It’s Shameless Commerce Tuesday (and the LAST day of Tax
Season!!). Today I’m officially announcing
two price increases for my Etsy shop, Pasque Flower Creations:
1.
I have revised my Etsy shop policies to include
a 25% SURCHARGE for custom orders.
2.
I will be raising prices on oven mitt listings
in my shop between now and May 1, 2014.
Custom Orders
Custom orders are both a blessing and a curse – and they
are always a challenge! I had considered eliminating custom orders
altogether, but some of my best sellers were initially inspired by custom
orders, so-o-o-o I devised a Plan B.
I have found that custom orders require WAY
more time and energy to complete than “regular” orders. They often require shopping for special
fabrics and supplies (rarely on sale), photographing fabric options, and then
special ordering fabrics. Some also require
new design elements or construction techniques, and drafting new patterns which
may only be used once.
I am hoping the 25% surcharge will reduce my number of
custom orders, while not discouraging customers who realize that one of a kind
(OOAK) or special designs are worth more than something off the cyber
shelf. The surcharge will provide at
least SOME additional compensation for the extra time, energy, and out-of-pocket
costs required to complete custom orders.
Product Price
Increases
The increase in oven mitt prices is mostly due to an
increase in the cost of high quality cotton fabrics coupled with an increase in
postal rates. It’s been a double whammy! High postage rates mean I need to spend
even more to get those higher cost
fabrics shipped to me. Also, some of
my best sellers use fabrics that are now out of print or in very limited supply
– again increasing my costs to keep them in stock.
AND my boss (that would be ME) decided that her employee (that would also be ME), a hard worker who has honed her skills making 800+ oven mitts over the past three years, and who consistently receives positive customer feedback, deserves to be paid more than a sweatshop worker.
Bottom Line: I’m givin’ myself a raise!
TTFN
LeAnn
Good for you!
ReplyDeleteYou deserve it!
I know exactly what you mean about custom orders. While I love them in general, they take sooo much time! There's the cost of all the special materials, the time spent running around for them and taking pictures every time a change is made!
It's a wonderful process but without charging extra, all that work goes unpaid.
I'm so glad I'm not alone in my feelings about custom orders!
DeleteGreat post! And I hear ya! Good for you! That's why I am realigning my products and work--phasing out those items that take too much of my time and I end up storing in a tub! Streamlining my line!
ReplyDeleteI'm still conflicted about whether to expand or streamline. I think "culling" is where I'm at now---moving the old stuff and slow movers to CraftIsArt, and putting some newer stuff on Etsy. But then there are craft fairs, where I need inexpensive impulse buy items....
DeleteYay for the end of tax season! Your plan for a raise sounds like a great idea! I've been slowly raising my prices too since the cost of everything else raises so it just makes sense.
ReplyDeleteWe survived another tax season!! BOY, am I glad this one's over! Glad you agree that a price increase is not out of line.
DeleteWoohoo...you deserve it! Asking more for custom work is definitely a good idea. And your oven mitts are wonderful...people won't bat an eye at a price increase.
ReplyDeleteThanks for the vote of confidence, Edi!
DeleteWell deserved! Custom orders are tons of xtra work mostly in gathering the supplies as you say. Best of luck with your new plan. I'm sure that it will work to your advantage.
ReplyDeleteThanks, Patty! I'm keeping my fingers crossed.
DeleteSounds like it's a well deserved raise LeAnn! Raising your prices is just a part of doing good business, it won't stop people from shopping.
ReplyDeleteValerie
Everyday Inspired
Thank you, Valerie!
DeleteRight on ! I don't think people realize that custom orders do cost more. I used to take orders and they always required beads that I did not have and therefore had to order.
ReplyDeleteI recall one customer that wanted custom earrings to match a seed bead necklace. She told me the beads in her necklace were cobalt blue and gold - which I had. However the 1st pair of earrings did not match her necklace. She agreed to bring the necklace by so I could try to match it. Turned out the gold was really a silver-lined yellow. Long story a tad shorter, all I could find in that particular color came in a 1/4 kilo package. That's a whole lot of size #11 seed beads and I still have a jelly jar filled with them to this day.
Reading about your experience really helps confirm I made a reasonable decision to impose a surcharge on custom orders!!
Delete