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Hi Cheryl
I too like to look at the good in everyone, but am finding this one a bit of a bitter pill. However the lady concerned was understanding and told me she was glad she mentioned it as it could have caused me a lot of damage. The laughable part of this is this lady is not even a member of my mailing list.
Hugs
Jacqui
Hi Melanie
I know exactly what you mean, I send out my mailing shots as BCC Blind carbon copy, so nobody nows who else has had the email, totally private. So nobody can contact my subscribers. Gosh isn't like being Top SecretLOL! Its like working for MI5.
Hugs
Jacqui
p.s good luck with the new baby!
I know in business you have to be on your toes, and at every corner you learn something new, but this takes the biscuit. If this is the extreme this person has had to go to generate sales for her work, perhaps she should ask herself why she has had to go to these lengths to get sales. I agree Ellen it is sad that we have to go down the private listing, but I am now listing everything as private, except for my bear making supplies.
Thanks Bearguys for your kind words I was a bit worried about putting on this post, but thought in the end it might make others aware.
Jenny, I agree with your comments, it is hard to keep moving on, its so easy for some people just to try and copy, it just shows me they have little imagination and eventually they will trip up. Mailing lists are valuable and private not to be given away free, I like you have worked at this a long time and have tried to get my name out and about which has not been free. I just hope the person who I am referring too gets to read this post and finds an alternative method of generating sales, instead of using us as a stepping stone.
It frightens me, that on this occassion I have been made aware, but I wonder how many more instances of this go on, not just with me but others who Feature their bears. I say Featured as this is a more high profile way off selling and is an easy target.
Sorry to go on, promise next time I will post a lighter note.
Hugs
Jacqui
Hi Girls and Boys
Just a word of warning, that it has been brought to my attention that a bear artist has contact one of my bidders from ebay on one of my Featured Listings to offer them their new released bears. The only reason they have been found out is that the bidder was not a bear collector but was purchasing as a gift for someone else. They had been into my shop in Leek, and seen the item and were told it was on Ebay as we spoke, she went home and put a bid on the item, however the bidding went too high for her. I am rather upset about this as the bidder has contacted me asking if I have been passing her information on to someone else, which is a defnate NO. She has reported this lady to ebay, I have emailed this lady to state that she should not be contacting bidders to gain herself a mailing list, basically she is going off my Featured Plus listings and getting a mailing list free of charge. I have also said I do realise it can be hard to find buyers for bears but it is totally wrong to do it off the backs of others.
I would just like to point out to any collectors out there that if you are on my mailing list, I have not passed your information onto anyone else, if you do receive email notification from out of the blue from someone you have not subscribed too then this might be the means they have used to gain your information.
I have now had to do all my listings as PRIVATE, what a sad state of affairs when a member of this group has to stoop so low.
I would like to say that this email is not intend to cause trouble, but too make it clear that I keep my collector information as personal and for my use only. You are all probably aware this was going on but just hope this is a little reminder that it is still happening today even with ebay making private bidding over £100/$200, this person caught this bidder at below the £100 bid.
Best wishes to all.
Jacqui
Hi Chloe
The same shop contacted me yesterday, they are not very clear on whether they want Sale or Return or to purchase. I personally do not do sale or return, but do supply to trade. Now with my Shop Owners hat on, a lot of bear artists only offer 5/10 per cent which in todays day and age is not good enough(stirring up a hornets nest now!)LOL some offer a discount depending on how many bears you order, for example 5 at a time would be 15 per cent and over 5 would be 20 per cent. If you give a reasonable discount you will be allowing the shop to turn them over quicker and also keep in line with the prices you sell at. I do pro forma on first order then if 30 days credit required I ask for 2 trade references and a bankers ref, this is standard practice in the UK dealing with suppliers.
Hope this is a little help.
Good Luck
Hugs
Jacqui 
Hi
We give classes in our Shop in Leek, Staffordshire, which is just over the border from you, if not too far for you to travel, we would try to help you 
Best wishes
Jacqui
Hi Jenny
I received an Ebay Newsletter about this about 2 months ago, and mentioned too other artists what was going on, but at that time there listings were still being displayed on the two sites, but I did say it was random as every now an then there listing appeared when I checked, so it looks as if it has come into full swing and you have to pay to get the full visability potential from eBay.
If you were to list the same item on both .com and .co.uk the item would have two item numbers so this would be (I think) two seperate auctions, yes the public can see what other items you have for sale (thats the link) if they check out your other items for sale.
I personally do not like to sell on .co.uk and have up until the last month only auctioned on .com, yes theres more listings on .com but there is more interest from the collectors on this site (in my opinion, this works for me, can't say it works for all). Howver, I have started to list another bear on .co.uk as a general listing and another as Featured on .com, this allows the two to link, yes it is expensive, but works for me, you have too remember Ebay is a market place and no guarantee to sell, as prices are not stable, this silly shill bidding, and the stupid amount of watchers who are not interested in purchasing, but just looking to see what prices your bear fetches, so these factors in general are giving us a misconception on ebay. Ebay in my opinion should be used as an advertising tool, and if you are lucky you manage to get a sale, yes it can be an expensive way of doing it, but lets face it it costs far more a month to advertise in a magazine in this Country with a far less distribution rate. I mean by this as a Featured item it roughtly costs £12.00 and a normal listing approx £3.00 yes I know you have final sellers fees, but for one advert in a mag it costs roughly £50.00 for 4 weeks, I know my maths are my week subject but as an advertising investment Ebay still wins hands down for me. So to cut my ramblings down (sorry!) Ebay will always be the one to make the money, but its up to us to use it to our own benefits not always with the intention of making sales. I can give an example of this - before I did the Hugglets show earlier this year I used ebay as an advertising tool to promote a new range of bears and to say I would be at Hugglets, well the response was absoloutely amazing, I sold 13 bears at Hugglets + commissions and trade orders, so for me Ebay ROCKS.
Sorry if I have gone on a bit Jenny, interupting your thread, please don't think I am venting at you, just hoping to help in a way and I just felt I needed to get this off my chest, because at the moment within the bear world everyone is too quick to bring it down, and I feel a little postive attitude is required by all to lift moral up especially with the slump with ebay.
Hugs and best wishes
Jacqui
What a lovely bear, and this your first attempt, the feet are great. I bet you have the bug!
Bravo! :clap: :clap: :clap: :clap:
Hugs
Jacqui
Hi Jenny
9700 is the one, I was too impatient to wait for the 11000, I wanted something I could take home there and then not later on in the year.
Hugs
Jacqui
Hi Jenny
I have Memorycraft, the latest one. I must say what swayed me was they have offices in Bramhall, Cheshire, and if you have a problem it is so easy to sort out with an engineer, saying that I have not had to use one yet, but they will come out to you wherever you are in the UK. The machine itself is great with easy to use touch display. I am not that brilliant with machines, the sort of person who does not read the instruction manuel, just looks at the pictures, this machine shows you on its screen how to do everything. I was also told by the Janome Rep to buy software off the internet (be careful too many to look at), I stuck to buying Janome's own. I also bought there own embroidery cottons, big mistake far to expensive, look on ebay for the good quality ones, they are amazingly cheap on there. Sorry if I am a bit vague on the computer side of it, but I rely on Darren, he is a whizz on the computer and designing side, if you need any help on this side I am sure he will help.
If by any chance you have a John Lewis store nearby they are great as they have an instore demonstrator for each sewing machine, who will sit down with you and go through everything even if you don't want to purchase at that time. I had a great demo and even had a go myself before purchasing, because as you mentioned they are not cheap and you certainly don't want to make a mistake.
I say THUMBS UP FOR JAMONE.
Best wishws
Jacqui
Hi Jenny
I can recommend Janome, I have one that does everything, connects to my Laptop no problem at all so designing is a doddle. Plus I purchased all the software for the pc. All you need is a simple programme such as Paint to do your drawings in and save them as a Bitmap image.
Once you start there will be no holding you back.
Good luck with your research.
Jacqui
Hi Jenny
I really do feel for you, so near and now so far. I am sure your collectors will realise what has happened, you must be absolutely gutted. I have numerous emails sent to me each day via ebay and even in My Messages from Chinese people trying to sell me handbags and replica watches etc.. I have noticed though that the ones in My Messages in My Ebay have just started to come through in the last fortnight, its strange how they are getting through the net and ebay have not clamped down with them offering to sell goods not through ebay. I don't know whether using the ebay tool bar with their safety features helps, I did have it once but it kept interferring with my other programmes, a bit too dominent. On the other hand if you put everyone's tool bar on your screen eventually you would not be able to see haha!
Best wishes Jennie, hope your day improves.
Good Luck
Jacqui 
Hi
I use a Sony VAIO 17 inch Flat screen, HD, Blu Ray, absolutely fantastic, this is my second one picture quality is superb, you can't fault it. I would certainly recommend Sony to anyone.
Good luck with your search I don't envy you, its a nightmare finding the right one there's so much choice out there.
Hugs
Jacqui
Hi Clare
I think sometimes you have to try new things to see if they work for you or not, whatever you do your own style will always shine through. I like to think variety is the spice of life, and its nice to experiment perhaps with new fabrics or new techniques. Do whatever you feel you want to do, because if you are happy with what you are creating then you will more likely be more successful. Sorry if I am talking a load of rubbish, off to bed now as I am starting to ramble, hope this makes sense.
Hugs
Jacqui
Hi
We use Dreamweaver 8, would like to spend more time upgrading website, but has to have the bare minimum due to bear making, shop commitment and we have recently landed ourselves yet more work (must be mad) by accepting a UK and NI agency for a German Teddy Bear manufacturer, so we will have to pull our fingers out, so our website will be expanding in the next few months with a little help from Dreamweaver.
Good Luck with your website building.
Best wishes
Jacqui
Hi Chloe
Congratulations on being asked again. I am sure they will go down well with the Deans Collectors.
Happy New Year Chloe
Best wishes
Jacqui
Hi Jennie
I can recommend Bearpile. To be fair it does have its ups and downs like everything else, but I can only give positive feedback. Even if you don't sell anything straight away, it does push traffic towards your website, which is a good thing.
I use Bearpile and ebay and cannot say which is better. I think you will be surprised, just give it a trial period and see what happens.
Good luck
Jacqui
Hi Guys
I would like to introduce you to my two favourite bears. The first is Bronte, who is from my Arts and Craft Range. Secondly is Turkish Delight, I wonder why he was called that? Yep I just love Turkish Delight especially covered in chocolate.
Hugs
Jacqui
p.s Darren is trying to muscle in, and says he wants to put his 2 favourites on, looks like I will have to have words, can't a gal have a natter without him indoors knowing.
Its a sad time in the bear world one way or another, what with Merrythought just before Christmas and now Oakley for the New Year(must point out I mean for different reasons). The internet has a lot to answer for, but we have to keep moving with the times.
I have a shop which specialises in Artist Bears and bear making materials, and with my bear artists hat on I understand why artists source their materials from abroad, I have done this in the past myself and will continue to do so as I am always on the look out for something a little different. However with my shopkeepers hat on we decided late last year to offer all serious bear makers 30 days credit to allow them to make the bear and hopefully sell it before they have to pay their invoice. I do not want this to sound like an advertisement, but just for me to say that we are trying in our own small way to rectify this problem within the UK and have taken heed of other Artists thoughts and comments and hopefully let this be a step in the right direction however small it might be. This little step has proven very popular considering we have not advertised this as yet, however we do not want anyone to overspend, but just cut their cloth accordingly (excuse the pun). We would have not done this normally but felt the bear world within the UK does need a boost and every little helps.
If it had not been for Oakley Fabrics making Schulte available in the UK our eyes would not have been opened and our creative juices allowed to flow. I hope he has a Happy Retirement, which I am sure we all feel he deserves.
Hi Kim
I wish I thought of doing that. Its a really good idea letting the person know you are aware of what they have done, and that you will be keeping an eye on them. I think I will do that in future, but making sure to use the softly, softly approach. At least you get it off your chest, without causing a war.
Karen
That is so true about friends and business, your advice to Kim will be useful to me as well. Thanks.
Jacqui
Hi
I really, really understand how you must feel, the person who has done that obviously has no scruples. No matter what you can hold your head high, as your Tutti knocks spots off the attempted copy. They say copying is a form of flattery, I would love to know who originally said that as it is a bitter blow.
I have the same problem at the moment as a bear I have on my website I wanted to list on Ebay, someone has done an obvious copy, even down to the same colour, so I feel if I list mine now I will be seen as the copier, which is totally not so. I feel really fed up at the moment too. It is getting to the stage that when some people see you doing well they think they should have a piece of the cake as well, but take the easy option of copying and not using their own grey cells.
I wish you all the best with your auction, it is so easy to see yours wins hands down.
hugs
Jacqui
I usually hand tags around the neck, but I have attached them with a kimball tag through the sew in label in the back of the bear, so when displayed they sit on the tag, this is great for displaying in shops as its your bear thats seen and not the tag.
Hugs
Jacqui
Hi
My own Teddy Shop - The Little Shop of Bears, followed closely by my website which has proven to be well worth while, and not forgetting Bearpile which is worth the subscription fee.
