Your SHOP- Working Alone or in Team ?

[RainbowMittens]

Hey, guys!

I'm wondering are you doing everything by your self or you have some team mates?

Yesterday I started to think that maybe I need some help- because knitting those mittens takes an hours - and my eyes are getting very tired from that and even more from computer.
But I'm afraid that If I would have someone else helping out- wouldn't that ruin my shop identity ?!

What is your experience?

[Former_Member]

I think that if you get help then would not be handmade by you. I do everything myself but if some friends help you... maybe is nice...

[SerenityInChains]

Our shop is a collective... we have 4 artisans (including myself), and we all pitch in to make it work. Whether it's producing amazing pieces, taking photos, looking for new venues to sell at, or working on the Etsy shop, we all pitch in.

But... when you bring in more people your dynamic does change some. It is alot of work in itself for me to coordinate all of us to get things done.

[JewelMeShop]

I do everything alone. It's so tiring because I also have a full time job and 24 hours are never enough...
But I also enjoy the fact that whatever Ido- from creating to promoting- expresses who I am.
If I had my own bussiness I think it would be fine to have some people helping me with some tasks like buying some materials, packaging or visiting post office.

[StudioAvai]

My shop has been open for almost 6 months now and I have completed my pieces myself. However if my business grew I may hire helping hands or request help from family and friends in the future..

[Former_Member]

I do all the woodworking and actual creating myself. My wife helps me with design ideas and promoting the shop. Especially being involved in the teams on here, she has more free time somedays than I do as I work 40 hr weeks.

[Former_Member]

Actually it is very difficult to hire someone who knits exactly the way you want to have it - maybe you should hire someone for all the other things a shop needs ...

[threestonebirds]

I work with my siblings, one slightly older and one slightly younger. It definitely makes for an interesting dynamic, although since running the shop online is completely my responsibility I have perhaps an unusually large amount of say in how things go – prices, for example, are entirely figured out by me and while they might suggest raising or lowering something, in the end I'm the one who crunches the numbers and decides what goes up.

It's very nice to have help on designs, though, and I never feel like I'm going in alone, even if we sometimes disagree on things. I don't think having help would ruin your shop identity at all. The patterns are still yours, aren't they? The shop is yours. By outsourcing and getting help that will make you more productive, you're just demonstrating good business sense that will probably help you in the long run.

[Former_Member]

I almost 100% of the Time Work Alone. If a Large order Comes in, My husband Helps me package which is Such a Time Saver.
I am only comfortable With myself Doing it (Soapmaking in General) because I know what I am doing and the best ways to do Said things.

[PlumetotheWind]

I do everything alone because I don't trust anyone to pay as close attention to the details as I do. I'm sure if I ever get extremely overwhelmed with work (which would be lovely), I would hire a part-time assistant to help me out. But honestly, I know that nobody would care as much about my business as I do.

[Former_Member]

I have my hubby who chips in with editing and photos, runs to the post office,book keeping and such.
Since I am the only one with a formal compounding education, I would never let him make my products.
So far, it is working well. I do see a limit to my ability to fulfill,
but that's still a looong way down the road.

[Former_Member]

My shop is a mother/daughter collaboration but it's mostly me doing it right now. My daughter is a busy high school girl but hopefully (for me) things will slow down for her in a couple of weeks.

[Former_Member]

At Crooked Corks; I do all the admin/office work, while my husband does all of the crafting and creating.

We make a great team for Crooked Corks! He is so handy, crafty and creative; and I love everything administrative/marketing/sales!

[MyDistinctDesigns]

It is just me.....

[IslandPicnic]

My mother and I both own our business. Right now she does all of the sewing and I do everything else. However, since our business is growing, we've decided that we need some outside help. And for now, we've decided to hire out some help in website and marketing stuff, and I'm going to help with the sewing. That way we can still be in control of how our products are made.

That being said, if you find someone who makes items to your standards, I think it's perfectly fine! Our long-term goal is to have a group of local women helping to make our items with us. It's still handmade! And it helps out your community. :)

[Former_Member]

It's just me. I am such a perfectionist that I won't put it in my shop if it doesn't meet my approval and I have yet to find a helper that can do that.

[Former_Member]

I run this shop and my bath & body shop alone. I started a 3rd shop as a collaboration shop, so we work as a team.

[Former_Member]

I'm doing this on my own. The only time I had hired help (a sister of mine) is to count and organize all inventory items. =) Hope your eyes get some well deserved rest. |-)

[PearlesPainting]

I do everything by myself w/ a little help from my 11 yr. old daughter.
I find the pieces, I paint the pieces, I photograph the pieces, I list the items, I promote the items....I am exhausted.
My child brings the packages to the PO and ships them for me.
I have been going non-stop for over a year now..
I was approached by a friend offering to help me...but I am not sure teaching somebody to paint like me and then selling it will work for me. I am just not sure what somebody else could do to help me w/. the creative process. I would love if somebody could help me w/ the paper work/office work.
I don't make any money yet...It would be great of somebody else would take over the promoting and what not so all I had to focus on was the painting/creative part.

[Former_Member]

Pearle, you could have someone help with listing and promoting. How about an older (responsible) high school student or college student - maybe someone interested in the art field? That way you're both benefiting from them helping you.

[RainbowMittens]

wow! so almost everyone runs their shop by themselves!
Thats Amazing!
How don't you get tired of that!?

[Former_Member]

I think if you are happy doing everything yourself thats great but if you feel like you need help even it's just the computer side of things or marketing/pictures. I love the crafting side of my shop but would love if someone wanted to take over the rest for me. :)

[Former_Member]

I do everything in my shop myself. At times I feel it would be nice to just create new pieces and have someone else do the photography, listing, shipping etc but then I think I would be over their shoulder watching everything. Maybe I will consider help when my sales get to a point where I really need it and when I feel I wouldn't be such a control freak :)

[PelinHanleyCeramics]

Do it all myself!

From "seeing the product in my mind's eye" to buying the raw materials, to making it, trying/ testing the finished product (jewellery shouldn't have sharp edges, nor it should smudge), photographing it, listing/describing it, marketing it (also sell at a brick and mortar shop, in Bristol!), exhibiting it... nowadays blogging about it, tweeting about it...

I do it all myself! And I love it!

[Former_Member]

My partner and I shoot the images we sell... but then I (kel) am doing all the shop work as he has a full time day job :) This is my day job!