Dyer’s Rants

Hi Everyone,

Nice to blog after a long absence from the blogosphere. This is a rare discussion (on my part) on the nature of business and how it applies to a yarn dying business.

One of the reasons for my long silence has been due to …well…lots of work. Thanks to my sales force-my orders started coming in at a pace that resulted in long days in the dying studio and longer delays than I would like (or customers would like) in getting out orders. While this is a wonderful problem to have, especially in these economic times, it is a problem that needs addressing. So the notion of creativity verses innovation.

In my business-I love the fact that I can work the creative side of my brain-I love it love LOVE it! But as I tangle with the trial of figuring out how to streamline my production without loosing the quality-I am forced to deal with the needed requirement in any business-Innovation. In my mind, innovation in the implementation of the creative idea and is the most difficult part of building a business. It will either make or break you. I have been watching the hand dyed yarn industry-and many dyers have flooded the market. While there is a lot of talented dyers out there, there are very few dyers that are good business people. And I very much understand the commitment involved. When faced with orders, family, animals, husband’s schedule, kids, household and farm chores…how do you make it work and how do you you make it work well? If you are going to grow a business-even a yarn business, especially a yarn business-you have to have many skills. You have to devise a brand, logo, and a marketing scheme, create your own ads; you have to set up your books and a means to keep track of your expenses; you have to be computer savvy-a photographer, a web geek; you have to have excellent customer service skills, and you have to have vision-a goal as to where the business is going. Not to mention you have to knit, design patterns, and yes-know  color and how to dye yarn that is color fast and beautiful and consistent. And I am finding the most important skill of all is as a time manager in how to do this all and fit it into your day. Other hats you will wear is a labeler, skeiner, and builder (if you build your own studio-I did all the finishing work-put in the moldings, laid the tile floor, etc) and last but not least-cleaner upper. I am a wiz with the shop vac.

Currently-while I do contract pattern writers and sales reps-I do the work. This year as we find ourselves in 2010-my goal is to reduce production time and increase productivity-so maybe I can have a weekend off here and there. And yes-increase sales.

Following are some some pics of Sweet Tree Hill Farm, a new Cowl pattern to go with the Mushroom cap and some of the holiday knitting I did for family. Happy New Year to all of you-may your dreams take a fast track to reality this year!

The Puffy Ribbed Cowl that is a free download on Ravelry

The barn and dye studio a week before Christmas

Scenes 1 week before Christmas at the farm

The sheep in the snow

Yes...I did knit a bit for Christmas!