Reports/Case studies

 

I did connect to the Internet but whilst I wanted to search the net for stock and ideas I was always very conscious that a hefty phone bill would follow! One day whilst looking for a particular site during one of my workshops, we found what we were looking for - but I had been side-tracked and 4 hours later discovered I had forgotten to disconnect…, an expensive lesson! Life has changed considerably since I installed Broadband.

 

My computer is now on all day and any query from a visitor, student and/or customer can be answered straight away. We use the Internet as a giant library for information, ideas and materials. During the last 6 months I have become involved in beading and much of what we use comes from America so being able look at websites, user groups, and retailers has given us all much pleasure and incentive to try new things.

 

Of course I use Broadband every day to help me run the Business. It has been so easy to find wholesalers in this country and abroad, to get advice from experts particularly in the USA and to track down the kind of things I would like to stock in my shop. My great success came in the form of a small handheld loom called a Weavette, I found mine 2 years ago.

 

Many of my customers became very enthusiastic about them so on my old dail-up connection emailed the maker in America, I heard nothing. I tried various means.. letters, phonecalls, even asking friends who were going to America to ring the number and/or search craft shops. No luck. I had about given up but once I went onto Broadband I thought I had nothing to lose so I have emailed weekly since June and my first delivery of Weavettes arrived last week.

 

The next step for me is to build my own website and then of course to install Broadband at home. It does make a difference. Speed plus freedom from unknown bills encourages me to use the Internet more and gives me the confidence to look for the things my customers and students want.

 

Julia Ross Threadbear