Hello Beauts!
It's been a while! I've been so busy with the jeans line and getting my website sorted, but it's all exciting as things are rolling and Miss Simone will be launching soon ready to sell!! Yipeee!!
I just wanted to talk about one issue I had to deal with in the making of my jeans.
Back in late January/early February I met a pair of lovely pattern cutters. One stouty full blooded Irish lady (let's call her Helga) and the other a delicate English girl (let's call her Diana). After meeting a few other pattern cutters I decided to work with them because they appeared to have so much passion for their craft and Helga had actually made a pair of her own jeans, encouraging me think that she would know exactly what she's doing.
We talked about my line and designs and I clearly explained that I had a tight deadline due to the photo-shoot. Although they expressed they we're concerned that the deadline was tight they said it could be done.
Fast forward.....
I found that they we're working very slowly and the pattern didn't seem to be developing much. I didn't say anything because I had trust that they knew what they were doing and I didn't want to step on any toes. Eventually I showed my consultant how far they had gotten with only two weeks till the shoot. A lot of alterations got revealed and I informed the girl's that changes had to be made. They panicked and Helga spoke extremely rudely to my consultant. Mistake number 1. I wasn't impressed with how rude Helga was, we're in the business where changes happens all the time, this would have been their chance to shine and reveal themselves as the best in their field. Instead they panicked and came up with all the excuses under the sun.
This resulted in them out-sourcing the grading process (which they went ahead and done without checking with me first) and they had to out source the production (which I'm quite please with as I believe they wouldn't have been able to deliver the quality needed).
Attitude problem...
My next issue came with Helga (again). So I was at the bank about to make a payment and the pattern cutters sent me an invoice. Everything was fine except for a £15 payment that said travel and negotiation. I called Helga to ask what this travel cost is, she said it's for the trips to and from the factory. I said this is fine but for future reference I need to know of all costs and what I'm being charged and to confirm them. Helga didn't seem to understand my point to which she responded "so I'm supposed to tell you every little charge?" I said "yes!! It's my money and whether it's £10 or 10p I need to know exactly what I'm being billed for!" Helga went into a rant about how hard she's work and blah blah blah, continuing to not get the point that she's being paid for a service so she's doing me no favors.
The last straw...
On day of the pick-up Helga became very difficult to communicate with and I ended up having to wait over an hour than scheduled to pick up my jeans.
A result of all this is I don't want any association with them and I definitely wouldn't recommend them to any one else, they didn't take this too well but....oh well!!
My advice, if you own a business don't take on more work than you can handle. Work to your deadline and organise your time so your prepared for any unexpected changes and be nice to your PAYING customers!! Be fair and if needs be stern but you can still be nice, there's no need for bad customer services.
It's taught me that these people are not my friends no matter how nice they are. At the end of the day they are being paid for a service, so I have to be clear and concrete in my dealings with them. Fair but NOT rude.
I hope my little experience can help you too!
Onwards and upwards!
xoxo
My jeans have a leather patch on the back which I wanted personalised with the Miss Simone logo. I searched high and low online to find a company with good rates and quick lead times. I got faced with endless online forms and sites with not much information. When I finally did get through to someone the prices were ridiculous and the leads times were way to long for my needs. Also people were quite unhelpful and always seemed to be in a rush to get off the phone!
