Many of you will have heard of and discussed the situation surrounding the demise of Needle Necessities and the apparent ‘takeover’ (for the want of a better word) of ThreadworX.
I know I did – NN is/was one of my favourite overdye threads and I was devastated that Razzle Dazzle Red was to be no longer available to me.
Not to make light of the situation, for one reason or another NN is closing (or has closed) and as stitchers, the reasons for this really are none of our business. These things happen and do every day for many businesses. It’s selfish of us really to think that we deserve to be able to get the products we know and love at all costs to the business owners concerned. Yes, we can be sad when these things happen, but do any of us really stop and think whether our gossiping about rumour may actually assist in the rate of demise of some businesses? Yes we want to know the truth…but in reality – what business is it of ours…none.
However, the point of my post is this. When rumours come to light, many of us discuss and distribute this information not thinking of what the circumstances may be occurring within the businesses concerned and certainly not even considering what the outcomes of our discussion and distribution may eventually be.
This week, a very good friend of mine (Dragonflydreams) has been deeply hurt by the results of gossiping and innuendo and it saddens me that this wonderful person has had to endure this situation at all.
I simply can’t express in strong enough terms how disappointed I am that Independent Needlework News (INN) posted information about Dragonflydreams BEFORE they had at least spoken with the owner. Karen – the owner of Dragonflydreams is a VERY competent and conscientious business woman who would NEVER do anything that would jeopardise her business or any one else’s for that matter or do anything against the law.
The absolute last thing I wanted to read was what was on this website – a very badly thought out, slanderous attack on a woman just going about her business and one of the world’s BEST needlework businesses also. Yes Karen is a friend, but I also support her business because she IS such a great store and provides great service!
While I think it’s admirable that sites like INN wish to bring the ‘truth’ to the masses, it appears levels of tact and ethics are wanting. As investigative ‘reporters’ they should stick to reporting facts, not ill-informed opinion.
I posted initially asking if the rumour I had seen posted on a local newsgroup about NN going out of business was true, and INN posted that it was indeed untrue, I commented that I had seen ThreadworX product for sale here in Aus and mentioned that I thought something weird was going on . This should have given some indication of who to talk to and that the situation wasn’t as clear as maybe first thought. Information from NOT staff or former staff, but the owner of either of those businesses AND no information about a business should have been posted with out being totally sure there was absolutely no doubt that the facts were correct.
I deeply regret now that I contacted INN in the first place, I will certainly think twice before doing anything even remotely similar in the future. You can’t imagine how I feel about the damage done to Karen’s business and my part in it. I hope that this public apology will be at least a small way to begin healing some of the hurt.
I am of course 100% supportive of Dragonflydreams and I hope that after sourcing the correct information all the damaging statements made on INN about this wonderful woman and her business will be retracted.
NOTE: I see that this has appeared on the INN website this morning and I am very pleased to see it.
I have also removed the INN link from my blogroll and I urge anyone to think twice before providing any kind of information to sites such as this.
Once again, the owner of INN has caused trouble. This woman has previously run off at the mouth and made trouble for other people in the needlework industry. It’s no surprise to me that she’s at it again. I don’t read that website for exactly that reason…I can’t believe anything she writes. As far as I can work out, it’s just GOSSIP.
I so admire all you’ve said, and said so well. Thank you for doing it, and for standing up for Karen. She is a friend of mine, too, and I certainly would and will do all I can to promote her best interests. I believe she is an honest and hard-working person who has every right to be treated with respect and dignity. When one writes or takes it upon themselves to “report or investigate” another whatever the situation…they owe it to the public/their readers to check personally with all the subjects involved, and to be unbiased. I can’t honor or take seriously anyone who would blog or print reports without that type of background work. It has no substance or value to me otherwise.
Again, I personally want to thank you for speaking to the issues, and for standing up for Karen.
And, thank you, as well for your visit to my blog.
I was going to list INN on my blog as a site to visit! Glad I hadn’t gotten there, yet!!
Sincerely,
Deb
Hi Taz,
Thanks so much for your kind and supportive words. You are a good friend and I know that this was not your fault. Heather at INN is now trying to rectify the damage done to our business. This is all I can ask. After all the initial onslaught of negativity we received after INN’s original posting, I am now starting to receive support from some wonderful friends and customers. Your posting is greatly appreciated as is your friendship.
Love Karen