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Originally Posted by robertandenith  I don't think so, I know I wouldn't. I think if you provide with good quality pics they will expect just that, your handmade diapers. Besides... they are handmade!!!  |
#1 rule in marketing homemade/handmade items--never say they are 'second quality'!!!! If you suggest that you are a sloppy seamstress, nobody will want your stuff. I work hard to make my items good quality...now, sometimes I accidentally do something funky (for example, I have a dipe in my shop right now where one tab is wider than the other b/c my back seam slanted and I didn't realize till I had turned and sewed it all shut). I marked it as a 'slightly imperfect' and included a photo of exactly what the imperfection was and marked it down a dollar off my normal price.
People don't mind a 'slightly imperfect' but they are often wary of 'seconds' kwim?
And for waht it's worth, I started off makign diapers and pads out of my leftover materials after I'd made my own dipes...so I had already figured the materials cost into my diapering cost, so anything I was able to sell was just gravy in my book...Now that I've started getting additional fabrics etc I have to consider more costs, and frankly (unless I had the time to do some SERIOUS promoting, paid for advertizing, etc) it's not a way to make a living. It's kinda fun, but not a living. I don't really make much net at all. (Now if more things would sell I might make something, lol!) Seriously though, when pricing my items, I consider the materials cost as well as all my time on making them...I am barely breaking even. When I started off it took me an hour to make a dipe, now, over 100 diapers later, I can do it in about 25min...but the diapers are worth the same amount, regardless of how long it takes me. Had I not sewn my entire stash and my sister's entire stash first, I don't think I ever would have started selling to strangers, kwim?
I make the most off custom orders, FWIW, but you've got to get your link out there to get those orders! I spent a lot of time working to get folks into my store in the first place, an dI get about 100 hits for every order...When I do get an order, I try to go out of my way to be helpful (which isn't hard, as I'm a big sister and tend to be full of advice anyway,
) and then I can hope that the customer will return and/or recommend me elsewhere.
please forgive the plethora of typos...i've got a nursing babe in my lap
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