2.23.2012

the day after Wednesday


Happy Thursday. Yesterday, aka Shop Update day, ended up being a LONG day. It was a good day, but felt as though it went on and on. Thank you to everyone who bought up everything once again:) Let me tell you, as a one man operation, I can only stock so much and my oh my, it is never enough. For the most part, everyone was wonderfully kind and understanding.

That said, it seems as though the Big Cartel site is pretty, but not perfect. It's certainly different from Etsy on my end, but ultimately, my concern is really the customer side. For some, yesterday was an exercise in frustration. Full carts, then suddenly empty carts...ugh. That's enough to drive someone batty.  I remember staying up until 4:00AM not so long ago waiting for Target to update their site with the new Missoni for Target line. So there I was, fingers poised, the site populated, I filled my cart, went to check out and everything popped up sold out. Three minutes after going live. I almost cried. Partially because I was so tired, but also because I was so mad. I eventually found out that the "Missoni" incident actually crashed Target's website.

I'm not comparing myself to Target, but I do understand the frustration of virtual shopping.

Yesterday, I sent a message to Big Cartel with a big fat What's up? in the title line. They were kind enough to get back to me and clarify a few things...most of which I did not know. I thought I would pass it on in the event you decide to brave the Bananafish update in the future:

1. You get thirty minutes to fill your cart and checkout. If you exceed that, your cart will empty and the items will return to inventory.

2. An item may show that it's in stock, but that could mean it's lingering in someones cart...so it's available technically, but not really.  If you're told to wait a 1/2 hour, what they are really saying is akin to cart stalking. Maybe they'll change their mind and if you're around you can snag it. This rarely works. I don't like the virtual limbo, but I get it. BTW, I wouldn't wait the half hour.

3. Full cart/Empty cart is a direct result of the whole 30 minute thing and other people checking out faster. I received one or two emails about a delay...if you experienced one, I need to know more about it. I need to know if it's different than the whole 30 minute thing.

4. Yesterday, according to the site that monitors my site, I received well over one thousand hits. Okay...yes. I did almost throw up when I read that. I have like 5 friends in real life...how do 1000 people even know I exist? I think it's very easy to underestimate the vastness of the Internet. I do it everyday. That said. I think there were a lot of people trying to get their hands on a few things...comparatively speaking. The bottom line? I haven't the time nor the budget to make enough stuff to satisfy everyone, but I try...I really do. I mean, I work two jobs as it is. SO...either some big shot out there has to offer to manufacture a line of Bananafishstudio product (haha) or I can just do what I'm doing and accept that my shop is essentially a tiny boutique with one overworked girl behind the counter.  If you are okay with the latter, so am I.

I will end this wordy post with a bit of information. The rubberstamps are currently in production. I anticipate mid-March, but it may be later. I will have to see them and make certain the quality is up to snuff. This is my first foray into stamp making after all. If everything turns out grand it will be quite easy for me to order more. So there you have it.

Edited to add: I originally included a bit about a mean spirited email I received and after thinking about it I decided to remove it. Some of you may have seen it and that's cool, but someday, when I look back on this post, I want to remember that YOU, yes you, made yesterday a great day for me. A wonderful day indeed.

17 comments:

Kelly said...

i so totally cannot wait for your stamps! and, just remember that mean people suck (the life out of everything!) and the reason i love what you do is because it is what YOU do and it is different from others and part of the appeal of it is that it is special and different and lovely. i guess that is a long enough rant but in my humble opinion, you should just do what you do and we should consider ourselves lucky if we happen to be able to get some of the loveliness and we should be happy that someone else gets a shot at it if our fingers are not quite nimble enough to be first!

Unknown said...

France, I cannot thank you enough for being so unbelievably kind, even after the frustration! It was sad seeing my cart disappear, but I know it's JUST you, and LOVE your products & customer service! So I just wanted to tell you that, and say thank you again for everything you do for us :]

marcy said...

France, you did totally fine. You are doing enough. I love love love your stuff and have no problems with placing an order down the road for whatever I wanted that sold out.
Don't stress.

Marian said...

Thank you so much for lovely update. I was lucky enough to get a few items that I missed out on last week, but still unable to bet any of the journalling cards that I so covet! I will keep trying! Thanks again!

bananafish said...

Oh Boy Kelly,

How I wish I knew you in real life. You always have the kindest and truest words for me. I consider MYSELF lucky.

thanks.

bananafish said...

To the other ladies,
Shay, Marcy, Marian...

Thank You! I'm no shrinking violet, so I'm not too stressed, but I do get bummed when people don't get what they want. Thanks for being so understanding. It's just paper, right:)

Jill said...

I was continually checking the site all day. And then it had "maintenance" message so I assume you were loading items at that time. I kept continually checking every few minutes and am pretty sure I was on the site w/in at least 5-10 minutes of it "opening". There were many "sold out" items. I'm not in the least bit surprised that you have 1,000 fans. I would guess that's an understatement. I'm just going to have to file you away in the same "impossible" category as several other small shop owners (or buy digital and print my own darned cards :)

rhonda nickol said...

France I missed yesterday's items but I received my items from the other day and I LOVE EVERYTHING! You are a wonderful person and I want all to know how you have ALWAYS went out of your way to do the right thing! Thank you for your patience and understanding!

bananafish said...

Hi Jill,

So sorry that you waited and still didn't get what you wanted. I've certainly been there. I always tell my customers to contact me so that I can find a way to get them what they want. Primarily because I NEVER want it to feel impossible. Good luck with the digital...at least it's always in stock:)

Lindsey said...

I just want to say I am so excited for the stamps and thank you again for all your hard work! Your items are such an awesome addition to my project life book and I am thankful for your continued efforts to make your customers happy! I appreciated that you emailed me back right away yesterday after I had problems with the site and found a way for me to still order my items. In the end, it IS just paper and I think you are doing a spectacular job at doing your best to make it work for as many people as possible which is all we can ask for! Thanks!!

Jen D said...

came home today to a lovely package full of good stuff- love all of your stuff, and am so looking forward to the restock and the stamps. I am happy to wait patiently since your stuff is so unique and gorgeous. so happy you decided to keep with it.
and i am most definitely not surprised at the 1000 hits :)

brianne said...

Yay for Seattle shop girls. I'm glad you had such a fruitful day, even if there was a learning curve. I'll be keeping my eye out for the stamp update, woohoo!

... said...

What??? Five friends??? LoL...that you know of :P God has blessed you with some amazing talents girl...keep using it. btw...the blog post about visiting Mt. St. Helen's...you drove right by my summer cabin. Thanks for the info. on how internet shopping works...I will keep checking back in hopes of being able to purchase some of the stuff I really wanted not just what i could get.

Leah said...

If I lived in Seattle and I could help you in some way I would. It would be great to watch your creative process.

Marie Tere said...

I'm a day late and a dollar short. But we have a date -- 3/7/12. You are on my calendar with a 15 minute ahead reminder. Love your stuff.
Tere, Seattle, WA.

Summer said...

I just discovered you...via some Project Life blog and lucky me I ended up finding you on restocking day! Yay-me! You should go on that show Shark Tank and get an investor to back up the Bananafish project line!

bananafish said...

hahaha...Thank you Summer. I actually watch that show and I have a strong sense that the sharks would laugh at me or look at me like I was crazy.