On Monday I had some C.T.A. work out at Monash, so while I was there I dropped off some pads at Wholefoods. Someone emailed me back the next day and was really positive about them, and commented on the display case which is really exciting cos that was a baby of mine. I'm really happy with the whole new display arrangements. They look so much better.
I'm doing a market on Saturday with Allie; Nel and Bec and Monster Jen may well be coming too. And I got an email from the site today, so it all feels like it's all go again! YAY!
Showing posts with label wonder ragz. Show all posts
Showing posts with label wonder ragz. Show all posts
Thursday, May 10, 2007
Wednesday, April 25, 2007
WonderRagz are GO
Over the past fortnight or so, I've put a bit of energy into my Ragz. I made a display case that looks great! And I've repacked my stock into cellophane bags (that are biodegradable and look SO much better than the snap-locks I was using). Now I just have to print out the new labels I made (that don't have the name of the material, and have a simple tick-a-box option for sizing) and seal the packages with them. Oh, and I plan to make a stack more, especially maxis (I only have one left).
Then, the next stage is to make a few more display cases, for places where I plan to sell them. The case I have made looks small, but in fact stores a huge number of them. So, I know now that the case needs to be heaps smaller for places that will have less stock. And I've started making this really cute banner for my stalls - I've cut out little pads, that look SO cute!
So, it's all GO!
Then, the next stage is to make a few more display cases, for places where I plan to sell them. The case I have made looks small, but in fact stores a huge number of them. So, I know now that the case needs to be heaps smaller for places that will have less stock. And I've started making this really cute banner for my stalls - I've cut out little pads, that look SO cute!
So, it's all GO!
Sunday, April 15, 2007
Big crafternoon
So yesterday was crafternoon - every now and then (it used to be once a month, but we'll see how that goes) we have people around to craft together. it was a quiet one in terms of craft, but there was a big posse out the back playing games (gently persuaded to do so by nellie who couldn't believe that people needed persuading - i mean, it's games! of course they would have fun, if they just got on with it! which of course they did).
jan worked on our america scrapbook. it looks so great. it's been slow, but it's so creative how she's reflected the trip - not just a chronological account, but a thematic and humorous account. maybe it'll be ready by the two-year anniversary of the trip :>
but i worked on wonder ragz. i've had some orders piling up over the past few months, and business has been rather held up by my apparent inactivity on the wonder ragz front. BUT, i made some necessary progress towards what i call "the new generation" of wonder ragz. based on feedback, i realised that i needed to upgrade my overlocking skills - that is, use the blade to cut the edges. but there were two problems with this, first, my overlocker wasn't working properly (i found out the blade was bent, and got it fixed) and it's really tricky to cut around a round shape, because the cutter tries to cut the bit where the end meets the start. but i've learnt how to do it (you cut out a rectangle of material, the width is the amount the blade is trimming, and the length is the length between the stitch and the blade - it's tricky and it took me *several* tries to get the hang of it). So, I've now got much better skills at overlocking. it's still tricky going around corners, and i'm not yet able to overlock thick material. maybe i can't and i need to work out a way to have the outer layer extend beyond the padding, so that i'm only overlocking the outer layer?? i need to work on this more. i only successfully overlocked pantyliners, but that was a huge leap for me - it means i have the technique down, i just need to build on it.
in other developments, i redesigned the labels, so that now they are tick-a-box rather than each label needing to be exactly right. much better, i think.
and i ordered packaging online. i will need to make the night-time ones a bit shorter (which i think is totally fine). i'm planning to make them a bit wider too (based on feedback). the packaging is cellophane, which is fully biodegradable.
but the most exciting development, by far, is that i turned an old wooden container (that i was using to store empty plant containers) into a display case. it's pretty. i sawed a piece of wood to put down the middle, so there are two sections. i'm also planning to line it with felt - the kind that has a sticky side. it's going to look much better. i'll also have to design a display case for the night-time ones - they are so much taller and i don't want them flopping everywhere. But now that i have the general idea, i'm sure it will be relatively easy.
oh, and so that i can use the cutter on the overlocker, and not reduce the size of the pads, i've got new templates.
so the plan is to get the new packaging and overlocking sorted, then approach a few shops about selling them. hmmm. i'd probably have to update the brochure and website too ... it's a bit of work, eh?
jan worked on our america scrapbook. it looks so great. it's been slow, but it's so creative how she's reflected the trip - not just a chronological account, but a thematic and humorous account. maybe it'll be ready by the two-year anniversary of the trip :>
but i worked on wonder ragz. i've had some orders piling up over the past few months, and business has been rather held up by my apparent inactivity on the wonder ragz front. BUT, i made some necessary progress towards what i call "the new generation" of wonder ragz. based on feedback, i realised that i needed to upgrade my overlocking skills - that is, use the blade to cut the edges. but there were two problems with this, first, my overlocker wasn't working properly (i found out the blade was bent, and got it fixed) and it's really tricky to cut around a round shape, because the cutter tries to cut the bit where the end meets the start. but i've learnt how to do it (you cut out a rectangle of material, the width is the amount the blade is trimming, and the length is the length between the stitch and the blade - it's tricky and it took me *several* tries to get the hang of it). So, I've now got much better skills at overlocking. it's still tricky going around corners, and i'm not yet able to overlock thick material. maybe i can't and i need to work out a way to have the outer layer extend beyond the padding, so that i'm only overlocking the outer layer?? i need to work on this more. i only successfully overlocked pantyliners, but that was a huge leap for me - it means i have the technique down, i just need to build on it.
in other developments, i redesigned the labels, so that now they are tick-a-box rather than each label needing to be exactly right. much better, i think.
and i ordered packaging online. i will need to make the night-time ones a bit shorter (which i think is totally fine). i'm planning to make them a bit wider too (based on feedback). the packaging is cellophane, which is fully biodegradable.
but the most exciting development, by far, is that i turned an old wooden container (that i was using to store empty plant containers) into a display case. it's pretty. i sawed a piece of wood to put down the middle, so there are two sections. i'm also planning to line it with felt - the kind that has a sticky side. it's going to look much better. i'll also have to design a display case for the night-time ones - they are so much taller and i don't want them flopping everywhere. But now that i have the general idea, i'm sure it will be relatively easy.
oh, and so that i can use the cutter on the overlocker, and not reduce the size of the pads, i've got new templates.
so the plan is to get the new packaging and overlocking sorted, then approach a few shops about selling them. hmmm. i'd probably have to update the brochure and website too ... it's a bit of work, eh?
Wednesday, April 4, 2007
Wonder ragz - the next generation
If you don't know what wonderragz are, check out: www.bloodsistas.com
anyway, so at the moment, wonder ragz are due for an update. so far they are:
* made in 4 thicknesses, maxi, regular, light and panty-liner; and 2 lengths, day and night. I think that these are all good, but i think they all need to be wider, especially the thicker ones, and night-time ones.
*packaged in snap-lock bags. this was a good idea to start off, but is really not viable for much longer. i feel like this packaging problem is holding me back from trying to sell them more often and in more places. So, last week i emailed a company about packaging (they didn't have any dimensions that were appropriate, and i wanted to have some made in the right size) but i haven't heard back. maybe i should look again at the sizes and be more open-minded about what could work.
*labelled using stick-on, printed, labels. I print them with all their details and this is not working all that well, cos there are SO many permutations and combinations that are possible, and so I have to make each one especially. I wish I had a stamp of some sort, with the logo on it. Also, I reckon I should use check boxes for the sizes and then I could just print labels with each design name on it (and have options for night/day; panty-liner/light/regular/maxi). Genius!
*I've been selling them at the Melb-Uni co-op mainly, as well as through word-of-mouth, and i've done 3 markets. I have mainly kept track, but not extremely well, i confess.
*in terms of market stall, i have a small fold-out table and chair, some red velvet to display them on (I think this could be made a bit more exciting), the labels that i use are always in danger of flying away, although they look nice (shiny pen on black background). the packaging gets really shiny in the sun, so i really need to use an umbrella of some sort. I've been planning to make a banner that says either bloodsistas or wonder ragz. i think probably bloodsistas, cos then it references the website. and i might make some more displays, e.g. colourful flags, or a chart that explains them.
*also, my overlocker is playing up at the moment, i think it needs to be serviced (i think i broke it a bit). maybe i should fix that asap, because that's what is really holding everything up (i have a few orders i need to fill).
that's all. I think it's nearly time to get off the computer and go and follow up some of these ideas!
xxxgrey
anyway, so at the moment, wonder ragz are due for an update. so far they are:
* made in 4 thicknesses, maxi, regular, light and panty-liner; and 2 lengths, day and night. I think that these are all good, but i think they all need to be wider, especially the thicker ones, and night-time ones.
*packaged in snap-lock bags. this was a good idea to start off, but is really not viable for much longer. i feel like this packaging problem is holding me back from trying to sell them more often and in more places. So, last week i emailed a company about packaging (they didn't have any dimensions that were appropriate, and i wanted to have some made in the right size) but i haven't heard back. maybe i should look again at the sizes and be more open-minded about what could work.
*labelled using stick-on, printed, labels. I print them with all their details and this is not working all that well, cos there are SO many permutations and combinations that are possible, and so I have to make each one especially. I wish I had a stamp of some sort, with the logo on it. Also, I reckon I should use check boxes for the sizes and then I could just print labels with each design name on it (and have options for night/day; panty-liner/light/regular/maxi). Genius!
*I've been selling them at the Melb-Uni co-op mainly, as well as through word-of-mouth, and i've done 3 markets. I have mainly kept track, but not extremely well, i confess.
*in terms of market stall, i have a small fold-out table and chair, some red velvet to display them on (I think this could be made a bit more exciting), the labels that i use are always in danger of flying away, although they look nice (shiny pen on black background). the packaging gets really shiny in the sun, so i really need to use an umbrella of some sort. I've been planning to make a banner that says either bloodsistas or wonder ragz. i think probably bloodsistas, cos then it references the website. and i might make some more displays, e.g. colourful flags, or a chart that explains them.
*also, my overlocker is playing up at the moment, i think it needs to be serviced (i think i broke it a bit). maybe i should fix that asap, because that's what is really holding everything up (i have a few orders i need to fill).
that's all. I think it's nearly time to get off the computer and go and follow up some of these ideas!
xxxgrey
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