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Do your own work…

Copycats have become increasingly problematic for me in recent years. I try to ignore it and stay focused on my own thing, but the problem is getting really out of hand. Last night, I encountered two more of them in a span of 30 minutes (one small biz, one large scale manufacturer). I’m still furious, so I’ll hold off on saying much more until I’m capable of being civil. In the meantime, I’d like to offer this food for thought:

1) Here’s an excellent lecture for online artists and crafters of all skill levels. It’s 45 minutes long, and WORTH EVERY SECOND. If you’re teaching, offering tutorials, selling your work online, or even just thinking of selling your work online, please listen to this and consider the author’s points.
wicked leather bird mask by Beadmask
© 2006 Beadmask
2)  If you’re selling copies and/or derivatives of my work, please stop. It’s not my job to design your products, or to write your product descriptions or policies. I have my own family to take care of, and I never signed on to do free product development (or marketing copy, SEO, or branding) for your new business. If you want to be an independent artist on any level – hobbyist, pro, or something in between – you’ll need to spend the time, take the risks, and do your own work.
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Etsy’s New Feedback System (kinda ranty)

*sigh* Etsy has recently changed their feedback system to one that resembles eBay’s dysfunctional “DSR” ratings. Actually, this new system is even worse than eBay’s IMO, because it completely mutes the seller. We are no longer able to leave any type of feedback for buyers, nor can we respond to negative or defamatory feedback that is left for us. You can read through the community’s responses to this news to see why many of us feel that this is so damaging. As of this writing, the replies are up to 188 pages — but of course, you don’t need to read them all to get the gist.

I generally try to keep an open mind, and to roll with new changes that Etsy introduces. Sometimes they’re cool  — like those awesome shipping options that they offered (and later removed) last year — and sometimes they really stink. In this case, I can’t imagine a single positive. I don’t have time this morning to write out my plentiful and extensive rants on the subject, but suffice to say that they are not only plentiful and extensive, they are grounded in personal experience. I was a power seller on eBay when they introduced the DSR system, which created a horrible imbalance in the relationship between buyers and sellers. I experienced the fallout from that change and it was awful. So awful, that I quickly abandoned a marketplace where I’d been selling successfully for over a decade.

So when I twitch and growl at the prospect of this new system over on Etsy, I’m not just being reactionary. I do have a frame of reference, and while admin keeps insisting that this is different, we eBay refugees are extremely wary. I’m trying to give them the benefit of the doubt, but I’m also working to develop an exit strategy in the event that it becomes necessary.

For one thing, I’m going to stop putting all of my eggs in one basket. I do have an established website, though I tend to be bad at updating it. I’m going to focus a bit more energy on improving that, and on networking and linking with other artisans (please let me know if you’d like to trade links!). I’m also going to start exploring other markets again. In the past, I’ve felt that selling on multiple sites spread me a bit too thin … but between this new announcement and Etsy’s snarky and poorly thought out replies to customer concerns, it feels like these exploratory efforts may be needed. Thus far, I have re-opened my Artfire shop, and I am considering dipping my toe into the waters of eBay again, at least on a small scale. There are a few other ideas that I want to flesh out a bit more, but this is already getting long, so I’ll leave it at that.

In the meantime, I think I will hold off on listing much more on Esty, and if they don’t come back with some SOLID answers to seller concerns soon, I’ll gradually reduce my listings there. It’s frustrating (and honestly, a bit frightening) that this is happening at the start of my busy season– the season in which I make the majority of my income for the year. I should be in my studio right now, prolifically creating crazy costumes. Instead, I am worrying about this stupidity, and re-evaluating my current business strategy. Ah well, I suppose it’s a reminder that markets change; never get too comfortable, and always strive to be adaptable and imaginative in finding new solutions.

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A Good Karma section for my shop?

 a portion of each peacock sale goes to charity
I’m thinking of adding a new section to my Etsy shop, called “Good Karma” or something along those lines. This section would feature products whose sales help to support different charities, as well as highly discounted items (such as older works that are a little shopworn, or items that just don’t fit well with my current style) and maybe even a few “Pay it Forward” listings for destash supplies. My intentions are good, but I find myself second guessing a few points and I’d appreciate a little input. Please feel free to skip to the “abridged version” below 😉
My hope is that the charity listings will highlight some of the causes that I believe in, which could raise awareness (and of course, money) for those issues. It also might give buyers a sense of who I am and what inspires me. For example, for every one of my peacock products that I sell (barrettes, pins, necklaces and cuffs) a portion is donated to the Seattle Cancer Care Alliance in memory of my friend who inspired that series. I also donate to several environmental groups, the Xerces society, a local Domestic Abuse shelter, Native American charities and disaster relief efforts for events like Hurricane Sandy. Still, I question if this is information that customers want to know, or will sharing this in the context of my business come off poorly?
As far as the discounted items, it’s a way to clear out my studio and offer some really sweet deals at the same time. I have quite a few earrings, barrettes and buckskin pouches left over from when I was doing more southwest inspired work; they’re quality pieces, but they’re rather incongruent with what I’m doing now. Items like these might be nice stocking stuffers, or inexpensive options for group gifting. Similarly, I have a few pieces that are a bit shopworn from being handled too much at show. They’re clean, well crafted pieces… but they do have imperfections so I don’t feel right about selling them at full price. This subsection would offer some serious bargains, but could it make my shop look discordant or sloppy?
The abridged version
Pro’s: A section like this might enable me to better connect with buyers, highlight causes that I love, offer great bargains AND clear out my studio.
Cons: The charity stuff might seem preachy or just be TMI, and the scratch and dent stuff could make the shop look sloppy, haphazard or just cluttered.
What do you think?
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Thank You!

Sugar skull fascinator © Andrea Adams 2012

Whew! Another Halloween has come and gone, and man was it a whirlwind. I had a lot of fun, and met some truly amazing people. For whatever reason, “serendipity” seems to be the keyword in my transactions this season, which makes me incredibly happy.

I have been doing this for many years now, but I still learn something new each time around. This year had quite a few lessons, and there are several things that I intend to do differently — hopefully, better — next year; but overall, it was quite a successful Halloween. Many, many thanks to my fabulous customers for that!

Entries for my annual costume contest are due tomorrow. If you haven’t already submitted a photo, please send it soon! I’m excited to see everyone’s costumes, and to be able to give a little something back (the winner gets a $50 credit at my Etsy shop)

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My top 7 tips for selling on Etsy

Over the years, many people have asked me for tips for selling online. While I’m certainly not an expert, I have learned a few things along the way. I made this list because I kept hearing the same questions — hopefully my experience (and many, many mistakes) will be helpful to my friends who are just starting out.

For a bit of background info, I started selling my work at west coast art shows and festivals in the late 80’s. This enabled me to hone my skills and style, while learning some basic sales skills in a real world environment (no small feat for an introvert). My online selling adventures began on eBay in the mid 90’s. For many years that enabled me to be a stay at home mom while still earning a livable wage. That was before they hiked their fees and changed their policies to be a bit less seller-friendly.  These days, I find that I prefer selling on Etsy. To be fair, I haven’t sold on eBay in a few years – so I may want to check back and see what it’s like these days – but generally speaking, I find that Etsy’s fees are more affordable and it has a stronger, warmer sense of community. In addition, Etsy customers seem to be more appreciative of hand crafted work, as opposed to many of the eBay bidders who seem to be willing to overlook quality in favor of a “bargain”.

YMMV, and depending on your product and/or personality you may find that you prefer selling on one of the many other venues, such as eBay, Artfire, Dawanda. Some of these tips will probably translate to those venues, but they’re primarily geared toward Etsy, since that’s the venue that I like and am most familiar with right now. So without further ado, here are my top 7 tips for selling on Etsy:

1) Learn to take great photos: I don’t feel that my photos are “great” yet — but I’ve definitely improved and I can see a direct result in my sales. Whenever possible, use all 5 photo spots, and try to show the piece from all angles. If you can, include some close ups/detail shots as well. People can’t touch your work online, so you have to bring those details to them through the images that you provide. Simply put, you should always strive to provide excellent pictures. If you don’t know how to take excellent photos, it’s well worth the effort to learn. Here are a few links that I’m finding helpful in my quest to build better photography skills:

Small Object Photography

A great post about using a light box

Etsy’s Guide to Photography

The Beginner’s Guide to Product Photography

(I purchased that last one & felt that it was well worth the price)You could also just skip the above & enlist the help of a talented photographer friend, but I feel that there’s value in knowing how to do things by and for yourself.

2) List often: After my first attempt to sell my artwork on Etsy, I almost gave up. I listed 6-8 items all on the same day and then waited for them to sell, wondering why nobody seemed to notice them. I sold maybe one or two items over a four month period, and it was so disappointing that I didn’t try again until nearly 2 years later.

My second time around, I spaced out my listings and listed one or two items a day over the course of a couple weeks. I added new items to my shop as often as possible, and if I didn’t have anything new, I “renewed” older listings so that I would always have something coming up in that first page or so when people search for the types of products that I sell. It only costs 20¢ to renew an item on Etsy, which is cheap advertising IMO. I saw a tremendous difference when I did it that way. Since then, I’ve made an effort to list as often as I can – because I see a huge difference in my sales when I am listing frequently, compared to times when I am not able to list as often.

3) Use clear and detailed titles and descriptions: Too often, I see people trying to get artsy with their titles, without offering enough specific information to make viewers want to click. For example, a title like “Blue Journey” is just fine for an item that’s displayed in a local coffee house where the customer can touch the item and see the connection between the product and its title – but it just doesn’t play as well in an online search. It doesn’t tell the viewer what the product is or does (“Blue Journey” could just as easily be the name of a shirt, a painting, or a pitcher) and customers are probably unlikely to search for abstract titles like this. Instead, think of keywords that shoppers might use if they were trying to find products like yours, and work those into your title. You don’t have to forego your creative title completely, but try working in some concrete information that will help potential buyers to find your products. For example, “Blue Journey – A Hand Painted Silk Tank Dress in Aqua and Cobalt – Size Small” gives the reader far more detail, and is more likely to be picked up in a search.

When it comes to item descriptions, it’s definitely a good idea to try and be succinct – but make sure that you’re including all of the pertinent details! As I said earlier, it’s important to remember that the viewer cannot hold or see your wares – you have to bring the details to them through excellent pictures and detailed descriptions. Don’t assume that the viewer is already knowledgeable about your product. Educate them a bit by including a brief background on how it’s made as well as the materials that you use. Other important details include size, fit (if applicable) color and texture. You might also want to mention if it is a one of a kind item, or something that you can re-create in other colors and sizes.

4) Follow YOUR heart: It might be tempting to find another seller whose style or success you admire, and simply try to imitate them; but really, such behavior is quite hurtful. Knock offs often flood the market and undercut the original artist; but even if copying another seller doesn’t hurt their business, it will hurt you. Why? Because stifling your own individuality and creative expression in order to mimic someone else simply isn’t conducive to inspiration, joy, or success.  And while those terms may sound flighty and flowery, they do hold value — after all, most artists create because they love to. Because they need to. It’s an important part of how we experience and process life. You can’t get to that if you don’t trust in your own creative voice.

Unfortunately, there is no blueprint, no cookie cutter method for success with creative work — so there’s no point in trying to follow in someone else’s footsteps. It is helpful to notice how others market and promote, but reproducing another artist’s product line is unlikely to reproduce their success. You just have to tune in to your own muse, and have the courage to forge your own creative path. I know that sounds esoteric and vague, but please trust me on this one. Respect yourself enough to be yourself — it will shine through in your work, and in turn, in the way that others respond to your work.

5) Check out the competition: I know, I know – I just told you to tune into yourself, and now I’m telling you to look around at everyone else. It’s not as contradictory as it sounds. It’s a good idea to look up from your workbench now and again to see what else is going on in your little niche. Pay attention to listings for similar items. Be respectful of course, but try to notice what’s happening in your field.  I find this helpful on several levels…

One is that it give me a reality check on my pricing. Just to be clear, I follow a set pricing formula that ensures that I’m getting paid for my time and covering my business expenses. Many people who sell online are hobbyists or just looking for side income, so I’d never just blindly follow another’s pricing. Still, I do like to make sure that my prices are not unusually high (or low!) compared to similar items of comparable quality.

Studying the market can be a great way to spot trends (is that an up-and-coming style, or a niche that is quickly becoming over saturated?) and it also helps me to notice the details that can separate me from the herd. For example, a lot of mask makers use pre-fab beadwork that can be bought by the yard. While it’s pretty enough at first glance, that stuff is mass produced in third world countries using inferior quality beads and questionable labor practices.  It’s not my intent to be rude or put down their work; but I can use these differences to talk mine up! For example, I could make a point to mention the rarity and quality of the beads that I use, along with the fact that I hand sew all of my original bead embellishments. Some customers won’t care about details such as this, but many do. That being said, studying the competition can help you to illuminate the details that set your work apart.

6) Join a street team: I joined a local Etsy street team for Seattle artists, and it’s been a huge help. From what I hear, this group is bigger and more active than most — but I would still recommend joining your local group even if it is small. It can be so empowering to network with supportive people in your area — my group has taught me about local shows, credit card processing companies, community events, SEO tricks and much, much more. I also belong to a street team for Fantasy artists, which is very fun.

While I connect with the EtsyRAIN people on general topics and local events, the Fae Team people share similar inspirations and creative focus. I’ve never been a “joiner” but I feel like I get a lot out of these communities. These groups inspire and inform me in ways that my friends and family cannot, and that comradery really helps to keep me focused and motivated about my business.  Self employment can be very isolating, and it really helps to connect with like- minded people with similar goals. The teams are free, and most let you participate as little or as much as you want. I’ve met some really nice people and learned SO much! You can look over the list of teams here: www.etsy.com/teams

7) Etsy Newsletters: I signed up to receive email updates for a couple of the Etsy blogs that are aimed at sellers. I don’t always have time to read or implement everything they send, but they often have great advice on topics like product photography, SEO optimization, goal setting, marketing and more. They have several blogs to choose from, depending on your interests. Personally I would recommend “Etsy Success” and “Etsy Finds”. You can find more here: www.etsy.com/mailinglist/

So there’s my list. It’s not an exhaustive resource, but hopefully it’s a good starting point. My learning curve has been pretty steep, so I’d love it if this info can make it a little easier for others. If you find something here that is useful, I’d love to hear about it. By the same token, I’m still learning and striving to improve, so if you have any great advice to share about Etsy, I would love to hear it!

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Etsy mood ring

Ok, who was it that turned me on to Etsy? I’m not sure if I should thank you, or yell at you — cause I sure am spending a lot of time there lately! I’m delighted to find gorgeous work, quality supplies, a supportive network of creative people, and a green vibe that really appeals to me.

I opened an account awhile back, and have been trying to get a feel for the place from a buyer’s perspective. Gonna try my hand at selling soon (wish me luck! 🙂 — just need to polish off a few things first.

In the meantime, I’m just shopping (ok, mostly window shopping) and accumulating a ton of “favorites”. In doing so, I noticed that the things I’m drawn to can be sort of a barometer for my moods. The grouping below is from the last few days, and all of the items have similar hues. The stuff from the week before is all seafoam-y and mauve … kinda neat!