DSF

As titled really, how critical are you of your work? I look at every item I make and always say the same, would I be happy to receive it? I've discarded many items because they weren't upto scratch but then I ask the family and they can't see anything wrong with them. Do you think you can be too critical? I guess I just want to be the best I can but then I do realise maybe there's a fine line between perfection and obsession.

Your thoughts are appreciated

Snap. I refuse to send out anything that I don't think is perfect, then get hugely annoyed when people say " can't see the difference that would have been fine". I do a lot of work for friends and am very concious that I don't want to be less than perfect for people who probably won't criticise me - basically if I would be less than happy with it as a product I won't send it out and I am one fussy person.

My rule is: if would buy it i'll send it, if not it goes in bin and start again.

i never listen to staff, family or friends if i've done the work

I agree....unless I would be happy to receive it, I won't send it.....it seems hard enough to get this biz of the ground, so a good reputation has got to help

I'm hyper-critical (much to the chagrin of my family and friends - they would invariably pass 90% of the stuff that I reject.

My thought is the same as those here - if I wouldn't like to buy a mug like that, then I refuse to sell one like that.

The only exception is when someone buys one of my "b-grade" products then, depending on the actual flaw, it may have more of a chance of being passed. This is expressed on the product description, however.

I look at every order the same, whether it's one item or 100. You can never tell if the one mug you sell today might not turn into 500 mugs in a fortnight's time. That's happened to me, and I've always wondered if someone else would have got the order if I'd send out a "dodgy" mug when only one had been ordered.

There's no substitute for quality.

I have just started with printing some of my designs on mugs, and know that I put some of my less perfect (to me) examples on sale at an art / craft fair I did a few weeks ago. I asked my customers to check that they were happy with the mugs. They were.
I can see no further reason to then impose my perfection on others, other than to keep improving!
Neil.

Not just me then, i have bags full of sub standard mug's, which i keep for workmen etc.

It's amazing how when your starting out you make loads of mistakes but when it starts costing you money you soon learn mighty quick

I have a pile of stuff that I wouldn't send out that others can't see any problem with.

Mark

mistakes seem to have a way off snowballing. Once i make a mistake i feel the pressure to nail the next one...which normally results in me going wrong!
I now go for a quick break, which saves me money, time and my sanity rather than ploughing on:)

Lucy

Love the t' shirts on your website Lucy, and the video.

Cheers John