Positive Yarn

A friend of mine was let go from her job this week, and the news was devastating to hear. She is a talented person who gives 110% to her work efforts, and from what I can tell, the decision was an economic one. (It still sucks.)

I could string together a bunch of platitudes about how when a door closes, a window opens; everything happens for a reason; she’ll find a job that she’ll enjoy even more, etc. In fact, I did tell her all those things, and so did a lot of her other friends. But those words won’t hold much meaning for a little while. My husband and I experienced that firsthand when he was laid off in 2002 and I was pregnant: You know you’ll get back in the game, but first you have to take a little while and let it all soak in.

I share all this because this afternoon, I came across a story in the Oakland (CA) Tribune that described how the inaugural Oakland Fiber & Textile Festival came about. It’s taking place this Sunday at Splash Pad Park. (I’m 2,000 miles away, so anyone reading this who attends — please share your review of it!).

According to the article, Bente Petersen, who owns Piedmont Yarn & Apparel, was talking about the economy with her husband. He suggested doing a festival as a way to heighten her business profile in the community. She is hosting the festival along with her good friend Lou Grantham, who owns San Francisco Fiber and also teaches at the various local shops.

It’s the lead in the article that caught my eye:

Fiber arts guru Lou Grantham isn’t surprised that she has four times as many knitting, weaving and spinning students right now than usual.

When people are unemployed or underemployed during a recession, she said it’s not uncommon for them to seek creative outlets, like knitting or gardening.

“People are eager to get their energy going,” Grantham said. “Everyone in their DNA has the ability to make something.”

Those are true words indeed. So while I’m not suggesting you drop everything and start a fiber festival in your community, perhaps consider how many of your customers are job-hunting these days. Could your shop host a support group, where customers can stitch and chat with others who are in the same boat — or better yet, are looking to hire? My church actually has a similar, successful program in place (sans the stitching, unfortunately).

If that’s a little much to take on, is it feasible to post a Job Exchange bulletin board, to which customers can tack a flyer looking to host a candle party, for example, or someone to watch their kids, or a job opening at their company?

The secret to your shop’s success is as much about relationships as it is inventory. Anything you can do to help a customer in need will be remembered, believe me. I’m still grateful to everyone who threw job leads and project work our way until my husband started what is now Gooch & Gooch.

And look at the long-term benefit: Once someone’s gainfully employed again, they can spend more at the shop!

Seriously, though, if you’ve done something through your business to help job seekers, I’d love to know! Sponsoring job fairs, getting an out-of-work customer in touch with a job counselor customer, you name it. Sound off below or drop me a line at positiveyarn@goochandgooch.com.

There are two types of people in this society: Those who were in marching band, and those who weren’t.

Don’t worry, I’m not going to judge either way. For the record, I was a proud marcher. My husband was not. Still, he’s been supportive of our fifth-grade daughter’s decision to join her school’s beginner band. While he hasn’t been totally without his snarky moments (usually immediately after he sees how much a book, a music stand, etc. costs), he is on board with the theory that children who learn how to read and play music at a young age generally have better life skills because such tasks tap into both the logical and creative sides of their brains.

There’s also something to be said about the tremendous attractiveness of belonging. It’s a big reason why I signed up for it in ninth grade; I was starting high school after attending grade school in a different town, and I didn’t know any of my peers. I figured there was safety in numbers and I was bound to make a friend or two, even by default!

By contrast, my chatterbox daughter doesn’t have any trouble making or keeping friends, but I noticed that members of her inner circle have all signed up for the class, too. We’ll see who’s still dragging a flute case to the bus stop next year, but in the meantime it’s given them all a common bond — something to both look forward to and complain about, as pre-teens (from ages 8 to 80) are wont to do.

You might observe the same kinds of bonding going on in a beginner class or in an open stitching session. Conversations can turn on a dime from “Gee, this room is freezing” is to “Wow, this is really a cool technique.” The balancing act lies in making sure there are more positive comments than negative.

Some of your loyal customers might prefer to keep to themselves and tend to their projects, learning at their own pace and interacting only when necessary. But by and large, they’re more the exception than the rule. Chances are your most familiar faces keep returning because they feel they belong. They find inspiration in your aisles on a good day and solace from their problems on a bad one. Bright colors, cheerful workers, a sense of “it’s OK to take your time here” — all of these are a welcome change to the get-in-get-out experiences they’re probably used to in big box stores.

And while this is a perk they’re willing to pay a slight premium for, you need to continually reinforce the value you bring to them. Accomplish that with innovative classes, focusing on offering some that challenge your most expert stitchers and others that cater to the novices who are trying to work their way to the next level.

Loyalty programs can also work wonders, but if you have yet to implement one or are scratching your head over why yours isn’t going gangbusters, survey your customers. What would they want as their reward? Is it simply a discount, or do they want access to exclusive events and merchandise? Maybe it’s a free class. I’ve noticed a few local radio stations are offering listeners choices when it comes to winning on-air, and it makes perfect sense: Cast a wider net because the Bruce Springsteen fans might not bother to call for Jonas Brothers tickets, and other listeners might just want the $50 gas card.

Loyalty can stem from being proactive, too. Think of how many customers first stopped by your shop because they were new in town and wanted to meet people who shared their interest. Consider joining forces with the local Welcome Wagon affiliate or other “Welcome to the Neighborhood” outlets so that your shop is the first one new residents recognize as they familiarize themselves with their new hometown.

It all comes back to that sense of belonging. Make sure that customers always feel welcome in your shop, and they’ll come “marching” back to your door time and again.

Shortly after learning of the government’s Car Allowance Rebate System (CARs, formerly known as “Cash for Clunkers”) program — and shortly before they depleted all the funds with its popularity, although as I write this, Congress is hammering out a deal to let it continue — I wondered of the viability of “Stash for Clunkers.” In my mind’s eye, I saw a chance for shop owners to allow customers to enhance their respective stashes of yarn, thread, beads or other supplies by bringing in their orphan skeins, their kits “they never got around to” doing, their odd-sized needles that are otherwise just taking space in their homes. What they bring in could give them a discount to replenish their supply with new stuff at the shop, or if they feel so empowered by being clutter-free they don’t want new stash, they could use it toward a class to use up even more materials.

As for the “clunkers” you collect, chances are that they could make a great addition to a daycare program (for children or seniors), a hospital or other organization that looks to keep people occupied while enhancing hand-eye coordination in a creative way. Perhaps you could cherry-pick items to keep on hand for your shop’s charitable initiatives, such as Warm Up America or Needle and ThREAD: Stitching for Literacy.

I’m pleased to say that at least one yarn shop was thinking on a similar wavelength. Wool Winders, a self-proclaimed “Knitting Salon” in Rockville, MD, is offering its version of “Cash for Clunkers,” whereby they donate a customer’s unused yarn and give him or her 15% off all non-sale yarns, including its fall collection. The shop wisely is keeping the sale just Aug. 3-9, so as not to be inundated with requests. I’m anxious to learn how their project turns out, and I also encourage anyone who is doing a similar program to share either below or via email (positiveyarn@goochandgooch.com) the whys, wherefores and results of what you have done.

I find that many people, regardless of their personal politics otherwise, are hailing this government program as a positive for both the automotive industry and the environment. It benefits the economy and all the trickle-down businesses that stem from the auto industry. Obviously the program has its critics, too, but there’s no denying that it’s making at least some consumers contribute to the economy. And isn’t that something that all business owners want to hear these days?

A neighbor of mine who works as a bank teller reports that there’s been an influx of 1950s-era currency; the prevailing explanation is that many seniors who still have the Depression-era mentality of stashing a bit of money under a mattress or behind a picture frame are seeing fit to take advantage of the program, trading in their old vehicles and paying cash for new ones. Here’s hoping that one of the first drives customers take in their new vehicles ends at your shop’s front door!

I drove home from The National NeedleArts Association Summer Market in Columbus this week in my husband’s car. His CDs were scratched beyond belief, so I was stuck with the radio tuner scanning furiously for a station as I drove through traffic. I decided I had had enough and locked in on National Public Radio. NPR is not always my first choice, but the “All Things Considered” program often has interesting information to share.

I was not disappointed. One of the stories discussed the release of a recent study by the National Endowment for the Arts. The biggest finding by this government agency seems to be that while attendance at concerts, art galleries, craft festivals and other cultural events is taking a hit, participation in arts and crafts is still going strong — even if it is being done by less people. (Listen to the package here.)

When viewed through the lens of the recession and the fact less consumers have disposable income, the numbers make sense. After all, it’s what you probably already know about your customers: Their projects are a form of entertainment that have a practical side benefit of becoming clothing, décor or gifts for their friends and family. You have something to show for your time investment, more than just a ticket stub. That said, it should be interesting to see whether the numbers will tell a different story the next time the NEA does the survey, after we’ve perhaps turned a corner on the economy.

According to a press release, “the 2008 survey was the NEA’s first attempt to measure attendance at performing arts festivals, use of community venues, and attendance at Latin/Spanish/salsa concerts. This fall, the NEA will release a full summary report of survey findings, including regional data on arts participation. In the next year, the NEA will release more topic-specific reports on the roles of age, race and ethnicity, arts learning, Internet use, and arts creation and performance. In advance of those reports, the NEA is making raw data and detailed statistical tables available to researchers and the public. The tables highlight demographic factors affecting adult participation in a variety of art forms. Another table ranking types of music preferred by adults is also included. The entire survey questionnaire and the raw data and user’s guide are available both on the NEA website and on CPANDA, Princeton University’s Cultural Policy and the Arts National Data Archive.”

Here are some results highlights, with my comments in italics. I’d love to hear your thoughts on them, as well, if you’d care to comment below or email me directly at positiveyarn@goochandgooch.com:

• Attendance at the most popular types of arts events — such as art museums and craft/visual arts festivals — saw notable declines. The U.S. rate of attendance for art museums fell from a high of 26 percent in 1992-2002 to 23 percent in 2008, comparable to the 1982 level. (It’s interesting that they lump the events together, as my personal experience is that recent trips to museums have not been crowded, but craft-oriented festivals always seem to be jam-packed. Whether those visitors are there to browse or spend is a study in itself.)
• Fewer adults are creating and performing art. For example, the percentage of adults performing dance has lost six points since 1992. “Weaving, crochet, quilting, needlepoint and sewing” remain popular as crafts, but the percentage of adults who do those activities has declined by 12 points. Only the share of adults doing photography has increased — from 12 percent in 1992 to 15 percent in 2008. (This number just underscores the need to reach a broader audience. People still enjoy hobbies, but perhaps haven’t thought of needlework as a viable option.)
• Aging audiences are a long-term trend. Performing arts attendees are increasingly older than the average U.S. adult (45). The aging of the baby boom generation does not appear to account for the overall increase in age. (Older consumers still seem to be needlework’s bread-and-butter, as well. But does that bode well for the industry in the coming years?)
• Forty-five to 54-year-olds — historically dependable arts participants — showed the steepest declines in attendance for most art events, compared with other age groups. (Let’s hope they’re home working on their latest projects instead!)
• The Internet and mass media are reaching substantial audiences for the arts. About 70 percent of U.S. adults went online for any purpose in 2008 survey, and of those adults, nearly 40 percent used the Internet to view, listen to, download, or post artworks or performances. (This is probably the most important information, as it shows that consumers who are interested in the arts are also Web-savvy. Are they able to find you online, and if they can, will they like what they see?)

How are you marketing to Dads and Grads this month?

I know they’re not exactly your typical target market, and that’s the point. Customers are looking for unusual (but cost-effective) presents to get their loved ones, and there’s no reason why your inventory can’t compete with adding another tie to Dad’s collection or an engraved pen for the newly minted grad (who’s texting all the time anyway and no longer writes with ink).

Here are just a few ideas to get you thinking outside the box for a couple weeks:

• Kit up a collegiate theme: Whether it’s eighth graders who are going to the big bad high school in a couple months or the new high school graduate who was just accepted to a local university, show your support for their favorite teams with a scarf pattern next to bins of yarn in local school colors, for example. Interest may lead to a junior stitching club that gathers at the shop every week this summer to finish their projects in time to wear for the first football game of the season. And it’s not just for kids — teachers, moms, grandmas, aunts, etc. can all get in on the fun.
• Make a basket: You don’t want those college freshmen going off to school and being bored, do you? Let your customers know that the needle arts are proven to reduce stress, and their favorite student can stitch away their cares before the big exam! A basket or your canvas bag brimming with care package favorites like cookies and crackers, plus shop specialties like basic needles, an array of pretty yarns and a project journal, can make an unusual but much appreciated gift for the student who stitches.
• Hold a contest: You can go humorous (“Why my dad should start stitching with my mom, reason No. 1: He’s here all the time holding her purse anyway.”) or serious (“My dad actually loves stitching more than my mom does”), depending on what your customer mix is, but a short essay contest that nets the winner a shop gift certificate or a riff on the aforementioned basket full of goodies just in time for Father’s Day could be just the ticket to liven June sales. Maybe offer a 10% discount on their shop purhase just for filling out the form right there in the shop about the dad, husband, son, nephew or other male stitcher (or stitch widower) in their lives.
• Keep it simple: Hold a half-day class that lets kids stitch a bookmark suitable for giving Dad on his big day. Let the moms wander the aisles or try making one themselves if they’re new to the project. Volunteering to do this at the local library can both broaden your audience (keep those business cards handy!) and give you a few extra pairs of helping hands if you don’t want to tie resources up at the shop.

Have you marketed to Dads and Grads in recent years? What works, what doesn’t? Sound off in the comments below or email me at positiveyarn@goochandgooch.com.

It may not have received a lot of fanfare, lost amid a sea of automaker news and reality show finales, but on May 20 the U.S. Congress passed H.R. 627/S. 414 — the Credit Cardholder’s Bill of Rights. Among the 19 sections of the Congressional Research Service’s summary (a full list is here):

• Amends the Truth in Lending Act to prohibit a creditor from increasing any annual percentage rate of interest (APR) applicable to the existing balance on an open end consumer credit card account unless specified conditions are met.
• With certain exceptions, credit card issuers cannot add a finance charge based on the double billing cycle method.
• Creditors are prohibited from charging a fee on an outstanding credit card balance at the end of the billing period if the fee is attributed to the interest accrued on an outstanding balance that was fully repaid during that preceding billing period.
• Consumers have the right to reject a new credit card after the creditor notifies a consumer reporting agency of its corresponding account.
• If two or more different APRs apply to different portions of an outstanding balance, the amount of any payment above the required minimum payment needs to be applied to the balance with the highest APR first and then to lower APR balances.
• Creditors are required to provide a grace period for payments, even if the cardholder takes advantage of a promotional rate balance or deferred interest rate balance.
• Creditors are required to send credit card statements at least 21 days before the due date of the outstanding balance.
• Creditors are prohibited from charging a fee to make telephone and web-based payments. However, a fee may be charged for expedited telephone payments made on the due date or the day before the due date.

The National Federation of Independent Business released an announcement this week praising the passage. In a 2008 small business poll that the NFIB conducted, it found that nearly 3 out every 4 small employers have a business credit card.

In a release, Susan Eckerly, NFIB’s senior vice president, public policy, noted that “the poll showed that small business owners, as credit card consumers, often experienced industry unfair practices. For example, in the last 12 months, 14 percent did not receive credit for payments until well after the payment cleared, and 11 percent were charged overdraft fees when the overdrafts were the exclusive result of bank holds on some portion of their account. As credit card consumers, small business owners will benefit from the protections in the legislation against unfair business practices.

“Although the Senate did not include the amendment introduced by Sens. Mary Landrieu (D-LA) and Olympia Snowe (R-ME) clarifying that the protections in the legislation extend to credit cards used by small business owners, the legislation calls on the Fed to examine and issue a report on credit card use by small businesses,” she continued. “NFIB will continue to ask Congress to provide small businesses that use credit cards with the same protections as consumers.”

Overall, I think this is a great piece of legislation. But there is another side, one that is a bit off-putting to me as a consumer who tries to pay the balance in full every month. The Boston Globe reports here that “cardholders who pay off their balance in full each month could see new annual fees and lucrative rewards programs canceled.” Still, it’s a small trade-off in light of the crazy fees we are sometimes forced to accrue when we’re a day late or cannot pay in full.

Do you think this Bill of Rights will be helpful for you — and by extension, your credit-carrying customers? Sound off in the comments below or drop me a line at positiveyarn@goochandgooch.com.

I just received my e-newsletter from Anita Byrd and her team at Studio Knit. What caught my eye this morning is the fact that the shop is offering hand massages this Thursday evening by local reflexologist Judy Funk. If that’s not enough to make you go mark your calendar (well, if you reside in Northeast Ohio, anyway), there will also be wine and appetizers!

With a trying economy and a lot of big-box competition, I admire the fact that more shops are connecting the dots between knitting and having an outlet for stress. Their target market carries the load — in some combination — of running a household, being responsible at a job, raising children (or worrying about grown children), and perhaps even battling health issues. Perhaps their love of needlework is stifled by arthritis, carpal tunnel syndrome, back problems or some other ailment. Reflexology is an ancient method that involves applying pressure in specific “reflex zones” of the hand (and foot) in such a way to relieve pain in other parts of the body. Regardless of whether you’re a believer in its curative potential or view it as a sophisticated hand massage, the bottom line is that it offers users a way to relax — and people are seeking comfort wherever they can these days.

On Super Bowl Sunday, no less, Threadbender Yarn Shop in Wyoming, MI, offered an afternoon hand therapy class that included a paraffin dip, hot stone therapy, hand massage and some techniques for participants to use to keep the relaxation going long after the event. Individual appointments followed after the class. This is a win-win for both your shop and your fellow small-business owner who does these types of events regularly. And don’t forget that she may be able to reciprocate by putting in a good word (or even a coupon) about you to other clients.

Just a few months ago, Kansas City’s The Studio went a step further than just one night out: The knitting and needlepoint shop held its third annual Elms Retreat at the Elms Resort and Spa in nearby Excelsior Springs, MO. In addition to classes, attendees were offered a free yoga and reflexology workshop.

Are relaxation techniques on your events list this summer? Whether it’s a retreat, a night out or just an afternoon class, your role in reducing stress for your customer could build loyalty for life.

After a long winter that provided your customers ample opportunity to curl up with that favorite project or play with the goodies they bought with their Christmas gift card (to your store, of course!), warm weather is finally upon us. Unfortunately, that also means customers may be thinking more about their gardens than their craft rooms. Let’s look at 5 ways to get them back to thinking about your business all summer long.

1. Have a stitch-out. You’ve probably hosted your share of stitch-ins during the colder months, especially when everyone was concerned about finishing up their holiday presents. But what about a “stitch-out”? Set up a canopy in the parking lot or in your yard, if you have one. Place some comfy lawn chairs and a table for some warm-weather snacks and invite your favorite customers to sit a spell. This is an ideal time to bring out your clearance inventory for display, too. After all, it’s primo garage sale season, so why can’t your store have one, too? By the way, if you feel like grilling out early on, May is National Bar-B-Que, Beef, Salad, Egg, Strawberry and Asparagus Month. It’s also National Asthma and Allergy Awareness Month, so maybe hold the eggs and strawberries.
2. Deck the halls. It’s never too early to start thinking about holiday projects. Pick an endcap and dress it up like a fireplace mantle. Scatter some fake snow all around and pick your favorite Santa, snowmen, mitten and other wintery patterns to showcase. Have a “Countdown to Christmas” behind the register — your customers may giggle at the “238 days till…” but it will also remind them that if think they want to have stockings done for all their kids, they better start picking up some threads.
3. Embrace sun and fun. Take the opportunity to have another part of the store reflect the season. Stock some pretty knitting needles and yarns displayed in an array of flower pots. Fill a kiddie pool with clearance kits. Highlight your kits for summer flip-flops, belts and sun hats.
4. Host a “staycation sweepstakes.” The economy has made staying at home for vacation chic, so why not help customers out even more? Try offering discount coupons with purchase for the local zoo, restaurant, or some other attraction that your customers might be heading toward soon. Better yet, network with other business owners to see if you can work out a swap — you offer a discount coupon for the local boutique and they offer their customers a coupon for your shop, for example. If nothing else, just offering customers a chance to win a gas gift card is always welcome.
5. Cater to kids. Kids get bored. I speak from experience here, as both a former bored kid and as a harried mom. Summer vacation seems like such a cool thing until a few weeks in, when they’ve mastered every game they own on their Nintendo DS, have gone swimming at every neighbor’s house they could, and are starting to recite SpongeBob Squarepants episodes from memory. If they get dragged along to your shop, why not keep them occupied? Devote a small space to a TV playing a kid-friendly DVD (the DVD player can always get repurposed during stitching times for a technique series, for example), and set up a children’s table and chair set with some paper and crayons. Some sewing cards and yarn could be an early introduction to basic stitches, although you may want to keep those on a higher shelf — toddlers might think the plastic needle is tasty. Also, set up a “hip” endcap (just don’t call it “hip,” you oldster!) showcasing patterns that might appeal to teens and yes, tweens, too. If you’re looking for inspiration, look to Knitty.com or Sublime Stitching for starters. If beading is in your repertoire, consider stocking Kalmbach Publishing’s new “Cool Jewels: Beading Projects for Teens” to keep the summer boredom at bay.

Ready, set, go? If you have summer success stories to share, let me know! Comment below or email me.

Business owners in the needleart and craft industries are being reminded at nearly every turn that they need more and more technology. Computer software upgrades, cell phone plans, Web sites, emails — it’s not enough these days to simply have a good product or service; you need to have ever-evolving strategies to communicate its ability to the world.

While I’m no Luddite, I don’t get quite as excited as my husband does when CNET breaks the news about the latest browser platform or digital camera on the market. But I do try to keep in step with the trends — in this business climate, you have to be open to new ways of thinking or else be left in the dust.

Of course, a lot of handicraft’s appeal is because it’s the opposite of impersonal, cookie-cutter, computer-generated materials. It’s about finding the core of your creativity, not pushing buttons in a series so as to make something happen that somebody else programmed for you. It’s about making something one-of-a-kind, even if it’s from a kit, because you are able to put your own unique touch to the finished product. It’s about connecting with a time before electronics invaded our everyday lives.

But once you decide you want to profit from this endeavor, it’s time to turn on the laptop.

I’m delighted to say that I have written some technology columns for Mike Hartnett, editor of Creative Leisure News, an industry-focused bi-weekly newsletter. The issue that hit in-boxes of suppliers, manufacturers, distributors and designers nationwide this morning includes a column I wrote about business applications for iPhones. It can be found here. (It should be noted that while this is a subscription-only publication, Mike does have a “Try Two Issues Free” service.) Earlier this year, I also wrote a two-part series for CLN on marketing through social media, which can be found here and here.

In closing, technology obviously plays a role in my business — double-spaced articles fresh off the ol’ Royal typewriter would be met with disdain by any editor these days (myself included: who has time to retype?). But I want to know: How does technology support your business? Talk to me: Either comment below or email me at positiveyarn@goochandgooch.com. (Just don’t text me; I’m still adjusting to my cell phone plan!)

What’s your budget for this piece?

Those are six little words I really wish I had heard this week, but didn’t. Yes, I fell into the under-informed consumer trap thanks to my giddiness over being FINALLY (after six years) finished with my Wreath of Seasons cross-stitch piece. I had told my husband last month, as the light finally peeked through this tunnel, that if I did indeed finish the project by my 36th birthday, all I wanted as a present was for it to be professionally framed.

The source of all my consternation, before it was finished, washed and ironed.

It took me till about 11:59 p.m. on April 12, my last day of being 35, but by golly I finished, washed and ironed it before I went to bed.

The next afternoon, my husband packed my project, our two kids and me into the car and to the shop in the pouring rain to get my project framed. As you may recall in a previous post, this particular project was neglected for many, many months after I mindlessly stuck a red folder in my project bag — in the pouring rain. I finally got over myself, moved the dragonfly over a bit to cover the pink squares and made peace with the fact that there will always be a reminder of my early foolishness. In other words, I guess the rain was fitting.

This time, I made sure the piece was well protected from any stain-causing objects. I unrolled it on the framer’s counter and then — looked up. Oh my goodness, so many frames from which to choose! I didn’t know where to start!

The framer was very patient. She let me toggle between two shades of green for several minutes; she made helpful suggestions. Luckily, there were no other customers waiting behind me, so I felt I could take my time a bit.

I have to confess that the only other time I had been near a professional framer was about four years ago, when I had my husband’s autographed concert T-shirt, prized guitar pick and some ticket stubs all formatted and saved for posterity. (I’m not sure which daughter is going to want to inherit a Metallica tee, but perhaps one or the other will eventually learn to have an appreciation for heavy metal.) I recall it being expensive, but since I knew he was very proud of the items — and the autographs were starting to fade as the shirt just hung in his closet — it felt like the right thing to do.

I’m not sure what I was expecting, because again, in my excitement of finishing I did no research into pricing before I came to the shop. In my excitement of choosing woods and mats, I asked no questions about how much each component would cost.

Shame on me.

With a 50% off coupon, it was still twice as much as it had cost in my head. That means its regular price was four times as much. When did I find out? After she wrote everything up. Now, I could have backed up the train and tried to go about choosing less-expensive versions of the frame, the mat and an inner piece (which alone cost $100, I later learned), but even though I saw my husband slightly pale at the cost, he said, “Go ahead at this price.”

After all, we had already decided on the colors and the style. Anything less would be unsatisfactory, right? Well, there was still a dissatisfied feeling in the pit of my stomach as we headed home — knowing that this was a bigger chunk of our finances than we had expected. I tried to justify to myself that, well, it will hang above our fireplace for years to come. At least I don’t finish things too darn often. And could this maybe be my Mother’s Day and anniversary present, too?

I want crafts and needlework to be enjoyed by everyone. I want people who dismiss it as something to do at summer camp when you’re 12 to see the level of sophistication and workmanship handmade items can have. I want people who fall into the “if you have to ask, you can’t afford it” category to never feel the way I did on the ride home just for wanting a finishing touch on something they worked so hard to create.

But I also want to know: Do you take your customer’s budget into consideration when you help them plan, execute or finish a project? I’m not sure whether the woman who rang up my sale works on commission, but she was taking as much of a risk of me saying “Oh, forget it!” as she was me saying “Go ahead.”

Back in the days when I worked in retail on commission, I didn’t just go straight to the highest-end product. Instead, I made a conscious effort to show the range of products that I identified would suit their needs — and the price differences. Sure, you usually get what you pay for. But I like to think most of my customers appreciated the knowledge. I never had a problem keeping my minimum levels month to month, because unlike some colleagues who pressed for the big-ticket items, I rarely had returns from customers with buyer’s remorse.

In the frame shop, even if I knew the price point of every frame she had, I may well have stuck with the combination I ordered because they were my favorites. And like I said, I am taking full responsibility here; the employee was just doing her job. But in this economy and for shops that want to keep loyalty strong, being sensitive to people’s pocketbooks only makes sense long-term. Staying in their price range this visit means they may have a little money left over to come back.

All I know is that when I get the project back later this month, it better kick canv-ass.