|
Post by zed on Mar 24, 2014 11:04:58 GMT
I have no real idea who buys Beyond Nuno, from feedback, I'd guess mostly women. I know a lot of 'established' felters and some teaching places have bought it. From the one Craft fair I did, I got the impression younger people are impulsive and don't want to miss out and will buy something if they think it's value for money, though on the cheaper end; older professionals consider things a bit more, but will consider higher priced things. That sounds really obvious though I know who aren't customers, people who felt and think they can make it better and cheaper themselves, or can source the fibres/wool cheaper themselves, and don't actually consider the time and effort put into things.
|
|
|
Post by Pandagirl on Mar 24, 2014 13:47:17 GMT
Thanks Zed. Actually, I don't think it's always obvious that younger people are more impulsive buyers especially of handmade goods. That's a good observation. Do you have any kind of customer list from your ebook sales?
|
|
|
Post by Leonor (of Eleanor Shadow) on Mar 24, 2014 15:39:57 GMT
Zed, it's interesting you saying that people who felt aren't customers, as I would assume they bought because they knew and understood the time and effort put into things? And we all have our strengths and weaknesses, so I'd gladly pay for something I'd like in the wet felting technique... however, you are right, I'd probably not buy anything needle felted since I do it myself...
Again, food for thought!
|
|
|
Post by luvswool and dyestuff on Mar 24, 2014 17:08:37 GMT
I find this to be an interesting discussion. I have made about half a dozen quilts in my lifetime, yet I have purchased a dozen quilts over the years handmade by other quilters. Yes, I collect vintage quilts. I admire their work, and so I buy it, as Leonor has stated. So I am thinking that if one knows how to make--let's say--needle-felted landscapes, why would you not purchase one of Leonor's whippets? Or if you needle-felt, but you've never nuno-felted, why wouldn't you buy either Zed's tutorial or a nuno-felted object she made?
There's probably a whole area of Psychology which deals with that, so I'm thinking we may explore the psychology of buying a bit further into Marilyn's marketing posts. Hope so!
|
|
|
Post by Shepherdess on Mar 24, 2014 17:24:50 GMT
I think if they felt but do something different then you and have no desire to do it themselves they will buy because they know how long it takes to make it and the skill required. I almost never buy wet felt because I can do it myself and enjoy doing it. needle felt or pictures are another thing and when I can afford to, I buy them. I see this with other textile people as well. If it's something they would make they do not buy it, if is something they don't make, they are willing to pay the price.
|
|
|
Post by Pandagirl on Mar 24, 2014 17:27:00 GMT
That's part of it Cathy. Although I'm no psychologist. As consumers, we know more about than we think we do. :-). As you pointed out, even though you make quilts it doesn't stop you from buying others. I'm the same. If I admire someone's work, it's nice to have something to motivate you to achieve a higher level. If not their work, a book of their work is always good, too.
|
|
|
Post by MTRuth on Mar 24, 2014 20:33:26 GMT
Figuring out why people buy what they buy is difficult. I have people come in the store all the time that say "Oh I could make that." But of course they rarely do. Or I really love it when they say "Oh my 8 year old niece can make that."
|
|
|
Post by luvswool and dyestuff on Mar 24, 2014 22:53:18 GMT
Ruth, your experiences at the shop and the comments folks make are extremely disturbing, and I wonder-- if that's the way they feel, why not just keep their comments to themselves? That type of behavior is why I don't see myself sitting at a table or booth at a fair or craft show!
|
|
|
Post by zara on Mar 24, 2014 23:07:25 GMT
A very interesting thread! I have not sold (or even tried to sell) much, but I did sell a few felted items just before Christmas. It started with a friend asking, on Facebook, if I could felt a ptarmigan. I gave it a try and posted a photo as a reply on FB and suddenly got a load of "likes" and comments from others who also wanted one. The ptarmigan is a popular game species here and a symbol of the mountain area. I ended up making about 30 and sold them all - to people I know (via FB), though a neighbour who sold them at her coffe shop in the next village and though another friend that had a stand at a Christmas crafts fair. Some of the buyers were grouse hunters, and a few were men, but mostly women (aged around 40 and upwards). People seemed to appreciate that they were made locally (from wool to product) and that the sheep are traditional Swedish breeds. I also sold some gnomes/Nordic santas and other Christmas ornaments at the Christmas fair, but the ptarmigans were the most popular.
|
|
|
Post by Pandagirl on Mar 25, 2014 0:05:10 GMT
Zara, they are darling. Sometimes, markets find you as Leonor can attest. It really is a matter of a lot of things coming together whether we're pushing for it or not. :-)
|
|
|
Post by Shepherdess on Mar 25, 2014 1:56:51 GMT
My favorite customer comment is "I didn't know you could make that". Where do they think they come from?
|
|
|
Post by MTRuth on Mar 25, 2014 2:40:24 GMT
Another one is "Did you make everything in here?" We have hundreds of items in all kinds of media.
Of course, the comment I got about the yurt was one of the "best". A lady wanted to know how many sheep we had killed to make the yurt and she refused to listen to the fact that wool is sheared off the sheep without the sheep being killed. People are amazing.
|
|
|
Post by Pandagirl on Mar 25, 2014 2:53:46 GMT
OMG! Ignorance rules. So sad!
|
|
|
Post by carole aka craftywoman on Mar 25, 2014 8:15:24 GMT
I've had a similiar experience to Zara, with those flowers, I'm now getting orders and I haven't even advertised them, and people wanting bespoke colours as gifts!!! I really don't even like making them, I love getting stuck into a large piece as a wall hanging but never sell them. I also agree with buying things from other crafters.
Sometimes all it takes is for a few people to buy and like what you have done and word of mouth does the rest.
The comments about 'I could make that' are so common, because we know they couldn't and probably won't, what they are really saying is that they don't have enough cash to buy one of wonderful pieces of work.
|
|
|
Post by zed on Mar 25, 2014 8:43:05 GMT
I don't know if this falls into marketing, it certainly falls into the psychology of buying, but why won't most people in the US buy from overseas? Even when pricing is explained very clearly and shown that something is 10 to 30 times cheaper overseas? It is baffling.
People buy nylon, listed as 'Firestar' and pay unbelievable prices, for something that costs about £2 for 100g here. Even explaining that you could buy just 1 item and pay the shipping price for 500g and still save money, doesn't sway people. Some of the prices I've come across are ridiculous, some prices of silk are so high that it would be cheaper to fly here and buy a few packs than buy from the US. Honestly.
Is it the pyschology of selling little amounts for small prices, and hoping no one will realise just how much they are paying? Do people honestly not consider that buying little more often adds on high postage costs too?
|
|