Post by Deleted on Sept 6, 2015 0:34:31 GMT -5
Well, Tamara was prepared, Charlotte would give her that. It was good to hear she was considering which houses and people might make good customers, and meeting with important people did have a tendency to yield results of some kind (whether they be good or ill was hard to determine from the outset). Charlotte already had plenty of items in mind for Tamara's "list," though she supposed such things could be written up and procured at any reasonable point. Most of her stock currently was of poorer material used to shape tools and repair them for the local farmers and other merchants and craftsmen. A few rare metals would not be amiss, and a few expensive ones to melt into lining for the family's armor. Ideas for designs were already drifting in and out of Charlotte's mind, causing her to become a little distracted. Her attention was regained when she heard the inflected questioned aimed at her.
"Hm? Ideas?" Charlotte set her cup on the table and leaned back in her chair. With one hand she rubbed her chin thoughtfully, almost as if she could coax ideas out of her skin. "Certainly I have ideas, though some might not be as practical as others. It may be good to have a male representative at some level of the business, especially if we are to broaden our clientele effectively. Women will not make up a great number of our customers, if we are to be honest with ourselves." Charlotte knew from experience that men did not like to deal with a woman on matters of armor and weapons, and though she had outfitted her cousin plenty of times Charlotte had not gained many female patrons since her branching out from the family some years ago.
"Regardless of what we do," the blacksmith said at last with a sigh, "The going won't be easy, at first. If you could somehow interest the Crown Princess in our wares, that would be a great start. Royals set the trends, after all." Those who could not be royal but were plenty rich often mimicked the habits of royalty, perhaps to comfort themselves for their lack of superiority in comparison. Well, well. Charlotte wouldn't be too skeptical about such matters if she could help it. They did, after all, present a wonderful business opportunity, assuming the two of them could interest the Crown Princess in their armor. Which was a long shot at best. Granted, the Ibarra and Deliambre would be good patrons, as well. Yes, very good. Her cousin had chosen well.
@tamarafontaine
"Hm? Ideas?" Charlotte set her cup on the table and leaned back in her chair. With one hand she rubbed her chin thoughtfully, almost as if she could coax ideas out of her skin. "Certainly I have ideas, though some might not be as practical as others. It may be good to have a male representative at some level of the business, especially if we are to broaden our clientele effectively. Women will not make up a great number of our customers, if we are to be honest with ourselves." Charlotte knew from experience that men did not like to deal with a woman on matters of armor and weapons, and though she had outfitted her cousin plenty of times Charlotte had not gained many female patrons since her branching out from the family some years ago.
"Regardless of what we do," the blacksmith said at last with a sigh, "The going won't be easy, at first. If you could somehow interest the Crown Princess in our wares, that would be a great start. Royals set the trends, after all." Those who could not be royal but were plenty rich often mimicked the habits of royalty, perhaps to comfort themselves for their lack of superiority in comparison. Well, well. Charlotte wouldn't be too skeptical about such matters if she could help it. They did, after all, present a wonderful business opportunity, assuming the two of them could interest the Crown Princess in their armor. Which was a long shot at best. Granted, the Ibarra and Deliambre would be good patrons, as well. Yes, very good. Her cousin had chosen well.
@tamarafontaine