Tip 226) APPRECIATE that Every Detail Takes Time

I love this guest post from Gail. A brilliant reminder that what looks like a small thing on your To Do list can often end up taking a lot more of your time than you planned. 

Small Business Tip from @Gailreidartist
Every Detail Takes Time. Illustrated in the spirit of “a problem shared” through the medium of “ordering corner protectors for shipping framed artwork”.

I should have known it wouldn’t just take an hour to order folded cardboard corner protectors ...

Start point - cutting up cereal boxes using homemade template ...

​1. Surf for options. Marvel at choice of sizes, colours, strengths, shapes, materials. Become minor authority on the unexpectedly rich field of corner protectors.

2. Narrow down shortlist. Check they're shipped from the UK.

3. Measure depth of my standard frame.

4. Try to project manage erratic order book and judge a sensible order quantity and cost per set of 4 corners.

5. Mental note to revisit pricing strategy.

6. Mental note to factor corners into future box-ordering measurements.

7. Compare unit costs as different suppliers have different minimum quantities.

8. Consider ordering samples. Reject that.

9. Look in PayPal and bank account to assess funds available.

10. Make a decision. Order.

11. Realise I'd forgotten to factor shipping and tax into comparisons. Re-decide. Re-order.

12. Resign self to more cereal-box-cutting coz I was too tight to pay for next day delivery.

​End point – it was worth the effort; they’re perfect. My spirit smiles every time I’m posting a portrait and reach into the bag for them. And ordering the next batch took 5 minutes ...

Ring any bells?!

Gail

You can see Gail's amazing work here