So who cares if someone has the facts wrong? It sells loads of magazines and seems to promote lots of discussion boards as well.
I would like to address one issue…as a manufacturer we do pay LOTS of our own money to produce designs that we work very hard to create. We take on huge risks. It’s only through our own proven experience that we base our decisions on what and how much to produce. It’s not easy to get it right every time. It would be lovely to mass produce every design I create, however it simply isn’t viable. Although there may be several people who are interested in reproduction of certain items or other popular designs we’ve had in the past we need to look hard and decide what will actually sell a bare minimum of 2,000 sheets over a period of no more than 6 months as the shelf life of products is so limited.
The market is saturated with companies all producing paper designs, I no longer want to compete directly with a company that has an art "team" and countless dollars for marketing and exposure.
I do have convictions as a business woman. I believe in what I create, otherwise I wouldn’t do it, and I’ll certainly defend my ideas and creations. I work hard and pay lots of money to attend trade shows so I can sell my products. The fact is that I do not attend trade shows to meet with designers. It’s not being mean, or disrespectful, it’s just the truth. I go there to sell. That does not mean I’m rude to designers by any means. I will stand by my product if someone tells me out right that they wouldn’t ever buy it because it doesn’t meet their requirements. I wouldn’t be any kind of a business person if I didn’t support and defend my products. I’ve met lots of really nice designers, especially recently at the CHA in California, who were very pleasant and truly interested in learning about my products. I find it refreshing to talk to other people with similar interests.
I don’t claim to know what designers go through. I’m sure it’s tiring going to the shows trying to promote yourself when so many people aren’t necessarily there to talk to you. It can’t be easy, however just remember that the other person working the booth is speaking to you with their own history and their own convictions and they have every right to let their opinions be known. I can assure you, they know much more about their own company than you could possibly know by visiting their booth for 2 minutes. You’re in their booth, asking about their products that they have paid for with their money.
Facts…I know they’re boring…that’s why they don’t sell magazines or promote boards…
amyk says
well said my friend, well said:-)