My Final Anniversary Giveaway: Why nobody wants it

Hello, dolling! Thanks so much for coming back to my blog.

You probably are curious why our latest giveaway didn't cut it. I, too, am a bit curious but I might have a few ideas why this happened. Let's discuss some and if you have other ideas, let me know your thoughts, too, okies?

One reason that comes to mind right away is the accountability that I am asking for in return. Our friend MC of Monstercrafts did admit that making one piece of doll garment a month might be impossible for her. I felt sorry that I never thought from that perspective. I sincerely expected that making one piece for four weekends is doable. My mistake was that I have based that idea on how I started learning to make doll clothes 10 years ago. And that I didn't ask around enough. My first lesson from this is to do more market research before launching anything.

The second reason I'm citing is the lengthy entry that one has to make to be able to join. Requiring one to list 10 patterns that they like from my shop and provide a reason why - probably are again too much to ask for. Listing 10 patterns they want to see from my shop in the future could've worked. Again, no market research to back up my entry requirement, only based on my own experience. 

Another area that I thought would shoo people away from the prize is the additional work of reflecting upon the experience of making each piece. Indeed, reflecting is a thing that needs time and deep awareness, something so hard to achieve in this world we live in right now.

And lastly, I think my giveaway just simply doesn't look easy enough. How sad to know that I have worked as an editor back in the day, and I still talk way too much. I have said too many things that I guess the whole thing became too confusing and I was never able to end the blog post with a super clear, easy-to-do call to action for even someone who already was interested to join. I made the giveaway too difficult to even bother joining in.

Looking back at my September celebration, the other giveaways were successful because I had done a bit of research before launching them. The weekend discounts were a hit because discounts are always a hit. Imagine getting something you want at a lesser cost. That is surely a great thing, right? And the coaching sessions giveaway, although especially new to me, brought in interested people, because I think people have seen the value of guidance in it. Coree, one of the coaching winners, even chose to keep her coaching sessions than winning unlimited access to the patterns.

I have discussed this with my husband and he said I wasn't really giving a giveaway. He said it was a trade, and it blew me because I realized he was right. I was asking way too much in return it didn't feel like the winners are winning. And I feel sorry that it turned out like something I didn't want it to be. 

Nevertheless, I am very thankful to learn from this setback. Having a business is about wanting to solve other people's pains, not necessarily just mine. Unfortunately, it was the latter that's been ruling my head since day one. I started this venture to solve my own problems, to make my own doll clothes so that I don't need to buy cheap-looking ones mass-produced by playline doll companies. I started this venture so that I can dress my dolls in high-quality pieces similar to those sold by collectible companies. 

And now that my ventures have evolved to mainly serve my community, I should be mindful to operate like one, right? I should be more mindful of your situation. I should get to know you more. I should listen more about your needs. I have already solved my own problem - thanks to the seed that started it all - now it's time I listen in to help alleviate yours.

Thank you so much for letting me realize this, my dollings. It is such a wonderful awakening and I am so excited to be helping you make your crafting session less difficult and even more fun.

Chat later, loves!

xoxo,
shasha