CustomMade.com – Getting Beyond “Good Enough”

The much awaited blog post!

Hi everyone, for some time now we have been asked to write a Founders’ Blog.  We want to use our time on this blog as a way to discuss the world of Custom with our members and customers. Both Seth and I are avid consumers of custom services, so many of our postings might be reviews of things we have had CustomMade for ourselves. We live a CustomMade lifestyle, and so should you!

Co-Founders Mike Salguero and Seth Rosen sporting some custom made shirts

But first, a little bit of background about why buying Custom is the only way to go.  Read a little, open your eyes to the world of shopping from makers who surround you, engage in a CustomMade project, and most of all, have some fun!

Until Next Time,

Mike and Seth

CustomMade – Getting Beyond “Good Enough”

The average person spends thousands of dollars a year on goods and services that do not actually meet their needs.  Time and time again, they settle for good enough, nice enough, close enough – and end up tossing their purchases into the back of the closet, the basement, the attic or the trash. But there is a better way to buy; one that doesn’t contemplate the purchase lasting a mere year or two.

CustomMade for Individuals
Purchasing CustomMade items eliminates the problems inherent in a traditional purchase.  When an item is manufactured for the masses, the company’s marketing department decides which feature to include according to their profile of a “typical consumer.”  This mythical person might resemble you or me, but is probably not representative because we are all unique.

CustomMade items are made for you, not the formulaic typical consumer.   After all, you have your own taste, style, and preferences.  Mass manufacturers want you to forget that. They want to dictate what colors you wear, what fit you prefer, and what style is in season or trendy. But, one size does not fit all.

A Personal Experience
Buying CustomMade means you get to decide what your purchase looks like.  When you have something CustomMade, you develop a relationship with a craftsperson who cares about you and your preferences because it helps them to serve you better.  Buying custom should be a service process, not a product purchase. It is the personal interactions that help make buying CustomMade different. Also, when you work with a craftsperson to make a table, you get to put a little bit of yourself into it, too.  Your table will forever have your touch upon it, which you can pass down to your children and grandchildren.

A Practical Choice
Instead of filling closets, attics and landfills with “good enough” items, it’s far more practical to have something CustomMade for your purposes. Can’t find a dresser for the oddly-shaped nook in your home?  Don’t struggle with something that doesn’t fit only to have to toss it out or replace it; have it CustomMade to fit the space.

In the past, buying a custom item was very expensive. That is no longer the case thanks to modern technology. In addition, once you factor replacement costs into all of your imperfect purchases, buying CustomMade can be one of the most cost-effective decisions you will make.  Most people don’t know that CustomMade purchases are competitive on price and quality when compared with products from big box stores and manufacturers.  In fact, your CustomMade purchase can be as simple or as extravagant as you want – that’s the point.  CustomMade purchases are created to be exactly what you want. Its hard to compete with that.

Sustainable Buying
Our environmental and economic sustainability depends upon us buying only what we need, reusing what we can, and supporting small and local businesses whenever possible.  When you buy something CustomMade, there is less waste because you purchase only what you need (maybe even re-purposing materials in the process). Also, you support your community by working with local artisans. It’s a truly sustainable buying method.

CustomMade Makes Sense
It’s no wonder so many people have already embraced buying CustomMade.  Not sure if CustomMade is for you? CustomMade is for you if you value personal service; if you want to stop spending money on products that don’t fit your needs; if you are excited about supporting artisans in your local community; if you care about the environment; or if you are tired of mass manufacturers telling you to buy products that are only good enough.  “Good enough” should never be, well, good enough.