The creation of gift items (its not vah yet....wait for it) - anything made from wood: frames, trinket boxes, jewellery boxes and customising them with the fine art of Henna. Inside the boxes, there will be inspirational quotes based on Qur'an and Sunnah or hadith as well as poems in frames. These would then in turn be sold either offline at islamic events and/or online via a customised website. This is a unique idea because after some research online have not come across any body who creates these items and sells them as a business.
Its a gift coupled with a spiritual pick me up. How are you going to benefit people is probably whats running through your mind? Well in order for me to build up my 5k mailing list is via a monthly newsletter. This would have information regarding the practice of henna, video tutorials of how to apply it, how to make the cones. I find its one of those things that young girls want their mothers to know how to do but can't because they lack a creative flair and then mehndi ladies charge a bomb plus they do it on their hands only. This in turn encourages mothers and daughters to spend quality time with each other. Insha'Allah.
And in true Blue Peter style.....here is one I made earlier:
The AVATAR?
Name: Layla
Age: 35
Occupation: a home maker
Layla is a young mother of two children: one daughter, Zainab who is 6 years old and a son Bilal, 5. She observes the hijaab but not jilbaab. She is young at heart and very generous. She is quite trendy wearing colourful hijaabs and modest loose clothing. Both her children attend a local public school and they are home tutored in Quran and Tajweed.
She has a hectic lifestyle as she lives in an extended family. Her husband works long hours and is tired when he gets home. She does the school run in the morning and afternoon. During the day she does most of the household chores and in between reads her salah and looks after her husbands parents. She just about finishes in the early afternoon in time to pick the kids up from school.
As soon as the kids are home, she feeds them, and starts preparing the dinner. The kids are busy with their Qur'an and tajweed lessons. Once they are finished, Layla's husband returns and its time for dinner. Her husband is tired from work so she does the cleaning herself as she feels guilty for asking him for help.
She does not have time for herself but always has a smile on her face.
She always goes to bed tired. This is a normal day for Layla.
Her biggest pain is the lack of time she has for her kids and herself, she is creative by nature but has never had the chance to explore or nurture her creativity. She loves henna but has not practiced it in a long time since before she got married. Her daughter Zainab is always asking her if she can get henna done but Layla does not have enough time in the day and is always telling Zainab next time. With all her commitments around her family, Layla feels disconnected from her spiritual side and Islam and her time with her kids. She wants to spend more time with them especially Layla to be a role model to her daughter but she finds it hard with all the family commitments. She doesn't just want to be a mum but an interactive role model for both her kids especially the young and impressionable Zainab.
Month 1 Graduation:
For my 1st month graduation requirements, I will be focussing on the following deliverables:
I have been working on a few things this past week and brainstorming ideas. I have ordered some small trinket boxes from eBay to start working on producing some sample products and then I will see what the reaction is from the audience. At which point my Avatar may change.
Monday 28th February - Sunday 6th March 2011 I aim to complete the following
1. Project Time Line
2. Avatar Research
3. Start content for E-Newsletter
I will update mid-week to see how I am getting on in completing the deliverables. I didnt get any feedback from the google doc so would appreciate some feedback on this post below...JazakhAllah Khayr.
Assalamoalykum
ReplyDeleteMashAllah it is encouraging to see you already have a plan
How about making a decision in regards to online / offline? Pick one and go with it.
Jzk
Ws
Zalkernane
jkhayr...i was thinking of doing both.....at events I can do offline and everything in between can be online. Its easier to manage. And also by having it online as well it means I can build my mailing list.
ReplyDeleteMashAllah it is looking really good.
ReplyDeletePerhaps you could do an action plan for your project that includes financial aspects so you know how much you will be investing in it initially.
Just an idea.
Have you identified your competitors, how could you differentiate your niche?
Yep I am going to be working on the cost per item so I know how much it will cost and then price point around that.
ReplyDeleteAfter doing some initial research, I have not found any one who does actual mehndi art on any products and sells it so this would say that this is my niche and its already differentiated. In terms of mehndi - i have only seen it marketed as the usual avenues of hands and feed - bridal etc.
MashaAllah I'm liking the idea
ReplyDeleteIt would be really nice touch to perhaps line a few of the boxes with different kinds of material (velvets, silks, satins etc...) especially for jewelery type items :)
Yep that is what I was thinking....I will be looking into the cost of it all.
ReplyDelete