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JUKI Posts, Triple T: Tips, Tricks, and Training

Upgrading your Sewing and Quilting YouTube Page

by sewinwithjukiLeave a Comment on Upgrading your Sewing and Quilting YouTube Page

With so many channels on YouTube, it can be difficult for new sewists and quilters to find your page! That’s why in today’s blog post, we’ll go over some tips you can put in place for your channel that will encourage viewers to stay and engage with your page.

Follow along as we go over pieces you can start editing today!

Cleaning Up Your Channel

Have you been posting videos for a while? We bet your skills in filming and editing have upgraded, so let’s review those old videos! Cleaning out videos that are low quality, outdated, or have a low amount of views can help your channel seem cleaner and build credibility.

Sometimes, those low-quality videos can turn a viewer off your page and prevent a new subscriber from joining, so it’s best to keep up to date with your content!

What’s Your Brand?

Having a brand goes beyond color scheme and font, but what viewers see in the background of your video and what you may even be wearing! Think of the space you’re creating and what viewers can see when you film. Remove pieces that may bring attention away from your projects, and add items that promote your brand or shop!

Here, you can focus on placing past projects, items that speak to your personality that allows viewers to feel like they know you, and wearing pieces you may have created or matched your personality. It’s these details that build a larger picture for your audience. When viewers like your personality, they’ll come back and watch just for you, even if the project isn’t something they’re interested in!

Lean into your brand; for example, if your page focuses on garment creation, try wearing past pieces you’ve created that encourage viewers to watch your old projects videos!

Creating a Channel Trailer

JUKIHomeSewing Trailer

Creating a promotional video for your page is a great way to share your goal and brand with new visitors. This video will automatically play for visitors that find your channel and pinned at the top of your page. We recommend creating a short trailer that covers about a 2-3 minute length!

Some items in your video are past video footage stitched together, a “pitch section” where you share what your channel is and what viewers can expect to see, and a section where you can request new viewers to join your page and subscribe. Focus on your tone and the script, and let your personality shine through!

Thumbnail Designs

Help your channel look coherent and professional with consistent thumbnails! Following a design theme, you can create thumbnails that attract viewers looking for projects.

While YouTube comes with preset options, creating your own on free software like Canva can help your channel feel clean, showcase your personality, and help viewers get an idea of what your video will be about.

Collaborating with Those in Your Community

Are you looking for exposure to a new audience? Then, reach out to your fellow sewist and quilter YouTubers!

Suggest an idea to another creator where you can cross-promote your channels while creating a fun project or pattern that viewers will love and engage with! Of course, the best way to do this is to appear on each other’s channels. We recommend introducing your new friend to your audience and where they can be found before diving into your video so viewers can see why you’re endorsing one another.

Using Binge Watching

Binge-watching is an excellent tool for encouraging new viewers to watch and follow your page. By creating playlists that viewers can follow along too, they can get a better idea of your credibility and have more time to decide if they’d like to join your channel. In addition, viewing multiple videos of yours will give viewers a better sense of why they should follow you.

Creating a playlist for your channel will also upgrade your SEO, depending on what keywords you use to title them. Your content can be organized by project type, level type, sewing or quilting, etc. Curating your playlist will depend on what videos you post and how you want viewers to watch and enjoy them.

Two ways binge-watching can encourage subscribers is by creating a playlist where you control the next video viewers are watching, stopping them from transferring over to a new channel or two; you can focus on a video series that is posted over a period of time, encouraging viewers to subscribe and get notified when the next video posts.

YouTube Video Cards

Easy to add to any video, YouTube cards are the perfect way to promote another video from your channel and a subscription from the viewer. While YouTube offers the option that automatically chooses the best video from your channel, you can also pick a specific video yourself that correlates with your project.

For example, if your video is on a new project for quilting, you can place a past video with another similar project or a different video you want to promote.

Be Consistent

Whether you’re posting once a day, a week, or a month, having a consistent schedule is needed! The key to success is consistency.

Beyond the theme and content of your channel, consistency will help viewers figure out your style and what you’re about. Viewers subscribe not just because they loved your video but because they hope to see more like it!

Find what your focus is and how you’re going to communicate this to viewers. Find the best schedule, and focus on your analytics to see what’s working.

For example, depending on your viewership, you might have better luck with views posted in the morning on the weekend than on weekdays in the afternoon. Your schedule should work for you and your viewers.

Sharing and Promoting Your Videos

While we can make beautiful videos, they can go nowhere without proper promotion! This is why posting your content in the right places is essential when looking for your audience.

The first location you can focus on is your go-to social media page. Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, and Pinterest. These are popular platforms that creators rely heavily on when looking for project inspiration and new ideas.

Another format can be diving into niche community pages. Think of fellow Facebook pages, Reddit pages, or specific quilting and sewing communities you’re a part of that would love to see your creation! Remember when posting in niche communities to share who you are (the creator) and what you do (your page); this way, members of those groups accept your posts and join your channel!

Implementing These Tips

While some of these tips can be implemented immediately, like creating a playlist for your seasonal projects or how-to’s, building your channel takes time! Focus on what you want viewers to learn and feel when they watch your channel, and create a brand you are proud of. Don’t worry about the number of viewers when you start off and prepare to be consistent and keep creating!

Looking for inspiration? Check out our JUKI Youtube page here today! Follow along as we showcase how we implement these tips on our page!

JUKI Posts, Triple T: Tips, Tricks, and Training

Designing Your Sewing Space

by sewinwithjukiLeave a Comment on Designing Your Sewing Space

When we’re ready to get creative, we want to sit in a space that encourages our energy and helps us get our project done! That’s why in today’s blog, we’re going to cover some tips and tricks you can start using when setting up your workspace. Whether you’re creating in the studio room or your kitchen island, having the proper organization and setting up your space in a way that flows for you will help improve your project creation experience.

Follow along as we focus on four key aspects of any sewing area design: your space, budget, tools, and storage. Then, let’s set up a space to inspire you to get creative and have fun!

Choosing Your Space

While we may not always have options available, figuring out where to set up shop when we plan to sew can be difficult. If you have trouble deciding where to create, or keep jumping around spaces, view below for some things to consider the next time you’re ready to sew.

Think About Your Space

As long as you and your machine fit, you’ve found space! The good thing about sewing is that as long we can create an area where supplies are nearby and we can sew, we can now create our projects. Focus on organization and storage techniques if you work in a small space.

For example, if your space is limited, think of what you’re essentials are. Machines, tools, fabric, and notions can all be organized, placed, and readied for specific projects. Spend time in your space, decide what pieces you can use to expand your storage, and set up a spot that allows you to create comfortably. Options like wall organization, under-table storage, or allocating closet space can better enable you to have your tools and fabrics on hand.

Next, focus on lighting! When you’re creating, you don’t want to strain your vision to see how your stitching is going; therefore, we recommended to find a spot with natural lighting, using supplemental lighting like overhead, desktop, or portable lamps. Also, keep in mind that some machines include LED lighting, which can be another lighting option when working at night.

Last, let’s focus on how you can organize and keep it clean! While our project spaces can be free for all when sewing, it’s great to have a clean space. Think of what accessories, like baskets, drawers, carts, and more, can be brought into your room that will provide storage and organization to your project area. 

Budgeting

We all know sewing can be costly! This is why, when it’s time to set up your sewing space, it’s a good idea to allocate a budget and decide what you need or want for your area. While furniture and organization sets can be costly, there are ways to set up your space while being budget-friendly.

Upcycling

Have a desk in a spare room? How about a bookshelf rarely used or a closet with some space? These things can easily be added to your sewing space! Using what you have in your home is a great way to begin building your area because while it’s budget-friendly, it allows you to create a designated space for your craft.

It doesn’t stop at furniture, either. These are excellent storage pieces for notions and tools if you have empty cookie tins, unused containers, or storage bags. In addition, baskets can be used for fabric and even be created by you! For example, this basket (including the sewing basket on the JUKIHome website from LuAnn) is great for tossing in those scrap pieces you plan to use again in the future.

DIY

It can be extremely rewarding building furniture! For example, if you have the space allowance, you can create a piece like a custom cutting or ironing table. Or, if you’re working in a tight space, you can create custom organizational furniture that is in tune with your storage and space efficiency needs.

Thankfully, there are thousands of inspirational photos that other sewists and quilters have shared online that new sewists can find inspiration from. Search your favorite media sites like Pinterest and YouTube for tips, or check out your favorite sewist blogs, to gather ideas on what type of space projects you can do that will upgrade your sewing area without breaking the bank.

Furnishing

Finally, if this is within your budget, you can choose to purchase new furniture for your sewing room. We recommend focusing on pieces that offer ample storage space, vertical style furniture, and hanging an item like a pegboard for tools.

When setting up your space, think of the top 3 spots: your cutting area, your sewing machine spot, and your ironing area. These spaces don’t need to be large but comfortable enough for you to create and get the project done! Whether it’s your dining table, Kitchen Island, or a designated studio room, having these three spots will help get your project done.

Tools for Your Space

Think of your budget and what projects you plan to create before deciding what tools your studio needs. While it can be tempting to buy everything we see at the sewing shops, it’s best to start with the basics and build your way up to new tools and accessories. For example, a beginner sewist should create an essential sewing toolkit that includes cutting tools, a marking tool, a clear ruler, pins, needles, measuring tape, a pin cushion, an iron, and a seam ripper.

If you feel like it’s time to upgrade your toolset, pick accessories that can help you elevate your current skills. Items like curved rulers, pattern weights, seam gauges, or presser feet that weren’t included with your machine can help you create more professional-looking finished projects. If you plan to sew for life, you know new accessories and tools will always find their way into your studio space. Remember your budget, projects, and storage when choosing new tools and accessories for your studio.

Organizing Your Space

Whether we’re sewing in a small or large space, the organization is key to a tidy workspace. The fact is, if you’re creating on your kitchen table, you’re going to be packing and unpacking your machine often. Based on your needs, you can create an organization system that stores your equipment well and is within easy reach.

One of the best ways to organize your space is vertical! Using vertical shelving is perfect for all your supplies. Fabric, notions, tools, and accessories can be displayed, so you keep track of what equipment you have, and the shelving will allow you to fix the shelf sizing to your needs. You can also find add-ons like organization boxes that enable you to separate your accessories and tools easily. Other options include baskets for fabrics, hanging racks for tools, or boxes.

Since fabric tends to take over most of our storage space, we recommend folding flat or rolling the bundle to keep space. Stashing your fabric in a basket or clear container is best for viewing your inventory and keeping count of what fabrics you have on hand. Creating a swatch system with fabric descriptions or organizing by color or type is a couple of ways to organize your fabric and keep track.

For patterns, we recommend storing these in boxes or creating a pattern binder to keep track of your collection. If you’re someone who likes to purchase digital PDF patterns and don’t use them upon purchase, we recommend creating a filing system on your computer or laptop as well! Keeping these pieces organized will help you easily set up your next project and allows you to keep in mind what patterns you already have when you’re in the mood to create.

Focus on keeping your equipment clean and ready to use for machines and notions. A cover for your machine will reduce dust buildup and keep your machine safe when not in use. For your tools, a peg board for your wall can be the perfect furniture piece! Add hooks, buckets, and shelves to organize your tools by type and size. Lastly, keep notions organized with clear baskets and jars. Pieces like rolling carts, clear mini drawers, and clear plastic containers are best to easily see what you have when it’s time to create. Focus on making your most commonly used tools, notions, and accessories visible and in easy reach!

Get To Sewing!

Once you’ve planned your sewing space and have everything set up, it’s time to enjoy your new space! Keeping an organized sewing space can be hard when creating and amid the process, but having a designated area for our tools and fabrics can upgrade our creative process with each project! Of course, as you keep creating, you’ll reorganize your studio, and we hope these tips help you plan the space you’re happy to create in!

Are you looking for a new machine for your studio space? Visit your nearest JUKI dealer to learn more about JUKI near you!

JUKI Posts

JUKI’s Holiday Gift Guide

by sewinwithjuki1 Comment on JUKI’s Holiday Gift Guide

As the holidays get closer, we start thinking about those special people in our lives and what gift we will get them this year! If you have a quilter or sewist in the family, and you’ve been dreaming of getting them the perfect machine, follow along as we recommend our favorite devices depending on their project focus! From home decor creators to quilters and fashion garment designers, JUKI is here to help you find a suitable machine for your loved one this holiday season.

For the Fab Home Decorators

Buying the right gift for your creative friends can be difficult when you need help figuring out what to get them! So if you have a creator who focuses on home décor projects, we recommend our favorite home décor machine and accessories they would love!

If you’re looking to buy your loved one a sewing machine this holiday, the DX-2000QVP is perfect for home decorators! From decorative pillows to table runners and quilts, this machine can help them easily create their next project. Filled with sought-out features that beginners and advanced sewists will appreciate, like our JUKI Box Feed that moves your fabric for you, the floating button to prevent uneven seams, and comes with an assortment of presser feet that will help them bring their projects to life.

Does your loved one already own a DX machine? Then, upgrade their accessories kit and help them create new projects with a JUKI Creative Set! The Creative Set offers sewists a set of presser feet perfect for embellishing and adding decorative touches to their designs. This set includes pieces like the Applique Presser Foot, Cording and Embroidery Presser Foot, Pearl Attaching Presser Foot, Cording Presser Foot (for 3 Cords), Presser Foot with Guide, and Open Toe Presser Foot!

For Your Favorite Fashion Designer

Have a fashion designer in your life? Check out the Sayaka DX-3000QVP for their holiday gift! When creating fashion, designers are always ready to get creative and add personal touches to their work. With a machine like the DX-3000QVP, creators now have access to 351 stitch patterns, including beloved zigzags, 20 professional buttonholes, and four lettering fonts! They can bring their ideas to life with options like that while adding those personal touches they love.

The DX also offers a large workspace with a 12″ throat space for creating large projects like dresses, pants, and more. They’ll also enjoy a color touch panel where ease of use helps them change settings such as thread tension, presser foot pressure, pivot function, drop feed system, and automatic thread trimming with one touch. Add in free motion quilting, an Interchangeable Straight Stitch Feed System, and JUKI Smart Feed, and beginner and advanced sewists alike will love what they can create.

For sewists who have been dreaming of a serger, the MCS-1700QVP is the best of both worlds! Offering both coverstitch and chain stitch, this 3- and the the 4-thread machine is perfect for creating numerous projects like blouses, dresses, swimming suits, and athletic wear, thanks to how easy it is to work on stretch fabrics! In addition, strong chain stitch sections like waist seams and pants side seams become sturdier and cleaner.

If you’re looking to help them upgrade their sewing kit, we recommend our Invisible Zipper Foot and Double Fold Bias Binder! The Invisible Zipper Foot for the DX Series is perfect for adding that professional touch to their fashion pieces, where dresses, jackets, and even bags can now have a cleaner look. The Double Fold Bias Binder, created for the MCS machine series, can help fashion creators easily make straps for their camisole pieces or automatically fold the fabric to bind the garment edges for details like a neckline.

For the Quilters in Your Life

Quilters are always looking for more space to create! With the Miyabi J-350QVP, you can help them create a workspace that measures from 5 feet to 12 feet, where they can easily create quilts up to king size. In addition, this quilting machine offers features like our built-in JUKI SmartStitch titch regulator system, where quilters can produce accurate, precise stitching at any speed, helping them create beautiful designs and art. In addition, you can add Quilter’s Creative Touch 5 (QCT5) which allows you to easily design, lay out your quilt projects, and leave the machine to do the stitching for you!

If your loved one doesn’t have the space for a stand-up machine like the Miyabi J-350QVP, we recommend checking out the J-150QVP! The J-150QVP is the best of both worlds as it offers the space and free motion feature needed for quilting while also being a straight stitch machine that can help them complete their quilt in one space. Furthermore, with its digital screen, it is easy to change settings, the tension, speed, box feed system, lock/backstitch count, and more!

Finally, if your quilter already has their holy grail machine, check out JUKI’s newest quilting accessory! Our Free Motion Quilting Rings come in two sizes, 8″ and 11″, and offer creators the chance to add beautiful stitching with improved guidance by providing no-slip bottoms and using durable high-density polyurethane (HDPE) construction. Quilters tired of moving their quilt around as they add free motion quilting will love the ease of using this accessory the next time they’re creating!

For the Bag Creators

Finally, if you’re looking for the perfect gift for the bag creators in your life, look no further than the Haruka TL-18QVP! This single-needle, lock-stitch, portable sewing machine is built with industrial-quality sewing, helping creators with large projects create peace. No more fighting with the sewing machine because of heavy or thick material! This machine is equipped with our industrial mechanisms and features a float foot function that is great for many layers and thick seams that handbag-making needs.

Other features sewist will love about this machine is the brightness adjustment of the light and the drop feed for adding embroidery or free-motion quilting. In addition, this sub-tension unit ensures stitches are sewn with balanced thread tension and an automatic needle threader and thread trimmer!

If your bag creator has already found their perfect machine, help them upgrade their sewing kit with the Professional Attachment Set for the TL Series! This set of 3 presser feet and gauge is ideal for bag creators because it allows them to use more sewing techniques like working with leather and vinyl, attaching decorative piping and zippers, and working with a fixed seam allowance. The Hinged Zipper Foot is perfect for those narrow zippers they want to attach to your bag. A smooth foot will help them create using fabrics like vinyl and leather. The piping foot will help them easily create and attach pipping to their bags. Lastly, the swing gauge is used as a guide for the edge of the fabric when sewing with a fixed seam allowance.

We hope you find the perfect gift for your loved one this holiday season! Whether you’re choosing a machine or adding to their sewing kits, sewist and quilters alike will always love having new items for their sewing room. If you’re looking for help choosing the best gift for your friend or family member, contact your local JUKI Dealer; you can reach them by visiting us here!

Business Plus, JUKI Posts

JUKI Small Business Seminar: Tips and Tricks to In-Person Sales

by sewinwithjukiLeave a Comment on JUKI Small Business Seminar: Tips and Tricks to In-Person Sales

With in-person sales making a comeback to our communities, in-person sales have seen a rise in popularity. A big reason for this is that it’s easier to build trust with customers. In addition, in-person sales help you handle their objections and see their emotions, allowing you to make sales you might have missed otherwise. 

In-person sales is another opportunity to get your business out there and bring in those sales you want. Today, we’ll dive into in-person sales and what tools and resources you need to know about before starting. 

Benefits of Selling in Person

When you first start your business, a large percentage of your sales will come from in-person sales because customers are more likely to trust a company they can physically build rapport with than an online one they would have to research and read reviews. 

With in-person sales, you can truly pitch and sell your product. Unlike online sales, where you can’t catch those moments when a customer is frustrated, disinterested, or bored with your product, an in-person sale allows you to capture their emotions and verbal cues to bring the customer back in. It’s also easier to keep their attention once you have it than online, where the customer can switch between tabs and lose interest.

Keep in mind that this form of sales is more time-consuming and takes extra effort. So, with a limited amount of time and resources at your disposal, you need to set aside the hours to attend farmers’ markets, shops, and booths, while allocating your stock and ensuring you’re ready for a low or high volume of sales.

Selling in person also brings in the possibility of other team members dealing with rude or upset customers face to face. If you’re hiring sales representatives to assist with your in-person sales, you’ll need to consider finding, hiring, training, and even possibly firing sales representatives. You’ll also experience good and bad moments with possible customers, where some can be rude when turning down your product. However, don’t let these small things hold you back, as selling in person can be one of the best ways to get yourself out there.

Farmer’s Market

Farmer’s markets can be seen as a step towards setting your booth in conventions and tradeshows. A smaller-scale setup, farmer’s markets are perfect for getting in touch with your local communities and building up your skill for in-person sales. Follow along as we go over some tips to keep in mind before attending or registering for your first farmers market.

  1. Research!

Like anything you do for your business, you’ll want to research before applying to attend a farmers’ market. First, look into what farmers’ markets best fit your niche and see what kind of crowds they bring in. The best way to do this is to attend the local markets as a customer and see what vendors are present and who’s shopping.

Chat with the vendors already attending to learn more about the market’s atmosphere and what kind of shoppers like to attend. In addition, speak with the organizers while you’re there to understand better how to attend, what rules they have for sellers, and more.

Be on the lookout for fees as well. Depending on your local farmers market, booths might be rented out every week or may require a longer commitment, in which case you would be placed in a deal for up to 6 months. Booth fees are generally charged per day and range anywhere from $20 to $50 or more. Remember to look into your state ordinances and any necessary licenses or certifications required for selling in farmer’s markets.

2. Preparing Your Booth

Farmer’s markets tend to offer small booths and areas. Keep this in mind when planning your booth and take the time to complete a dry test run, create a detailed checklist for what you’ll need, and don’t forget the personal essentials.

A dry test run is completed by setting up your booth at home and placing everything as if it was the day of the Market. By doing this, you’ll get an idea of how you want your layout. What products can come with and which ones should stay, and what inventory you’ll need to bring along.

Your checklist should consist of your products, services if needed, customer essentials like receipts and credit card readers, and essentials to keep you and your team going. Remember to pack things like food, drinks, and items like sunscreen so that you’re prepared for the hours ahead.

3. Products and pricing

When shoppers attend farmer’s markets, they want to know the pricing and available products. Make sure to correctly display your products in unique ways like flyers or brochures, so customers have a clear idea of what you’re selling. When it comes to pricing, use clearly labeled stickers. 

Having a consistent system when it’s time to complete a purchase is also important. Ensure you have a clear area for handling purchases and the right tools on hand if you’re accepting cards or cash. If you offer bags for customers, make sure to have those nearby and ready

4. Booth Extras

Farmers’ markets can be busy, which means you may not reach every customer as they walk by. For these occasions, it’s great to keep things in your booth that customers can reference when you can’t get to them. Think of setting up an FAQ poster, have a video or photos playing somewhere to showcase making your products or doing your services, and create a flow to your booth if you’re selling products that can complement one another. Your booth setup can help you upsell when done right, so take the time to figure out what extras you can integrate into your design.

Trade show & conventions

One of the best ways to get your business out there and to the right niche is by attending trade shows and conventions that correlate with your product or niche market. By attending these shows and spreading the word about your business, you can bring in new customers that attend these events. You can also take these events as an opportunity to network with other companies in your niche and introduce yourself to competitors or possible collaborations. Below are five things to keep in mind when you start looking into attending your first trade show or convention.

  1. Research!

A tradeshow is like a window into your small business, what you offer, and who you are. Make sure to research the tradeshow you want to attend to get an idea of how many are commonly in attendance, how many vendors will be attending, if there will be events held during the convention, and so much more like possible vendor product giveaways.

Keep in mind the competitors visiting the same convention you’re interested in. Then, when customers come up to your shop, you can compare your product to others, explain the differences and benefits of yours, and build that trust and credit with your knowledge.

2. This is a Sales Pitch

Keep in mind that attending these shows is a 24/7 sales pitch. You have to be “on” at these events like other shops, and customers come up to your booth with questions, inquiries, and more. A convention is like being in a constant sales pitch, so if you’re still getting comfortable with this aspect of public speaking for your small business, take some time to attend community events before attending a tradeshow or convention.

3. Don’t forget to Market!

Attending these events is the perfect chance to test your marketing skills. Jump on your social media, newsletters, and podcast to promote your business and attend these events so that current customers and possible buyers can attend! Promote your booth with a photo so shoppers know what to look for when attending.

4. Be Prepared

Remember to bring along marketing giveaways when attending these events. While this is the perfect opportunity to sell your products, this is also a chance to bring in returning customers or enjoy the power of word of mouth. By offering items like business cards, flyers, mini freebies, and more, you’re giving customers a way to contact you in the future for sales or the opportunity to share your business card with their friends and family. Make sure to include your contact information, website or storefront information, and any other information you think is essential.

Don’t forget to bring in branded items to decorate your booth so shoppers can know your brand and business name while browsing. This can go beyond having a tablecloth with your logo and include ideas like banners, flags, signage, and more. You want customers to know your company name and what you sell when they see your booth.

5. Prepare Your Booth

Beyond your marketing pieces and giveaway items, you’ll need to prepare your booth if you’re using them. Think of creative ways to sell your products by setting up demos, showcasing videos of you creating your product, or completing a service if that’s what your business offers. Look into ways of including the customer by providing product testing on-site so they can see your product in action. Think of your booth like a storefront, and make sure you’re prepared for when window shoppers walk by!

Star Small and Aim Big!

When you decide to start selling in-person, remember to start at a small scale like your local farmers’ and artisan’s markets before working your way up to conventions and tradeshows. Getting experience in in-person sales is important! You want to be able to handle questions, create demos, handle sales, and move comfortably so that you can build trust in your product and business when selling directly to your customers. Selling in person can be a whole new ball game for those uncomfortable with public speaking, so make sure to practice putting yourself out there and connecting with those in the community.

If you’ve sold your product in person before, what tips would you give to those just starting? Let us know in the comments below!