Feedback on Valentines

[dedavis]

OK, here is my cottage industry...I started making cards about 12 years ago. They are approximately 4 3/4" by 6 1/4", and fit in an A6 envelope. The card stock is watercolor paper, so it's pretty hefty. I glue or sew other paper or fabric to the cards. Each one is unique because I hand paint them. The insides are blank.

Currently, I sell them individually (my friends know I make 'em) and through a little bookstore. I keep thinking about expanding, but am not sure which direction to go. I would love your thoughts on these questions:

1. Do you buy/send cards for different occasions? Do you prefer blank ones so you can compose your own message or note?

2. How much does a handmade card mean to you, as opposed to a mass-produced one?

3. How much would you pay for a handmade card?

4. Would you buy cards on the Internet?

5. What sorts of designs do you like? Flowery, contemporary, whimsical?


I'm enclosing a couple of my valentine designs for you to look at. I have lots more, but the file gets too big if I put too many images in.

Thanks for your ideas,
Deb

[cheapdiva]

1. Do you buy/send cards for different occasions? Do you prefer blank ones so you can compose your own message or note? Prefer blank, because I don't much care for massed produced anything. When I buy a beautiful blank card, I can use it for whatever occassion comes up . . . don't have to go out and purchase a card.

2. How much does a handmade card mean to you, as opposed to a mass-produced one? I keep those - they are like works of are

3. How much would you pay for a handmade card? As much as $5 -10 depending on the size

4. Would you buy cards on the Internet? why not, i buy almost everything else on the internet

5. What sorts of designs do you like? Flowery, contemporary, whimsical? a variety.

Your cards are gorgeous!!!! I would buy them and use them as art!

[gigiG]

First answers to your questions:

1. Do you buy/send cards for different occasions? Do you prefer blank ones so you can compose your own message or note? Blank is best, I love to add my own notes...

2. How much does a handmade card mean to you, as opposed to a mass-produced one? I love handmade ones, and 9 times out of 10 go this way....

3. How much would you pay for a handmade card? I like to keep it in the 3-4 dollar range...

4. Would you buy cards on the Internet? I do know some friends that make cards, and I support their business...but, yes I would

5. What sorts of designs do you like? Flowery, contemporary, whimsical? Flowers and mostly whimsical...

Your cards look beautiful, I wish I could see a larger size... If this is your passion, it will be a wonderful way to connect with people...

gigi
Our Branches are Growing Beautiful Gifts...
www.underthewillowgifts.com (http://www.underthewillowgifts.com)

[dedavis]

Thanks, your remarks are very encouraging! I'm still constructing my website, and I hope the images will show up better on that.

Deb

[gigiG]

Please let us know when your site is up! Best of luck.

gigi
Our Branches are Growing Beautiful Gifts...
www.underthewillowgifts.com (http://www.underthewillowgifts.com)


Thanks, your remarks are very encouraging! I'm still constructing my website, and I hope the images will show up better on that.

Deb

[gigiG]

I re-read, and you mentioned you painted them. Would that be each card, if so....you should be able to get a very nice price for them, because they should be framed!!! Love both.
gigi
Our Branches are Growing Beautiful Gifts...
www.underthewillowgifts.com (http://www.underthewillowgifts.com)


OK, here is my cottage industry...I started making cards about 12 years ago. They are approximately 4 3/4" by 6 1/4", and fit in an A6 envelope. The card stock is watercolor paper, so it's pretty hefty. I glue or sew other paper or fabric to the cards. Each one is unique because I hand paint them. The insides are blank.

Currently, I sell them individually (my friends know I make 'em) and through a little bookstore. I keep thinking about expanding, but am not sure which direction to go. I would love your thoughts on these questions:

1. Do you buy/send cards for different occasions? Do you prefer blank ones so you can compose your own message or note?

2. How much does a handmade card mean to you, as opposed to a mass-produced one?

3. How much would you pay for a handmade card?

4. Would you buy cards on the Internet?

5. What sorts of designs do you like? Flowery, contemporary, whimsical?


I'm enclosing a couple of my valentine designs for you to look at. I have lots more, but the file gets too big if I put too many images in.

Thanks for your ideas,
Deb

[Lisa S]

I don't know how I missed this thread. Your cards are lovely. Have you thought about using a wholesale sales rep for your business?

[dedavis]

No, I'm just bumbling around in my spare time. I know a woman who started a card business http://www.wildtales.com, and she told me she uses a card rep. I had never heard of such a thing. What do you know?

I have a lot of irons in the fire right now: website development, making and framing new work for a local show, getting stuff ready to take to the printer. It feels pretty scattered, and I should probably concentrate on one thing at a time till I finish.

[cheapdiva]

D.D.
Like you, I seem to have more going on than I should but I think that comes from being creative and not wanting to be bored. I'd rather have a number of things going on at once, then when I "bore" of one thing, I just go to something else for awhile. It gives me a break from the thing that is boring me (which usually means I am stumped about something or frustrated) and allows my juices to get flowing again. Eventaully I go back to the project that got put on the back burner . . . usually with better results.

What about the rest of you?

do you have more than one project going at a time?

do you finish one thing before moving on to the next?

what gets your creative juices flowing?

how do you get past "project block" -like writer's block?

AND do you procrastinate?


I DO but I think it's because I produce a better outcome when I am under pressure!

[Lisa S]

Deb,
I’ve worked for a wholesale representative in my previous life. A wholesale rep works for many different manufacturers and sells exclusively to the retail trade. A rep earns her keep by charging a percentage of the orders that they generate. They sometimes have a showroom in a gift mart, work trade shows and/or visit retail businesses. You could poke around at the Pacific Market Center’s web site to get an idea of the way the business works and who your competition might be. Their web address is: http://www.pacificmarketcenter.com/html/markets/default.asp

I think if you really want to make a go of a manufacturing business, this is the way to do it. When I think of starting my own business, I feel that a web based business has too much competition and not enough exposure. It seems like a nice way to let your customers know about your latest and greatest, but not the best way to get new sales. Just my feeling… I guess the most important question to ask yourself is “How much business do I want?” My business grew too much and I began to hate it.

[Lisa S]

do you have more than one project going at a time?

I always have a million projects going at once. I’m currently working on painting some new woodwork in the dining room and sunroom, finishing the bathroom, planning how we can renovate the basement and another bedroom on the cheap, looking for fabric for the curtains in the living room and dining room and wanting for the sconces that I designed to get back from the electrician.

do you finish one thing before moving on to the next?

Ummm… Nope!

what gets your creative juices flowing?

Seeing other people’s creativity, the smell of flowers and coffee, someone telling me I can’t do something, lack of money.

how do you get past "project block" -like writer's block?

I’m like you… I just cycle around to a different project. I think I’m always thinking of a way to solve my project block somewhere in the recesses of my mind. I’m a perfectionist, so my solution has got to be “the one” or I’m not happy.

AND do you procrastinate?

Yes and no. In my day to day responsibilities, I never procrastinate. I’m a reformed procrastinator so I try to stay on the wagon! I find that I procrastinate on my house projects… maybe I just loose momentum. Then I decide to throw a big party or invite out of town guest to stay ~ I find my momentum very quickly under the pressure I create for myself.I’m a typical Capricorn… What are you guys?

[gigiG]

Many projects, all at one time- never enough hours of the day. If I can't go to sleep, then I get up. Alot of times it is because I have a story idea, I need to write down. I write storybook cards with some of my products i.e. Billows, Forever Animals. Then during the day, I almost never work on just one thing, before another project is yelling out. Sometimes I think I have ADD(?), which I have decided can be a very good thing for creative people...

gigi
www.underthewillowgifts.com (http://www.underthewillowgifts.com)

do you have more than one project going at a time?

I always have a million projects going at once. I’m currently working on painting some new woodwork in the dining room and sunroom, finishing the bathroom, planning how we can renovate the basement and another bedroom on the cheap, looking for fabric for the curtains in the living room and dining room and wanting for the sconces that I designed to get back from the electrician.

do you finish one thing before moving on to the next?

Ummm… Nope!

what gets your creative juices flowing?

Seeing other people’s creativity, the smell of flowers and coffee, someone telling me I can’t do something, lack of money.

how do you get past "project block" -like writer's block?

I’m like you… I just cycle around to a different project. I think I’m always thinking of a way to solve my project block somewhere in the recesses of my mind. I’m a perfectionist, so my solution has got to be “the one” or I’m not happy.

AND do you procrastinate?

Yes and no. In my day to day responsibilities, I never procrastinate. I’m a reformed procrastinator so I try to stay on the wagon! I find that I procrastinate on my house projects… maybe I just loose momentum. Then I decide to throw a big party or invite out of town guest to stay ~ I find my momentum very quickly under the pressure I create for myself.I’m a typical Capricorn… What are you guys?