i have been buying mini rolling pins and decorating them, but they wont sell

PasturesNew

Sambucus_Nigra wrote: »

So you are suggesting teaching people to make their own kitchen rolling pins?

Yes. In a nutshell... instead of the OP making some and trying to flog them, she runs short workshops where people turn up and she provides all the stuff and helps them a bit ... and when they leave they take the one they just made with them.

OP doesn't have to make any ..... and makes from the workshop charge, minus the materials costs.

kitschkitty

PasturesNew wrote: »

Yes. In a nutshell... instead of the OP making some and trying to flog them, she runs short workshops where people turn up and she provides all the stuff and helps them a bit ... and when they leave they take the one they just made with them.

OP doesn't have to make any ..... and makes from the workshop charge, minus the materials costs.

and cost of insurance,
venue hire, or even refundable deposit in advance,
printing instructions,
transport,
tools,
additional materials if someone damages theirs so that they are unusable,
cancellations/no shows,
refunds to unhappy customers
possible damages to venue e.g spilled glue
advertising costs: posters, flyers, business cards.


never mind the fact the product you suggesting she teaches a workshop for is so basic it doesn't even need instructions, never mind a teacher on hand, who hasn't even perfected making the product themselves.


I thought you were trying to support the OP/protect them from people who were a bit blunt with their opinions, and give them a positive alternative idea, but now I realise you are just taking the mickey out of them. Terribly sad.

Sugar_Coated_Owl

Why do some people always have to see the negative side of things. It's no wonder we have so many young people out of work if the attitude of the older population is like some of the people on this thread. Give people a chance.

Sambucus_Nigra

PasturesNew wrote: »

Yes. In a nutshell... instead of the OP making some and trying to flog them, she runs short workshops where people turn up and she provides all the stuff and helps them a bit ... and when they leave they take the one they just made with them.

OP doesn't have to make any ..... and makes from the workshop charge, minus the materials costs.

Have you any idea how difficult it is to make any money from running craft training workshops? And exactly how many people do you think want to learn how to make a kitchen rolling pin rather than buy one, if indeed anyone wants to buy one!

This thread has gone from the sublime to the ridiculous...it's one thing supporting people but heavens above - how much money would be lost by trying to set up as a trainer to train people in something that they had no success in selling themselves?

Nonsense nonsense nonsense. :eek:

PasturesNew

kitschkitty wrote: »

and cost of insurance,
venue hire, or even refundable deposit in advance,
printing instructions,
transport,
tools,
additional materials if someone damages theirs so that they are unusable,
cancellations/no shows,
refunds to unhappy customers
possible damages to venue e.g spilled glue
advertising costs: posters, flyers, business cards.


never mind the fact the product you suggesting she teaches a workshop for is so basic it doesn't even need instructions, never mind a teacher on hand, who hasn't even perfected making the product themselves.


I thought you were trying to support the OP/protect them from people who were a bit blunt with their opinions, and give them a positive alternative idea, but now I realise you are just taking the mickey out of them. Terribly sad.

I don't know why you see it that way - plenty of rural businesses start (and continue) in this way, making a good income.

Not all of those costs are necessary/essential for every area/business.

Many people are sitting at home looking for somewhere to go/something to do .... and even though the product is basic it's an afternoon out for a lot of people, who'd love to go just for the social aspect.

PasturesNew

Sambucus_Nigra wrote: »

Have you any idea how difficult it is to make any money from running craft training workshops? And exactly how many people do you think want to learn how to make a kitchen rolling pin rather than buy one, if indeed anyone wants to buy one!

This thread has gone from the sublime to the ridiculous...it's one thing supporting people but heavens above - how much money would be lost by trying to set up as a trainer to train people in something that they had no success in selling themselves?

Nonsense nonsense nonsense. :eek:

Maybe your experiences are different to mine, but having just spent X years in a remote and rural area I saw dozens of successful small businesses doing this sort of thing successfully.

Maybe the fake pricing I put in is out of kilter, but people in rural areas are putting on lots of little things all the time.

Personally I hate all that twee tat.... but other twee people love being involved.

Sambucus_Nigra

Sugar_Coated_Owl wrote: »

Why do some people always have to see the negative side of things. It's no wonder we have so many young people out of work if the attitude of the older population is like some of the people on this thread. Give people a chance.

Because we don't want the OP to spend even more money on wild goose chases.

We could all skirt round the issue but that could just involve another wasted year. And then when they realise that they have wasted more money just because everyone was trying to be 'nice', they will turn against the nice ones and get angry that they wasted time and money on it.

I'm happy to stand alone if necessary and be the one saying 'don't do it', but you are happy to go along and support the OP. That doesn't make you right and me wrong - it just means we are looking at things with the sum total of our worldy experiences and responding.

There is room for both approaches and it's good practice should the OP ever have customers - as believe me, they get alot more shirty at times.

OP - make some quality items, a few of them, to a good standard and see what sells, and concentrate on making those the best you can. If you don't sell your first few then don't continue to make them, look at what IS selling and work on that.

I haven't seen anyone on here actually saying 'I love them and would happily buy one off you now'...

Sambucus_Nigra

PasturesNew wrote: »

Maybe your experiences are different to mine, but having just spent X years in a remote and rural area I saw dozens of successful small businesses doing this sort of thing successfully.

Maybe the fake pricing I put in is out of kilter, but people in rural areas are putting on lots of little things all the time.

Personally I hate all that twee tat.... but other twee people love being involved.

You see dozens of small businesses running craft workshops teaching people to make things that they themselves can't sell? Or things that they are in fact experts on and make a living from already?

I have 15 years in training, from Director level to Admin and including training and running funded projects - and believe me, the hardest part is getting people to actually attend. Let alone pay up in advance!

Sugar_Coated_Owl

Sambucus Nigra...You don't have a crystal ball so you don't know whether this idea could take off or not. I think you've been too quick to dismiss it. I'm currently in the process of setting up a little craft business and I quite like the rolling pins and will probably add them to my list of things to have a go at.

The OP might be a little naive in thinking that the rolling pins as they stand at the moment could sell. I'm still assuming the OP is young and therefore we are at an advantage as we are older and can offer her advice and point her in the right direction. Maybe the text on the rolling pin isn't perfect but calling it 'tat' e.t.c isn't helping her in the least. Why not say the text is a little off centre how about trying it again and move it to the left a little or perhaps instead of writing it by hand use stickers or print the text off. We all have to start somewhere.

Sambucus_Nigra

Sugar_Coated_Owl wrote: »

Sambucus Nigra...You don't have a crystal ball so you don't know whether this idea could take off or not. I think you've been too quick to dismiss it.

And neither do you! But so far - no sales. Hence asking on here what's wrong.

And not liking it when people are open and honest about it.

We can agree to disagree and the OP is free to continue making kitchen rolling pins.

But recommending setting up a training company to train people to make things which you yourself can't sell is very bad advice indeed.