Is it handmade? YES!
As some of you know I have a “shop” on Etsy, (You can see it here), but I don’t put as much time and effort into it as I do in my standalone site.
Etsy is an online shopping venue for handmade items. Its a great place to set up shop because it is free with the exception of the listing fee of 20 cents per item AND then a percentage when you sell said item. There are some fantastic things on there: children’s clothes, handbags, pottery, jewelry, soap & body care, etc. There is also a lot of crap on there too. But to each their own I say.
I have been on there for a few years. As I said, I don’t invest a lot of time promoting Etsy as my standalone site, because I’d rather folks come here: Faerie Made than elsewhere. I dunno, I’m just that way.
I do sell on Etsy and I have customers who purchase soley through Etsy. So I am glad to be there.
As many know, I”ve been in business for almost 8 years (this September!) and I”ve worked really, REALLY hard to get where I can support my family. I have stuck it out through the start up and through the slow winter months and this recession and Slowly and Steadily I have gained a following with my customer base.
I have also outgrown being a one woman act. I can’t keep up with it on my own. I have had help for about 3 years now. Off and on, but regularly I have had someone assisting me in the production of Faerie Made products.
If i didn’t have assistance, the whole house of soap would fall. It just is what it is.
I used to have someone come in just to label, shrink wrap etc, soaps, body care perfumes. I did all the production, (with the exception of weighing out soap oils), shipping and then business aspect.
During holiday crazy times I have extra help too.
Currently, my assistant is coming in to do most of the production of the body care (our arnica balms, shea butters, sugar scrubs, etc) including labeling and I make all the soap & perfumes, pack the orders and run the business.
The past 2 weeks my production person has been out sick. It has left me running the show and doing all production (and believe me I am WAY behind!) Add to that the fact that my daughter is out of school and I’m on mommy duty most of the time, can you say argh?
I digress …
On this Etsy site is a community forum area. One of the threads on the forum had a discussion as to whether it is considered handmade if you have someone helping you out.
Some of the people’s arguments on this thread is that the artist has to be involved in the actual production of everything or it shouldn’t be sold there.
There is a soaper who contacted me because she thought i’d be interested in this discussion (I really don’t know why), but I took the bait! and off to the thread I went.
So, according to a few, my body care, since I have a production person doing it, should not be there. I asked them why. It’s all my formulas. I’ve spent years perfecting them. The person making them is working under my direct supervision. All the soaps I do … after all I am a soapmaker, but at some point I could even have someone do a lot of the basic ones too …following my direction and using my formula.
The one who was saying companies like mine shouldn’t be there basically said it would be okay if I were to purchase a base elsewhere, repackage it and call it handmade and sell there. But since my products that I spent years perfecting, because someone ELSE was melting, pouring, labeling according to my guidelines is not eligible under my name.
SO, since I have a production person, it is not handmade by the artist and I shouldn’t be selling on Etsy. That’s their argument. The likened it to Elizabeth Arden (where are the big bug eyes here!) LOL!
Sorry, it’s all handmade, it’s all my baby. I am not mass producing Faerie Made in a factory. We are still working from home in a Cottage Industry and I just need some help.
I left the thread and went on a walk.
You’re preaching to the converted with this one! So far, our company is small enough that I can run it on my own, but it’s getting close some months. And I would not hesitate to call my products handmade even under those circumstances – even if I had several people helping me! The point at which it is NOT handmade is when you have a manufacturing process, not just when you have an extra pair of hands.
Fae — don’t stress the haters out there! Of course your products are still handmade. How asinine to say otherwise!!! You keep your head down, and trudge ahead. You make great products, and good for you for growing it to a stage where you require help!!! Blessings to you!
Of course your stuff is handmade!!! Even your helper makes it by hand. They are complainging because you are successful and they are jealous. You have taken the steps to make your products the best they can be and your company desireable to stores who will want to carry them.
I have purchased from companies where one person does one part and someone else does another. Never did I consider them not handmade!
That is the most preposterous argument!
Of course, your products are handmade!!!!
You are not a factory – and even if you were – if a human hand touches an item while a machine is ‘making’ it – the industry standard (at least in silverware, jewelry and metal items) is that item is handmade.
How about all the Etsy people who feature vintage and thrifted stuff?
I am a metalsmith and a soapmaker…..and I do not have enough time to start “discussions” on Etsy like THAT person obviously does. I am too busy working!
Keep the Faith, Fae!
Oh I know. It was ticking me off a bit. However, if the shoe were on the other foot, they’d feel differently.