One of the reasons I started Wheat Wrote What was to express controversial concerns without it being “personal” and putting List owners in awkward positions.

Many “new to the business” designers cannot understand why Retailers are not buying their products.

It is my rather strong opinion that one recent “biz group” discussion clearly shows what is lacking in far too many of the “independent” instructional offerings currently on the market.

Apparently this niche manufacturer plans to produce a speciality product, and include it in some sort of kit.

Sounds great, EXCEPT,

This kit is for a technique in which she may not currently have the knowledge and expertise to properly choose the OEM (other equipment maker) products to be included or prepare the instructions and/or “you will also need” recommendations and listings.

She is frustrated that a Distributor cannot say what to use. I wish it were more surprising to read this unrealistic expectation.

Instead, it is frustrating that she is not accepting responsibility for the product and doing her own research or arranging for expert technical help to properly present HER product.

Technical information should either be as a result of her personal experience, or from technical editorial review or best, from a knowledgeable retailer or even from a technique group on their Internet.

In today’s economy it is completely unrealistic to think that a major distributor’s customer service folks whose primary responsibility is to facilitate order processing and delivery would be knowledgeable about the literally thousands if not tens of thousands of product in their lines.

You, are the producer of the product, kits, whatever should be doing that and then deciding which OEM elements belong in your kit

FWIW, it is not a distributor who should be advising you on product, but rather the Importer or Manufacturer should be your primary resource for product information.

And the smart Importers/Manufacturers KNOW that they need to get technical technique support from people who know how to use their materials & tools.

Distributors are not and should not be Technical Editors or Advisers. That is the responsibility of the Kit maker.

Time, I think to go find the “What Is A Distributor” monologue and share it with you. Right after I finish cleaning up the “results” of a clogged line out to the septic.

Meanwhile, speaking of unrealistic expectations, like this is not personal.

Well another of my friends is fond of saying, if it hurts to hear it, there is good chance that it is someone you really needed to be told.

I wish her great success with her new product. However, I will not be advising my Retailer Clients to stock her kits – only the supply material.

Coffee Break Over,
Back to the Great Cleanup – as always, your public and private comments are welcomed

Wheat

– as always, your public and private comments are welcomed

I have been thinking about a question asked in a “designer group” over the last day or so while engaged in a number of mindless activities made necessary by caffeine withdrawal (this is worse than when I quit smoking all those years ago.)

What makes someone a “DESIGNER” can be such Hot Topic, I wanted to find my nomex gear and be sure it still fit before responding

Everytime I read something “asking” for an opinion, I always stop and wonder if they really want an answer, or if they want to hear all sugar and spice.

In most Internet groups, I “assume” they want music to their ears.

In a group such as DesignerBiz, you might think that is different, but all to often it is not.

It is both sad and worrisome that so many like to assume hateful intent, assuming that any straight answer is intended to hurt. Well sometimes honesty does hurt – although I find that it hurts least when we are honest with our selves. I cannot help but wonder if they are so devastated by a mentor’s comment whatever are they going to do when they get out in the real world of business and commerce.

In a recent act of personal Internet Idiocy (I was the idiot) I tried to explain why some behavior is not professional and harms the image of “Professionals” in an industry or Craft.

Declaring yourself to be a Professional IS the first step. Writing rambling incoherent letters over some imagined slight is not.

This, of course, got me suspended from a group who felt severely insulted (which probably says the mirror being held up was not one they were prepared to look in)

So, enough of the caveats, IF the context of your CONTEXT is really the BUSINESS of DESIGN

Then here is just a partial answer.

Those who are simply “looking for pin money” or to “support their habit” are NEVER in the opinion of me or the IRS for that matter, are not in the BUSINESS,

They may be WONDERFUL, Talented and highly proficient, but they are hobbyist.

There are many many aspects of Professionalism and being a professional in a particular field of endeavor. This is just the tip of the iceberg.

But I truly believe for far too many business reasons, that the days of being less than Professional, or presenting a product that unfavorably compares with what is offered commercially “by the big guys” ( who in the grand scheme of things are really very tiny) is not longer even remotely acceptable and to do so harms the industry significantly.

You might be a talented, highly proficient and wonderful Hobbyist, truly dedicated to the art of your craft, and you even might be a Designer, but you are NOT a Designer unless you sincerely intend to act a business person with an intent to make a profit.

There is a whole lot more to being a Design Professional – THere are some earlier entries in this series, (athough I seem to be on a Crochet Kick this month.) I think the first entry in that series was titled: Designer Resources

Remember if you will,

I do not just ART, only PRESENTATION – so don’t take it personally

The buying public will decide if you are worth it, not me.

Please feel free to add your thoughts, I publish any comment where the writer is willing to include their name when they register.

Wheat

I have reached the point in my current engagement in H t m ELL where some of what I am doing is mindless – which leaves way too much time for “thinking”

While certainly these opinion may not apply to every designer or retailer, it does seem to apply to far too many.

I have upon occasion gotten on the soapbox about the way indie designers & retailers keep harping how they are just waiting for the next upturn.

It is still an unsolved mystery WHEN the majority of those with something to sell are going to realize that the world as we know it changed. This change began in the 50’a & 60’s for communication, and from the sales & marketing perspective, officially began on November 12, 1990 and the real impact began to be felt in more like 2000.

It may have started with Companies like Microsoft & AOL, but the way our customers now choose to do business has radically changed just as the way we live our lives in these United States has been turned upside down by technology.

Maybe not exactly the way Paul Allen envisioned, but to ignore the changes in the way “America does business” is just no longer a viable option. We may not like, but it is true. Times have changed.

So what brought on this rant? Well just guessing, but it would seem that lots of designer/artisans spent the holidays working on their web sites because there is a huge rash of ” I just created/revised/updated… let me know what you think…”

After far to many moments where I want to ask “Do you *really* mean that?”

Having made the decision that attempting to “politely comment” on how they might benefit from Cricket’s SEO & Marketing classes, seasoned with a bit of reason from others in thier niche – it remain incomprehensible to me that instead of getting current information they continue to rely on the what worked in another world.

With rare exceptions, we choose to use the most interesting and up-to-date tools and materials in our projects – yet so many members of the Retail & Design community insist on ignoring the tons of information available about how to reach the consumer of their choice, be it an individual or the buyer for a corporation… and wait for the next upturn in the business cycle.

Yesterday a request for help in publishing a newsletter & the discussion that followed, in one e-group made me admit “out loud” that it just might be hopeless. Yet, a simple visit to sites like AWeber Considered one of the best and most accepted by ISP Email Newsletter services would get these folks so much information they really need before making decisions.

The majority are never going to get that Web Design & Web Development are two different things. Heck, it sometimes seems impossible to get across the difference between a store and a shopping cart.

People who “should” know better continue to insist on applying dated “Print/Static” display techniques. It is my opinion that those who lack professional graphic training just might be in better shape on this than they think.

Instead of learning about the creative (and in many ways less expensive in dollars) opportunities available to them – way too many seem determined to create ways to cling to the past and punish anyone who won’t help them to do that.

And to get downright ugly about those who are taking advantage of this new market environment – God help the designer, retailer or supplier who has a bigger picture view and is working to increase the pie so we can all have bigger slices, you will be defamed as the punishment for your good deed.

It makes one wonder what has happened to the Entrepreneurial Spirit – you know, where you were admired and rewarded for succeeding, instead of being vilified for using new opportunities to improve your business bottom line?

What has happened to thinking about long term effects of short term actions (or lack of action)?

Why even ask these questions, when the majority cannot even answer the basics; like what they want their website or blog to accomplish and even if they do. While they may not be in the position to hire what is needed to make sure their website, the modern day equivalent of a Press Kit, is found and reaches thier target audience(s), anyone can get the information they need with the proper application of a bit of sweat equity.

Maybe this has joined “copyright” & “why designers don’t seem to want to effectively market”, as topic Wheat best not comment on, because the trickle down theory is not working very well and the reactions of those whose feelings are hurt is upsetting for everyone involved.

It is no longer vaguely reasonable to believe a YARNandTHREAD Designing Author/Artisan or Independent Retailer can survive without more than just a nominal “business card” Internet presence. They must take advantage of the sales potential offered by a strong web presence created specifically to reach their target markets.

It is also sad that it is often no longer vaguely reasonable to believe it is possible in many situations to have a discussion of the issues since so many decide to view any disagreement with their concept/view as a personal attack.

I “get” that many retailers and designers are worried about their futures, but clinging to past failed strategies is not a way to move forward.

Thank you for letting me get this off my chest, now I can turn back to things that needed focus Or go find some forsythia to inspire me

Happy Spring

Wheat

Plans Change – Decisions Don’t

About 1/2 way thru her sessions on Search Engine Optimization & Successful Website marketing, Cricket posts a link to the following essay
Plans Change – Decisions Don’t

It includes an essay from motivational speaker Zig Ziglar.

All of us have significant dates in our lives, I had written last November about how I view birthdays, but for a whole host of not always amuzing reasons, April 1st is another “significant” date each year.

After several months of struggling with “new to me” software, getting it to work “the way I want” it is time and past time to begin moving forward again

So here’s to Spring and New Beginnings, and maybe having some fun along the way, learning to love the detours, but always keeping my eyes on the “desired” destination.

Wheat

Few Independent Designers can afford the high cost of professional photography.

Thanks to the wonders of today’s digital photography, and a bit of ingenuity, it may well not be completely necessary –

Lightboxes like the EZ Cube have always been on my wish list.

But if you are “handy” and your products are small, there is no reason why you cannot construct a “usable” light boxes. Here is the link I am sending to TH so he can build some for me to use.
http://www.studiolighting.net/homemade-light-box-for-product-photography/ Be sure to read the comments as many great suggestions have been made.

Meanwhile, as we are experimenting with some other options for “larger” items – I’ll let you know of any “improvements” that “work for wheat”