Memorygirls - Make Do and Mend

MrsMoo2U

Inspiring thoughts winging over the airwaves.

Claire, sorry I feel like we are ganging up now but this is for your best interests. I have had a look at your website and it is fab, very professional and the photos are lovely. The jewellery is stunning but I agree that the wording over the photo detracts, if you got a friend to design it can they maybe adjust that bit for you. I totally agree that the prices are too low and you are undervaluing yourself. I would put a different slant on the reasons to up the prices (although I agree that you need to do it now before you get more customers). I think that some potential customers would actually decide not to buy because the prices are so cheap. They may believe that the quality is not there, even though this is not the case. After all, not all of your customers will be MSEers who are watching the pennies, some people like to splash the cash and think the more expensive the better kudos they have.
I suggest that you do a bit of research around other sites and see what they are selling for and then adjust your prices to be slightly under theirs, maybe a couple of percent?
Great decision to start aiming at £20 per week and then permitted work. I do still say though that you should speak with an adviser in the Jobcentre because you may be eligible to do the test marketing for your business as part of the permitted work. There are lots of schemes out there to help with people on disability to set up their own businesses.

robsmum_2

Hello MG and All
I have at la st finished reading this amazing thread and already has changed my way of thinking.

I'd been in a low place for a long time and had forgotten the powers of positive thinking and the Universe.

My OH and I struggling with health issues and a very low income (this was what attracted me here - looking for insperation) and after only reading for a few days I started feeling more positive and things started to change.)

My problem is now I have so much I want to change/achieve that I'm not sure where to start. :eek:I feel Mind Mapping coming on!

Hope you don't mind me coming aboard but must wish you love and luck - you are an insperation. Thank you so much.

clairewop

Kittikins wrote: »

Clairewop - sweetie, you really should reconsider your prices, we're all telling you we'd be prepared to pay more You're set up on the internet as a business, and as such, it's better to charge what a "big business" would charge, or maybe very slightly less to undercut the competition, than to undervalue yourself. You may see yourself as a woman with certain challenges, drowing in a sea of boxes in your dining room, but customers on the internet, see beautiful jewellery, hand-made with love and will be willing to pay the market rate, including postage charges.

As you can see on this thread, there are lots of us and if we all tell our friends who want to buy your gorgeous jewellery, and they tell their friends etc etc, then if you are priced at X and then put the prices up to X+10% for example, then business might drop off. Also, remember that there will be many, many lurkers reading this thread who are likely to click on your homepage - all potential customers......

(Here endeth the lecture, and I hope I've not stepped on your toes, it's all said with admiration of your great business) xx

Ok what if I start by adding a £1 on earrings? would you pay £4 for silver plated and £6- £8 for sterling silver?

clairewop

psychopathbabble wrote: »

Ok, I can't do much but I can try and do this for you. Are you on facebook yourself? Or can you email me your photos? x

Have just pm'd you

kavics17

I paid £8 for my sterling silver earring at Accessorize and it wasn't even as nice as yours. I would suggest you try this price categorie, it's still on the cheap side!

spud30

Wow MG, I'm so excited for you for Monday. Send him our love wont you :kisses:

Claire, you absolutely should accept all the help these wonderful peeps are offering hun. Your jewellery is fab, and you deserve to make a success of it.

*goes off to try and find a talent for summink I could make a business from :think:

clairewop

troglodyte wrote: »

MG, all the best for Monday, will be waiting with bated breath to hear the outcome!

Claire, sorry I didn't answer sooner, it took me a while to catch up again! I agree with the others, people are saying they would pay more so take their word for it and up your prices! Beter to do it at the start, if you get a lot of customers and then put your prices up later it might put them off again! Liked the website, it looks professional, I agree about the UK/US spelling though (bit of a stickler for that sort of thing) and also wondered if you needed to have your logo/name quite so much over the photos in the gallery section, there is so much writing over the photos it kind of detracts from your work IYSWIM? You could also add a new section with the other services you are about to offer ie, children's parties, workshops etc. Agree with going for a niche market like Goths etc, they have money to spend and not that many places to buy stuff. I also wondered about children's jewellery, I've noticed that lots of places (supermarkets, toy shops) have started to sell stuff for little girls, beaded bracelets and necklaces, little charms etc, have a look around and you'll see what I mean. If you could string some bright and cheery beads on a bit of hat elastic you can sell that for £2 or £3 as a bracelet. Good luck! Wish I had as many ideas for my work!

Thanks for the input!!

Looks like i'm going to be very busy with all these ideas lol

Another mse'r was very kind and did my website for me as i haven't a clue and the logo was put on to stop people pinching my photos.

I only have 5 pages on the site I currently have so I cannot add more but could add the other things in the about me page I suppose.

I do have a few bits of childrens jewellery not much at the moment, so i need to get it on the website.

clairewop

cherisong wrote: »

Inspiring thoughts winging over the airwaves.

Claire, sorry I feel like we are ganging up now but this is for your best interests. I have had a look at your website and it is fab, very professional and the photos are lovely. The jewellery is stunning but I agree that the wording over the photo detracts, if you got a friend to design it can they maybe adjust that bit for you. I totally agree that the prices are too low and you are undervaluing yourself. I would put a different slant on the reasons to up the prices (although I agree that you need to do it now before you get more customers). I think that some potential customers would actually decide not to buy because the prices are so cheap. They may believe that the quality is not there, even though this is not the case. After all, not all of your customers will be MSEers who are watching the pennies, some people like to splash the cash and think the more expensive the better kudos they have.
I suggest that you do a bit of research around other sites and see what they are selling for and then adjust your prices to be slightly under theirs, maybe a couple of percent?
Great decision to start aiming at £20 per week and then permitted work. I do still say though that you should speak with an adviser in the Jobcentre because you may be eligible to do the test marketing for your business as part of the permitted work. There are lots of schemes out there to help with people on disability to set up their own businesses.

Thankyou

Ok looks like I need to leave the last box in the dining room and get the website sorted first ready for xmas buying.

1st though I promised the boys apple crumble and rice pudding, so off to do that in a minute.

Mg when you got 5 hun, I got the ingredients for sultana bread, can i cook it in the breadmaker? or does it have to go in the oven, sorry I know your busy with your new adventure.

clairewop

kavics17 wrote: »

I paid £8 for my sterling silver earring at Accessorize and it wasn't even as nice as yours. I would suggest you try this price categorie, it's still on the cheap side!

Ok thankyou will bear that in mind

clairewop

spud30 wrote: »

Wow MG, I'm so excited for you for Monday. Send him our love wont you :kisses:

Claire, you absolutely should accept all the help these wonderful peeps are offering hun. Your jewellery is fab, and you deserve to make a success of it.

*goes off to try and find a talent for summink I could make a business from :think:

Thanks spud

Why don't you have a go at crafting? card making? Nathan makes cards they are fab!

tell dd i got a lovely pair of size 14 jeans here still got tag on, too low on the waist for me, tell her its an incentive to get into them. i'll send them next time i go to the post office