Bratty Beaders, Crazy Catknappers, and the Problem with Spewing our Thought Bubbles...

It has been an interesting few weeks and I have lots of exciting news to impart and projects to enthuse over, but that is all going to have to wait until another day....there is WAY more important stuff to discuss.....like how surreal life is becoming.....

Is it just me or have you noticed that the world is going Nuckin' Futz?  

Seriously.  I feel as though I have fallen down the rabbit hole and landed in a really twisted place.

WTF is wrong with people?????  

First, lets talk about  Rude Ass Designer Syndrome a/k/a RADS.  It is wildly contagious and seems to be spreading from designers to those who love them.  Beader Extraordinaire Beki Haley recently shared the following account of some silliness at a local bead store:

Shopper #1 has been beading for years.  She does not have internet access and lives a very remote lifestyle, making periodic pilgrimages to her local bead shop to gather supplies.  Shopper #2 has a talented daughter-in-law whose sells bead patterns on Etsy.  She noticed Shopper #1 wearing a bracelet that appeared similar to one of her daughter in law's Etsy designs.  She complimented Shopper #1 on her interpretation of the piece and mentioned that it had been designed by her daughter-in-law.  Shopper #1  told Shopper #2 that the bracelet was of her own design from six or seven years ago and then things started to get uncomfortable.

Let the games begin!

Shopper #2 became loud and irate, publicly chastising Shopper #1 for lying.  Shopper #1 was clearly uncomfortable but determined to stand her ground.  She reported that she had designed the piece years before and has never even heard of Etsy.  Shopper #2 was not placated and went on to accuse Shopper #1 of thievery.  Shopper #1 grew increasingly uncomfortable and ultimately left the shop without purchasing her supplies.  Unbelievable.  Reminiscent of  an encounter with a spoiled five year old, wouldn't you say?

 Where is Mr. Woody when you need him? 

(SIDE NOTE:  Mr. Woody was an unhappy wooden spoon that lived on top of my refrigerator and whose primary function was to serve as a deterrent, but who was commissioned to spank a tushie now and then.  Each incident involved a boy with a  penchant for stacking books and pots/pans on chairs to get to the knives hidden beyond his reach.  You see, my son Jeremy had a fascination for all things weapon-like and was willing to risk life, limb, and Mr. Woody to get to the cutlery.   He is now in law school.   Go figure).

Was Shopper #1 so insecure and narcissistic that accosting an old lady in a bead store seemed to be an appropriate resolution to a dispute?  Really?  Frankly, while I am occasionally tempted to channel my inner three year old when confronted with life's little challenges, the angry words are generally edited before they slither out of my mouth.  It is all about self control.

Moreover, what is with all of the Haters?  Why are so many artists so quick to assume that a similarity in design is necessarily indicative of malfeasance?  Why do so many people think that they own something that belongs to everyone (or no one)?    I recently posted on this sort of thing, and the issue continues to be a source of considerable discussion.  It has been my experience that big egos and big insecurities get in the way of a happy life. 

YOU CAN'T FIGHT CRAZY WITH CRAZY

So...on to the Crazy Catknapping....

My son lives in California, doing the waiter/actor thing. Er.....if any of you are related to Quentin Tarrantino, pass along the headshot, won't you?  ...but I digress....

Jake's lovely girlfriend recently moved out to LA, bringing her two cats, Kitty and Vinnie.  Jake and Janice spent Thanksgiving with us while the cats were being cared for  by Roommate. Vinnie went missing so Roommate and Hero Neighbor combed the  neighborhood, to no avail.  Hero Neighbor noticed Crazy Neighbor peering out while they were calling for the cat and suddenly got "a weird feeling."   Hero Neighbor knocked on the door to ask Crazy Neighbor if she had seen the lost cat and noticed Vinnie sitting inside.   Crazy Neighbor told the pair that the cat was actually her cat, Star, who had disappeared 1 1/2 years ago.  Crazy Neighbor picked up Vinnie and went on to say that while she appreciated Jacob and Janice taking care of Star, she was going to be keeping the cat from this point forward.  

Alrighty then.....

Roommate and Hero Neighbor explained that Vinnie could not possibly be her cat because he was only six months old, was a male not a female, and had arrived in Los Angeles only three months before.

Nonetheless, Crazy Neighbor was adamant...she knew her cat and this cat was hers.

Roommate was flummoxed.  Hero neighbor was perplexed.  Clearly, they were at a stand off.  Fortunately, Hero Neighbor suddenly grabbed the cat from Crazy Neighbor's arms and ran out the door before Vinnie could even deliver a parting scratch.  The cat was home safe and sound when Jacob and Janice returned.  I asked Jacob how he was going to handle the situation as I would be afraid to let Vinnie outside unsupervised.  He said, "Mom, you can't fight crazy with crazy.  I wanted to call her out, but instead I am going over with copies of vet bills and pictures of Vinnie as a kitten.  I have to live next to her, so I might as well help her get to a better place."  Damn.  Good looking and brilliant, too.  He is learning to use his edit button!  Is the neighbor really crazy?  Did she intentionally steal a cat?  Who the hell knows....but I want to believe that she simply misses her cat and harbors a secret hope that Star will find her way home.   I am glad that Jacob and Janice are kind humans who have turned this weirdness into a funny story and simply moved on.  No histrionics, no accusations, no drama. Happy Sigh.

FORGET POLITICS....LETS JUST CONCENTRATE ON BEING GOOD!
Several months ago I happened upon a blog post written by a woman I do not know personally.   I know of her based upon her internet presence.  Moreover,she is a friend of many of my friends and I would welcome the opportunity to get to know her.  She seems talented and cool and totally my cup of tea.  Yup, I would most definitely like to spend the afternoon beading with her and trading crafty stories.  She seems responsible and smart, compassionate and caring, and all around Good---yup, just the type of human I would welcome into my home and heart.  ....Yet a particular blog post contained mega doses of political vitriol and other angry nonsense that shook me.  

Understand that this was not simply a case of promoting a particular view point, rather, it was kind of mean spirited and snarky, playing on lots of silly stereotypes.  It totally bummed me out because I figured that if she knew of my personal politics, she would probably not want to spend an afternoon beading with me and trading crafty stories.  Damn.   I imagine that she would gasp in horror and write me off as one of those crazy right wingers protecting my non-existent wealth by withholding emergency medical care from desperate children while simultaneously starving old people just for giggles.  Really?  So silly, so stupid, such a waste of time and maybe a friendship or two.   I honest-to-God do not know anyone who thinks like that, Republican or Democrat.  Why are folks so quick to assume that those with an opposing viewpoint, or even a different idea on how to reach an objective, are evil and stupid?  I don't get it, I really don't.

No doubt about it....we are living in a wacky time right now.  A grown man watches another grown man rape a small child in a college locker room and walks away, fear for himself trumping any concern for that boy.  I know as surely as I am breathing that I would have saved that child, period.  My response would have been visceral and it would have been sure.   Similarly, I bet the blogger who hates Republicans would have turned into a raging warrior princess and pulled that son of a bitch off of that little boy if she had stumbled upon the crime. Good is Good and Bad is Bad...period.  It is time for those of us who are good to stand together, regardless of politics.   It is time that we start thinking more critically about our visions for the future and standing up for Right even when it is uncomfortable or requires that we steal back a kidnapped cat.    We must demand a bit more from ourselves and those we love.  It goes without saying that we must demand more from our politicians (and I ain't talking entitlement programs!). 



I  think that the blogger is a good human.  She would have protected that boy and even though we are rooting for different sides of the political ticket, I still want to be her friend.  I imagine that if she met me, she would like me and we could have a crafty blast.    Two good people, taking care of their families, working their asses off, and trying to make a positive difference in the world.   I just wonder if she would give me a chance?

The Fine Line Between Artistic Inspiration and Crafty Exploitation

Color.  Texture.  Design.  I am a big fan of visual stimulation.  I spend hours each week surfing the web --- popping in on artsy blogs and conducting countless google image searches to discover the best of  what is happening in the crafty world.   The time spent in this creative revery is always a treat...throw in a cupcake or a glass of wine and I have myself a Happy Meal.


While this sort of research is important for business purposes, there is a secondary benefit as well.  Oftentimes, I come across a piece that ignites my own creative spark and I will obsess for days until I find an opportunity to give birth to my own creation.   Sometimes my finished piece reflects the inspiration that I received, other times the connection would not be obvious to anyone but me.

 So---when does INSPIRATION cross the line to EXPLOITATION? While the line is a fine one, it is often quite murky and not particularly absolute.  It makes for a lot of hard feelings and wasted energy for artists involved in a dispute over a design.

When does the work cross the line? 

I had a customer contact me a few months ago. She was frustrated and irate, having just been accused by another artist of copying that artist's work.  The two are not true friends, although she thought they had a friendly relationship.  They would see each other at the occasional trade show and kept in touch throughout the year.  Accordingly, she was shocked when she received the following email in response to a text that she had sent with some helpful information relative to a sales rep:

I got your text today and so I wanted to write you back an email instead of a text since I actually have quite a bit to say.  I am rather confused by your actions.  On the one hand, you text me about reps, asking how the show went, leave Facebook messages on my page about my designs etc...as though we were friends, and then on the other hand, you have taken an idea of a necklace from me and are exploiting my design through what you consider your own....

  ....Before you texted me this morning I had actually posted a link on my Facebook to an article that I hope you will read regarding exploiting someone else's work.  If you get the idea for a piece by using someone else's work, then that is stealing.  Regardless of what you think, I am hurt by your actions and do not desire to be friends with someone who would do that.  I go to great lengths to offer unique products, and have copyrights on all of my designs because I believe in what I am doing and I design my work without the use of others to take ideas from. 

What confuses and hurts me the most is the fact that you seem to think that what you did was ok because you still remain in contact with me.  I tried a while back to very subtly let you know how I felt about your taking my idea, but either you didn't pick up on what I was saying or you didn't care.  The very fact that you starting creating pieces just like mine is why I chose not to share a booth with you at the [tradeshow].

I guess in the end, you will do what you want to further your business and your choice of ethics is ultimately up to you, but due to the fact that I feel ripped off by you, I do not wish to remain friends. I am sure you would feel the same if the tables were turned.


Ouch.  Pretty harsh stuff.  Clearly, The Accuser felt wronged and  The Accused felt wrongly accused.  Both women are very talented.  Both do a great job marketing their work. My take is that they are both good, kind women and I would proudly sport a necklace made by either.    

So where is the disconnect?  

First, lets take a look at the work at issue:

 Each necklace has the same 27mm  Swarovski Crystal 1201 stone (in different colors)  hung on a simple chain. 

I pondered long and hard about the karma of this dispute and came to the conclusion that  my customer should be able to sleep at night.  We are talking about one Swarovski crystal stone....albeit a spectacular stone....on a chain.   Period.  The stone is widely available.  No special techniques were employed, no complicated construction was required.  If you like sparkle, you would probably hang either --or both--around your neck.  Both designers have expansive product lines.  This is the only item in dispute.  They ARE different.  One has a romantic, vintage quality.  The other has a clean, modern look.  Yet, one human feels victimized and another feels under attack.  It sucks.

I have been on both sides of this issue...early in my art career, long, long ago...back when I was a naive young thing... I was accused of copying the work of another artist.  It totally freaked me out.  No doubt, I was definitely influenced by her work, but  I honestly did not think my product bore a close resemblance. I still don't.   Regardless, the original artist saw my piece and went NUCLEAR.  I thought she was crazy, but I  backed off the design.  The juice wasn't worth the squeeze and I didn't want to find my pet rabbit  boiling on the stove top A La Glenn Close in Fatal Attraction.  On the other hand, I have also had my work copied on a very large scale.   The product involved a basic design and was easy to duplicate...so it was.  Yup...It sucked...but it wasn't personal---it was business.  C'est La Vie.  No doubt about it....Simple designs have a shorter shelf life.

I am a fiber artist.  I have long avoided using the classic "felt ball" in my work because I found the humble fuzzy ball to be kind of silly...silly, that is, until I happened upon the work of Gail Crosman Moore.  Gail is talented in many genres...she is innovative and has a killer grasp of color and form.  During one of my web surfing Happy Meals, I happened upon this photo:

OMG!  Be still my heart!  Felt balls that were not just interesting....they were SPECTACULAR!
  
I couldn't wait to get to the felting table!  Here is my version:

They are both multi layered cuff bracelets featuring felted balls embellished with bead work.

Uh Oh.

OH. MY. GOD.   

They are both multi layered cuff bracelets featuring felted balls embellished with bead work!

Should I be able to sleep well at night?  

Honestly, I have had no problem catching ZZZZZs but was curious....what would Gail Crosman Moore think?  I looked at the two photos carefully and I still felt good about it....but then, I don't see a big issue with the two pendants described above.    Hmmmm..........I decided to shoot Gail an email and ask her opinion:

Hey there, Gail!  I messaged you via FB, but wanted to make sure that I touched base with you with a more complete explanation of my quest.   I am a fiber artist/crafty business owner.  I have been making fiber jewelry for years and use beads/crystal embellishment in every piece.

I am writing a blog post on the difference between being inspired by a piece and copying a piece.  It is always such a hot button and “in the eye of the beholder” so I wanted to illustrate my point regarding inspiration with a photo of a piece you did that inspired me to make my own. 

You made a killer cuff bracelet (photo of your piece is attached) with embellished felt balls that knocked my socks off.  I have always been a bit of a felt ball snob because most of the work that I have seen is pedestrian and kind of clownish.  Your bracelet has a sophistication that wowed me and got me looking at felt balls in a whole new light.

I have attached a piece of my finished product, which I perceive to be an original piece inspired by your incredible piece.   I am curious as to whether or not you agree.  You are the artist of the piece that inspired me…copy or inspiration?  Inquiring minds want to know!

Please feel free to be as honest as possible.  It would be helpful to blog readers and shed light on the whole process from both perspectives, even if you want to bitch slap me.  

Pat Riesenburger

I sent the email......and then I started sweating.  I looked at the photos again and compared them closely.  She made a cuff bracelet.  I made a cuff bracelet.  She embellished with beads.  I embellished with beads.   NOOOOOOOOOOO!   How have I been sleeping at night?

Much to my relief, within a few hours the following message appeared in my In Box:

Hello Pat,

Thank you for your thoughtful and complimentary project.
Absolutely no worries re: copying, I love that this bracelet of mine inspired you. Your piece is very different from mine and it makes me happy that I was a springboard towards an excited energy to carry out your piece. Well done!

I am also happy that my piece framed a material in a new light to make it useful to you!

Enjoy, with many thanks for your openness.

Best,
Gail

 

WHEW! I knew how I felt about it and it was nice to know that Gail agreed....I could breathe again.  Thank you, Gail!  

I tend to think along the same lines...I am flattered on those occasions when my work serves to inspire another.  I consider it an Art Hug.

The thing is.....Art is derivative.  We are naturally influenced by the world around us.  Artists who post pictures of their work online, or publish patterns in magazines, are putting their work out there for others to see.  It is lovely affirmation for the artist and the exposure is good for those seeking to promote their crafty careers.   However, what about the work that you see in the course of living your life?  What if you decide to sell the work?  When are you INSPIRED and when are you EXPLOITING? 

I think that it boils down to INTENT.  Did my customer intend to copy the design of the Accuser?  I don't think so.  I think that she was excited by it, and that she was inspired by it, and that she loves Swarovski Crystal.   She saw a stone that she admired and she wanted to use it.  The construction of the necklace in question involved one stone, one bezel, one chain and a clasp.   She has a large product line and this is the only item at issue.   I just cannot get my panties in a twist over this one.  

The Accuser acknowledged that the Accused treated her as a friend, offering encouragement and support; yet, she was willing to believe that this woman would deliberately screw her over.  HUH?  She then handled the matter by dropping a "subtle hint" about her feelings, and when no response was forthcoming she became hurt and then angry.    I have watched a number of artists respond the same way over the years.   Sometimes  people really do steal designs and the anger is legitimate. On other occasions, two people have similar taste. Again....I would point to the matter of INTENT.   Look to the character of the person involved.  If someone does something that is inconsistent with the behavior that I typically see, I do not automatically assume the worst and then write them off.  I inquire.  I ask about it.  I COMMUNICATE. 

Life is short.  I don't want to spend my days mulching a Bitterness Garden, tending each grievance so carefully that it thrives, growing bigger and more toxic over the days.  No....my time is better spent mulching a different sort of Garden...one filled with wonder, and creativity, and peace.  Give folks the benefit of the doubt until they prove unworthy----it will make your life more pleasant.

Whaddayathink?

Refine Your Crafty Business to Get the Life You Want!

We have been blogging a bit about the state of the brick and mortar craft store and it is fair to say that times are changing. There was a time when a creative individual with a passion for knitting/beading/scrapbooking/etc. could open up a store with relative ease.  I opened my store that way...I loved to bead, wanted to spread the love, had a tolerant husband and some friends who were willing to go into business with me. Voila!  I was a retailer.  The rent was reasonable, customers were plentiful, competition was non-existent.  Life was GREAT!

...until it wasn't.  I lost my motivation.

Several competitors popped up and many were much better financed.  Customers became more demanding as the craft world became larger and the choices more plentiful.  My partners and I started squabbling. Internet stores began to appear and I recognized that the competition would  be an additional burden. The business took too much time away from my family.    My husband became less tolerant.   I felt frazzled and frustrated.  I was busier than ever, but seemed to be accomplishing less.  I was burnt out. My partners were burnt out.  Sound familiar?  It wasn't working any more and the bead shop was sold.  It was a happy day for all of us ---a great burden had been lifted from our shoulders, but only one friendship survived.

Running a successful retail business is not easy.  It takes a wicked amount of time, energy, focus, and money.  It is hard.  It is getting harder.  It is no longer enough to have a well stocked shop and a knowledgeable staff.  Today's Crafty Retailer must  master Social Media (if you are not on Facebook, GET on Facebook!), design inspiring classes, have an interactive e-commerce website,  plan promotional events, send out weekly newsletters, and more.  It is exhausting just thinking about it.

Many retailers are deciding that the personal sacrifice is no longer worth it.  I had an opportunity to speak with Kim Schweitzer, who recently made the decision to close her bead shop, EmMi Beads, in upstate New York.  Kim was a savvy retailer...she has a business background as well as a creative streak.  She opened her store 5 1/2 years ago and watched her business expand and grow over the years.  She was lucky to have a wonderful support team.  Her husband did her books, her artistic and bead loving daughter worked at the shop, and her mom was her right hand relative to operations..  She recently took on a larger space and business was good.  Unfortunately, life happens and Kim found that the demands on her time were growing exponentially.  Her daughter's interest understandably waned as she entered college, her father grew ill and her mother's focus was required elsewhere.  Kim believed that she was no longer able to be the mother/daughter/retailer that she wanted to be....her plate was beyond full and she "felt as though [she] was not doing a single thing well."  I absolutely know where she is coming from and I bet that you do, too.

The loss of her father was an awakening...we all experience that "Aha" moment where we come to grips with just how finite life is and Kim knew that something had to give.    She missed having lazy moments with her young son, longed for the joy of creative discovery, and  missed her life....so she decided to make different choices.  Kim conducted a priority triage and determined that the store was no longer a good fit for the life that she wanted to live.  She has no regrets.  She learned from her experience and has moved on, acknowledging that she simply "can't do everything and that walking away is a viable choice."

She is dead on!  One of the lessons that I learned after lots of bumps and bruises is that just because you CAN do something, it doesn't necessarily follow that you SHOULD.  Sometimes the smartest life decision is to close the business and feel good about it!  I was tickled when Kim reported that yesterday was eventful for her:  she had the time to paint her toenails and had learned to knit!  She was exhilarated by  her crafty accomplishment and said that it was a joy to feel the happiness that her customers felt.  Congratulations, Kim!

While some retailers are closing the doors, others are opting for Retail Lite.   Consider renting booth space in a store.  Jewelry Designer Sheryl Stephens of Cool Moon Beads has chosen that option.  Sheryl made the stunning necklace pictured at left and has experienced success in selling her designs, as well as bead inventory, by maintaining a booth at a local antique mall.  While she does not earn enough to support herself, she is able to contribute to the household income, and is fulfilling her creative desires, without sacrificing her life.  Way to go, Sheryl!

Others are sticking with Brick and Mortar, but are defining the terms.  I know one crafty retailer who closes the store on the spur of the moment to deal with a sick pet or to attend a child's school play.  It certainly annoys customers who have driven across town to make a purchase, but she is training them to call before they make the trip.

Life changes and the crafty retailer will transition to accommodate it.  My business has been in a state of flux for years!  Young children...my business needed to change.  Seriously sick dog...my business needed  to change.  Husband involved in a  new business...my business needed to change. Fortunately, the ability to choose something different is one of the coolest things about being a grown up!   I find that I am continuing to evolve.  While sales for my wholesale business have flattened with the economy,  I am getting more teaching opportunities, as well as more requests for retail kits.  Moreover, Swarovski recently asked me to join their Create Your Style Ambassador team, which is totally cool and provides wonderful exposure. It is all good.....the timing is excellent....my youngest child is heading off to college, my husband's business is growing, and I have more control over my time. 

Although I am no longer interested in brick and mortar retail, I am drawn to something more "Retail-Ish"  and am working on a retail website, Urban Stitch Studio.  It will serve as both a personal branding site for my workshops and will feature my own line of hand dyed fibers.   It is a work in progress and I would love your feedback.  Additionally, I have started a more personal blog to catalog some of my crafty adventures...please check it out.  Finally, I have a companion store on Etsy and will have my Facebook page up soon.  I started a Fiber Arts Guild a few days ago and will have our first get together at the end of the month.  WHEW! I am doing all of the things that I have been urging others to do for years.  It is slow going, but I have realistic expectations and am willing to move at my own pace in order to craft a retail business that will best suit my life. 

Want to join me?  We have an incredible group of women over on Facebook...exchanging information and feedback with Crafty Retailers from  the U.S. and abroad.  It is nice to feed off of the knowledge and experience of others, and even better when you do not have to re-invent the wheel.  If you are in retail and would like to participate in the dialogue, send me a friend request on Facebook with a request to join the group.  Please identify your store and website.  The group is closed, so the posts are only visible to group members. 

Define the life you want and refine your business to accomodate it.

It is time to hit the "applause" button.  We deserve it, dontcha think?  Those of us who have survived the last few years and lived to tell about it are due a pat on the back and some raucous applause.

WHOO HOO!  You go, girl!

We have downsized, belt tightened, sold off dead inventory, kept folks employed and tap danced to keep customers happy.  We have paid bills on time and scheduled marketing events and sent out emails.  We have worked harder than ever to keep the doors open.....and they are still open.  It feels good.  In fact, my little business is in a bit of an expansion mode at present.... and THAT feels really good.

You see, not too many years ago the story was much different.  I had huge sales numbers and thought that I was kicking ass.  Ironically, my business was in a crisis mode but I was totally clueless until it was almost too late. Oops.  I didn't realize that the economy was cyclical and that I had simply been riding a wave. [ Errr...you mean the good times don't last forever?   Who da thunk?]    I was more artist/marketing strong than process/accounting strong.  I didn't like the yucky stuff like bookkeeping and there was always a squeakier wheel to grab my attention.   I had a family with three busy teenagers.  My internet business was home based, and in my head that meant that I was a stay at home mom...meeting every need and expectation except for some important ones required by the business.  It only took a few unexpectedly slow months for the world to crash in on me.  Cash flow seemed to disappear overnight.  Gulp.  I had way too much inventory....WAY too much.  The debt appeared to be unsustainable.  Hubby was pissed.  I was freaked.   I couldn't meet my financial obligations for the first time in my life.  I talked to a bankruptcy attorney, but knew that I would not be able to live with that option.  It was a dark time.

Fortunately, I am as tenacious as a bulldog and failure was not an option.  I refused to bankrupt the company --it was a  moral issue for me.  I also determined that my my family would not risk financial security to pay the price for my foolishness.   Some how, some way I needed to pull a miracle out of my ass.  I found a business mentor, learned some humility, and got it together.    I spent the next two years working 12-15 hour days in a state of barely suppressed  panic.    Bad choices necessarily forced other choices and I paid a heavy price for my irresponsibility.    I had to forgo a  paycheck, no money for perks,  not enough time for my family and certainly no time for crafting....every penny was thrown at the debt and every hour was thrown at the business.  It was awful, but it was effective.  Although I am not yet completely debt free,  I am getting close.  The remaining debt amount is insignificant enough to make a banker yawn.  Yup, I have morphed into a halfway respectable business person...my Quickbooks balance actually matches my bank account balance.  It is a beautiful thing!

My two years of  Panicky Debt Hell ended when I realized that I was actually Going To Make It.  I had dodged a bullet---the business was going to survive, the debt was going to get paid.    Now what?  I did what I had to do when I had to do it, but I was no longer willing to work  12-15 hour days.  I wanted more time with my family, with my dogs, in the garden and in the studio.  Once I had defined the life I wanted, it was easy to refine my  business to accommodate that life..  I downsized, dropped some product lines, said good bye to some high maintenance/low margin customers, tightened my belt, watched my inventory like a hawk, and cut back on my work schedule.  If I don't have cash, I don't buy.  It works.  Another benefit?  I learned to work smarter, not harder.



Of course, I continue to refine the business as my life morphs from one stage to the next.   I will soon be presiding over an empty nest. Sigh.  One minute I am a teary, weepy mess as I bid adieu to my daughter's little girl self, and the next I am excited by the new opportunities that await me.  [Menopause, manic depressive, or normal?  You be the judge].

I am putting the finishing touches on  a number of workshop proposals as I seek to increase  national teaching opportunities for 2012.  Additionally, I am getting ready to launch a new line of felting kits, which has me totally jazzed.   I have more ideas than time and  cannot wait to wake up in the morning.   The funny thing is...I am working 12 hour days again, but it doesn't feel like work.  I am happy and invigorated.  I am thankful for the lessons that I learned during those difficult years.  The economic challenges of today seem small by comparison! I will never, EVER, EVER get into debt again. My heart is filled with gratitude and I look forward to each day.

Fortunately, not every retailer has to learn the hard way.  There are many who have good instincts and get it right the first time.  Carol Garfield, of Dancing Beads in Medford, Oregon  is just such a Retail Rock Star.  You first met her a few posts back.

Carol owned a retail bead shop from 1995 to 2006.   The shop was her day job and it needed to support itself and her, so for 13 years she made certain that she was the "go to" place for beady inspiration.  However, as her 50th birthday approached, she decided that she was ready for a change.  [Menopause, manic depressive, or normal?  You be the judge].

Carol was able to close the doors debt free because she had always "paid as she played."   [insert sound of wild applause here].    She packed up her gorgeous inventory and went home, where she started a home based web design business.  Fast forward to June 2010.  Carol was not enjoying the isolation of her home office and decided to rent some space.  While looking for an office, she found the perfect retail space:

As I stood in the middle of the room I was astounded by the light coming into the space.  There were two rooms, and the smaller one was a sunroom!  Hardwood floors, a fireplace, and walls painted a great color further charmed me.  As I stood in the middle of the room soaking it all in a gentle voice declared with much authority, "You just found your bead store."  I didn't even know I was looking.

Carol's return to crafty retail after a two year hiatus came with some surprises....the out of control price of silver, for example.  However, most surprising was the dramatic way that marketing had changed.  

I think I closed the old shop at just the right time, and I know I've re-opened it at just the right time.

I've been amazed at how much the world changed in the two years I was gone.  Of course, the price of metals is beyond ridiculous, but as a red head, I prefer copper anyway, and have gotten my customers excited about it.  Shipping?!  Sheesh, twice as much, and twice as slow.  The online competition is daunting, and before long I will have an online catalog.  I do have a website, a blog, and a Facebook page for the shop, all of which I maintain myself, so the catalog is slow going.

What I've been the most amazed by has been the change in marketing.  I've always been a good story teller, and I've blogged since 2005.  Social networking wears me out, but I do it.  I tend to be more social face-to-face, than online.

I'm celebrating National Craft Month (along with everyone else in our industry) and have sent out an email newsletter to the nearly 600 bead lovers on my email list.  I've started a monthly 'Make and Take' and aa result... I've made bag stuffers outlining all the fun that will be happening this month.  I'll be making bag stuffers every month as I have all my promotions, events, and sales scheduled for the year.  There is dead inventory in the closet that will soon go away as grab bags, challenges, or a donation to a homeless teen center.  I talk about The 3/50 Project to anyone who will listen.  I'm blogging, and posting my status on Facebook as often as possible.  Yesterday, the shop reached 100 'likes' on FB and lucky number 100 has a $10.00 gift certificate waiting to be collected.  I'm filming things around the shop I think might interest my customers.  I email a newsletter every other week, and I make certain I tell everyone thank you.  They're the reason I'm working so hard. weekly Beading Circle.  Seven people volunteered to help me teach classes this session, and we've scheduled 24 different projects, and techniques as

Community.  I had no idea what a hole I'd left by closing in 2008 until re-opening in 2010.  My old customers have been coming back in droves.  They missed the shop, the vibe, and excitement.  They love the new space.  The economy may still be rough, but people will always want to be surrounded by beauty, and are willing to spend a little to fulfill their need to create.  We're in the best business there is, we get to fulfill those needs, and our own at the same time!!

Wow....I couldn't have said it better myself.  Carol's brand new business is supporting her and she has recently expanded.  Her tips for success:

Make a Daily TO DO List and DO IT.  Carol always starts her day with a clear vision of what it will hold for her, whether it is a three hour marketing session or benign store housekeeping issues.   She does what she has to do before she even thinks about doing what she wants to do.  No quick peeks at Facebook, no playing with the inventory, no NUTHIN'....until the list is finished.  

Put your hopes and dreams out to the universe.    "I would like to make X dollars today."  Carol says that more often than not, she finds that she gets what she needs.  Don't laugh.  The universe currently knows that I am looking for a used leather couch for my studio.  It will come.  

Stay Fresh:  Constantly explore new techniques.  Carol loves to teach and says that as she learns and changes, so do her customers.

Be "Other Oriented."  Ask yourself what you can due to improve the shopping experience of every individual who walks in your door.  This one seems so obvious, but ask yourself....When was the last time someone treated you like that?  It is so rare that when it happens, loyal fans are born.  Carol spoke the truth when she told me that her customers are hungry for what they cannot find from on-line retailers...Human Connection.  

Say it, Girfriend!  Unh hunh, Unh hunh.

IN OTHER NEWS: 

Those of you who have been with me a while know that I went through hell and back when I lost my dog to cancer late last year.    I did what I swore I wouldn't and  adopted little Cooper, in part because he had a certain Rosie-ish  shape to his face and in part because he needed a family.   

  Oh.  My.  God.

He is a terror.  An honest to goodness Demon Dog.  He pees with gleeful abandon the second he comes inside....after peeing quite happily and productively outside.   He hangs by the cat litter box looking for tasty treats.  He has slaughtered several of my chickens and even managed to kill the meanest rooster that I have ever owned.  This rooster was huge and had two inch spurs---I cannot even imagine how it happened.   The Roo was an ornery cuss  and would regularly attack  me when I stepped too close.   I guess Cooper actually performed a bit of a favor there, but I have to protect my hens!   

I  Googled "how to stop a dog from killing chickens" and learned ---from resource after resource---that it was fairly easy to do.  It merely involves tying the dead chicken's lifeless body to the dog's collar and letting it rot there for a week.  It is widely suggested that the dog be separated from the family during this process as the flies can be overwhelming.  Wow.  That kind of training is sure not going to happen in my lifetime.  Sigh.  Yesterday I found him in my bed, happily gnawing on the leathery foot of a long dead turtle carcass.  Today he cremated a baby finch hopping about the driveway.  Louder Sigh.    

My dog-loving daughter confessed that she wouldn't be upset if Cooper found another home.  My dog-loving husband thinks Cooper is a nightmare.  Of course, I am into "high maintenance and difficult," so I already adore him.  He looks quite the imp with that little patch over his eye and a dead turtle hanging out of his mouth.  What to do?

I guess it is time for me to pull another miracle out of my ass.  After all, he does remind me of Rosie.  She used to exult in Rooster Chasing, too.  So....Game On.  I am going out whisper the Dog Whisperer.  I am going to win this battle.  I hope.  Oops...gotta go...Cooper is heading toward the cat litter box again!

Pray for me....

Life happens....and so you adapt.....and drink wine.

Yikes.  It has been a hell of a month.    I have hit the proverbial fork in the road and decisions have to be made.
 
Too much to do, too little time.

I am back in retail.  Not crafty retail, but retail nonetheless.  Mind you, I have never forgotten the challenge, excitement, terror, and exhilaration of retail---duh!....that is why I moved into the wholesale "business to business" side of the world.  Frankly,  I just didn't need the thrill ride provided by the RETAIL ROLLER COASTER so I took an easier path.    I had a high maintenance husband and spectacular, albeit high maintenance, kids.  I also had  a houseful of critters, an overgrown garden, and a passion for politics.  Yup, I like all of my lives and  the wholesale business was a better fit for me.  I worked out a manageable system to keep all of the balls in the air and have been happily plugging away for years, making mistakes and fixing them, making others and working to fix them, in a manner that became quite comfortable.  Yup....I could do it with my eyes closed........but life changes.

....I SHOULD'VE KNOWN!

Life is never that simple!  I  am not sure why I was shocked when change came a knockin' at my door.

Simple Jack  Pat finally wakes up and gets a clue......

Things are a changin'  no matter how tightly I close my eyes and refuse to see the writing on the wall.  I have been watching myself turn into Miss Angry Face over the last month or two.  I have been stretched thin as I try to shoulder more responsibilities than I can comfortably manage.   .................my hubby is now a full fledged retail guy and I am responsible for his marketing.  The last month has seen me interview techie web guys, start to remodel the showroom, grow his customer database, deal with morphing into an employee who has to dress up to go to work, entertain a parade of out of town company, and squeeze in a family trip.  All good stuff, to be sure, but a little more than I can handle.  

 The bottom line is my spouse has a new livelihood and has asked for my help  to make it work.  I have conducted a  realistic PRIORITY TRIAGE  so that I can get focused on what is most important over the next few months.   Sometimes life forces you to choose between really good stuff. There are only so many hours in the day, blah, blah, blah and I have to adapt to new responsibilities.

It is an election year and I have volunteer work to do on that end.  My youngest child is entering her senior year and there are going to be lots of "last time" moments that I want locked in my heart as she prepares to go to college.  Sadly, my beloved Rosie Mutt  is not doing so well --- I know what I am facing there in the coming months.  My sister is very ill and is a single mom with a young son.  I want to be able to step up there, too.  Yikes.
 

Accordingly, I am taking a hiatus from the Crystal side of my business.  No more weekly crystal specials for the time being.  I have to get used to juggling some new balls.   Although I will continue to focus on the fiber side of my business,  I need to focus more intently on hubby's new Office Furniture Business.  I am working to develop his website, planning store events (cigar tasting, anyone?), and generating customer newsletters.  I will continue with the blog....after all, retail is retail, whether you are selling skeins of yarn or a conference table.

My biggest challenge right now:

Learning to work with my husband.  It ain't easy and we might just kill each other before it is all over.  See...he has a very strong personality.  A very strong personality.   I have been told...once or twice...by those who have worked with me in the past....that I also have a forceful nature.  Yup....It is going to be a wild ride.  A wonderful opportunity for personal growth, yes indeed.  It will build character and bring us closer.  Yes.
Yes. Yes.

I hope.

I need some encouraging words from those who are happily navigating the world of family business dynamics.

Pearls of wisdom anyone?

Hard times are Coming....are you the Ant or the Grasshopper?

This is going to be a more personal post....you know, the "pull up a chair, pour a glass of wine, and share a moment" kind of post that would embarrass friends and family if they were to read it....but a gal has to do what a gal has to do and recent events have me in need of a brain spew.

OK....here goes........

I live in Florida. The economy is bad here.  My family feels it.  Most people I know are feeling it.   Of course, your little pocket of the world might not be feeling it as acutely.   Better yet...perhaps you have been preparing for it.  That is, you might be the Ant to my Grasshopper.   Remember that?  One of Aesop's fables.  I like the cartoon version from 1934.  The grasshopper was playing and frolicking throughout the spring and summer while the ants dutifully prepared for the coming winter.  It has been my tendency to play the Grasshopper in that scenario.   I was never a saver.  I was always a consumer.  A rabid, frenzied, "gotta have it" kind of consumer.  Shopping is something that I did for sport.  I hardly even know that person any more and thank God for it.   I have scaled back.  Doing more with what I have on hand.  Enjoying the process of creating more than the process of consuming.  Several years ago I had a pivot point in my life.  I had  too much debt with too little income--in business and at home.   I had some serious decisions to make and I made them.   It was not pretty.  It was not fun.  Yet...after a lifetime of overspending, I finally "got it."  I had to stick to an austerity budget to make headway with the debt and although it hasn't been easy, it has been joyful.   It is good to feel in control of your life.   If you are not a shopper, substitute your own personal secret vice and imagine the delight in kicking it.

 The deal is....I honestly (and PAINFULLY) looked in the mirror to examine what I had done to bring me to the bed I was so uncomfortable laying in.  I did not blame my partner, my husband, my customers, or my accountant.  I don't control them, I only control me.  I was brave enough to own my personal dysfunction,  figure out what I had done to contribute to the mess and  make it better.  Cool, huh?  It isn't perfect....I still have some debt and income is down, but it is better. I am in control.  I have power.  ROAR!

 The glory of "getting it"  three years ago is that I have had some practice to prepare me for what is coming our way.  Hard times are knocking at the door, folks.

We had dinner with some friends recently.   They are good people and we have known them and loved them for years..  They are like me...Flawed, happy, solid people fighting the good fight and trying to keep it all together.  Like many Americans, they lived right to the edge of their means.  The husband is an incredibly hard worker.  They have a small family business that has afforded them a luxury lake front home and nice vehicles.  Unfortunately, their house is in foreclosure.  The husband is depressed, the wife is trying to keep him glued together.  She finds herself spending money they do not have because shopping is what she does to calm her nerves.  She isn't spending much money at all...a nail polish here, a $10 shirt there.  No, it is not much, compared to what she was spending when times were flush, but it is more than they can afford.  The business income has slowed to a trickle.  The are in the dental industry and sell what for many is now a luxury, not a necessity.  Tactics that worked before to bring in new business are not working now.  They are eating a lot of cereal for dinner because that is what they can afford.  The husband is feeling hopeless.   Hard times are coming.
 
I see it in my neighborhood.  Lots of  "for sale" signs are now dotting the lawns in my  community.  My favorite restaurant is always half empty and the owner's fear is showing.   There are more empty stores in the strip center down the street.  Times are tough.   I get it---I am living it, too.

My husband is in a state of flux....in 2009 he sold his interest in his business.  He has 7 months remaining on his Non-Compete Agreement.  He has to stay out of the only industry that he knows until November.  We have lived through this sort of thing several times in our marriage.  Nonetheless, it is always a bit scary and unsettling.     We watch the bank balance go down, while we figure out WHAT COMES NEXT.  We have never done it while facing such a grim economy and don't want to sit around and wait.  So....after much deliberation we bought a business in an unfamiliar industry because we are determined to BE THE ANT.

This week-end my husband and I went through our budget. [BE THE ANT]  There is nothing quite like trying to slash 20% from the budget to get the love flowing in a marriage.  [Was it good for you, dear?]  It is exactly the sort of thing that we avoid talking about because it is so unpleasant and presses so many buttons.  [BE THE ANT]  We got through it without an argument because we are on the same page.  [BE THE ANT]  It is not about power struggles....it is about survival.  [BE THE ANT].

The cuts we made three years ago were luxury cuts. An Excessive Clothing Allowance became a Reasonable Clothing Allowance.    A Ridiculous Entertainment Budget became more appropriate for our reality.  The cuts this time are going to cause some real bleeding ---both inside and outside of our home.  We still have the money for our NEEDS, but our WANTS have been hit hard.  Rosie the Wonder Dog has had medical bills that have left me weak in the knees.  I pray that she is on the mend because there is a limit to our ability to pay the extraordinary bills required for high falutin' medical care.  The cuts we are making are deep.  I have a housekeeper I adore.  She and her husband have worked for me for years and I care about them. My kids are grown and I can certainly deal with the house myself.  Yet, I have been loathe to end the service.   They have a daughter with serious medical issues.  I worry about the economic impact on the family because I know that they have lost a number of other accounts recently.  This is what puts food on their table...yet, I can no longer afford the luxury.  It makes me sick to my stomach.....but I gotta BE THE ANT.

  We cannot control the economic tsunami heading our way...it is coming whether we want it or not.  We are going to live though it either way so I am going to do everything in my power to keep my family safe, happy, and secure.  We can come through it new and improved or we can come through it broken.   How about you?  Are you doing what it takes --in business and in your personal life--to BE THE ANT?

Debbie Huntoon of Alada Beads is one Crafty Retail Superstar who is all about BEING THE ANT.  This woman never stops and she has the success to prove it.  Her bead store is in Michigan.  The economy there is even worse than the economy in my home state.  Yet, Debbie's store is thriving.  She is totally self supporting and cannot afford a failure, so she makes sure that she doesn't have one.  Is it easy?  Hell, no!  Is it rewarding?  Absolutely.

Debbie told me that she is the Queen of the Gimic and cannot imagine how she would get the rent paid if she was not so focused on promotional events.  She has events going on ALL OF THE TIME.  The photo at left came from PET-A-PALOOZA where customers were invited to bring their four legged pals into the shop for a photo session.  the photos were "shrunk to size" and used to create one of a kind charm bracelets for the doting owners.

 Next week she is offering Mom-a-Palooza in honor of the Crafty Moms that support her business.  There will be a number of Make and Take tables set up with special projects so that kids can make a present for Mom while she makes something  a bit more sophisticated for herself.  The photographer will be back in business so that photo charm bracelets and pins can be created for Grandma!

 Last week Debbie  hosted her 11th Carnival Event.  It is always an impressive event...Debbie works with her teachers to create some stunning make and take projects.  There are 10 different stations, each manned by a different teacher dedicated to assisting with a particular project.  The one day event resulted in $9,000.00 in sales.  Not bad for a Saturday in Michigan in a bad economy.  Debbie has a knack for entertainment.  She is willing to co-opt a good idea if she hears one and tweak it so that it becomes hers.  She took our idea for a "Sparkle and Spirits" night and it has become an important part of her crafty community.  The concept is simple:  invite customers for a free night of beady comraderie.  They all receive a nice gift to go along with the alcohol and munchies.    When I say a "nice gift" I mean it....Debbie recently spend $300 with me for the gifts for one week.  However, this is not to say that she does not have an evil capitalist plan working in the back of her little blond head.  Miss Debbie always has two samples made to highlight the gift item:  one relatively simple and inexpensive, the other more elaborate with a higher price point.  Guess what?  She sells lots of beads as a result of that little free gift.  She regularly has 25 people show up for the party every month.   She is building community and having fun.  Oh...and she is making money.  Yup, Debbie is truly a Crafty Superstar.

So, get busy....there is work to be done!


IN OTHER NEWS:

NEW FIBER CHALLENGE!

Finally, a fiber challenge for all of you "jewelry challenged" readers!  We have enough product to send out 12 kits as pictured below--for FREE--for the first 12 volunteers!  Kit includes a huge Swarovski hot fix transfer (apply to fiber with an iron), some Swarovski yarn, and assorted crystal and seed bead embellishment.  Show us what you can do!
Think outside the box!  A purse?  A jean jacket?  A journal cover?
                            Whatchagonnado?

YIKES! Many Crafty Retailers are working for free! No Salary. Nothing. Nada. Zero.

OK, people...we need to talk.  There is an elephant in the room.  Seriously. I know that it is a touchy subject, but...we cannot ignore it any longer.  No Ma'am! 

It is about money.....

    ......and  the value of your time.

So lets put our big girl panties on and deal with it!

I have been talking to many Crafty Retailers lately as part of my research on Crafty Retail Superstars.  Folks have been incredibly candid, sharing the good, the bad, and the ugly.  A real pattern has emerged....it might well be the biggest UGLY of all.....

...MANY CRAFTY RETAILERS ARE WORKING FOR FREE!!!!

There.  I said it.  Out loud.  In bold space type. ITALICIZED!

It is true.  These hard core retailers draw no salary or hourly wage. Yikes....

Of course, some are holding back as part of a concrete plan.  For example, the business is a start up and owner salaries are not in the budget until the second year.  I get that---after all, the decision is part of a thoughtful, well reasoned plan.  Perhaps the owner is aggressively paying down debt to put the business on more stable financial footing.  I certainly get that--been there, done it myself.  The painful decision was part of a solid business plan to get my company on a path to profitability.  The point is....there was a PLAN, a method to my fiscal madness.

Unfortunately, the majority of Crafty Retail Slaves are not sacrificing to meet a lofty business objective.  Nope, most of those who are "income challenged" are abstaining because the business is not profitable enough to sustain any sort of salary.  AT ALL.  Worse yet, there is no concrete plan to change the status quo.  YUCK.

When I first heard the sad tale it was the result of a retailer's verbal spew.   She volunteered the information during a casual conversation.   I  nodded and delicately changed the subject, assuming it was inappropriate to poke the wound.  I shouldn't have worried.  I ask the question of virtually everyone I talk to these days and most of the folks I ask are happy to respond to the question.  The Crafty Retail Slave is much more common than you would think.

So...I have to know...


Why are you doing it?

I have heard more than a few say that they do it because they have personally guaranteed their leases.  OK...but  then shouldn't you make the changes necessary to get profitable?  Many of these retailers are the same shopkeepers who know they should send out newsletters, but do not.  They know they should do more marketing, but don't.    Geez..... Do you love retail so much that you are happy and fulfilled to do it for free?

Really?  I don't believe you.  Your time is worth something and there are a million other ways to spend that time.  Reading, Gardening, CREATING!  What is motivating you to stay the course?    I mean no disrespect AT ALL.  I have shared many of my own weird proclivities in past posts.  Anyone remember the sock bucket?   Moreover, I too have been a Crafty Retail Slave.  But I didn't like it and I didn't want it to go on forever.

....So...just between us.....why are you doing it, really?  Share your thoughts, wisdom, perspective....there is a big sisterhood out there!  You can post comments anonymously---we would all love to hear from you!



In Other News

NEW CHALLENGE! 

Calling all ETSY JEWELRY DESIGNERS, and by popular demand, ALL CRAFTY RETAILERS!

The "Crafty Retailers Create" Challenge series has proven so successful that we are launching a new Challenge geared to Etsy Jewelry Designers as well as Crafty Retailers.  We have 24 kits identical to the one pictured above.  The kit has a retail value of over $100 and is free to the lucky participants who will be chosen in a random drawing on April 15.  Send an email with your Etsy or Retail Store identified and we will enter your name in the drawing.  Check out contest details.

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Short on cash?  Inventory looking peaked?

We just uploaded some yummy new sale items----BUY WIDE AND BUY SHALLOW!