new business problem?
 

I haven't been on here much, I began a new business and it takes a lot of my time. But I am glad.
My question is about my business, after 30 years of giving my services away and giving my extra stuff away, I opened a little booth and now sell my crafts at a local craft mall.
I thought my friends would come to my booth and buy my stuff.
they didn't. I supported them in their businesses, I went to their cooking parties, their makeup parties, you know the drill.
They were happy to take the stuff I would give them, they just don't want to buy it. They asked me to make special stuff for them all the time, so I know they liked my stuff, they just won't pay for it now that I started my business.
Anybody else have that problem?
My business is doing really well. I am just surprised at the lack of my friends support.

well ... I would say they are not your friends. you may or may not be over priced? but if reasonable I stick to my first assumption...

In my own SB I have noticed similar. They use you exclusively when it's a "buddy" deal. When you're trying to actually start up a business, they don't. A couple of friends even brought it up to me, saying they didn't want to take my time away from new customers to do their stuff. We talked about it, and they are giving me some work now. I'm discounting them a little (used to be free) but still making money.

I am doing well selling to strangers so I think my prices are fine.
I am just mystified how they can accept free stuff with no problem yet give their money to others for the same thing instead of me.
In a very broad sense they are supporting my competitors.

Think you might be right, they were not my friends.

Also, I am not desperate for money I just had the extra time and I thought for once I would try to help my husband with our income.
I was a stay at home mom now the kids are raised.

Baffling.

Addition to my earlier post. My friends didn't call me for the work because they were afraid I wouldn't charge them. They didn't want me losing money on them while losing money by not being at another job. Seth


I have some dang fine friends.

You trained them for 30 years that their friendship = free goods. The old, why buy the cow if you can get the milk for free. Need to have a conversation with them, tell them if they like the goods you would appreciate them supporting your business venture. Now that you are playing for keeps, no more freebies.

I think it's wrong to think that because friends don't buy craft items, they weren't true friends. Though the OP was kind to make and give things away, it doesn't mean that the friends are then obligated to purchase items later. In a different way of thinking, to require friends to buy something is putting a price on the gifts that were given.

OP- have you asked your friends about this situation?

I always find it awkward when friends or family want my soap or other stuff. I feel like if I give it away I'll be losing money, but if I sell it to them I'll seem cheap. It's difficult. So I try to charge wholesale price, so they're getting a big break on price and I'm not losing money. I'm not making a ton either, but at least I'm not losing it. And I still give away things here and there. :thumb:

MDKatie: I really liked the design on your felted sheep grazing coffee cozy! /end thread hijack.

Let me be the devils advocate here with two possibilities
1. you gave them stuff free for 30 years and now you want them to pay for it!
or
2. People will accept as a gift, something they'd never buy for themselves.

I think you have smart friends, and a good business.

As we all have heard and many have learned, business and friends rarely work out well together.

Your friends are your friends, your customers are your customers.

There is a difference, and your friends are respecting that. You probably really want it that way anyhow, in the end.

As well as, why buy the cow..... And all that.

Paul

I found the same thing. Let them know you will give them a ‘friends and family’ discount of 15%. Depending on how much it costs you to make your items, you could go 20%. Don’t make the mistake of only charging for the materials, your time is has value. Also, don’t give them the things you sell as b’day or Xmas gifts.

Great advice.
This gives me a great perspective and I like the idea of the difference between friends and customers.
Only one thing I have decided, I will no longer give my stuff away. Mostly it's a custom made item,can I sew up a pillow or a curtain, or do alterations on a dress or something. I have decided that I will just say I'm too busy making stuff for my business for that any more. The exception to this is for my daughters and sisters.

Thanks, I feel much better.

I think you've made a wise decision. I have, in the past, been given things that -- while they were nice and I liked them -- I would never have bought for myself. So that may be a part of it. I have a hard time going to craft fairs and such, because while much the the stuff being sold is really cute, I have a serious issue with clutter (as in, I already have way too much of it!) and don't want to add any to my house unless it's something I really need. I think a lot of people are like that.

Hope your business continues to do well!

Kathleen

Let us see what you make!

I will post a picture as soon as I finish my latest project and how to actually post a picture.
the latter will be the biggest challenge

You've established value of your crafts with your friends. They probably value your friendship more than your craft. I'd let it go and enjoy both the success you have with strangers and the friends that you have outside of the shop.

I would go along with her friends don't want to "bother her" to get stuff from her except for the above that AR posted.
So, while her "friends" invited her to all kinds of home parties figuring she would buy stuff to benefit them, now that AR has her own business, her "friends" are doing her a favor by NOT buying from her?
No, friendship doesn't work that way in my book.
I think you will find these people who you thought were your friends, are actually just acquaintances who wanted a warm body to buy their stuff.
Now that the free stuff is shut off, I expect the "friendship" will grow cold. (And you need to be too busy for their parties.)

As said above, there's being gracious and accepting a gift.

Then, there's paying for something you don't need.

Two different situations.

I am 59 years old and it took me about 50 of those years to realize that I didn't have any friends!
I fell when I was 50 or 51 and became disabled, and that, my friends was when I found out the people that I called friends didn't give a damned about what happened to me!
True friends don't exist any longer! At least not on my side of town!
I haven't had anyone that I could count on covering my back since I was in the Army, and that was only because they knew I'd be there for them come hell or high water!

Ranger

Airborne Michael, Airborne!

Ranger