Corris Uchaf, Wales
Archive for June, 2006
Some issues resolved
Jun 24th
At the end of last week we were rather in a state of limbo.
Our Landlord’s marketing person had totally put a damper on our privately funded marketing efforts.
We now learn that this was all a fabrication. External funders have confirmed that they have absolutely no quibble with these efforts, hence our leaflets can be issued with impunity and our crafers website is back online (EDIT – Website removed fur to cost).
Yesterday saw the Grand Opening of the new units. Well, what an amateurish effort it was too, full of false platitudes and no interest shown in the crafters or their business at all. A total and complete letdown. Shame that the press release was just plain wrong also.
But, we have had some great visitors to our workshop in the craft centre and to our Wednesday market stall in Machynlleth.
A much needed boost – Thank you one and all – please come again.
We are also starting to receive back some squares for the Teresa Anna Quilt, some outstanding designs and work have gone into them too.
A topsy turvy week
Jun 17th
Its been a funny old week.
Quiet on the customer/sales side of things, but we have got on and made some things we hope you’ll like.
Similarly, the Wednesday maket at Mach (Machynlleth) was also quiet. But we had some very pleasant fellow marketeers next to us this week, oh what a change from the vile venomous woman of last week, who advised us to jazz our stall up to entice people to notice us and peruse our wares. We thought it looked ok, but as newbies in this business we shall take this well intended advice and do some window dressing to improve our visibility. Thanks very much for the prompt – appreciate it.
Otherwise, our landlord’s Marketing Guru dropped a bombshell on us. We have produced a new leaflet for our centre and added a new community website for each local crafter to have a bit of a place on the web.
We have funded both ourselves, privately.
Well, this marketing boffin rings us up and says that some who funded our landlord’s recent building works have complained that we make no acknowledgement to them.
Why, we asked. We have had no funding – ZERO – we have no agreement with anyone to say that we have and why have we not been approached directly when we initiated, funded and produced the new brochure and community website?
We have taken our communinty website down (here), do we now have to withdraw all our brochures distributed far and wide in Wales and reprint them? And at what cost? This could close our 10 community businesses as we already run on tiny margins, which would in turn make the rebuilding and its funding rather superfluous.
Well, one of our number has some gumption. He phoned one of the allegedly complaining funders and asked what was going on. Although he cannot speak to the chief until Monday, the response from the appropriate office was basically what are you talking about. They (this particular funder) has no issue with the brochure or the crafters’ community website.
So what is going on here – something very sinister and not at all pleasant. But we shall have to wait until Moday for the authoritative voice of the funder to be heard, and hopefully also put in writing.
Watch this space.
A Week of 2 Halves
Jun 10th
To coin a football phrase, this has been a week of 2 halves.
Whilst the sun continues to cast its glare on our corner of Wales, people have been too busy to shop. They look around the wares and watch us work our craft, but its only a means of keeping cool indoors.
But, by the end of the week our visitors must have become accostomed to our wonderful Welsh weather, as they became increasingly interested and found another way of lightening their loads by shedding pounds into our till. Another form of slimming by the pound that should be encouraged.
Also nice to know that folk are interested in what we do and our crafts, even while glowing so profusely under the incessant heat. Just don’t forget the factor 40, and take advantage of the refreshments offered in our cafe.
So, like the football, a quiet first half of the week and we came storming back in the second.
And on that note another cheer for the Wales “B” team – Brazil – Come on the Bouys. Of course not forgetting Trinidad and Tobago, the possible runners up to our “B” team.
This is Wales, so the Sun shines
Jun 3rd
What a glorious week.
After the deluge of recent weeks Wales has recovered to be it’s usual sunny self. Everything has cheered up, the plants, the livestock, the birds and the bees, as well as the good folk at Corris Craft Centre.
A real air of optimism pervades the air all around our little idyll in Mid Wales.
We started a maket stall in Machynlleth on Wednesday selling mainly quilting fabrics. A great opportunity to meet new people and to see old friends as they amble through the streets and stalls of Mach on a very fine and pleasant day. We shall keep the market up as its an ecomonic way of selling and good advertising for us and for the Craft Centre. We have already had people, who saw our stall in the street, make their first ever visit to the Craft Centre. How sad that people living or holidaying for many years within 15 miles of Corris have never even heard that the Craft Centre existed. Yet what a joy for them when they make that first visit.
We have also had much interest from people getting involved in Teresa Anna’s Quilt. We look forward to seeing the designs and construction techniques of the different squares as they are returned over the next few weeks. Teresa Anna herself has put in some guest appearances as well, which is always a bonus.
If you would like to get involved in this personal worthy quest of ours, come and visit our quilting shop at Corris Craft Centre soon before all the material has gone as the quilt has a limit of 25 squares.
