Archive for the ‘Feedback’ Category
Happy customers
Posted on: 18/12/2011
My head has not been on the business this week. I have been daydreaming and taking it easy. So much so that I forgot to tell Lois at OurGreenRoom that I’m not available to work this coming week. And when I did? Frantic emails! One of her customers wasn’t going to get the lampshade they’d bought for their daughter as a Christmas gift. Lois was about to buy a lampshade-making kit and have a go herself! I couldn’t let her do it. So with a nasty hangover and not much sleep I drove all the way to Bradford On Avon and made a lampshade in Lois’s front room – all so that lovely lampshade could be given in time. And it felt good. Good that I didn’t try to duck out. Good that I exceeded expectations. Good that I redeemed myself. Good that I made our customers happy. It made me realise that, as a small business, you really do have to go that extra mile. (And there’s no such thing as time off.)
Bright and ballsy lampshades
Posted on: 15/08/2011
A lovely blog visitor took the time to comment today, saying:
I thought I have to come and look at these lampshades, because lampshades are lampshades aren’t they, how exciting can they be? But your Quincy Lampshades are beautiful! They are so unique and the fabrics are gorgeous.
Such fabulous feedback keeps me going, especially when Kirstie Allsopp retweeted me to her 140,000 followers last night! I’m so excited (and I just can’t hide it)!
Gold Customer Service
Posted on: 17/07/2011
I was kicking myself. I was so cross. I’d sent a 45cm standard lampshade in June Song Tea to Lesley in Richmond, but I’d used a terrible box. Upon opening, Lesley found the shade to be completely crumpled. Oh no! Stupid, silly me. Of course, I offered to replace the shade for like or to issue a refund. After a bit, Lesley actually decided that she loved the shade so much she still wanted it, but she wanted an even bigger one at 50cm! It was a challenge – my biggest shade to date and I was very nervous making it. So nervous that I botched the first attempt. I lost a load of Selopar. Yet, in the process of rectifying my mistake I learnt the best, neatest, most efficient way to successfully navigate that tricky additional seam on the large shades.
Lesley and I had some late-night email exchanges where we worked out a way of getting the shade to her – on her way home to Richmond from Wales, Lesley and her husband took their normal stop at Gordano Motorway Services where I met them for the handover. With a crumpled lampshade sitting on top of their car, I could not miss them. Lesley was delighted with her new shade and it was a real pleasure for me to meet such lovely customers.
I learnt four valuable lessons:
- Don’t take chances with postage
- Create seam and fabric length before applying Selopar
- Solutions can be found using open and honest communication
- Running your own business is nerve-racking!
Yes, I lost some money. But I gained a chunk of confidence. Job done.
Here’s what Lesley said:
Our feet haven’t touched the ground since we got home but have thought once or twice that asap I’d let you know that the shade is a huge success. When I have a spare moment I’ll take a photo and send it to you. It’s now the fulfilment of my imagination – I love it! Thank you so much.
Regards and appreciation
Lesley x
A Black Lampshade Finds New Home
Posted on: 04/06/2011
How can a black lampshade be so brilliant? When it’s adorned with lacquer red and bright white Odoriko dancers, swimming with cherry blossom and glittering gold petals. It works very well indeed here, in a customer’s very lovely dining room.
