We have all seen it:
Handmade, homemade, small business owner... Selling something.
SMALL BUSINESS OWNER!
What is the hype about this small business you may ask? Well, for starters, it's one of the best ways for a normal person like you and me to make or generate an income for ourselves without relying on big corporate businesses, franchises, or other large companies to feed our families.
Not all small businesses are the same either. Some have very few employees, some have a bunch of employees, some have only family as employees, while others are single-owned and solely operated. It doesn't matter the size in most cases as to whatever the business is, because it's perfect for what they do. Perfect because some of these businesses only require one or a handful of people to accomplish their goals.
There are so many (too many, to be honest) different crafts out there, that to try and relate to one versus the other in any kind of comparison would be too time-consuming and rather moot. Woodcarving is not the same as jewelry making which is not the same as furniture makers which are not the same as interior design specialists.
HOWEVER!
You could have someone make jewelry such as earrings and necklaces using carved wood, which could be displayed on a custom dresser or in an intricately designed jewelry box, that was designed to fit in a room alongside other furniture in a room specifically placed for certain persons that want it that way. Each part of that end result could be from a small business owner.
The biggest reason why people prefer small business owners over mass produced? Mainly it's because the quality of workmanship is far greater than something you'll find at any mall, outlet store, or warehouse.
Quality over quantity.
It shows in the end result and in most cases, you'll find that if the quality isn't that good they won't have much business.
Word of mouth travels FAST!
Texts, blogs, reviews, verbal, visual, and the phone are the word of mouth that can make or break a small business.
Here's an example of a small family-owned and operated business that grew to be one of the top 1% of florists in North America:
Check out their site!
For special occasions! For any occasion! For no occasion!
These floral bouquets are top-notch!
HOMEMADE!
Ok, so what's the big deal about homemade?
Quite simple. It's been made in someone's home. Little to no overhead costs for one is the biggest deal not only for the small business owner but for you as well.
Think about it...
Renting extra space costs money, and so do the utility bills that come with it. With that space, you'll probably need to fill it with shelves, tables, and whatever else you'll need to display your product in your space. With those shelves and tables, you'll need to make it look presentable to the eye. Not just your eye, but your customer's eyes who have to see the monstrosity you've made or the small paradise you've created in your space. With this overhead comes greater costs to the small business owner which in turn reflects the price you'll pay for their wares. This is mostly true but not always the case.
How much overhead cost do you think those big companies have even though they may OWN the land and space they use to conduct business? Why are their cheaply constructed items so expensive? I could go on and on but I think you get the idea.
Little to no overhead costs means the small business owner doesn't have to charge you an arm and a leg (or whatever else it'll cost you) to get their wares. More about costs are explained later...
HANDMADE!
Last but not least, and I'm not sure why this would ever be an issue but I'm sure there has been one somewhere at some time in some manner, but why handmade?
I can tell you that, aside from the people that may just be starting out in their craft but are continuously working toward betterment in their craft, or the people that may not really care about what they're doing and just trying to make a quick buck because someone told them it was more lucrative than it really is; the QUALITY of something handmade is far superior to machine-made.
Ok, please don't confuse what I'm trying to say here.
I do understand that even in small businesses that machines are needed to craft whatever it is they are trying to sell.
The machine-made products that I'm referring to are the items that have been created by one or more of the following: mass-produced, conveyor belt-driven, remotely and or computer-operated, big warehouse-sized machines that require a team to maintain and or operate.
Not a hand mixer, hand drill, miter saw, stove top, hydraulic press, or any other such machine that a small business owner may use at their disposal.
What "handmade" means to most artists in their craft is that they've lovingly made each piece, each little curve, point, or indent, each color scheme, change, or deviation, each little nuance that makes their item, unique. You can't get that with a plastic injection molding machine or a CNC woodcarving machine.
COSTS!
Number one two-part question many small business owners are asked:
WHY are your items more expensive than what I could buy in a store and WHY should I pay your prices versus theirs?
In other words:
Why would I pay X amount of dollars to buy your wares when I could buy them at a fraction of the cost at BigWarehouseMassProducedDotCom or even over at
LowQualityFastMadeNickKnacks right down the street; and didn't you previously state that with little overhead means it won't cost me?
Simple answer:
Quality over quantity is preferred by most even if they are looking for a better deal, and I also said it wouldn't cost you body parts or anything unreasonable.
Hard answer:
Just because it's not in your budget at the moment, doesn't mean it's too expensive.
So, ask yourself a few questions:
How long will anything from BWMPDC or LQFMNK last me?
What are the two-mile names of most of the ingredients used in the products that any of those two big companies sell?
How many of these items have been refurbished to look new, but in reality have been used and broken by others, then sent in to be repaired and returned right back to the same store do these companies stock on their shelves?
Not saying everything refurbished is bad but depending on what you're looking for this could be the difference between a good thing and a big headache.
The simple answer to each question:
Probably not long at all.
If you can't pronounce it, it probably isn't great for you. Checking ingredients is your due diligence. This includes anything from apple-flavored candy to zebra-colored body cream and anything else that has an ingredient.
They SHOULD be marked as such, but not all big companies will make that mark known or obvious. Super small print or randomly put in areas most people don't bother checking, etc, etc...
CONCLUSION!
There are many small business owners out there that make high-quality wares for anyone out there looking for such items. Literally from A to Z, you should find something out there that you're searching for.
TAKE NOTE PLEASE!
Don't look at the price as long as the quality is there, as each person will differ from the next in both price and quality. If the price isn't in your budget, move on. Don't try to complain about it as there are many people buying their wares and paying their prices, and there are more out there that might be better fitting for your budget.
You could even try contacting the vendor that you are interested in because they make something this "super particular way" that fits everything you've ever needed in whatever it is that you're searching for and ask them if they might lower the price due to the fact that you might want this thing/these things in bulk, or maybe even that you'll sign some kind of contractual agreement that vendor will make you X amount in quantity of whatever it is every month for you for X amount of time. Common sense rule: Unless you're at a swap meet, or a bargain lot, or maybe some kind of bazaar or similar place, NEVER, EVER ask for deals on something that is a single one-time purchase or ESPECIALLY a consumable. That's just plain rude.
Whatever it is that you might want to use, don't EVER use the old; "That other guy that makes this similar item only charges x amount!"... My answer usually is: "Then why are you bugging me about it?"... If you are seeing a similar item for less price, somewhere else, then go over there and buy it. If you're looking for a bargaining place that may have your needs then go there. It's called a swap meet. I have, on many occasions, sold there.
If you're trying to set a price on an item that someone else is selling, you're more than likely going to get nowhere. It's not your product; it wasn't your time; it didn't cost you anything to make or build; it's not up to you to set a price.
That being said, it's ultimately up to you to decide what you want for yourself. Whether you want to support someone that makes unique items for your enjoyment or not. Whether you have the budget for the wares being sold or not.
Small business owners are just trying to make a living just like the guy working at BWMPDC or LQFMNK. The difference is the SBO (for the most part) uses their own ideas, craft, ingenuity, and resources to accomplish a perpetual income generator for their family.
You'll find that more than 90% of the wares being sold that were made by SBOs are of superior quality.
SUPPORT SMALL BUSINESS OWNERS!
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