November the 25th 2013 will be Handmade Monday. Now, I only heard about this a couple of weeks ago but the more I read about it, the more the idea speaks to me!
Last year a US family spent about $764 dollars on average per family, followed by Australia at $930 dollars per family, and a whopping average of $1000 dollars was spent per British family.
If only 20% of this money was spent on handmade items from small companies and artists, a sustainable, vibrant, creative and lucrative impulse for original craft and work would be created.
Handmade Monday is here to promote exactly this! Of course there are many big companies that sell wonderful gifts, but with buying a handmade item you are sure to receive something special and unique.
Shop owners and artists work hard to set up and run their own businesses, with high risk and often small returns. Even when everything goes right, it is still a huge amount of work. There are many little shops on the internet where every single thing was handmade with love and care.
I know, handmade items are more expensive. Why would you buy a 25 dollar pillowcase when you can get one for 7 at that big store in town? And why would you spend that money on a handmade item if you can get it from a expensive brand?
I will tell you why;
What you get back for buying handmade is a product that you can't get in any store. Artists and crafters always work hard to improve their work. A lot of research is done before you can buy the items in the shops. A person running their own store often has years of experience, is highly motivated, and as said before, has worked really hard to get to the point where they are. They love to communicate with their clients, and what they want most is for their clients to be happy with their purchase. Handmade items are not mass produced and you are sure to have high quality item. No, you won't have a high brand item, people will not recognize your item as a Ralph Lauren cushion or a Tiffany&CO bracelet. But remember that these brands also mass produce their items, they might be expensive, but they are not truly unique. And your handmade item will be. This is great for you, but also great for anyone who will get a handmade Christmas or birthday gift!
Now, let's also think of the impact it would have on society when you decide to buy Handmade.
- You might help someone through college or university, many store owners sell because of this reason.
- You might help someone's daughter to have ballet classes, or someones son to go to soccer.
- If you buy handmade locally you will help your local businesses and economy.
- You might help a pensioner pay the rent, or a single mother pay for heating.
- Handmade items are made to last, you help the environment!
- There are many shops that recycle materials, also a great plus for the environment.
These are just 6 examples, the list goes on forever! Really, buying Handmade will help many people.
You might have one reservation left: how can I trust a stranger on the internet to just send me these products after I paid for them? Well, here is great news; as a buyer you have a lot of rights. Websites like Etsy and DeWanda have strict policies for customers. After a purchase the shop has 45 days to get the items to the costumer. If this does not work out the buyer can open a claim and get their money back. This will also work with credit card companies and Paypal. There is really nothing scary about buying online from small businesses!
If you were never sure about buying handmade from small businesses, I hope I have helped you decide to go for it. Remember how positive it is to get your gifts and decorations from small businesses, either locally or from the internet. I am going to leave you with a link to a Facebook page about handmade Monday, here you can follow the latest news and updates.
Have a great week and remember, Monday the 25th of November: Handmade Monday!
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