09/13/2022
Good morning beautiful people!!! Guys, I want to take a moment and share something that's been bugging me since I started toying with the idea of starting a small business. And before I begin, please note, this is NOT directed at any one person, but to everyone. It's something I have seen time and time again in my craft pages, as well as having it happen to me. Now there are but a very few exceptions to this rule.
I want to start off by saying a HUGE thank you to anyone who supports my small business. Without you, I wouldn't be doing this. And it goes without saying that I and many many others like me has invested a LOT of money into their business. Be it materials, machines, supplies, etc. It isn't cheap by no means. We take the time to find the perfect design, many hours are spent editing, creating, designing, cutting, (when using vinyl) weeding the vinyl (removing all pieces not part of design) we go through countless sheets of paper when the print doesn't print correctly, we go through a number of supplies making you the perfect custom design you have asked for. We go above and beyond any corporate retailer to make you the perfect product. But yet. Every day I see at least 10 or more posts a day from frustrated small business owners about customers asking how they can get the item cheaper. If they bring their own cup or shirt, how much will it cost?! And I am always left wondering if these same people go to big big stores, or email Nike, addidas, or Disney even and ask them, "hey I see you're selling this shirt for $40, if I bring you my own shirt, how much will you charge me' or "man, I really like this cup but can't see spending $50 if I bring my own will you charge me $20"
No, you expect to pay those big box prices, so I have to ask, why would you think it's ok to ask a small business, who doesn't have the revenue backing them like these big companies do, for a discount? Or to bring your own stuff for us to create? Like I said there are very very few exceptions to this rule & I truly don't mind working with your needs, and will do what I can to make my customer happy. Most of us small business owners do not even pay ourselves as we're starting out. Every penny we charge, goes right back into our business. We cannot be successful if we are constantly being asked to change our prices to accommodate the idea that we do this just for fun. While every last one of us truly enjoys what we do, we rely on your business to help us succeed. If we are constantly giving discounted prices because a customer wants to provide their own cups or shirts, it makes it much harder for us to Excell and grow. Most of us will offer flash sales, discounts, and even possibly give aways, but we can't do any of that if we're not making money.
Now, on the subject of shirts, tumblers, etc. We know the exact materials we need. I know, I know a shirts a shirt, but no, really it's not. If a customer wants a custom photograph on a shirt, and they bring me a cotton shirt and the photo doesn't show up, this customer is mad. And we lose business, because they couldn't understand we provide the proper shirt and material for your image to be perfect. We are not in this to rip you off, or anything of the nature. We just want to be successful too.
So friends, if you've stuck with me this far, please know you are appreciated and I hope the next time you venture to that small business for your custom needs, you take into consideration the same buying energy you'd use at the mall, or any other box store. We are all just trying to survive this crazy thing called life!!
