own solutions. Consultations are verbal and documented
so that you can track your progress. The PD will make suggestions for you to take forward as 'homework'
which you need to comlete before your next appointment to get real value from the process. But you set
your own pace and make follow-up appointments as soon as you are ready - depending on availability.
In the first session your product's strengths and weaknesses are analysed and a history
taken of the product life. In subsequent sesssions you will go through your practical responses to sugggestions.
New suggestions are made as your product evolves - and eventually resolves itself.
All your information is kept confidential.
BACKGROUND
Since its inception in 2004 the PD Clinic has been facilitated by Amanda Youngelson.
Amanda is an expert product developer with a decade's worth of experience in the craft sector.
She is a trained Fashion Designer but is able to provide advice across a range of products and media.
As the PD Clinic expands with the establishment of the Centre for Innovation, we hope to bring on board
other designers and product developers with a different suite of skills, expertise and experience.
BOOKINGS
Cost: R50/ea for the 1st three consultations (R150); R75/ea for the next three (R225). This is a highly subsidised rate. Consultations are 50 minutes each.
Bookings: Ntombizanele Donker at 021 460 3982 |
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NOTE: Sponsored vouchers are available; to apply speak to Mano Reddy at 021 460 3811 |
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CASE STUDIES
Small Talk - Chanel Webb
An imaginative 'tweak' by the PD Clinic has lifted Chanel's product line to a whole new level.
Chanel had a reasonably successful range of soft toys which she sold at the Blue Shed, V&A Waterfront.
Upon joining the CCDI she visited the PD Clinic, where it was suggested she make a Big Five range for babies!
Reluctant at first -surely the Big Five market was oversaturated? - her third attempt captured her own unique style
and created a unique product range of Baby Big Five's. These are best-sellers at her stall, 'Small Talk'.
To Bead Africa - Thobeka Mkiza
After only one session …a new production technique revolutionised Thobeka's business and income.
Thobeka had an order for 300 bags, which she could not meet because beading the panels took too long.
The PD Clinic advised her to screenprint the images and only partially bead them, which increased her production from
one to five panels a day. Within three months, her turnover increased 10 times. She is now training more beaders to
meet the demand for her products.
Small Talk - Chanel Webb
To Bead Africa - Thobeka Mkiza