Kinda AD, but more a request for opinions....

I have been batting an idea around in my head for a little while - a way to
solve the custom order issue and try and make everyone happy. I always try
to make my customers happy - but I think the one thing that seems to always
disappoint is that I rarely have the time or inclination to take custom
orders. I still get quite a few requests even though I have in my FAQ that I
usually don't do them. So I think I have a way to satisfy everyone - I hope!
I am thinking about starting a kind of club - essentially a mailing list
that you can belong to if you are in need of a custom order from me. I will
choose someone on that list at random (or on a rotating basis, whichever
ends up working out) once per month, and that person gets to order anything
they want. There would be a few ground rules, but that's essentially it.
That way, people who really really want something specific can get it, and I
still have the freedom to create for the rest of the time. I would love to
hear your thoughts on this. No, this would not replace the specials I
occasionally have - I would still try and keep up with that, and also with
auctions. This would be a separate list than the one I currently have
going - and you can belong to both. Please let me know what you think!

--
Kandice Seeber
Air & Earth Designs
http://www.lampwork.net

Please let me know what you think!

I can't see where that is a win-win situation for the bidder, with two dozen
club members it could be a two year wait for a turn, three dozen club members a
three year wait, etc. And then you've got to time it right for when they can
budget for such an order, etc.

I'd do something like spend $2000 on my lampwork with an X amount of time
period, earn the priveledge of a custom order for such a VIP customer.

Letrinka.....with both eyes always on the bottom line...
Letrinka
"Education is what you use when you've forgotten what you've learned"

Well, I might have time for two per month, but that's it. It is better than
not haivng custom orders at all - which is my policy now. I do realize that
this could mean a long wait for people. However, your way sounds
interesting as well, but if I did it that way, I could be making a lot of
custom orders and never have beads available on the website or on auction.
The trick is to be able to offer a little bit of everything.
Am I just trying to hard to make everyone happy? LOL

--
Kandice Seeber
Air & Earth Designs
http://www.lampwork.net

Please let me know what you think!

I can't see where that is a win-win situation for the bidder, with two
dozen
club members it could be a two year wait for a turn, three dozen club
members a
three year wait, etc. And then you've got to time it right for when they
can
budget for such an order, etc.

I'd do something like spend $2000 on my lampwork with an X amount of time
period, earn the priveledge of a custom order for such a VIP customer.

Letrinka.....with both eyes always on the bottom line...
Letrinka
"Education is what you use when you've forgotten what you've learned"

Well, I might have time for two per month, but that's it. It is better than
not haivng custom orders at all - which is my policy now. I do realize that
this could mean a long wait for people. However, your way sounds
interesting as well, but if I did it that way, I could be making a lot of
custom orders and never have beads available on the website or on auction.
The trick is to be able to offer a little bit of everything.
Am I just trying to hard to make everyone happy? LOL

Kandace,

Exactly how many $2000 customers do you have within a month that you would
spend all your time doing custom orders??? I mean, one custom order a week
over a month would mean you were pulling in 8K per month from just four
customers? At that rate, I would find the time LOL.

Letrinka......looking around for a torch....

But then, there are those of us who can't afford that much. Kandace, I think you
should follow your heart, and not worry about it too much.
--
Jalynne - Keeper of the Quilt for ME club list
Queen Gypsy (snail mail available upon request)
see what i've been up to at www.100megsfree4.com/jalynne

"Letrinka" wrote in message
...
Please let me know what you think!

I can't see where that is a win-win situation for the bidder, with two dozen
club members it could be a two year wait for a turn, three dozen club members a
three year wait, etc. And then you've got to time it right for when they can
budget for such an order, etc.

I'd do something like spend $2000 on my lampwork with an X amount of time
period, earn the priveledge of a custom order for such a VIP customer.

Letrinka.....with both eyes always on the bottom line...
Letrinka
"Education is what you use when you've forgotten what you've learned"

I don't think it's possible to make everyone happy. You seem to be saying that
custom orders are stifling and you can't really grow as an artist if you're
repeating old work. As long as the new beads you make are selling, I don't see
why you need to go backwards. Continue to grow and expand, and your customers
will love the new stuff, as they have already proven.

JMHO,


Cheri
(Bubbee to Emily and Nathan)

I agree. There is a saying ... try to make everyone happy, no one is happy,
try to make yourself happy, at least one person is.
Diana

"Cheri2Star" wrote in message
...
I don't think it's possible to make everyone happy. You seem to be saying
that
custom orders are stifling and you can't really grow as an artist if
you're
repeating old work. As long as the new beads you make are selling, I
don't see
why you need to go backwards. Continue to grow and expand, and your
customers
will love the new stuff, as they have already proven.

JMHO,


Cheri
(Bubbee to Emily and Nathan)

Hi Kandice.

I can think of a few things that could be options but I don't know what your
priorities are for your business...you know...customer satisfaction, growth,
financial, etc...I'm sure they're all important but I don't know what order.
So, keeping that in mind, understand that what I have as ideas may not fit
your goals/structure.

Anyway....

If you can't keep up with custom orders it's the old supply and demand.
Raise prices for custom orders. That won't keep everyone happy because some
might not be able to afford it anymore. That is what happens though when
one gets good and grows.

Take selective custom orders. If you put a set up that you think you'd like
to make a few more of, say that you'll take a set number of orders for that
set for 24 hours, or a week, etc. I guess that's not really custom at all,
but it will also get people to follow your site if they're looking for
something in particular. You have your questionaire on your site so you
know what people might be looking for.

I have "Premier" customers. People who are regular, loyal customers that
spend a consistent amount of money with me. They see what I have before it
goes to my specials page. Those things go on my sold gallery pages so
others can see them and request orders, so it's not really cutting anyone
out. Perhaps you could work something like that in. Maybe Premier
customers get custom orders for a $$ amount per month. I don't know how
that would work, I'm just typing out loud here.

I used to think I could make the same thing over and over, as long as it
sold. Now that I've become more in touch with being creative, I think I'd
die if I had to do custom orders. That doesn't mean I don't work with
people. But I also keep my sets smaller (bigger beads) and that way I don't
get burned out.

Do you lose people if you don't do custom orders? Are people that unhappy
if you can't do it for them? Your beads are so beautiful, I know I would be
able to find something!


--
--------------------------------------
Lori Greenberg
www.beadnerd.com
ebay:
http://cgi6.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dl...origre enberg


"Kandice Seeber" wrote in message
...
I have been batting an idea around in my head for a little while - a way
to
solve the custom order issue and try and make everyone happy. I always try
to make my customers happy - but I think the one thing that seems to
always
disappoint is that I rarely have the time or inclination to take custom
orders. I still get quite a few requests even though I have in my FAQ that
I
usually don't do them. So I think I have a way to satisfy everyone - I
hope!
I am thinking about starting a kind of club - essentially a mailing list
that you can belong to if you are in need of a custom order from me. I
will
choose someone on that list at random (or on a rotating basis, whichever
ends up working out) once per month, and that person gets to order
anything
they want. There would be a few ground rules, but that's essentially it.
That way, people who really really want something specific can get it, and
I
still have the freedom to create for the rest of the time. I would love to
hear your thoughts on this. No, this would not replace the specials I
occasionally have - I would still try and keep up with that, and also with
auctions. This would be a separate list than the one I currently have
going - and you can belong to both. Please let me know what you think!

--
Kandice Seeber
Air & Earth Designs
http://www.lampwork.net

Another "me too" post. I agree with these guys. I seriously believe
that your customers will be just as happy, if not moreso, with the new
work you create in the time you would have spent on custom pieces.

Believe me, I get custom order requests all the time. But I know I
can't do it and stay happy. For anyone who can, that's cool, but it
simply doesn't work for me. It is, as you said, stifling.

When I try to do something specific for someone, you can bet your
bottom dollar it will be nearly impossible for me. Go figure.

On Thu, 12 Aug 2004 18:51:54 -0500, "Diana Curtis"
wrote:

I agree. There is a saying ... try to make everyone happy, no one is happy,
try to make yourself happy, at least one person is.
Diana

"Cheri2Star" wrote in message
...
I don't think it's possible to make everyone happy. You seem to be saying
that
custom orders are stifling and you can't really grow as an artist if
you're
repeating old work. As long as the new beads you make are selling, I
don't see
why you need to go backwards. Continue to grow and expand, and your
customers
will love the new stuff, as they have already proven.

JMHO,


Cheri
(Bubbee to Emily and Nathan)



Tink
Check here for available work:
http://blackswampglassworks.com/latest.htm

Do you remember the adage:

"Do what you love and the money will come"?'

I'm a firm believer. Your work is so full of you, and your inspiration and
your love of what you do, it shines through!

Me? I *do* the old man, and he gives me his paycheck, so it holds true for me
too! ROFL...(kidding, had to get that guttermind reference in there
somehow!!!)

The Blessed Fiddy, Patroness Saint of the Disorganized
LC in Sunny So Cal
Personality Development Specialist (Full-Time Mom!)