David Condon Finds

Every so often, a customer conversation gives me a blog post idea almost by accident. I sell ribbon and craft supplies through my main website, and over time I’ve learned that many people are not just looking for “ribbon”. They are trying to solve a very specific problem, matching a colour, finishing a wedding invitation, decorating a favour box, or finding something suitable without having to order from abroad. That happened recently when a customer called in who owns a printing company and does a lot of wedding invitations. He mentioned that couples often ask him where they can get ribbon for invitations, wedding stationery, favours and finishing touches. The problem was, he never really knew where to send them. Another customer of mine mentioned to him about my craft supplies range and that I was local. He was genuinely delighted to discover that I stocked ribbon here in Ireland and not too far away for collection at short notice.  Not as a huge wedding wholesaler, not as a ...

I recently came across a video report from the US where LEGO stores are being targeted for theft. Not small items either, but high-value sets being taken and resold quickly. At first, it sounds a bit over the top. LEGO? Really? But when you take a step back and look at what LEGO has become over the last few years, it actually makes a lot of sense.

Most people don’t realise that ribbon width can completely change how a gift looks. You can have the best paper, a nice box, even a decent bow, but if the ribbon is too narrow or too wide, something just feels off. I see this all the time, especially with people who are just getting started or buying ribbon online without really knowing what size they need. Over the years, both using ribbon myself and supplying it to customers, I’ve found that getting the width right is one of the easiest ways to improve presentation instantly. This is a simple guide to help you choose the right ribbon width for your gifts, without overthinking it. Who Am I to Talk About Ribbon and Craft Supplies? When you’re making or presenting handmade items, the quality of things like ribbon, bows, card, bags, and finishing touches can make more difference than people realise. I learned that from needing those materials myself first, not just from selling them afterwards. It also ties into pricing. If you are s...

Cutting the grass shouldn’t feel like a half-day job, but for years, that’s exactly what it was. Our old lawnmower came with a collection bag that needed emptying every few passes. Stop, empty, restart. Repeat. By the time the lawn was finished, I’d lost all interest in the job and still had a pile of clippings to deal with. When it finally gave up, I started looking at alternatives. Mulching mowers kept coming up, but I wasn’t convinced. Leaving grass behind sounded like a recipe for a mess. We even considered robotic mowers, until I realised I’d be digging up the garden to lay boundary wires. In the end, we went with a mulching model from O’Neills Power Equipment in Tralee… and it completely changed how I look at cutting grass. The out-of-place lines you see are just where I pushed the mower off the grass from the centre, they’re not part of the actual cutting pattern. You can see the clean finish otherwise. The lawn also looks greener later in the season, this was an early cut ...

Buying a gift always sounds simple… until you actually have to do it. You end up wandering around a strange town, half-looking into shop windows, hoping something jumps out at you. Most of the time, it doesn’t. And before you know it, you’re either rushing a decision or settling for something safe that doesn’t really mean much. Buying gifts or souvenirs in any town is normally the last thing you think about, but that’s exactly why it helps to have a rough idea beforehand. It takes the pressure off and lets you actually enjoy your time in Tralee instead of scrambling at the last minute.

Working Out Prices for Your Craft Products Pricing your work is one of the hardest parts of running any craft business. It’s not just numbers. It’s confidence, experience, and sometimes a bit of trial and error. I’ve learned that the hard way, across two different businesses.  My First Mistake: Undervaluing My Work When I was working as a carpenter, I never really valued my time properly. Wages on site were rising steadily, but I never adjusted my own rates to match. I kept charging what I had always charged, partly out of habit and partly out of fear of losing work. If a builder asked for a slightly better price, I’d usually shave something off. Even when I was probably already cheaper than everyone else. I wasn’t a ruthless businessman, and my pocket paid for it. Starting Again as a Beginner When I moved into woodturning, I was starting from scratch again but with much bigger unknowns. In the beginning, I couldn’t even make my early products properly. I was a complete novice. Wha...