Clutch-Me.Com

“Sellers” section is the 3rd most visited item on the blog

One day after changing my blog in a new design, the 3rd most visited item on my blog is the “Sellers” page!  So thank you all for your interest.

I am still working on adding sellers and helping some of you to add the wording on your product listings.  Based on the questions I’m getting, the interest is in the nickel-free frames.  Here’s some things to help:

*(Insert name) clutch is made using the finest nickel-free metal purse frame(TM).

*The nickel-free frame has a 2-coat protective coating that allows fingerprints to wipe off with ease unlike those with a 1-coat finish.
*It is tested for lead and meets the US’s Environmental Protection guidelines.

***Trademark of WhileBabyNaps.Etsy.com and Khuong LLC.

Feel free to use your own words, but do point out the benefits of the finest frame and fabric that you’ve used for your customers.  The only thing I ask is that you note that the frame is a trademark of my company.  This will help protect me from cheap knock-offs as well as allow buyers who are interested in buying clutches made from my frames to know where to go and which ones to buy.

You can read the entire post here.

https://clutchme.wordpress.com/2010/10/31/4-things-that-can-help-your-clutch-handbag-business/

November 5, 2010 Posted by Thy K | Helpful Tips | Leave a comment

4 things that can help your clutch handbag business …

ONE:

Ever noticed how car dealerships are always placed next door to each other?  In each of your towns, car dealerships can often be found on a strip right next to one another. What about clothing stores like The Limited, The Gap, Ann Taylor, and all others all in the same shopping mall or shopping center?

Doesn’t this hurt their business … to be next to their competitor?  Isn’t it counter-intuitive?

Do they know something that you don’t?

There’s actual research that explains the reasons why car dealerships and retail stores have benefited from having their businesses right next door to their direct competitors.  You can read the research in its entirety by clicking wp447, or I can sum up a great advantage that you and all handbag makers can take advantage of.

The gist of it is “taste uncertainty” by the consumer, where the buyer is not really sure of her tastes.  So when a few businesses selling similar items are concentrated in a geographical area, the buyer has a higher probability of finding what she likes.  That also increases the sellers chance of selling something.  With this concentration of stores, the buyers also perceives that there is “price cutting” due to competition so they are more likely to shop there.

Now this is true of brick-and-mortar stores, but what about online shops?

This is the same reason why aggregators like Amazon.com and Overstock.com and Buy.com have continued to experience major growth on the net:  they provide that concentration — a one-stop shop — for buyers.

How does this apply to you?

So to those of you selling your clutches on venues such as arts and crafts shows, Saturday markets, and Etsy, take note:  your fellow handbag makers are not necessarily your competitors.  In fact, they may even help you and your business grow.

You are really competing for the eyes of the ones who go on Etsy (as I do) not knowing what they’re looking for but stumbling upon something that catches their eye through a recent listing, a treasury find, or through the time machine.  You are really competing against other sellers selling products to your potential customer such as jewelry, home goods, and other accessories.  I have gone on Etsy looking for a pillow or some other household good and ended up with a bird ring — something that didn’t even enter my mind.  I have been on Amazon looking for a book and ended up with a Backyardigans DVD.  How does that happen?  Taste uncertainty wins out again!  I will always spend my money at an Etsy store or with an Amazon seller.  So those sellers have increased their probability of getting a sale by being with other sellers rather than going it alone.

BUT your products are hand-made goods, and buyers have come to expect high quality, uniqueness, and personal customer service.  You don’t have to compete on price, because what you’re selling are not commodities.  They are one-of-a-kind creations and Etsy buyers are looking for that.  What you do is entirely unique and cannot be found anywhere else.  And there is a certain cache to that.

So some tips for those who sell at venues with other handmade artisans whether at a craft show or Etsy:

*Don’t compete on price. Offer a fair price for your work and sell, sell, sell on the craftsmanship and creativity that your two hands created!

*Offer something unique that stands out from others. Conversely, please honor and respect copyrights, designs, and trademarks by not making the same things that other sellers have.  No, the market is not flooded with clutches though you may think it is.  It’s still in its infancy.  But DON’T worry:  how many pairs of black shoes, jeans, or handbags do you have in your closet?  There are still untold creative ways to design your clutch to fulfill someone’s wish.  I’ve yet to find a black dress to suit me but I know it’s out there!

*Have your table next to, or near, other handbag sellers. At a crafts show where there are rows upon rows of tables and booths of goods, take advantage of this consumer phenomena and be near others in your category.  I often know right where the concentration of jewelers are and head right to them.  The one outlier that’s in the opposite side lost down a row will not be visited again.

TWO:

And to tie this altogether, one of the frequent questions I am asked is “Where can I buy your clutches?” “Who sells clutches made from your frames?”  or “Where can I buy clutches made from your frames?”

My seemingly esoteric blog about clutch-making has had over 8200 hits and continues to increase daily as my search engine ranking has gone up.  I would like to start offering a page that has links to websites and Etsy shops whose sellers make their clutches from my metal purse frames.  (As you all know, I have an Etsy shop for finished clutches that has been mainly for show since I sell mainly off of Etsy, though my sister has recently listed her clutches in my shop as well.)  I simply do not have the time to make enough clutches to sell on Etsy since what I do make, I sell locally and regionally.  I only have enough time for private orders.  Brag time, I just made clutches for a bridal party of 6.  Check them out!

Bridesmaid clutches using my antique brass with loops and matching purse chains!

So I would like to offer any of you the opportunity, to be linked to my blog and vice versa.  People can go directly from my blog to your store to find clutches that are for sale made using my metal purse frames.  This will take some time as I will need to set up a new page but this will be a “Sellers” page.   This will be another place of concentration of sellers where you can increase your probability of getting a clutch sold by being with others who sell similar things.  And it’s free for you to be listed and linked on my blog.  My blog gets hits and I spend about 3 hours daily answering inquiries.  I need to direct them to where they can buy them, so why not list your shop?

And I know several of you who keep it on the “down low” between your buying and selling accounts, but I want to dispel that myth — that your buyers are better off not knowing where you buy your supplies from and how much the materials cost.  Any quick look on Etsy, Amazon, or Google will reveal how much metal purse frames cost, especially those imported from China.  In fact, I’ve gone on Etsy Forums to defend the pricing of clutches charged by handbag makers because the argument was essentially “who in their right mind can charge $100 for a clutch when we know full well a frame doesn’t cost that much”!  My counter-argument is that buyers are not paying for the frame, the glue, and the fabric:  they are paying for the value of handbag maker’s creativity, artwork, and labor.

On top of that, as loyal buyers, I know you are paying more for my metal purse frames.  I know you see the value in buying the highest quality purse frames that you know are tested for lead, that passes the US Environmental Protection Guidelines, that is backed by a 30-day full refund guarantee, and that are trademarked with a special coating that render them beautiful, bright and shiny.  These are NOT the cheap metal purse frames sold elsewhere by others.  So why not emphasize that?  Your clutches are not made using cheap, knock-off, generic “silver” purse frames!  Point that out to your buyers and inform them of the quality that you spend on your fabrics, frames, packaging, and craftsmanship.

THREE:

To that end, I have been asked by several handbag makers about what they can say about the frames that they have bought that would not violate my trademarks and copyrights.  Here’s what you all can say but you may only state the following for clutches made with my purse frames.  I do NOT want to see this with a clutch made with a certain “tear-drop” shaped closure.  Honors system please or legal action will indeed commence!  🙂  *muah*

You can use any of the following for nickel-free purse frames (TM) but you must include the last *** item:

*The metal purse frame is made of iron with a nickel-free finish.
*It is good for people with nickel sensitivity:  it’s hypoallergenic, itch and rash resistant.
*It has a 2-coat protective coating that allows fingerprints to wipe off with ease unlike those with a 1-coat finish.
*It is tested for lead and meets the US’s Environmental Protection guidelines.
*The nickel-free finish is white-silver in appearance and is best described as looking like sterling silver.
***It is trademarked to WhileBabyNaps.Etsy.com and Khuong LLC.

For antique brass:

*It has a 2-coat protective coating that allows fingerprints to wipe off with ease unlike those with a 1-coat finish.
*It is tested for lead and meets the US’s Environmental Protection guidelines.
***It is trademarked to WhileBabyNaps.Etsy.com and Khuong LLC.

For Duskcoat Gunmetal:

*The finish is made with 2 coats that are layered to give a richer texture in color.
*You will see iridescent colors of green, purple and pink under different bulbs/lights (natural, florescent, full-spectrum, etc…) but an eye-level view will reveal a deep gray tone.
*It is tested for lead and meets the US’s Environmental Protection guidelines.
***It is trademarked to WhileBabyNaps.Etsy.com and Khuong LLC.

And for GoldenLock:

*GoldenLock was designed to be warmer than 10K and not as warm as 18K and closely resembles the gold-tone of 14K jewelry.
*It is tested for lead and meets the US’s Environmental Protection guidelines.
***It is trademarked to WhileBabyNaps.Etsy.com and Khuong LLC.

You can also add flourishes to it such as “I use only the best metal purse frames on the market” or “I do not use cheap imitation frames”.

FOUR:

So … big breath … email me directly at inquiries@whilebabynaps.com if you would like a link exchange to my blog to be listed as a seller who makes clutches using my metal purse frames.
What I need:

1. A link to the product listing of your clutch or shop announcement stating any of the above purse frame descriptors above.

2. URL of the shop or blog that you want linked to.

3. Name and short description of your store or goods or target market.

4. A jpg of one of your clutches or a shop banner or logo.  Please keep it under 1 MB.

Any comments and questions??  Please feel free to post them here or email me directly at inquiries@whilebabynaps.com.  Thanks and Happy Halloween!  BOO!

October 31, 2010 Posted by Thy K | Helpful Tips | 20 Comments

How can you get up to 50% OFF?

It has occurred to me that the Etsy buyer may not have fully realized the considerable volume discounts in the wholesale price of my metal purse frames.  Granted it is a different audience than my professionals who buy in bulk.  But nonetheless, based on the small orders that come through my Etsy shop whilebabynaps.etsy.com, I’ve realized that I should do the math and show the savings that is in the volume purchases.

So I’ve just spent many hours on Etsy re-listing my items to show these savings.  Each product listing has the volume discounts for that specific frame.

For example, my most popular frame is my 8×3 nickel-free purse frame(TM) with kisslock closure.

8x3 kisslock

Here are the savings … the more you buy up front, you more you save!

(1) 8×3 frame = regular price $5.99
Set of 5 = 17% off
Set of 10 = 21% off
Set of 20 = 25 % off
Set of 25 = 27% off
Set of 50 = 29% off

… If you are making clutches to sell, are you taking full advantage of the discount up front?

What this may mean to you is that someone buying a set of 20 frames up front (an amount that is not even enough clutches to set up an Etsy shop, have a booth, or a table at a crafts fair) already has 25% OFF the price instead of buying 1!  Compared to another clutch-maker who bought a set of 5, this clutch-maker who bought a set of 20 has saved an additional 8% and has a lower cost of goods.

Take a look at the savings for the Skinny Bride(TM) EleganceLock(TM) frames, designed with the narrower channel for thinner and finer fabrics like silks and bridal satins.  (And these clutches typically have a higher average retail price than the standard cotton clutches!)

8x3 Skinny Bride(TM) with EleganceLock(TM)

(1) 8×3 frame = regular price $6.25
Set of 5 = 20% off
Set of 10 = 25% off
Set of 20 = 28 % off
Set of 25 = 30% off
Set of 50 = 36% off

… An order for a bride and her bridal party can be 4-9!  (Ok, my opinion, but 9 is craaazy!)  So a set of 25 frames may only last 3-4 bridal customers yet the clutch-maker who orders this will have gotten 30% OFF up front or is at a 10% advantage over someone who purchased only a set of 5!

Now, in truth, it’s my bulk purchasers at 500 frames or chains who get the lowest volume discounts.  (You can see these volume discounts from 100+ at my webstore whilebabynaps.com.)   FYI, those who order more than 500 still get the price at the 500 level because that is the floor price: it does not get any lower.  So while you may not yet be at that level, you can get 30-40% off on the frames at the set of 50 level.  And I have quite many sales at the 50 level on Etsy.

So check out the listings at my Etsy store whilebabynaps.etsy.com and at my webstore whilebabynaps.com.  And plan your purchases to save!  With my Columbus Day Sale discounts on top of that, I’m really rewarding those who are loyal and those who are stocking up for the holiday gift-giving buying time.  Remember the old saying “Go big or go home!”

October 10, 2010 Posted by Thy K | Helpful Tips | 1 Comment

Huge Columbus Day SALE at Joann’s

Just a heads up!!  There’s huge sale at Joann’s this weekend for Columbus Day.

Click on the link to check out their website.

Joann’s

There are web-exclusive sales only, but sign up to receive emails.  I just got a 50% OFF coupon for any item.  Hello a bolt of fusible fleece!!  With this coupon, you will get it below any wholesale price.  It cannot be beat.

Check them out ladies and stock up on your quilting cottons and silks.  You will use it for clutches for holiday gift-giving.

Have a wonderful weekend!

Winn

October 8, 2010 Posted by Thy K | Helpful Tips | Leave a comment

I believe in Gutermann glue!

I believe in this miracle glue so much in the making of my own line of clutches that I include it as a critical component my complete kits.  But there a lot of things involved to make this happen that I thought you’d might be interested in.

Just Add Fabric(TM)! kit for convenience!

*I am a certified importer with U.S. Customs.

*I have to pay import duties on every shipment of Gutermann glue.

*It has to be packaged by a facility that is certified in Hazardous Materials since all adhesives (even your piddly fabric glue) falls into the ‘hazardous’ category of shipments since it is flammable.  The boxes are duly noted, with special stickers and all the paperwork needed for it to ship as a hazardous cargo.

*It has to be shipped to me by sea vessel.  Under all the rules and regulations, it cannot be shipped by air.  So, to get it to me from Germany has to go by land and by ship.  This takes lots of time and $cha-ching!

*It gets to a port where a ground carrier who is approved to handle Hazardous Materials gets it and sends via land (truck).  This company gets charged so that means I have to pay import fees to this company as well.

-So with all those shipping fees and import duties, I really try to be competitive in price with other sellers out there who sell it on Etsy.  Due to the same Customs Rules and Regulations, I cannot ship small sales to non-US buyers.  I would have to export a large quantity using the same method which I import it.

So how is it that other sellers from abroad able to sell to US customers?  Well, they take a risk knowing that the percentage of shipped goods in small packages that get X-ray’ed and checked by their country’s Customs and US’s Customs are small.  But I feel that those small sales are not worth the risk of getting the package rejected and the customer losing the shipping charge.  In addition, it would then cost me a fee to retrieve the package, and I may face a fine for violating Custom’s Rules and Regulations.

But all is worth it to import and carry it because I love this glue.  It glues fabric to metal like no other.  I sell quite a bit of it to accessories designers as well (think barrettes, belts …).   It’s a staple in my line of products.

October 6, 2010 Posted by Thy K | Helpful Tips | 3 Comments

Where to sell your Clutches

Take it from me, there’s more places to sell your clutches than just on Etsy.

In fact, I rarely sell my clutches on Etsy.  (Granted, I’ve been so busy with the 3 kids, the puppy and the jewelry business that I haven’t had time to sew this summer … Fall season gives me a reprieve when the kids are in school!) Oh, here’s a pic of my new cubbies!  Target!  Easy to put together and these were on sale for $39.99 each (there are 2 units here).  I even asked for a further discount and got another 10% off due to a minor scratch that you can’t even see!

Office cubbies

Here are my tips for the top places to sell:

*your local art & craft fairs: The table fee varies, but of the 3 listed here, this can command the highest priced clutches in your product line.  The ‘artsier’ the fair, the higher the goods.  Have a range of products but do include some higher-end clutches like silks and brocades in the $105 range.  Have a high mid-range at $65 – $85 for cottons with embellishments, and mid-range cottons at $40-55.

*Saturday/Sunday markets: Similar to the one above, and it really depends on your area, but I would exclude the silks here.  The higher-priced clutches tend not to fit with the market-goers here.  Add in some hemp clutches and coin purses.

*school functions (at least I’m there anyways )..: Offer a wide range here as you can cover moms who need a fancy clutch ($85) for a dinner date out, lower mid-range clutches ($35) for gift giving, and handy wallets ($25) for the on-the-go moms.  School fairs at holiday time are GREAT!  A lot of gift-buying!!

Yup, hit the ground!  Nothing sells more than when people see the clutches first hand!  Most are not even looking to buy a clutch until they see your clutches.  Then WOW!  I love these!  You make them?  OMG, I have to have one.

And one more thing:  use your clutches that you made. Take it everywhere — your favorites.  You will not believe the strangers in stores, libraries, etc.. who will remark “I like your bag.”  Then whip out your business card and tell them how they can buy one.  And yes, I’ve even sold my clutches to my therapist and my kids’ pediatrician this way!  It’s amazing how women will support women when they know it’s handmade!

September 14, 2010 Posted by Thy K | Helpful Tips | 2 Comments

Can you order this metal purse frame for me?

Do you buy from a seller or a re-seller?

One question that I get, especially from potential customers on Etsy, is “Can you order this metal purse frame for me?” And it usually comes with a picture attached to the message.

I get this question from time to time and I have to reiterate:

*I am NOT a reseller.*

To be clear, I don’t order the frames from someone, and mark up the price and resell it to you.  (You might as well order directly from them yourself to save and not pay the mark-up!)  I make my own frames using my own designs and specifications.

If you are asking that of other sellers and they answer “Sure, I can get that for you”, then I would suggest you ask if they are making their money marking up and reselling cheap imported frames, or not.  It is NOT possible to get a frame to you within a week or two unless you are a reseller.  You CANNOT make a frame in that amount of time.  How do you account for buying the raw materials, making the CAD drawing (need engineering), producing samples, and then get on the production schedule to make it?  There is NO WAY someone would make and satisfy an order of 1, 5 or 10 frames.  It cannot be done, unless you buy it cheaply, and resell it.

For me and my business, if a customer can order 200-300 up-front, then I can consider making that frame for them.  But the mold rights are retained by me:  that is, I own the rights to the mold and can sell the excess frames and/or make more frames using the same mold.  That is the only way I can even make a profit.

So, how can another seller “get that frame” for you?  By buying it cheaply from someone, marking up the price, and reselling it to you.  Then you know you are buying a cheap import.

August 22, 2010 Posted by Thy K | Helpful Tips | 1 Comment

About Skinny Bride(TM) 8×3 “nickel-free kisslock metal purse frames(TM)”!

I had a question from one of my customers on Etsy and thought I’d share the update with everyone as well…  she wins the prize for noticing all of my hard work!  Thanks Amy!!  🙂

As you know, I design and make all my frames, and I do a lot of research before making any new designs. And it’s always based on the marketplace and trying to improve on it for you – the handbag maker – my customer.

1. What do I offer (in terms of new products) to help you with your handbag/clutch business?

2. How can I help you grow their business?

I think it gets stagnant to offer the same thing year-in and year-out.  It’s my hope that you like the improvements and helps your business grow.
So that said, here are the improvements made to my most popular design – the 8×3 “nickel-free kisslock metal purse frame(TM)”.

The width of the U-channel a narrower by less than 0.6mm. This design was narrowed for the following accommodations based on continuing market research and customer feedback:

* less glue is needed to use to “fill” the channel walls and NO glue needed on the fabric edge as well. This roughly translates to a 10-25% savings for the handbag maker on the cost of glue depending on the size of the frame used. (This also saves time!)

* regular-weight interface can be used instead of heavy weight interface giving the handbag maker two benefits: less cost, less stiff clutches (best for the finer higher-end clutches).

* thinner and finer materials (silk, satin, shantung) can be used without needing to “stuff” the channel. This resulted in higher priced clutches.
The width of the frame wall decreased by 1mm in order to give more attention to the fabric. I got comments from handbag makers that they wanted something sleeker, less intrusive, so that their craftsmanship can stand out and the fabrics used can stand out. (Many have their own printed fabrics.)

….So basically, you’d spend less on glue, less on the interface, and have the flexibility of introducing a higher priced line of clutches for special occasions (evening wear, bridal, showers, etc…) to expand your product line offering.  In all you will either save money and/or make more money. My aim was to help my customers make more money. I feel strongly that I have the best frames, BUT my frames should be just that: provide a “frame” for your sewing or fabric or designs, but should NOT be the focus, or God forbid, detract from the clutch fabric or design.

Best always,

Winn

August 9, 2010 Posted by Thy K | Helpful Tips | 2 Comments

Tips: Gutermann glue for your clutches

The miracle that is Gutermann glue.  I cannot say enough about this little worker.  When I first made clutches, I have tried many domestic-brand glues and they either took too long to set/dry, failed to provide adequate adhesion, or too viscous.  It killed me when I had to throw away the clutch in the final stage of gluing it to the metal purse frame.  Oh, the mutiny!  Pirates had nothing on me!

If you’ve never worked with Gutermann glue before, you should know:

*It’s viscosity is similar to cement glue that is new.  In fact, get some excess on your metal purse frame and you can “roll” and “ball” it up/off just like rubber cement.  However, if you have a tiny excess and there’s not enough glue there to “ball up” and roll off, it will appear as a thin film on the metal frame.  Simply use your fingernail to gently scrape it off.  NEVER use an abrasive pad:  you don’t need to and you will scratch your metal purse frame.  *shriek*

*It sets quickly reducing your production time.  I recommend doing only one side at a time and waiting 10 minutes per side for it to set.  But in my own production (since I’ve made many clutches and produce many at a time), I glue the entire frame (both sides) at the same time.  I made a mistake one time and tried to take out the fabric to reposition it after 2 hours, and I could NOT remove it.  (There went that beautiful clutch…)  It’s on for good!

*It doesn’t penetrate your skin.  It will dry and you will peel it off.  Freakily, that is one of my favorite things to do!

*There is no warning about carcinogens in the glue, unlike other industrial glues.  My husband’s mom, dad, and 3 sisters had/have cancer and he works in Oncology so this is very important to me as I work with it daily.

*When you take the cap off, put the cap upside down on the table so that you can quickly reinsert the tube back into the cap and screw the cap back on.  This is especially important on a full tube as the glue just wants out.

*Until you get used to making clutches, start your gluing in the corner of the frame where it’s the widest and needs the most glue.  When you open the glue tube for the first time, a bead will quickly form at the tip and expand as the glue comes out.  So be sure to have your frame at the ready!  The tube has a nicely tapered end that allows you to put the glue in the frame channel nicely.  This tip is especially useful for medium- and smaller-sized frames as their channels are smaller.

*Before you store away your glue, wipe off excess around the tapered tip.  If you forget, no worries, you can just peel it off before your next use!

*Compared to other industrial glues, I feel that this one is much lower in odor. But as a flammable product, it does have that industrial glue aroma, so you can open a window for ventilation if you’re at all bothered by the glue scent.   I work with it daily, in the heat of summer, in the warmth of my workroom during a cold winter and I’ve never even cracked a window open.  For storage, I’ve stored it year-round on my shelves in my regular-temp workroom.  No additional precautions needed but I wouldn’t put it in a hot garage in the middle of a southern summer.

This glue is like liquid gold to me.  It really solved my problem of attaching it to the frame.  However, I also use it for quick fixes like hemming my kids’ clothes when I don’t have the time.  I have also used it around the house for other gluing needs instead of Gorilla glue, Crazy glue, wood glue … I just carry it around everywhere!

Gutermann glue for metal purse frames!

April 27, 2010 Posted by Thy K | Helpful Tips | 13 Comments