Comments on: Vendor promotes home-based resellers

By: Cinda Baxter

Cinda Baxter — Sun, 15 Feb 2009 15:51:56 +0000

@ Claire:
I not only shop in independent retail stores, but also travel around the country speaking to and consulting for them, focused on helping them grow their business. Please see the “About” page for a more information.

By: Diane Swanson

Diane Swanson — Sun, 15 Feb 2009 15:27:00 +0000

Cinda did not pretend to be judge and jury. She linked to something that was posted elsewhere online, clearly stated that the brief opinion following that link was her own, then asked the vendor to respond to the question. That’s called journalism, and she did it with a lot less personal input than most people would have. I commend her for that.

Cinda is entitled to an opinion and has made it clear everyone else is too. She made hers clear by stating it as HER OPINION.

You accuse her of humiliating “this one gal” who wrote the fake comments that didn’t disclose she was actually and Envelopments employee, and you defend that as acceptable? Cinda says her opinion in the open, with her name signed to it, but someone else can be negative about a completely different company (using Cinda’s blog to do so) and that’s somehow okay? That’s quite a double standard.

Cinda, thank you for bringing the news of what is happening in our industry to those of us who don’t have the time or the internet savvy to troll the web, respond to emails, follow leads, travel all over the country, talk to vendors, and search for better ways to survive in retail. Your commitment and willingness to be the messenger even when short sighted people feel like shooting you down is appreciated. Keep up the good work!

By: Claire

Claire — Sun, 15 Feb 2009 14:49:57 +0000

It is really interesting to me that you, Cinda, are taking on the roll as judge and jury. I’m not quite sure why this is really a topic of discussion. Envelopments is free to advertise how they see fit and if that includes home based businesses (who pay the same fees for an account as a retail store) then so be it. What does that take away from the retail store, really?

I am assuming then that you and everyone else on here don’t support independent designers like those found on Etsy? You only shop at big box stores? Many of those independent designers work from home so in your eyes they are not legitimate? Many of them have been featured in articles and ads in major publications, featured in segments on shows such as Martha Stewart and Rachel Ray. The rest of the country is embracing the cottage industry and I am not sure what the big fuss is. And I am not sure why you, Cinda, feel as though you are the one to both publicly humiliate this one gal or to contact Envelopments on behalf of the rest of us.

And just for full disclosure, I started as a home based business and saved until I was able to rent a storefront. I have used Envelopements during both phases of my business.

By: Anon

Anon — Fri, 13 Feb 2009 00:25:46 +0000

“To Patrick, Mark, and Deborah:
Please don’t shoot the messenger…but know how detrimental this is to brick and mortar accounts. You’ve asked them not to carry a variety of lines that compete with Envelopments….”

I guess my real problem with this, is that your business is about supporting other businesses. But clearly, you only support some businesses. Which is a shame, really. In this economy, we all could use support.

By: Cinda Baxter

Cinda Baxter — Fri, 13 Feb 2009 00:04:53 +0000

Just to be clear, any mention of non-compete clauses in the Always Upward blog are completely unrelated to Envelopments.

By: Julie

Julie — Thu, 12 Feb 2009 23:44:55 +0000

I resent the implication that I’m somehow less “professional” because I don’t choose to work from a 3,000-square-foot storefront. And yes, that is a choice – it in no way makes you superior to people who offer the same level of service and breadth of selection (not to mention quality) while minimizing their overhead. I don’t discount, because I believe the products I sell are worth what I charge for them. If you have issue with discounters, fine – so do I. But don’t lump every home-based business into the same group because you feel threatened by them.

By: Anon

Anon — Thu, 12 Feb 2009 23:22:23 +0000

The non-compete clause issue was in other blog post here. I’m not saying stores don’t face internet competition, but you also have something we don’t. A storefront. The ability to have a customer walk by your store, look at your window and decide to enter. For me, I have to constantly research to figure out how to get my website above everyone else’s. I have no windows. No foot traffic. Visibility for me is a heck of a lot tougher. Nor do I have multiple lines and streams of income. This is all I do.
The fact is yes, there are ups and down to each situation. Personally, I’m not in an area that can support a stationery store. But I don’t work in my basement, I don’t deep discount (in fact, I really don’t offer discounts at all), and my office was built for my business. MY problem with this post and the others on the same subject is that there’s this assumption that because I work out of my home I’m some how not good enough to advertise with the rest of the stores. It’s a paid advertisement. She has to pay just as much for that as everyone else in that ad. What difference does it make whether she works from her home or not?

By: Elizabeth in New York

Elizabeth in New York — Thu, 12 Feb 2009 20:11:00 +0000

@ Anon

I’m not sure what makes you think we storefronts don’t face the same global internet competition you do. In fact, I’d venture a guess it hits us harder since customers view pricing and designs and all sorts of discount offers for basement businesses on their computer without having to step out their front door.

I don’t see anything in these posts about non-compete clauses or “PAID” or unpaid advertising. The conversation is about WHO is included in these ads. (You did hit one nail on the head when admitting it’s doubtful the company’s current practice is a wise one.)

Don’t get me started on expenses. I’ll trade my overhead with you any day. Rent, CAM, commercial insurance, water rebills, commercial property taxes, an electric bill that lights a 3,000 square foot space, HVAC upkeep, parking lot lease, etc.
That’s in addition to what I pay for at home, not in place of it.

Signed,

Proud to be a Professional Storefront Retailer

By: Anon

Anon — Thu, 12 Feb 2009 18:05:51 +0000

I was always under the impression that ANYONE could advertise with Envelopments, as long as you PAID. I can guarantee you I work just as many hours, if not more, to make my business run in a global internet market that has a heck of a lot more competition than a brick and mortar. If your issue is over the non-compete clause then take that up with Envelopments, however you signed your agreement knowing this was part of it. There are many companies who do this. If you don’t like it, take your business elsewhere. There are more options. Is is a good practice? Doubtful. But it’s not the fault of home business/studios etc. We still have to make our minimums for the year, pay the same studio fees and don’t have the luxury of having a storefront in which we can display our work.

By: Pingback

Pingback — Thu, 12 Feb 2009 16:03:04 +0000