Decisions...Decisions...

I've been doing a lot of thinking recently, regarding my little 'Nostalgia at the Stone House' empire! It has become very difficult for me to have the small business that I crave and care about, when I have to fit all that needs to be done into a 7 day week (or ideally a 5 day, 9-5 working week!) I've never been one to back away from hard work and am often typing away on the PC, or crafting late into the evening. As some of my customers will agree, it’s not unusual to receive an email about an order or an invoice from me at 9.30pm or beyond. But I do feel that this is starting to take its toll, especially when I have to fit things in around family commitments.

I have therefore decided to make some big changes to my website. It has become evident that it is my handmade goods that most customers are looking to buy. Of course I am thrilled that anyone would wish to buy something I have made; it is a real compliment and I’m grateful for the continued interest and support that I have received over the years. I do feel however, that there is never enough time to really do justice to my work. My head is always buzzing with ideas that I want to put into practice, or designs that I would like to develop, but again the time ticks away far too quickly.

I spend so much of it photographing, listing on the website, answering emails, invoicing, wrapping and packing, as well as trips to the Post Office (in the next village 3 miles away), not to mention book keeping/tax etc, and sourcing materials from all over the SW, that it leaves me with very little actual sewing/crafting time. (Oh' dear, hope that doesn’t sound like a huge whinge! – Of course all of this work is part and parcel of a busy website. I’m just justifying my reasons for change) I know that I could automate a lot more of my website, but I do believe that the majority of my lovely customers appreciate the personal service that I provide. I answer all emails personally and send out accurate invoices with actual postage included, having located a suitable box and weighed their parcel. (One of the best compliments that I ever received was from a lady in Italy. She said that ‘Due to your kind emails, customers feel cuddled... And your prompt service is impeccable!’) In fact I enjoy the interaction that this allows me and feel that I have built up some good friendships with like-minded women.

On an almost daily basis, I receive emails about my handmade dolls. It is clear to me that this is the main area that I need to work on and develop. Each of my dolls takes at least one day to complete, usually two. This doesn’t include the sourcing of vintage fabrics and adornments, or the associated paperwork. So I shall never be able to churn them out by the hundreds. Besides, they would no longer be special and unique and be what people would be prepared to pay the little extra for. But it would be nice to have the time to think about each design in a less rushed state and perhaps to make a few extra over the months, than I can at the present time. The emails often express disappointment that the dolls have sold quickly and once again the person has been unlucky. I would be unhappy to think I had permanently lost a customer visiting my website because they didn’t see the point, when stock is always reserved within hours.

I am often asked if I take commissions for dolls, but for several reasons I prefer not to. The main ones being:
1. I work with antique and vintage fabrics, so I cannot always produce a doll in a required colour scheme/style/era etc. if the fabrics aren’t in my store cupboard.

2. If a customer wishes me to repeat a doll’s design that was sold on my website previously, it may be impossible if I no longer have enough of the fabrics/trims. I usually add a unique touch to each doll which is impossible to replicate, for example an unusual vintage brooch, or a fragile lace trim. Plus the doll that has been sold has been bought in good faith, in that it was a one-of-a-kind creation and the customer was buying into this fact.
3. A commission order could be placed with very specific requirements and if I cannot carry out a customers wish exactly, they may be unsatisfied or disappointed. And perhaps even return the doll and I would be left with a doll not totally to my design and perhaps not saleable.

4. Time, of course. If I was always working to commissions, I may have no time to keep my website stocked. I have a large mailing list of interested customers and it is my aim to try to keep them all happy where ever possible.
5. At the end of the day, I also need to enjoy what I do, or it will begin to show in my work. I’m not a factory, so varying each item that I produce keeps it interesting and exciting.
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One of the decisions that I have made, is to cut back the amount of vintage stock on my website to one small category of special vintage treasures. I won’t have to spend quite so many hours sourcing items. I will always be on the look-out for beautiful fabrics and trims for my crafts on buying trips, so I am bound to discover other interesting pieces whilst at fairs etc; but the smaller vintage category will mean I can add special finds when they really ‘speak’ to me. Less stock should mean less time spent on all the ‘background stuff’ that I have mentioned previously.

There will be 3 other categories on my site which will be handmade goods– ‘Dolls’, ‘Handmade Assortment’ and ‘Gift Sets’. It is my hope that this will allow me more sewing time, without so much invoicing/packing etc to be done. And perhaps all of those who would like to own one of my dolls will have a chance to order one sometime over the next year…

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I have also been successful in booking a stand at the ‘Vintage & Handmade Fair’ next May. That possibly sounds a long way off just now, but I will need time to create new items for this as well as keeping my website stocked. I want to work on some new original ideas for affordable gifts, which will hopefully be what customers to the fair are looking for. I have a little notebook by the side of my bed, which I jot down ideas as they pop into my head. I can’t wait to get started on some ‘smalls’ for the spring fair. It will be fun too, to actually meet some of my customers face to face for a change…

And talking of next year, I shall re-launch my website early in January with its new look. Hubby and I will take some time over the Christmas break to work on the changes, but rest assured, it won’t change dramatically and should continue to be easy to use and navigate.
I will be closing it towards the end of next week for the holidays. I would like to thank everyone who has visited during 2008. To those who have made a purchase or two…and who have sent me such kind and friendly emails. May I wish you all a very ‘Happy Christmas and every good wish for a wonderful New Year!’

*One final thing; my ‘Living with Nostalgia’ calendars were flying out yesterday, so I have now added another lot to the website. My very grateful thanks to all who bought a copy and I hope that you will enjoy using them throughout 2009!

Niki x