How the new GPSR guidelines will affect us & our EU/NI customers
29 November 2024
- Inspo
- LAD KnitspirationLAD blog
Free UK shipping over £60
Free UK shipping over £60
How are you? I hope you’re keeping well,
I’m going to dive straight in this week as we’re so busy we don’t have a moment to spare!
You may have noticed that we’ve been launching new products every single week since August, we planned to do this until December and were magnificently on track HOWEVER… due to the incredible volume of orders we’ve received in the last few weeks we are really struggling to keep up (more on that below!)
We didn’t think it was fair to keep launching new products whilst our customers are waiting for existing orders so we decided to call it a day on the launches and save them for next year instead. (how very organised!?)
👉🏼 As a bit of a side note: I want to reassure you that we’re working hard to keep the website and customers as up to date as possible (it’s a bit tricky becasue stock levels are changing daily) and at the moment everything is still well on track for delivery before Christmas however we are taking 1-2 weeks to get orders out.
It’s down to a mix of things so it’s really hard to keep track of and give general updates but in case it helps these are the main factors:
Order volumes: We’ve turned over more in October and November than the whole of last year. This is unbelievable and we are so grateful for your support and hopefully explains a bit why we’re struggling to keep up.
There’s a Pandemic: I know that sounds obvious when I say it but I think with Christmas as well it’s easy to forget that businesses have to take a lot of precautions to keep staff safe and this does inevitably slow us down.
Suppliers are Slower: Of course it’s not just us that are experiencing higher order volumes and slowing down for safety, this is affecting our suppliers too and therefore we’re waiting on needles and yarn and general stock to be delivered, everyone is doing their best and as soon as stock is coming in we’re sending it out as quickly as we can.
(I don’t really want to go there BUT also, I am now rather heavily pregnant. In previous years I would have worked through the night to try and help us keep up but this year I physically cannot do that. I obviously don’t want to push myself too far and even if I did, my body literally won’t let me 😂 by 8pm it’s like ‘NOPE’ and I can’t move anymore. Thankfully I have a magical team supporting me and as long as customers are happy to wait a week or so for orders, we’ll get there in the end. We’ll keep you as up to date as possible and do our best to get you knitting asap.)
OK, that was a massive side note, sorry!
We feel so proud of what we’ve achieved in the last few months, (let alone in 2020!) It was a huge team effort and I couldn’t have done it without all of Team LAD: Helen, Sally, Chloe and in recent weeks lovely Claire.
I touched on it on an instagram post at the weekend but basically the launches were a result of my control issues upon finding out I was pregnant 
– there was so much I couldn’t control but I tell you what… let’s launch a new product every single week for months cuz I can control the HELL out of that! We didn’t really have a plan, just a list of ideas. We were still in lockdown so working on Skype when I told Helen and Chloe and they both just smiled and nodded and jumped on board with just a hint of ‘really?!’ flashing in their eyes!
Between us: I wrote the patterns, Helen and I test knit them, then sent the finished products to Chloe to photograph, we then did all the graphics and admin bits, Chloe did the artwork, Helen did the product listings across all the platforms that we sell on, plus the email for Saturday mornings and I checked and edited anything, ordered the printing, updated the to do lists… and finally over to Sally who worked tirelessly in the studio packing all the orders. PHEW! What a bloody team!
So whilst a small part of me feels sad we can’t tick them all off the list, 98% of me is just elated that we managed so much this year, in the last few months alone! Plus, I absolutely know it’s the right thing to do to prioritise the orders we have and do justice to what we’ve already released.
That’s more than enough talk! Let’s go to the picture bit.
(you can click on any of them to take you to the listings :D)
Aside from all these launches, we launched 6 (I think 🤔 ) other products earlier in the year, we’ve also added more needles and tools to our collections, created pattern bundles and written, knit and photographed 5 more Mini Mohair patterns for the LADvent calendar (these will be available next year for non LADventeer’s. As well as all the sub boxes – it’s been a busy old year for LAD!
So, which launch was your fave? Any that you’ve not knit yet but you’re keen to? Do let me know as I love to hear which ones you prefer! And as always please tag me in any of your knits as it is always such a joy to see your creations.
Right – back to the packing – thank you loves!!
Join our blog mailing list and receive a lovely email every time we add a new post.
Subscribe to the LAD newsletter in order to receive your FREE LAD knitting pattern and to hear about new arrivals, limited edition knits, and workshops run in our lovely Devon studio
Lauren Aston Designs is an independent knitting studio based in wonderfully sunny Devon, UK. We love big knits and cosy tits x
Join the mailing list for new arrivals, limited edition knits, stitchin’ promotions and a totally free pattern.
