FIBER PICKERS CONTINUED.....

Fiber Pickers vs Wool Combs ( Flickr )
The battle continues, who will win. Ok Ok, I know I'm acting a wee bit strange here. Alrighty then, what I found out about these incredible pieces of equipment is.
The Fiber Pickers - which would be in the form of a bench or swing, make the job of opening up the fiber strands easier and quicker. You can open up and pick a fleece in 10 minutes. You will have to use your elbow grease on these pieces of equipment cuz you are still sliding your arm back and forth. It looks like when you watch an example of one of these pickers in action that it will be so painful on your arm.

Here is the bit of research that I found out on these two. Bench or Swing Picker!
Talked to a bunch of alpaca farms that are using either the Bench or The Swing and they all loved them equally. The farms were amazed at how easy it was to use, it didn't cause any types of discomfort while manuvering the slide action with your arms. The fiber was so opened up and debrie fell out, which is a spinners or felters nightmare.... They also shared with me that the more they placed the fibers back thru the unit, that the fibers were even more opened up. " One farm said, it looks like clouds, in the sky".

So with this info, I will probably purchase one of these units, for the ease of use and since I have so much alpaca fleece on my hands. So folks I truly highly recommend either one of these.

Now if you don't have the cash, to get one of these units. You can purchase Flickr cards. They are known as wool combs. They work very similar as the larger pickers, but its all done by hand. You basically grab the fleece in your hand and flick open the ends prior to running the fleece into the drum carder.

So again whatever your fleece weapon will be, your fleece will be opened up and ready for processing. Lets get Fiber Picken!!!!!!

Get Creative Marketing your Fiber Products

This is a continuem...

Marketing your fiber products has never been easier. We have so many avenues at our fingertips. Ravelry, Etsy, Blogs, Ebay, and much much more. You have to think outside of the box and do things so different and unique to add flare to your products.

If you stay in the same pattern doing things exactly like everyone else. A. Your product will stay stagnant and B. Will not sell well. Come up with ways to make a logo for yourself that stands out. Everything has to be a WOW factor. Another thing is to become your own graphic artist, make your own website, flyer's, business cards. Have these on hand every where you go.

Get involved with local guilds, these are a great way to market your products. Some of these guilds meet monthly and surely there will be a number of these in your area or even if they aren't and you have to drive a hour. It only takes one person to change the dynamics of your business. Word of mouth is so much stronger than ever.

My business has grown just for that reason. Also sell yourself, get excited about your products. You stand behind your business, if you are not excited then you can't get folks excited for you. Be well manicured, if you have an image of a yeti, do you think folks are going to give you their time. Heck no. They will turn the other way and not think twice. No matter how awesome your product is. First impression is the KEY!!!!!

Also be personable, be charming even if your dog tired. Be the best you can be for your business. People will remember that. Treat every customer like they are your first customer. Make them feel that they are the most important being at that moment and every time they contact you. If you make folks feel like you don't have the time to help them. Then they will walk away and go to someone that will spend time with them.

I know its hard to be great at multitasking, but the biggest successful folks are, and you can to, just manage your time well. Also attend farmers markets in your area, this is a great way to sell your products. Hit up the small mom and pop craft stores, yarn stores or unique boutiques and offer to purchase a small space from them and you will market your products from those areas. Awesome right, it works.... TRUST ME!

Well, I hope this helps in your business and marketing venues. Be The Best, Look the Best and Market well and your business will soar to new levels....

FIBER PICKERS

FIBER PICKERS

Is it just me or do these things look like something out of the medival eria. They look like large torture devices and are just dang scary! Ok getting serious now, there are two types of Fiber Pickers or The Bench Picker or The Swing Picker

The Bench Picker is designed with 424 stainless points that is adjustable. You can pick a bag of fleece in 10 minutes. You feed the fiber in an opening area on one end of the picker and then you start to slide the top part to operate the picker. Thus allowing the fleece to be opened up and passed out the other end of the picker.

Now the Swing Picker, is designed with 334 straight stainless steel points. You feed the fleece into a feed tray and then swing the picker back and fourth to open up and pick the fleece. They are both adjustable and from what I am researching do the same job. What is the benefits of each one. Which one works best for what I'm planning on doing with it. Where do I turn, am I going to get mulitple advice or opinions. This is where you just want to freak out!!!!!

From what I saw on You tube, each one of these pickers did a fine job. They operate the same, they just look different. One has more points than the other. My other questions would be, do you have to have a picker. Can you use another tool like Wool Combs to do the job.

If you haven''t had the pleasure of seeing wool combs, they remind me

of the movie " X-MEN.That had the actor Hugh Jackman, who played

" Wolverine".

Here are WOOL COMBS...

Don't they look like Wolverine's claws. So do these do the same job

as Wool Pickers. Well, I will post more about this topic when the

research is done. It will be interesting to me what other views are on this topic.

Whatever you decide, Choose your Wool Picker Weapon and Lets Get Fiber Pickin!!!!!!