September 7th, 2010
Each of our products is handmade-to-order and — if for no other reason than by virtue of being handmade — each is distinctively unique. Every product, however, is actually based upon a finite set of common materials and components.
Early on, we had two goals: consistency and efficiency. We realized these twin goals by inventing repeatable processes.
McDonald’s has repeatable processes. Their processes define how they source their raw materials and how those materials are transformed into finished products. Minimum requirements. Step-by-step instructions. While there may be minor regional differences, a Big Mac will be of similar composition, quality, taste, and relative price (inexpensive) regardless of where in the world it is made.
Like McDonald’s, we have minimum requirements for our raw materials and step-by-step instructions for manufacturing. Even though the individual components that make up a product differ depending upon the customer’s design, the steps we follow to make a product are the same.
Since we’re following the same steps each time we make a Basic Monster, Mega-Monster, Splatopus, Moggin, or Fairy-Tooth, we’ve gotten fairly good (“efficient”) at executing them. And because we’ve defined what constitutes acceptable quality for each of the major steps in our manufacturing process, every product undergoes the same quality control checks. As a result, the products we ship are consistent in quality and finish.
Even though every product we produce is — by definition — unique, we treat the development and manufacturing of all of our products as if they were not so. And that’s the major reason why it’s possible for you to design your own Monster, have it handmade in the United States in a day or two, and have it delivered in less than a week for around $30.
Regards,
Posted in Co-creation, Company
September 3rd, 2010
We had random.org determine our winners. The first entrant was considered number 1 and the last was number 22:
Congratulations to our giveaway winners — R.Moose (6) and Susan Hatzinger (13).
Best,
Posted in Company
September 2nd, 2010
Sweat equity.
It’s what made our site possible. That and 20+ years of experience writing software for hire. Unfortunately, none of that experience involved website development.
Our site wouldn’t have been affordable otherwise. We have a few thousand hours of development invested in it — not something we would have been able to afford at the start as a fledgling business with little income. When we first started, however, we didn’t have an alternative. There simply weren’t any options that would enable interactive customer co-creation of a product.
I’m blessed with a creative partner. Between us, we iterated the site. In the beginning, it was absolutely awful. I can say that with ease since the early sites were primarily my work product. Stephanie’s creative vision was beyond my reach. But I learned and grew. Learned some new computer languages… and some new skills. I’m still growing in fact. But at least now, we’re both relatively content with the website we have. It doesn’t take up much of our focus anymore.
Our website is the essence of our business. It addresses the fundamental issue Stephanie had selling custom plush on Etsy.com — that a customer wants to see what they’re getting (and maybe play around with it a bit) before they spend money on a purchase. Our website allows them to do that. It builds trust.
There’s no way we could have afforded the $100,000+ investment the site would have cost had we hired it out. There’s also no way we’d be in business today without it. We were lucky — between us we had the skill sets to make it possible. We used what we had. We bootstrapped. Still are bootstrapping, in fact.
The site is completely handcoded — a combination of several different technologies and computer languages. The cart is completely custom. When we receive an order, we’re able to print color production orders, packing slips, and the like — each with both a visual and textual representation of the products ordered. This was important to ensure the accurate production of our products, especially considering that each product ordered is unique in color and content.
If you’re selling a customized product — something co-created with your customers — nothing beats being able to show the customer what they’re buying. A picture is worth (quite a bit more than) a thousand words.
Regards,
Posted in Co-creation, Company
August 31st, 2010
We are classified by government and insurance companies as a children’s toy manufacturer.
There is serious liability in manufacturing toys for children.
Our first step to manage the risk was to convert from a sole proprietorship — which was the business form Stephanie used when selling her wares on Etsy.com — to a limited liability company (LLC). The creation of a separate legal entity for the business was essential in limiting our personal risk.
The LLC is the business. The investors own shares and appoint officers who, in turn, manage the day-to-day affairs of the business and its employees. The creation and maintenance of an LLC is fairly easy in Texas. You can hire an attorney or do it yourself. Filing fees are a few hundred dollars. If you naturally dot-your-i’s and cross-your-t’s and are not frustrated or put off by paperwork, ongoing maintenance is relatively easy. The only major ongoing cost for us is the LLC’s yearly tax return filing.
We also had to ensure that — because we sell products used by children (as defined by legislation, not by us) — our products conform to the latest legal safety standards. This involves testing — sometimes by a third-party testing laboratory — and is no small task. Making heads or tails of legislated requirements such as the Consumer Product Safety Improvement Act of 2008 (CPSIA) and the subsequent various interpretations of and related new rules created by the Consumer Products Safety Commission (CPSC) and published in legalese in the Federal Register is daunting. We’ve found from first-hand experience that even the laboratories accredited by the CPSC to undertake product testing don’t always get the rules right. Things are further complicated by the customized nature of our products.
Insurance is important. General product liability insurance is not cheap for a “toy manufacturer.” If, however, the unthinkable occurs and one of our products happens to injure someone, having liability insurance in place may determine whether or not our business is able to continue in operation. Of course, there are also the typical fire/theft policies. If you have raw materials, manufacturing equipment, or other business-owned property owned by the business (like we do), it would be wise to insure them against damage or loss. Work out of your home (like we do)? Your homeowner’s insurance likely won’t cover your business activities.
Then, of course, there’s taxes. Most importantly, taxes that we have to collect on behalf of government and send to them on a regular basis. Sales taxes, employee withholding, and the like. Account for these and make sure to pass them along or you’ll have the Internal Revenue Service knocking on your door — something to avoid at all costs.
The underlying theme here: you must manage the risk. Managing the risk costs money and is an essential part of doing business. Account for its costs when planning your business — they’re likely to be much more than you expect.
Regards,
Posted in CPSIA, Company
August 30th, 2010
Maybe you think what we do is easy. On it’s face, it sure seems to be.
Or maybe you dabble with selling your individual creations on Etsy.com, Artfire.com, or elsewhere and are considering jumping in with both feet… having a site of your own selling customized products.
Or maybe you’re just curious about the business of custom plush (as we’ve experienced it).
Let me say it for the record — being a custom plush toy manufacturer in the United States is not an easy business.
Fun? Yes.
Rewarding? Yes!
Easy? Not on your life.
We successfully made the leap from an Etsy.com store to our own site a little over 2 years ago. As a business, we’ve weathered quite a bit since then. At the risk of oversimplification, here’s what it took to get us to where we are today:
- Address the liability issue.
- A website that enables customer co-creation.
- Creation of repeatable processes.
- Capital investment into manufacturing infrastructure.
- Testing, compliance, and certification related to the Consumer Product Safety Improvement Act (CPSIA) and other safety standards.
- Handling of overhead and other government requirements.
- Creation of collateral material.
- Dedication to a never-ending promotional effort.
- A plan to deal with competitors, copycats, and intimidators.
- Most importantly, products people want to purchase at prices they’ll pay.
I’ll expand on each of these in future postings. Here’s hoping you find this series of postings “useful.”
Regards,
Posted in CPSIA, Co-creation, Company
August 27th, 2010
In these difficult economic times, it has become hard to get ahead. Let us help, won’t you?
 Marmalade Head |
 Diva Head |
We tend to play around with fabric and concepts quite a bit here at CurlyQ Cuties. At one point, we prototyped some Monster Heads based upon our standard-sized Custom Monsters. The Marmalade head was made in October 2009 and the Diva head was made in March 2010. After some experimentation, we decided not pursue these as products.
We have these two prototypes.
And we’re tired of having them stare at us.
So we’re doing something that we don’t do all that often.
We’re going to give both of them away — to two different people.
Want one?
All you have to do is leave a comment to this entry.
Make sure the email address you enter into the comment form is valid. We won’t use it for any reason other than to contact you if you’ve won (you’ll have to add yourself to our Information and Offers mailing list… we won’t do it for you).
Also make sure to identify which of the two heads you’re specifically interested in — or let us know that you’d be happy to win either.
You have until next Friday (September 3rd) to enter.
Good luck!
Best,
P.S. Don’t be distressed if your comment doesn’t immediately appear below. We moderate all comments and it may take us a little while to get to yours.
Posted in Company, Contests, Prototypes
August 26th, 2010
We added an additional seven embroidery thread variations today.
The new thread options each contain multiple colors. In the example above, the script “Colorful” is rendered in the “Vari-Purples” option. The serif “Sample” is rendered in the “Red/Gold/Blue” option.
Since these new options use variegated thread (where the color pattern is dyed onto a single strand/length of thread), each embroidered instance will have a slightly different appearance depending upon where in the thread’s color pattern the embroidery was started.
Custom embroidery. Now, more colorful!
Regards,
Posted in Fairy-Teeth, Moggins, Monsters, Products, Splatopus
August 17th, 2010
This is something I never thought we’d do.
We’ve decided to make our products available for resale.
Although we believe the experience of designing your own unique plush is an inseparable part of the whole product, we cannot ignore the interest we’ve been receiving from resellers for our plush.
Beginning today, all of our products — except for Maddie’s Monster and Story’s Monster — are available for bulk shipment at wholesale prices to qualified resellers. The minimum opening order is $400.
Products sold at wholesale will still be handmade-to-order in the United States and identical in every way to the products available on our retail CurlyQCuties.com website.
[See our Wholesale page for additional information.] For complete pricing and terms, please return a completed Sales and Use Tax Exemption Certification form to us at Customer.Service@CurlyQCuties.com or via facsimile at (866) 286-7213.
Best,
Posted in Company, Fairy-Teeth, Moggins, Monsters, Plush Food, Products, Splatopus
August 16th, 2010
We received 20 or so entries and have narrowed it down to 3 new body shapes. Our interpretation is on the left — the original submission is on the right.
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| Puggle |
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| Triggles |
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| Botilien |
Please vote for your favorite. The owner of the selected design will receive $50 and the first Monster ever made with their new Monster body.
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Voting is open through September 15, 2010.
(August 26th — we’ve closed and cleared the comments. We were repeatedly receiving multiple comments from a small number of individuals and, we think, the comments weren’t adding anything to the voting or selection of your favorite design. Choose your favorite and vote for it!)
Posted in Company, Contests, Monsters
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