New online store @joanneferguson.com

I have a new online shop that has been a work in progress while in lockdown. Should you wish to view what I have been working on please message me.

Selling products online has become more of a necessity since lockdown, people make it look easy, however I find it difficult. Recently I managed to sell my first headpiece online and I know that it has encouraged me to photograph more to show people what I make and hopefully they might want to purchase them. 

To do any of my items any justice, I need to take time to photograph them in the best light and setting.

All of this takes time just like my process of making things, so I hope you will stay with me and watch my progress.

To start with I have taken photos of some of my christening robe collection what do you think? It's really difficult to show the detail in a photo that shows the whole christening robe and then I feel you really need to see it on a baby.

Detail of one of my many christening robes.

The first headpiece sold online !

But just as I was working on how to sell things online a bride that I had been working for through the pandemic through a curve ball at me which hit me hard!!

I have been making dresses and accessories for 36yrs and experience has taught me to listen to people. Maybe my most important skill is to be able to read as best one can someone else's mind.  Yes I need to be good at the sewing and making but more importantly I need to be able to listen to what the customer is telling me or not telling me. Last year 2020 I was asked by a bride's mother to make the bride the "dress of her dreams".  I listened, I made what was asked, then I listened to the changes requested and managed them, then I embellished and beaded the dress to try to make the bride happy. As the wedding got closer the pandemics restrictions got worse which intensified the poor brides situation. Finally she seemed happy with the dress and couldn't wait to take it home, so I hand stitched the last bit and then once she had it home a week she paid me in full online. 

Exactly a year later less two days, the 2nd July 2021 one of the saddest days of my career the same bride and I were in court before a judge as the bride wanted a full refund for the bespoke dress I made for her. Part of her arguement was that  Facebook  states that if you want you can have a refund for something that wasn't used within 45 days you could get a full refund. Can someone please explain to me where this is on my facebook page? I have terms and conditions that set out my refund policies but how can someone expect a refund on an item that has been made bespoke to their requirements. So sad that this had to end up in court but the bride left us with no other option than to have a judge rule on the matter. The  Judge dismissed the brides claim after listening to the evidence from both sides and no refund was given. Then within a day of this court case the bride is now trying to damage my reputation. Social media and the internet can be so enlightening when used to educate and inspire us but when it is used to be defamatory and cruel it is vile. The damage this has done to my career is unknown to anyone, this has been my livelihood for 36yrs and I seriously question being able to trust my instincts with a bride again. so far I haven't taken the password off my new online store I'm not sure that I want to continue anymore! My faith and trust in people has been hit hard, it's going to take me time to get over this. Meanwhile the bride has taken to the internet to put defamatory reviews up about me after losing her case in court, it's so difficult to know what is the best thing to do next. 

Watch this space, no doubt I will write it here first. Joanne