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I am having serious guilt pangs today. I haven't maintained a postal mailing list for a while now because I find I just can't do everything. I never have enough bears to supply every avenue and, while I wish I could do it, the internet is so convenient and quick...I suppose I see it as forcing myself to use a horse and cart when I have a car in the garage. It's loads more work and much slower.
But today I had a nice letter from a lady who wants details of available bears ...and I had a letter on Saturday from another lady.
That's when I start to feel the pangs of guilt because I sell my bears on-line.
I felt awful as I put pen to paper and offered the option of visiting a fair to see my bears...in either February or June.
But the convenience of selling on line keeps me prefering that method above all others. On Friday at Pennys Winter Warmer...3 pieces sold in minutes..and were paid for so fast...it's hard to start posting letters out and waiting for cheques to arrive...
What do you all do.....?
Am I just an old meanie?
Newcastle, OntarioJenny,
I sell only on the internet as well. I haven't done a show in 6 years - I just can't work at so many bears because of my wrists. Also, I never felt comfortable doing shows - I found dealing with customers wasn't easy for me. I like the anonymity of the internet.
Making 3 pieces for BAO's show was a struggle. Since, I haven't advertised in magazines for ages, I'm not likely to get any interest by mail. Still, I've been very lucky and manage to sell the bears I make through Ebay or BAO etc. I don't think you are being a meanie. If you sell all your bears quickly online, there really isn't much incentive to having a mailing list, is there?
hugs,
Brenda
Hi Jenny
As a buyer of bears, I can understand the thoughts of the ladies.
Everytime time I've been on your web site everything has sold. 
One day I'll be able to afford one of your beauties but until then admire them from the pics. :photo:
If the income comes from, the internet, you must do that. Maybe put one or two bears aside for the caller, whom may not be able to get onto the internet.
At least then you won't feel too guilty.
Keep up with what you do. 
Love Kayx.
You and me both Brenda...I found it so hard getting bears together for the WW...if I hadn't sprained my ankle I would have had one bear done as I didn't go into the salon much!!! I also find the stockpiling for shows seriously puts my bank balance under a strain too..I wish it didn't.
Kay it's hard to keep bears back for someone who 'might' want to buy when it's much more efficient to sell on-line..and be paid on-line too. I do understand the difficulty of those without computer access but that is why I do the fairs to a certain extent.
I completely sympathise Jenny. Before the internet I was sending out photos left right and centre by snail mail. I had a long mailing list of customers and spent hours and hours keeping them informed. It cost me a fortune in photographic developing costs (pre-digi), film, ink cartridges and time. As soon as I saw the opportunities the internet offered I couldn't wait to get set up with a website! There's been no looking back since. I've had the site for almost seven years and groan on the odd occasion when I have to think about how to deal with a mail order collector. I never have any pics to send because the bears sell so fast online ... I have a letter on my desk as I type ... a collector asking for details of my current bears, I really don't know what to tell her. I know she can't get to the shows ... I don't want to exclude non-online collectors, but from a practical point of view I need to turn over my bears as quickly as possible. It's a bit of a conundrum! :doh:
You absolutely hit the nail on the head...it's about practicality...and convenience. While I kick myself for not having a postal mailing list my bears sell swiftly off the website and I don't really want to hang onto bears while I send letters photos etc......but then again I don't like excluding people....it's so hard!!!
Jenny I know what you mean! I do now have a small list of collectors who do not use the internet. What I'm hoping to do is to send out a quarterly newsletter with new bears looking for homes. I'll make one here and there to put aside for this.
Canna Bear PaintWe all have to do what works best for us as individuals. If you frequently get these requests by mail, I would type up a form letter and save it to the computer to print out a copy as needed and mail back to them. Just a very basic "thank you so much for your interest" and letting them know that, for now, your bears are only available through the following venues and then list them. So... your web site, eBay, mention any shows you are looking to attend in person in the coming year, or any shops that carry your bears, if that is applicable.
I don't know if you (or anyone else reading this) run advertisements with your mailing address in them, but if you do, you might want to stop doing so. If I were to see a mailing address in an advertisement, I would presume that the artist was willing to do business that way as well.
Like Laura, I am hoping to start some sort of occasional newsletter with available bears for our print-mail mailing list. We actually have a range of dedicated collectors who are not on the computer, for various reasons. We see most of them at one show a year each, but they have expressed interest in seeing available bears at other times as well. It's already on my 10-mile long "to do" list!
Best wishes,
Kelly
Kelly....I don't put my address on adverts but in the Hugglets Teddy Bear Guide addresses are included in the artist section..which is how people get in touch. It's not the problem of writing letters that concerns me particularly....It's the feeling of letting a part of the market down because of not having the wherewithal to cater for it.
Laura Lynn...thanks I think a newsletter is a good idea...maybe just prior to fairs with a preview ...
I know I'll never keep bears back from the website...I have to do that for fairs ..and it's hard enough making enough bears for the website anyway.....I don't update much as it is!!!!!
