Muddy Pixie in a nutshell:Microeconomics Assignment

‘Muddy Pixie’ is an independent business selling handcrafted ceramic/ textile homeware, and art prints; designed by Jaz Paviour. These products are intended to comfort the user through difficult moments, brighten the home, lift spirits and bring fun into mundane daily tasks. The business is currently pre-revenue with an upcoming market fair. Jaz is still refining its main tea-set collection but has a plan for the steps needed to get these products distributed by a trusted brand.

Values:

Sustainable products that spark joy -thus having emotional durability. Eco-friendly, and ethical production.

Aim:

Muddy Pixie’s current long-term aim is to generate a sustainable passive income by distributing products through a trusted major retailer such as John Lewis.

The ideal mode of production would be a ceramic studio where Jaz could develop product ideas into realisation and a small team of apprentices/ ceramicists would make plaster moulds of Jaz’s final models, use the plaster moulds to quickly reproduce the pieces, fire pieces, apply coloured glazes and, finally, ship the pieces off to the distributor. The aim is for pieces to be sold frequently at a price which would cover the costs of running the studio and employees’ pay; allowing Jaz to develop further products to sell either through the same sales stream or as one-off pieces at a premium price-point.

If it would be possible to generate sufficient funds through my own high-street/ online shop this would be a fantastic alternative, however, it seems aspirational.

Collinear Challenges:

On-going market research system to see if products are wanted (currently using Instagram stories to survey what is most liked and will be using market stalls with a range of products to ask potential customers their preferences and see what sells).

Marketing Strategy to generate sales through my Etsy and draw people to markets I sell at. Currently- Instagram stories and posts (occasional reel) and word of mouth.

Financial tracking system for personal investment vs profit e.g. excel spreadsheet, table, formula. Currently unorganised as am in the early stages.It would be excellent to have any feedback/ suggestions about my current business plan.

Instagram: @muddy.pixie

Etsy: https://www.etsy.com/shop/MuddyPixieShop?ref=shop_sugg_market

The Brief:

Your brief is to collaborate as a team of unbiased consultants and to design and deliver a research-led Strategic Business Plan that will help resolve the above challenge, providing your client with a direction of travel and reference document to use in the future.

You will have an early opportunity to talk to your client, during which you can ask them relevant questions to support your understanding of this challenge and guide your research.

After your project, you will feedback on your findings, conclusions and recommendations to your client in the form of a written plan. Please refer to the assessment brief and marking grid for the granular detail

Your client will be expecting you to communicate with them professionally and may also want regular project updates from you.