In place of today's design I will be quietly begging for feedback, and venting a little. Can anyone PLEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEE- (sorry for all the 'E's, but that's begging after all, right?) -EEEEEEEEEEEASE offer some feedback????! ...On a-n-y-t-h-i-n-g.
I've put most other things in my life aside for the past two weeks in order to focus on preparations for a craft fair today. I have done one other craft fair (a couple years ago, and in a different state) selling solely 4x8" glass blocks with vinyl on the front and ribbon tied around. I walked away with everything I took; I DIDN'T SELL ONE THING. Now that I'm in a new location with no one around me doing decorative vinyl I anticipated I'd have much more success than the last attempt. Well, at least a little more success. Again, I DIDN'T SELL ONE THING! For today I created and produced ELEVEN new designs, and offered a few I've created for my "Daily Design" posts. When I've shown others the possibilities of vinyl decor there is lots of excitement and interest, so I don't understand why when I present them with purchasing opportunities, the response I get is them barely glancing over what I'm offering. I even offered two free products and still didn't have any bites. I COULDN'T EVEN
GIVE AWAY WHAT I WAS TRYING TO SELL!
I left the craft fair today very disappointed and feeling like a failure. I've put so much of everything into what I do because I'm passionate about it and love designing and seeing those designs come to life rather than images on screen, but I see no return, financial or otherwise. What am I missing? I started this blog with the intent to stay active in designing, as well as generate business and direction with what people want. I've seen NEITHER of those products. I've received just a couple of comments and I really appreciate them. Can I ask for a little more direction?
I see other vinyl businesses flourish and succeed, and I see very little difference in what we offer. I have three very large sign-making machines surrounding me and at my disposal as I sit here. They have barely been used in the nine-ten months they've been in my possession; and, they've DEFINITELY not been used to their full potential.
Is it the marketing aspect I lack? I've hosted "parties" at my house, but got very little response from that. The response I got was not for any of the designs I created and was offering. There were a few custom order that came from people who attended the party.
Do I need to go out of my comfort zone and become the pushy salesperson? I would really rather not. I considered using all the prep from today's endeavor to host another party at my home and offer those products, but just anticipate a house full of awkward tension. Those I would invite would know I wanted to sell them something, and I have concerns that out of obligation they would - but not really desire what they may buy.
Should I offer my prices as a negotiation? I've revised my pricing in the past few months because people would say, "That's it? That's all you're charging me? Does that even cover the cost of supplies? Don't you value your time at all? You need to charge at least a LITTLE for the time you spent designing, revising, and preparing the vinyl." So, I decided I should respect myself a little more and lessen up on the people-pleasing and make it worth my time as well as my family's time. Now I have concerns that people cringe when I tell them my prices, but the price isn't final until the design is final and by then I anticipate they don't feel they can tell me they don't want to pay me what I ask.
How do I handle designs never used? Just last week I went through my "unfinished designs" folder and contacted those who asked for them. For the most part they are orders that people place and I create two to four designs for what they're asking. I email an image of the options and their response is some feedback that requires some modifications of the design. This may continue multiple times, but the design is not finalized to make it to the production phase. And still, even after making follow-up contact these designs are still not in production. As I look back and think about it, it's H-O-U-R-S I've spent with
NO return. Do people take what I've designed for them and have it produced elsewhere? Is this just something that comes with the territory, or should I require a deposit before I start on a custom job so the person is committed and has invested enough to drive them to follow-through? The catch is that I much prefer to do custom jobs because I want people to LOVE what is created and not just settle for what I have available.
My perspective is that the possibilities are very close to limitless when it comes to what you can decorate with vinyl. I don't want to spend a lot of time designing just out of the blue unless I know someone will be interested. But, the response I've gotten is "I don't know what can be done" and "Can you give me some ideas?" Hence, the blog. But, I get the idea that people are browsing and run off with my designs to create on their own because the numbers show that I'm getting hits. What do I do?
I really feel discouraged and disappointed tonight, and probably take it as a personal hit more than I should. I really want to be successful and help provide for my family. I really want to see your contentment as you create with vinyl. I really want to improve and feel I am out if my own ideas and look to you for help. If you feel the feedback I need to hear would be hurtful coming from you, please comment anonymously as opposed to not commenting at all. I really need some help, and look to you for it.
PP
