Contemplation... seemed like a decent title, but is it even a word?! Let's do spell check and see. Yup, seems to be okay by google.
So here's the thing. I signed up for ArtFire.com yesterday. And if you join now, you can get locked into a $7 a month deal, where that's all you'll ever pay. No listing fees, not final sale fees, etc. So, if you're looking for a new online marketplace, it's worth a shot!
But, the other side of me is still unsure, like all things, I need to play ring around the rosey about 6 weeks into it, before I can make up my mind, or change it, when it comes to making decisions. Are you confused yet? So am I.
Part of me loves etsy. Not for it's downfalls, or lack of views, or broken searches, etc. But for the community as a whole, and how large it's gotten, and how much potential there is. Or is it slipping away? I love that my store is free, and that the site itself, along with my own shop is clean and simple, and easy to navigate.
I've taken a look at several other online selling venues, and so far haven't really found anything else that's as clean lined as etsy is. Unless of course, I built my own website via bigcartel. And that, my friends is also drumming around in my little mind... stirring stirring.
I'm sad that my 20 cents on etsy, doesn't get me what it used to. And i'm sad that while my sales don't seem to want to pick up, no matter what I do. Other shops don't seem to be having any trouble making regular sales. Now, I know those shops are few and far between compared to the masses. But the truth is too, I can't afford to keep plugging in my 20 cents if i'm not getting any return from it.
So i've started to consider selling on other online venues. Yet I'm scared. I don't have any clue how much energy to pump into something new, even if it's free... because, where is the traffic coming from? Or do I have to go out and get it all by myself? If that's so, I might as well just stay right where I am, on etsy.
So friends, I'm opening an invitation to discuss this, because I know there are plenty of etsy sellers who also sell elsewhere online, and I'd be interested in hearing your thoughts. Good or bad about any other place there is. Anything is worth a try. But where to start and how much to give, is only leaving me more frazzled.
♥
Janell
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9 comments:
I have been thinking of opening a shop somewhere else, too. I've never gotten regular sales on Etsy, and It's really just not cost effective any more. I hope others have good advice.
I'm still holding out hope for Etsy. I tested my new shop with a $70 scarf and it sold. It's something I've been wanting to do to see if I could bring in more money with less work, and I did. I'll try it for the rest of the winter and see how it goes before I come up with something else. I will stick with Etsy though, the marketing is there and the traffic is there, I just have to figure out exactly what I need to sell the most of.
I'm willing to try Art Fire. In my humble opinion the more places my goods are for sale the better. If you think of it from a retail point of view, why would you want your toothpaste in only 1 pharmacy?
I opened http://www.thepearproject.com about a year ago as a little venture. On it I work with a variety of artists and craftspeople with the idea that a small, more traditional shop gets a different audience than etsy. So far it's working out well. If you are interisted in applying to sell there all the info it in the "About Us" section of the site. I like to test new artists with 3-5 items to start and see how it goes.
So far, I'm only on Etsy. For right now, I'm too busy to explore the other options. I'm thinking I will start poking about after the New Year, which is maybe not the best time to see how those sites do in terms of sales, but I'm brave. :)
One of my friends recommends 1000 Markets. You can read her blog post about it here: http://houseofpeanut.blogspot.com/2008/11/your-cheatin-heart-will-tell-on-you.html I haven't checked it out much yet, but I think that's where I'll be expanding to... :)
I don't know much about etsy or the other but would you be spreading yourself to thin to do both? You have amazing things and sometimes it just takes time to get it going. Good luck!
We've tried several other venues and I think we're going to stick with Etsy.
BigCartel.com was fine, but it doesn't have any kind of a search feature so you are responsible for driving any customers there yourself. ShopHandmade is fine, but our items sat there for months without a single sale and the views weren't even close to what we get on Etsy. Ebay remains our best place so far to sell our one-of-a-kind fiber art tools via the auction, not a store which is way too expensive for us.
I never bought in to the whole "renew daily" school of thought on Etsy, so it doesn't cost us much and I feel we get quite a bit for our .20 and super low final value fees. I understand that there are problems, but I know what a company goes through when they get a venture capital investment. Things cannot change overnight and you are at the mercy of your VC investor. In my opinion, the main thing that is hurting Etsy currently is the forum, where potential buyers can read all of the thread titles by disgruntled users. Hopefully, some things will improve--along with our economy :)
I am in the exact same boat as you. I did sign up for Art Fire and I'm hoping that it will be a great place to sell, eventually. I'm just not sure how much traffic the site is really getting at this point.
My dilema is whether I list things that I only have one of on Art Fire and fill my shop up or do I keep them on etsy because I am still making sales on etsy. With the holiday season rapidly nearing and the hope that will transfer into many sales I don't want to miss a sale because I chose to list the item on Art Fire and not on etsy. However, I don't want to be overlooked by a potential customer on Art Fire because I don't have a lot of items in my shop. It's a catch 22.
I hear ya Amy, I'm feeling the exact same way!
And thank you Grizzly for your thoughts on other sites. I do still like the look/feel of my etsy shop best, and I can't complain about the 20 cents listing fees... I guess I just need to try driving more traffic in. It's been a tough few months over here.
♥
I have not changed a thing about how I am doing my etsy shop except for adding a few new items and so far my business has fallen off the face of the earth. last yeat I did GREAT this time of year and now I have not done well at all. I think etsy has oodles of issues and seems to continue to focus on the wrong problems. I loved it at first but my love is fading. I think etsy is getting over crowded and have heard from more than one person(buyer) that they will not shop there due to the difficulties in the search.
My problem for now is I am 8 months pregnant and not ready to venture out somewhere else for a 2nd shop, but once this baby is all settled I plan to check out 1000 Markets.
Good luck to you!
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