About Us

This is a co-op for people who want to get yarns and fabrics at cheaper than retail prices. I have a small business related to products made with these yarns and fabrics, so I'm ordering them anyway. By offering to co-op, I may be able to get even cheaper prices, which is good for all of us. Most of this stuff is of interest to craft-based microbusinesses. You can find my home address, phone number and lots of other details at my business website: www.brindabellababy.com.au

PLEASE NOTE this is not a business for me - I don't make any money out of it. I'm doing this because we can all get better prices if we work together. A co-op is all about co-operation!

How it works

Product information is listed below for the co-ops I am running. Each product has a minimum wholesale order - if we don't meet minimum quantities, I cannot order and will post to the Forum about this. I will confirm prices when the co-op closes - we may get a cheaper price on very large orders.

PLEASE NOTE that the prices below do not include postage to you (they DO include GST and shipping to me). Payment is not due until the co-op closes and prices are all confirmed. I will post reminders on the Message Board.

If you see something you like, join the community. This will allow you to view or add your order to the co-op order areas that are only visible to members, and to read or post to the Forum. Password-protected membership cuts down on the spammers and email address harvesters. To order, add your email address and the stuff you want to the order list for that product.

The co-op closing date is given in the product information. I will post a payment reminder to the Forum a few days before co-op closing dates - please keep an eye out! I will also send you a message via Webjam, so make sure the email address on your Webjam login is one that you check regularly. People who don't pay will be assumed to not want the goods - this can be a pain in the bum if it means we don't meet the supplier's minimums.

Once the goods arrive at my place, I will post another update (probably with a photo, like I did with the PUL) on the Forum. Then I'll pack the goods and email you with a shipping cost. You will need to pay for shipping before I send out the goods. If the shipping is out of your budget, don't panic. There may be someone else in your postcode you can share costs with, or I may be able to sell your goods (at the same price) to someone else who missed the co-op closing date and refund what you paid for them.

Got questions about the products, shipping, or how this co-op works? Post to the Forum. Other people might also have the same question.

Shipping Costs

Back in April 2007, I had six parcels go missing with Australia Post (not the first time they've lost a parcel of mine). I was really cranky.

Then in December 2007, TNT lost a parcel (first time they've lost one of mine). I was really cranky.

It seems that no matter what shipping method I choose, there is always the risk that it will be lost. Keep in mind that I have 3 children under 4, which means I don't do lining up at the post office for non-profit co-ops of hundreds of metres of fabric in 1m parcels.

So here's the shipping options - you choose what works best for you when it's time to ship your stuff:

• Australia Post Express Post satchel. If it's lost, you won't get a refund on the lost goods, but you will get a refund on the satchel cost. Cost is $7.40 for a 500g satchel or $10.50 for a 3kg satchel. Registered post is not available on prepaid satchels. Yes, I know that some post offices will let you pay extra to put a registered post sticker on the satchel - but not at my local PO. Delivery is next day from Canberra to most cities, or within 2-3 days elsewhere.
• TNT couriers. If it's lost, you will get a refund on the shipping cost. You can pay an additional $10 for insurance on the goods. Delivery is next day from Canberra to most cities, or 2-3 days elsewhere. TNT will only deliver to street addresses as they require a signature for delivery. They are very reliable, and you will get a tracking number to enter on their website (www.tnt.com.au) to see where your parcel is in their network. TNT is often cheaper for larger orders (over 3kg).

TNT recently put their prices up due to rising fuel costs. As a guide to TNT shipping costs, here's the rates for 3kg in a 40x30x10cm satchel overnight first class to capital cities - regional cities may cost extra:

• Sydney - $9.50
• Melbourne - $10.50
• Adelaide - $14
• Perth - $21
• Brisbane - $14
• Hobart - $19
• Darwin - $29.50
• Auckland - $28 for up to 1kg, $2.20 per additional 500g over 1kg.
• Christchurch - $32 for up to 1kg, $3.50 per additional 500g over 1kg.

I won't really know shipping costs until I pack your order, because I cannot easily estimate volume to fit into a satchel or box. Ask on the forum page if you're not sure, if it's something I've co-op'ed before then I may be able to tell you what worked last time. Or someone might give me a tip on packing it smaller, like with the bamboo fleece in November!

What's On

I'm currently collecting orders for Speedline PUL in red and royal blue, and will also order forest green and yellow at the end of the month. Also getting ready to open orders on bamboo velour for the end of March.

Past co-ops have included Speedline PUL, bamboo and soy yarns, bamboo fleece fabric, and Procion dyes. I won't be doing the Procion dyes again as it's a pain in the bum to do, and I won't do bamboo fleece very often because shipping charges are pretty high for people who only want small quantities (it's hard to pack down small). 

Future Co-op Orders

There's regular polls on what to order next time. It will be based on what I personally want to buy (because I'm the one doing the hard work), and will also be affected by my time constraints (this non-profit co-op takes time away from the job that pays my bills!) and what was ordered in recent months (ie I won't be doing the same thing month after month).

There's also a Forum where y'all can chat away to your heart's content about other co-ops, what's good, where to get stuff, what you're making etc. And there's a Photos section on here where I'll put pictures of stuff that's arrived, stuff I've made, stuff you've made etc.