Hello, and welcome. I'm back today with this week's Thursday Throwdown: ready to ship vs. custom made.
Personally? I much prefer custom made. That is actually where it all started. Before I opened my Etsy shop I spent years making one of a kind gifts for friends and family. So custom made would be the natural route for me.
But of course when you are trying to build up a business you need to be realistic. I don't have a lot of time to dedicate to my crafts. I don't have a lot of storage space for materials. And I don't want to create false expectations on anyone, much less my customers.
So when I launched the shop I decided I would only list ready to ship items. That way if I get an order, baring any life altering circumstances, I can guarantee I can send the buyer exactly what he or she paid for within the shipping deadlines.
Does this mean I have never fulfilled a custom order? No, I've had several and if I could make the items, I always accepted them.
This cell phone cover was one of my first (and favorite to date) custom orders. Everything in it was custom - from the colors to the size, and including the fact that it was lined (in yellow felt, to match the flower).
I had a lot of fun with it and I love how it came out. But it was also a lot of work and worry - not with the making itself but more with the fact that I was having to make choices for someone else. There were a lot of messages exchanged and I was lucky the buyer was patient enough to bear with me.
So...while I love custom orders and will not refuse one as long as it's humanly possible to fulfil it, I will continue to just list ready to ship items in the shop.
Personally? I much prefer custom made. That is actually where it all started. Before I opened my Etsy shop I spent years making one of a kind gifts for friends and family. So custom made would be the natural route for me.
But of course when you are trying to build up a business you need to be realistic. I don't have a lot of time to dedicate to my crafts. I don't have a lot of storage space for materials. And I don't want to create false expectations on anyone, much less my customers.
So when I launched the shop I decided I would only list ready to ship items. That way if I get an order, baring any life altering circumstances, I can guarantee I can send the buyer exactly what he or she paid for within the shipping deadlines.
Does this mean I have never fulfilled a custom order? No, I've had several and if I could make the items, I always accepted them.
This cell phone cover was one of my first (and favorite to date) custom orders. Everything in it was custom - from the colors to the size, and including the fact that it was lined (in yellow felt, to match the flower).
I had a lot of fun with it and I love how it came out. But it was also a lot of work and worry - not with the making itself but more with the fact that I was having to make choices for someone else. There were a lot of messages exchanged and I was lucky the buyer was patient enough to bear with me.
So...while I love custom orders and will not refuse one as long as it's humanly possible to fulfil it, I will continue to just list ready to ship items in the shop.
Happy Thursday, and be sure to also check out the other bloggers' Throwdown Thursday posts:
Kelsey's Crafts
Kelsey's Crafts
I love that bunny fabric! So cute. :) Custom orders can be fun, but I definitely know what you mean about them being stressful with worrying about whether or not customers will be satisfied with the items.
ReplyDeleteYes, I love custom but ready to ship is a lot less stressful!
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