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

mildred1978

Sugar_Coated_Owl wrote: »

I'm very disappointed in some of the posters on here. Instead of encouraging a young person to continue with a business idea it has pretty much been shattered from the start. If or when you have children I really hope you don't dash their hopes and dreams so quickly if they come to you with such an idea.

I have a child, a son, who I hope to have educated well enough by the age of 21 that he doesn't need to do something like this. Don't get me wrong, I know many people who make a living from crafting, but they make products people want to buy, which take significant skill to make properly, at a price that makes it worth making.

I actually have one of them making some things for my son's room at the moment.

I don't think the OP's rolling pins match up at all.

podperson

I'm a little confused by posts saying that the OP 'sounds young' so we all shouldn't be negative. If she wants to post on the occasions or old school board about her craft items she enjoys making then I'm sure people would be much more positive - but she's trying to start a business and asked for feedback on why the items aren't selling. People aren't going to mollycoddle you in business because of your age - I set my first business up when I was 22, I made a lot of mistakes and it failed after 2 years. I would have much preferred people to give me honest opinions on what I was doing wrong rather then 'it's great you're trying something at your age' - which I did actually get from a few people!

Anyway, OP, as I'm sure you're aware the market for hand-crafted items is quite saturated at the moment so you need to produce very high quality items and also try to either find a niche or something that sets you apart.
I also think you need to find another way to sell them as people collecting from your house is rather limiting - I know for £4 I really wouldn't want to be bothering trailing over somewhere.
I think perhaps trying some different colour schemes would work better, the example you've shown is quite bright and I would be inclined to think it was more marketed towards children - but then I can't see children wanting something that they couldn't use? Maybe look at the shabby chic/Cath Kidston styles as they are very popular at the moment and would also suit the market you're aiming for with kitchen items.
Also, the ideas for sets - eg with cookie cutters or an apron are really good - a hand-painted apron in bright colours would make it more marketable for children.

tescobabe69

mildred1978 wrote: »

I hate tat like this. Especially when grammatically incorrect! (Should be an apostrophe in Jade's )

Dont come on here spouting your common sense.
Clearly you are wrong, I think they're lovely (if incorrect), if I'd got any spare money I'd be ordering one now!




:whistle:

Kepp

podperson wrote: »

I'm a little confused by posts saying that the OP 'sounds young' so we all shouldn't be negative. If she wants to post on the occasions or old school board about her craft items she enjoys making then I'm sure people would be much more positive - but she's trying to start a business and asked for feedback on why the items aren't selling. People aren't going to mollycoddle you in business because of your age - I set my first business up when I was 22, I made a lot of mistakes and it failed after 2 years. I would have much preferred people to give me honest opinions on what I was doing wrong rather then 'it's great you're trying something at your age' - which I did actually get from a few people!

Anyway, OP, as I'm sure you're aware the market for hand-crafted items is quite saturated at the moment so you need to produce very high quality items and also try to either find a niche or something that sets you apart.
I also think you need to find another way to sell them as people collecting from your house is rather limiting - I know for £4 I really wouldn't want to be bothering trailing over somewhere.
I think perhaps trying some different colour schemes would work better, the example you've shown is quite bright and I would be inclined to think it was more marketed towards children - but then I can't see children wanting something that they couldn't use? Maybe look at the shabby chic/Cath Kidston styles as they are very popular at the moment and would also suit the market you're aiming for with kitchen items.
Also, the ideas for sets - eg with cookie cutters or an apron are really good - a hand-painted apron in bright colours would make it more marketable for children.

I think actually this is exactly the right kind of advice. Constructive.

The problem seems to be that some comments have just been quite nasty without any constructive element to them and that has got some people's backs up. Not that we should just tell someone that their things are wonderful when they're not but that there are ways of doing that.

There also seems to have been the separate argument of whether a business in crafts is worth pursuing at all.

kitschkitty

PasturesNew wrote: »

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

So I was right, in the context of this entire thread you've claimed to be backing up the OP, only to come right out and say that you think these types of products are "tat"

Having had a good nights sleep after your previous comments I had a feeling I'd been trolled, and shouldn't have bother replying.


Oh and as for all this the OP sounds young stuff, I have to say I first sold my hand crafted items, in a shop in my city when I was 15/16 and I would have made a nice final profit if the shop hadn't closed failing to pay me the last £50 they owed me. Luckily though I covered all my costs, and learnt the value of keeping in very regular contact (and getting regular payment) from places I supply to.

I also learnt about quality (my handmade cards at that time were poorly done so didn't sell), and how unique items sold very quickly, such as my door curtain that was bought by the owner of a different shop in the city so they could put it up in their own shop, so that their customers wouldn't be able to see into their back room!

culpepper

OP how about joining craftster which is a crafting forum?
Many of the members there have Etsy shops which are/is a sort of online craft selling strategy.

[Deleted User]

Your posts have made me smile, I don't think OP is expecting to get rich quick with these items.

I think you may make more from the self employment side of things rather than the kitchen items ! :-)

Sugar_Coated_Owl

I was in Hobbycraft today and bought a mini rolling pin and will decorate it and attempt to sell it. I will keep you posted

POPPYOSCAR

Sugar_Coated_Owl wrote: »

I was in Hobbycraft today and bought a mini rolling pin and will decorate it and attempt to sell it. I will keep you posted

Just wondering if you were contemplating posting a picture of it on here first!!!!!!_pale_

Bogof_Babe

To put this into perspective, try to imagine the reaction these items would receive on Dragons Den! I know the OP isn't seeking funding at the moment, but any successful business will at some point need investment cash to expand. I can picture the disbelief on the Dragons' faces at being asked to take this seriously. They'd be "out" before they'd even heard the promotional spiel.

The difference with Body Shop is that Body Shop sells consumable products, with repeat sales if people like what they buy. No-one is ever going to need more than one decorated rolling pin.