Tuesday 17 May 2011

A commercial dilemma.........................


I thought I would share a few thoughts about this topic; it’s a subject that sits uneasy in my lap.

I started making bears 4 years ago and my inspiration for making them came from two very diverse bears, a sweet fluffy modern bear and an aged old style bear!!! I know opposite sides of the coin. The first few bears that I made were certainly in the more modern category of puffed cheeks and lots of fur. I loved them but my heart would just twinge, a pang of something was missing, do you get what I mean. So I tried my hand at an old style one……………………………..Nutmeg was his name and as I looked at him my heart skipped a beat. I still had lots to learn but my heart had found its place, I continued to dabble with the sweet trimmed cheeks or should I say wrestle, LOL. After awhile my hubby said to me why do you continue to make these bears, if all you ever do is moan about them? That stopped me in my track and at that point I decided to follow my soul.

Fast forward about 3 ½ years to today and as I look back on that decision I have to wonder was I committing commercial suicide. All around us we are faced with such choices in size, colour but most of all style, the rise in popularity of Charlie Bears…………………………yes we have a few in the house, my daughter loves them and I too think they offer great value and are pretty cute………………………………well it makes me wonder, should I have been swayed by the market forces and continued my more modern design. I see fellow artist who make these types of bears sell frequently and sell well, eBay and facebook being a popular venue for them. Older style bears seem to be out of favour, selling at often below price and less frequently. It does test your convictions, while the bills mount and stock dipleats, should I be making the more popular "Charlie Bear" style? Whilst I pondered this issue over the weekend I completed two bears, they aren’t old tattered ones or modern fluffy ones but delightful traditional bears which will have clothes and I adore them…………………………..I have found my comfy slippers, my home.

As for their commercial success, who knows, I love them and hopefully that love will shine through……………………………………. and yes I did make the right decision, even when times are lean I still love a good old fashioned bear, fads will come and go but a traditional bear will last forever.

Here is a sneaky peak of them; they are for my new autumn collection (hark at me, the designer).
 I was given the idea by my daughter after a chance comment from a collector at a show……………………..the idea then just grew.

As you can see we have no noses and they are un trimmed, LOL
( I always tremble at that bit)
and they are naked.
I hope, like me, you have the courage to follow your dreams.
Beary hugs
Sue xxx

3 comments:

Kelly said...

You just have to stay true to what you love, the market changes all the time. But if you believe in what you make people will buy it.

I am glad you found what you love.

Southern Bears said...

There is nothing on earth to beat a time worn, well loved traditional teddy!

FenBeary Folk said...

Thanks Ladies xxx