tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6802349858004048129.post1326389311572227943..comments2021-10-03T18:04:32.247-04:00Comments on The Crafty Retailer: YIKES! Many Crafty Retailers are working for free! No Salary. Nothing. Nada. Zero.Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01333059163731746098noreply@blogger.comBlogger8125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6802349858004048129.post-52908624677366094772010-04-16T10:04:26.099-04:002010-04-16T10:04:26.099-04:00Ramona:
Working salary free seems pretty common in...Ramona:<br />Working salary free seems pretty common in most start ups---Kudos on your perseverance and good luck for a profitable 2010. FYI....I have been enjoying your blog!Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01333059163731746098noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6802349858004048129.post-82416749766026757142010-04-16T10:00:21.925-04:002010-04-16T10:00:21.925-04:00Linda:
I will throw your name into the drawing. S...Linda:<br />I will throw your name into the drawing. Send me your contact details.<br /><br />I agree with you regarding pricing on handmade finished goods...sometimes I cringe when I see how low the pricing is on sites such as Etsy. It hurts everyone in the end!Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01333059163731746098noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6802349858004048129.post-3704760195459856572010-04-16T09:45:13.836-04:002010-04-16T09:45:13.836-04:00No doubt about it...paying off obligations is a so...No doubt about it...paying off obligations is a sound reason to stay in business, provided that there is profitability at the end of the day. Craft retailers are generally creative folks with an ability to think outside the box. We will all need to refine our game plan to whether the storm! Good luck, Michelle, and thanks so much for sharing.Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01333059163731746098noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6802349858004048129.post-72844375804739376712010-04-16T09:40:33.002-04:002010-04-16T09:40:33.002-04:00Sure, you can publish my post. I don't need t...Sure, you can publish my post. I don't need to stay anonymous. :-) I'm 37 (just turned) and my life is my shop. I love teaching and sharing my passion for beads and beading. I get frustrated sometimes--with myself (I would love to be much more of an extrovert) and with my customers (wishing I had more creative artsy people that would come in and always having to explain prices--they want unusual items but for under $5 but have to explain that that's hard to find! and explaining over and over why we are not Fire Mountain Gems--if they would come in more, I could afford more items--but it's like talking to a brick wall). <br /> <br />I have a lease that goes on for about a year and a half and owe the bank still for 3 more years or so... I've thought about picking up my business and moving to another local outside of Wisconsin after my lease is up...and that may be wishful thinking. I would love to design more and sell finished pieces to balance out what goes on in the store...but 6 hours or less a night of sleep takes it's toll. Not sure where to fit in all that I need to do now to keep my head above water. <br /> <br />Ideally, if I could quit my part time job, I would have more time to get these things done. If I did have more time...what would I do with myself! After 3 and a half years, I've gotten used to my life of no time! Husband or significant other would be helpful...maybe in that I wouldn't have to work another job, but it is just me, myself and I. I do not want to fail...and because I was raised to take care of my obligations, I couldn't just throw in the towel to get out of my situation. I don't owe huge amounts of money (think nice car) and it's wonderful to see my loan obligation go down every month so I am in it for the long haul...whatever that may be.<br /> <br />I love my business, but the constant toll of worrying makes me enjoy it less on some days.Michellehttp://beadalotta.com/noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6802349858004048129.post-20060742330883823572010-04-16T09:34:30.792-04:002010-04-16T09:34:30.792-04:00Thanks for your candor, Michelle. I think it is c...Thanks for your candor, Michelle. I think it is comforting to other shop owners to hear honest talk from the trenches. Craft stores have been hit doubly hard...the economy is a nightmare (regardless of how often we hear about the recovery!) and the internet has brought the gross margin unacceptably low on many industry staples. <br /><br />I read your newsletters and have been on your website. It is clear that you are working hard and yet the future is uncertain. Why are you continuing to do it and how long will you keep going? How old are you?Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01333059163731746098noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6802349858004048129.post-75229971737458567632010-04-14T09:56:21.517-04:002010-04-14T09:56:21.517-04:00I fall into the startup category, so no $ for me u...I fall into the startup category, so no $ for me unless we do waaaay better in the first year than I have planned. I do have a salary projected for myself in the second and following years though.Ramonahttp://texasartasylum.com/blognoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6802349858004048129.post-76668916703405054602010-04-14T09:09:01.837-04:002010-04-14T09:09:01.837-04:00I know it's a hard decision to make about what...I know it's a hard decision to make about what price to put on our handmade products. I just posted on my blog the startup of my business and can expand if anyone has any questions. I think, while the internet is a wonderful place to sell, many sellers have priced products lower than what we should, just to get sales. And I know that it hurts the sales of brick and mortar stores. I felt it when I had a retail store. This is a very interesting area of discussion. <br /><br />I would like to sign up for the Challenge, also. I have been making jewelry lately and plan to add it to my Etsy store. Thanks for offering it! My etsy store is www.lllangel.etsy.comAnonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15737239055986855347noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6802349858004048129.post-59025455308045312042010-04-14T08:41:10.022-04:002010-04-14T08:41:10.022-04:00Hi Pat,
Ok...neither of us work for free....but ju...Hi Pat,<br />Ok...neither of us work for free....but just about close. I figure I work for about 25 hours at the shop--straight selling etc.--we are open Tue-Fri (11-5) and Sat 10-3. I work another job part time--another 25 hours from 6am to noon so that I can feed myself and clothe myself and provided myself with insurance. I get into the shop at about 12:30 everyday. My mom-who is the co-owner opens up at 11am. BUT, it is all the behind the scenes work that takes more time. Creating all of the classes (at least 95% are basic techniques that I create full diagramed instructions for), ordering, working up samples and trying to plan any sales etc., sending out twice monthly newsletters, wanting (notice the wanting) to keep a blog updated at least once a month, and also updating the website. I figure that I make about $.20 an hour. My mom who only helps out at the shop for selling makes about $5.75 an hour. The shop pays for our mortgage & utilities. Neither of us are married so we live together to reduce costs. That is a whole other challenge! :-)<br /><br />I get complaints that my class fees are too high--$22 for most classes for 2.5 hours. They purchase their own materials. I spend anywhere from 4-12 hours on each instruction sheet! So I figure that it is a reasonable fee--I am right in the middle of what other shops in my are charge.<br /><br />It always feels like I'm complaining when I say how much I work (I do love it but some more sleep would be nice) and don't have time for anything else, but if I do take time out--even just a few days from not doing shop work, it takes me weeks to get all the balls juggling. I've tried training my mom to order but it doesn't stick (she still calls me with computer questions even after 3 years of the same program). I admit that I am a control freak, too. <br /><br />I'm just worried that my business will not survive! I'm behind 13% from LAST year--and I ended the last year 4% behind the year before! I believe that I do everything that I should and I'm still passionate about what I do, but I am running out of ideas. My community is very frugal (except on beer and cigarettes). Even when I run a sale, I don't get an influx of people. <br /><br />Ok...I know this was off the original post. So back to it. I do pay myself a very small amount for the hours that I dedicate to my shop, but cannot afford to hire an additional staff person to allow me to take a break. Or to pay myself a better "salary" so that I can quit my paying job! Sad, but true.<br />Thanks for listening!<br />MichelleMichellehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11652030221444100995noreply@blogger.com