RE: [AlpacaTalk] Re: what can you do to help
Hi Vanessa,
You will find many ideas about this. I'm a little short of time at the
moment because of a wee-long seminar next week. Just a quick note: Please
note your location at the bottom of your email; it really heps.
Peter
Elderberry Creek Alpacas
Stayton, OR
>From: "Vanessa" <britknits@yahoo.
>Reply-To: AlpacaTalk@yahoogro
>To: AlpacaTalk@yahoogro
>Subject: [AlpacaTalk] Re: what can you do to help
>Date: Thu, 21 Jun 2007 20:13:07 -0000
>
>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 6:52 AM
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