Buried in yarn.
Well, it’s official. Jayne hat orders are now coming in just a hair faster than I can fill them. I thought it would let up after Christmas, but it’s January and I’m still getting roughly an order a day for finished hats. About an order a day per kit, too. I can knit a wool hat a day and still have a little free time for myself, but the cotton ones take longer, so that slows me down. And of course, some orders are for other things which may take longer, like dice bags or friggin’ huge scarves, and believe me, that scarf is thick and big, it’s not a project I can jam into my bag and take with me wherever I go. Also, I’m screwed should I have to slow down due to illness or injury, something I thought about yesterday when my daughter accidentally caught my fingers in the door at Starbucks. Ouch!
Add to that that I’m so overwhelmed that I’m not able to help with the Merelew event in Dragonrealms as much as I’d like to, and you get back to the whole “free time” issue. I coordinated alterers for the first Merelew festival back in ’99, and wish I could have a bigger hand in this one, but there’s just not the time. (And people, this is gonna be cool. Really.)
I can’t hire someone on at any kind of living wage, so my options are either raise the price and see if that slows demand, or temporarily stop taking finished hat orders. I’m certainly open to suggestion.
As problems go, this is a good one to have, but it’s still a problem!
I bet it’s due to those who got box sets during Christmas…
I would up the price a bit, and make a static waiting list. No more than x orders, with a mailing list that you can use to send out a notice when y slots have cleared.
I bet it’s due to those who got box sets during Christmas…
I would up the price a bit, and make a static waiting list. No more than x orders, with a mailing list that you can use to send out a notice when y slots have cleared.
I’ve seen places before that stop taking orders for certain items until a specified date.
Like http://www.fishfishknits.com/ sometimes stops taking orders for the kitty & fox hat, and other times stops taking orders all together.
I really don’t think it hurts business at all. I tried to order something from there during a time when it was shut down and I just came back when the notice said she’d re-open.
I’ve seen places before that stop taking orders for certain items until a specified date.
Like http://www.fishfishknits.com/ sometimes stops taking orders for the kitty & fox hat, and other times stops taking orders all together.
I really don’t think it hurts business at all. I tried to order something from there during a time when it was shut down and I just came back when the notice said she’d re-open.
Let me know if I can help in any way. I wouldn’t mind taking a “non-living” wage to help crank out some hats. It’d be something to do while my chickens roast and bread dough rises. 😉
Let me know if I can help in any way. I wouldn’t mind taking a “non-living” wage to help crank out some hats. It’d be something to do while my chickens roast and bread dough rises. 😉
Heh. I can always pay in luxury yarn! 😉
Heh. I can always pay in luxury yarn! 😉
Oooh, there is that. Any fancy sock yarn in there? 😉
Oooh, there is that. Any fancy sock yarn in there? 😉
Well, there is some Lorna’s Laces Shepherd Sock. I’ve got two skeins each of Mineshaft and Lakeview, and I would have sworn I had some Black Watch floating around here somewhere…
Well, there is some Lorna’s Laces Shepherd Sock. I’ve got two skeins each of Mineshaft and Lakeview, and I would have sworn I had some Black Watch floating around here somewhere…
Oooh. I’d knit for those… 😉
Oooh. I’d knit for those… 😉
Wow I am super impressed that you can crank one out every day.
I would hike the price a little, if it doesn’t slow the demand then at least you’re getting more profit for your no free time.
🙂
x Margie
Wow I am super impressed that you can crank one out every day.
I would hike the price a little, if it doesn’t slow the demand then at least you’re getting more profit for your no free time.
🙂
x Margie
Well, I know that everytime I see you you’ve got needles and thread in hand and that’s a few times a week. Perhaps you should push the do-it-yourself kit more and hell, you could even make tutorial videos for sale or to give away (I could even set it up for you if you’d like; I’ve got the recording equipment).
Or, just hike up the price so you actually can afford your Mochas, Dolce Lattes and Pumpkin Spice joys.
😉
Well, I know that everytime I see you you’ve got needles and thread in hand and that’s a few times a week. Perhaps you should push the do-it-yourself kit more and hell, you could even make tutorial videos for sale or to give away (I could even set it up for you if you’d like; I’ve got the recording equipment).
Or, just hike up the price so you actually can afford your Mochas, Dolce Lattes and Pumpkin Spice joys.
😉
pumpkin spice is gone again until fall 🙁 🙁 🙁 🙁
pumpkin spice is gone again until fall 🙁 🙁 🙁 🙁
Not at my store. We’ve got it until at least Feb. :p
Not at my store. We’ve got it until at least Feb. :p
jealous.
I went to a place that was out of gingerbread and pumpkin spice on tuesday, then found another that still had gingerbread on wednesday.
jealous.
I went to a place that was out of gingerbread and pumpkin spice on tuesday, then found another that still had gingerbread on wednesday.
I wish we’d run out of pepermint. :p
And creepy – you’ve got 3 of the same friends as I and I have no idea who you are :p
I wish we’d run out of pepermint. :p
And creepy – you’ve got 3 of the same friends as I and I have no idea who you are :p
peppermint anything is disgusting.
Playing on commonalities: I’m a firefly fan, a member(ish) of YJN and I spent a summer working in vancouver.
peppermint anything is disgusting.
Playing on commonalities: I’m a firefly fan, a member(ish) of YJN and I spent a summer working in vancouver.
Oh. Whoa, cool. I’m a Firefly geek and a former JC moderator. :p
Oh. Whoa, cool. I’m a Firefly geek and a former JC moderator. :p
I hope you’re not into the politics of that because oh my! The conversations I have had the unfortunate experience of overhearing. Bitching and complaining about *colors*. For an hour?! The color of your username on a message board matters that much to you?
The last conversation I heard to this effect was a year or more ago and I still can’t get over it!
This is why I only call myself a “member(ish)” of YJN and any other fan club.
I hope you’re not into the politics of that because oh my! The conversations I have had the unfortunate experience of overhearing. Bitching and complaining about *colors*. For an hour?! The color of your username on a message board matters that much to you?
The last conversation I heard to this effect was a year or more ago and I still can’t get over it!
This is why I only call myself a “member(ish)” of YJN and any other fan club.
A) What’s JC?
and
B) You guys are freaking me out, since I share very few of the commonalities you have and yet you seem to have connected through this LJ. Quite a coincidink!
A) What’s JC?
and
B) You guys are freaking me out, since I share very few of the commonalities you have and yet you seem to have connected through this LJ. Quite a coincidink!
http://boards.theforce.net/
nerdalicious, I know.
http://boards.theforce.net/
nerdalicious, I know.
Hi!
Just a shout out to say keep on going! I got your hat kit before Christmas and knitted it up in 2 days during the week between Christmas and New Year’s. You should definitely charge more. I’ve seen far less creative hats here (Chicago) for $75 up to $200-something. No kidding! Most small creative businesses tend to charge less than they should. You go!!
Hi!
Just a shout out to say keep on going! I got your hat kit before Christmas and knitted it up in 2 days during the week between Christmas and New Year’s. You should definitely charge more. I’ve seen far less creative hats here (Chicago) for $75 up to $200-something. No kidding! Most small creative businesses tend to charge less than they should. You go!!
Aw, thanks! I’ve thought about bumping the price of the finished hat up to $40. I mean, it’s not like I’m exactly making a mint on these things – or even a mint mocha. And the line has been holding steady at about 38-40 hats in line for the last month. If a slightly higher price deterred a few folks, it might not be such a bad thing. And as the Aussie fellow who is trading cookies for a hat can attest, I’m perfectly willing to be flexible. 🙂
I’m so glad the kit worked out for you! Hope your hat’s keeping you nice and toasty in the Windy City!
Aw, thanks! I’ve thought about bumping the price of the finished hat up to $40. I mean, it’s not like I’m exactly making a mint on these things – or even a mint mocha. And the line has been holding steady at about 38-40 hats in line for the last month. If a slightly higher price deterred a few folks, it might not be such a bad thing. And as the Aussie fellow who is trading cookies for a hat can attest, I’m perfectly willing to be flexible. 🙂
I’m so glad the kit worked out for you! Hope your hat’s keeping you nice and toasty in the Windy City!