Re-arranging my studio

Would you buy from Ziggy Art ??

I have recently had dealing with a company called Ziggy Art and I wanted to give you the details of it, so you can made a informed judgement on whether to use the company or not.

I ordered a Easel  from Ziggy Art on the 18th June, it was a real bargain and so jumped at buying it.  I had seen the same one on Amazon for not much more but thought I would save myself a few quid.   Not realising there would be a problem I didn't keep a printed record of what I was ordering.

The order went and I paid by paypal.  A couple of days later ( 23rd I think) I realised I had had no confirmation so decided to go onto the site again and log in and check the order details to see if it had been dispatched.  but I found I couldn't log on. I thought maybe I had got the password wrong but when I pressed the button to get a password check it said it didn't recognise my e-mail address,  which is bizarre as I had registered with them.  I immediately contacted them through the website contact page, again not realising there was any problem, I didn't get a copy ( something I will always do in the future).  I was getting a bit worried as I hadn't heard anything and so I went onto their site and clicked the twitter button to see if I could chat with someone online about it but,  its say that the page didn't exists. Also I went onto facebook hoping I could contact them through that and found they only had 9 followers and obviously didn't use it , as the last post was on the 20th February.
Yesterday I asked my husband if he would contact them by phone, (I am not good at dealing with things on the phone ) He said they told him, that I had ordered a ex-diplay easel that was out of stock and that I could have a new one if I paid extra.
They also said they had sent me an e-mail explaining this the day after the order was placed, and as I hadn't received it they would send another one yesterday after the conversation with my husband.  Neither of which I have received and I have checked my spam folder.

I was angry as I felt they had obviously made a mistake and expected me to pay for it.  I was also upset at the lack of information and was worried I had been conned,  so I sent this e-mail, as you can tell I was a bit cross.

To whom it may concern 

I have been trying to chase my order for a Winsor and Newton Hamilton Easel that I paid for on the 18th June  Invoice ID: ********************-[ZiggyArt]

I am unable to log onto the website and track the order. I sent an e-mail on your website contact page asking you to contact me with regards to this order, earlier this week, but I have yet to receive a reply.

My husband rang you today and has been told that you have e-mailed me, but I have not received any, including any today even though Ian, the customer service advisor was suppose to send a copy.  They apparently inform me that the item I have ordered was ex-display and sold out!  This is complete rubbish as I ordered a Winsor and Newton Hamilton Easel code WN7006205 , which is clearly stated on my paypal invoice. ( attached).  There was no mention of it being ex-display.  I did look at the ex-display item which  was a Ziggy Art 'Rodin' Easel  code ZAFMGX128,  which I couldn't order as it was sold out.  

My husband was also informed that I could pay extra to get one, which I have  just worked out would be an extra £66.40  at todays prices, this is totally outrageous!

I am appalled that your company could be so dishonest as to advertise a product a a certain price and then as soon as it is ordered, change the price!

I would like to know, If you had my e-mail address, which was quoted today,  why have all my details been erased from your system and also why are you saying I ordered an item, I clearly did not, especially as your system does not allow you to order an item out of stock.

I am particularly upset as I could have on the same day, ordered the exact same easel from Amazon for just a few pounds more and have now lost that opportunity as I chose to go with your company, which I now realise is a sham and throughly dishonest in their dealings.

I still expect you to honour the sale and dispatch the Winsor and Newton Easel as ordered, at the price quoted on the 18th June 

If you do not reply to  ( my personal e-mail address) and acknowledge that this has happened  by tomorrow evening I will be opening a dispute with paypal as I am unhappy with your handling and how you misrepresent the products you sell.

I will also be taking to the social media routes of both facebook and Twitter  to ensure that other people do not part with their hard earned cash to a company that with con them!

Yours sincerely

Janice Ashworth

This is the reply

Janice,

Following your email to the Customer Service department regarding your order I am replying to you as a Director for Ziggy Art Ltd and responsible for making final decisions.

Your email is quite frankly offensive and bordering on blackmail,  to me and my staff and I request to you that in future you tone down your accusations and threats in future.

My staff perform an excellent job, trying their hardest  and do not deserve to be verbally abused in this manner. It is our policy to try to meet all needs and requirements of our loyal customer base within reason and to the benefit of both the purchaser and us the seller. For 10 years of on-line trading we have surpassed people's expectations in relation to customer service and have a raft of comments to qualify this. We do not operate shams or cons as you accuse us of. We operate a fair and honest process of sale and supply.

In relation to your order as I clearly explained to your husband your order was for  ex-display Hamilton Easel which we only had one of and were listed on multiple platforms including www.ziggyart.co.uk, ebay, Amazon, Fruugo, Aurativa and two other international selling platforms. As I understand it you were not aware that you were purchasing an ex-display item............I personally checked the listing information myself before going 'live' so I know the information was present at the bottom of the listing. We are never able to sell a brand new Hamilton easel at such a low price....well below the cost price we buy the item for. The item was sold on a 'first come first serve basis'. Unfortunately somebody purchased the one and only item we had on ebay and was shipped that day. Our systems were in the process of updating the website to reflect that the item was sold but there is always a time lag in updating all 6-7 platforms.

I have personally apologised to your husband about this unfortunate situation. To inform you of the situation, we updated your order on 19/06/2013 09:53:32 and you should have received a copy by email. If you did not, then I apologise once again for the update not being delivered by email. It may be worth checking your spam/junk mail settings to rectify this. Following the update, we were awaiting a response from your email to advise of the next course of action.

In response to your husband's telephone call, I personally offered a chance of an upgrade to a brand new easel for a reduced price over the price we are currently selling the easel at on our website. However, due to the offensive email you have sent in, I am now refunding, in full, your monies and withdrawing this offer.

You will receive confirmation from Paypal that this has been effected in due course.

Ian McSloy

Director

Ziggy Art Ltd

Of course what I hadn't realised was now they have refunded my Money, I can no longer open a dispute with Paypal.

I checked again on google to look for best price to get another easel yesterday and found that it still has the listing I originally saw,( second from the bottom) and if you click on the link it goes to the full price new item.

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So the up shot is I wont be getting my easel and if you do decide to use Ziggy Art, I would strongly advice you to get a copy of what you are ordering and at what price and keep any communications for future reference.

I am of course grateful for the refund as I can't afford to loose the money, but I would not recommend this company and I certainly will never use them again.

I will temporarily put up with my trusted old field easel for a little while longer.

Janice x

More settled

Having decided to make myself a dedicated workspace, then there was no stopping me,  I have been trying things out and with the help of fellow crafter at the centre, I have finally found the right spot.

I wanted to be by the window for the light and I am hopefully going to start getting Fin,  my constant companion at the studio, use to not being behind bars and able to move around the studio a bit more freely.  He is very good and hasn't run off for a long time even though he could leap over his bars very easily.  I will be putting his bed under the desk and the bars really are just to contain the bed from moving all over the studio.

I will be moving all the pictures round and I am tying to get hold of a proper studio easel,  which is proving a bit frustrating, but I guess there is no real hurry now.

I also visited another set of local studios to get some ideas and to confirm that I have been daft keeping so much space for the visitors and not enough for me.  I had a lovely long chat with Karen Edwards at the Walled Garden studios at Wrington.  If you get a chance you should check out her work it is amazing.  

http://www.karenedwardsceramics.co.uk/wp/

and realised that my studio should always have been more about me than the visitors,  I am just glad I realised it before I gave it up. Why is everything in hindsight so clear!

As you can see I tried out the spot by putting up my field Easel,  and I treated myself to a lovely canvas, ( what a joy to work on)  and this is the result.  I still have to clean up the edges and sign it but I am having enquiries about it already It is approx 40cm x 50cm ( I need to double check those measurements) and when it finally goes on sale, I will be asking  £110

I also have been having a student session cull.  I have been letting people know I will be shutting down some sessions at the end of July and rearranging how I structure the rest of the time,  most people are taking it well and I am sorry to do it, as I know it wont suit everyone   but I am also relieved as I can start to get some painting time back.  Of course I have my main stay of students who seem to support me through anything and for that I am very grateful, I am such a lucky girl :-)

I am very settled again, although I think its in my nature to want to constantly change things,  probably why I never stuck at real jobs for any length of time :-)

Catch you all later, hopefully with lots of new work  

Janice x

A new Plan

Last time I spoke I was feeling quite low and considering leaving the studio.  I have had a few weeks of turmoil wondering about where I should work and how.  And its been good because it has made me re-evaluate my choices and what my priorities are.

I have bored poor Mr WD senseless talking about, but I have made some real decisions and I am happy about them.

Firstly I am cutting down on my teaching.  I love teaching but not when I feel it is stopping me paint.  I also don't feel I can be a good teacher and stay ahead of my students if I don't paint regularly myself.   I'm afraid I may loose a few regular students by doing this but if I restructure correctly and charge appropriately, then I will get more out of it and hopefully so will they.

Secondly I am not going to prioritise the visitors at the centre any more.  Let me explain.... footfall is very low and I have been wondering if I wouldn't be better if I found myself a cheaper place to work from or work from home . I would need to be more proactive about pushing myself into other selling opportunities online and in exhibitions etc, rather than waiting for visitors to come to me and perhaps separate the teaching into other places. 

In thinking about this I realised I am to easily distracted at home and I need to go out to work. So in looking at where I could work from, I realised there is nowhere really better.

Not only do I have creative company where I am but I also wouldn't have to search for somewhere and move,  when relatively speaking my rent is already very reasonable. So the plan is to make my studio precisely that....My studio!!  

I intend to experiment in the next few weeks on changing it so I can have a permanent work area.  Currently I paint and then clear up so students and visitors don't see a massive mess. I have a nice display area for thing I sell and I constantly change the display to keep people interested.    All that will stop and I will use the studio for what it is meant for, to paint and to teach.  If visitors come they will always be welcomed but they will be a secondary consideration,  If they want to buy all the better,  but they wont have it laid out like a shop any more!

and finally......  I will push myself into more areas to sell my work. I never do art shows or exhibitions as I am worried about shutting the studio,  but I am going to do what pleases me from now on and not worry if I am not there to open for the very few visitors we get.  I also had an interesting meeting last week about setting up some Art holidays or breaks and I will follow that up for next year.

How does that sound for a plan???

Feeling Blue

I am feeling blue in lots of respects.  Feeling blue as I am loving painting with this fabulous combinations of blue acrylic paints and its working for me as I sold this one on Saturday.
But  also feeling Blue as I am wondering if my time at Clevedon Craft Centre is coming to an end. :-(

Visitors numbers are very low and I am getting sales,  but not really from being at the craft centre, I get sales through people who have bought from me before, students and online, but only a few small sales from actual visitors from the centre.  My biggest sales were from Arts week a few weeks ago, but i probably would have got a lot of those regardless of where I was.  So I am just having thought about what and more importantly where my future may lie. I do love being at the Centre,  but is it at any cost?

The original plan when moving into the large studio was to teach all winter and to get sales from visitors all summer.  But as the sales aren't coming in from the centre, then to pay the rent, I am having to teach all year.  Teaching in the summer as I have discussed before is difficult as people go on holiday and have other priorities, so to make sure I covered my bills I have increased the amount of sessions I teach.  This has a knock on effect of not allowing me any time to paint,  so I am now locked in a vicious circle of teaching lots of hours just to stay at a place that should give me a relaxed studio space to paint in, but which provides me with no other income besides teaching!!

A dilema!!

I have had a lovely friend who has been costing out painting holidays for me and I am looking at whether I would be better off and have more free time,  if I did my teaching less frequently but more productively.  So rather than have weekly session,  perhaps monthly longer sessions or more specific workshops and breaks away.  But this is all in the early stages and I am not sure with all the costs and organisation involved that holidays are the way to go, but watch this space.

For the time being I am staying put but it is sad that I am considering leaving this wonderful place.


Janice x

Good Days and Bad days

Hello,  sorry I have been so busy recently that I haven't blogged.  One of the reasons for being busy is my new beginners course on a Saturday afternoon.    I am so pleased with the work the students are producing ,  they are very quick learners. Below are some of their work,  first their tonal drawings in charcoal and chalk.

Then their first painting experience doing a silhouette 

 They are a small group,  which is very good for them as they are moving forward very quickly. But this is an example of  what is causing my current frustration.  Summers are not good for me, people don;t book courses in the summer.  My regular teaching is very quiet at the moment,  students have become very unreliable and I have had to start charging them when they don't turn up,  something I don't like doing.  This was pushed by students purchasing a 10 ticket ( if they bought ten in advance they got a discount) and they going on extended holidays ( in one case 3 months) and expecting to still have the place kept available to them!  Also people just don't turn up as they have other summer plans like gardening.  I sympathise as I want to be in my garden to,  but I have a business to run and a minimum amount I have to take each week, just to stay where I am.  You would think that would free me up to paint for myself but in fact it is not,  I still have to run the sessions whether 8 turn up or only 1. Footfall at the centre is also very low as well at the moment, so the frustration of only just covering bills and of not having time to paint is taking it tole a bit and I am looking to see how I can redress the balance to allow me to still teach but perhaps not as much, so my time can be free'd up to develop my painting more

Sorry Thats all very miserable and negative.

 On a more positive note,  My new work is selling quite well at the moment.  This one sold and I have just mounted it for its new owner to be able to pick it up on Saturday.

I also have learnt a lot this week about acrylic paper.  I have been practicing my new style on pieces of mount  board. I love the way I can drip and blend colour washes and glazes.  But I thought as they were selling maybe I should start using more serious Paper ( not that mount board is a problem,  I do know artists that use it a lot ).  I did use a canvas covered board as it was a bigger painting  and I needed a firmer structure behind it,  but the board are thick and difficult to frame,  so I decided to try the acrylic paper, I have used in the past.  I discovered why I had never really got on with acrylics before...  I really dislike the paper!   I just couldn't get the effect I was looking for.  i photographed it to show you.

The painting above is acylic paper and the one below is mount board.  They are at similar stages ( apart from I forgot to photograph before I added my dark tones on the one below)  But you can see how solid the colour is on the paper an how the drips don't have any definition.  I used the same colour and strength on both,  but I didn't get that lovely glaze effect, that I am starting to enjoy .  It is a watercolour technique,  but unlike watercolours it gives me a more solid base, after the paint dries as it can't be disturbed by the next layer.

I threw the acrylic paper away,  but the board I continued with and this is the result.

Once I have measured it up and mounted it I will be putting it for sale in my re-opened Etsy  shop,  so watch out for it..  here https://www.etsy.com/shop/wellydoggallery?ref=top_trail

I will catch up again soon,

janice x