Journal

For the past year and a bit, I’ve been pontificating and prescribing advice for designer/hand-makers at the blog www.pretty-somethings.co.uk. For much of that period, I’ve been a banging drum, a sounding brass. But, every now and then, I’d get a comment or an email that convinced me my literary efforts weren’t entirely in vain.

It all started with an opinionated personality, an eagerness to help and first hand experience of selling handmade online. I thought I could translate my experience as a retailer into useful information for British hand-makers. After all, about 15-20% of the range we sell at pressies4princesses.co.uk is UK handmade.

I knew there was a problem to solve; I speak to hand-makers all the time through my role at pressies4princesses. I thought waxing lyrical was the answer.

After 12 months of writing more than 50 posts, I finally had the “eureka” moment. Well, actually, I had two!

First off, It occurred to me that I should ask hand-makers what’s troubling them in business. Hence this latest post (after a writing hiatus brought on by self doubt): Hand-makers: What’s your problem?

Then, my second “eureka” was to decide that I’d actually try to help solve the problems. And, not by liberal prescription of advice and chastisement. No, I figured for the next 12 months I would try to put constructive solutions in place instead.

You see, having started pressies4princesses - the family breadwinner - in a back bedroom 3 years ago, I’ve been forced to solve a lot of problems facing hand-makers. From taking decent photos with minimal equipment (and expertise!) to reaching dizzying heights at the top of Google’s results, I’ve had to figure it all out. Now, rather the battering hand-makers about the head with another bout of cruel-to-be-kind-ness, I’ve decided instead to translate, automate, assist and action. To solve hand-makers biggest problems with easy to use, free or low cost, ‘democratic’ tools.

Why the change of heart? Well, because talking to hand-makers of late made me realise that their biggest underlying problem is lack of time. As wise as my words may be (in my opinion), they just don’t have time to read them. Nor, do they have the leisure to figure out new technology. And, even if they did, they would then have precious little time to act.

So that’s where we’re headed with pretty-somethings.co.uk. I can think of a dozen things I want to launch tomorrow. Unfortunately, the reality will be a rather meeker “phased roll out” of individual tools. Watch this space for more info as it happens.

All the best

Steve