Open response to a comment on my last post
magikquilter June 7th, 2008
Kara thank you for your in depth comment…..my response was too long so decided to do it here also so that non Wordpress bloggers could see it.
I understand what you are saying about small businesses helping the community but am still concerned about the high price tags required to do that. Your example of sjorcha is interesting as well as people will always be having babies so there is a definite need for that type of product. However there may be an over saturation point for other products and this could affect your business of handbags and scarves. Once people start to buy a certain label and the word spreads is there not a time when people will say…I am so over her….or such like? That happened to me with Olga Berg. I wonder if your mentors have discussed this with you? I would be interested to know as I feel human nature does not change and fashion, even alternate fashion ….. is all about being individualistic and fresh.
But as I said the big thing for me is the lack of creativity in some small business products. That is why I loved it when you branched out into scarves, there are a lot of scarves around like your design…we can thank Denise Schmidt for that…but yours are much more original and show a wonderful mix of new and old reclaimed fabrics…. same with your bags. However I am concerned with the high prices that need to be charged so that independent designers can make a decent living. We have had that discussion before about how the government needs to do more to support small business owners…especially in this industry.
You actually made my point for me about flickr being used as a form of marketing. You are recommending that people look at your work ……. “as long as you don’t mention its for sale” But isn’t that what a photo gallery on a website is for? To show what is currently for sale and what has already been sold? You also make my point exactly that there is a difference between hobbyists, crafters and business people….the only people doing business on flickr is flickr…it is against the TOS which we all agree upon when we sign up. [Although a lot of people don't bother reading it]
I do take your point though that there is a difference between the three and that you are trying to run a small business…its just that the prices required to make your business competitive and viable mean that I and a lot of others struggling to simply pay the bills cannot afford those type of prices. As a crafter/ artisan I also find it hard when people would think nothing of paying upwards of $200 for a handbag that may take three hours to make yet would not consider paying even $300 to $400 for a quilt that has taken maybe two to four weeks to make. It is a real imbalance and means that it is achievable for artisans in the fashion industry but not for artisans in the quilting industry. But perhaps it is just who you know…and comes back to the networking and marketing thing which you are so good at!
Kara has had some wonderful press, especially recently, both online and in newspapers. The Sydney Morning Herald Business section also did a brilliant article. It is here and probably explains better than I what it takes to make it in this industry.
Update …just checked my link for Olga Berg….good grief the bags are stunning again…sorry Kara but I can afford those. Of course every second person is thinking the same thing so we are back to the mass produced thing again. Oh I feel a headache coming on!
Yeah, if you look at the highest rated ones, you’ll find some pretty nice designs.
Yes I bought some of the embroidered ones several years ago and as they were so unusual one out of four women had them! Hence they were not original anymore and I went off them! The ones at present look to me like they are more contemporary while still having some in the collection that could be used five years from now …which is hard to do in the fickle fashion industry where obviously the whole thing is geared to getting new and fashionable stuff each year.
Olga Berg is stunning, yes, and also a mass produced item, so I don’t consider any major brand as something I can compete with. Can you imagine what that brand pays per item to get manufactured in Asia? Hmmm, food for thought…
As my partner said last night, in terms of perceived value, “So Reeboks are worth the $200 you pay for them?” It is about marketing, strategy and the need in society for goods.
I can’t comment on quilts as they are not my speciality. But I can comment on bags, and especially one-off bags and the response I get from my customers. As I am a one-man band (for designing, sewing 60% still and running the business), I can only design so many new items with a new look when I get the chance. It is exhausting and a 7 day a week job that I have so far!
Of course, if the customers slow down and don’t buy, then you need to address your style/product/etc. But the beauty of having a small, creative business is that I can change whenever I want!
But handmade doesn’t mean cheap. I won’t go into detail about costs but by the time you add, marketing, business cards, postcards, swing tags, postage, public liability, business insurance, mobile ATM’s, trademarking, branding, major websites, etc, etc, etc, (it goes on and on) it gets very expensive and all must be factored into pricing. This is something that crafters and hobbyists don’t understand.
Wow I hope the crafters and hobbyists who read my craft based blog aren’t going to take that the wrong way, not quite sure how to take it myself! You see I think crafters and hobbyists understand it quite well, a lot of them just choose to not commercialize what is to them a fun pastime and can therefore be a little purist about others to whom they feel the finished item is a commodity.
The article in the Herald summed it up quite well I feel …that you command strong price points….and that in future others may have to lift their game as more businesses “get a social conscience” or as I have been known to say with some cynicism “jump on the bandwagon”.
Your archive on flickr may show how long your business has been around, though I still think a photo gallery would be good unless there is a reason not to do that? I Guess Olga Berg and other businesses may not due to the sheer number of products they have amassed, although I often wish that businesses had an archive somewhere so that when I find something while thrift shopping I would immediately know when it was sold etc.
Speaking of thrift shopping, love your new bag and that fabric really came up well… it gave me the worst headache before I washed it as it was so stinky…do you remember you said that barkcloth is often really stinky so that was a good sign?
The reason I don’t do a photo archive is that I would have to purchase a lot more webspace, which I can’t afford. By using flickr as a photo archive tool (and not a selling tool) I think it’s a great way to share on flickr. I have never been approached for a sale on flickr so I hope/think I am getting it right!
I don’t mean to cause offense with crafters and hobbyists, rather that some people don’t understand small business and how hard it is.
Ah I see why you don’t have the archive ….funny thing is I have been asked repeatedly if I have a shop, and where they can buy my stuff, even in the comments there…some people either don’t know about the TOS or just do not care! I also see it all the time, in comments believe it or not, whole conversations going on about buying the product in the photo! I must say I have also seen where you try in discussions to make it clear to people and administrators that flickr has a TOS and people should be aware of that and abide by it….so good on you for that. I have also seen whole threads devoted to how to get around the TOS….pretty blatant!
I was kidding about the offense…. people can be upset on either side of the debate, obviously….its just that this is a craft based blog after all. Although I have a few ideas now for a series of blog posts and possibly a new direction for this blog….so that was interesting and thanks for the inspiration!
That’s great - and its nice to share viewpoints with everyone! I have a number of designer friends that are finding the small business / pricepoint position hard so wanted to share with everyone…
The flickr thing is an issue, but it’s a great and very inspiring network to be in with like-minded people so even having your own photo gallery is not so effective.
K
thank you for stopping by my site
I loves your comment!
Its great to see you here Kaylee…meant every word of it too!!! Am only an email away, okay?
I read your posts a few days ago and they’ve made me think a lot. I don’t disagree with your views but I want to add a few additional points.
1. First let me state that I was on the ‘Holiday Etsy Buy Handmade’ bandwagon. I was overwhelmingly pleased with my purchases. I don’t think I paid too much for anything (but that may be because I’m cheap :). I thought the workmanship and originality far surpassed anything I could have gotten at mass retail. And I was pleased to buy from an independent craftsperson/artisan.
2. I understand and empathize with the desire of artisans and craftspeople to be their own boss, to feed the creativity that drives them and want success. I, too, want all those things.
3. Buy Handmade is not, in itself, a bad idea. But as we know every good idea gets diluted, perverted and hijacked. I think that’s what happened here. Every do-it-yourself program on TV and every Martha Stewart Living magazine makes anyone think they can create a quality, original handmade item. That’s simply not true.
4. I think discernment is the key to wading through this mess. Discernment on the part of the artisan/crafter on what really belongs on the market, though we can not control this one. But we can control our buying and support of these products. The market usually wins and people like Kara can have an opportunity to succeed. The knock-off people rarely last very long.
Thanks for giving me something to think about.
Peggy thank you for your well structured and well thought out response. If only I were as careful of my titles etc. I was actually meaning just the handmade mentality versus the mass produced mentality and should have made it very clear that it had nothing to do with the “buy handmade for Christmas” buttons that were everywhere. Obviously it is good if you cannot make things yourself to buy from someone who can and in the process pay a fair price which benefits everyone.
What I meant more was the sheer excess of it all and I think you knew I meant that …perhaps I should put a disclaimer somewhere about the buy handmade button/movement or change that part of the title.
I simply hate the way people start following others without putting a whole lot of thought into it. With gifts why does it have to be home made…it could be movie tickets…an exquisitely cooked meal…a gardener for the summer…..a cleaning lady or man for a season etc etc… a season ticket to the theatre. To me its the thought, not whether it is manufactured in a factory or an artisan’s home.
Your last point is spot on Peggy!
Kathleen,
Thanks for introducing me to your blog, and offering this opportunity to talk about making handmade items. I sew because I love to sew, because I have soooo much fabric, and because it is a way to make some extra money.
And when I started making purses, sure, I was hoping that I would make a profit; and if at any point the market shows me that will not happen….well, I may continue to create purses, but probably not spend the hours I currently do.
Although it is thrilling to make money, nothing is more thrilling than the smile on someone’s face and the lilt in their voice when they say “You made this???….It is so beautiful!” or when they see me 2 weeks after purchase and say people stop them, admire the purse and ask where they got it. An artist needs to realize how to do business, but at the core of why we do it….it is because we need to create!
Well said Jackie….and people will be able to read more about you as you are going to be my first featured artisan in my new series of posts on artisans/ crafters whose passion for fabric or sewing etc spun off into a business. A why artisans create and what I think of their product and pricing etc …sort of review come interview.