Handmade items can be a much better option and way more common than you think.
What do you think of when you hear handmade?
Hello, my name is Tabitha and I own a small business where I make custom and unique items by hand; so I know personally how much diversity there is when it comes to handmade items. Some people love it and some people think negatively about it. It really is a personal choice and it's ok either way!
Handmade items are often found in corporations and people hardly ever think about it.
It is so easy just to run to the store around the corner and grab what you need off of the shelf that we rarely think about where those items come from. In a lot of cases, items in stores are sold to them by small businesses that make the items then sell to those stores and the store is the only "face" of the product that you see besides the label. If that small business doesn't have a brick and mortar location or have the funds for tons of advertising then they stay unnoticed in the background. Do you remember seeing a label in a store that said "hand painted" on it, well that is a "handmade" service that is provided by a corporation. The difference is that the corporation can pay many people by the hour to hand paint the corporation's items on a production line. Little to no care goes into that "handmade" process.
Some People Say "Nope, Handmade Is Not For Me"
There are a few different reasons that people would feel this way, I guess. A lot of times, if someone has had a bad experience then they will be reluctant to give it a second chance. Especially if it was something that really caused them an inconvenience.
For some, they would much rather go to the store and grab a known brand. Often people associate brand with quality and don't want to take the chance that something that isn't "branded" will be just as good, if not better.
I find it contradicting that some will have the opinion that handmade items are "cheap" or low quality and complain about the price being too high, but then would rather go to the store and spend a "cheap" or even higher price for something of less quality just because it is in a store that is well known.
The last complaint I can think of is that people don't like that the item they need may not be already completed, causing some "turnaround time". Although, in the store if you are going to customize something, usually "turnaround time" is experienced there also.
Handmade Is Some People's Favorite Option
Meanwhile, others love the world of handmade for many different reasons! When you get something created by someone that has a true passion for what they do then you will absolutely love the results. The passion shines brightly through the product!
The amount of care and detail that goes into creating an item by someone who has a passion for it vs that of a mass produced item on an assembly line is something very noticeable and people love that. Someone who handmakes items will pay attention to details that you yourself probably overlooked.
People appreciate the skill it takes to create an item out of thin air. Not everyone has the talent to create some things, so when someone can come to you and describe something they would like to have, then you create it in physical form, it gives them a feeling of accomplishment as well. Their wishes were literally just granted by you!
When someone understands that it takes quality materials to make quality products, then they understand that your handmade piece may cost a little more, but they are happy to pay for what they are getting. They also see all you have invested in their piece, making them want to compensate you for making their dream item come to reality. Often, to create a custom piece from scratch for someone, you have to create all the designs and process or procedure to make it possible. People love the fact that so much thought goes into the item they are purchasing.
People also love a one-of-a-kind treasure. All the way down to the brush strokes, each one will be unique in some kind of way. Not to mention how you can't go into the store and get one. So if someone sees yours and wants one, they can't just run to the store and grab your one-of-a-kind item because they weren't mass produced. They might still be able to get one, if you let them know where to go though.
Which leads me to the point that, as a handmade business, how important word of mouth is! If a couple people are unhappy with a corporation then it isn't very detrimental to that company, but if a couple people are unhappy with a small business then it is very detrimental to that company. We rely on our quality and detail of our items to represent us as a company. As a customer, when you receive good products or services you want to share your experience with other people.
Which One Are You?
So you see, it really is a personal opinion. I personally prefer handmade over corporation but that doesn't mean you have to. To me, handmade is better than corporation because when you combine passion and skill to produce a product that you can be proud to say you created you get a better product. You do not have to sacrifice quality to get a unique item that is very limited in production at a good price. If you have had a bad experience or are just curious to see what it's all about, then I strongly suggest you give me a try. I am confident that I will show you why people love the world of handmade items!
Leave me a comment on which one you prefer and why. I love to hear other people's opinions and believe it opens us up to new perspectives. You can subscribe to get more insights and special offers! Here at Creative Inclinations I will talk about different creative topics along with tutorials and information on everything I have learned not to do so you don't have to go through the trouble.
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