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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

To be fed up of people trying to hawk their 'craft' wares

195 replies

Goldenhandshake · 03/12/2013 12:18

Over the last couple of years there seems to have been phases of craft/homemade items being hawked by loads of people, en masse, particularly over facebook.

There have been cards, cupcakes, personalised converse trainers and now hair bows seems to be the latest.

AIBU to be sick of the sodding 'Please like my FB selling page' requests, stalls popping up at DD's dance class, school fetes etc and then having people I know almost guilt tripping you into buying because you know them?

I know I don't have to buy anything, and I mostly don't, but have felt obliged to a couple of times. and have mainly been left disappointed

OP posts:
SantaIKnowHimIKnowHim · 04/12/2013 00:24

Jeez, this thread's depressing. Mum's can't win whatever they do, can they?!
Stay at home and claim benefits, you're a scrounger. Show a bit of flair and creativity to bring in your own money and you're accused of "hawking your shit tat around." Hmm

SantaIKnowHimIKnowHim · 04/12/2013 00:26

Sorry, forgot to add although I completely agree with everything should be above board and regulated.

SantaIKnowHimIKnowHim · 04/12/2013 00:31

What pisses me off most about mumpreneurs hawking homemade shabby chic is the stereotype they create. It always comes back to 1950s housewife crafts...from women with degrees and previously successful careers. I completely get the difficulty with finding work after children, but to fall back on baking, sewing and flower arranging rather than, I don't know...PC repairs and gardening services. Or even selling less feminine tat such as guitar plectrums or pen knives! Why do they have yo make frippery?

Who said anything about creating a stereotype?! Confused It doesn't always have to hark back to a 'feminist' issue.
I'd be absolute SHITE at PC repairs, DIY plug changing, or even changing a blasted light bulb for crying out loud.
Why, if you can make gorgeous cakes or craft beautiful cushions does that make you any less of a person?

MilkyBarButtons · 04/12/2013 01:02

Of course it does not make you less of a person that is a ridiculous statement Santa. The problem I have with people like this is they do not work out their prices and are often not only earning nothing but a negative amount! People who craft for a living cannot compete, but you hear the wealthy middle class mumpreneur bleat about her successful business as she "made" £300 last week despite materials costing £350. Yes I do long to be as successful as you.

If there where people trying to do your job for no money and with a lot less skill and care that you employ you'd be pretty fucked off too. Let's see how stabby you get when they start offering you business tips Angry.

SantaIKnowHimIKnowHim · 04/12/2013 01:10

If there where people trying to do your job for no money and with a lot less skill and care that you employ you'd be pretty fucked off too. Let's see how stabby you get when they start offering you business tips

Now that I can understand, as some do just go straight into it and undercut.
I haven't done or sold anything yet, but am thinking along those lines for the fututre. Can understand why that would upset genuine traders.
Someone coming onto the thread and saying "What pisses me off most about mumpreneurs hawking homemade shabby chic is the stereotype they create. It always comes back to 1950s housewife crafts..."
What the hell's wrong with crafts and being so called 1950's if that's what you're good at? Or is no-one allowed to anymore as it's an affront to feminism?! Hmm

theoldtrout01876 · 04/12/2013 01:42

Everyone tells me to do the christmas/craft fair circuit.

Ive already worked out there is NO WAY Id be able to sell my stuff at these kind of events for the money Id need to cover cost. Here,at least, people go to these looking for something unusual/different and handmade ( cos here that is a HUGE selling point) but also cheap. We are used to cheap/inexpensive and want the same from our handmade stuff cos how tough can it be eh?

I refuse to work with crap materials,not only because its crap but because its crap to work with. It can also be very pretty but to me feels like crap so Im not putting my name to it. I want to work in quality materials and I have quite a choice of them in various price ranges. The cheapest of these quality materials would maybe allow me to sell at craft fairs etc but not make much of a profit. The material I really love working with is expensive and just the material costs would push me out of that market. It takes hours to actually make what I make so Id be working for about cost. That doesnt work for me

I do sell the odd piece but its word of mouth,otherwise I just make as gifts.Im a frustrated creator of things now :o

lifeistooshort · 04/12/2013 02:09

theoldtrout I so agree with you. Someone was giving me business tips at the last fair, telling me that if I made my tabards with vinyl stuff you can get to fabricland I would make much more of a profit....I tried to explain over and over again that I didn't want to work with plastic and that I like chosing the right fabric and making a quality item but the person I was talking to looked at me as if I had landed from Mars!

Pawprint · 04/12/2013 03:44

YANBU.

Went to a craft fair and one lady was selling "handmade" hair clips - they were just cheap, bulk bought plastic clips with plastic buttons glued on.

StillSlightlyCrumpled · 04/12/2013 05:26

I am very careful about which craft fairs I attend, as the cheaper they are the worse I'll do, as my stuff isn't cheap. There is a group of crafters locally that rent a stall at an indoor market at nearby, very affluent, market. We take it in turns to go & have built up a regular client base. It's great local advertising for my website for me as well as being good fun. I find I get less quibble about the price there than at craft fairs. The cost of the stall is also less than some craft fairs!

If anyone was thinking of starting up properly I agree the costs need to be thoroughly researched. By the time you've added in your stock, public liability insurance, stall fees, travel costs etc it's very easy to make a loss.

LCHammer · 04/12/2013 06:30

Worry makes a good point. I find everything is lovely, cute, infantile. A bit of fluff which other mums can buy with their 'pocket money' (to keep to 1950s stereotypes). I like nice things as much as the next person but when you're surrounded by too much you get bored of trying to differentiate good things from tat.

LCHammer · 04/12/2013 06:34

Regarding costs. I have a friend who's thinking of setting up her mumpreneur venture on eBay with re-selling a particular item she'd be buying wholesale. This whole project is based on her one secondhand item having sold close to its original price.

StillSlightlyCrumpled · 04/12/2013 07:36

I never sell what I've made on eBay. People do but for such ridiculously low prices I cannot see how they would make anything but a loss, even taking in to account wholesale prices.

The thing with seeing 'tat' like the hair clips etc at craft / school fairs is that they do sell. I know what you mean but I find it hard to knock it when people do buy them.

For some people (I say people, not women as I have met plenty of men selling at craft fairs) they so also have full time jobs. I have also kept my hand in at my previous profession on a locum basis, so don't assume the person you're buying or not buying from has no other aspirations.

I've been given plenty of business advice at fairs by people assuming this is all I can do Hmm.

SunshineMMum · 04/12/2013 07:48

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

dizzygee1 · 04/12/2013 08:01

First up let me say this business is 100% fully registered with HMRC and with a lot of happy customers, my wife set this business up as it fits round the kids and school holidays, i work long hours fitting cash machines so you gossiping folk can get your dole money out on a wednesday and by the look of the threads you lot havnt got jobs and sit at home drinking coffee, smoking 20 B&H while watching JK. Why dont you lot get a job. RANT OVER!!!!!

HopAlongOnItsOnlyChristmas · 04/12/2013 08:03

Calm your tits dizzy.

dizzygee1 · 04/12/2013 08:04

Thats correct

InMySpareTime · 04/12/2013 08:20

I sell bespoke stories, I write them based on information from the customer. This takes time, effort, skill and imagination. I pay my illustrator to add illustrations to the stories. I use quality materials and inks to get the best finish.
All good.
But it comes at a price, and people lump my work in with those "

GhostsInSnow · 04/12/2013 08:24

Ahh yes, the old "your are on the Internet in the day therefore can't have a job and must sit watching Jeremy kyle all day" line.

You are either not very good at trolling or have no concept that not everyone works 9-5 Monday to Friday Wink

BananaNotPeelingWell · 04/12/2013 08:25

The 'homemade' cards I've seen have all been very nice but tbh mainly look like an assembly of premade things to make cards withConfused I dont see a great skill in that.

LCHammer · 04/12/2013 08:26

Haha, Dizzy, it's not dole, it's JSA. Keep up! I notice you're not too busy yourself Grin

GhostsInSnow · 04/12/2013 08:37

I'm guessing dizzy has spent too long inhaling the craft glue Wink

BoohPear · 04/12/2013 08:56

I've found a couple of good crafters on Facebook and I'm willing and do pay for their good work. I'm paying £30 for a handmade designed gave the lady an idea of what I wanted by me plate to put treats for Father Christmas on. I could buy one for £3 but it wouldn't be the same or as special.

But I agree with the plastic tat and the chancers, no I do not want to buy your diamanté dummy clips thank you very much.

Katiepoes · 04/12/2013 09:57

This is a craft thread Dizzy. We smoke roll-your-own and pipes not B&H.

Besides I do have a job. A very good one thank you, it allows me pay huge sums of money for handmade quilts and skive off to post about whatever I like.

StillSlightlyCrumpled · 04/12/2013 10:30

I feel like I'm missing out - I have never seen a handmade dummy clip at a craft fair. I make baby gifts so go to baby shows etc & still no dummy clip! Grin

ophelia275 · 04/12/2013 10:45

Actually this is pretty explainable. They register as "self employed" and that way they can claim working tax credits. No need to make a profit as even if their business is rubbish they can still access WTC. This is what Universal Credit was meant to stop - those working a few hours self employed or their business being worthless but it gets them more benefits and means they don't have to sign on for Jobseekers Allowance.