Final Reflection

On final reflection, I can definitely say that my business enterprise is viable. My work teaching and demonstrating Mediumship and Spirit Art is established, and my reputation in this field is growing. I have more bookings coming in, and am now having to take bookings a year ahead.

My product ideas have changed from t-shirts, cards and wrapping paper, to now include water bottles, coasters, and fridge magnets with our pioneers and places of historical interest. I'm also developing jigsaws and lamps. The more I delve into the creative process the more avenues I see potentially before me.

The test fairs at HCFE have been a good learning experience, and have shown me how to use my sum up machine and its shop more proficiently. I know how to set my stall up so that it is visually pleasing and draws a crowd. I can now list my stall items in my sum up shop, which makes sales and keeping records easier. I do however have to think about whether I want to sell from a stall, or reopen a studio in town, or stick to selling online using print on demand services or find some outlets to stock my wares. There are pros and cons to all.

If selling on a stall I need to rethink the market. I believe I should aim towards mind, body, spirit events, as my merchandise and services are more suited towards that specific market. Stalls means transporting merchandise and setting up which I would need help with. Or I need to rethink and adapt what I sell to minimise its bulk and weight and use adaptations. Opening up a studio/shop would mean added business expenses in rent and bills. It's also time consuming having a shop means you need to be there to sell your wares. Being tied to a building can effect my ability to travel, and I earn more from international work than I can locally.

As stated in my previous reflection, my ongoing health problems need to be monitored, and taken care of. Taking measures to avoid triggers and staying within the pain tolerance buffer zone, allows for some work. I need therefore to plan ahead. Again, be more focussed and disciplined. Gathering and using the data from monitoring my recovery times, may be useful in establishing a better timetable and work programme in order to pace myself.

My love hate relationship with technology continues as I learn more. I am becoming more comfortable with technology, much better than when I first started the course. I am using it more to design, network and market my business and spiritual merchandise. I do need to hone these skills further and get to grips with the likes of Instagram and reels.

The Cricut machine I invested in is working well, and I am enjoying making my own stencils. I am able now to create collections that students can use and test within my workshops. I can then make sets available to purchase, if they so wish.

I have come to realise that it is my reputation, and standard of work that gets me bookings. I am currently being head hunted for my evidential mediumship and teaching skills. It's still hard for me to comprehend that my name is known, and that people I've never met recognise me, and want to pose for pictures. Branching into selling my designs and artwork could benefit from taking advantage of my established reputation. To further grow my brand and promote my vision of "gifts for Spiritualists" and education through visual merchandise. Collecting feedback data from my students, clients, and customers is useful in adapting products and improving services. This can help drive more sales, spreading the message further afield. Feedback and feedforward can inspire new designs, courses and products.

To keep my enterprise growing, I must keep the momentum going. I plan on contacting the Psychic News about an article on my collection, and putting an advert in their magazine. I also intend on contacting the SNU and other spiritual organisations to see if they maybe interested in my spiritual merchandise. To that end, I am currently putting a catalogue together of my designs and products. It will be available in both digital and paper copy.

Over the last year I have had invites to demonstrate and tutor in Switzerland, USA, South Africa, UK and Finland. My work is picking up again and business is growing. My popularity in USA and Switzerland is growing and I am getting a following.

In April I had the privilege of working alongside one of Switzerland's top Mediums, Sue Dhaibi. Sue is a Medium, Author, Teacher and Speaker. It was very successful. Sue and the students were incredible. Sue has invited me to work with her again for a weeks Seminar in Germany, August 2025.

My May trip to Coast to Coast Centre in Langenthal. My hostess, organiser and translator Priska was Super, and the students excelled themselves. Each was able, with instruction to create portraits, then using that knowledge and their link with spirit, create spirit portraits. The feedback was extremely positive. "When are you coming back?" They already have me booked to return in November. For a weekend dedicated to spirit portraiture and Auragraphs in clay.

My recent successful trips to Switzerland have provided enough money to invest in my business and purchase some needed equipment and materials to help it grow. Such as a Cricut machine and accessories to create prototypes. And to test print on demand services for ease and bulk buys.

When I originally started this course, I had the aim of following it on with completing teacher training. I wanted to be able to put a course, Lecture or talk together, suitable to be delivered in a mainstream setting on the topics of Spiritualism, Mediumship and Psychism. The purpose, to remove peoples fear of the unknown through education. To highlight that mediumship is simply an ability that some people possess. And to provide those experiencing phenomena some insight on recognising the signs and where to seek guidance. And maybe remove some of the stigma attached to our kind in the process.

I am still drawn towards this path, especially with the opportunity of a mentor and placement. However, at this point and age in my life, I need to be a realist. The business success and increased demand upon my time for work, with its added responsibilities, means it is just not viable at this time. I have to admit the amount paperwork involved in gaining a CertEd is quite a daunting factor. I am therefore having to rethink and am leaning towards doing something more art related. To help in my creative enterprise, but also for new ideas and techniques to bring to my students. Again, I must factor in time restraints if studying again.

Being head hunted for work and being able to earn doing something that I love has impacted on my direction. Teaching is still my vocation in relation to my field of expertise, but it is not necessary for me to have a Cert Ed to do so. I am already teaching about Spiritualism, mediumship and Spirit Art. and I wish to continue down this path.

Although I don't teach within a mainstream setting, I could potentially tutor within colleges as I have a level 3 award in Education and Training. Note to self: Could this be an avenue to explore further? Potentially, would the college permit me to run a short course to see if there would be interest. Perhaps in the evenings for 6 to 10 weeks. "Psychism verses Mediumship 101 or "Mediumship through the Creative Mind"?

Another change in direction has come from looking at ways to help raise funds for the needed repairs at the AFC. The Arthur Findlay College is an historic building, a calendar house. I had an idea years ago that has never had opportunity to come to fruition. People come from all over the world to see Stansted Hall and attend courses. Many like to buy gifts from the shop. Some would love to be able to take an actual piece of the place home with them. To that end, there are a lot of trees and the gardeners take good care of them. They gather quite a lot of branches that could be dried, sliced, sanded and used as canvases in an art classes, or to paint images of the college and sold to visitors. This way people get to take away a piece of the grounds, a memento that was actually grown upon the land. I have some wood from there and am in the process of creating some prototypes.

The creative practice part of my business has developed since my last reflection. My pathway has changed and is in a state of change as knew ideas and potentials develop. I have gone from print on demand to designing prototypes using a Cricut machine. I am also looking at a variety of different types of print on demand products, from coasters to jigsaws etc.

Feedback:

We learn from both our positive and negative feedback. In this business we need to have a thick skin. I was once told "not to take peoples criticism to heart, but instead, to take it on board and learn from it". So far my feedback from peers and customers has been positive. There have been some friendly constructive comments that helped me to choose better fonts in my designs etc. The feedback from sittings, demonstrations and teachings has all been positive and has led to more bookings for seminars later in the year, and for 2025.

And now for some other potential merchandise ideas that are trending. Political, and environmental merchandise.

Although my main angle is spiritual in nature, I also have ideas and opinions on other aspects of life, politics, environment etc. Some of which may not exactly come under the heading of Spirit Within Art, but that could sell. I have to remember that I'm trying to run a business to make money and that I can sell different ranges of products. So, just like my educational "Mediumship in a nutshell" range I've been designing. I am also thinking of creating a range like "Critical Mo" to list my occasional politic humour designs. Such as Trump Snake, "Slithering out of this is not on the cards", "You're out of Trump cards" and MagaloDon Tee's and Hoodies.

What is next for Spirit Within Art?

Being an Autistic person living with fibromyalgia I can be forgetful, and rely heavily upon prompts and reminders. I thrive better on routine and thereby need more discipline. I know I need to set reminders for every day tasks, such as "have you eaten today". I also need to react to my reminders and push myself to complete tasks. Keep books up to date, follow up on contacts, keep up to date on what's trending, networking, marketing as well as creating and uploading to social media. This course has helped to give much needed structure and guidance. But, I must keep motivated if I am to stay on track. My family prompts help and aid in creating routine.

With this in mind what's next for me and my creative enterprise? If I can keep on track, which I plan to do. I'd like to see my creative enterprise become successful. To sell my designs and products in line with my vision and mission and be lucky enough to make a living wage from the profit. To create a variety of print on demand products that once designed and listed practically runs itself with minimum but regular maintenance.

For retailers wishing to stock my products. The print on demand service I use can have orders completed and posted in just a few days. This means they can either order what they wish through me, or from the supplier directly.

For my other work. I'd like to find a local venue to do private sittings from. I intend to continue drawing spirit portraits and Auragraphs for people, reuniting people with the faces of their loved ones. I'd also like to finish my SNU studies, get approved tutor status, and teach at the prestigious Arthur Findlay College of Psychic Science. In order to share my knowledge with the next generation of Mediums and budding Spirit Artists. I'd also dearly like to get some form of educational course, fit for mainstream, being made available in colleges.

My Business Plan 2024:

_Spirit Within Art Business Plan (3).pdf

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