My value proposition: Looking for a distinctive gift for an extraordinary person or a special occasion? Laurie Davis, owner of Tangled Tiles has the solution for you. I can imagine and create a cushion mosaic design that will delight and surprise your family and friends.
My mosaic designs are professionally created with care and sealed to ensure long-lasting pleasure, and functionality.
A Tangled Tiles mosaic appeals to people who appreciate a rich texture of patterns, color and flow. Clients find something new every time they take a close look.
My designs are based on trees, space, and water. These elements of nature calm and refresh the soul and having one of my pieces brings the magic of nature into your home.
As a gift, my unique mosaic designs are one-of-a-kind custom art pieces that most people have never dreamed of owning and cherishing.
The highest compliment and a driving force for selling is “word of mouth” My clients share their delight with family and friends and I have three or four people that drove business for me by sending five or six friends my way and greatly increased my reputation. One family bought a table for their Dad. They then ordered tables for their 2 sons. When the sons joined a fraternity, they bought tables I created to be auctioned at the “parent’s weekend” fundraiser, which brought 10 new customers into the “Tangled Tiles” family. This family brought me 25 sales over the course of 4 years.
My mosaic products are sturdy, durable, and easy to clean. Glass and tile mosaics can last for hundreds of years. I seal the grout to protect it from stains. The mosaics can be cleaned with a swipe of a damp cloth. If for some reason, the piece was damaged, I can repair it in a week’s time. My email and telephone number is stamped on the back of each piece. (Although I have never had a piece back to me with any repair needs)
Many people have requested custom designs. That is the beauty of working with a solo artist. I have created scenes from photographs of favorite places, schools, and wedding gifts requests. I create a sketch, and when approved I send a photo of the piece before it is grouted, in the event any changes might need to be made.Once I have final approval, I grout, seal and package for delivery. In recreating special moments in glass and tile, I can create a memory that can be enjoyed for decades.
Price
Bet you bought that in China, so why should I pay
You don’t have the “one thing” I would have wanted… If I have owls displayed, they want bluebirds, and don’t want to order.
Trays and Tables
Lack of understanding of the time/cost of supplies
A Walmart mentality
Have been burnt by a small business owner who promised and didn’t deliver
I share my bio. I often have the mosaic steps included in either photos or physically out to see.
I work on pieces while at show so I can educate the public about my craft, the tools used and the amazing materials that create an eye-catching piece.
I provide referrals so that people can confirm I do deliver what I promise.
My ideal client is middle-class to upper middle class woman, age 35-70 who has some discretionary income, has most of her needs taken care of, and is looking for something distinctive that would work in her home or vacation home. She wants a gift for herself or loved ones that didn’t come from a mall. My tailgate tables with collage based logos and themes are extremely popular as gifts for the men in their life – who have it all!
Her desire is to have something no one has, and it is either a favorite symbol she collects or a piece of functional art that she can display in her home just for the aesthetics. She knows her purchase was hand crafted and one of a kind. My customer is proud of what she purchased and will tell her friends. My customer will often purchase two to six times for family and friends.
My pricing was too cheap in the beginning, and did not compensate my time. My pricing has gone up as I have sold at out of town events and initially I had more pushback on price. My work is stronger and with Covid, will be reaching out to newer customers who be seeing my work, appropriately priced, for the first time. Level of art sophistication dictates higher end values for maximum profitability. Prices range from $50 to $700 at fairs and festivals and from $300- $1800 at galleries or high-end shows.
Facebook, Instagram & paid extra to have link to my website listed at a few shows.
I have not used print, there are some niche publications that I am researching now. Not well known enough to buy ad promoting me, but would consider promoting my booth at a show.
hmmmm…lets say that any figure has been negligible this year.
Not a good year for me. In the five years before, I sold about $5000-$8000 with of product.
I belong to the state chapter of Tennessee Craft
Not much to measure now. Traditionally, I sold 90% in the 4th quarter
$125 – $400
Five orders
Can’t calculate at this time.