Restructure - price changes - sale - long post - worth it.

I have been thinking about the 'restructuring' of my life and all that it has brought to me. The experiences, the ups, the downs and the so-so.

During the transition time when I was traveling back and forth between states, having an occupation at night while I was alone was a HUGE life saver. 

My etsy shop and selling fabric was a distraction that I needed to keep me focused and sane. I had tried cutting my own projects, sewing and so forth but that required too much of 'me', the designer part of me. The creativity side of myself was nearly unreachable it seemed.

Cutting fabric was a great stress reliever. 

Now I am 'here' 3 months. We are adjusting to this new norm. In the process of adjusting I have had to closely evaluate whether or not I want to continue my etsy shop. On one hand, I do. On the other hand, I don't. I am finding my creative side again. I don't want quilting to feel like work. I want to enjoy cutting my own fabric again.

 Why would I want to stop selling? 

There are many aspects of the fabric business that customers' rarely consider. 

 Fabric shipments, cost per bolt, cost for delivery, etsy fees, paypal fees, taxes, postal fees, gas for my car and so forth. 

As a small business owner things don't always go smoothly.

 Since I have to order fabric a full 6 months ahead this can cause a lot of stress for me. I ordered fabric in October of 2014. It arrived in August 2015, a full 10 months from the order date and 4 months late of when it was 'expected'. Now that wouldn't be a huge issue except that the fabric I ordered in May at quilt market also arrived in August 2015. I had no less than 100 bolts of fabric show up in 3 weeks. Sounds amazing right? 

well I didn't have space for it and I still don't. 

I have used etsyonsale for great sales to reduce my inventory

 and that's helped but they charge a fee.

Another fee? yep which translates to higher prices. 

I decided I'm not going to use them now.

I will use etsy codes for 'free'....

well nothing is 'free' on etsy but I digress.

Anyhow, having this much fabric - even for my business - is more than I can handle. 

I realized that my own stash is WAY out of control and I need to thin it... at least a little bit. 

Although this is another issue entirely - my local post office is very difficult to work with. There are many bad reviews for them on Yahoo. It is the first negative that I have found living here. The "head" supervisor to our little p.o. is a dousy. 

Every shipment I take there, she yells at me. 

She doesn't want to scan the packages etc.

 I have to drive 10 miles further to a larger p.o. to avoid being yelled at. :(

It's upsetting really.

 IF I turn her in for inappropriate behavior, she could hold my mail, hold my packages, not deliver.....yes I know that's illegal - but if you met this woman... 

I tell you - she'd find a way to get out of it. 

She's that bad. 

So I drive 10-15 miles to other post offices. 

That takes more time, more gas and it's stress.

I HAVE to change something. 

Here's what I am going to do.

I do not want to completely shut down my shop. 

I just need to cut back - a lot.

I won't be ordering as many fabric lines.

 I will be honoring all pre-orders for sure! 

I will be offering my stash, fat quarter bundles that are out of print, older prints you might have been searching for, custom bundles, custom 5" charm packs, stash of my 1930's that I just can't use in this lifetime and so forth. 

I have also decided to change my pricing structure on etsy. 

Most fabric is $7-9 a yard or less, $4-$5.25 a half yard or less etc..

 Japanese fabrics such as Daiwabo, Yuwa and Kokka are more per yard simply because they cost more. They range from $7 a yard clearance Kokka to $15 a yard for the brand new Yuwa. 

Moda pre-cut bundles, charm packs etc will be automatically 30% or more off retail. 

I have got to thin out the stock in my sewing space, so I can sew again. 

In addition to the overall price reduction on all items, 

I am offering a coupon for an extra 15% off your purchase. 

Enter the code SALE15 at checkout on etsy until October 16, 2015. 

Shipping in the U.S. is $5.95 no matter what you purchase. For international orders, shipping is higher and I suggest a custom order request for the best/cheapest shipping options.

More discount codes will be coming in the future. This is just the first. I am giving my blog readers a heads up before I put it on social media. 

I would love to share my 'overstock' with you at a BIG discount. Basically witht he 15% off code... yardage is at cost.

Grab some items you have been waiting for, stock up on quilt backs etc..

XOXO

Vickie