Jul
Let’s Talk About the Sock Club
I’ve recently gotten some feedback on the Rock Your Socks Off club that have put some ideas in my head for ways to make it better, more streamlined and hopefully more appealing to you, the customer.
First of all, the name. I love the ‘Rock Your Socks Off’ name because it’s a phrase I’ve said for years, however several people have brought it to my attention that it may just be too close to the ‘Socks that Rock’ club that Blue Moon Fibers does and this may be causing some confusion for people unfamiliar with DaniDo Crafty (which is probably a lot of people since I’m a new dyer.) Blue Moon Fibers and the Socks that Rock club are very well known and it’s an awesome club, I don’t want to be their competition (because I’m not. At all.) so I’d like to set this club apart a little bit so there is no confusion between the two. I am not trying to be Blue Moon Fibers and our clubs are very different.
So, I put it to you my loyal readers: should we change the name and if so, what should we change it to?
Secondly: pricing vs. what you get. I’ve got mixed reviews here. For the extras that you get plus including shipping I think the price is fair however in this economy I may be wrong and there may be a need to re-evaluate. I had planned to up the price in August to the initial price that I had figured out before I started the club based on my costs, the average cost of the extras that I send, etc. I want to stay competitive though and more importantly I want this club to be a success and for my members to be happy.
So here’s what I’m considering:
1) I’m not raising the price in August. I don’t think in the present economy I can justify hiking the price of the club at this juncture. I will revisit the price raise in another 6 months or so depending on the popularity of the club and whether I am able to offer more (like luxury fibers, better patterns, etc.) to justify the raise in price.
2) Potentially offering two different clubs, one being yarn only without the goodies and the second being the current one with the goodies. This would allow people to decide if they just want the yarn, or if they want the whole package. Obviously, the ‘yarn only’ club would cost less and may get more people interested in the club.
3) Changing the 3 month club offering to be spread out over 6 months, so that you would get a new sock yarn every other month. I think part of the problem right now is that people just don’t knit a pair of socks a month. Unless you’re super knitter who can churn out a pair in a few days, I think sending the yarn every other month would do a few things: leave time to actually knit up the yarn you already have and also allow me to potentially come up with patterns for the yarns as well and to focus on making the yarns and color ways very specific and extraordinary.
4) I will be getting rid of the one month membership, I feel it dilutes the specialness of membership.
5) I will continue to offer memberships on an open basis, meaning you can sign up at any time. This may change if the club gets bigger, but right now I am able to add new members continuously.
If you have any other suggestions or ideas on how to make this club a success for everyone involved I’d love to hear your thoughts. I’m still very new to the sock club concept and am sort of feeling my way around here. I hope that the current members are enjoying their memberships and that it’s been worth the investment to them. I will continue to offer a discount for continuing members who are renewing their membership because I like the idea of rewarding loyalty.
My whole initial concept for this club was to be sort of inclusive and open ended to allow the members to dictate how they’d like things to be run. I still like that idea and would love to hear from current or past members on how they feel the last 5 months have gone.
To those of you who are not current members, would any of the above ideas entice you to join? What do you look for in a sock club? As of right this second none of the major changes will take place for existing memberships.
15Jul
Dani
I like the idea of offering people the cheaper option, although I love treats myself and would not go for the cheaper option myself. I would be more interested things like colours of yarn, treats, patterns, and such like – but I’m greedy
). You could call them nice names like Streamlined or Swift Club; and Deluxe or Indulgence Club.
Spreading the sock deliveries out over six months might also be tempting. I am a painfully slow knitter and would appreciate this. Swift knitters might like it because they can use the yarn, move on to another project then return to their sock club.
You could maybe think of limited edition sock clubs too. Say dye four lots of one particular theme, say a Harry Potter one, or a Twilight one or such like and when it’s gone its gone.
Just some thoughts.
15Jul
Oh, such choices you propose!
I for one love getting yarn every month… I like to keep it cuts down on my impulse sock yarn shopping (ahem!). I do know that the other yarn clubs I am in only ship every other month — one sends one skein every other month, one sends two skeins every other month.
I like getting the extra stuff… the surprise of the yarn color is cool, but getting other surprises is even better! Its like my birthday every month.
I’m not sure what to tell you about the pricing; I can see your not wanting to raise prices because of the money stuff going around, but you need to make sure you aren’t losing money on the whole thing, good feelings or not.
I love the idea above about the streamlined and indulgence clubs; maye that would draw more people in. And the specialty themes. But you might want to make sure there is interest and signups before you commit to those ones, what with the money stuff, as well! (And your fleece club, and you other things going on… you make me tired, all the things you have going!)
And yeah, I could knit socks with every skein that came to me each month, if I didn’t get distracted and keep casting on for sweaters and shawls and stuff… but then, what is the fun in only wearing socks!?
Love the club, Dani! (So glad I signed up for a year to start!)
15Jul
Well, I love everything, but . . . I like the every other month idea because my collection of Dani yarn is getting embarassingly large. I think the name should include Danido – maybe Danidoes Socks? I like goodies. Price is not a problem. An occasional luxury yarn (silk blend?) would be nice – maybe 1 of 3. Maybe higher price to account for this. As you know, being an old hippie, I know squat about your music choices, but I just ignore that. A new stitch or technique (maybe on some kind of little index card thing) would be fun. BTW, Did I renew? Love ya, Donna Lee
15Jul
You didn’t officially renew, but I can make sure you’re on the list for August and we can settle up the next time I see you at the shop.
Let me know if you want to do every other month this time! Love ya too, you’re my best customer. 
<3 Dani
15Jul
I love the idea of every other month. I am in the Loopy Ewe sock club and that is how they do it. It is nice to get the e-mail that my package will be coming, because I’ve pretty much forgotten about it and it is a special treat.
I also love all of the extras that come in clubs. I think that is one of the fun parts, but I understand that not everyone can financially be able to do that… I think the two different clubs is a good idea so everyone can play!
I also hope one of your big plans is introducing a fiber club… I have been way into spinning lately and would love that.
As a last suggestion, maybe free shipping to Alaska?!? To remember your roots.
We always get left out of free shipping, so it was worth a suggestion. I look forward to your new ideas!!
15Jul
There is going to be a fiber club! And all my clubs include shipping for all domestic orders, which includes Alaska because I know it’s part of the U.S.
I’ve actually extended the shipping included thing to include the U.K and Canada as well because I’ve found that shipping to them is not as expensive as I assumed, it just takes a little longer.