I got two emails yesterday that were strikingly similar...
Two people had joined our ArtisticThreadWorks website and each had sent me an email that went something like this...
"After reading Bobbin-Buzz for several years, I've finally joined ATW as a full member. I'm so looking forward to everything the site has to offer..."
I get that type of email about 2 or 3 times a week and I usually just smile and send back a note saying "Welcome" and telling them to let me know if there's anything they need. But getting two of these emails in one day was kind of a "bonk" on the forehead, so I picked up my phone and called them both.
Besides saying "Hi" and getting to know them a little, I was curious why they had waited "for years" to join.
The first lady said basically, she wasn't really SURE if it would be as good on the inside as it looked from the outside. She said she's so used to advertisements on TV saying thier product is wonderful, only to be disappointed after she got the item in the mail. She described how she had ordered a die-cast model car as a gift for her husband. On TV it filled the screen. When it came in the mail, it didn't fill the palm of her hand. With experiences like that, she'd been skeptical for years about just how good a membership would really be to our site.
The second lady said she had hesitated because she rarely spent money on herself. She would buy things all the time for her husband or her kids or grandkids, but she would always put off buying things for herself. Her husband had bought the embroidery machine for her two years ago at Christmas and she hadn't really learned to use it yet and only had the designs that came with the machine. She wasn't really sure what she needed to get started using the thing. I got really excited at what she had her hands on and told her how to get designs from our site into her machine with a memory stick.
I made a note in my calendar to follow up with a phone call to each of them a month from now to see how they're progressing. I want to know if the first lady thinks she got her monies worth from a membership. (I'm pretty sure I know what the answer will be - click here for what I think she'll say!)
And the second lady... I want to be sure she's started using that Janome machine instead of leaving it lonely on the table of her room. (That's just not right!) I also gave her the phone number for the local UnRavelers group in her area so she could go out and have a cup of coffee with the great gals in her area that were already having fun with their machines. I think we might have rescued her too!
I understand why both of them had hesitated to join in the past...
To the first lady, I could only say, here's what others have said about their ATW membership. (Click here)
To the second lady, I could only say "Isn't it time for YOU?"
Isn't it time for YOU too?
Comments (6)
Larry, your post saddened me a bit. I would give my right arm to be able to join both Nita's Place and ATW! I think the main reason many ppl can't is they simply cannot AFFORD IT!
I was so blessed to have a friend buy me my Mc11000 machine. and I was so thankful that I won the funny story contest because that meant I would finally be getting some new designs and thread!
My favorite hobby was woodworking but after 7 back ops and severe nerve damage, i can no longer do anything that has vibration with it. Even regular sewing just kills me but with embroidery I can do that because I don't have to touch the hoop. Using a vacumme cleaner, hand mixer, or even riding in a car is agony!
My hubby and I are living off of $1,000.00 a month in Soc. Sec. and hubby has lost his left leg and now is going through dialysis, His meds are very high and we have taken in 23 cats and 3 dogs from elderly neighbors who either had to be put into nursing homes or foster homes.
So there isn't much left for me to buy frivolous stuff on. Friends and family do know that for my B-Day and xmas to get me stabilizer, thread, and material. If it wasn't for them I wouldn't be embroidering! I know there has to be many ppl in my situation out there and I just want you to know that it's not lack of wanting to join - it's lack of funds and trying to survive.
Posted by Alita Long | December 19, 2007 1:20 PM
Posted on December 19, 2007 13:20
Thanks for writing Alita. As it turns out, we have a scholorship program for gifted writers and you've won the 2007 award which is a 12 month membership to ArtisticThreadWorks. I've emailed your login and password to you. -- Larry
Posted by Larry | December 19, 2007 4:01 PM
Posted on December 19, 2007 16:01
Oh Dear! Thank you very much Larry for your kind offer of a membership but PLEASE DON'T SUBSCRIBE ME! I do apologize to all of the members of ATW or Nita's Place! I did not post the original message to gain a subscription. I merely wanted to point out that there are many of us who try to keep up with hints and tips for our embroidery by using your newsletters and that for many they just can't afford a subscription. I used my situation as an example of what others go through. PLEASE LARRY, UNSUBSCRIBE ME! I will subscribe to ATW and Nita's Place when I am financially able too.
Posted by Alita Long | December 19, 2007 4:15 PM
Posted on December 19, 2007 16:15
Alita - please come and visit us in the ATW forum. We were just discussing the concept of "pay it forward" in the forum. Let Larry do something nice for you and you can "pay it forward" in the ATW forum or in your personal life in many different ways. Look at it as an opportunity! Justine (cctn at ATW).
Posted by Justine Hennessy | December 19, 2007 10:25 PM
Posted on December 19, 2007 22:25
Hi Justine!
I would love to join you in the forum. I did do a post there for Larry and Holly. How do I find you? OH, I do pay it forward quite a bit - I just have a problem with accepting from others.....
Larry sent me an email that had some valuable lessons in it! I truly believe that God sent Larry into my life right now to teach me a few things! I have been humbled and I am very grateful and thankful for this wonderful gift!
Posted by Alita Long | December 20, 2007 2:03 AM
Posted on December 20, 2007 02:03
Larry ,I just want to say I agree with you. I had to need a liver transplant to realize that tomorrow is a precious thing. Yes I am fine 2 year anniversary and counting. My father's biggest regret is He and Mom kept waiting until NEXT YEAR to go traveling. My mother passed and now my father is alone and regretting putting off traveling. I don't think people should go crazy, but if you can try living your dream.
Posted by Sue McGarry | December 21, 2007 6:56 PM
Posted on December 21, 2007 18:56