Gatekeeping as a small business owner 🎀 #beadhaul #smallbusinesstips #smallbusinessowner #jewelry

[that.earringgirl]

It may sound harsh but my advice for all small business owners is: don't share your sources and suppliers because the ✨competitive advantage✨ is real.
It refers to the unique value you gain by sourcing materials from specific suppliers. If you share where you get your materials from, competitors could approach the same suppliers and either copy your products or undercut you on price or quality. This would erode your ability to stand out in the market 🦄

By keeping your suppliers confidential, you maintain a unique edge. Competitors are less likely to offer identical products, which helps you stay distinct and protect your market share. This advantage is especially crucial in industries where product differentiation is key to attracting customers 🎀

What are your thoughts on this topic? 🫶🏼

[sweetpea]

Competition is difficult when your product is simple to make and can be done by anyone else

[KindallFlowers]

short answer; Aliexpress, Temu, Amazon, Etsy, and craft stores

[eveisnotonline]

Hey all, you can just screenshot & google image search to find a supplier for the beads you’d like.

[JustEve]

The problem here is, most of those are mass-produced plastic beads. Even if you get yours at your local craft store, chances are these days that they themselves have bought it from a wholesaler like aliexpress. The uniqueness comes in the techniques, patterns and arrangement.

[antagonizingprotagonist]

"my product is not unique or interesting enough to turn a profit on its own so im going to gatekeep basic materials for no good reason" -basically what this video is saying

[arithenugget]

The roses are from Michael’s and the drip beads can be found in even more colours in hobby lobby or their store. The smaller beads are from Amazon. Every single one can be found in packs on Amazon and eBay. Gate keeping is distrusting. If your product were good enough you wouldn’t be worried about the marketing. Clearly yours isn’t good enough.

[_Bo_Stardust_]

i get your side, but i feel like most of the people asking aren't wanting to start their own business, or are more concerned about the actual sourse because of allergies or sustainability concerns.

[Anunseasonabletoering]

Sorry, but I can't justify paying 80 dollars for a small necklace made with beads from temu. Like...

[StrawberryRoll_Meow]

"its not because i love gatekeeping, " its because you love gatekeeping...

[Tintintintin]

I get it but I’m gonna tell yall anyway because imma drag queen and I don’t gatekeep looking gorg for less. So most of these are bulk bought, most cities have a district with many bodegas that sell wholesale sewing and creating goods . In Houston we have bodegas in Harwin and you can walk right into any of these without a membership (with one it’s basically free) and get everything you need. May beads has great selection at a very very low price for the strand .

[jagodadelega]

The thing is, if the product was worth buying, telling where you get the materials from wouldn't make your business fail, because most people couldn't do it even with the materials and would still need to buy if they wanted the product.

[idontknow]

Thats why google lens exists dont worry

[sarahelizabeth]

I've been watching your clips for awhile and almost subscribed until I saw this. It's like a painter refusing to tell someone what brand paints they use. No matter if someone wants to make gifts or sell to others, they have every right to create just like you do. So many souls make jewelry like you, including your fans. It's wild to think you can be the only one using these beads or this style by not telling people where you simply got your beads.

[beanthebean]

girl you get them from temu like everyone else

[kareeheaven]

Also this literally is Gatekeeping luv…

[kipiekie]

ironically, with any other type of business transparency is basic practice unless the company is trying to hide something shady. Like if something is handspun or handwoven you will know exactly where the wool or cotton came from. Fresh food like fish will usually disclose where the fish were caught (at least around here in new england), painters will disclose the type of paint/ medium used, Jewelry made of precious metals and gemstones will usually tell you where they got those gemstones were mined from. Usually, when something isn't disclosed its because the company wishes to hide something.

You don't have to share suppliers. You do, however, have to reassure your customers of the quality of your product. Hiding everything about you product like this just makes it seem like you dont want to admit your "supplier" is actually Temu. I sell crochet items at markets and will absolutely tell people the type/ brand of yarn i use, where i get the fabric for lining or the safety eyes, and if i use a pattern or if it's my own pattern. It actually works to sell items if the person knows more about it!

Your jewelry is adorable! It not the beats that make it cute but how you put them together, and how you use the wire/ jump rings/ chain/ etc. Its your skill that drives sales, not simply the beads. Most people just want to be reassured of the quality of the materials used

[oh_crap]

The way it is is if they are creative they will make it themselves because they know they can so they wouldn’t buy from you in the first place. But as a business you will always have the people that don’t make stuff themselves or don’t think they can so in the end u aren’t losing any money.

[itsthatgirldre]

cuz it probably cost like 10 dollars to make and she’s selling it for 30-100

[klein.konijntje]

it means she gets them from temu and shien for like 3 bucks maxxx and doesn't want you to realize how much cheaper it would be to do it yourself