Travel blankets are more than just functional items: they can be cherished souvenirs, conversation starters, expressive pieces, or simply just artwork that captures the destination in a textile. As a textile artist, travel blankets can be a lucrative venture. Whether you design the blankets for specific tourist destinations (while obeying the copyright laws) or just generic travel textile designs, you can and absolutely should try to tap into the market. In this article, we’ll help you understand the market, how to create products for it, and then to market and sell them.
Know the Market
Travel blankets are blankets that are picked up by travelers, or purchased to take with them for their journeys. They cater to tourists and travelers who value comfort and design. They’re very useful for travelers: keeping them warm on an airplane, serving as a picnic blanket, or simply as a convenient decorative throw to have wherever they go.
Know the Design
There are multiple ways you can create blankets that highlight the specific tourist destinations you’re catering to. They should all start with researching the destination in question: visit or research the landscapes or cityscapes and culture of the location. What do people want to take away from the place? For example, a blanket representing London might feature Big Ben, the Thames, the iconic phone booths.
Continuing that research, choose palettes that reflect the destination. Colors and design also stem from this–try to incorporate local colors into the design, but also influenced by the climate (warmer temperatures, warmer colors).
Creating Neutral Travel Blankets
Neutral travel blankets appeal to a broader audience, a wider range of locations. Instead of a specific location, they focus on comfort, portability, and design. Functionality is key to any good blanket, and without the location factor, they need to really be good. Remember that travel blankets will get more wear and tear than other blankets, so they need to withstand frequent washing, folding, and the elements. The design should be minimalist, geometric, and classic designs that are popular. Soft materials and sustainable fabrics can be appealing to environmentally-minded customers too.
Marketing and Selling Your Travel Blankets
This is the not only the perfect message to sell blankets during the warmer months, but you can use it as an evergreen marketing message!
It helps to have an online presence, through a professional website and social media. Use platforms like Instagram, Pinterest, and Etsy to showcase your work, and any other platform to help connect you with aspiring textile artists. There are plenty of software solutions to help you set up a website like Wix or Bluehost, or Shopify for setting up the storefront. Remember to take quality photos, to help engage the content you produce or the items you sell.
You can also collaborate with local artists and tourist shops, to share in the success and help sell your destination blankets; this is a great way to help the local community too, by the way. Participate in trade shows, art markets, and craft fairs to help show your blankets off and promote your brand. You can learn in real time what your potential customers think of your products, and get feedback on the spot.
Something particularly important to textile artists and small businesses is the power of storytelling. Often, one of the important reasons a customer would rather buy a blanket (or any product, really) from a local business is the connection it creates between them and the destination. On your website, social media, or in person, share the inspiration behind each design, the craftsmanship and process involved, and tell about your story as a textile artist on a journey. It’s a great way to market yourself, create loyalty, and overall translate into more sales, which brings us to the next point.
Pricing Your Travel Blankets
Pricing your travel blankets requires balancing affordability with the value of your craftsmanship. Consider factors like materials and their costs, your labor (or someone else’s), and market trends. Offering a range of price points can help you cater to different markets and customers; limited-edition or custom-designed blankets can be priced higher due to their reduced availability.
Conclusion
Creating travel blankets as a textile artist offers a unique blend of artistic expression and business opportunity. With both destination specific and generic travel blankets, you can appeal to a wide range of customers. Be sure to focus on quality and storytelling to drive your message home. As travelers continue to seek meaningful and functional souvenirs, with your beautifully crafted travel blankets, you can make cherished moments and memories and mementos of their journeys and travels. If you want to start selling your own blankets today, contact us at info@fiberart.com or request a quote!
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