Question about designing with GEESE....

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Laurel280

Laurel280

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Jun 4, 2008
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Grand Blanc
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MI
Ok, I just started working a couple days a week at a local shop, because I miss the busy daily grind so dang much..... AND IM SO EXCITED

Anyway's so yesterday was my first day and I really like the owner and all the other employees, they are the sweetest bunch, but kind of old school and a little country. Nothing wrong with that just not really me... I thought I could bring a new vibe to the shop and spice it up a little....
so as i'm leaving yesterday the owner comes to me and says I want you to think about this, and shows me these ducks, well geese, but whatever.... and says I have all these geese.......:wide: and I want to use them up......:pblush: i'm like those ducks..... :faint:... she's like no they are geese... (they are white ceramic 3 different sizes, like a little family, a mom and 2 babies..) and i'm all about using little creatures and fun trinkets in my designs but these things have little hats and blue ribbons around their necks.... waaaaaaaaaaaay to country for me and im pretty sure not very popular in my area anymore... So i suggest maybe NOT using them and I give my 2 cents about how they are dated and i don't think they would be a great selling item.... ANYWAY she says she likes them and wants me to think of a way to incorporate them into a new arrangment..
Im thinking of creating a little pond with a small oasis wreath, maybe with some moss and different grasses and some pretty flowers. But she is thinking around the 30 to 50 dollar range. And I think with my idea in the end it would come out a little to pricey.... ANY IDEAS or input..... :help:
 
I think they were walkin' or standin'. I'm sure someone will love them, obviously someone does because they still make them... They are small only about maybe 3- 4 inches tall.
 
I'd serve them for dinner.....
 
Thanks for the laugh Bloomz-
Laurel, try a one sided arr. with a ring of grapevine towards the back (an old 1800 Val. Arr?) with flowers up each side-(don't cover very top of wreath) greens or moss low on container use ducks (geese,disguised as ducks??) as focal point.
 
I was thinking showcase them...window display designed around your pond. Lots of greenery, ducks, plants with a few silk flowers for accent.

See if this creates customer interest, if not, they go in a sidewalk sale or in plants going to the hospital or funeral home.

I know several TF shops that showcase the TF big yellow duck this way and sell cases of them.

.
 
I think the owner presented the problem to you because she recognized that as a new person in the shop you would have new ,creative ideas. Also, as an owner,I am always pushing the designers to use stock that has not been sold or used.
SANDRA
 
Thanks everyone for your help & humor... I got a few laughs...

I understand she is looking for a new idea and hopefully I can give her a good one. I understand about the old stock when I owned my shop it hurt to have to watch those not so great buys sit around waiting for someone to buy it.
And i'm thinking about it, it's just the things are sooooo out of date... she was really excited about them too, she's talking like promotion and everything, and I just dont think, actually (im pretty sure) it's not gonna be a hot item, so I figure why waist the time, energy and money into it.... BUT alas im just the new girl.... so DO WHAT YOUR TOLD AND SUCK IT UP RIGHT!!!!!
 
what about a design master peweter/copper faux treatment?

Once at a design show they demonstrated how to use tack 2000, spray it on top of a pan of water, then spray paint the glue layer, lift it out and cover the container with it. You can do it over and over till you have enough to cover the container and get the texture you want.

I did it one time over cheap plastic jack o lanterns, made them look like hammered bronze and sold the heck out of them.

Why cant that work for the geese?

We had ugly container contests to see who could come up with a way to rework the tired stuff. It was so much fun!
 
Are you in a "fowl "mood? A little down in the mouth?
Do you feel like a sitting duck?
You "quack " me up .

OK I'll stop...

Look at it as a challenge. Like they do on Project Runway or Top Chef.
Sometimes tacky can be fun. Find the humor in it.

Make the arrangement and put a sign on it. like: "there's no ducking it, I love you!" The possibilities are endless.

I once had some metal chicken containers left over from easter. I used them for birthday arrangements. Put a sign on them that read:
"You're no spring chicken" People loved it !

You just never know..

Jennifer
 
Laurel280 said:
\so DO WHAT YOUR TOLD AND SUCK IT UP RIGHT!!!!!
Click to expand...


Pretty much. ;) Have fun and let your imagination soar... an idea will hatch and the arrangements will fly out of there. Put one in the window and horns will honk with happy appreciation... I could go on...

V :rofl:
 
For me, I would undertake this as a personal challenge. I think I do my best work when someone throws a problem at me like this. It is in my nature to prove that I can make it work.

When we owned our business, the workroom designers usually went for the good stuff and that always left a pile of seemingly useless things to deal with. That is where I would shine....by taking these things and doing something that would make them sellable.

I now do this for vendors at the Dallas World Trade Center. When they have a dog....they give it to me and say "make it sell". Think outside the box.

Carol Bice
 
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This could be a potential "test" from your new employer. Let me say that there is something special about an employee that consistently says, "Yes, I can!" and actually tries with an enthusiastic attitude. Probably because most of them are saying, "It can't be done" or "This is to outdated" etc. etc.

These types of challenges are what sets a "designer" apart from an "arranger".
 
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In a shop where I worked many years ago there was this rule:

No using the new stuff until the old stuff is made up.

When new shipments arrived, we had to use up the current containers and stems before we could dive into the new silks and containers. Talk about motivation!

A scrap box was highly discouraged. If a designer chose to employ a "Scrap box" it had to be emptied every week. If anything was held over, it required an explanation paper attached.
 
jduncan said:
In a shop where I worked many years ago there was this rule:

No using the new stuff until the old stuff is made up.

When new shipments arrived, we had to use up the current containers and stems before we could dive into the new silks and containers. Talk about motivation!

A scrap box was highly discouraged. If a designer chose to employ a "Scrap box" it had to be emptied every week. If anything was held over, it required an explanation paper attached.
Click to expand...


That is an awesome rule.
 
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