You may want to order a personalized piece of jewelry, ask about the ingredients in a balm, or find out which candle size is right for a 20 m² room. The natural instinct is to write directly to the maker.
The problem is that most messages from individuals and businesses go unanswered, buried among dozens of daily inquiries. The difference between a productive exchange and an ignored message has less to do with the channel you choose than with how you phrase your request.
Free product or paid partnership: what your first message sets in motion
Before writing anything, be clear about what you’re looking for. Asking a question about a product, requesting usage advice, and proposing a paid partnership call for different approaches—and the maker can tell from the first few lines.
One thing people often don’t realize: sending a product without asking for a post does not make it a collaboration. If you send an item hoping it will be featured in a story without saying so clearly, you create ambiguity. And if you do ask for a post in return, the product may count as commercial compensation. The maker must then disclose the promotional intent with an explicit label (“Advertisement” or “Paid partnership”); a vague term like “gift” isn’t enough.
The decree of November 28, 2025 sets a threshold of €1,000 excluding VAT in combined compensation and benefits in kind paid by the same advertiser over the course of a year for the same promotional objective. This threshold also applies to product shipments, not just paid campaigns. By clarifying in your first message that there’s no obligation to post, you make things clearer and stay within the law.
To ask about a product or get personalized advice, you can contact Marie Carotte on her website using the dedicated form. This ensures your message reaches the right place instead of getting lost in a crowded social media inbox.
Contact form or direct message: choose the right channel for your request
Instagram DMs are handy for a quick comment. But for a detailed product question—about ingredients, production times, or customization options—they quickly show their limits: messages get cut off, notifications go missing, and conversations get mixed in with business inquiries.
When to use the website contact form
Most makers who sell their products have a contact page on their website. This channel offers several practical advantages:
- Your message goes to an inbox dedicated to the business, separate from the social media feed, making it more likely to be read promptly.
- You can explain your request in detail without a character limit and attach a photo (of the product you want, a flaw you’d like to report, or a space you want to furnish).
- The maker can keep a clear record of the conversation, making it easier to follow up if it takes several days.
When a direct message still makes sense
For a short, straightforward question—whether an item is in stock, when it will be restocked, or the opening hours of a craft market—Instagram DMs or a marketplace messaging service like Etsy will do. The idea is to save direct messages for requests that can be covered in three sentences.
Email is a useful middle ground when you want to structure your request without using a form. Some makers list their email address in their bio or shop description. If it isn’t visible, that’s often a deliberate choice, so it’s best to use the channel provided on their website.
Write a message that gets a reply
Most unanswered messages have the same problem: they don’t clearly say what the sender wants. “Hi, I love what you do and I’d be interested in collaborating” leaves the maker to guess the context, budget, format, and goal. That’s extra work they may not have time for.
A good first message covers three things in fewer than ten lines: what you’re looking for (a specific product, advice, or a collaboration), why you’re contacting this particular maker (a detail that shows you know their work), and what you’re actually proposing (a purchase, an exchange, a budget, or no compensation expected).
If you’re proposing a partnership involving a product shipment, say in your first message whether you expect a post in return. Being transparent avoids misunderstandings and shows that you understand the legal requirements around commercial influencer marketing. The maker is always free not to post if no compensation has been agreed.
Follow up without pushing: when to send a reminder
A maker who handles production, packing, shipping, and communications alone may take several days to reply. Response times depend on the size of their community, the time of year (the holiday season or a collection launch can mean longer waits), and the channel you use.
If you haven’t heard back after five to seven days, a brief, factual follow-up is enough. Reply to your original message with a useful detail (“Just to clarify, my order is for model X in size Y, to be delivered before December 15”). One follow-up per channel is a reasonable limit. Beyond that, persistence starts to feel like pressure.
If you still don’t hear back, you can try another channel—for example, switching from a DM to the website contact form. Changing channels shows that you’re adapting, not harassing them. By contrast, sending the same message on Instagram, by email, and as a comment under a post on the same day will have the opposite effect.
A good exchange with a maker comes down to a simple principle: treat the conversation as you would with any craftsperson whose expertise you’re seeking. Be clear, choose the right channel, follow up once, and above all, be honest about what you actually expect from the exchange.
