Cloth pads, affordibility and why they cost what they do.
So there has been some talk recently (and in the past) of trying to get "the best deal" when buying pads. As a cloth pad seller, this really bums me out. Every. Single. Time. Not only does that sort of thought process discount all the hard work so many of us do, but it also means that the customer will possibly end up with inferior products. Which then means that they may not get to appreciate all the joys that cloth pads have to offer. Because at the time it was more important to save a few dollars, than spend an extra few buying a quality product.
That said, the amount of effort and time put into a well made cloth pad is in no way comparable to the prices the majority of us cloth pad sellers sell our wares at. -- Not because we enjoy undercutting ourselves or each other, but because it is very important to us to have our wares be affordable. I know for myself, I am already offering "the best deal" possible for my wares, and I feel like the prices the majority of us cloth pad sellers sell our pads (or cloth pad accessories) at, are already "good deals" based on the time and effort that we imbue in our products. I know for myself, I offer sale codes or free shipping because I think it's the simplest way to show appreciation for my customers, not because I think my pads (or other wares) are worth less money.
I am in no way trying to single people out, but I think it is important to note that there is so much more to selling cloth pads (or any handmade ware) than just sewing them. With that (and my desire to help the general public understand the work we do) in mind, here is a detailed list of everything I personally do for my business, in some manner of the order with which things happen. (I might have forgotten a few steps though, I do so much of this on auto-pilot now it's easy to overlook a few of the smaller steps.)
Originally, I spent a lot of time perfecting my pattern/style for what worked best for me personally, but still was relatively original. Then I took that 9 1/2 inch pattern and ran with it for varieties sake and created the patterns for the 7 inch and 11 inch pads. (Note: There are only so many ways a pad can look and still be functional/comfortable. It takes more time than you'd think to create a pattern that doesn't look exactly like someone else's.) With my patterns made, the real process begins:
Looking for fabric. (For prints, flannel, and PUL (for wetbags) this mostly happens online. For fleece I generally hit up Joannes.)
Buying fabrics. (Prints, fleece, flannel and PUL (for wetbags.))
Buying thread, snaps, pins, bobbins, zippers, canned air, oil, and needles.
Preparing fabric; washing, drying, and ironing if necessary. (I have do not have a washing machine, so this either happens by hand or I have to take it all to the laundry mat.)
Cutting out cores from flannel.
Tracing pads. (I typically do at least 7 pads of each print at a time. Typically it's two 7 inch, three 9 inch and two 11 inch. -- It's important to me to have a back stock for things like cloth pad sets, or for a time when I may have less time/energy to spend on my business. I also keep one of every print for myself. It's like a functional portfolio. -- No this does not mean I have an extra print/pad for you to buy. If it's not listed, it's not for sale right now.)
Cutting out traced pads.
Pinning pads to fleece and cutting out fleece.
Unpinning from fleece.
Pinning cores to prints.
Sewing cores to prints
Sewing fleece to print.
Bobbin winding happens multiple times while sewing.
Flipping pads right side out.
Top stitching.
Snapping pads.
Trimming threads on pads.
Photographing pads. (I take at least two shots per angle. 3 angles per pad. At least 6 pads per print. You do the math.)
Sorting and editing photos. (This takes more time than you'd imagine.)
Hot soaking pads. (For max absorbency.)
Either hanging to dry or taking to the laundry mat for drying. (I line dry more often than not.)
Sorting dry pads into storage bags.
Listing pads on Etsy.
Updating spreadsheets to reflect listings.
Advertising said listing on personal LJ, cloth_pads and FB.
Collecting recycled (or up-cycled) plastic bags.
Collecting paper bags (usually from others, since I use reusable bags. Or going out of my way to not bring my reusable bags so I remember to get paper bags.)
Collecting plastic bags for more waterproof shipping. (Also collected from friends etc.)
Buying tape and permanent markers.
Cutting up paper bags and making them into envelopes.
Updating spreadsheets to reflect sales.
Putting together packages.
Ordering/buying business cards and return address labels.
Driving to and from the Post Office.
Updating spreadsheets to reflect shipping costs.
Sending shipping notices to every customer.
Sending out shipping refunds where applicable.
Having sewing machine serviced. ($40-$100 dollars, every six months or so.)
Sharpening scissors.
Preparing raffles (photographing and editing photographs + advertising.)
Also, this list does not include the extra time spent putting together sets, or the time/effort spent on making wet bags. Though many of the steps are the same. Nor does it include the years spent become a proficient seamstress.
For what it's worth, I LOVE making cloth pads, there are some steps that I love less than others, but I really do LOVE making cloth pads, or I wouldn't do it anymore! I love love love knowing that my pads make people have a more tolerable or enjoyable period, and I'm sure other cloth pad sellers feel the same way.
Like I mentioned above though, I really feel it's worth being aware of, or keeping it fresh in your mind, how much work goes into making handmade wares. It's really easy to keep the same "best deal" frame of mind you may have while shopping in a Big-Box-Store, but it's not fair or appropriate to transfer that thought process to something that is handmade. (Anything that is handmade!) I too love a sweet deal, but I much prefer knowing that those who make the handmade things I buy feel appreciated for all the hard work they do. I know I couldn't currently live off the money make from my shop, but it does allow me to further my business and support my hobby. Ya know, this sewing-cloth-pads-hobby I spend the vast majority of my free time on.
In short, I wanted to share all of this so the people who feel like cloth pads are "too expensive" can have a better idea, exactly why they cost what they do and why it's so important to remember that cheaper is not better, especially with handmade wares. Cheaper generally means people are selling themselves short and are actively being under appreciated for their hard work, or worse. Please respect the work we do.
Also please note, these are all my own thoughts and feelings and in no way necessarily reflect the ideas or thoughts of other cloth pad sellers. Though I am sure the majority of them have dealt with these feelings, thought processes and ideas at one time or another.
(Another post for another time is about how well made cloth pads are built to last and when comparing the prices of disposables to cloth, cloth almost always wins in the long run.)
That said, the amount of effort and time put into a well made cloth pad is in no way comparable to the prices the majority of us cloth pad sellers sell our wares at. -- Not because we enjoy undercutting ourselves or each other, but because it is very important to us to have our wares be affordable. I know for myself, I am already offering "the best deal" possible for my wares, and I feel like the prices the majority of us cloth pad sellers sell our pads (or cloth pad accessories) at, are already "good deals" based on the time and effort that we imbue in our products. I know for myself, I offer sale codes or free shipping because I think it's the simplest way to show appreciation for my customers, not because I think my pads (or other wares) are worth less money.
I am in no way trying to single people out, but I think it is important to note that there is so much more to selling cloth pads (or any handmade ware) than just sewing them. With that (and my desire to help the general public understand the work we do) in mind, here is a detailed list of everything I personally do for my business, in some manner of the order with which things happen. (I might have forgotten a few steps though, I do so much of this on auto-pilot now it's easy to overlook a few of the smaller steps.)
Originally, I spent a lot of time perfecting my pattern/style for what worked best for me personally, but still was relatively original. Then I took that 9 1/2 inch pattern and ran with it for varieties sake and created the patterns for the 7 inch and 11 inch pads. (Note: There are only so many ways a pad can look and still be functional/comfortable. It takes more time than you'd think to create a pattern that doesn't look exactly like someone else's.) With my patterns made, the real process begins:
Looking for fabric. (For prints, flannel, and PUL (for wetbags) this mostly happens online. For fleece I generally hit up Joannes.)
Buying fabrics. (Prints, fleece, flannel and PUL (for wetbags.))
Buying thread, snaps, pins, bobbins, zippers, canned air, oil, and needles.
Preparing fabric; washing, drying, and ironing if necessary. (I have do not have a washing machine, so this either happens by hand or I have to take it all to the laundry mat.)
Cutting out cores from flannel.
Tracing pads. (I typically do at least 7 pads of each print at a time. Typically it's two 7 inch, three 9 inch and two 11 inch. -- It's important to me to have a back stock for things like cloth pad sets, or for a time when I may have less time/energy to spend on my business. I also keep one of every print for myself. It's like a functional portfolio. -- No this does not mean I have an extra print/pad for you to buy. If it's not listed, it's not for sale right now.)
Cutting out traced pads.
Pinning pads to fleece and cutting out fleece.
Unpinning from fleece.
Pinning cores to prints.
Sewing cores to prints
Sewing fleece to print.
Bobbin winding happens multiple times while sewing.
Flipping pads right side out.
Top stitching.
Snapping pads.
Trimming threads on pads.
Photographing pads. (I take at least two shots per angle. 3 angles per pad. At least 6 pads per print. You do the math.)
Sorting and editing photos. (This takes more time than you'd imagine.)
Hot soaking pads. (For max absorbency.)
Either hanging to dry or taking to the laundry mat for drying. (I line dry more often than not.)
Sorting dry pads into storage bags.
Listing pads on Etsy.
Updating spreadsheets to reflect listings.
Advertising said listing on personal LJ, cloth_pads and FB.
Collecting recycled (or up-cycled) plastic bags.
Collecting paper bags (usually from others, since I use reusable bags. Or going out of my way to not bring my reusable bags so I remember to get paper bags.)
Collecting plastic bags for more waterproof shipping. (Also collected from friends etc.)
Buying tape and permanent markers.
Cutting up paper bags and making them into envelopes.
Updating spreadsheets to reflect sales.
Putting together packages.
Ordering/buying business cards and return address labels.
Driving to and from the Post Office.
Updating spreadsheets to reflect shipping costs.
Sending shipping notices to every customer.
Sending out shipping refunds where applicable.
Having sewing machine serviced. ($40-$100 dollars, every six months or so.)
Sharpening scissors.
Preparing raffles (photographing and editing photographs + advertising.)
Also, this list does not include the extra time spent putting together sets, or the time/effort spent on making wet bags. Though many of the steps are the same. Nor does it include the years spent become a proficient seamstress.
For what it's worth, I LOVE making cloth pads, there are some steps that I love less than others, but I really do LOVE making cloth pads, or I wouldn't do it anymore! I love love love knowing that my pads make people have a more tolerable or enjoyable period, and I'm sure other cloth pad sellers feel the same way.
Like I mentioned above though, I really feel it's worth being aware of, or keeping it fresh in your mind, how much work goes into making handmade wares. It's really easy to keep the same "best deal" frame of mind you may have while shopping in a Big-Box-Store, but it's not fair or appropriate to transfer that thought process to something that is handmade. (Anything that is handmade!) I too love a sweet deal, but I much prefer knowing that those who make the handmade things I buy feel appreciated for all the hard work they do. I know I couldn't currently live off the money make from my shop, but it does allow me to further my business and support my hobby. Ya know, this sewing-cloth-pads-hobby I spend the vast majority of my free time on.
In short, I wanted to share all of this so the people who feel like cloth pads are "too expensive" can have a better idea, exactly why they cost what they do and why it's so important to remember that cheaper is not better, especially with handmade wares. Cheaper generally means people are selling themselves short and are actively being under appreciated for their hard work, or worse. Please respect the work we do.
Also please note, these are all my own thoughts and feelings and in no way necessarily reflect the ideas or thoughts of other cloth pad sellers. Though I am sure the majority of them have dealt with these feelings, thought processes and ideas at one time or another.
(Another post for another time is about how well made cloth pads are built to last and when comparing the prices of disposables to cloth, cloth almost always wins in the long run.)