Hi Kembri, I love your clothing, but it is so expensive! Do you ever have sales?
Once a year I have a sale. I do not believe in screaming sales all the time, luring in with a couple of cheap items, and hoping you'll then buy out the store. What I will do is have a sale once a year, usually in the late summer. At that time I do a whole store sale for a week, then that's it until the following year.
This year I have started the Reduced Rack. This is a single pane vendor with a purple frame that you will find in every Curious Seamstress shop. The gowns in this vendor are from the 2008-2009 season. There is nothing wrong with them, they just happen to be my oldest gowns and I've gotten much better at my craft since then!
I decided long ago that I would eventually start putting past season clothing on sale, and 2011 is the year I started doing so. The gowns in the Reduced rack run $400 linden dollars per gown as opposed to the current $795 lindens for 2011 season gowns.
Freqently asked questions about The Curious Seamstress stores and policies in Second Life.
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#15 - Teaching what I know
"Hi, I love your work and I was wondering if you'd teach me how to do what you do? Thanks!"
I am so flattered when I'm asked this question. It means someone loves what I do so much they want to do it themselves and possibly sell their own versions. I've thought about it and really, there's a few things to know and do to start doing what I do.
1) Take building classes in Second Life. Any class, all classes. I spent nearly a year going to any building class I could find, from boats to houses to jewelry. Each class teaches you something new and useful that you may eventually need for making clothing.
2) Learn some type of image manipulation program. Gimp, Photoshop, Inkscape, whatever you can afford and have handy, learn it. You'll need this to create your own clothing and textures.
3) Find the Second Life clothing templates by either Chip Midnight or Robin Sojourner. You'll need those so you can line up the clothing seams correctly.
4) Check out clothing making tutorials on Youtube for Second Life. It helps a lot.
5) Be totally ethical and never, ever steal someone else's work or images from the web. Know the law and the facts. If you hope to grow a business, then you must be ethical because your name and reputation are on the line. For example, I never use the work of a living designer, nor of any designer after the 1920s. There are some designers I will never touch, like Dior or Chanel. These are living fashion Houses and one does not mess with the legalities of copyright infringement or IP a.k.a intellectual property infringement. Do realize that there are REAL legal consequences for screwing with such things. Be ethical and honorable. It will serve you well in the end.
6) Realize that breaking into the fashion selling gig in Second Life takes as much work as it does in real life! So now you've practiced for hours and hours, you've got your packaging down, you know what genre of clothing you love and want to sell. Now, you have to find a place to sell it. Look around your favorite RP sims, try to stay away from malls, depending on what you sell. Utilize Marketplace and put your items up there. Always present a professional appearance in both your packaging and your goods.
Figure on two or three years to get a 'name' in the fashion circles. It's hard work, but if you really want it you'll succeed. You'll have to build up stock and be religious about releasing items on a fairly routine basis. You'll also have to have consistant, realistic pricing for what you offer. You'll have to figure rents, advertising, and other expenses into your budget. Above all, you must be true to your own style and your own vision for your brand.
And that's my lecture for today!
I wish you much luck on your journey into the fashion jungles of Second Life.
I am so flattered when I'm asked this question. It means someone loves what I do so much they want to do it themselves and possibly sell their own versions. I've thought about it and really, there's a few things to know and do to start doing what I do.
1) Take building classes in Second Life. Any class, all classes. I spent nearly a year going to any building class I could find, from boats to houses to jewelry. Each class teaches you something new and useful that you may eventually need for making clothing.
2) Learn some type of image manipulation program. Gimp, Photoshop, Inkscape, whatever you can afford and have handy, learn it. You'll need this to create your own clothing and textures.
3) Find the Second Life clothing templates by either Chip Midnight or Robin Sojourner. You'll need those so you can line up the clothing seams correctly.
4) Check out clothing making tutorials on Youtube for Second Life. It helps a lot.
5) Be totally ethical and never, ever steal someone else's work or images from the web. Know the law and the facts. If you hope to grow a business, then you must be ethical because your name and reputation are on the line. For example, I never use the work of a living designer, nor of any designer after the 1920s. There are some designers I will never touch, like Dior or Chanel. These are living fashion Houses and one does not mess with the legalities of copyright infringement or IP a.k.a intellectual property infringement. Do realize that there are REAL legal consequences for screwing with such things. Be ethical and honorable. It will serve you well in the end.
6) Realize that breaking into the fashion selling gig in Second Life takes as much work as it does in real life! So now you've practiced for hours and hours, you've got your packaging down, you know what genre of clothing you love and want to sell. Now, you have to find a place to sell it. Look around your favorite RP sims, try to stay away from malls, depending on what you sell. Utilize Marketplace and put your items up there. Always present a professional appearance in both your packaging and your goods.
Figure on two or three years to get a 'name' in the fashion circles. It's hard work, but if you really want it you'll succeed. You'll have to build up stock and be religious about releasing items on a fairly routine basis. You'll also have to have consistant, realistic pricing for what you offer. You'll have to figure rents, advertising, and other expenses into your budget. Above all, you must be true to your own style and your own vision for your brand.
And that's my lecture for today!
I wish you much luck on your journey into the fashion jungles of Second Life.
FAQ # 14 Cash Refunds
I want my lindens back now!
I had that shouted at me recently. Let me state here as I have before, I do not refund for buyer's remorse.
Now I'll broaden that to, I do not refund cash, period. It is not an unreasonable stance to take and many large real world department stores have the same policies.
If we have an issue, if I feel you do indeed deserve some kind of remuneration, I will issue a gift card for the amount.
I will not refund lindens with one exception. IF you have purchased two exact dresses within a minute of each other IN WORLD at one of my vendors, and IF you can return to me a packaged gown completely intact, then I will refund you the amount of that gown purchase.
That is the ONLY time I will do cash refunds, and I have to be able to verify the purchases through my transaction and vendor records. If necessary, I will also contact LL to verify said purchases.
If you cannot meet that standard, then don't ask for a refund. I dislike sounding harsh, but I also dislike people trying to scam me, and it has happened.
If you make two purchases on Marketplace because the first didn't deliver in a timely manner to you, then take it up with Linden labs, and not myself. For more details on that please see FAQ #13.
Let me state it again, I will not refund cash.
I value my customers and always wish to do what is right by them.
I would hope that the feeling is mutual.
I had that shouted at me recently. Let me state here as I have before, I do not refund for buyer's remorse.
Now I'll broaden that to, I do not refund cash, period. It is not an unreasonable stance to take and many large real world department stores have the same policies.
If we have an issue, if I feel you do indeed deserve some kind of remuneration, I will issue a gift card for the amount.
I will not refund lindens with one exception. IF you have purchased two exact dresses within a minute of each other IN WORLD at one of my vendors, and IF you can return to me a packaged gown completely intact, then I will refund you the amount of that gown purchase.
That is the ONLY time I will do cash refunds, and I have to be able to verify the purchases through my transaction and vendor records. If necessary, I will also contact LL to verify said purchases.
If you cannot meet that standard, then don't ask for a refund. I dislike sounding harsh, but I also dislike people trying to scam me, and it has happened.
If you make two purchases on Marketplace because the first didn't deliver in a timely manner to you, then take it up with Linden labs, and not myself. For more details on that please see FAQ #13.
Let me state it again, I will not refund cash.
I value my customers and always wish to do what is right by them.
I would hope that the feeling is mutual.
FAQ # 13 Marketplace Mis-delivery
I ordered an item from you on Marketplace, but did not receive it! or I bought the same dress twice from you, now I want a refund because the first never showed up!
These are both delivery issues I've had to deal with, and it got bad enough that I recently contacted Linden Labs about the issue. 99% of the time I show that the item delivered to the customer. I get a confirmation each time an item goes out of my Marketplace server box and is sent to the customer. You might not get it, but at that point it is no longer my problem. I'm not trying to be unreasonable, but I'm not giving out transferable goods for nothing because of a glitch some place.
So if you have bought an item on Marketplace and did not get a delivery of it, then go to the Second Life website, find the customer support page, and file a ticket about the missing items. I will no longer replace them, as this really is an SL asset server issue and they are better equiped to handle this. You will eventually get the item, I was assured of this by the customer service rep I spoke with. If you bought it, it will come.
These are both delivery issues I've had to deal with, and it got bad enough that I recently contacted Linden Labs about the issue. 99% of the time I show that the item delivered to the customer. I get a confirmation each time an item goes out of my Marketplace server box and is sent to the customer. You might not get it, but at that point it is no longer my problem. I'm not trying to be unreasonable, but I'm not giving out transferable goods for nothing because of a glitch some place.
So if you have bought an item on Marketplace and did not get a delivery of it, then go to the Second Life website, find the customer support page, and file a ticket about the missing items. I will no longer replace them, as this really is an SL asset server issue and they are better equiped to handle this. You will eventually get the item, I was assured of this by the customer service rep I spoke with. If you bought it, it will come.
FAQ # 12 Gift Cards - Clothing as gifts
Do you have gift cards?
Why yes, I do. I will soon have them out for sale in one corner of the store. The values start at 750 and range upwards. They are hippovend, wear and use cards. If you need one and you don't see them out at Rosewood yet, then please drop me a notecard and we'll chat.
How can I gift an outfit?
You have a few options. The vendors allow the purchase of an item as a gift, you'll see that on the bottom. You can also buy the outfit and give it as a gift as in person as all clothing is transferable for that very reason! Third, you can buy off of Marketplace and have it sent as a gift to someone else.
Why yes, I do. I will soon have them out for sale in one corner of the store. The values start at 750 and range upwards. They are hippovend, wear and use cards. If you need one and you don't see them out at Rosewood yet, then please drop me a notecard and we'll chat.
How can I gift an outfit?
You have a few options. The vendors allow the purchase of an item as a gift, you'll see that on the bottom. You can also buy the outfit and give it as a gift as in person as all clothing is transferable for that very reason! Third, you can buy off of Marketplace and have it sent as a gift to someone else.
FAQ #11 - Odd looking prims
Dear Kembri, I have one of your outfits, and one of the prims looks like a color map, can you help me?
This one perplexed me for a bit, but all I can say is it has to be the viewer. If you are using a third party viewer, then chances are it's borking the prim textures some how. Now I'd be more prone to think it was my fault if it had been a new gown, but the gown in question has literally sold hundreds of copies and never had a problem. At that point I have to look at the customer's viewer and question that. Do contact me, and I will try to sort it out. Failing that, I will send you in search of your viewer's maker, letting them know there's an issue.
This one perplexed me for a bit, but all I can say is it has to be the viewer. If you are using a third party viewer, then chances are it's borking the prim textures some how. Now I'd be more prone to think it was my fault if it had been a new gown, but the gown in question has literally sold hundreds of copies and never had a problem. At that point I have to look at the customer's viewer and question that. Do contact me, and I will try to sort it out. Failing that, I will send you in search of your viewer's maker, letting them know there's an issue.
FAQ #10 Flappy skirts?
Kembri, the skirt I bought from you looks like it's going to flap away on a high wind, what can I do?
Contact me. Drop a notecard with your name and the name of the outfit. We'll go from there!
Contact me. Drop a notecard with your name and the name of the outfit. We'll go from there!
FAQ #9 What about freebies?
How come you don't do weekly freebies and lucky chairs and 69 linden Fridays?
Well, I could, but then I'd be working for free and never have anything ready for sale. Now that might sound good to you, but I'm sure you'll understand if I say that there are things that need to be paid for. Like tier, and electricity, and food and real shelter and spiffy things like that! Occasionally I do put a freebie out, but I don't put out junk or cheapness. I try to give my freebies as much love and attention as I do my regular work. Why? Because the represent me and my style of work to anyone who happens to have them. So I want it to be the best bit of my work that it can be.
I don't do lucky chairs because I don't want people camping in my store for an outfit. I do not care if that boosts numbers. I wish people to come and enjoy and shop and relax. Not hover mindlessly over lucky chairs. :-) Having said that, I may occasionlly put out some kind of holiday thing for a day or a weekend with freebies in it, but one never knows!
Well, I could, but then I'd be working for free and never have anything ready for sale. Now that might sound good to you, but I'm sure you'll understand if I say that there are things that need to be paid for. Like tier, and electricity, and food and real shelter and spiffy things like that! Occasionally I do put a freebie out, but I don't put out junk or cheapness. I try to give my freebies as much love and attention as I do my regular work. Why? Because the represent me and my style of work to anyone who happens to have them. So I want it to be the best bit of my work that it can be.
I don't do lucky chairs because I don't want people camping in my store for an outfit. I do not care if that boosts numbers. I wish people to come and enjoy and shop and relax. Not hover mindlessly over lucky chairs. :-) Having said that, I may occasionlly put out some kind of holiday thing for a day or a weekend with freebies in it, but one never knows!
FAQ # 8 - Commissions
I have this great idea for a gown and wondered if you would make it?
I do occasionally take commissions. However, that's expensive for you if I accept it. I never charge less than 10k lindens, and depending on what it is and who you are, I may not give you a full perm item either.
I do not do modern items that may be taken from modern designers such as Dior, Laggerfield, Chanel, etc. There are all kinds of legal issues with such actions.
I do occasionally take commissions. However, that's expensive for you if I accept it. I never charge less than 10k lindens, and depending on what it is and who you are, I may not give you a full perm item either.
I do not do modern items that may be taken from modern designers such as Dior, Laggerfield, Chanel, etc. There are all kinds of legal issues with such actions.
FAQ # 7 - Delivery Issues
I bought a gown, and it delivered, but parts are missing!
Most often it is your viewer, plain and simple. At the current time I use LL's 1.23 Viewer when I design and package gowns. I have a strict checklist of what goes into a package, and I promise it went out of my vendor server with all parts intact. I've been doing this whole vendor delivery thing for 2 years, and it's rarely an issue on my end.
Now, if you're using any third party viewer, you'll need to contact that maker about the issues. I can issue you another gown, and I have done so in the past with proof of purchase. Just drop me a notecard with when you bought the garment and what happened, and I'll deal with it accordingly.
However, if you're using the same viewer, you'll probably end up having the same results. I do not know why some viewers eat parts of gowns!
I do not replace parts of gowns if you bought the garment from someone who resold it via yard sale or what have you. I have a list of those who have bought my gowns. If it was gifted to you, then give me the name of the original buyer to check, as well as the date.
Most often it is your viewer, plain and simple. At the current time I use LL's 1.23 Viewer when I design and package gowns. I have a strict checklist of what goes into a package, and I promise it went out of my vendor server with all parts intact. I've been doing this whole vendor delivery thing for 2 years, and it's rarely an issue on my end.
Now, if you're using any third party viewer, you'll need to contact that maker about the issues. I can issue you another gown, and I have done so in the past with proof of purchase. Just drop me a notecard with when you bought the garment and what happened, and I'll deal with it accordingly.
However, if you're using the same viewer, you'll probably end up having the same results. I do not know why some viewers eat parts of gowns!
I do not replace parts of gowns if you bought the garment from someone who resold it via yard sale or what have you. I have a list of those who have bought my gowns. If it was gifted to you, then give me the name of the original buyer to check, as well as the date.
FAQ # 6 - Changing perms for an individual
Can you change the perms on your gowns just for me? I have an unusual avatar size and I NEEED it to be copy/mod!
No, I really won't. I do understand that everyone sees themselves in SL differently, including sizes. I applaud those who like to be different, but the perms were set as they are for a reason. The resizing scripts really do work, whether you like them or not. Some ladies don't like them, but that doesn't stop the scripts from working.
I've come across this comment many times, and in the end it comes down to this: If you cannot live with the perms that I allow on my clothing, please don't upset yourself about it. I recommend you find another clothing maker who has perms that better suit your needs.
No, I really won't. I do understand that everyone sees themselves in SL differently, including sizes. I applaud those who like to be different, but the perms were set as they are for a reason. The resizing scripts really do work, whether you like them or not. Some ladies don't like them, but that doesn't stop the scripts from working.
I've come across this comment many times, and in the end it comes down to this: If you cannot live with the perms that I allow on my clothing, please don't upset yourself about it. I recommend you find another clothing maker who has perms that better suit your needs.
FAQ # 5 - Renting shops
Do you have affiliate vendors? Would you like too rent space in our great mall? Are you interested in renting a shop?
Thank you so much for asking, however at this time I am not looking for new store locations nor do I authorize resellers of my goods.
Individual resale of previously purchased GWD - Curious Seamstress items are not under my control.
Thank you so much for asking, however at this time I am not looking for new store locations nor do I authorize resellers of my goods.
Individual resale of previously purchased GWD - Curious Seamstress items are not under my control.
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