As a business owner myself (non craft related) I have just reluctantly started a 10% sale that I can't really afford as orders are at an all time low while customers make the most of 20% off on the highstreet (some times even more) and take advantage of 3 for 2 offers else where ... I can't blame people ... I need to shop around for the best deal myself.

Added to this others selling items in our range have dropped their prices to practically what we paid for the stock in the first place and this is compounded by us having to compete with free P&P when it costs us £5.88 for our large parcels before we even add the packaging on.

Back to C&C though and we should remember that although we like to joke that our craft supplies are essential they are actually a luxury and I can see by the tactics that C&C are applying that they are struggling, like the rest of us in business, just to keep float.

As has been said in earlier posts C&C have massive over heads not to mention all their suppliers who are struggling too.

I can sympathise that the schedule is a little tedious, I have noticed this myself, but these are scary times ... I've just made the decision that with the exception of card stock I won't be buying any more things for a good long while (HUGE sigh of relief from hubby!) as the knock effect on from my own business means I just can't afford it. I'll be lucky to make my wages this month unless the sale generates some orders ... and that's with very few over heads.

My hubby works for his dad and we've all had steal ourselves to put our heads down and power through. With our entire income coming from family run businesses it's franky quite frightening ... hopefully we will manage to get to the other side without too many battle scars.