Can't keep up

[Former_Member]

Hello all!

So I just started my store this summer. I wanted to make dresses fir my daughter, and I was hoping for a couple of sales a week. I really only want to sew 4-5 nights a week while the girls are sleeping and hubby is watching sports.

However, for whatever reason, this past week I have been selling every day- sometime multiple orders! Between here and my Facebook page I have well over 20 things to make in the upcoming 2-3 weeks. I also have a craft show I signed up for in November. I know this is an awesome problem to have, but I can't do much more than this.

So what do you do in this case? Just keep making the turn around time longer? I am already at 3 weeks. Put the shop on vacation until I can keep up? Raise my prices? I hate to do that, because my holiday dresses aren't made of designer material- they are the local craft store stuff. I don't know if they are the same quality as designer. They very well might be, but who knows?

So my fellow Etsians- what is the best route? If it is to raise my prices, how do you know how much to start with?

Thanks so much!

[Former_Member]

you could EASILY up your prices. Make sure you are paying yourself well for your time and creativity!

[Former_Member]

Haha, you're right - that's an awesome problem to have! I'm not sure how I can help you, but I suppose you could increase your turn-around time. Your dresses are cute, by the way! :)

[bapsicrafts]

i agree with emily. if you're feeling overwhelmed it's best to let your prices go up.

[Former_Member]

Decide how much time you want to put into it.

I quit doing craft shows because my time was better spent working on orders. . .

[CindersJewelryDesign]

Your dresses are adorable! Pay yourself more, people will definitely be willing pay more for your cute items. ♥

[Timelesspeony]

I just saw your adorable dresses and other outfits for girls. I can see why they are such in demand! You are a very talented lady and your product shows that so much. I have to agree with Emily, you could easily raise your prices, you have a wonderful product!

[LeNidDeFleurs]

Raise prices and put turn around time longer...

[SweetPeaPurseCompany]

Your dresses are adorable. Just try to stay calm, and make sure you're paying yourself enough. and don't forget this is supposed to be fun.

[Former_Member]

wow, definitely raise your prices!!! $25 for that strawberry shortcake dress is a steal! You could sell it for double that and I would still buy it!

[Former_Member]

It's not about whether you use designer fabric or not. It's about your unique designs. They are one offs, can't be bought in a store. I think the designs are definitely designer, I think you can definitely charge more.

Think about ways you can streamline your process. Is there a friend or family member who will help cut out pattern pieces? Attach elastic? Sew frills? Cook meals? Other things like cooking in bulk, or having the kids stay at Nans for a night, can all help you get through a busy season while keeping your sanity.

Maybe you can think about how to simplify your designs. For example, if you have a dress that has a waist sash, you could use a wide ribbon instead, to save time cutting, sewing, turning in, etc.

Best of luck!

[Former_Member]

I agree with everyone else on the prices. And last Christmas season, my turn-around time got to 4 weeks, so people are definitely willing to wait!

You could also go into vacation mode to catch up on orders and show stock. As long as you don't stay closed too long it shouldn't affect anything.

[TinyTiptoesBoutique]

You have a lovely shop! I'm not surprised it's keeping you so busy! :) I looked at your prices, and you could easily raise them. Make sure you're paying yourself a good hourly wage and covering the costs of your materials. I saw some of your lovely dresses that you could easily double the price of. And, if there's some of the more time consuming items that are still selling well, just deactivate the listing until you're caught up.

[Former_Member]

Thank you so much for your advice and encouragement!! Yes, this is supposed to be fun, but lately it's become more stressful, so something needs to be done. I will definitely raise my prices and be okay with a longer turn around time. I guess the last resort is vacation mode, and I don't need to feel guilty about it- I can only do what I can.

I signed up for this craft show with s friend when I first opened my store- and I totally regret it now! But what did I know? And I just can't back out on her. I don't know how I will have time to make anything to sell there, though!

I started making my more popular items in bulk, so maybe I will have some left to sell there.

Thanks everybody!

[kidsstore]

Congratulations on being found! When I sewed for weddings, I learned to sew like I was on an assembly line, doing one step for all of the dresses at a time and then going on to the next step.

Also, here is a very useful tip to help you keep track of which pieces go with which size. I would buy several different colored satin ribbons and select a different color for each size, cut the ribbons into 2" strips, and pin the correct color ribbon to the correct size dress piece. This color code system helps save a lot of confusion and prevents putting the wrong size pieces together. You can also leave a piece of the ribbon attached to the finished dress so you can tell at a glance what size you have available.

Do not do any advertising until you are caught up and can handle the orders that come in. If things get too crazy, you can put your shop on vacation mode with a note that you are only doing it temporarily until you catch up, but also mention that you will be checking and responding to messages daily.

One thing never do, and that is lessen the quality of your work and product. Customers will expect excellent quality and be willing to pay a little more for great quality and design, instead of paying a little less for cheaper quailty and something simpler and more common.

Good luck.

[AllieBlankets]

I have had a similar problem lately as well. I'm ok with two or three blanket sales a month, but I'm getting a couple a week!

The first thing I did was extend my wait time to 6-8 weeks instead of trying to tell the customer when it might be ready. This way I'm not as stressed yet they still have a rough estimate of when they will get it, I haven't had any customer complain about the long wait since it is made to order.

The second thing I'm doing, and I also suggest to others, is I'm going to raise my prices. Sales might slow, but you will be making the same amount, maybe even more. If you are successful make sure you are getting paid what you are worth. Right now I'm only paid a couple dollars per hour for my blankets, so my first raise is to make sure I'm paid three dollars an hour across the board. Then continue to raise it in 50 cent increments until I feel I'm paid what I'm worth.sales could stay the same or even get better with prices increases, because people associate high prices with a high quality product.

Good luck!

[CopperSunStudio]

For handmade, her price is affordable and maybe why she is doing so well. I would extend the turn-around time. Why temper with success. I wish I had that problem, I would hire a cleaning lady :-)

[AllieBlankets]

The cleaning lady Is a good idea.....:)

[Former_Member]

I know of ALOT of shops, which I've shopped from, that put their shop on vacay a couple of days to catch up and that's it! If you're getting a lot of orders, putting your shop on vacay for 4-5 days won't hurt.

[Former_Member]

For sure you should raise your prices. You are making amazingly cute dresses and I'm guessing you aren't making as much as you could.

[Former_Member]

Congrats on your success! Your dresses are beautiful! I can see why you are getting so many orders. I agree with others on the prices.