May 20th, 2012

Finally got my wholesale order finished today, after the nightmare that was cushion-gate Friday I finally finished, so there are now 4 cushions and 15 pin cushions waiting to be shipped off to their new home in York.  Looked like postage stamp HQ in here today!

I'll tell you what though - and working in a post office there's no excuse for this - I've wildly underestimated the size and weight of these products!  Not got a box big enough so this is going to end up being at least 2 parcels, which is annoying but it's my error!

So now I'm left with a house that's covered in threads, literally looks at though a cotton factory has exploded in here, and no time to sort it before I have to start the next job, even now I'm blogging on one screen and adding a new product listing in another...I swear, when I come to power I'm bringing 36-hour days into force!

But until then, I'm taking myself to bed for some sleep before another manic Handmade Monday begins!

March 27th, 2012

Today can be summed up in one word - stamps!

Having kept our eyes peeled for weeks today we finally found out the new 2012 stamp prices...oohhh there's some unhappy folks out there!  I suppose 60p for a first class stamp does seem a lot, especially when you ask for a book and it comes in at more than £7.00, but I just think it's such good value!  With fuel prices the way they are can you imagine how much it would cost you to drive your letter from the Scottish Highlands to Cornwall?!  An awful lot more than 60p!!

The one thing I do disagree with is the new scheme for pricing packets.  For those who haven't heard about it, a packet weighing anywhere between 0 and 750g will be one flat price.  It's an absolute winner if you're sending heavier things but for those selling small, light things it's pretty hideous.

It makes me worry about those of us with small, online businesses.  In some cases, especially for those people who make and sell textiles, postage (with packaging) will be at least half the prices of the products.  I have some brooches listed on my Etsy shop which, with the brooch pin on the back, are too big to be Large Letters, so on a £6.50 product you'll be paying £3.00 in P&P - I don't expect to be selling too many of those!!

Who knows, it may work out, but I really don't see this doing anything to boost online sales, for anyone!