In response to one of my favorite designers posts... If anyones seen her post, shes totally right. Its hard, VERY hard, to keep this business going. Taxes, time away from family, holidays spent making sure you get your hours of sewing in, multiple trips to craft stores, hours spent online searching for fabrics and embellishments not to mention establishing friendships with your clients and making sure all are always happy, keeping every receipt, filing all your information, keeping your orders organized, taking time out to save photos sent to you and make sure you let your customers know how much you appreciate their photos and purchase, then sitting down for hours each day to sew new dresses that are unique while also sewing to complete orders, spending hours each night closing out auctions, writing down all information, packaging, trips to the post office, and all the while maintaining your home and family life (which for me consists of a child who goes to school, fiancé who works late hours, a one year old who is not independent in the least bit, and twins on the way with multiple drs visits each week) its exhausting. Extremely exhausting. I work more hours every day than my fiancé and make 1/3 of what he makes, BEFORE all my expenses are taken out. Most of the time I do end up taking money from his paychecks to support my expensive hobby, and I still start all my dresses at $5 each. That, by no means, means that my dresses are only worth $5. The hours, materials and embellishments put into each dress is WAY more than that believe me, however I absolutely love doing this. It is my passion, my dream, my love. Seeing my dresses on so many beautiful babies makes me so happy. Knowing that so many furbabies get to wear my dresses, and so many buy exclusively from me, makes me so happy! It makes me feel like I have an identity, which as most mothers know, easily gets lost while raising children. This expensive hobby keeps me sane, as it gives me a break. For every con, I can find a pro, however, I will admit, i get discouraged a lot. I absolutely hate when I see someone steal my design, and sell it cheaper to my own customers. That stings. Its very disheartening, especially when you can see the lack of quality. I absolutely hate when I see someone taking advantage of my customers. I hate when I have an order that I cant get out in the time frame I gave because something happened in my life that I couldnt get to it in time. I absolutely hate when Im talked down on my prices, because part of me wants to say yes because I want their furbaby to be able to wear my dress, but at the same time I feel like theyre telling me my work & time is not worth their money. I hate when I have a customer who is not satisfied. As little as that happens, it still stays with me and haunts me. I want everyone to be over the moon happy, which is why I put so much time into this. I need an assistant for orders and paper work, I need someone to run to the post office and stores for me. I need a babysitter while I sew. I need multiple people who can sew for me. But I have one person who sews dresses after ive cut them out, and I embellish and finish up. My profits go to pay her most of the time. If I could afford all of that, I would be a legitimate business and my prices would be MUCH higher to pay for all of it. But like I said, I do this because I love to. I have much respect for those that make this a full time business, as the work and time put into managing your own business is INCREDIBLE. I will say, my dresses have been going for a lot more lately which makes my heart sing. To see people spending that much of their hard earned money on a dress for their baby designed by me, its the largest compliment I could ever receive. please know that I am eternally grateful every purchase, whether $5 or $60, because it is you hard earned money coming out of your pocket. I have been doing this for 8 years now. Up until last year I was selling on eBay, which if any designers have, you know how hard it is to sell anything. That caused me to stop many times during the early years, but I always came back to it, because it is truly my passion. There were times my dresses went for $.99, and I kept going. I just love to do this. I really do. Its so hard to walk away from something you love so much. The last 2 years of selling on Facebook have been amazing for me, I have loved watching my brand become a brand, my designs become desired, and I have thoroughly enjoyed all of the many friendships I have found in this- I absolutely love my friendships with each and every one of you! I love chatting with all of you, and love your part in my life!
Posted on: Tue, 12 Aug 2014 01:18:54 +0000
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