How Do You Prevent Too Many Orders If You Work Alone?

[Tallbald]

I'm currently receiving as many orders as I can handle from one advertising source. That could wind down though and I've been encouraged to start having a website but fear that too many orders for me to keep up could result. I work alone and have to continue doing so, but how do you address your limits if potential customers want more of your artwork than you can supply? Contrary to some opinions, I feel it is not a "good problem to have". I refuse to sacrifice my high quality standards and "cut corners" to save time as some other areas of commerce historically have done.Thanks. Don.

Edited November 2, 2015 by Tallbald

[RStevenson]

Raise your prices

[25b]

.....exactly what Ryan said...that's what I do...

[cgleathercraft]

+1 to raise prices.

Set lead times based on current orders and keep it updated.If people are ok with waiting 2 or 3 months (or longer) for your product then it shouldn't be as much of a hassle.

[ChuckBurrows]

Having been in the same situation (at one time I as 5 years back ordered) raising prices and limiting your offereingscan help, but what I and most of my colleagues in the same boat do is make a list of customer requests. Let them know approximate start/finish time and if they choose to be on the list then when their name comes up you make contact. If they choose to order I took (no longer taking orders due to health reasons) a small down payment once I started. If for whatever reason they could not order when their name came up I either offer to put them at the bottom of the list or if they choose to remove their names.

[Tallbald]

I hadn't thought about raising prices. Early on though, I did decide that I would not try to be "everything to everyone" while agreeing to craft any request that was made. I stick to heavy, laminated and sewn belts, with a cap and ball revolver holster made during slower periods. Over the weekend I received orders for six belts, and my time this week will be fully spent on them. At some point I will have met the needs of all at the one site, and things shall slow down to a trickle. Thus my perceived need for a website, as well as my wanting to make ordering easy for future possible customers. I appreciate the answers and food for thought. Don.

[Studio-N]

I would just love to have that problem!

[Tallbald]

Please understand everyone I am so very grateful for the orders. My wife and I use our hobbies to help supplement our fixed income, pay bills, etc. But along with happiness for the business, I worry that my thus good reputation could be marred should I accept orders I cannot fill. I want to avoid getting into such a situation. I do like the suggestion of a waiting list arrangement. Don

[simontuntelder]

Ever heard of the philosophy of Lean?

Analyze you work process. See if there's something that could be done quicker or more efficiently.

Lean is sometime associated with stress, but actually it was implemented to reduce stress among workers.

For me it's been streamlining as much as of the offerings as possible by sticking to fixed designs or letting the customer pay for being picky (unless it's something simple like thread colourk) and buying fewer types of leather from fewer tanneries.

And lastly, invest your money in tools. Good tools. The best tools. I've found that using good tools makes your life a lot easier. Less maintenance, fewer corrections and it's simply quicker with a good knife - and more pleasurable.

But your easiest option would be to hike your prices...

[Tallbald]

I actually have a training history as a production machinist in a large shipyard, making multiples of 100 parts for ships. I have, for 35 years applied the philosophy to some aspects of my works. I understand the general admonitions. In my personal leather art, I can cut multiples of straps, laminate them and have them cured and on hand to immediately begin crafting a belt when the check (payment) arrives, gaining at least 24 hours in the process.

Come 2016 I will have to raise my prices a bit because of escalating material costs I understand are coming. I might lose some customer base, but I cannot afford to lose money in my sold projects, or I will be essentially trading money dollar for dollar on what I sell. And my art is not some social program. I must profit or there is no motivation for me.

A recurring theme in the responses I see is that I do need to raise my prices. I am thinking that the reason is that raising prices will help separate the wheat from the chafe, identifying those willing to pay a premium for true custom, handcrafted belts rather than lesser monies for "factory" made items of less quality.....Don