People are just plain trifling!

[Sterling]

Can you guys explain this phenomenon?

My company recently merged with another bigger company so we are all just
getting to know one another still. The subject came up about how we spend
our free time and of course I had to mention that I make jewelry. That
started the whole... "really? what kind? can you bring it in so I can see
it?" type enthusiasm. I got a lot of new co-workers who truly wanted to see
my stuff. - side note: my old co-workers have seen it all before so this
is nothing unusual for them, but this newly merged company is a whole new
group of people, and whole new avenue of potential buyers. Right? I mean,
they sounded sincere like they were very interested in seeing my jewelry.

Anyway, I recently did another home show that finished up kinda late so I
just left my stuff in my truck planning to bring in it after work the next
day. Well, the next day at work, there were a bunch of people who knew of
my previously nights activities and asked about how well I did at my home
show. Since I had my stuff still in my truck, they wanted to see it so I
brought it in.
Now, here is where they get trifling... I keep my jewelry separated in
boxes. A box for anklets, a box for earrings, a box for bracelets, and a
box for necklaces. Each piece is enclosed in a zip loc baggie to help keep
them tarnish free. So these people are half heartedly pawing thru my boxes
of stuff. I urge them to try on any piece they like (I don't want them to
feel like they cant touch the stuff for gawdsakes)

The thing is this.... when I said half heartedly, I mean it. These are
the same people who, with great enthusiasm, wanted to see my stuff but when
presented with the chance, only give a cursory glance. Does anyone know
why? Some even acted like the baggies were gonna bite them, or they'd get
cooties from touching the bags of jewelry.
In my defense, I have to say that I don't and have never tried to sell
anyone anything. My motto is "if they want it they will buy it" so I don't
badger, or force sell my jewelry. What I cant understand was their
reactions. My jewelry is not cheaply priced but its also not over priced
either. Can you guys explain this phenomenon?

Sterling

[Heather]

I am assuming that the prices were on the packets. I have mine separated in
the same manner, btw.........but I am not into the selling stage much.

My best guess?? Price. And if they tried it on and liked it, they wouldn't
have wanted to spend that much money. Can't think of any other reason cuz I
have seen what you can do and it is excellent.

Perhaps someone else has an idea.........Heather

Post by Sterling
Can you guys explain this phenomenon?
My company recently merged with another bigger company so we are all just
getting to know one another still. The subject came up about how we
spend our free time and of course I had to mention that I make jewelry.
That started the whole... "really? what kind? can you bring it in so I
can see it?" type enthusiasm. I got a lot of new co-workers who truly
wanted to see my stuff. - side note: my old co-workers have seen it all
before so this is nothing unusual for them, but this newly merged company
is a whole new group of people, and whole new avenue of potential buyers.
Right? I mean, they sounded sincere like they were very interested in
seeing my jewelry.
Anyway, I recently did another home show that finished up kinda late so I
just left my stuff in my truck planning to bring in it after work the next
day. Well, the next day at work, there were a bunch of people who knew of
my previously nights activities and asked about how well I did at my home
show. Since I had my stuff still in my truck, they wanted to see it so I
brought it in.
Now, here is where they get trifling... I keep my jewelry separated in
boxes. A box for anklets, a box for earrings, a box for bracelets, and a
box for necklaces. Each piece is enclosed in a zip loc baggie to help
keep them tarnish free. So these people are half heartedly pawing thru
my boxes of stuff. I urge them to try on any piece they like (I don't
want them to feel like they cant touch the stuff for gawdsakes)
The thing is this.... when I said half heartedly, I mean it. These are
the same people who, with great enthusiasm, wanted to see my stuff but
when presented with the chance, only give a cursory glance. Does anyone
know why? Some even acted like the baggies were gonna bite them, or
they'd get cooties from touching the bags of jewelry.
In my defense, I have to say that I don't and have never tried to sell
anyone anything. My motto is "if they want it they will buy it" so I
don't badger, or force sell my jewelry. What I cant understand was their
reactions. My jewelry is not cheaply priced but its also not over priced
either. Can you guys explain this phenomenon?
Sterling

[mermaidscove_com]

Other than price it could just be the style, I have seen it happen and
tried a different style on the same group and gotten a completely
different reaction. Maybe try to notice what they have already and see
if it's far off from what you showed them.

[Maren at google]

I'd also say price - and/or the attitude that as you work with
them you can't possibly charge as much as the people at the
market or who sell on-line, because those are jewelry makers
and you're whatever you do where you work.

I don't have this where I work, but I work with mostly technical
people, and I don't sell them jewelry (or beads) very often.

Where I am a lot of people can't get grips with the concept that
you work for money when you don't work. If you want or need
more money, you get a second job. They don't expect you to
want to make money, they expect you to sell it to get rid of it
so you can make more, because, after all, it's a hobby.
These are the same people who will comment that if you don't
get a Government grant you can't be a real business. And if
you were a real business you would be rich and wouldn't work
in a paid job (they don't call this "the people's republic of
Hawaii" for nothing).

(And there are comments and comments at Lampwork Etc.
quoting what people have said to artists and artisans at shows.
And of course most of them are ridiculous :) )

Aloha,
Maren
HiloBeads: Beads - Beading Supplies - Hand-made Jewelry
Website: http://www.hilobeads.com/
Etsy: http://hilobeads.etsy.com/ <-- Job's Tears for the AGLF
Blog: http://hilobeads.blogspot.com/

[Sterling]

Truly, I don't think it was the price because most of them only gave the
jewelry a cursory glance. Not enough to even see the prices because you
have to really look to find them. I have each piece marked with those bar
bell tags.... and they are so damn small, that even I have trouble seeing
the prices sometimes.

I think you are right about the attitude though... I bet most of those
people thought I would bring in some macaroni type jewelry and didn't expect
to see what I did bring in. All I have to say is people are trifling!!!

Hey Maren, I forgot to ask about the job. You still working or have they
closed the place down yet?


Sterling

[Maren at google]

Hey Maren, I forgot to ask about the job.  You still working or have they
closed the place down yet?

Still working. Apparently longer than until the end of the year too,
but we
don't know anything for sure. - And I don't know how much of what
we've
been told we're allowed to tell other people.

If I knew this was going to continue I'd ask to cut my hours. As I
don't know
whether it is I can't do that. I'd love to have more time to go about
my
business, but if the money is going to end some time fairly soon, even
if it's
not for another year, I have to stick with the job full time.

Thanks for asking!

Aloha,
HiloBeads: Beads - Beading Supplies - Hand-made Jewelry
Website: http://www.hilobeads.com/
Etsy: http://hilobeads.etsy.com/ <-- Job's Tears for the AGLF
Blog: http://hilobeads.blogspot.com/

[GW]

On Wed, 10 Feb 2010 19:25:40 -0500, "Sterling"

Post by Sterling
Truly, I don't think it was the price because most of them only gave the
jewelry a cursory glance. Not enough to even see the prices because you
have to really look to find them. I have each piece marked with those bar
bell tags.... and they are so damn small, that even I have trouble seeing
the prices sometimes.
I think you are right about the attitude though... I bet most of those
people thought I would bring in some macaroni type jewelry and didn't expect
to see what I did bring in. All I have to say is people are trifling!!!

Offices can be unnatural places, and people exhibit all kinds of odd
behaviour in them. It's entirely possible for people's emotional
issues with work to spill over on you.

Tidiest thing to do is always keep the office and the personal
business separate, in my opinion. Even if people love your product,
getting customer-service problems mixed up with your work life may
turn uncomfortable.