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| One Bright pair and one In-Between Pair ! |
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| Another Bright Tangerine pair. These look really cool. A perfect Unisex colouway as I can see MrB wanting a pair is these shades! |
MsB from Socks Made On 88
Socks Made On 88
Socks Made On 88
Thursday, 31 January 2013
updates for today Jan 31/13
MsB from Socks Made On 88
Edited
Just wanted to let you know that I did edit my last post before this one to include the two ravelry groups that shows the two awesome Cowichan sweaters created by Granted Designs, being the CBC sweater and the Suzuki Sweater.
MsB From Socks Made On 88
( note: red for CANADA)
MsB From Socks Made On 88
( note: red for CANADA)
Tagged ready to roll, and sneak peaks!
MrB's latest accomplishments for our next market appearance. They are all tagged, ready to roll and some more on the way. Brigadier has not had his picture taken lately, here he has a string of two pair attached and more yet to come today. MrB has been cranking constantly trying to fullfill the list MsB (me) set up for him as a goal for our next market. If we /he gets ahead of the game the cranking will be caught up and MrB will not be so busy after this next market. Today's pictures show, Brights, Conservatives and sneak peaks.
The set of three conservatives are all very nice. The first one is a zebra-like stripe, the second is what I call a brick tweed, and the last one my most favourite reminds me of the old Canadian Cowichan sweaters. I loved those sweaters and they do seem to be making a come back. Have you see the new designed CBC Cowichan sweater and the Suzuki Cowichan sweater they are very impressive? You can see them over on the CBC ravelry group, We Love the CBC, and also at the rav group of Canadian Knitters eh? topic How does one recognise a Cdn sweater, if you are interested in taking a gander at them. And wouldn't these socks the last pair in the conservative group go awesome with them?
MsB from Socks Made On 88
The set of three conservatives are all very nice. The first one is a zebra-like stripe, the second is what I call a brick tweed, and the last one my most favourite reminds me of the old Canadian Cowichan sweaters. I loved those sweaters and they do seem to be making a come back. Have you see the new designed CBC Cowichan sweater and the Suzuki Cowichan sweater they are very impressive? You can see them over on the CBC ravelry group, We Love the CBC, and also at the rav group of Canadian Knitters eh? topic How does one recognise a Cdn sweater, if you are interested in taking a gander at them. And wouldn't these socks the last pair in the conservative group go awesome with them?
MsB from Socks Made On 88
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| Brigadier and two sneak peaks! Photos of these will be up after completed. |
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| 3 more Brights |
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| 3 more Conservatives....don't they look good all here together? |
Sunday, 27 January 2013
Good Golly, Miss Molly!
Good Golly, Miss Molly, the market yesterday again was a great outing and we were very busy! I would have to say this constitutes that we are doing something right! We are getting many return customers, much positive feedback, custom orders for knee socks, and selling socks at a constant pace every two weeks.
We increased our presences, and by no means has our sales decreased, they have increased. So looking back now on our first month with two markets that have taken place that may just be our new norm for the bulk of the year 2013, attending twice monthly. It may even make us reconsider taking our break fully from the end of March to September. Although, we are now wavering on when our break will be, we may throw a few more appearances in especially one for the end of April and maybe even one the end of May.
Do you see what is occurring? We are liking the markets so much we do not want to leave! MrB and I do think though it is necessary to take a break, regroup and have time to focus on some other things and also increase his learning curve too so he has more time to play and practice with techniques. He has all those new books of instruction he got for Christmas and wants to just dig right into them and see what he can accomplish. The new things he learns may not necessarily be used to sell at the market, but our family may get some new and more intricate gifts in the future.
We are both doing what we love to do within this venture. It keeps us busy, and occupied as much as we want to be. We are learning new things, meeting new people, and having fun along the way. Those things will not change in the immediate future. Do we want to make more than two appearances at the market, a month? Nope, we are very satisfied with twice per month. The key to our retirement, new venture and life in general is BALANCE as well as being able to have flexibility we want and need! Today I just say, Good Golly, Miss Molly.... all is good, or Good Gee, MrB, ........all is good!
It is great to have two weeks to focus on what needs to be done, and knitted before the next market. I am sure MrB gets overwhelmed sometimes with the lists I present to him. Nevertheless, he is a trooper, and he does what he wants, or can in the end, and pretty much everyone is happy! One thing is that Brigadier 88 seems to not complain too much, give him a bath now and again and keep him lubricated and he is bound to take on the tasks that MrB presents to him. And so we start another week....... planning and knitting shall commence. Planning is my forte and of course we all know knitting/cranking is MrB's game. Have a great week, MrB :-)
MsB from Socks Made On 88
We increased our presences, and by no means has our sales decreased, they have increased. So looking back now on our first month with two markets that have taken place that may just be our new norm for the bulk of the year 2013, attending twice monthly. It may even make us reconsider taking our break fully from the end of March to September. Although, we are now wavering on when our break will be, we may throw a few more appearances in especially one for the end of April and maybe even one the end of May.
Do you see what is occurring? We are liking the markets so much we do not want to leave! MrB and I do think though it is necessary to take a break, regroup and have time to focus on some other things and also increase his learning curve too so he has more time to play and practice with techniques. He has all those new books of instruction he got for Christmas and wants to just dig right into them and see what he can accomplish. The new things he learns may not necessarily be used to sell at the market, but our family may get some new and more intricate gifts in the future.
We are both doing what we love to do within this venture. It keeps us busy, and occupied as much as we want to be. We are learning new things, meeting new people, and having fun along the way. Those things will not change in the immediate future. Do we want to make more than two appearances at the market, a month? Nope, we are very satisfied with twice per month. The key to our retirement, new venture and life in general is BALANCE as well as being able to have flexibility we want and need! Today I just say, Good Golly, Miss Molly.... all is good, or Good Gee, MrB, ........all is good!
It is great to have two weeks to focus on what needs to be done, and knitted before the next market. I am sure MrB gets overwhelmed sometimes with the lists I present to him. Nevertheless, he is a trooper, and he does what he wants, or can in the end, and pretty much everyone is happy! One thing is that Brigadier 88 seems to not complain too much, give him a bath now and again and keep him lubricated and he is bound to take on the tasks that MrB presents to him. And so we start another week....... planning and knitting shall commence. Planning is my forte and of course we all know knitting/cranking is MrB's game. Have a great week, MrB :-)
MsB from Socks Made On 88
Geesh that sucks!
I just wrote a nice long blog entry and now it is gone.
What can I say but.... geesh that sucks!
Now I will have to decide if I take the time to retype it.
GRRRRRRRRRRRRR!
(Edited to say: I found it, the blog entry, so alas the lost is found. It is called, Good Golly Miss Molly!)... and now that even seems to be, the more perfect title.
MsB from Socks Made On 88
What can I say but.... geesh that sucks!
Now I will have to decide if I take the time to retype it.
GRRRRRRRRRRRRR!
(Edited to say: I found it, the blog entry, so alas the lost is found. It is called, Good Golly Miss Molly!)... and now that even seems to be, the more perfect title.
MsB from Socks Made On 88
Friday, 25 January 2013
Sock Display Rack will be ready for tomorrow's market!
The sock display rack will be replenished for tomorrow's market.
Amongst some of the pairs shown here, they are colourway requests from returning customers. A little bit of this, a little bit of that, a little bit bright, a little bit in-between, a little bit of conservative, all being a big lot of:
"Our Socks are Hugs for your Feet!"
Amongst some of the pairs shown here, they are colourway requests from returning customers. A little bit of this, a little bit of that, a little bit bright, a little bit in-between, a little bit of conservative, all being a big lot of:
"Our Socks are Hugs for your Feet!"
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| Conservative, Bright, Bright! |
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| Conservative, Bright, In-betweeen, and In-between examples! | Posted by MsB from Socks Made On 88 |
Reflections!
Reflections! Do you remember the tv show a way back called China Beach?
It was one of my favourite shows and the theme song was one of my all time fav songs too. The song was called, Reflections, and it was backed up by the The Supremes.
I decided to call this post reflections, and then I recalled the show and the song so that is why I mentioned them.
Yes, reflections, reflecting on shows and markets gone by that we did the past year. Reflecting on the sizes of pairs of socks we sold, the colourways we used and the colourways we sold. I decided that we needed to come with a standard amount of sock pairs for display in various sizes. Before we were thinking we needed so many of each size, and now I am ready to say we need a certain number of a certain size as it is obvious that some sizes are more common and we sell more of them than some of the other sizes. I have prioritized all the sizes we make, into 3 groups. The sizes we sell the most of, to have 6 available pairs ready for display each new market. The 2nd most sold size pairs to have 4 pairs available, and the not so common size pairs to have 2 pairs available which will consist of a bright pair and a conservative pair, as I choose not to say dull. In the mix of having 4-6 pairs there will brights, and at least one in between which I call them and they are conservative with a bit of splash of colour, and also one conservative coloured pair too!
We can not please every single customer but trying hard to have selections of the three colour groups we knit to be present and on display on our rack. We have learned too, from returning customers that they will suggest what they are looking for and if we have the yarn colourways to meet their desires we knit them up for our next market presence. These are like custom requests, and we seemed to get quite a few at the last market.
Now to be helpful for anyone who is also wondering what sizes to have on hand when you are doing a market, and how many to make, this is what we are going to go with to try out. We will make sure we have 2 women's size 5, and 2 women's size 10, and 2 men's size 11, and 2 men's size 12. We will have 4 pairs of size women's size 6 and 4 pairs of women's size 9 and then have 6 pairs of women's size 7 and 8, and also 6 pairs of men's size 9 and 10. This is what we have observed in our selling patterns. I wonder too if someone else sees these same size trends at their markets? There are many variables to take into consideration and I wonder if any particular geopgraphical regions see different sizes than we do? Brights are always the best seller but not always everyones favourite. We have one customer who has a pair of each of our colourway selections, a bright pair, an in-between pair and a conservative pair too. So how cool is that?
Keeping notes, and keeping track of the socks you make in what colourway, what kind of yarn, what size, and what sizes you sell is all data that can help you determine what you need for your own display racks or market table.
As we sell a pair in a certain size we will replace it, and always have the numbers on hand that we want to have, and it will be an ongoing process. Once we decide to take a break for the spring and or summer, we will know what we want to have cranked out for the markets again come the fall. Well we are not going to be done just yet, few more to go..... But, oh so looking forward to sock school in June in Maine.
For now, tonight we just look forward to going to the market bright and early tomorrow. The only thing I don't look forward to is that we are having a cold snap and it will be harder to get up get going out, and I hope it does not affect the numbers passing through the market to buy.
MsB from Socks Made On 88
It was one of my favourite shows and the theme song was one of my all time fav songs too. The song was called, Reflections, and it was backed up by the The Supremes.
I decided to call this post reflections, and then I recalled the show and the song so that is why I mentioned them.
Yes, reflections, reflecting on shows and markets gone by that we did the past year. Reflecting on the sizes of pairs of socks we sold, the colourways we used and the colourways we sold. I decided that we needed to come with a standard amount of sock pairs for display in various sizes. Before we were thinking we needed so many of each size, and now I am ready to say we need a certain number of a certain size as it is obvious that some sizes are more common and we sell more of them than some of the other sizes. I have prioritized all the sizes we make, into 3 groups. The sizes we sell the most of, to have 6 available pairs ready for display each new market. The 2nd most sold size pairs to have 4 pairs available, and the not so common size pairs to have 2 pairs available which will consist of a bright pair and a conservative pair, as I choose not to say dull. In the mix of having 4-6 pairs there will brights, and at least one in between which I call them and they are conservative with a bit of splash of colour, and also one conservative coloured pair too!
We can not please every single customer but trying hard to have selections of the three colour groups we knit to be present and on display on our rack. We have learned too, from returning customers that they will suggest what they are looking for and if we have the yarn colourways to meet their desires we knit them up for our next market presence. These are like custom requests, and we seemed to get quite a few at the last market.
Now to be helpful for anyone who is also wondering what sizes to have on hand when you are doing a market, and how many to make, this is what we are going to go with to try out. We will make sure we have 2 women's size 5, and 2 women's size 10, and 2 men's size 11, and 2 men's size 12. We will have 4 pairs of size women's size 6 and 4 pairs of women's size 9 and then have 6 pairs of women's size 7 and 8, and also 6 pairs of men's size 9 and 10. This is what we have observed in our selling patterns. I wonder too if someone else sees these same size trends at their markets? There are many variables to take into consideration and I wonder if any particular geopgraphical regions see different sizes than we do? Brights are always the best seller but not always everyones favourite. We have one customer who has a pair of each of our colourway selections, a bright pair, an in-between pair and a conservative pair too. So how cool is that?
Keeping notes, and keeping track of the socks you make in what colourway, what kind of yarn, what size, and what sizes you sell is all data that can help you determine what you need for your own display racks or market table.
As we sell a pair in a certain size we will replace it, and always have the numbers on hand that we want to have, and it will be an ongoing process. Once we decide to take a break for the spring and or summer, we will know what we want to have cranked out for the markets again come the fall. Well we are not going to be done just yet, few more to go..... But, oh so looking forward to sock school in June in Maine.
For now, tonight we just look forward to going to the market bright and early tomorrow. The only thing I don't look forward to is that we are having a cold snap and it will be harder to get up get going out, and I hope it does not affect the numbers passing through the market to buy.
MsB from Socks Made On 88
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