Knowing your target market

At the market on the weekend a Dad was with his two kids buying cards for Mother's Day. He had chosen the card above for his son, but the little boy seemed a bit annoyed by the card and kept saying he didn't want it because it had flowers on it. I had a little chat to him and asked what he gives his Mum as a present and found out what he really wanted on the card was puppies! I realised that a) I don't know my target market. Four year old boys are not fond of flowers and would rather give their Mum's a handful of puppies and b) boys are very cute, particularly when being a wee bit cheeky.

Dear TV Mums...

...thank you for letting us know that compared to you, our own Mother's are not that crazy! I don't know who would be the worst Mum out of Pauline, Estelle and Lucille but if I was to choose one, I would go with Lucille. At least that way you know there is always vodka in the house. Who is your favourite TV Mum?

Mother's Day

Mother's Day is only three weeks away, so we thought we better start talking Mother's Day cards. Our perfect Mother's Day card is one that isn't too serious, has a sense of humour, but is still poignant and says how much you care. Our cards came about from collaborating ideas and thinking of the little things that seem unimportant, but when put on a card suddenly have a lot of meaning.

We actually came up with the idea to start Able and Game after seeing the Mother's Day cards available in a department store. They were all really dull, soppy and a bit blagh and there was no a single card either of us would want to give our Mum. This was back in 2008 and I had been selling little hand painted cards at Rose Street along with my Anna Laura products. I realised the "thanks for the lift" card was too good to retire and set about planning our card empire. It is funny to reflect back on those moments and remember when the seed was sown and things started to grow!

I Tues Tues Choose You!

So we decided to feature a boy this week, and Ben Affleck was the one that caught our eye. Famous for starring in that film clip with Bennifer I, he is now happily married with kids to Bennifer II. See what a portmanteau can do for you! I can't decide if Gareth and I had to make our own would we go for Anneth or Ganna? Our new card is available on Etsy, and also at our markets this weekend.

Saturday 17th April
Sister's Market @ Brunswick Town hall from 10am - 4pm
Rose Street Artist Market @ 60 Rose Street Fitzroy from 11am - 5 pm

Sunday 18th April
Rose Street Artist Market @ 60 Rose Street Fitzroy from 11am - 5 pm

Bing bong wedding ding dong wedding

Dear Able and Game,

Can you please make a funny wedding card?

Thanks,
Wedding Invitee

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Dear Wedding Invitee,

One day we will make a funny wedding card. Please be aware it will probably take us six months to come up with an idea and will only come about after we realise we really need a new toaster*. Please remain patient during this 6 month period and hope no friends with a sense of humour get married during this time.

Warmest regards,
Anna and Gareth
Able and Game


*Gareth is still excited about this toaster. He thinks it is the best thing in the world, after me of course!

Game on Game

PIXELS by PATRICK JEAN.
Uploaded by onemoreprod. - Arts and animation videos.

Gareth found this short film by Patrick Jean featuring all of his favourite 8bit games from the '80s. I think the tetris is my favourite part, although the borgish cube at the end is also pretty cool.

I Tues Tues Choose You!

Aaah Melanie Griffiths never disappoints when it comes to things she likes to tell us. I wonder what kind of market there is for brass big boy sculptures? Do you think it was meant to be a dolphin but the sculptor wasn't very good. Rather than redo the whole thing, Antonio and The Sculptor decided to pretend it was something else and Antonio's 'manhood' is all they could come up with?

This quote was so good we ended up coming up with two cards. Gareth came up with one, and I came up with the other. They are both available on Etsy as well as our markets this week, Rose Street on Saturday and Sunday, and The North Melbourne Market (by Thread Den) on Sunday at the Lithuanian Club on Errol Street. Come along and say hi.

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