[AlpacaTalk] Re: what can you do to help
We HAVE a national co-op that REALLY needs the help of high-energy,
interested people like YOU, PLEASE contact an y of us on the Board of
the Co-op about how you can help. I could put you to work TODAY with
all those fabulous ideas you have!!!!! Give me your phone number and
I will call you and we can chat :-D
KathyDV
BOD AFCNA - Support your co-op - ask me how!
Jackpot! Alpacas...think outside the barn!
Re: what can you do to help
Posted by: "Vanessa" britknits@yahoo.
Thu Jun 21, 2007 1:13 pm (PST)
OK, so I have just joined this group and have been diligently trying
to get online and read what I can.
I applaud all of you that are trying. Don't you each feel like a
small fish in a big pond? I know sometimes I do. I consider myself
quite entrepeneurial when it comes to marketing my products. I have
had a website for the past four years, have done postcard mailings
and tried brochures and art shows. I cannot say that any one thing
really worked. I am frustrated that I have almost acquired carpal
tunnel syndrome by spending the past three years crocheting up my
alpaca yarn, having them professionally photographed, participated in
an alpaca fashion show only to get ZERO response from the public!
I agree with all of you responding to this question. We need to band
together to get the word out that alpaca is a wonderful fiber with
many uses. How about starting at the state level and each state
affiliate start a fiber co-op. I know one alpaca breeder I spoke
with has 2500 pounds of fiber sitting in his barn because he hasn't
been able to strike up the "right" deal with any of the mills to
process his fiber and make product for him at a reasonable price. I
know there are more and more of these type of breeders out there
too. A mill owner told me that he had approached some of the "big"
(animal wise) breeders to see if he can make a deal with them on
their fiber (that they do nothing with). Oh they wanted it all
processed and returned, at no cost, and nothing to the mill owner!
That's going to get us far folks!
If we each talk one on one with other alpaca breeders who have no
interest in utilizing their fiber for full vertical integration on
their farm we can then maybe branch out and get into cottage
industries, finding spinners to work for us. I am purchasing one
farms fiber for $3.50 per lb, that is all her fiber blanket and
seconds. This year she gave me 1/2 of her fleece but I have to
return 1/2 of it as yarn to her, that was my suggestion. I realized
that as a sole spinner I could not possibly do her 40 fleeces next
year and my 20! It's a start for me and I'm having trouble here in
Texas finding any fiber shows. I thought I'd try doing some higher
end craft shows selling my fiber and yarns to 1. make money and 2.
educate the public. I would also be getting awareness of my farm out
to them also.
It's a long haul for us smaller farms to make an impact on the
fashion scene. We need to band together either with product, or with
the fleece. I agree that there is no such thing as waste with the
fiber but the sorting, skirting and cleaning takes many backbreaking
hours, I know!
If someone is willing to take the helm and find some others to help
start up some type of co-op then in time we could take it further
(like a franchise) and offer help to others in different areas so
they wouldn't have to go through all the negativism and pitfalls
before gaining success.
We all got into this business mainly because we love the alpacas. I
thought it might be a way to build a pension fund. Well the pension
fund is short coming as I've had 90% boys for the past 5 years. I
decided this year that I needed to get more serious in the fiber
aspect of this business and have been working hard all year getting
my inventory built up.
I'd love to hear what other people feel about this.
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posted by Chaddo at 7:12 AM
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