Hard sell or friendly approach?

Some of you may have seen Mother Duck talking about the hard sell approach on our fb page 


http://www.facebook.com/pages/Dizzy-Ducks-Creations-II/159116527464445?sk=wall


So which route is best for business? Out in the real world you can approach each individual customer and judge whether you need to go softly softly or push the sale for all you are worth. In the virtual world it is harder to know your customer, indeed some may not want to know their customers as long as they are getting the sales. 


At Dizzy Ducks Creations we like to know who is buying from us, especially as we create some beautiful bespoke items; this doesn't mean that we don't want to know about our customers that don't buy our bespoke items. We love to see pix of our customers using our bags/jewellery or hear how well received one of our greeting cards has been. 


We regularly have a special sale on our fb page or indeed on our website but we don't feel the need to remind our customers every morning that these are happening. To a business analyst or even the bank manager this is probably not the best way to assure sales but it actually has assured return customers.


Every business is different, each approach has pros and cons - indeed Mother Duck isn't convinced there is only one way to go - after all it wouldn't do for us all to be the same. But one thing she has learnt over the years is that reducing your prices to get customers doesn't always work, people look at the really low price and wonder if there is something wrong with it. So we are back to the question do I price to sell so I sell lots of goods or do I price to true value and have fewer customers ... it's an eternal circle.


On our fb page Mother Duck can be found asking her fellow crafters and fans of our page all sorts of questions that help build a picture of who check out our page. Is it better to know a bit about the people you are dealing with rather than an anonymous crowd? Today, the question is what do you do when you are not crafting or caring for the family etc. It is amazing how many people don't actually have time to do anything but sleep. We all lead such busy lives, which leads to another question that was asked on our page the other day, maybe you have an answer? What would you do with a 25th hour in the day? Have a look and see what people said.

No matter how busy we are, we must remember that if we don't look after ourselves we will actually be too tired to help those around us, whether it be our families or in our 'proper' jobs. So Mother Duck wants to close by saying rest well, eat well and play well after all we shouldn't be living to work but working to live.


love & fluffy quacks
Mother Duck


ps Our on-line shop is under maintenance at the moment but we can still be contacted via our website www.dizzy-ducks-creations.co.uk if you have a question or would like to order some goodies.

Hard sell or friendly approach?

Some of you may have seen Mother Duck talking about the hard sell approach on our fb page 


http://www.facebook.com/pages/Dizzy-Ducks-Creations-II/159116527464445?sk=wall


So which route is best for business? Out in the real world you can approach each individual customer and judge whether you need to go softly softly or push the sale for all you are worth. In the virtual world it is harder to know your customer, indeed some may not want to know their customers as long as they are getting the sales. 


At Dizzy Ducks Creations we like to know who is buying from us, especially as we create some beautiful bespoke items; this doesn't mean that we don't want to know about our customers that don't buy our bespoke items. We love to see pix of our customers using our bags/jewellery or hear how well received one of our greeting cards has been. 


We regularly have a special sale on our fb page or indeed on our website but we don't feel the need to remind our customers every morning that these are happening. To a business analyst or even the bank manager this is probably not the best way to assure sales but it actually has assured return customers.


Every business is different, each approach has pros and cons - indeed Mother Duck isn't convinced there is only one way to go - after all it wouldn't do for us all to be the same. But one thing she has learnt over the years is that reducing your prices to get customers doesn't always work, people look at the really low price and wonder if there is something wrong with it. So we are back to the question do I price to sell so I sell lots of goods or do I price to true value and have fewer customers ... it's an eternal circle.


On our fb page Mother Duck can be found asking her fellow crafters and fans of our page all sorts of questions that help build a picture of who check out our page. Is it better to know a bit about the people you are dealing with rather than an anonymous crowd? Today, the question is what do you do when you are not crafting or caring for the family etc. It is amazing how many people don't actually have time to do anything but sleep. We all lead such busy lives, which leads to another question that was asked on our page the other day, maybe you have an answer? What would you do with a 25th hour in the day? Have a look and see what people said.

No matter how busy we are, we must remember that if we don't look after ourselves we will actually be too tired to help those around us, whether it be our families or in our 'proper' jobs. So Mother Duck wants to close by saying rest well, eat well and play well after all we shouldn't be living to work but working to live.


love & fluffy quacks
Mother Duck


ps Our on-line shop is under maintenance at the moment but we can still be contacted via our website www.dizzy-ducks-creations.co.uk if you have a question or would like to order some goodies.

1000 sparkles, should I charge what its worth or what I think people will pay

Mother Duck has been revisiting her 1000 swarovski crystal necklace and has decided that she will make these to order. How exciting that email enquiries came within a short space of time after it was posted on our fb page. 

This particular necklace is great for any formal occasion ... adding a bit of glitz and glamour but it would also be wonderful for any bride, not forgetting of course that Mother Duck also makes bracelets & earrings.


This process has also made her consider whether as part of Dizzy Ducks return to the wedding fairs whether we should consider do our wedding jewellery too. It is many years since we have sold tiaras but nothing is impossible. Was it James Bond who said "never say never again" or has Mother Duck got her feathers in a twist with another film character?


So how do you price your treasured creations? Do you price it for a quick sale that under values your work or do your price it fairly and risk a barrage of people telling you charge too much and they could get it cheaper from Primark? So how do you do it? Here at Dizzy Ducks Creations we try to fairly price our products without under valuing them - this is roughly (really roughly) how we do it ... cost of materials, cost of utilities (unless you are working in a dark cave you will have used heat & light whilst making your creation) and your own time (at least minimum wage for your time); people would also suggest you add a little for your profit margin - some say this should be 5% some say 10%  BUT all in all you have to charge what you are most comfortable with. Don't under estimate your worth or the value or your work. People will pay for good quality, handmade items.


If you love your work and put love into your work it will show.


Whether it is 1000 sparkles, a hand knitted baby blanket or a set of lavender hearts for the wardrobe make sure you make it to the best of your ability and look at it with a critical eye ... if the quality is good enough that you would buy it from store/craft fair/etsy or folksy then it is good enough to sell. 


Enjoy your crafts and have fun in all that you do.
love & fluffy quacks
Mother Duck

Inspiration sweet inspiration

The title of this Blog has been 'borrowed' from one of our fb followers - it was his response to a post where Mother Duck asked people what one craft wish they would ask for from their fairy Godmother. If you want to see what else people would ask for or tell us what you would ask for check out our fb page.


http://www.facebook.com/pages/Dizzy-Ducks-Creations-II/159116527464445?sk=wall


So where do you draw your inspiration from? Mother Duck is building quite a library of books on techniques, different skills and textiles to name but a few; BUT she sees inspiration in everyday objects or those little oddities  that we stumble upon in life. Her most frustrating being a stunning antique chair with an amazing buttoned back, she can see in her mind's eye a beautiful buttoned detail bag but hasn't found the right fabrics or buttons yet! She has sketches and is ready to translate those into a paper pattern but doesn't want to jinx the project by doing all of that before she has the fabric. Do you have one of those 'just out of reach' projects? Mother Duck has a sketch book/journal full of inspirational ideas waiting quietly to be rediscovered ... she also has fabric remnants that are waiting for a project to catch up with them and a peculiar collection of goodies that she just knows will become a Dizzy Ducks Creation item. 


So what is your 'just out of reach' project ... why is it out of reach? Some of Mother Duck's out of reach projects are just that because she cannot afford the materials to create them.

"Challenges can be stepping stones or stumbling blocks."
Author Unknown

May you find inspiration to fire your imagination and strive to reach the pinnacle of your achievements.

fluffy love & quacks

Mother Duck

duckies of the world unite

Hello & welcome one & all to our new Blog; we have moved to this one because it is much easier for Mother Duck to do without having to ask for lots of help.


So what has been happening ... we have had all the excitement and confusion of the changes to the business page on facebook - not completely sure that we have it cracked yet but we are getting there. The amazing support that we have had from other businesses is certainly much appreciated. We have been astounded by the wide variety of products and services that have a face book business page BUT also at how many wonderful talented people there are making some stunning handmade items and selling via facebook. Mother Duck has treated herself over the last few weeks to some lovely items.


So what do we have in store for Dizzy Ducks Creations in the future? 


We have a multi-vendor sale on our facebook page on the 2nd March 2011 and we have a variety of craft fairs booked throughout 2011. April will see us return to the Wedding Fayres too; so we will be updating our portfolio of wedding stationery and other wedding goodies. We will be posting full details, including dates locations etc soon. Mother Duck hopes that this is the beginning of her return to making bespoke wedding stationery which is where Dizzy Ducks Creations began 5+ years ago.


Mother Duck is busy in the workshop creating all sorts of lovely (she thinks) goodies for the website/craft fairs and as soon as they are ready for sale she will let everyone know.


with lots of lovely fluffy hugs & quacks to you all
Mother Duck