Christmas Crafting Ideas by Flyingpig - Its Good To Share.

julie03

li'l_p wrote: »

I don't want people to take this the wrong way at all and hope I can explain myself properly but I think that when you just turn up 'off-the-cuff' people are so unprepared and not in the mode of buying things. I know personally I don't always have cash on me and certainly wouldn't be in the frame of mind of buying things when dropping kids off at school/nursery/toddler group or other such place unless it was advertised in advance & I was aware and could plan for it.

I really think this needs to be taken into account when people are actively seeking to sell their items. A lot of my sales have come from people only having seen my things on my Facebook and even then it was my boss who gave me my first order and this was based on the stuff I had made for family last year & the photos I posted up on Facebook! It went from there with her asking "what else do you do?" and me spouting a few things I knew I could put together and getting my orders in that way - so I am making on demand, rather than making to sell.

I have made a sample of each product and showcased them in work & online and my orders have come off the back of that.

I think it's definitely word of mouth and if you are going to target playgroups, etc, aim to have 2 'sittings' - the first one which you can use as a show-casing event where you show your products and have extras available if people do want to purchase on the spot and then the second sitting where people will have seen your products and will be ready & able to purchase, if they didn't already place an order at the first sitting

Hope this helps.

this is definately true, i never carry cash and i dont know many mums who do, most who drop kids off just literally run out the door with their keys

if the school are having a sale they advertise at least a week before so mums can come prepared

Bitsy_Beans

li'l_p wrote: »

I don't want people to take this the wrong way at all and hope I can explain myself properly but I think that when you just turn up 'off-the-cuff' people are so unprepared and not in the mode of buying things. I know personally I don't always have cash on me and certainly wouldn't be in the frame of mind of buying things when dropping kids off at school/nursery/toddler group or other such place unless it was advertised in advance & I was aware and could plan for it.

I really think this needs to be taken into account when people are actively seeking to sell their items. A lot of my sales have come from people only having seen my things on my Facebook and even then it was my boss who gave me my first order and this was based on the stuff I had made for family last year & the photos I posted up on Facebook! It went from there with her asking "what else do you do?" and me spouting a few things I knew I could put together and getting my orders in that way - so I am making on demand, rather than making to sell.

I have made a sample of each product and showcased them in work & online and my orders have come off the back of that.

I think it's definitely word of mouth and if you are going to target playgroups, etc, aim to have 2 'sittings' - the first one which you can use as a show-casing event where you show your products and have extras available if people do want to purchase on the spot and then the second sitting where people will have seen your products and will be ready & able to purchase, if they didn't already place an order at the first sitting

Hope this helps.

I am not offended by your comments and I can see where you're coming from. However considering my most expensive item is £2.50 and 80% of them are 65p and these mums can afford to buy their kids the sweets sold at said toddler group they're not coming soley without cash.
I've done the FB page thing too and sent it via all my friends etc and I've had two orders off the back of it and that's all.

TBH I have only tried the toddler groups because the local table top sales are sold out at my local community centre and it was a fairly convenient outlet. Its not possible for me to have more than one sitting as I am having to juggle work and my own DD who's still at home with me into the bargain.

I've read my post back and I am worried it sounds a bit "snippy". It's not meant that way and I am honestly not bumping my gums about so little being bought It was worth a try, as someone said to me "shy bairns get owt" :rotfl:

tranmererovers

Well this is what I made this afternoon



16 of them

I know they are not christmassy but they are based on Flying Pig's humbug packet and are made as 'party bags' for my son's friends

mummyslittleboy

PootleFlump wrote: »

Could you tell me how to do this as I havent a clue but need to do it too as my laptop playing up and Im scared I lose all my stuff.

My Laptop has been playing up all day turned out I had a virus and it has taken me nearly 9 hours to sort it:mad: still it is all done now:D

julie03 wrote: »

this is definately true, i never carry cash and i dont know many mums who do, most who drop kids off just literally run out the door with their keys

if the school are having a sale they advertise at least a week before so mums can come prepared

I must admit I never take cash out with me as much as I can do to get DS there on time some days:o

Bitsy_Beans wrote: »

I am not offended by your comments and I can see where you're coming from. However considering my most expensive item is £2.50 and 80% of them are 65p and these mums can afford to buy their kids the sweets sold at said toddler group they're not coming soley without cash.
I've done the FB page thing too and sent it via all my friends etc and I've had two orders off the back of it and that's all.

TBH I have only tried the toddler groups because the local table top sales are sold out at my local community centre and it was a fairly convenient outlet. Its not possible for me to have more than one sitting as I am having to juggle work and my own DD who's still at home with me into the bargain.

I've read my post back and I am worried it sounds a bit "snippy". It's not meant that way and I am honestly not bumping my gums about so little being bought It was worth a try, as someone said to me "shy bairns get owt" :rotfl:

Have you thought of maybe offering a playschool % of all your sales if you could have a table set up there all the time, you might not want to but it was just a thought

Bitsy_Beans

mummyslittleboy wrote: »

Have you thought of maybe offering a playschool % of all your sales if you could have a table set up there all the time, you might not want to but it was just a thought

The only place that is protected from the elements is inside and the layout of the school means that the kids are collected but no one passes through reception. I have thought about the school fair but it clashes with the day that I work and if I don't work I don't get paid (joys of self employed) can't afford to lose a days pay.

To be fair if I'd had started thinking about all this earlier and been more organised I could have booked a table at local community centre sale Anyway no matter I shall keep looking around

I am suprised some of you are saying you don't carry cash, well actually I can understand that for doing school or nursery drop off but the places I've been to you have to pay entrance fee so at least some cash is needed.

Anyway I fear I am taking this thread waaaaaaaay too off topic so lets get back to making stuff

tattycath

tranmererovers wrote: »

Well this is what I made this afternoon



16 of them

I know they are not christmassy but they are based on Flying Pig's humbug packet and are made as 'party bags' for my son's friends

That looks brilliant!!!! :T how do you seal your bags?
I have a bag sealer-must hunt it out-I have no idea how to use it-we inherited it from my sister-in-law. (aren't they just for sealing cellophane bags though?)....goes away to ponder...

genieuk

li'l_p wrote: »

but I think that when you just turn up 'off-the-cuff' people are so unprepared and not in the mode of buying things. I know personally I don't always have cash on me and certainly wouldn't be in the frame of mind of buying things when dropping kids off at school/nursery/toddler group or other such place unless it was advertised in advance & I was aware and could plan for it.

I think reading one off Bitsy's posts earlier she had already been to the playgroup paid £4 to enter and was then going to return. So they may have known of her 'second coming' so to speak.

I make cards and have gone to school fairs before have been charged £10 for a table. I am lucky if I make that back. I charge 2euro to 2.50 per card I have seen some sellers charging 3 times that.
I roughly know how much things cost me to make, some things take hours some 10mins. If I was to charge for my time some things wouldn't be worth selling.

I am not sure if I would want to give someone a percentage of my profit when having already paid an entrance fee.

Everyone always says how lovely things are but they don't buy. I m my own free advertising lol. I use the bags I make, also make gifts and cards for my children to take to parties.

For me its pocket money really I am never going to make a living but keeps me out of trouble and if I can use the money to buy more materials then its a win win.

Jerseygirl55

The Perfect Man poem

Please can a kind person post the link to the Perfect Man poem or PM me the poem

thanks

Jerseygirl

li'l_p

I picked these up yesterday while in Home Bargains but noticed they also have them in B&M too.

They were 39p per pack and are milkshake straws. I've never had them myself but you dip them in a glass of milk and suck so the beads melt to make a milkshake drink?

Thought they might be good to make 'fairy' wands or such like with?

tranmererovers

Bitsy_Beans wrote: »

I am suprised some of you are saying you don't carry cash, well actually I can understand that for doing school or nursery drop off but the places I've been to you have to pay entrance fee so at least some cash is needed.

Anyway I fear I am taking this thread waaaaaaaay too off topic so lets get back to making stuff

Just to stay off topic for a few more mins I run a mums and tots group and the majority of those that come only bring their entrance fee. I tend not to take my purse anywhere unless I am specifically going shopping - stops me making impulse purchases

tattycath wrote: »

That looks brilliant!!!! :T how do you seal your bags?
I have a bag sealer-must hunt it out-I have no idea how to use it-we inherited it from my sister-in-law. (aren't they just for sealing cellophane bags though?)....goes away to ponder...

Hi Tatty Cath, I use pritt stick and then run the edges through a ribber which holds it in place as well until it sticks.