The lovely Pilgrim is back to share more of her Alt Design Summit experience! The more I read the more desperate I am to book a ticket for 2012 - or at least work out a way that Pilgrim can hide me in her luggage?! Thankfully Pilgrim has documented from this years summit so brilliantly I feel like I'm sitting at one of those a roundtables! - Jenny x

Welcome back. Day two of alt started with a selection of roundtable discussions lead by industry experts. There were so many I really had a hard time choosing, but I ended up selecting 'Building Online Sales & Licensing Products.'

image from pilgrim and the alt summit flickr

ROUNDTABLE: GET PRACTICAL - LICENSING PRODUCTS AND BUILDING ONLINE SALES

Panelists: Sarah Jane of Sarah Jane Studios

Consider different ways to build your business. Blog, podcast, vlogging, teaching/tutorials, Twitter/Facebook/forums, markets, newsletters, wearing your product in public, press releases, paid ads, commenting on blogs, LinkedIn, Flickr, business cards, promotional cards with coupons and giveaways. Phew! Also, make the most of your email signature, and send samples to magazines.

Establish a presence. Wholesalers will find you by your online presence. Advertise on sites that buyers will visit, and email stockists listed on similar sites to yours. Take sample kits to brick-and-mortar stores too.

Learn about licensing. Read everything you can about licensing! Compile a list of dream companies you would license to. Think about who would be a good fit and who would be a bad one. When you find a good one, strike to maintain a great relationship with them.

image from pilgrim and the alt summit flickr

Paul Miller aka DJ Spooky gave a fascinating lunch presentation on the shifting boundaries of art and creativity. He took a pile of disparate concepts and examples and wove them into a really interesting history of creative thinking

image from pilgrim

After lunch it was back to the panels or classes.

image from alt summit flickr

TAKING IT OFFLINE - EVENTS AND SOCIAL MEDIA

Panelists: Ashley Meaders, Jordan Ferney of Oh Happy Day, Victoria Hudgins of The City Cradle, Brittany Egbert of One Charming Party.

Creative invitations. Use the invitation to set the tone for the party. Do something unexpected to build interest.

Pick a theme. This makes it easier to make decisions about the rest of the party.

Include an element of surprise. Example: a treasure hunt party through San Francisco in rented Mini Coopers, culminating in a surprise color fight in front of the Golden Gate Bridge.

Embrace the monochrome. If you have a small budget, consider sticking to one color (or variations thereof) for maximum impact.

Size matters. Play with scale. Take some cheap element and do it on a large scale: a rainbow table of sodas makes an impact.

image from pilgrim

Come back tomorrow because I have some FABULOUS parties to share with you!

- pilgrim x