When good marketing backfires
Since I sort of stumbled upon the career of Indie Dyer of Yarns and Fibres pretty much by accident, I never imagined how much time I’d be spending on wool festivals unable to peruse or purchase a single item. Frankly, it’s both refreshing (no money spent, yay!) and a bit weird (all that temptation just out of reach).
As a vendor, I obviously have my setup prepped in a way that will hopefully entice buyers. I also need people to remember who I am among the sea of other sellers, so I got myself a decently-sized banner at eye level. I’m a smart cookie, I think to myself. Well done, me.
Then I take it a step further to really make sure people can see me from a distance. I decide to start wearing yellow – it’s easy to spot, and I bet there aren’t manny people looking like a hyper lemon at festivals (or anywhere else for that manner). I go all out, even my glasses are yellow!
Marketing-wise, that’s sort of when I proverbially shot myself on the foot. My garbs got so popular that I started being known not as Eleanor Shadow but as The Yellow Lady! Drat…


I actually had to change some of my website’s text to include “also known as The Yellow Lady” so the search engines could pick it up!
Since I brought this upon myself, I have now embraced it to the point of just having finished a new pinafore to wear when I’m vending. Do we like?

Lots of pockets, easy to spot from afar, job done! I’m pretty chuffed to be debuting this in Inverness in a couple of weeks.
The yellowness has stuck so much that on the rare occasion I visit a festival as a buyer, people ask me why I’m wearing black. For those not in the know, I’m a goth. Ah, the irony.
What’s the most outrageous garment you have in your closet (that you’re happy to share)? 😉 Let me know in the comments section.
One thought on “When good marketing backfires”
That’s too funny Leonor! I love the “Yellow Lady” marketing.
It is making me rethink my drab farmer blue jeans and t-shirts.