This week has seen some up's and downs and has been (probably) the busiest week I've had - so apologies for any PM's I haven't answered (I have now though), and anything I have promised to do for anyone and haven't.
Some members may know that I do a bit of stuff for charities that I work with and this week saw one of those charites decide to go with someone else who is now supplying them with very basic products at an unbeliveable price!
The items I was doing had little (or none, compared with the work involved) profit in them so I was a little supprised when I found out someone had 'under-cut' my prices. I also created all the designs for the products with no charge.
I mean, they are now supplying them with a personalised mug (made to order) for less than £2 each and embroidered polo shirts for less than a tenner each. Some weeks you will have over a 100 mugs, other weeks you will have 3 so it's not that the volumes work into the costing (i.e you have to work at a worse case scenario).
It infuriates me that someone is now doing this stuff and obviously not using the correct ink, materials etc and the quality of the items will go down-hill due to the cost - I mean come on, the new supplier is not going to do something out of pocket so what are they doing them for!
It amazes me that even those involved in charites cannot see the bigger picture. Yes, cheaper products will get more funds for the cause (and I'm all for that) but the items reflect the charities mission so need to be of a high quality .............. or am I wrong?