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Look out for our article about the
online 'virtual craft market' Walkabout
Crafts in the next issue of PaperCraft inspirations. We spoke to
the owner of the website, Emma Brown, who helps crafters to sell
their work online even if they've never touched a computer before!
Emma had so much to tell us about her
brilliant crafty enterprise that we couldn't fit it all in the mag!
Here's what she had to say:
"As I always say 'computers are
just like men' - you can't live with 'em... only joking!
Who isn't intimidated by computers?
I've just had to buy a new laptop because apparently my old one
could not be repaired. I felt so intimidated (and old!) standing in
the shop showroom with teenagers speaking a foreign language total
gobbledygook! and smirking at my 'antique' laptop.
I think the speed at which technology
changes is what puts most people off, and reading stories of bank
accounts being emptied and viruses infecting files does not help!
This was the main reason for starting
the web site, primarily to 'save' people from even having to own a
computer! I have lots of people sell online who don't know anything
about computers, where everything was set up initially via post or
telephone, and over time they have learned how to set up email
accounts, send files etc. I think it helps being self taught; I can
explain things to people in a language that they understand instead
of gobbledygook!
Of course, I respect that there are
many who choose not to have anything to do with computers and I am
quite happy to do everything on their behalf. I have set up
countless PayPal and online shopping accounts on behalf of my
members.
At the end of the day it's up to each
individual what they want to achieve; everyone knows their own
limits, and your own confidence and patience will dictate what you
can achieve!"
"At the moment I'm communicating
with several people from Africa and India who deal with crafts. With
so many sweat shops and slave labour going on, I'm trying to find
people who can represent the actual craft workers. Obviously, this
is very difficult as many of the workers themselves do not have the
means to communicate and sell online, which means trying to find
genuine volunteers who will represent them, provide the funding to
get them online and provide the necessary banking for them to
receive money for their goods. It would be wonderful to promote
crafts from different regions knowing that the workers themselves
are receiving the full funds.
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Bags
of Style
Emma
from Walkabout Crafts shares her know-how!
What are your future hopes
for Walkabout Crafts?
